High frequency (HF) radio communication antenna system with airborne antenna positioning unit
AssigneeKennside, LLC
InventorRyan P. Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An HF antenna system is provided. The HF antenna system includes an airborne antenna positioning unit and computes an optimal antenna orientation and length based on relevant wave propagation data to position the antenna for maximal transmission and reception. In one embodiment, the HF antenna system includes an antenna base and control unit (ABCU) and an antenna positioning unit (APU). The ABCU is connected to the APU by an antenna wire. The antenna wire is retractable within the ABCU and is adjustable via positioning of the APU. The APU is an airborne device, such that the APU is tethered to the ABCU but can hoist the terminal end of the antenna wire with complete positional freedom relative to the ABCU.
Claims19
A high frequency (HF) radio communications antenna system, the system comprising:
- an HF radio;
- an antenna base and control unit;
- an antenna wire;
- and
- an antenna positioning unit;
- wherein the antenna base and control unit is connected to the antenna positioning unit by the antenna wire and is connected to the HF radio, the antenna base and control unit being configured to calculate an antenna length and an antenna orientation for HF communications based on environmental data from the HF radio;
- wherein the antenna wire is retractable within the antenna base and control unit, such that an unwound portion of the antenna wire that extends between the antenna base and control unit and the antenna positioning unit defines the antenna length for HF communications;
- wherein a location of a terminal end of the antenna wire is adjustable via positioning of the antenna positioning unit for varying the antenna orientation for HF communications;
- wherein the antenna positioning unit is an airborne device that is configured to position the terminal end of the antenna wire at a distance relative to the antenna base and control unit;
- wherein the antenna wire includes:
- a radio wire and a power and control cable;
- and
- a plurality of cross-bolt interface connections for adjusting the effective length of the antenna wire,
- wherein each of the plurality of cross-bolt interface connections includes an upper section, a lower section, and an opening therebetween,
- wherein a retractable cross-bolt separates the upper section of the cross-bolt interface connection from the lower section of the cross-bolt interface connection, and
- wherein the upper section of the cross-bolt interface connection includes an antenna wire connection that is coupled to the radio wire and includes a control cable connection that is coupled to the control cable, such that the retractable cross-bolt couples the radio wire and the control cable to an HF radio within the antenna base and control unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.