COMPOSITE DIPOLE ARRAY ASSEMBLY

• US 20100001915A1
• Filed: 11/03/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Koumvakalis, Nicholas, Holly, Sandor, Burns, Richard H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,130,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/755
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/23 Combinations of reflecting surfaces with refracting or diffracting devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence

Abstract

A composite dipole array assembly can have a composite dipole array defined by a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of non-linear element electrically interconnecting pair of the antenna elements. A reflector can be configured to reflect electromagnetic energy toward the antenna elements. A lens can be configured to focus electromagnetic energy upon the antenna elements. In this manner, the efficiency of the composite dipole array is enhanced.

Claims

1. A composite dipole array assembly comprising a composite dipole array and a reflector configured to enhance the efficiency of the composite dipole array.

2. A composite dipole array assembly comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

a plurality of non-linear elements electrically interconnecting pairs of the antenna elements; and

a reflector configured to reflect electromagnetic energy toward the antenna elements.

3. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the reflector comprises a metalized layer spaced away from the antenna elements and the non-linear elements.

4. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the reflector is spaced away from the antenna elements and the non-linear elements by a distance that is an odd number of quarter wavelengths of an average of two incident frequencies.

5. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the reflector is space away from the antenna elements and the non-linear elements by a distance that is one quarter wavelength of an average of two incident frequencies.

6. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the reflector is spaced away from the antenna elements and the non-linear elements by a distance that is one quarter wavelength of a difference frequency.

7. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the reflector comprises a concave half cylinder with a linear array of the antenna elements and the non-linear elements positioned on an axis of the half cylinder.

8. A composite dipole array assembly comprising a composite dipole array and a lens configured to enhance the efficiency of the composite dipole array.

9. A composite dipole array assembly comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

a plurality of non-linear elements electrically interconnecting pair of the antenna elements; and

a lens configured to focus electromagnetic energy upon the antenna elements.

10. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the lens has a semi-circular cross-section.

11. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the lens is formed of a material having a high dielectric constant.

12. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the lens is formed of a material having a dielectric constant greater than 25.

13. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising an anti-reflection coating formed upon the lens.

14. A composite dipole array assembly comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements;

a plurality of non-linear elements electrically interconnecting pair of the antenna elements;

a reflector configured to reflect electromagnetic energy toward the antenna elements; and

a lens configured to focus electromagnetic energy upon the antenna elements.

15. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the reflector comprises a concave half cylinder with a linear array of the antenna elements and the non-linear elements positioned on an axis of the half cylinder.

16. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the lens comprises a concave half cylinder with a linear array of the antenna elements and the non-linear elements positioned on an axis of the half cylinder.

17. The composite dipole array assembly as recited in claim 14 wherein:

the reflector comprises a concave half cylinder with a linear array of the antenna elements and the non-linear elements positioned on an axis of the half cylinder; and

the lens comprises a concave half cylinder with a linear array of the antenna elements and the non-linear elements positioned on an axis of the half cylinder.

20. A method for enhancing the sensitivity of a composite dipole array, the method comprising reflecting electromagnetic radiation toward the composite dipole array.

21. A method for enhancing the sensitivity of a composite dipole array, the method comprising focusing electromagnetic radiation upon the composite dipole array.

22. A method for enhancing the sensitivity of a composite dipole array, the method comprising reflecting electromagnetic radiation toward the composite dipole array and focusing electromagnetic radiation upon the composite dipole array.