Integration of antenna structures into balloon envelopes

• US 9,306,271 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2015
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Loon, LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Biffle, Cliff L., DeVaul, Richard Wayne, Weaver, Joshua, Staaf, Anton Valdemar, Teller, Eric, Cassidy, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US14/841,894
• Time in Patent Office: 217 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1292 for mounting on balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/286 substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/04 Resonant antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/06 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/44 Transmit/receive switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18502 Airborne stations

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for receiving and transmitting signals at a balloon. Received signals can be received at the balloon, which can include a payload and an envelope. The envelope can include at least a first antenna section and a second antenna section. Both the first and second antenna sections are configured at least to receive the received signals and convey at least the received signals to the payload. The first antenna section can include a first metallization pattern to receive a first type of signal. The second antenna section can include a second metallization pattern to receive a second type of signal, with the first metallization pattern being different from the second metallization pattern.

Claims

1. A balloon, comprising:

a payload; and

an envelope comprising a plurality of antenna sections;

where a first antenna section of the plurality of antenna sections is different from a second antenna section of the plurality of antenna sections, wherein the first antenna section includes a first antenna configured to receive a first type of signal, the second antenna section includes a second antenna configured to receive a second type of signal different from the first type of signal, and both the first antenna and the second antenna are configured at least to receive signals and to convey the received signals to the payload,

wherein the first antenna comprises a first metallization pattern configured to receive the first type of signal, and

wherein the second antenna comprises a second metallization pattern configured to receive the second type of signal, the first metallization pattern being different from the second metallization pattern.

2. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first antenna section comprises a metallized section.

3. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first metallization pattern comprises a symmetric metallization pattern.

4. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first metallization pattern comprises an asymmetric metallization pattern.

5. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first metallization pattern comprises a patch metallization pattern.

6. The balloon of claim 5, wherein the patch metallization pattern comprises a patch array.

7. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first metallization pattern comprises a horizontal metallization pattern.

8. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first metallization pattern comprises a vertical metallization pattern.

9. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first metallization pattern comprises a two-dimensional (2D) metallization pattern.

10. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first metallization pattern comprises a Z-shaped metallization pattern.

11. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the first antenna section and the second antenna section are separated by a seam, and wherein the seam comprises an insulating material.

12. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the payload further comprises:

a control system, configured to receive signals and switch between the antenna sections such that when the control system is switched to a receiving antenna section, the received signals are received at the control system from the receiving antenna section.

13. The balloon of claim 12, wherein the control system is further configured to transmit transmittable signals, and wherein, when the control system is switched to a transmitting antenna section, the control system is configured to provide the transmittable signals to the transmitting antenna section for transmission.

14. The balloon of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antenna sections are disposed symmetrically about a longitudinal axis of the balloon.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving a first signal of a first type at a balloon, wherein the balloon comprises an envelope, wherein the envelope comprises a plurality of antenna sections, wherein a first antenna section of the plurality of antenna sections is different from a second antenna section of the plurality of antenna sections, wherein the first antenna section includes a first antenna configured to receive the first signal, and wherein the first antenna comprises a first metallization pattern configured to receive and convey the first signal; and

receiving a second signal of a second type different from the first type at the balloon, wherein the second antenna section includes a second antenna configured to receive the second signal, and wherein the second antenna comprises a second metallization pattern configured to receive and convey the second signal, the first metallization pattern being different from the second metallization pattern.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the balloon is initially operating in a first mode in which the balloon operates the first antenna to receive the first signal, the method further comprising:

while the balloon is operating in the first mode, detecting a trigger event; and

in response to detecting the trigger event, the balloon switching from operation in the first mode to operation in a second mode, wherein the switching comprises switching from operating the first antenna to operating the second antenna to receive the second signal.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to receiving the first signal, determining a transmittable signal; and

transmitting the transmittable signal from the balloon using a transmitting antenna section, wherein the transmitting antenna section comprises either the first antenna section or the second antenna section.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining the transmittable signal comprises:

determining diagnostic information about the balloon; and

generating the transmittable signal based on the diagnostic information.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmittable signal is based on the first signal.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the balloon further comprises a control system, and wherein transmitting the transmittable signal comprises:

selecting the transmitting antenna section using the control system; and

transmitting the transmittable signals using the transmitting antenna section.