Dual polarization antenna

• US 5,315,309 A
• Filed: 09/06/1991
• Issued: 05/24/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yakisami Capital Co LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Co. (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Wroblewski, Kenneth A., Rudow, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US07/756,075
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 343/705, 343/708, 343/725, 343/727, 343/803, 343/806, 343/828
• US Class Current: 343/705
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/24 Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction circularly polarised patch antennas H01Q9/0428; circularly polarised horns H01Q13/0241; cross-polarised horns H01Q13/0258; polarisation converters H01Q15/242; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; crossed polarisation dual antenna H01Q25/001

Abstract

A dual polarization antenna for use on an aircraft, preferably a helicopter or the like, permits practical and reliable high frequency radio communications in a severe non line of sight, nap of the earth flight environment. The antenna comprises both a horizontally polarized component and a vertically polarized component. The horizontally and vertically polarized components are formed of an integral element, which has a bend therein so that the two components have an angular orientation with respect to one another. The horizontally polarized component is oriented in a generally horizontal direction and the vertically polarized component is oriented in a generally vertical direction. Ideally, the horizontally and vertically polarized components are oriented as orthogonally to one another as possible, depending upon the airframe application.

Claims

1. A passive dual polarization antenna for transmitting and receiving high frequency radio signals in the 2-30 MHz band comprising:

a horizontally polarized component; and

a vertically polarized component, said horizontally and vertically polarized components being formed of a single integral conductive element and being mounted on a structure, said integral element having a bend therein such that said horizontally and vertically polarized components have an angular orientation with respect to one another, said horizontally polarized component being oriented in a generally horizontal direction and said vertically polarized component being oriented in a generally vertical direction;

wherein said antenna is an open type electric field antenna, being electrically insulated from said structure, and is further capable of operating with both horizontally polarized and vertically polarized signals simultaneously.

2. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 1, wherein said antenna is comprised of aluminum tubing material.

3. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 1, wherein said horizontally and vertically polarized components are oriented as orthogonally to one another as possible.

4. A passive dual polarization antenna for an aircraft, for receiving and transmitting high frequency radio signals in the 2-30 MHz band, said aircraft having a generally horizontally oriented surface and a generally vertically oriented surface, said dual polarization antenna comprising:

a horizontally polarized component; and

a vertically polarized component, said horizontally and vertically polarized components being formed of an integral conductive element having a bend therein such that said horizontally and vertically polarized components have an angular orientation with respect to one another;

said horizontally polarized component being adapted to be mounted on said generally horizontally oriented aircraft surface and said vertically polarized component being adapted to be mounted on said generally vertically oriented aircraft surface;

wherein said antenna is an open type electric field antenna, being electrically insulated from said aircraft.

5. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 4, wherein said antenna is comprised of aluminum tubing material.

6. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 4, wherein said horizontally and vertically polarized components are oriented as orthogonally to one another as the relative orientations of said generally horizontally and vertically oriented surfaces permit.

7. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 4, wherein said aircraft comprises a helicopter.

8. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 7, wherein said generally horizontally oriented surface comprises a tail boom.

9. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 7, wherein said generally vertically oriented surface comprises a vertical stabilizer.

10. A helicopter comprising:

a generally horizontally oriented tailboom;

a generally vertically oriented vertical stabilizer; and

a passive dual polarization antenna, for receiving and transmitting high frequency radio signals in the 2-30 MHz band said antenna comprising;

a horizontally polarized component; and

a vertically polarized component, said horizontally and vertically polarized components being formed of an integral conductive element, said integral element having a bend therein such that said horizontally and vertically polarized components have an angular orientation with respect to one another, said horizontally polarized component being adapted to be mounted on said tailboom and said vertically polarized component being adapted to be mounted on said vertical stabilizer;

wherein said antenna is an open type electric field antenna, being electrically insulated from said helicopter.

11. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 10, wherein said antenna is comprised of aluminum tubing material.

12. The dual polarization antenna as recited in claim 10, wherein said horizontally and vertically polarized components are oriented as orthogonally to one another as possible.