The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 02, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 25, 1997
John E Sirmalis, Barrington, RI (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
The invention provides a hydrodynamically and stealth shaped suite of antas and sensors mounted above a hydrodynamically and stealth shaped mast. The mast is configured to extend from the sail of a submerged vessel to the surface so as to provide the vessel with satellite communications capabilities. The hydrodynamic shape of the mast minimizes the surface wake and the stealth shape of the antenna suite and mast minimizes the radar cross section of the system, lessening detection by hostile forces. To obtain a stealth shape, the radar suite utilizes a conformal phased array antenna. In addition, electro-optical sensors in the antenna suite provide visual, environmental and other sensing capabilities to the system. Further, structurally embedded ESM antennas provide ESM and radar capabilities. When in the retracted position, the antenna system conforms to the hydrodynamic and stealth shape of the submerged vessel and the conformal phased array of the antenna suite forms an integral part of the conformal phased array of the vessel.