Antenna for transmission / reception of radio frequency waves and an aircraft using such an antenna

• US 6,653,980 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2002
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Pichavant, Claude, Ceccom, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, SHIH CHAO
• Application Number:
  US10/155,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20020186170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 343/705, 343/708, 343/767, 343/770, 343/872, 343/878
• US Class Current: 343/705
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/287 integrated in a wing or a stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas

Abstract

This invention relates to an aircraft using such an antenna comprises: a structural element (8) that is conducting in the operating frequency band of the antenna, with size equal to at least one quarter of the wave length along the polarization direction of the electromagnetic wave for the minimum frequency of this frequency band, and comprising a cutout forming a cavity (9); a removable exciting element (10) placed in this cavity that acts as an exciter of this cavity (9); and a metallization that is electrically conducting at the operating frequencies of the antenna providing metallization between the exciting element (10) and the structural element (8).

Claims

1. Antenna for the transmission/reception of radio frequency waves comprising:

a structural element (8) that is conducting in the operating frequency band of the antenna, with size equal to at least one quarter of the wave length along the polarization direction of the electromagnetic wave for the minimum frequency of this frequency band, and comprising a cutout forming a cavity (9),

a removable exciting element (10) placed in this cavity that acts as an exciter of this cavity (9),

a metallization that is electrically conducting at the operating frequency of the antenna, providing metallization between the said exciting element (10) and the said structural element (8),

and in that this exciting element (10) comprises;

an element (11) made of a material transparent to radio frequency waves filled with a material that is also transparent to radio frequency waves,

a conducting strip (12) forming a stub, used for tuning and matching the antenna on the operating frequency band,

a cover (13) made of a material transparent to radio frequency waves, containing the exciting element (10) and maintaining continuity of the profile of the structural element (8),

a stub power supply line (14).

2. Antenna according to claim 1, in which the exciting element (10) and the cover (13) are made of glass fiber.

3. Antenna according to claim 1, in which the material that fills the exciting element (10) is a resin or a cast thermoplastic material.

4. Antenna according to claim 1, in which the stub is made of copper covered with a silver plated layer on the surface.

5. Antenna according to claim 1, in which the cover (13) is fixed on the exciting element (10) using non-magnetic screws.

6. Antenna according to claim 1, in which the exciting element (10) is shaped such that it can be fixed in a notch formed in a structural element of a building or a vehicle.

7. Antenna according to claim 6, in which the said vehicle is an aircraft.

8. Aircraft, characterized in that at least one of its structural elements is fitted with a cavity in which an exciting element (10) is placed according to claim 1.

9. Aircraft characterized in that at least one of its wing and elements (21) is provided with a cavity in which an exciting element (10) according to claim 1 is placed.

10. Antenna according to claim 5, in which the exciting element (10) is shaped such that it can be fixed in a notch formed in a structural element of a building or a vehicle.

11. Aircraft, characterized in that at least one of its structural elements is fitted with a cavity in which an exciting element (10) is placed according to claim 6.

12. Aircraft characterized in that at least one of its wing and elements (21) is provided with a cavity in which an exciting element (10) according to claim 6 is placed.