Conformal antennas for unmanned and piloted vehicles and method of antenna operation

• US 10,305,176 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2015
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ndsu-Research Foundation, University of North Dakota (North Dakota University System)
• Original Assignee: Ndsu-Research Foundation, University of North Dakota (North Dakota University System)
• Inventors: Bridgelall, Raj, Corcoran, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory, Bernarr E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pervin, Nuzhat
• Application Number:
  US14/716,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20150340759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 342368
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/36 adapted to receive antennas or radomes
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/27 Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies H01Q1/08, H01Q1/12, H01Q1/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/286 substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18504 Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform

Abstract

A vehicle includes a body providing structural support and defining a fuselage perimeter and including a plurality of bands, a plurality of antennas integrated into the plurality of bands, and a transceiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of antennas. The transceiver is configured to power selected sub-sets of the plurality of antennas to generate a directional antenna beam.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a body providing structural support and defining a fuselage perimeter, wherein the body includes a plurality of annular bands that are separated axially along a primary axis of the body and distributed axially across substantially the entirety of the fuselage perimeter, wherein the plurality of bands conform to a shape of the perimeter;

a plurality of antennas integrated into the plurality of bands, each antenna conforming to the shape of the perimeter along a corresponding band; and

a transceiver operatively connected to each of the plurality of antennas, the transceiver configured to power selected sub-sets of the plurality of antennas to generate a directional antenna beam,

wherein multiple ones of the plurality of antennas are located on and distributed across a single layer of each of the plurality of bands, the antennas on a given one of the plurality of bands separated from adjacent antennas in the single layer by electrically insulating material.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antennas comprises a patch antenna.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of bands comprises:

a ground plane;

a layer of dielectric material adjacent to the ground plane; and

a first patch antenna tile on the layer of dielectric material and opposite the ground plane, the patch antenna tile forming one of the plurality of antennas.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, each of the plurality of bands further comprising:

a second patch antenna tile on the layer of dielectric material and opposite the ground plane, wherein the second patch antenna tile is separated from the first patch antenna tile by an electrically insulating material.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of bands comprises interlocking tiles of composite material having integral coupling structures.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a fuselage of an aircraft.