Digitally tuned electrically small antenna

Abstract

An antenna system suitable for airborne use is disclosed. The system is of the type having a blade forming a folded monopole antenna with one terminal serving as a radio frequency input and a second terminal connectable to tuning apparatus. Tuning components switchable to various values are connected at the second terminal. A processor receives the value of a new frequency to be used, computes from stored reference values the values of tuning components calculated to render the antenna in tune at the selected frequency, and commands the switching of the tuning components to the calculated values. A phase discriminator at the first terminal provides the processor with an indication of the extent to which the antenna is in tune at the selected frequency. If it is not in tune, the processor iteratively commands the switching of the tuning components until new values are reached for which the antenna is in tune. Then, in response to the new tuning component values, the processor can compute and store new reference values. After some period of use, the adaptive nature of the system results in an antenna which can switch from frequency to frequency at speeds compatible with contemporary radio designs.