Multiple tube plasma antenna
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsTheodore R. Anderson, Victor K. Choo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An antenna is provided in which electromagnetic signals in the High Frequy and Super High Frequency bands are propagated utilizing ionized gas, or plasma. Energized electrodes ionize the gas and the plasma is confined within non-metallic coaxial tubes contained within a non-metallic pressure vessel. Electric field gradients are used to change the shape and density of the plasma to affect the gain and directivity of the antenna. The inner plasma tube acts as the radiating source, while the outer plasma tube is used to change the radiation of the inner tube and to reflect the radiated signal. Instrumentation measures the density of the plasma providing a means to measure incoming signals as well as to regulate the radiation frequency.
Claims22
An antenna system comprising:
- a first non-metallic tube;
- a first ionized gas contained within the first tube, the first ionized gas providing a first antenna field;
- a second non-metallic tube surrounding and spaced apart from the first tube;
- a second ionized gas contained within a space between the first and second tubes, the second ionized gas providing a second antenna field;
- means for controlling densities of the first and second ionized gases within the first and second tubes, the controlled densities shaping the first and second antenna fields.
An antenna system for transmitting and receiving signals, the system comprising:
- at least two concentric plasma columns;
- at least two concentric non-metallic tubes, each plasma column separated from each adjacent plasma column by one of the non-metallic tubes so as to form plasma tubes;
- and
- an ionizer for establishing the plasma within the tubes, a density of each plasma tube determining the transmitted and received signals.
An antenna system comprising:
- a first antenna providing a first antenna field;
- a non-metallic tube surrounding and spaced apart from the first antenna;
- an ionized gas contained within a space between the first antenna and the non-metallic tube, the ionized gas providing a second antenna field;
- means for controlling a density of the ionized gas, the controlled density shaping the first and second antenna fields.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.