Boxed feed for improved high frequency (HF) shunt antenna performance

• US 8,354,968 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2010
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Lee M., Meehan, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, THO GIA
• Application Number:
  US12/756,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/705, 343/708, 343/846, 343/848
• 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 1/48 Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a High Frequency (HF) shunt antenna which promotes improved performance over currently available antenna solutions. The HF shunt antenna may include a shunt plate structure which includes multiple shunt plates configured in a parallel orientation relative to each other and provides an expansive surface area which may promote reduced inductance and lower equivalent parallel resistance of the HF shunt antenna, thereby allowing the HF shunt antenna to be spec-compliant and tunable by a HF coupler, without increasing the footprint of the HF shunt antenna and without reducing radiation efficiency of the antenna.

Claims

1. A shunt antenna, comprising:

a current return structure;

a grounding structure, the grounding structure being connected to the current return structure; and

a shunt plate structure, the shunt plate structure being connected to the current return structure via the grounding structure, the shunt plate structure including a first shunt plate and a second shunt plate,

wherein the first shunt plate is configured in a parallel orientation relative to the second shunt plate, the first plate being connected to the second shunt plate via a plurality of contact structures.

2. A shunt antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shunt antenna is a High Frequency shunt antenna.

3. A shunt antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grounding structure includes a plurality of support structures for facilitating mounting of the shunt antenna to a surface.

4. A shunt antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shunt antenna is configured for transmitting and receiving Radio Frequency signals.

5. A shunt antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shunt antenna is constructed of aluminum.

6. A shunt antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shunt plate structure further includes a third shunt plate, the third shunt plate being configured in a parallel orientation relative the second shunt plate, the third shunt plate being connected to the second shunt plate via contact structures.

7. A shunt antenna as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shunt antenna is configured for connection to an aircraft surface formed of composite materials.

8. A shunt antenna as claimed in claim 7, wherein the aircraft surface is a leading edge of a vertical stabilizer.

9. A communications system, comprising:

a coupler, the coupler being configured for being connected to and receiving Radio Frequency signals from a radio; and

a shunt antenna, the shunt antenna configured for being connected to and receiving the Radio Frequency signals from the coupler via a feed line, the coupler being configured for tuning the shunt antenna to make the shunt antenna compatible with the received RF signals, the shunt antenna including;

a current return structure;

a grounding structure, the grounding structure being connected to the current return structure; and

a shunt plate structure, the shunt plate structure being connected to the current return structure via the grounding structure, the shunt plate structure including a first shunt plate and a second shunt plate, the first shunt plate being configured in a parallel orientation relative to the second shunt plate, the first plate being connected to the second shunt plate via a plurality of contact structures,

wherein the shunt antenna is configured for radiating the Radio Frequency signals.

10. A communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the coupler is a Commercial Off-The-Shelf High Frequency coupler.

11. A communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the coupler is an impedance tuner configured for matching an impedance profile of the shunt antenna.

12. A communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shunt antenna is a High Frequency shunt antenna.

13. A communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the grounding structure includes a plurality of support structures for facilitating mounting of the shunt antenna to a surface.

14. A communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shunt plate structure further includes a third shunt plate, the third shunt plate being configured in a parallel orientation relative the second shunt plate, the third shunt plate being connected to the second shunt plate via contact structures.

15. A communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shunt antenna is configured for radiating the Radio Frequency signals into air.

16. A communications system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the system is configured for being connected to an aircraft.

17. A communications system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the coupler is configured for being embedded in a fuselage of the aircraft.

18. A communications system as claimed in claim 17, wherein shunt antenna is configured for being mounted upon a surface of the aircraft, said surface being formed of composite materials.

19. A communications system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the surface is one of:

a leading edge of a vertical stabilizer;

a horizontal stabilizer;

a wing.