Dynamically reconfigurable wire antennas

• US 20040252069A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rawnick, James J., Brown, Stephen B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,967,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/789
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/364 using a particular conducting material, e.g. superconductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/14 Length of element or elements adjustable telescopic elements H01Q1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

An antenna (100) includes an antenna radiating element (108) that is at least partially comprised of a conductive fluid (104). A dielectric structure (102) defines at least one cavity (110A, 110B) for constraining the conductive fluid. The antenna also includes a fluid control system (116A, 116B, 118A, 118B, 120A, 120B, 122) for selectively adding and removing the conductive fluid from the cavity for controlling a dimension of the antenna radiating element (108). The antenna radiating element (108) can be comprised of a plurality of cavities (110A, 110B), with each cavity defining a segment of the antenna radiating element (108).

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

at least one antenna radiating element;

a conductive fluid; and

a dielectric structure defining at least one cavity for constraining said conductive fluid, wherein at least a portion of said radiating element is comprised of said conductive fluid.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said cavities, each cavity defining a segment of said antenna radiating element.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein at least two of said fluid cavities are electrically coupled to one another.

4. The antenna according to claim 1 further comprising a fluid control system for selectively adding and removing said conductive fluid from said at least one cavity for controlling at least one physical dimension of said antenna radiating element.

5. The antenna according to claim 4 wherein said fluid control system is comprised of a fluid reservoir and at least one pump.

6. The antenna according to claim 5 wherein said fluid control system further comprises a controller responsive to an antenna control signal for selectively controlling an operation of said pump.

7. The antenna according to claim 6 wherein said controller is responsive to an antenna control signal for selectively controlling an operation of at least one valve.

8. The antenna according to claim 1 comprising two of said antenna radiating elements arranged to form a dipole.

9. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein said conductive fluid is comprised of gallium and indium alloyed with a material selected from the group consisting of tin, copper, zinc and bismuth.

10-17. -17. (Canceled)