An antenna having at least one main element and a plurality of parasitic elements. At least some of the elements have coupling elements or devices associated with them, the coupling elements or devices being tunable to thereby control the degree of coupling between adjacent elements. Controlling the degree of coupling allows a lobe associated with the antenna to be steered.

Meta-element antenna and array

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a feed point of a dielectric antenna, electromagnetic waves from a dielectric core coupled to the feed point without an electrical return path, where at least a portion of the dielectric antenna comprises a conductive surface, directing, by the feed point, the electromagnetic waves to a proximal portion of the dielectric antenna, and radiating, via an aperture of the dielectric antenna, a wireless signal responsive to the electromagnetic waves being received at the aperture. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for coupling an antenna to a device

A distributed antenna and backhaul system provide network connectivity for a small cell deployment. Rather than building new structures, and installing additional fiber and cable, embodiments described herein disclose using high-bandwidth, millimeter-wave communications and existing power line infrastructure. Above ground backhaul connections via power lines and line-of-sight millimeter-wave band signals as well as underground backhaul connections via buried electrical conduits can provide connectivity to the distributed base stations. An overhead millimeter-wave system can also be used to provide backhaul connectivity. Modules can be placed onto existing infrastructure, such as streetlights and utility poles, and the modules can contain base stations and antennas to transmit the millimeter-waves to and from other modules.

Backhaul link for distributed antenna system

A distributed antenna system is provided that frequency shifts the output of one or more microcells to a 60 GHz or higher frequency range for transmission to a set of distributed antennas. The cellular band outputs of these microcell base station devices are used to modulate a 60 GHz (or higher) carrier wave, yielding a group of subcarriers on the 60 GHz carrier wave. This group will then be transmitted in the air via analog microwave RF unit, after which it can be repeated or radiated to the surrounding area. The repeaters amplify the signal and resend it on the air again toward the next repeater. In places where a microcell is required, the 60 GHz signal is shifted in frequency back to its original frequency (e.g., the 1.9 GHz cellular band) and radiated locally to nearby mobile devices.

Remote distributed antenna system

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that facilitates transmitting electromagnetic waves along a surface of a wire that facilitates delivery of electric energy to devices, and sensing a condition that is adverse to the electromagnetic waves propagating along the surface of the wire. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Method and apparatus for sensing a condition in a transmission medium of electromagnetic waves

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) steerable electronically scanned lens array (ESA) antenna and method of frequency scanning are disclosed The MEMS ESA antenna includes a wide band feedthrough lens (11) and a continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array (12) The wide band feedthrough lens (11) includes first and second arrays of wide band radiating elements (14) and an array of MEMS phase shifter modules 918) disposed between the first and second arrays of radiating elements (14) The continuous transverse stub (CTS) feed array (12) is disposed adjacent the first array of radiating elements (14) for providing a planar wave front in the near field The MEMS phase shifter modules (18) steer a beam radiated from the CTS feed array (12) in two dimensions

Wideband 2-d electronically scanned array with compact cts feed and mems phase shifters

A space-fed active array lens antenna system has an active array lens with a first array of radiating elements defining a front antenna aperture which transmits and receives RF energy from free space, a second array of radiating elements defining a rear antenna aperture which transmits and receives RF energy from a feed aperture, and an array of transmit/receive (T/R) modules sandwiched between the front aperture and rear aperture. The T/R modules include a phase control circuit and an amplitude control circuit which provide phase and amplitude control for RF signals passing through the modules. The feed aperture includes a wide band CTS aperture which produces a plane wave in the near field.

Active array lens antenna using CTS space feed for reduced antenna depth

An RF flexible printed wiring board transmission line for connecting strip transmission line microwave assemblies without the use of coaxial connectors and coaxial cables. The flexible transmission line includes a thin flexible dielectric ribbon, having on one side a ground plane layer and on the other side a microstrip conductor strip. Plated through holes at the ends of the flexible line provide access to both the ground plane and conductor strip on the same side of the flexible line, to facilitate interconnection of the microwave assemblies to the flexible line. The flexible line operates at microwave frequencies with little or no radiation leakage.

Microstrip flexible printed wiring board interconnect line

A dielectric antipodal flared notch radiator (50) with separate transmit and receive ports (72,76) for phased array and active array antennas. A circulator (80) is integrated directly to the broadside coupled-strip transmission line portions (78,88) of the antipodal flared notch radiator without the use of baluns. The look-in impedance of the radiator element is improved as a result of the circulator and lack of a balun. By sandwiching the antipodal flared notch between two additional layers of dielectric (54,56), the device can be made a building block for broadband active array antennas.

Dielectric flare notch radiator with separate transmit and receive ports

An RF phase shifter circuit includes first and second RF ports (104, 106), and a switch circuit comprising a plurality of micro-electro-mechanical ('MEM') switches (50A-50D) responsive to control signals. The switch circuit is arranged to select one of a plurality of discrete phase shift values introduced by the phase shifter circuit to RF signals passed between the first and second RF ports. The circuits can be connected to provide a single-pole-multiple-throw (SPMT) or multiple-pole-multiple-throw (MPMT) switch function. The SPMT and MPMT switch circuits can be employed in other applications, including switchable attenuators, switchable filter banks, switchable time delay lines, switch matrices and transmit/receive RF switches.

Clifton Quan

Papers

Wideband 2-d electronically scanned array with compact cts feed and mems phase shifters

Active array lens antenna using CTS space feed for reduced antenna depth

Microstrip flexible printed wiring board interconnect line

Dielectric flare notch radiator with separate transmit and receive ports

Multi-bit phase shifters using mem rf switches