Low cost high performance aircraft antenna for advanced ground to air internet system
First Claim
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1. A high gain multi-beam aircraft blade antenna comprising:
- a plurality of columnar matrix antenna elements arranged to create a plurality of independently steerable directional beams, wherein at least a first independently steerable beam is configured to provide communication, and at least a second independently steerable beam is configured to simultaneously search for other signals;
a beam steering unit coupled to each of the columnar matrix antenna elements and configured to cause at least two of the columnar matrix antenna elements to transmit both of the first and second independently steerable beams simultaneously; and
a plurality of pre-amplification circuits coupled between the columnar matrix antenna elements and the beam steering unit, at least two of the plurality of pre-amplification circuits coupled to different ones of the columnar matrix antenna elements and each of the pre-amplification circuits comprising a plurality of amplifiers, wherein;
at least a first one of the plurality of amplifiers is configured to amplify transmission of the first independently steerable beam via at least one of the plurality of the columnar matrix antenna elements; and
at least a second one of the of amplifiers is configured to receive signals from the at least one of the columnar matrix antenna elements.
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Abstract
A high gain multi-beam aircraft blade antenna of an air-to-ground antenna systems includes multiple columnar matrix antenna elements housed within a blade. The elements are arranged to create independently steerable directed beams. A first independently steerable beam is used to provide communication. A second independently steerable beam is used to simultaneously search other signals.
20 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A high gain multi-beam aircraft blade antenna comprising:
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a plurality of columnar matrix antenna elements arranged to create a plurality of independently steerable directional beams, wherein at least a first independently steerable beam is configured to provide communication, and at least a second independently steerable beam is configured to simultaneously search for other signals; a beam steering unit coupled to each of the columnar matrix antenna elements and configured to cause at least two of the columnar matrix antenna elements to transmit both of the first and second independently steerable beams simultaneously; and a plurality of pre-amplification circuits coupled between the columnar matrix antenna elements and the beam steering unit, at least two of the plurality of pre-amplification circuits coupled to different ones of the columnar matrix antenna elements and each of the pre-amplification circuits comprising a plurality of amplifiers, wherein; at least a first one of the plurality of amplifiers is configured to amplify transmission of the first independently steerable beam via at least one of the plurality of the columnar matrix antenna elements; and at least a second one of the of amplifiers is configured to receive signals from the at least one of the columnar matrix antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A high gain multi-beam aircraft blade antenna comprising:
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means for housing a plurality of columnar matrix antenna elements arranged to create a plurality of independently steerable directional beams, wherein at least a first independently steerable beam is configured to provide communication, and at least a second independently steerable beam is configured to simultaneously search other signals; means for causing at least two of the columnar matrix antenna elements to transmit both of the first and second independently steerable beams simultaneously; means for amplifying transmission of the first independently steerable beam via at least one of the plurality of the columnar matrix antenna elements; and means for receiving signals from the at least one of the columnar matrix antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of wireless communication using a high gain multi-beam aircraft blade antenna, the method comprising:
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operating a plurality of columnar matrix antenna elements; steering at least a first independently steerable directional beam to provide communication; steering at least a second independently steerable directed beam to simultaneously search other signals while the first independently steerable directional beam is providing communication; feeding, using a beam steering unit, each of the columnar matrix antenna elements to cause at least two of the columnar matrix antenna elements to transmit both of the first and second independently steerable beams simultaneously; amplifying, using a first amplifier, transmission of the first independently steerable beam via at least one of the plurality of the columnar matrix antenna elements; and receiving, using a second amplifier, signals from the at least one of the columnar matrix antenna elements. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification