Integrated L/C/Ku band antenna with omni-directional coverage

• US 8,466,843 B1
• Filed: 03/19/2009
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Doane, Jonathan P., Herting, Brian J., Paulsen, Lee M., Wolf, Jeremiah D., El Sallal, Wajih A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, GRAHAM P
• Application Number:
  US12/383,099
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 343/725, 343/729, 343/846, 343/853, 343/858, 343/872, 343/893
• US Class Current: 343/725
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/30 Combinations of separate antenna units operating in different wavebands and connected to a common feeder system
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated antenna system is disclosed which may include a first antenna sub-system. The integrated antenna system may further include a second antenna sub-system. The first antenna sub-system may be a Ku-band antenna sub-system. The second antenna sub-system may be one of: an L-band antenna sub-system or a C-band antenna sub-system. The second antenna sub-system may be tightly/seamlessly integrated with the first antenna sub-system, thereby providing a system with integrated antenna bands which provides omni-directional coverage.

Claims

1. An antenna system, comprising:

a Ku-band antenna sub-system, the Ku-band antenna sub-system including a diplexer and a Ku-band antenna, said diplexer being formed of a metal having dimensions of about two inches by one inch by one-half inch, said Ku-band antenna configured for being mounted upon said diplexer, said Ku-band antenna including an antenna body portion and a Ku-band feed network, said antenna body portion including a plurality of radiating surfaces, said Ku-band feed network including a Ku-band feed board configured for providing a feed to the Ku-band antenna; and

an L-band antenna sub-system, the L-band antenna sub-system including a plurality of L-band monopoles and a planar support, said plurality of L-band monopoles are configured for providing a wideband response, said response being a value included in a range of values ranging from 1350 Megahertz to 1850 Megahertz, said Ku-band antenna sub-system and said plurality of L-band monopoles being configured for being mounted upon said planar support, said planar support configured for serving as a local, L-band ground plane and an L-band feed plane for the plurality of L-band monopoles,

wherein the Ku-band diplexer is configured as a post supporting the Ku-band feed network and the Ku-band antenna, and said L-band antenna sub-system is physically integrated with said Ku-band antenna sub-system by positioning the Ku-band diplexer on and extending above a side of the planar support, positioning the Ku-band feed network above the Ku-band diplexer, the Ku-band feed network including a Ku-band feed board configured for being contained within the antenna body portion of the Ku-band antenna and positioning the L-band monopoles in a circular configuration above the same side of the planar support, below the Ku-band feed network and antenna, and spaced around the Ku-band diplexer to provide omni-directional radiation patterns from the Ku-band and L-band antenna sub-systems while supporting both antenna sub-systems above the same side of the planar support member.

2. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said diplexer is a metallic, Ku-band diplexer.

3. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diplexer is generally centrally-positioned on said planar support.

4. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of monopoles consist of four monopoles antennas evenly spaced around said diplexer.

5. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of L-band monopoles comprise radiating surfaces oriented at an angle with respect to the planar support and the Ku-band antenna comprise radiating surfaces oriented perpendicular to the planar support.

6. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a radome supported by the planar support.

7. An antenna system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said radome is configured for at least substantially enclosing the Ku-band antenna and the plurality of L-band monopoles between the planar support and the radome.

8. An antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of L-band monopoles include at least four monopoles configured for providing an omni-directional radiation pattern.