Radiation synthesizer feed configurations
AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorJoseph T. Merenda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Radiation synthesizer systems provide efficient wideband operation with an antenna, such as a loop, which is small relative to operating wavelength. Energy dissipation is substantially reduced by cycling energy back and forth between a high-Q radiator and a storage capacitance. Systems using multi-segment loop antennas match antenna input impedance to switching circuit parameters. Control signal feeds employ fiber-optic cables and reduce conductive paths. Multi-voltage DC supply configurations use parallel conductor portions of antenna loop segments and reduce the need for separate DC supply conductors. Spurious conductive loops are thereby reduced and lightweight, flexible antenna constructions are enabled.
Claims23
A synthesizer radiating system, wherein energy is transferred back and forth between an inductive antenna element and storage capacitance by controlled activation of switching circuits, comprising:
- a loop antenna element configured as a plurality of successive loop segments;
- a plurality of switch modules each coupled to a different pair of loop segments, each switch module including switch devices arranged for controlled activation to transfer energy back and forth between the storage capacitance and the loop segments coupled to the switch module;
- a control signal feed including at least one optical signal path coupled to each said switch module for control of activation of said switch devices;
- and
- a DC supply including a first DC coupling to a loop segment, DC couplings between successive loop segments, and DC couplings between loop segments and selected switch modules, said DC couplings arranged to enable coupling of a DC voltage to the switch modules via the loop segments, while limiting coupling of non-DC signals.
A synthesizer radiating system, wherein energy is transferred back and forth between an inductive antenna element and storage capacitance by controlled activation of switching circuits, comprising:
- a loop antenna element configured as a plurality of successive loop segments;
- a plurality of switch modules each coupled to a different pair of loop segments, each switch module including switch devices arranged for controlled activation to transfer energy back and forth between the storage capacitance and the loop segments coupled to the switch module;
- and
- a control signal feed including at least one optical signal path coupled to each said switch module for control of activation of said switch devices.
A synthesizer radiating system, wherein energy is transferred back and forth between an inductive antenna element and storage capacitance by controlled activation of switching circuits, comprising:
- a loop antenna element configured as a plurality of successive loop segments;
- a plurality of switch modules each coupled to a different pair of loop segments, each switch module including switch devices arranged for controlled activation to transfer energy back and forth between the storage capacitance and the loop segments coupled to the switch module;
- and
- a control signal feed including an optical modulator, optical signal paths coupled to said modulator, and a plurality of optical demodulators each coupled between a said optical signal path and one said switch module.
A synthesizer radiating system, wherein energy is transferred back and forth between an inductive antenna element and storage capacitance by controlled activation of switching circuits, comprising:
- a loop antenna element configured as a plurality of successive loop segments;
- a plurality of switch modules each coupled to a different pair of loop segments, each switch module including switch devices arranged for controlled activation to transfer energy back and forth between the storage capacitance and the loop segments coupled to the switch module;
- and
- a DC supply including a first DC coupling to a loop segment, DC couplings between successive loop segments, and DC couplings between loop segments and selected switch modules, said DC couplings arranged to enable coupling of a DC voltage to the switch modules via the loop segments, while limiting coupling of non-DC signals.
A synthesizer radiating system, wherein energy is transferred back and forth between an inductive antenna element and storage capacitance by controlled activation of switching circuits, comprising:
- a loop antenna element configured as a plurality of successive loop segments;
- and
- a plurality of switch modules each coupled to a different pair of loop segments, each switch module including switch devices arranged for controlled activation to transfer energy back and forth between the storage capacitance and the loop segments coupled to the switch module;
- wherein each said loop segment comprises at least first and second parallel conductor portions which are DC-isolated from each other and arranged for common excitation by signals to be radiated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.