Wireless LAN with self-orienting battlefield antenna and integral electronics

• US 6,522,303 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Charron, Amy E., West, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/845,937
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 343/767, 343/770, 343/700.MS, 343/702, 455/89, 455/90
• US Class Current: 343/770
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/12 Longitudinally slotted cylinder antennas; Equivalent structures

Abstract

A system for deploying a wireless LAN in a battlefield which includes a quasi-cylindrical antenna/housing which is adapted to be positionally unstable in orientations where the antenna would be non-operational.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first top antenna/housing section with a conductive shell;

a first bottom antenna/housing section with a conductive shell;

a first slot antenna disposed between said first top antenna/housing section and said first bottom antenna/housing section;

wherein said first top antenna/housing section is hollow and contains electronic communication equipment;

wherein said first bottom antenna/housing section is hollow and contains electronic equipment; and

;

wherein said first top antenna/housing section and said first bottom antenna/housing section are coupled, shaped and configured so that said apparatus is positionally unstable if said slot antenna is oriented such that its axis of transmission polarization is substantially vertical.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first top antenna/housing section has a truncated conical shape with a broader end region being adjacent to said slot antenna.

3. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus is sized, adapted and configured to be shot from a cannon.

4. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first slot antenna has a first dielectric core between two first parallel conductive plates and an inductive post/plated through first hole extending through said first dielectric core and connecting said first parallel conductive plates.

5. An apparatus of claim 4 wherein an inter-hemisphere connecting first wire is disposed in said inductive post/plated through first hole.

6. An apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a first wireless LAN transceiver/processor disposed in said first top antenna/housing section.

7. An apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a first battery disposed in said first bottom antenna/housing section.

8. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said inter-hemisphere connecting first wire connects said first wireless LAN transceiver/processor with said first battery.

9. An apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first top antenna/housing section has a truncated conical shape with a first top broader end region being adjacent to a first side of said first slot antenna.

10. An apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first bottom antenna/housing section has a truncated conical shape with a first bottom broader end region being adjacent to a second side of said first slot antenna.

11. An apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first wireless LAN transceiver/processor is adapted and configured with first software to function as a wireless LAN.

12. An apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first slot antenna top plate has a first perimeter hole along a peripheral edge with inter-hemisphere connecting wires extending therethrough.

13. An apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a first switch to prohibit transmission when a primary transmission axis is substantially vertical.

14. An apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a second top antenna/housing section;

a second bottom antenna/housing section;

a second slot antenna disposed between said second top antenna/housing section and said second bottom antenna/housing section; and

,

a second wireless LAN transceiver/processor disposed in said second top antenna/housing section.