A Digital Antenna System for Steering Radio Signals
This patent describes a digital antenna system that uses multiple small antennas and digital processing to precisely aim radio signals across different frequency bands, while also managing power and heat.
Original patent title: “System and method for a digitally beamformed phased array feed”
This patent describes a digital antenna system that uses multiple small antennas and digital processing to precisely aim radio signals across different frequency bands, while also managing power and heat. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent details a system for a digital beamformed phased array feed. It includes a radome, which is a protective cover that allows radio waves to pass through. Inside, there's a multi-band software defined antenna array tile. This tile contains many small, coupled dipole antenna elements, along with frequency converters to shift signal bands and digital beamformers to precisely steer the radio signals. The system also features dedicated subsystems for managing power and timing, and for dissipating heat generated by the antenna tile, all housed within an enclosure assembly. For example, this system could be used in a 5G base station to direct signals to specific user devices.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover antenna systems that use analog methods for beamforming instead of digital beamformers.
- Does not cover single-band antenna systems, as it specifies a 'multi-band' array.
- Does not cover antenna arrays that are not 'software defined', meaning their operation cannot be easily reconfigured through software.
- Does not cover antenna systems that lack specific thermal management or power and clock management subsystems as described.
- Does not cover antenna arrays that do not include coupled dipole array antenna elements as described in the system.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining multi-band, software-defined capabilities with digital beamforming within a compact antenna array tile, alongside integrated power, clock, and thermal management. This allows for a highly flexible and efficient system that can dynamically steer multiple radio beams across various frequencies while managing its own operational needs.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
5G base stations
Satellite communication terminals (e.g., for broadband internet)
Advanced radar systems
Electronic warfare systems
Wireless backhaul equipment
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Digital beamforming is a core technology for modern wireless communication, enabling more efficient use of radio spectrum and targeted data delivery. This system's multi-band and software-defined capabilities are crucial for flexible and high-performance networks like 5G and advanced satellite communication. The inclusion of integrated power, clock, and thermal management addresses practical challenges in deploying such complex antenna arrays.
Filed
April 17, 2025
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major telecommunications equipment providers like Ericsson, Nokia, and Huawei are actively developing and deploying digital beamforming technologies for 5G networks. Satellite communication companies such as SpaceX (Starlink) and Viasat also rely on advanced phased array feeds for their ground terminals and satellites. Defense contractors like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin integrate similar systems into radar and electronic warfare platforms.
Market impact
The development of digital beamforming has significantly impacted the telecommunications market by enabling the rollout of 5G networks with higher speeds and greater capacity. It allows for dynamic steering of radio signals, which is essential for massive MIMO and millimeter-wave deployments. This technology has also spurred innovation in satellite internet, allowing for more efficient and flexible communication links to remote areas and moving platforms.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent details a system for a digital beamformed phased array feed. It includes a radome, which is a protective cover that allows radio waves to pass through. Inside, there's a multi-band software defined antenna array tile. This tile contains many small, coupled dipole antenna elements, along with frequency converters to shift signal bands and digital beamformers to precisely steer the radio signals. The system also features dedicated subsystems for managing power and timing, and for dissipating heat generated by the antenna tile, all housed within an enclosure assembly. For example, this system could be used in a 5G base station to direct signals to specific user devices.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining multi-band, software-defined capabilities with digital beamforming within a compact antenna array tile, alongside integrated power, clock, and thermal management. This allows for a highly flexible and efficient system that can dynamically steer multiple radio beams across various frequencies while managing its own operational needs.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover antenna systems that use analog methods for beamforming instead of digital beamformers.
- Does not cover single-band antenna systems, as it specifies a 'multi-band' array.
- Does not cover antenna arrays that are not 'software defined', meaning their operation cannot be easily reconfigured through software.
- Does not cover antenna systems that lack specific thermal management or power and clock management subsystems as described.
- Does not cover antenna arrays that do not include coupled dipole array antenna elements as described in the system.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$18K – $58K
Midpoint $36K · 18.5 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). A Digital Antenna System for Steering Radio Signals (U.S. Patent No. 12,738,651). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12738651/system-and-method-for-a-digitally-beamformed-phased-array-feed-12738651
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US12738651"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 11115136 · 2021 · LG Electronics
How to Tune Multi-Antenna Systems for Better Wireless Signals
US 11955732 · 2024 · Intel
How Intel's Transceiver Chip Manages Wireless Signals
US 12231284 · 2025 · Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
How 5G Networks Intelligently Switch Your Phone's Connection Beams
US 11623768 · 2023 · AST and Science LLC
How Satellite Swarms Keep Their Solar Panels and Antennas Pointed Correctly
More to explore
More in Telecom & Wireless
US 5347632 · 1994 · Prodigy Services Co
Prodigy's System for Interactive Online Information and Shopping
US 3906166 · 1975 · Motorola Inc
How Early Cell Phones Handled Calls Across Different Towers
US 4063220 · 1977 · Xerox Corp
How Multiple Computers Share a Network Cable Without Crashing
US 4200770 · 1980 · Leland Stanford Junior University
How to Create a Secret Code Key Without Meeting First
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does A Digital Antenna System for Steering Radio Signals cover?
This patent describes a digital antenna system that uses multiple small antennas and digital processing to precisely aim radio signals across different frequency bands, while also managing power and heat.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Digital beamforming is a core technology for modern wireless communication, enabling more efficient use of radio spectrum and targeted data delivery. This system's multi-band and software-defined capabilities are crucial for flexible and high-performance networks like 5G and advanced satellite communication. The inclusion of integrated power, clock, and thermal management addresses practical challenges in deploying such complex antenna arrays.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover antenna systems that use analog methods for beamforming instead of digital beamformers.
Patent monitoring