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:
Sep. 19, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 10, 2004
Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Seattle, WA (US);
Julio A. Navarro, Kent, WA (US);
Derek E. Iverson, Kent, WA (US);
Scott A. Raby, Redmond, WA (US);
Jonathan M. Saint Clair, Seattle, WA (US);
Julio A. Navarro, Kent, WA (US);
Derek E. Iverson, Kent, WA (US);
Scott A. Raby, Redmond, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
An antenna system for communicating electromagnetic and optical signals using a common aperture is provided. The system includes at least one optical phased array terminal integrated with an optically transparent electromagnetic antenna such that the optically transparent electromagnetic antenna and the optical phased array terminal share a common aperture. The optically transparent electromagnetic antenna includes a substrate fabricated of a substantially electrically non-conductive material that is substantially optically transparent to optical signals having a wavelength within a specific portion of the optical spectrum. An antenna element layer, including an array of electromagnetic antenna elements electrically connected by transmission lines and a plurality of phase shifters electrically connected to the electromagnetic antenna elements is disposed onto the substrate. The antenna elements and the transmission lines are fabricated of a conductive material that is deposited such that they are substantially optically transparent to optical signals having a wavelength within the specific portion of the optical spectrum.