Antenna coupler system
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorsR. Joe Spinks, Jr., Glenn R. Snider, Richard E. Deasy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed an antenna and coupling system for use in frequency hopping communication systems. The system includes a dual antenna configuration wherein the antennas are coupled in parallel to a tunable broadband coupler which provides a VSWR which is nominally less than 2:1 over the full hopping bandwidth of the system. The antenna and coupling system are so constructed that the coupler is operated over a plurality of passbands defining a broadband frequency range and each passband is of sufficient width such that several hopping band center frequencies can fall within a given passband. The passbands also overlap to permit continuous frequency coverage over the frequency range of the system.
Claims13
A broadband communications system comprising:
- means for generating a plurality of carrier frequencies within a band of frequencies;
- antenna means for transmitting said plurality of carrier frequencies;
- coupler means coupled between said means for generating and said antenna means for providing a tunable impedance match over said band of frequencies and including a plurality of passbands defining said band of frequencies;
- and
- means for controlling said means for generating and said coupler means for hopping said carrier frequency within said band of frequencies and changing said passbands of said coupler means to provide an impedance match in response to said frequency hopping in such a manner that multiple frequency hops occur within a single passband before the passband of said coupler is changed.
A broadband communication system comprising:
- antenna means for receiving a plurality of modulated carrier frequencies over a band of frequencies;
- receiver means for receiving and demodulating said plurality of carrier frequencies received by said antenna means;
- tunable broadband coupler means coupled to impedance match said receiving means with said antenna means over said band of frequencies, said coupler means having a plurality of tunable passbands defining said band of frequencies;
- and
- means for controlling said receiver means and said coupler means for hopping said carrier frequency within said band of frequencies and changing the passbands of said coupler means to provide an impedance match in accordance with said frequency hopping such that multiple frequency hops occur within any selected passband before changing to another passband.
A method of providing frequency hopping transmissions comprising:
- generating a plurality of modulated carrier frequencies and hopping said carrier frequencies within a band of frequencies in accordance with a predetermined pattern;
- transmitting said carrier frequencies within said band of frequencies from dual antennas coupled in electrical parallel with one another;
- matching the impedance from said generating means to said parallel coupled antennas with a tunable broadband coupler having a pluralty of passbands defining said band of frequencies by changing said passbands to provide impedance matching with said band;
- and
- controlling said carrier frequency hopping and said change of passbands so that multiple hops occur within a selected passband before that passband is changed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.