Dual band antenna for L and K/Ka communication
Antennae, controllers, and/or the like are provided. In some embodiments, an antenna may include a chassis; a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed on or within the chassis, a plurality of L-band antenna elements configured to transmit and receive data through satellite communication; a plurality of K/Ka-band antenna elements configured to transmit and/or receive data, wherein the plurality of L-band antenna elements and the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays are disposed on the plurality of PCBs; and a controller disposed on the plurality of PCBs and configured to control the plurality of L-band antenna elements and the plurality of Ka-band antenna elements.
1 . An antenna comprising:
a chassis;
a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed on or within the chassis, a plurality of L-band antenna elements configured to transmit and receive first data, wherein the plurality of L-band antenna elements comprises an L-band perforated patch;
a plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays configured to transmit and/or receive second data, wherein at least one of the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays is configured to transmit and/or receive at least a portion of the second data through the L-band perforated patch, wherein the plurality of L-band antenna elements and the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays are disposed on the plurality of PCBs; and
a controller disposed on the plurality of PCBs and configured to control the plurality of L-band antenna elements and the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays.
2 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the chassis further comprises one or more heatsinks.
3 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays comprise 4×4, 8×8, 16×16, or 64×64 K/Ka-band antenna arrays.
4 . The antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a ground plane corresponding to one or more of the plurality of L-band antenna elements and/or one or more of the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays.
5 . The antenna of claim 4 , further comprising a metallic fencing electrically connected to the ground plane and configured to separate a first L-band antenna element of the plurality of L-band antenna elements from a second L-band antenna element of the plurality of L-band antenna elements.
6 . The antenna of claim 5 , wherein the metallic fencing comprises meshed fencing.
7 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein a multilayer PCB of the plurality of PCBs comprises a plurality of L-band slots and a plurality of K/Ka band slots.
8 . The antenna of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays comprise a plurality of K/Ka patches corresponding to a plurality of K/Ka-band slots.
9 . The antenna of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of K/Ka-band antenna arrays are further configured to transmit and/or receive the second data in GEO, LEO, or MEO.
10 . The antenna of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of L-band antenna elements comprise a plurality of L-band patches.
11 . The antenna of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of L-band patches comprise a plurality of L-band perforated top patches and a plurality of L-band perforated bottom patches, wherein the plurality of L-band perforated top patches are disposed on a first PCB of the plurality of PCBs, wherein the plurality of L-band perforated bottom patches are disposed on a second PCB, and wherein the second PCB is positioned below the first PCB.
12 . The antenna of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of L-band slots are disposed on a third PCB of the plurality of PCBs, and wherein the third PCB is positioned below the first PCB and the second PCB.
13 . The antenna of claim 12 , further comprising one or more sub-miniature push-ons (SMPs) disposed on the third PCB.
14 . The antenna of claim 12 , wherein the controller is disposed on a fourth PCB of the plurality of PCBs, and wherein the fourth PCB is positioned below the first PCB, the second PCB, and the third PCB.
15 . The antenna of claim 14 , further comprising one or more RF chains disposed on the third PCB and the fourth PCB.
16 . The antenna of claim 1 , further comprising one or more frames disposed between the plurality of PCBs.
17 . The antenna of claim 16 , wherein the one or more frames comprise an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding configured to shield the plurality of L-band antenna elements.
18 . The antenna of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of PCBs are disposed within the chassis such that one or more airgaps exist between two or more PCBs of the plurality of PCBs.
19 . The antenna of claim 18 , wherein the one or more airgaps separate the two or more PCBs at a distance between 5 and 10 millimeters.