Raytheon Company

Chad Wangsvick

Gary M Salvail

Steven Carson

Mark E Kusbel

Jacquelyn A Vitaz

Joshua A Whorf

Joseph Robson

William D Ake

Shah A Nejad

Leonard Santa-Cruz

Rafael A Ihly

Drew Campbell

Stephen Sekelsky

Michael E Gomez

A wideband direction finding (WBDF) aperture employs a limited number of extreme wideband end-fire antenna elements capable of covering a wide frequency bandwidth. Arranging variable sized antenna elements in a specific pattern, the WBDF aperture enables direction finding capability covering an extreme wide frequency band. The pattern arrangement of variable sized elements offers the signal discernment to limit ambiguities in signal angle of arrival. This small form factor design enables the WBDF aperture to be mounted on the surface of a missile, munition, or small UAS wing or fuselage. The WBDF aperture offers a combination of differing sized antenna elements arranged in a specific pattern, combined with direction finding and signal tracking to provide an unambiguous relative azimuth and elevation angle of the target.

Low swap aperture for direction finding across extreme wide band

A datalink such as used on high-speed vehicles (missiles, guided-projectiles, manned or unmanned aircraft) includes an integrated conformal antenna array and out-of-band rejection filter for use with an RF radio. Integration of a single rejection filter between the EME power received by the antenna array and the coaxial RF connector effectively protects the connector as well as the radio. The connector can now be designed based solely on the transmit power requirements of the radio. The resultant connector is smaller and takes up less space inside the vehicle.

Conformal RF antenna array and integrated out-of-band EME rejection filter

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a UAV comprising a fuselage, a rotor, and a patch antenna element. The patch antenna element, which is provided from a patch antenna stack-up, is conformally disposed on an outer surface of the UAV's fuselage. The patch antenna comprises a first substrate, patch conductor, intermediate substrate, bottom substrate, and ground plane. The patch conductor is disposed on a top surface of the first substrate. A first surface of the intermediate substrate, which is a magneto-dielectric material, is disposed on a bottom surface of the first substrate. A top surface of the bottom substrate is disposed on a second surface of the intermediate substrate. A ground plane conductor is disposed on a bottom surface of the bottom substrate.

Broadband unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) patch antenna

An antenna array includes a plurality of &#xbd; flared notch radiators recessed within a missile nose cone and positioned in a circumferential arrangement around and extending radially from the payload's metal skin to contact an annular metal cover that provides a ground plane such that each &#xbd; flared notch radiator is inclined towards the boresight axis. The payload's metal skin provides an image plane for each &#xbd; flared notch radiator to launch RF energy with a radial polarization normal to the image plane forward through the annular RF radome. Each &#xbd; flared notch radiator may be positioned within a 5&#xbd; sided waveguide to further improve directionality and isolation.

Conformal broadband directional &#xbd; flared notch radiator antenna array

Systems and methods for wireless signal communication in flight vehicles are disclosed. In an embodiment, a system includes a first portion that generates a first wireless zone. A second portion is decoupleable from the first portion and generates a second wireless zone. The first wireless zone and the second wireless zone communicate flight-related information while the first portion and the second portion are coupled, and discontinue the communication subsequent to the separation of the first portion from the second structural portion. In another embodiment, a method includes establishing a first wireless zone in a first portion of a flight vehicle, and establishing a second wireless zone in a second decoupleable portion of the flight vehicle. Flight-related information is communicated between the first wireless zone and the second wireless zone while the first portion and the second portion are coupled, and communication is discontinued after decoupling.

Wireless communication system and method for wireless signal communication in flight vehicles

A compact broadband antenna. The antenna includes a first mechanism for receiving input electromagnetic energy. A second mechanism provides radiated electromagnetic energy upon receipt of the input electromagnetic energy. The radiated electromagnetic energy is provided via an antenna element having one or more angled surfaces. A third mechanism directs the radiated electromagnetic energy in a specific direction. In a more specific embodiment, the third mechanism includes a reflective backstop that is selectively positioned behind the second mechanism to reflect back-radiated energy forward of the second mechanism, thereby causing reflected electromagnetic energy to combine in phase with forward-radiated energy from the second mechanism. The third mechanism further includes plural layers of dielectric material. One or more of the plural layers of dielectric material partially surround an angled radiating surface of the second mechanism, which is implemented via a substantially conical transmit element in the specific embodiment.

Compact broadband antenna

A signal divider/combiner ( ) and method combines first and second frequency signals received by microstrip patch antennas ( ). A first transmission line stub ( ) blocks the second frequency signals on the first signal receiving path, and a second transmission line stub ( ) blocks the first frequency signals on the second signal receiving path providing increased signal levels at a receiver input ( ). In one embodiment, the transmission line stubs are open-circuit stubs and are positioned a quarter-wavelength from a combining junction ( ) formed from stripline transmission lines ( ). The transmission line stubs ( ) also reduce radiation of the first frequency signal by the second antenna as well as radiation of the second frequency signal by the first antenna. In one embodiment, the first and second frequency signals are the L and L signals provided by the Global Positioning System.

Growing community of inventors

Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Chad Wangsvick