Patch antenna array for transmission of Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre Gaussian beams

A system for transmitting a transmission beam comprising:

• a transmitter including a first multi-level patch antenna array for modulating and transmitting the transmission beam, the first multi-level patch antenna array further comprising:
• a first plurality of patch antennas;
• a first plurality of layers, each of the first plurality of layers separated from each other by a distance, each of the first plurality of layers further supporting a portion of the first plurality of patch antennas;
• a first plurality of connectors, each of the first plurality of connectors associated with one of the first plurality of layers, for supplying a signal for transmission by the associated layer;
• a first feed network on each of the first plurality of layers for providing a connection between a first connector of the first plurality of connectors associated with the layer and the portion of the first plurality of patch antennas located on the layer;
• wherein each layer of the first plurality of layers transmits the signal having a different orthogonal function applied thereto that multiplexes each of the signals having the different orthogonal function applied thereto onto a single transmission beam;
• and
• a first parabolic reflector for reflecting the single transmission beam from the first plurality of layers of the multi-level antenna array;
• a receiver including a second multi-level patch antenna array for receiving and demodulating the transmission beam, the second multi-level patch antenna array further comprising:
• a second plurality of patch antennas;
• a second plurality of layers, each of the second plurality of layers separated from each other by a distance, each of the second plurality of layers further supporting a portion of the second plurality of patch antennas;
• a second plurality of connectors, each of the second plurality of connectors associated with one of the second plurality of layers, for supplying a signal received by the associated layer;
• a second feed network on each of the second plurality of layers for providing a connection between a connector of the second plurality of connectors associated with the layer and the portion of the second plurality of patch antennas located on the layer;
• wherein each layer of the second plurality of layers receives the signal having the different orthogonal function applied thereto that demultiplexes each of the signals having the different orthogonal function applied from the single transmission beam;
• and
• a parabolic reflector for reflecting the single transmission beam to the plurality of layers of the multi-level antenna array.

A multi-level antenna array, comprising:

• a plurality of patch antennas;
• a plurality of layers, each of the plurality of layers separated from each other by a distance, each of the plurality of layers further supporting a portion of the plurality of patch antennas;
• a plurality of connectors, each of the plurality of connectors associated with one of the plurality of layers, for supplying a signal for transmission by the associated layer;
• a feed network on each of the plurality of layers for providing a connection between a connector of the plurality of connectors associated with the layer and the portion of the plurality of patch antennas located on the layer;
• wherein each layer of the plurality of layers transmits the signal having a different orthogonal function applied thereto that multiplexes each of the signals having the different orthogonal function applied thereto onto a single transmission beam.