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US 11,456,537 B1Granted
Vertical lift aircraft panels with embedded spiral antennas
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsJoseph T. Graf, James B. West
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system of spiral antennas is incorporated into aircraft body panels. The spiral antennas may be slot or printed material antennas, cavity backed for unidirectional communication, or open for bi-directional communication. The spiral antennas are operated in concert as a steerable array. The spiral antennas are utilized for various signal functions including ultra-wideband communications and electronic support measures interferometry.
Claims20
An aircraft antenna system comprising:
- a plurality of spiral antenna elements;
- a feed network configured to drive each of the plurality of spiral antenna elements;
- and
- at least one processor connected to the feed network and a memory storing processor executable code,
- wherein:
- the plurality of spiral antenna elements are configured for interferometry and communications;
- and
- the processor executable code configures the at least one processor to determine signals to apply to the feed network to configured the plurality of spiral antenna elements as an array.
5 more elements
An antenna system comprising:
- a plurality of spiral antenna elements;
- a feed network configured to drive each of the plurality of spiral antenna elements;
- and
- at least one processor connected to the feed network and a memory storing processor executable code,
- wherein:
- the plurality of spiral antenna elements are configured for interferometry and communications;
- and
- the processor executable code configures the at least one processor to determine signals to apply to the feed network to configured the plurality of spiral antenna elements as an array.
5 more elements
An aircraft comprising:
- a plurality of body panels, each comprising:
- a plurality of spiral antenna elements defined by the body panel;
- and
- a feed network configured to drive each of the plurality of spiral antenna elements in the body panel;
- and
- at least one processor connected to the feed networks and a memory storing processor executable code,
- wherein:
- each of the plurality of spiral antenna elements are configured for interferometry and communications;
- and
- the processor executable code configures the at least one processor to determine signals to apply to the feed networks to configured the corresponding plurality of spiral antenna elements as an array.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.