USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

University of Massachusetts

John T Logan

Rick Kindt

Marinos N Vouvakis

William Mark Dorsey

Anna Stumme

Systems and methods are provided for enabling a notch-based element that retains traditional notch ultra wideband (UWB) performance while having a highly-producible/-scalable structure, high power handling, a simple single-ended 50 ohm feeding, and relative insensitivity to a conductive back-plate. Embodiments of the present disclosure improve upon the traditional notch structure to further offer shorter element depth, lighter weight, and modularized assembly.

Broadband operation notched active phased array radiator with treated edges

Embodiments are directed configurations of antenna elements for conformal phased arrays (e.g., circular or cylindrical) to support either omnidirectional or directional high-gain beams. Antenna elements may be spaced about a circle or cylinder with a vertical and circumferential element spacing that is based on a wavelength of an operational frequency. Such a configuration of antenna elements enables easy scaling to different frequency bands and a straightforward extension from single-linear to dual-linear polarization. Furthermore, the antenna elements and their configurations enable conformal phased arrays to be formed as one integrated structure or with multiple modular structures.

Conformal phased arrays

Systems and methods are provided for Planar Ultrawideband Modular Antenna (PUMA) arrays that use slots as primary radiating mechanisms. Slot-based PUMA arrays in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure can achieve approximately the same performance as dipole-based PUMA arrays. Systems and methods according to embodiments of the present disclosure enable wideband slot-based antenna arrays that can be planar printed using etched metallic traces and plated through vias, have a single input per unit cell, and have unit cells that are coupled to radiating slot(s) that are continuous across multiple unit cells.

Unbalanced slot aperture (USA) radiator

Systems and methods are provided for enabling ambient radio frequency (RF) energy to be harvested with a device. In an embodiment, wideband phased array antennas in the device efficiently harvest ambient RF energy over a broad electromagnetic spectrum, and circuitry adapts this RF energy into DC power for battery charging or energy storage. In an embodiment, the device is a modularly connected/disconnected, passive, wireless RF-to-DC adapter accessory that can ultimately be used to supply power to an electric apparatus and/or transporter.

Wireless radio power adapter device

Structures and configurations for planar ultrawideband modular antenna arrays. One example of a PUMA array includes an unbalanced RF interface, a lattice of horizontal dipole segments directly fed with the unbalanced RF interface, the lattice being arranged in either a dual-offset dual-polarized configuration or a single-polarization configuration, and a metallic plate capacitively-coupled to the lattice of horizontal dipole segments and pinned to a ground plane with a first plated via.

Planar ultrawideband modular antenna array having improved bandwidth

Systems and methods are provided for enhancing the electrical performance of ultra-wideband (UWB) electronically scanned arrays (ESA) for use in multifunctional, electronic warfare, communications, radar, and sensing systems. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide designed metal and dielectric elements placed above the arbitrary radiator (i.e., in the superstrate region) to simultaneously aid impedance and polarization challenges. These elements can be compatible with arbitrary antenna element types.

Superstrate polarization and impedance rectifying elements

Various aspect and embodiments of a modular wideband antenna element are disclosed. The antenna element includes a support structure comprising a feed network and first and second arbitrarily-shaped radiator elements extending along a main axis of the antenna elements. Each of the first and second arbitrarily-shaped radiator elements comprises disconnected radiator body components separated by gap regions. Each arbitrarily-shaped radiator elements has a wider end and a tapering free end to provide a tapered slot region. The wider ends of the first and second arbitrarily-shaped radiator elements are located closer to the support structure. The tapering free ends of first and second arbitrarily-shaped radiator elements are located farther from the support structure. The first and second arbitrarily-shaped radiator elements are configured to be electrically coupled to the feed network.

Growing community of inventors

Alexandria, VA, United States of America

John T Logan