RF Receiving and transmitting apparatuses having a microstrip-slot log-periodic antenna

• US 7,583,233 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Mark Russell, Hunsberger, Harold Kregg
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TRINH VO
• Application Number:
  US11/861,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20080007471A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 343/792.5
• US Class Current: 343/792.5
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/286 substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/287 integrated in a wing or a stabiliser
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 11/105 using a dielectric support

Abstract

A log-periodic antenna having a layer of dielectric media interposed between a microstrip log-periodic portion and a slot log-periodic portion where an array of two or more log-periodic antennas that may be placed about vehicles, such as air vehicles, or mounted on stationary structures, such as communication towers.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) receiving apparatus comprising:

an RF receiver and a plurality of antenna elements;

wherein a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is a log-periodic antenna element comprising;

a slot log-periodic antenna portion in proximity to a microstrip log-periodic antenna portion, wherein a dielectric medium is interposed between the slot log-periodic antenna portion and the microstrip log-periodic antenna portion.

2. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle.

3. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vehicle is an air vehicle having a fuselage.

4. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 3, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed conformally about the fuselage in an annular array.

5. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an air vehicle lifting surface wherein at least one antenna element is conformally disposed on the lifting surface.

6. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communications tower having a mast.

7. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 6, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed in an annular ring about the mast.

8. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a human-portable User interface.

9. A radio frequency (RF) receiving apparatus of claim 1,

wherein a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements has a first phase center oriented in a first direction;

and

wherein the plurality of antenna elements further comprises a second antenna element, proximate to the first antenna element, having a second phase center oriented in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction, the second antenna element is a log-periodic antenna element comprising;

a second slot log-periodic antenna portion in planar proximity to a second microstrip log-periodic antenna portion, wherein the dielectric medium is interposed between the second slot log-periodic antenna portion and the second microstrip log-periodic antenna portion.

10. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a vehicle.

11. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 10, wherein the vehicle is an air vehicle having a fuselage.

12. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 11, wherein each element of the plurality of elements is disposed conformally about the fuselage in an annular array.

13. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an air vehicle lifting surface wherein at least one element is conformally disposed on the air vehicle lifting surface.

14. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a communications tower having a mast.

15. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 14, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed circumferentially about the mast.

16. The RF receiving apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a human-portable user interface unit.

17. A radio frequency (RF) transmitting apparatus comprising:

an RF transmitter and a plurality of antenna elements;

wherein a first antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is a log-periodic antenna element comprising;

a slot log-periodic antenna portion in proximity to a microstrip log-periodic antenna portion, wherein a dielectric medium is interposed between the slot log-periodic antenna portion and the microstrip log-periodic antenna portion.

18. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a vehicle.

19. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is an air vehicle having a fuselage.

20. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 19, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed conformally about the fuselage in an annular array.

21. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an air vehicle lifting surface wherein at least one antenna element is conformally disposed on the lifting surface.

22. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a communications tower having a mast.

23. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 22, wherein each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements is disposed circumferentially about the mast.

24. The RF transmitting apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a human-portable user interface unit.