# US 2017/0288303 A1 · Systems and techniques for improving signal levels in a shadowing region of a seeker system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288303 A1 - Document ID: US20170288303A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/084,753 - Filed: 2016-03-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: Glafkos K. Stratis; Jerry D. Robichaux; Wayne L. Sunne; Jim R. Hicks; David G. Derrick; Alphonso A. Samuel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288303A1 ## CPC - H01Q 1/42: Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome - H01Q 1/28: Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons - H01Q 1/362: {for broadside radiating helical antennas} - H01Q 3/26: varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture ({H01Q3/12,} H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence) - H01Q 5/22: RF wavebands combined with non-RF wavebands, e.g. infrared or optical - H01Q 21/20: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path {(slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a seeker system having an infrared (IR) sensor pedestal, an IR sensor disposed on the IR pedestal and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antenna elements symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal. The seeker system further includes a plurality of RF waveguiding structures. In an embodiment, each of the RF waveguiding structures have first and second ends and are symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal such that in response to an RF signal incident on a first end of the waveguiding structure, the RF signal is provided to one of the plurality of RF antenna elements such that in response to an RF signal incident on the seeker system from any direction, each of the plurality of RF antenna elements receive the RF signal with a desired phase characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seeker comprising: an infrared (IR) sensor pedestal; an IR sensor disposed on the IR pedestal; a plurality of radio frequency (RF) antenna elements symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around the IR sensor pedestal; and a plurality of RF waveguiding structures, each of said RF waveguiding structures having first and second ends and symmetrically disposed in a circumferential direction around said IR sensor pedestal such that in response to an RF signal incident on a first end of said waveguiding structure, the RF signal is provided to one of said plurality of RF antenna elements such that in response to an RF signal incident on the seeker from any direction, each of said plurality of RF antenna elements receive the RF signal with a desired phase characteristic. ### Claim 2 A radome comprising: a housing, which defines a radome cavity, said housing, having a first surface and a second surface; at least one waveguiding structure, having a first end and a second end, said at least one waveguiding structure, disposed on a first one of the first and second surfaces of said housing; and at least one antenna element disposed within the radome cavity, proximate the second end of the waveguiding structure, and configured to receive radio frequency (RF) energy propagating from the first end of said at least one waveguiding structure to the second end of said at least one waveguiding structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The radome of claim 2, further comprising: a phase correcting structure disposed in said waveguiding structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The radome of claim 3, wherein said structure that provides the phase correction in a way that the incoming wave looks like a plane wave to the antenna elements such that RF signals provided to the antenna elements have substantially the same phase. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The radome of claim 2, wherein the at least one waveguiding structure has a zig-zag shape or a helical shape. ### Claim 6 An antenna comprising: a radio frequency (RF) radome region; a plurality of antenna elements disposed within the RF radome region, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are disposed around an inner surface of the RF radome region; and a first waveguiding structure positioned along the inner surface of the RF radome region, wherein a first end of the first waveguiding structure is in a line of sight region of the antenna and a second end of the first waveguiding structure is in a non-line of sight region of the antenna. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, wherein the first waveguiding structure is configured to couple RF energy received at the line of sight region to the non-line of sight region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, further comprising a second waveguiding structure positioned along the inner surface of the RF radome region. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The antenna of claim 8, wherein the second waveguiding structure is positioned parallel with respect to the first waveguiding structure within the RF radome region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The antenna of claim 9, wherein a first end of the second waveguiding structure is positioned a predetermined distance from a first end of the first waveguiding structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, wherein the first waveguiding structure comprises a dielectric material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, wherein the first waveguiding structure is provided having a tubular shape or rectangular shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, wherein the first waveguiding structure is configured to perform phase correction on an incoming wave to make the incoming wave appear to be a plane wave to at least one of the plurality of antenna elements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, wherein the antenna elements are positioned at a bottom portion of the RF radome region with respect to a peak of the antenna. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, wherein the antenna elements are positioned within a predetermined height of a height of the first waveguiding structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 6) The antenna of claim 6, further comprising an infrared (IR) optics radome region coupled to a top surface of the RF radome region. ### Claim 17 An antenna comprising: a plurality of antenna elements disposed within a radome region of the antenna, wherein the plurality of antenna elements are disposed around an inner circumference of the radome region; and a first waveguiding structure positioned along the inner circumference within the radome region, wherein a first end of the first waveguiding structure is in a line of sight region of the antenna and a second end of the first waveguiding structure is in a non-line of sight region of the antenna. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The antenna of claim 17, wherein the first waveguiding structure is configured to couple RF energy received at the line of sight region to the non-line of sight region. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The antenna of claim 17, further comprising a second waveguiding structure positioned along the inner circumference within the radome region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The antenna of claim 19, wherein the second waveguiding structure is positioned parallel with respect to the first waveguiding structure within the radome region. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The antenna of claim 19, wherein a first end of the second waveguiding structure is positioned a predetermined distance from a first end of the first waveguiding structure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The antenna of claim 17, wherein the antenna elements are positioned at a bottom portion of the radome region with respect to a peak of the antenna. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The antenna of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of antenna elements are disposed along a plane within the radome region, and wherein the plane is positioned at a predetermined distance from a height of the first waveguiding structure.