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US 12,676,422 B2Granted
Antenna assembly with adjustable gain lens
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJames Cheung
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable gain antenna including an RF emitter configured to emit an RF signal along an emitter axis. A first refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis and a second refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis with the first refractive lens located between the RF emitter and the second refractive lens. A drive mechanism mechanically linked to the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens, wherein the drive mechanism is configured to move the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens longitudinally along the emitter axis to vary a gain of the RF emitter.
Claims20
An antenna assembly with adjustable gain, comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) emitter configured to emit an RF beam along an emitter axis;
- a first refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis;
- a second refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens is located between the RF emitter and the second refractive lens;
- a third refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens are located between the RF emitter and the third refractive lens;
- a drive mechanism, comprising:
- a first set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the first refractive lens,
- a second set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the second refractive lens, and
- a third set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the third refractive lens,
- wherein the drive mechanism is configured to independently position the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens relative to the RF emitter longitudinally along the emitter axis to vary a gain of the RF emitter based on varying a focal length of the antenna assembly;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the drive mechanism and configured to change one or more of a first position of the first refractive lens, a second position of the second refractive lens, or a third position of the third refractive lens to adjust the antenna assembly from a low gain configuration to a high gain configuration.
8 more elements
A method of operating an antenna assembly, the method comprising:
- determining a first gain for the antenna assembly, wherein the antenna assembly comprises:
- a first refractive lens,
- a second refractive lens,
- a third refractive lens,
- a first set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the first refractive lens,
- a second set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the second refractive lens, and
- a third set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the third refractive lens;
- positioning the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a first longitudinal position along an emitter axis of a radio frequency (RF) emitter to generate the determined first gain in a low gain configuration based on a first focal length of the antenna assembly;
- emitting, by the RF emitter, a first RF beam along the emitter axis;
- determining a second gain for the antenna assembly;
- positioning the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a second longitudinal position along the emitter axis of the RF emitter to generate the determined second gain in a high gain configuration based on a second focal length of the antenna assembly;
- and
- emitting, by the RF emitter, a second RF beam along the emitter axis.
10 more elements
An antenna assembly comprising:
- a radio frequency (RF) emitter configured to emit an RF beam along an emitter axis;
- a first refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis;
- a second refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens is located between the RF emitter and the second refractive lens;
- a third refractive lens having an optical axis collinear with the emitter axis, wherein the first refractive lens and the second refractive lens are located between the RF emitter and the third refractive lens;
- a drive mechanism, comprising:
- a first set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the first refractive lens,
- a second set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the second refractive lens, and
- a third set of linear actuators mechanically linked to the third refractive lens,
- wherein the drive mechanism is configured to independently position the first refractive lens, the second refractive lens, and the third refractive lens relative to the RF emitter longitudinally along the emitter axis to vary a gain of the RF emitter based on varying a focal length of the antenna assembly;
- a mounting assembly for selecting a field of view of the RF beam;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- determine a first gain for the antenna assembly;
- position the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a first longitudinal position along the emitter axis of the RF emitter to generate the determined first gain in a low gain configuration based on a first focal length of the antenna assembly;
- direct a first RF beam along the emitter axis with the RF emitter;
- determine a second gain for the antenna assembly;
- position the first refractive lens, independently of the second refractive lens and the third refractive lens, in a second longitudinal position along the emitter axis of the RF emitter to generate the determined second gain in a high gain configuration based on a second focal length of the antenna assembly;
- and
- direct a second RF beam along the emitter axis.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.