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. 09, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 31, 2011
Glafkos K. Stratis, Lake Worth, FL (US);
Alphonso A. Samuel, Tucson, AZ (US);
Salvatore Bellofiore, Vail, AZ (US);
David J. Knapp, Tucson, AZ (US);
Glafkos K. Stratis, Lake Worth, FL (US);
Alphonso A. Samuel, Tucson, AZ (US);
Salvatore Bellofiore, Vail, AZ (US);
David J. Knapp, Tucson, AZ (US);
Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US);
Abstract
A missile radar system includes a tapered radome covering a front face of a main antenna. A calibration antenna is the combination of a metal tip and an attached one or more radiating or excitation elements (monopole) on the tip. A narrow end (wedge) of the radome may aid in directing planar calibration waves toward the main antenna. The metal tip has a curved inner surface that acts, with the attached radiating element(s), as an aperture antenna. Signals are emitted from the calibration antenna back toward the front face of the main antenna. The signals pass from the tip/reflector to the front face of the main antenna through a substantially-metal-free and substantially-dielectric-free volume defined by the inner surface of the radome. The radar system allows for calibration of the antenna prior to launch and/or during flight of the missile.