Dual-Mode Antenna Array System

A method for directing and steering an antenna beam utilizing an dual-mode antenna array system (“DAAS”) including an approximately square feed (“ASF”) waveguide having a first ASF waveguide wall, a second ASF waveguide wall, an ASF waveguide length, a first-feed waveguide input at a first-end of the ASF feed waveguide, and a second-feed waveguide input at a second-end of the ASF feed waveguide, a plurality of first-mode directional couplers (“FMDCs”) on the first ASF waveguide wall, a plurality of second-mode directional couplers (“SMDCs”) on the second ASF waveguide wall, a plurality of first-mode radiating elements (“FMREs”) in signal communication with the plurality of first-mode directional couplers, and a plurality of second-mode radiating elements (“SMREs”) in signal communication with the plurality of second-mode directional couplers, the method comprising:

• receiving a first-mode input signal and a second-mode input signal at the first-feed waveguide input;
• coupling the first-mode input signal to a first FMDC and a second FMDC, of the plurality of FMDCs, wherein the first FMDC produces a first first-mode forward coupled (“1st FMFC”) signal of the first FMDC and the second FMDC produces a second first-mode forward coupled (“2nd FMFC”) signal of the second FMDC;
• coupling the second-mode input signal to a first SMDC and a second SMDC, of the plurality of SMDCs, wherein the first SMDC produces a first second-mode forward coupled (“1st SMFC”) signal of the first SMDC and the second SMDC produces a second second-mode forward coupled (“2nd SMFC”) signal of the second SMDC;
• radiating a first first-mode forward polarized (“FMFP”) signal from a first FMRE, of the plurality of FMREs, in response to the first FMRE receiving the first FMFC signal of the first FMDC;
• radiating a second FMFP signal from a second FMRE, of the plurality of FMREs, in response to the second FMRE receiving the 2nd FMFC signal of the second FMDC;
• radiating a first second-mode forward polarized (“SMFP”) signal from a first SMRE, of the plurality of SMREs, in response to the first SMRE receiving the 1st FMFC signal of the first FMDC;
• and
• radiating a second SMFP signal from a second SMRE, of the plurality of SMREs, in response to the second SMRE receiving the 2nd FMFC signal of the second FMDC,
• wherein the first FMFP signal is co-polarized with the second FMFP signal and the first SMFP signal is co-polarized with the second SMFP signal.