Ems Technologies, Inc.

Donald N Black

Terence D Newbury

John Daniel Voss

John L Beafore

Enrique Jesus Ruiz

William M Smith

John Haslam

Michael G Guler

Bayne Bunce

Alan Jones

R Dean Parr

One embodiment provides for a gradient lens having a first substantially hemispherical member comprising a first convex surface and a base and a second substantially hemispherical member projecting away from the base of the first hemispherical member and comprising a second convex surface. The gradient lens also includes a plurality of gradient layers disposed within the first hemispherical member, each gradient layer concentrically aligned to the first hemispherical member and comprising an index of refraction different than that of adjacent gradient layers.

Shaped gradient lens

A gradient lens capable of focusing electromagnetic rays received at a first lens surface onto a second lens surface. The first lens surface and second lens surface can include convex surfaces protruding in opposite directions from a substantially planar surface. The lens can include a gradient index between the first surface and the planar surface and a gradient index between the two convex surfaces. The lens can include two or more gradient layers, each gradient layer having an index of refraction different than that of adjacent gradient layers. The gradient layers can focus parallel electromagnetic rays incident on the first surface onto a focal point at the second surface of the lens. As the parallel electromagnetic rays pass from one gradient layer to the next, the rays are redirected toward the focal point.

A broadband bicone antenna supports frequency selective control of electrical length. Frequency selective control of the electrical length of an antenna can provide an antenna exhibiting two or more different electrical lengths where use of each length depends upon the operating frequencies of the signals. The electrical length of the bicone antenna may be reduced in response to higher operating frequencies. Such reduction in electrical length at higher frequencies can provide improved antenna radiation patterns for the antenna. Further, the electrical length of the bicone antenna may be increased in response to low frequency operation. Such increase in electrical length may improve VSWR performance at lower frequencies. Simultaneous operation of the bicone antenna at varied electrical lengths for varied frequency bands can provide improved broadband performance of the antenna.

Frequency control of electrical length for bicone antennas

A high impedance bicone antenna system supporting ultra wideband operation. The antenna may comprise a reduced aperture size and reduced half-angles of the conductive cones forming the antenna. Reduction in cone angles may increase the impedance of the cones. An impedance matching mechanism for interfacing to the high impedance bicone may be positioned within one of the cones by a dielectric material. The impedance matching mechanism may be a flat conductive taper functioning as an impedance matching transmission line between an external feed line and the antenna. The conductive taper may function as a center conductor of a coaxial feed mechanism where the inside of the cone around the taper serves as the outside conductor, or return, of the tapered feed. The geometry of the cones may be modified to provide one or more end segments that are substantially cylindrical.

High impedance bicone antenna

A broadband omni-directional bicone antenna. The antenna can comprise conductive surfaces of conical voids provided within a solid dielectric structure. The outside surface of the solid structure can support a radio frequency (RF) lens geometry operable for beam forming. The beam forming can modify the elevation pattern of the electromagnetic radiation from the bicone antenna. The solid dielectric structure may be machined or molded from a single piece of material. The conical voids provided within the solid structure can be metallized to provide conductive bicone radiators. The outer surface beam shaping lenses can be zoned or continuous and can provide elevation patterns with increased gain, cosecant squared falloff, or various other patterns. The beam shaping lens may be formed from any low-loss dielectric. Alternatively, the lens may be formed from a less dense material such as dielectric foam that can support radial conductive beam forming vanes.

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Cumming, GA, United States of America

Donald N Black