High-power microwave antenna system

• US 6,819,298 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intronn Holdings, LLC, Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH (Rheinmetall AG)
• Inventors: Jung, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): VANNUCCI, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/987,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 343/782, 343/872, 343/754, 280/735, 280/732, 307/10.1, 307/121
• US Class Current: 343/782
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/081 Inflatable antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/005 for radiating non-sinusoidal waves

Abstract

A high-power microwave antenna in which, in order to radiate a pulse (8), the antennas (4) of the high power microwave are actuated by a pulse-generating source (3) and are embodied normally as wire antennas, horn antennas or the like. In particular for HPM active systems (1) to be conveyed, the antenna aperture of the antenna (4) is limited by the geometric edge dimensions of a carrier system (2) for the HPM active system (1), which further leads to a reduction in the efficiency of the antenna (4). According to the present invention, the antenna (4) is integrated into an airbag (5) that is inflated for operational use and thereby simulate the antenna (4). The antenna airbag (5) is inflated near a target (100) onto which at least one pulse (8) must be radiated.

Claims

1. A high-power microwave antenna system comprising:

a pulse-generating source for generating a pulse to be radiated by the antenna toward a target;

an antenna formed by an electrically conductive inner surface of an antenna airbag that is electrically connected to the pulse-generating source; and

a gas generator for filling the antenna airbag with gas to inflate the airbag and render it operational for radiating the pulse from the source.

5. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein the conductive inner surface of the antenna airbag forms a reflector of a reflector antenna for a pulse generated by the source.

9. An antenna according to claim 1, wherein an electronegative gas is used as the filling gas for the antenna airbag.

10. An antenna system according to claims 1, wherein the antenna airbag has a shape of one of a truncated cone and truncated pyramid once it is filled with the filling gas.

11. An antenna system according to claim 1, wherein a high power microwave (HPM) source is used as the pulse-generating source.

12. An antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna is a broadband antenna.

13. An antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna airbag that forms the antenna is mounted in the non-inflated state inside an aerodynamic casing on a carrier system of a high power microwave (HPM) active system to be conveyed.

14. An antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna airbag that forms the antenna is mounted on a carrier system for a stationary high power microwave (HPM) active system while in the non-inflated state.

2. An antenna system according to claim l,wherein the conductive inner surface of the antenna airbag simulates a horn antenna.

3. An antenna according to claim 2, wherein at least part of the lateral inner surface of the antenna airbag is conductive and an end surface opposite the surface is non-conductive.

4. An antenna system according to claim 3, further comprising an additional parachute type airbag connected to said antenna airbag and provided with a conductive inner surface over at least part of its inner surface to form a reflector antenna with said horn antenna serving as a feed for the reflector.

6. An antenna according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the airbag adjacent to source is conductive and form a horn antenna, and a further portion of the inner surface of the airbag axially displaced from the horn antenna is electrically conductive and forms a reflector for a pulse radiated by the horn antenna, whereby a reflector antenna is formed within the airbag.

7. An antenna system according to claim 6, wherein the further portion includes a lateral surface of the airbag.

8. An antenna system according to claim 6, wherein the further surface is a curved surface disposed opposite the horn antenna aperture.