Active magnetic radome

• US 20050057423A1
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: North South Holdings Incorporated (Spherix Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Delgado, Heriberto J., Killen, William D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,030,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/872
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome

Abstract

A method for dynamically modifying electrical characteristics of a radome (110). The method can interpose a radome (110) in the path of a radio frequency signal (140). At least one electrical characteristic of the radome (110) can be selectively varied by applying an energetic stimulus to dynamically modify a performance characteristic of the radome (110). Electrical characteristic can include a permittivity, a permeability, a loss tangent, and/or a reflectivity. The energetic stimulus can include an electric stimulus, a photonic stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, and/or a thermal stimulus.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically modifying electrical characteristics of a radome comprising the steps of:

interposing a radome in the path of a radio frequency signal; and

,

selectively varying at least one electrical characteristic of said radome by applying an energetic stimulus to dynamically modify a performance characteristic of said radome.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electrical characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a permittivity, a permeability, a loss tangent, and a reflectivity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said energetic stimulus is selected from the group consisting of an electric stimulus, a photonic stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, and a thermal stimulus.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said energetic stimulus controls a fluid dielectric.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

selectively varying at least one of a volume, a position, and a composition of said fluid dielectric.

6. A radome, comprising:

a radome wall comprised of at least one dielectric material; and

,

a structure for providing an energetic stimulus to at least a portion of said radome wall, wherein a permittivity or permeability of at least a portion of said dielectric material is dynamically alterable responsive to application of said energetic stimulus.

7. The radome of claim 6, wherein said energetic stimulus comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of an electric stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, a thermal stimulus, and a photonic stimulus.

8. The radome of claim 6, wherein said energetic stimulus comprises flowing fluid, said flowing fluid conveyed through said dielectric material.

9. The radome of claim 6, wherein said dielectric material comprises a liquid crystal polymer.

10. The radome of claim 6, wherein said dielectric material comprises voids.

11. The radome of claim 6, wherein said dielectric material comprises magnetic particles.

12. The radome of claim 6, wherein said energetic stimulus is used to dynamically impedance match said radome to an environment around said radome.

13. A method for operating a radome comprising the steps of:

forming a radome wall of at least one dielectric material; and

,

applying an energetic stimulus to at least a portion of said radome wall to alter a permittivity or permeability of at least a portion of said dielectric material.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said energetic stimulus is selected from the group consisting of an electric stimulus, a photonic stimulus, a magnetic stimulus, and a thermal stimulus.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said energetic stimulus controls a fluid dielectric.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

dynamically matching the impedance of said dome to an environment around said radome using said energetic stimulus.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein after applying said energetic stimulus, a ratio of said permittivity and said permeability of said radome wall is substantially equal to a ratio of a permittivity and a permeability of said environment.