HF antenna assembly
AssigneeElbit Systems Ltd.
InventorYitzick Magid
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Antenna assembly for providing HF radio communication in two different operating modes. The antenna assembly includes a whip antenna and at least two antenna wire segments. The whip antenna establishes short range HF radio communication with a communication target, via ground wave or low-efficiency skywave propagation, allowing communication when the antenna assembly is in motion. The antenna wire segments are deployable to form an inverted-V antenna using the whip antenna as a center mast. The inverted-V antenna establishes short or medium range HF radio communication with a communication target, via NVIS or directional skywave propagation, allowing rapid deployment of the antenna wire segments when the antenna assembly is stationary. The antenna assembly may be mounted aboard a mobile platform, such as a vehicle.
Claims15
An antenna assembly for providing high frequency (HF) radio communication in two different operating modes, said antenna assembly comprising:
- a whip antenna;
- at least two antenna wire segments;
- and
- an HF transceiver, coupled to said whip antenna and further coupled to each of said antenna wire segments, said HF transceiver configured to receive a selection of an operating mode of said antenna assembly, and configured to selectively transmit and receive HF radio frequency signals through said whip antenna or through said antenna wire segments,
- wherein in a first operating mode of said antenna assembly, said antenna wire segments are configured to be non-radiating, while said whip antenna is configured as a radiating element for establishing short range HF radio communication with a communication target, via ground wave or low efficiency skywave propagation, allowing communication when said antenna assembly is in motion;
- and
- wherein in a second operating mode of said antenna assembly, said antenna wire segments are configured to be deployed as radiating elements to form an inverted-V antenna with said whip antenna configured as a non-radiating center mast, said inverted-V antenna operative to establish short or medium range HF radio communication with a communication target, via Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) or directional skywave propagation, allowing communication when said antenna assembly is stationary.
A method for establishing and maintaining HF radio communication in two different operating modes with an antenna assembly comprising a whip antenna, at least two antenna wire segments, and an HF transceiver coupled to said whip antenna and further coupled to each of said antenna wire segments, the method comprising the procedures of:
- initiating an HF radio communication session with said antenna assembly;
- selecting a first operating mode of said antenna assembly via said HF transceiver;
- and
- activating said whip antenna as a radiating element, while said antenna wire segments are non radiating, to provide short range HF radio communication with a communication target, via ground wave or low efficiency skywave propagation, allowing communication when said antenna assembly is in motion,
- selecting a second operating mode of said antenna assembly via said HF transceiver;
- deploying said antenna wire segments as radiating elements to form an inverted-V antenna with said whip antenna configured as a non-radiating center mast;
- activating said inverted-V antenna in said second operating mode to provide short or medium range HF radio communication with a communication target, via Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) or directional skywave propagation, allowing communication when said antenna assembly is stationary;
- and
- terminating said HF radio communication session.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.