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US 12,580,665 B2Granted
Systems and methods for communicating and sensing through plasma
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorAlireza Shapoury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and a method for communicating through a plasma sheath formed on a vehicle, include a matching layer disposed on at least a portion of a communication device of the vehicle. The matching layer is configured to generate a resonant frequency in relation to the plasma sheath. A modulator is configured to generate one or more electromagnetic waves that modulate the resonant frequency.
Claims20
A system for communicating through a plasma sheath formed on a vehicle, the system comprising:
- an antenna having a boresight;
- a matching layer covering the boresight of the antenna, wherein the matching layer is configured to generate a resonant frequency in relation to the plasma sheath;
- and
- a modulator configured to generate one or more electromagnetic waves that modulate the resonant frequency, wherein the modulator comprises:
- an anode;
- a cathode separated from the anode by a gap;
- and
- an electromagnet, wherein the antenna is disposed above the gap between the anode and the cathode.
5 more elements
A method for communicating through a plasma sheath formed on a vehicle, the method comprising:
- covering a boresight of an antenna of the vehicle with a matching layer;
- generating, by the matching layer, a resonant frequency in relation to the plasma sheath;
- and
- generating, by a modulator, one or more electromagnetic waves that modulate the resonant frequency, wherein the modulator comprises:
- an anode;
- a cathode separated from the anode by a gap;
- and
- an electromagnet, wherein the antenna is disposed above the gap between the anode and the cathode.
5 more elements
A hypersonic vehicle comprising:
- a system for communicating through a plasma sheath formed on the hypersonic vehicle, the system comprising:
- an antenna having a boresight;
- a matching layer covering the boresight of the antenna, wherein the matching layer is a layer of electrically insulating material, wherein the matching layer is configured to generate a resonant frequency in relation to the plasma sheath, and wherein the matching layer is disposed between the antenna and an outer portion of the vehicle;
- a modulator configured to generate one or more electromagnetic waves that modulate the resonant frequency, wherein the modulator comprises:
- an anode;
- a cathode separated from the anode by a gap;
- and
- an electromagnet, wherein the antenna is disposed above the gap between the anode and the cathode;
- and
- a control unit configured to operate the modulator to modulate the resonant frequency,
- wherein the antenna is configured to one or both of transmit or receive one or more communication signals at one or more zero crossings.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.