RADIO FREQUENCY ANTENNA AND MONITOR

• US 20180145419A1
• Filed: 01/18/2018
• Published: 05/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RodRadar Ltd.
• Original Assignee: RodRadar Ltd.
• Inventors: ROULSTON, John Francis, LEVINE, Ely, MATZNER, Haim
• Granted Patent: US 10,389,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/18 the slot being backed by, or formed in boundary wall of, a resonant cavity longitudinally slotted cylinder H01Q13/12 ; Open cavity antennas

Abstract

A ground penetration radar (GPR) antenna system is integrated into a digging machine such that the system is configured to remain operable under the same environmental conditions as the machine. The system includes an RF antenna and an antenna monitor. The antenna includes a rectangular hollow enclosure made of a conductive material defining a cavity therein and is affixed to a bucket of the digging machine. The antenna monitor is rigidly connected to the hollow enclosure and monitors inertial antenna location and/or movement.

Claims

1. A ground penetration radar (GPR) antenna system, integrated into a digging machine such that the system is configured to remain operable under the same environmental conditions as the machine, the system comprising:

an RF antenna comprising a rectangular hollow enclosure made of a conductive material defining a cavity therein, said antenna being affixed to a bucket of said digging machine; and

an antenna monitor, rigidly connected to said hollow enclosure, to monitor inertial antenna location and/or movement.

2. The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein said inertial antenna location and/or movement comprises at least one out of the inertial position of the RF antenna, the inertial velocity of the RF antenna and the inertial acceleration of the RF antenna.

3. The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein said inertial antenna movement comprises antenna movements in six degrees of freedom as a function of time.

4. The antenna system according to claim 3 where the six degrees of freedom comprise inertial acceleration and rotational rate along three orthogonal axes.

5. The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein said antenna monitor is positioned within said cavity, or within a compartment connected rigidly to said cavity.

6. The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein said antenna monitor is an attitude and heading reference system.

7. The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein said antenna monitor is an IMU (inertial measurement unit).

8. The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the hollow enclosure is made of a durable material.

9. The antenna system according to claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises:

a bow tie shaped slot in a first portion of the hollow enclosure, wherein the bow tie shaped slot has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis of symmetry;

an elliptical conductor which tapers along a longitudinal axis of the conductor from a feed point of a port, wherein a projection of the conductor on the bow tie shaped slot overlaps said transverse axis of symmetry; and

a dielectric element that at least partially fills the cavity and the bow tie shaped slot and encases the conductor to maintain the conductor in a location above said slot.

10. The antenna system according to claim 9 wherein the port connects to a co-axial transmission line whose core is coupled to the conductor.

11. The antenna system according to claim 9 wherein the port is coupled to a RF feed without a balun.

12. The antenna system according to claim 9 wherein the antenna does not include a balun.

13. The antenna system according to claim 9 wherein said longitudinal axis of said slot is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of the conductor.

14. The antenna system according to claim 9 wherein the dielectric material completely fills the cavity and the bow tie shaped slot.

15. A method for a ground penetration radar (GPR) antenna which is integrated into a digging machine such that the antenna is configured to remain operable under the same environmental conditions as the machine, the method comprising:

having an RF antenna comprising a rectangular hollow enclosure made of a conductive material defining a cavity therein;

rigidly connecting an antenna monitor to said hollow enclosure;

affixing said RF antenna and said antenna monitor to a bucket of said digging machine; and

monitoring an inertial location and/or movement of said antenna with said antenna monitor.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said inertial antenna location and/or movement comprises at least one out of the inertial position of the RF antenna, the inertial velocity of the RF antenna and the inertial acceleration of the RF antenna.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein said inertial antenna movement comprises antenna movements in six degrees of freedom as a function of time.

18. The method according to claim 17 where the six degrees of freedom comprise inertial acceleration and rotational rate along three orthogonal axes.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein said rigidly connecting comprises positioning said antenna monitor within said cavity, or within a compartment connected rigidly to said cavity.

20. The method according to claim 15 wherein said antenna monitor is one of:

an attitude and heading reference system and an IMU.