Planar dual band microstrip or slotted waveguide array antenna for all weather applications

• US 6,366,244 B1
• Filed: 11/19/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southern California Edison Company (Edison International)
• Original Assignee: Southern California Edison Company (Edison International)
• Inventors: Fernandes, Roosevelt A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US09/444,332
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/853, 343/872, 343/873, 343/770, 343/772, 343/776, 343/771, 343/767
• US Class Current: 343/700.0MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0075 Stripline fed arrays H01Q21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/14 for varying the relative position of primary active element and a refracting or diffracting device
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/267 Phased-array testing or checking devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18578 Satellite systems for providing broadband data service to individual earth stations for selecting H04W; provisions for broadband connection, H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/216 Code division or spread-spectrum multiple access [CDMA, SSMA]

Abstract

Antennas useable in all types of weather conditions are disclosed for use in various applications. The antenna is a flat array with either microstrip or slotted waveguide radiating elements. The radiating elements can be either transmitting or receiving elements for the array, or can be two arrays, each dedicated to one half of the transmission link. The array is covered with a radome to prevent water droplets, ice, or snow from forming on the antenna surface, thus allowing beam launching or beam reception at the antenna surface. The antennas can be used in a wide field of applications, including microsatellite communications links. Also disclosed is a microstrip, dual-band phased array antenna having a top dielectric including an antenna array patch directly coupled to a receive feed network and a lower dielectric having a transmit feed that is coupled to the antenna array patch through an intermediate metallization layer having coupling slots.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna array housing having an aperture, the array defining the aperture and being located within an upper dielectric housing and a metallic base plate, the base plate being a ground plane;

a flat antenna array situated within said antenna array housing and aligned with said aperture in a manner that a normal axis to a plane of said antenna array extends through said aperture; and

a surface of the housing positioned to substantially cover said aperture, wherein a distance of said surface of the housing and said antenna array is greater than a half wavelength at an operating frequency of said antenna array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the antenna array at one end of the array a distance geater than the spacing from the array at an opposite end of the array.

3. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna array is used for transmitting a signal.

4. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna array is used for receiving a signal.

5. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein a single antenna array is used for transmitting a first signal and receiving a second signal.

6. The antenna assembly of claim 5, wherein the first and second signals are at different frequencies.

7. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface of the housing and the ground plane form a trapezoidal cross section.

8. The antenna assembly of claim 1, including at least one radiating element, the radiating element being a patch.

9. The antenna assembly of claim 1, including at least one radiating element, the radiating element being a slotted waveguide.

10. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the antenna array is substantially planar.

11. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a drain hole aperture.

12. The antenna assembly of claim 11, wherein the drain hole aperture is covered with a water-permeable material.

13. The antenna assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface of the housing includes more than one material.

14. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the array is a slotted array comprising more than one array of radiating elements.

15. The antenna assembly of claim 7, wherein the array is substantially planar.

16. The antenna assembly of claim 7, including at least one radiating element being a patch.

17. The antenna assembly of claim 7, including at least one radiating element being a slotted waveguide.

18. The antenna assembly of claim 7, wherein the housing further including a drain hole aperture.

19. The antenna assembly of claim 18, wherein the drain hole aperture is covered with a water-permeable material.

20. The antenna assembly of claim 7, wherein the array comprises more than one array of radiating elements.

2. The antenna assembly of clam 1, wherein the surface of the housing is substantially planar.

21. An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna array housing having an aperture;

an antenna array situated within said antenna array housing and aligned with said aperture in a manner that a normal axis to a ground plane of said antenna array extends through said aperture; and

a surface of the housing positioned to substantially cover said aperture, wherein the surface of the housing and the antenna ground plane form a trapezoidal cross section for allowing snow or rain to slide off said surface of the housing.

22. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the surface of the housing is essentially planar.

23. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the antenna array is used for transmitting a signal.

24. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the antenna array is used for receiving a signal.

25. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the antenna array is used for transmitting a first signal and receiving a second signal.

26. The antenna assembly of claim 25, wherein the first and second signals are at different frequencies.

27. The antenna assembly of claim 21, including at least one radiating element, the radiating element being a patch.

28. The antenna assembly of claim 21, including at least one radiating element, the radiating element being a slotted waveguide.

29. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the antenna array is substantially planar.

30. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the housing further comprises a drain hole aperture.

31. The antenna assembly of claim 30, wherein the drain hole aperture is covered with a water-permeable material.

32. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the surface of the housing includes more than one material.

33. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the array is a slotted array, the slotted array comprises more than one array of radiating elements.

34. The antenna assembly of claim 21, wherein the array is substantially planar, and wherein the surface of the housing and the antenna array ground plane form a trapezoid cross section.

35. An integrated satellite earth station, comprising:

an antenna array for receiving a received signal and transmitting a transmit signal;

a radio assembly coupled to said antenna array, for downconverting said received signal to a baseband received signal and/or upconverting a baseband transmit signal into said transmit signal;

a baseband electronic circuit for processing said baseband received signal and processing said baseband transmit signal, the received signal and transmit signal having orthogonal polarizations; and

a housing for integrally housing said antenna array, said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit.

36. The satellite earth station of claim 35, further including a 3-axis positioner assembly for moving said housing in an azimuth and/or elevation direction and polarization for a specific satellite.

37. The satellite earth station of claim 35, wherein said housing comprises a first compartment for housing said antenna array and a second compartment for housing said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit.

38. The satellite earth station of claim 35, wherein said antenna array is positioned within said housing so as to shield said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit from direct sunlight during the operation of said radio assembly.

39. The satellite earth station of claim 35, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element slotted waveguide.

40. An antenna array, comprising:

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into antenna array radiating patches and a first feed network, said first feed network configured to couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna radiating patches

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network being inductively coupled through openings of a dimension selected for the operating second frequency, said second feed network being configured to couple signals within a second frequency band and said radiating elements;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, said intermediate metallization layer including openings, the openings being of a dimension selected for the operating frequency of the second feed network for coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array and said second feed network; and

the antenna array radiating patches being substantially a square and being arranged substantially as a diamond configuration ad the patches being disposed thereby to achieve horizontal and vertical polarization along diagonals of the substantially square array antenna.

41. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said first feed network is coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the first feed network can receive horizontal linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array.

42. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said second feed network is coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a vertical linearly polarized transmit beam.

43. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said first feed network is coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the first feed network can receive linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

44. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said second feed network are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a linearly polarized transmit beam.

45. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a vertical linearly polarized transmit beam.

46. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array can produce a horizontal linearly polarized transmit beam.

47. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the second feed network can receive horizontal linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

48. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the second feed network can receive vertical linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

49. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said first feed network is coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the first feed network can receive horizontal linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches, and wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a vertical linearly polarized transmit beam.

50. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said first feed network are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the first feed network can receive vertical linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches, and wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a horizontal linearly polarized transmit beam.

51. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said first feed network are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a horizontal linearly polarized transmit beam, and wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the second feed network can receive vertical linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

52. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said first feed network are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a vertical linearly polarized transmit beam, and wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the second feed network can receive horizontal linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

53. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein said intermediate metallization layer serves as a ground plane.

54. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein the array radiating patches are substantially diagonally aligned relative to the array.

55. The antenna array of claim 40, wherein the second feed network ends in terminals, the terminals being disposed relative to the openings such that the terminals and openings are substantially orthogonally aligned relative to each other.

91. The antenna assembly of any one of claims 40, 74, 75, 76, 88, 89 or 90 wherein the surface of the housing is substantially planar.

92. The antenna assembly of any one of claims 40, 74, 75, 76, 88, 89 or 90 wherein the antenna array is used for transmitting a first signal and receiving a second signal.

93. The antenna assembly of any one of claims 40, 74, 75, 76, 88, 89 or 90 wherein the surface of the housing and the antenna array housing form a trapezoidal cross section.

56. An integrated satellite earth station, comprising:

an antenna array for receiving a received signal and/or transmitting a transmit signal, the received signal and transmit signal having orthogonal polarizations;

a ground plane for the antenna;

a radio assembly coupled to said antenna array, for downconverting said received signal to a baseband received signal and/or upconverting a baseband transmit signal into said transmit signal;

a baseband electronic circuit for processing said baseband received signal and processing said baseband transmit signal the received signal having orthogonal polarizations;

a housing for integrally housing said antenna array, said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit; and

a surface of the housing being substantially planar to substantially cover the array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the array by at least a half wavelength of the operating frequency of the array.

57. The satellite earth station of claim 56, further including a 3-axis positioner assembly for moving said housing in an azimuth and/or elevation direction and polarization for a given satellite.

58. The satellite earth station of claim 56, wherein said housing comprises a first compartment for housing said antenna array and a second compartment for housing said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit.

59. The satellite earth station of claim 56, wherein said antenna array is positioned within said housing so as to shield said radio assemblly and said baseband electronic circuit from direct sunlight during the operation of said antenna assembly.

60. The satellite earth station of claim 56, wherein the surface of the housing and the ground plane form a trapezoidal cross section.

61. The satellite earth station of claim 57, wherein the surface of the housing and the ground plane form a trapezoidal cross section.

62. The satellite earth station of claim 58, wherein the surface of the housing and the ground plane form a trapezoidal cross section.

63. The satellite earth station of claim 59, wherein the surface of the housing and the ground plane form a trapezoidal cross section.

64. The satellite earth station of claim 56, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element.

65. The satellite earth station of claim 58, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element.

66. The satellite earth station of claim 59, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element.

67. The satellite earth station of claim 60, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element.

68. The satellite earth station of claim 56, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element slotted waveguide.

69. The satellite earth station of claim 68, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element slotted waveguide.

70. The satellite earth station of claim 59, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element slotted waveguide.

71. The satellite earth station of claim 60, wherein the array includes at least one radiating element slotted waveguide.

72. A satellite earth station as claimed in any one of claims 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 67 or 71 wherein the surface of the housing is positioned with the ground plane to form a trapezoidal cross section such that, when in use, the antenna array is directed at a first angle relative to vertical, and the surface of the housing is directed at a second angle relative to the vertical thereby allowing snow or rain to slide off said surface of the housing.

73. A satellite earth station as claimed in any one of claims 60 to 63 wherein, in use, the spacing of the surface of the housing relative to the array is greater at a top of the array assembly than at a bottom of the array assembly.

74. An antenna array, comprising:

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into an antenna patch and a first feed network having a first port, said first feed network configured to couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array and said first port;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including a second port, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said second port and said antenna patch; and

an intermediate metallization layer disposed directly between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer including openings for coupling signals within said second frequency band between said top dielectric antenna patch and said second feed network, such that there are only one microstrip patch elements serving both frequency bands.

77. The antenna array of any one of claims 74, 75 or 76 wherein the antenna array is substantially a square and is arranged substantially as a diamond configuration and the patch being arranged to be horizontally and vertically disposed thereby to achieve horizontal and vertical polarization along diagonals of the substantially square array antenna.

78. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein said first feed network is coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the first feed network can receive horizontal linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

79. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein said second feed network is coupled to said antenna array patch in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a vertical linearly polarized transmit beam.

80. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a vertical linearly polarized transmit beam.

81. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a horizontal linearly polarized transmit beam.

82. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the second feed network can receive horizontal linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

83. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the second feed network can receive vertical linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches.

84. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein said first feed network is coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the first feed network can receive horizontal linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches, and wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a vertical linearly polarized transmit beam.

85. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein said first feed network is coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the first feed network can receive vertical linearly polarized signals sensed by said antenna array patches, and wherein the openings of said intermediate metallization layer are coupled to said antenna array patches in a manner that the antenna array patches can produce a horizontal linearly polarized transmit beam.

86. The antenna array of claims 74, 75, or 76, wherein said intermediate metallization layer serves as a ground plane for inductive coupling through a matched slotted array.

75. An antenna array, comprising:

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into an antenna array patch and a first feed network having a first port, said first feed network configured to couple signals with a first frequency band between said antenna array patch and said first port;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including a second port, said second feed network configred to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said second port and said array patch;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer including openings for coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patch and said second feed network; and

a configuration for excitation of the radiating element to thereby obtain a reduction of side lobe power of at least 17 dB relative to a main beam.

76. An antenna array, comprising:

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer pattered into antenna aray radiating patches and a first feed network having a first port, said first feed network configured to couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array radiating patches and said first port in a diamond configuration;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including a second port, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said second port and said radiating patches;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer including openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array radiating patches and said second feed network; and

the diamond configuration for the array being such that, without tapering, there is a reduction of side lobe power of at least about 17 dB relative to a main beam.

87. An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna array housing having an aperture;

a flat antenna array situated within said antenna array housing and aligned with said aperture in a manner that a normal axis to a plane of said antenna array extends through said aperture;

a surface of the housing positioned to substantially cover said aperture, wherein a distance of said surface of the housing and said antenna array is greater than a half wavelength at an operating frequency of said antenna array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the antenna array at one end of the array a distance greater than the spacing from the array at an opposite end of the array; and

the antenna array including

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into antenna array patches and a first feed network having respective first ports, said first feed network configured to couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array patches and said respective first ports;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including respective second ports, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said respective second ports and said radiating patches of a first layer;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer includes slot openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patches and said second feed network; and

the antenna array being substantially a square and being arranged substantially as a diamond configuration to achieve horizontal and vertical polarization along diagonals of the substantially square array antenna.

88. An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna array housing enclosing a flat antenna aperture;

a flat antenna array situated within said antenna array housing and aligned with said aperture in a manner that a normal axis to a plane of said antenna array extends through said aperture;

a surface of the housing positioned to substantially cover said aperture, wherein a distance of said surface of the housing and said antenna array is greater than a half wavelength at an operating frequency of said antenna array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the antenna array at one end of the array a distance greater than the spacing from the array at an opposite end of the array; and

the antenna array including

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into an antenna array radiating patches and a first feed network having respective first ports, said first feed network configured to couple signals within a first frequency band between said patches and said respective first ports;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including respective second ports, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said respective second ports and said radiating patches; and

an intermediate metallization layer disposed directly between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer includes slotted openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patches and said second feed network, such that there is only one element with radiating patches serving to both transmit and receive frequencies for both bands.

89. An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna array housing enclosing a flat antenna aperture;

a flat antenna array situated within said antenna array housing and aligned with said aperture in a manner that a normal axis to a plane of said antenna array extends through said aperture;

a surface of the housing positioned to substantially cover said aperture, wherein a distance of said surface of the housing and said antenna array is greater than a half wavelength at an operating frequency of said antenna array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the antenna array at one end of the array a distance greater than the spacing from the array at an opposite end of the array; and

the antenna array including

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into antenna array radiating patches and a first feed network having respective first ports, said first feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array patch and said first port;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including respective second ports, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said respective second port and said radiating patches;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer including slot openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patches and said second feed network; and

a configuration for excitation of the radiating element to thereby obtain a reduction of side lobe power of at least about 15 dB relative to a main beam.

90. An antenna assembly, comprising:

an antenna array housing having a flat array antenna aperture;

a flat antenna array situated within said antenna array housing and aligned with said aperture in a manner that a normal axis to a plane of said antenna array extends through said aperture;

a surface of the housing positioned to substantially cover said aperture, wherein a distance of said surface of the housing and said antenna array is greater than a half wavelength at an operating frequency of said antenna array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the antenna array at one end of the array a distance greater than the spacing from the array at an opposite end of the array; and

the antenna array including

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into antenna array patches and a first feed network having respective first ports, said first feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array patches and said first ports;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including respective second ports, said second feed network, configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said second port and said array patches of the top dielectric;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer includes openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patch and said second feed network, said patches being in a diamond configuration; and

such that, without tapering, there is a reduction of side lobe power of at least about 17 dB relative to a main beam.

94. An integrated satellite earth station, comprising:

an antenna array for receiving a received signal and transmitting a transmit signal;

a radio assembly coupled to said antenna array, for downconverting said received signal to a baseband received signal and/or upconverting a baseband transmit signal into said transmit signal;

a baseband electronic circuit for processing said baseband received signal and processing said baseband transmit signal, the received signal and transmit signal having orthogonal polarizations;

a housing for integrally housing said antenna array, said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit; and

the antenna array including

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into an antenna array radiating patches and a first feed network having respective first ports, said first feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array radiating patch and said respective first ports;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including respective second ports, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said respective second ports and said radiating patches, the patches being located in a diamond configuration;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer including openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patches and said second feed network; and

the antenna array being substantially a square and being arranged substantially as a diamond configuration microstrip and the patches being arranged to be horizontally and vertically disposed thereby to achieve horizontal and vertical polarization along diagonals of the substantially square array antenna.

96. The satellite earth station of either claim 94 or 95, wherein said antenna array is positioned with said housing so as to shield said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit from direct sunlight during the operation of said antenna assembly.

97. The satellite earth station of either claim 94 or 95, wherein the surface of the housing and the antenna array housing form a trapezoidal cross section.

95. A physically and electronically integrated satellite earth station, comprising:

an antenna array for receiving a received signal and/or transmitting a transmit signal, the received signal and transmit signal having orthogonal polarizations;

a radio assembly coupled to said antenna array, for downconverting said received signal to a baseband received signal and/or upconverting a baseband transmit signal into said transmit signal;

a baseband electronic circuit for processing said baseband received signal and processing said baseband transmit signal the received signal having orthogonal polarizations;

a housing for integrating said antenna array, said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit;

a surface of the housing being substantially planar to substantially cover the array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the array by at least a half wavelength of the operating frequency of the array; and

the antenna array including

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into an antenna array patches and a first feed network having respective first ports, said first feed network being configured to inductively couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array patches and said respective first ports;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including respective second ports, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said respective second ports and said patches;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer includes slot openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patches and said second feed network; and

the antenna array being substantially a square and being arranged substantially as a diamond configuration and the patches being arranged to be horizontally and vertically disposed thereby to achieve horizontal and vertical polarization along diagonals of the substantially square array antenna aperture.

98. A physically and electronically integrated satellite earth station, comprising;

an antenna array for receiving a received signal and/or transmitting a transmit signal, the received signal and transmit signal having orthogonal polarizations;

a radio assembly coupled to said antenna array, for downconverting said received signal to a baseband received signal and/or upconverting a baseband transmit signal into said transmit signal;

a baseband electronic circuit for processing said baseband received signal and processing said baseband transmit signal the received signal having orthogonal polarizations;

a positioner for mounting said antenna array, said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit;

a surface of the housing being substantially planar to substantially cover the array, the surface of the housing being spaced from the array by at least a half wavelength of the operating frequency of the array; and

the antenna array including

a top dielectric having a top metallization layer patterned into an antenna array patches and a first feed network having respective first ports, said first feed network being configured to inductively couple signals within a first frequency band between said antenna array patches and said respective first ports;

a bottom dielectric having a bottom metallization layer patterned into a second feed network including respective second ports, said second feed network configured to inductively couple signals within a second frequency band between said respective second ports and said patches;

an intermediate metallization layer disposed between said top dielectric and said bottom dielectric, wherein said intermediate metallization layer includes slot openings for inductively coupling signals within said second frequency band between said antenna array patches and said second feed network; and

the antenna array being substantially a square and being arranged substantially as a diamond configuration and the patches being arranged to be horizontally and vertically disposed thereby to achieve horizontal and vertical polarization along diagonals of the substantially square array antenna aperture.

99. The satellite earth station of claim 98, wherein said antenna array is positioned with said housing so as to shield said radio assembly and said baseband electronic circuit from direct sunlight during the operation of said antenna assembly.

100. The satellite earth station of claim 98, wherein the surface of the housing and the antenna array housing form a trapezoidal cross section.