Phased array excited multi-mode waveguide with omnidirectional coverage and beam steering

A system comprising:

• an antenna for omnidirectional coverage and directional beam forming including a multimode biconical waveguide having a first conical structure having a first base and a first apex, a second conical structure having a second base and a second apex, the first apex facing the second apex, a radiation aperture, a coaxial interface between the first conical structure and the second conical structure that includes a coaxial waveguide to direct electromagnetic (EM) energy into the radiation aperture, and an active electronic phased array (ASEA) configured to control independent sources of EM wave energy that excite multiple modes of the multimode biconical waveguide;
• an amplitude and phase-shifting network configured to provide an amplitude control signal and a phase control signal to at least some of the independent sources of EM wave energy to generate a predetermined number of modes in the coaxial waveguide;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to generate input signals to the amplitude and phase-shifting network associated with a steerable radiation pattern such that the antenna provides omnidirectional radiation and directional beam steering.