Fast, digital frequency tuning, winglet dipole antenna system
First Claim
1. An antenna system, comprising:
- a planar, top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to a system output port, wherein said top-loaded dipole antenna comprises first and second top-loaded blades; and
first and second strings of inductors coupled to respective blades, said system arranged such that the inductors in each string can be selectively connected in series to tune said top-loaded dipole antenna to a selected tuning frequency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Antenna system embodiments are illustrated that include a planar, top-loaded dipole antenna and a planar elliptical dipole antenna arranged substantially coplanar and within the top-loaded dipole antenna. These antenna structures facilitate their combination with tuning coil chains, baluns and impedance matching circuits to operate over multiple frequency bands. System embodiments exhibit high gain and selectivity and may be digitally tuned over wide frequency bands (e.g., 30-600 MHz). The embodiments may be digitally tuned to support operational modes such as frequency hopping to thereby realize a secure communication system. Because these embodiments are configured to operate in the absence of a ground plane, they are especially suited for mounting on various portions of an aircraft'"'"'s structure. For example, they may be configured as winglets and situated far out on wingtips to thus free the remainder of an aircraft'"'"'s structure for other operational systems.
25 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An antenna system, comprising:
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a planar, top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to a system output port, wherein said top-loaded dipole antenna comprises first and second top-loaded blades; and first and second strings of inductors coupled to respective blades, said system arranged such that the inductors in each string can be selectively connected in series to tune said top-loaded dipole antenna to a selected tuning frequency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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15. An antenna system, comprising:
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a planar, top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to a system output port; and a planar elliptical dipole antenna arranged substantially coplanar with said top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to said output port;
wherein;said top-loaded dipole antenna comprises a first blade terminating in an elongate first top load and a second blade terminating in an elongate second top load; and said elliptical dipole antenna is positioned between said first and second top loads.
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17. An antenna, comprising:
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a first set of nested elliptical rings; and a second set of nested elliptical rings arranged in a dipole relationship with said first set, wherein the centers of the elliptical rings in each of said first and second sets are progressively spaced towards the other of said first and second sets. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An antenna system to be coupled to an aircraft wingtip, comprising:
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a planar, top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to a system output port, wherein said top-loaded dipole antenna comprises first and second top-loaded blades; a planar elliptical dipole antenna arranged substantially coplanar with said top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to said output port; a planar dielectric radome aerodynamically shaped to closely surround said top-loaded dipole antenna and said elliptical dipole antenna and configured to couple to said wingtip; and first and second strings of inductors coupled to respective blades, said system arranged such that the inductors in each string can be selectively connected in series to tune said top-loaded dipole antenna to a selected tuning frequency. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An antenna system to be coupled to an aircraft wingtip, comprising:
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a planar, top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to a system output port; a planar elliptical dipole antenna arranged substantially coplanar with said top-loaded dipole antenna to provide signals to said output port; and a planar dielectric radome aerodynamically shaped to closely surround said top-loaded dipole antenna and said elliptical dipole antenna and configured to couple to said wingtip;
wherein;said top-loaded dipole antenna comprises a first blade terminating in an elongate first top load and a second blade terminating in an elongate second top load; and said elliptical dipole antenna is positioned between said first and second top loads.
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Specification