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US 12,646,848 B1Granted
Arraying architecture of piezoelectric RF radiators
AssigneeRockwell Collins, Inc.
InventorsGurkan Gok, Joseph Zacchio, Jeffrey Box, Kenneth Keese
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Single element piezoelectric antennas may be efficient but low power radiators. Single element piezoelectric antennas are limited by the mechanical strength of the piezoelectric material. In other words, the element can only be driven to a point until the element breaks. Even at this limit, the radiated power levels of the single element piezoelectric antennas may not be sufficient for practical transmission. The elements in the piezoelectric antennas may be arranged in a colinear dipole array to scale the radiated power level.
Claims15
A piezoelectric transmitter comprising:
- a piezoelectric antenna, the piezoelectric antenna comprising:
- a plurality of piezoelectric elements comprising:
- a driven piezoelectric element;
- and
- one or more parasitic piezoelectric elements;
- wherein the driven piezoelectric element and the one or more parasitic piezoelectric elements are colinear;
- a grounded toroid;
- a plurality of insulating supports;
- wherein the plurality of insulating supports are coupled to midpoints of the plurality of piezoelectric elements;
- and
- a plurality of field-shaping toroids;
- and
- a transmitter circuit;
- wherein the transmitter circuit is configured to directly drive the driven piezoelectric element with a voltage;
- wherein the driven piezoelectric element is configured to capacitively couple to the grounded toroid, the plurality of field-shaping toroids, and the one or more parasitic piezoelectric elements;
- wherein the voltage from the transmitter circuit causes the driven piezoelectric element and the one or more parasitic piezoelectric elements to vibrate with a longitudinal mode;
- wherein the driven piezoelectric element and the one or more parasitic piezoelectric elements vibrate in synchronization;
- wherein the driven piezoelectric element and the one or more parasitic piezoelectric elements couple vibration into an electromagnetic field with a radio frequency.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.