RF shielding elimination for linear array SAR radar systems

A method of protecting a radar compartment from a transmitted radar beam with a radar system having an alignment member and a protective member defining an outer protective surface, the protective member being fabricated from a material that is substantially transparent to the radar beam, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) aligning an antenna towards the outer protective surface of the protective member with the alignment member disposed therebetween;
• b) transmitting a radar beam from the antenna outwardly through the outer protective surface;
• c) diffracting a portion of the outwardly transmitted radar beam from the outer protective surface;
• and
• d) mitigating an operating frequency of the portion of the radar beam that is diffracted from the outer protective surface in order to protect the radar compartment from the diffracted portion of the transmitted radar beam.

A radar system for protecting a radar compartment from a transmitted radar beam, the system comprising:

• an antenna having a transmitter surface for transmitting the radar beam;
• a protective member having an outer protective surface and being externally located adjacent the antenna for protecting the radar compartment from the transmitted radar beam, the protective member being fabricated from fiberglass impregnated with S2 epoxy that is substantially transparent to the radar beam;
• and
• an alignment member disposed between the antenna and the protective member, the alignment member being sized and configured to align the transmitter surface towards the outer protective surface for transmission of the radar beam therethrough;
• wherein an operating frequency of any portion of the transmitted radar beam diffracting from the outer protective surface is mitigated to protect the radar compartment therefrom.

A radar system for protecting a radar compartment from a transmitted radar beam, the system comprising:

• an antenna having a transmitter surface for transmitting the radar beam;
• a protective member having an outer protective surface and being externally located adjacent the antenna for protecting the radar compartment from the transmitted radar beam, the protective member being fabricated from twenty plies of material;
• and
• an alignment member disposed between the antenna and the protective member, the alignment member being sized and configured to align the transmitter surface towards the outer protective surface for transmission of the radar beam therethrough;
• wherein an operating frequency of any portion of the transmitted radar beam diffracting from the outer protective surface is mitigated to protect the radar compartment therefrom.

A radar system for protecting a radar compartment from a transmitted radar beam, the system comprising:

• an antenna having a transmitter surface for transmitting the radar beam;
• a protective member having an outer protective surface and being externally located adjacent the antenna for protecting the radar compartment from the transmitted radar beam;
• and
• an alignment member disposed between the antenna and the protective member, the alignment member being engaged to the transmitter surface and having an alignment edge extending away therefrom, the alignment member being sized and configured to align the transmitter surface towards the outer protective surface for transmission of the radar beam therethrough;
• wherein an operating frequency of any portion of the transmitted radar beam diffracting from the outer protective surface is mitigated to protect the radar compartment therefrom.

A method of protecting a radar compartment from a transmitted radar beam with a radar system having an alignment member and a protective member defining an outer protective surface, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) defining an alignment edge of the alignment member;
• b) aligning an antenna towards the outer protective surface of the protective member such that the outer protective surface and the alignment edge are separated from each other within a distance generally less than one wavelength interval of the operating frequency;
• c) transmitting a radar beam from the antenna through the outer protective surface;
• d) diffracting a portion of the radar beam from the outer protective surface;
• and
• e) mitigating an operating frequency of the diffracted portion of the radar beam to protect the radar compartment therefrom.