Rockwell Collins, Inc.

William C Jennings

James B West

Ross Keith Wilcoxon

John C Mather

Roger A Dana

Andrew M Vesel

Paul G Jagnow

Ted J Hoffmann

Mark A Mulbrook

A reconfigurable antenna system is provided. The reconfigurable antenna system includes a substrate and a vanadium dioxide film deposited on a surface of the substrate. The vanadium dioxide film is configured to transition from a first phase to a second phase in response to a stimulant, such as coherent laser light. The reconfigurable antenna system also includes a transition source such as an optical engine configured to stimulate the vanadium dioxide film from the first phase to the second phase. The reconfigurable antenna system also includes a microcontroller in communication with the transition source. The microcontroller is configured to change a configuration of the reconfigurable antenna system by providing the transition source to the film according to a predetermined antenna image, the configuration of the reconfigurable antenna system including at least one of the radiation polarization, an operating frequency, and radiation pattern of the reconfigurable antenna system.

Widely varied reconfigurable aperture antenna system utilizing ultra-fast transitioned aperture material

A variable frequency antenna including a dielectric element and an enclosure within the dielectric element. An electrically conductive liquid metal is disposed in the enclosure. The liquid metal is a eutectic mix of about 68.5% gallium, about 21.5% indium, and about 10% tin. Changing the temperature of the liquid metal causes the liquid metal to change volume within the enclosure, thereby changing an RF frequency characteristic of the liquid metal.

Adaptible antenna using liquid metal structures

The present invention is directed to an avionics system. The avionics system may include a plurality of multi-function antennas. Each multi-function antenna includes a plurality of antenna elements and an antenna electronics system, the antenna electronics system being communicatively coupled with the plurality of antenna elements. The multi-function antennas are configured for being mounted to an exterior surface of a pressure vessel (ex&#x2014;an exterior surface of an aircraft). The avionics system may further include a plurality of LRUs connected to the antennas via fiber optical cables, the LRUs being located in an interior of the aircraft. The LRUs receive communication control inputs from a communication system and establish settings of the LRUs based upon the received communication control inputs. The multi-function antennas are configured for performing operations (exs.&#x2014;transmit operations, receive operations) based upon the settings established by the LRUs and based upon the communication control inputs.

Multi-waveform antenna and remote electronics for avionics

The present invention is an adjustable beamwidth, loaded monopole antenna array. The array may include four monopole antennas. Each of the antennas may include a generally symmetric, tapered radiating element and an inductive shorting wall element. The array may further include a capacitive top hat element which may be connected to each of the antennas. The array may further include a ground plane element which may be connected to each of the antennas. The array may further include a plurality of feed posts which may be connected to the antennas. Further, each feed post may be connected to a power feed line. Each radiating element may be variably phase-fed and/or uniformly phase-fed for allowing the antenna array to effect a directional beam and/or an omni-directional beam.

Adjustable beamwidth aviation antenna with directional and omni-directional radiation modes

The present invention is a system which includes an interposer. The interposer may include a mounting plate for mounting the interposer to a fuselage of an aircraft. The interposer may interface with the fuselage to form a seal for maintaining pressure within the aircraft. The system may further include an antenna module. The antenna module may include a ground plane, an aircraft antenna, and a radome. The ground plane may be connected to the aircraft antenna and may be configured for allowing the antenna module to be mounted to the interposer. The radome may be connected to the ground plane to form an enclosure for housing the antenna. The antenna module may be removably connected to the interposer. The system may further include an interconnect for electrically connecting the antenna module to electronics located within the aircraft. The antenna module may be disconnected from the interposer without breaking the seal formed between the interposer and the fuselage.

System for providing a pressure vessel, radome, RF sub-system box and electrically small, wideband omni and/or adaptable beam antenna

A radio direction finding antenna is disclosed. A dielectric material is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation. The dielectric material has a first conductive surface. A radiating element or array of radiating elements are disposed within the dielectric material and are electrically isolated from the first conductive surface. The radiating element or array of radiating elements are positioned a distance away from the axis of rotation and are configured to be resonant at a predetermined frequency in the case of a single radiating element or various frequencies in the case of an array of radiating elements. Rotation of the dielectric material and radiating element or array of elements about the axis of rotation causes a Doppler effect in signals received by the radiating element or array of elements. An artillery fuse incorporating the radio direction finding antenna is also disclosed.

Doppler radio direction finding antenna

A terrestrially deployed flexible antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes a planar, flexible dielectric material having a first side and a second side. A flexible conductive ground plane is secured to the first side of the dielectric material. At least one flexible, planar conductive element is secured to the second side of the flexible dielectric material. The flexible dielectric material is bonded to form a collapsible enclosed volume with the ground plane forming an inner surface of the enclosed volume. A propellant is disposed within tie enclosed volume. The propellant releases a predetermined volume of gas when ignited. An igniter ignites the propellant to release the predetermined volume of gas, to thereby temporarily expand the enclosed volume to a predetermined shape such that the ground plane, the dielectric material, and the at least one conductive element cooperate to form a resonant antenna circuit.

Pressurized antenna for electronic warfare sensors and jamming equipment

An antenna for utilization in a fuse of an artillery shell is disclosed. The antenna comprises a radiator, a capacitance hat disposed at a first end of the radiator for capacitively loading the radiator and a ground plane disposed at a second end of the radiator such that the antenna is a monopole antenna. The antenna also includes a dielectric having a top surface, a bottom surface and a central longitudinal axis wherein the capacitance hat is disposed on the top surface of the dielectric and the ground plane is disposed on the bottom surface of the dielectric. A fuse utilized for detonating the explosive charge of an artillery shell is further disclosed. The fuse includes a fuse casing with the antenna of the present invention disposed within the interior cavity of the fuse casing.

Growing community of inventors

Iowa City, IA, United States of America

William C Jennings