USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Paul Medeiros

David A Tonn

David J Bamford

Douglas A Sasko

An adjustable antenna is provided with a linear central support defining a helical axis, and first and second support disks extending radially outward from the central support. The support disks are rotatable around the central support and the second support disk is translatable along the linear central support. An antenna element is coupled to the first and second support disks to define a helical path around the central support between the first and second support disks. An adjustment component is capable of translating one of the first and second support disks along the linear central support and of rotating at least one of the support disks around the central support to change the helical pitch of the antenna element.

Adjustable helical antenna

A top fed, wide band, dual pitch, quadrifilar helix antenna with hemispherical radiation pattern coverage with a reduced back lobe over a wide bandwidth is described wherein one end of the antenna's helix has a high pitch angle that adjoins the other end of the helix with a low pitch angle. The dual pitch angles provide stable radiation patterns and exceptional impedance response to support ultra-high frequency, ultra-high frequency follow-on and mobile user object system circuits. Broadband performance is further aided by providing a radome that dielectrically loads the antenna.

Top fed wideband dual pitch quadrifilar antenna

Means and methods of remotely powering a plurality of sensor coils are described. The plurality of sensor coils can be inductively coupled to a single, primary coil so as to bias the active circuitry of the sensors. The primary and sensor coils can have a separation on the order of inches, such that the sensors can be mounted exterior to a vessel and the primary coil can be mounted interior to the vessel. In some embodiments, the primary coil can be a wire coil. In other embodiments, the primary coil can be a planar coil pattern etched onto a printed circuit board.

Inductive coupling method for remote powering of sensors

This invention serves as a method and apparatus for delivering power to a series of remote sensors in an on hull sensor grid for the purpose of biasing the active circuitry on the sensors. It requires no physical connection between the source of power and the sensor. It works by delivering electrical energy across the insulating gap that separates the sensor from the hull by means of a displacement current. In particular, the method and device include a conducting layer interposed between inner and outer decouplers and a ground plane interposed between a bonding layer and the inner decoupler. An application of alternating current to the ground plane will activate the conducting layer and provide power to the sensors at a location of the outer decoupler. The inner decoupler acts as a capacitor and the ground plane further provides an electrical path back to the hull.

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Middleboro, MA, United States of America

Paul Medeiros