Dynamically allocated broadband multi-tap antenna

• US 9,985,352 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2016
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mead Gill, Margaret A., Rivett, Matthew G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancuso, Huedung
• Application Number:
  US15/135,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20170310010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 343876
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 5/16 Conjugate devices, i.e. devices having at least one port decoupled from one other port
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0006 Particular feeding systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/08 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path waveguide fed H01Q21/0037
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/50 Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation

Abstract

A dynamically allocated broadband multi-tap antenna comprises a plurality of sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals; a plurality of antenna taps, each of which is connected to one or more of the conductors; a plurality of RF switches, each of which is connected to one of the antenna taps; and a plurality of combiners (which also function as splitters), each of which is connected to one or more of the RF switches. The RF switches are controlled to dynamically allocate and interconnect the antenna taps with a selected combiner, to communicate the RF signals between the conductors connected to the antenna taps and the selected combiner. The RF signals received by the conductors are combined into an output signal at the selected combiner, while an input signal at the selected combiner is split for transmission as the RF signals by the conductors.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors are sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals;

a plurality of antenna taps, wherein each of the antenna taps is connected to one or more of the conductors and the antenna taps connect the conductors to each other;

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) switches, wherein each of the RF switches is connected to one of the antenna taps; and

a plurality of combiners, wherein each of the combiners is connected to one or more of the RF switches;

wherein one or more of the RF switches are controlled to dynamically allocate one or more of the antenna taps and conductors connected thereto to a selected one of the combiners, so that the conductors form an antenna element at a desired frequency, by interconnecting the one or more of the antenna taps with the selected one of the combiners, to communicate the RF signals between the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps and the selected one of the combiners.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the RF signals received by the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps are combined into an output signal at a port of the selected one of the combiners.

3. The antenna of claim 1, wherein an input signal at a port of the selected one of the combiners is split for transmission as the RF signals by the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps.

4. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a broadband antenna used by more than one function, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for a separate antenna for each function, while allowing the antenna to be integrated into environments with constraints on space.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the conductors are arranged in a linear array.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna taps comprise resistive materials that increase a bandwidth at which the antenna functions.

7. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna taps connect the conductors to each other in a serial arrangement.

8. The antenna of claim 1, wherein every two adjacent conductors are connected to one of the antenna taps.

9. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna taps comprise balanced or unbalanced transmission lines.

10. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the conductors form the antenna element at the desired frequency to maximize power delivered to the antenna taps at the desired frequency.

11. A method of transmitting or receiving radio frequency signals, comprising:

transmitting or receiving one or more radio frequency (RF) signals at an antenna, wherein the antenna comprises;

a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors are sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting or receiving the RF signals;

a plurality of antenna taps, wherein each of the antenna taps is connected to one or more of the conductors and the antenna taps connect the conductors to each other;

a plurality of radio frequency (RF) switches, wherein each of the RF switches is connected to one of the antenna taps; and

a plurality of combiners, wherein each of the combiners is connected to one or more of the RF switches; and

controlling one or more of the RF switches to dynamically allocate one or more of the antenna taps and conductors connected thereto to a selected one of the combiners, so that the conductors form an antenna element at a desired frequency, by interconnecting the one or more of the antenna taps with the selected one of the combiners, to communicate the RF signals between the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps and the selected one of the combiners.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the RF signals received by the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps are combined into an output signal at a port of the selected one of the combiners.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein an input signal at a port of the selected one of the combiners is split for transmission as the RF signals by the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna is a broadband antenna used by more than one function, thereby reducing or eliminating the need for a separate antenna for each function, while allowing the antenna to be integrated into environments with constraints on space.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the conductors are arranged in a linear array.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna taps act as resistive materials.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna taps connect the conductors to each other in a serial arrangement.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein every two adjacent conductors are connected to one of the antenna taps.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the antenna taps comprise balanced or unbalanced transmission lines.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the conductors form the antenna element at the desired frequency to maximize power delivered to the antenna taps at the desired frequency.

21. A method of fabricating an antenna, comprising:

providing a plurality of conductors, wherein the conductors are sub-wavelength conductors used for transmitting or receiving radio frequency (RF) signals;

connecting a plurality of antenna taps to the conductors, wherein each of the antenna taps is connected to one or more of the conductors and the antenna taps connect the conductors to each other;

connecting a plurality of radio frequency (RF) switches to the antenna taps, wherein each of the RF switches is connected to one of the antenna taps; and

connecting a plurality of combiners to the RF switches, wherein each of the combiners is connected to one or more of the RF switches;

such that, when one or more of the RF switches are controlled to dynamically allocate one or more of the antenna taps and conductors connected thereto to a selected one of the combiners, so that the conductors form an antenna element at a desired frequency, by interconnecting the one or more of the antenna taps with the selected one of the combiners, the RF signals are communicated between the conductors connected to the one or more of the antenna taps and the selected one of the combiners.