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:
Apr. 24, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1999
Allan C. Goetz, La Jolla, CA (US);
Jeffrey A. Douglass, Poway, CA (US);
TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
A compliant RF feed system (,) that provides impedance matching for VHF/AM, VHF/FM, UHF and L-band frequencies. The feed system (,) includes a feed post (,) electrically connected to an antenna element (,) at one end and a matching circuit package (,) at an opposite end, where the feed post (,) extends across a non-conductive gap (,) between the antenna element (,) and a conductive aircraft component (,). The matching package (,) includes a compressible bellows (,) mounted in the package (,), where the feed post (,) contacts the bellows (,) in a compression engagement to provide an electrical connection between the feed post (,) and a RF matching circuit (,) in the matching package (,). An impedance transformer (,) is provided in the matching package (,) to match the impedance of the bellows (,) to the matching circuit (,). The bellows (,) allows the electrical connection between the antenna element (,) and the aircraft component (,) to accommodate vibrations during aircraft operation. In order to accommodate L-band frequencies, a feedthrough (,) is provided between an L-band antenna element (,) and an L-band matching network (,) in the package (,). The feedthrough (,) extends through the feed post (,) and the bellows (,), and is electrically isolated therefrom.