Patent US3739385A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3739385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanically swept radar antenna for use with an aircraft landing monitor system
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1970-07-15
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1990-07-15
Abstract
Abstract An radar antenna for use in an aircraft landing monitor which includes an elongated antenna housing mounted on a vertical pivot for horizontal oscillation in the nose of an aircraft. An elongated horn reflector mounted along the housing supports a resonant edge-slotted waveguide array therein for transmitting and receiving radar signals with a radar beam pattern narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation plane. An elongated bar spring is mounted in the housing and is rigidly attached to the vertical pivot in order to tend to maintain the desired oscillation of the antenna housing. A motor oscillates the antenna housing about the vertical pivot to sweep the radar beam over a predetermined azimuth angle. Circuitry is provided to sense the position of the antenna housing and for maintaining the antenna sweep at the predetermined azimuth angle and rate.
Inventors
- 👤 B Bechtel
- 👤 M Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 22:55
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/06; H01Q19/08; G; G01; G01S; G01S1/00; G01S1/02; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/91; G01S13/913; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/02; H01Q3/04; H01Q3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
An aircraft radar antenna comprising: an elongated housing for being mounted horizontally in an aircraft, an elongated horn reflector extending along the forward portion of said housing, a radar waveguide extending within said horn reflector for transmitting and receiving radar signals, said horn reflector forming an antenna radiation pattern narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation plane, motor means connected to oscillate said housing horizontally about a central vertical axis to sweep the antenna over an azimuth angle, and an elongated spring rigidly clamped in its center and having free ends for periodically storing and releasing energy during oscillation of said housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
An aircraft radar antenna comprising: an elongated housing for being mounted horizontally in an aircraft, an elongated horn reflector extending along the forward portion of said housing, a radar waveguide extending within said horn reflector for transmitting and receiving radar signals, said horn reflector forming an antenna radiation pattern narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation plane, motor means connected to oscillate said housing horizontally about a central vertical axis to sweep the antenna over an azimuth angle, and an elongated spring rigidly clamped in its center and having free ends for periodically storing and releasing energy during oscillation of said housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna of claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of alternatively sloped slots formed along the length of said waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The antenna of claim 1 and further comprising: means for sensing the instantaneous position of said housing, means for comparing the position of said housing with a preselected desired position, and means for generating a control signal to said motor means when said housing deviates from the preselected desired position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna radiation pattern has an angle of approximately 17* in elevation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna of claim 1 wherein said antenna radiation pattern has an angle of less than 1* in azimuth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna of claim 1 wherein said housing is swept over an azimuth angle of approximately 30* for airport runway detection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The antenna of claim 1 and further comprising: polarizing means including a plurality of metal strips slanted to the horizontal and disposed in said horn reflector forward of said waveguide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna of claim 1 wherein said waveguide transmits radar signals in the Ka-band.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna of claim 1 wherein said waveguide comprises: a resonant edge-slotted waveguide array operable to transmit radar signals in the Ka-band.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
A radar antenna for use in an independent aircraft landing monitor comprising: an elongated antenna housing mounted on a vertical pivot for horizontal oscillation in an aircraft, an elongated horn reflector mounted along said housing, a resonant edge-slotted waveguide array extending within said horn reflector for transmitting and receiving radar signals with a radiation pattern narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation plane, means mounted in said horn reflector forward of said waveguide for circularly polarizing said radar signals, spring means mounted between said antenna housing and said vertical pivot, motor means for oscillating said antenna housing about said vertical pivot for sweeping the radiation pattern over a predetermined azimuth angle, and means for sensing the position of said antenna housing and for maintaining the antenna sweep at the predetermined azimuth angle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A radar antenna for use in an independent aircraft landing monitor comprising: an elongated antenna housing mounted on a vertical pivot for horizontal oscillation in an aircraft, an elongated horn reflector mounted along said housing, a resonant edge-slotted waveguide array extending within said horn reflector for transmitting and receiving radar signals with a radiation pattern narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation plane, means mounted in said horn reflector forward of said waveguide for circularly polarizing said radar signals, spring means mounted between said antenna housing and said vertical pivot, motor means for oscillating said antenna housing about said vertical pivot for sweeping the radiation pattern over a predetermined azimuth angle, and means for sensing the position of said antenna housing and for maintaining the antenna sweep at the predetermined azimuth angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The radar antenna of claim 10 wherein said spring means comprises: an elongated bar spring rigidly connected at the center thereof to said vertical pivot and having free end portions slidably abutting said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The radar antenna of claim 10 wherein said means for polarizing comprises: a plurality of slanted wire members embedded in a dielectric support mounted in said horn reflector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The radar antenna of claim 10 wherein said means for sensing comprises: means for generating an electrical signal representative of antenna position, means for sensing the amplitude of said electrical signal at the Peaks of antenna oscillation, and means responsive to said sensing means for generating control signals to said motor means for maintaining the antenna sweep at the predetermined azimuth angle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The radar antenna of claim 13 wherein said means for sensing comprises: means for phase shifting said electrical signal, detectors for generating signals when the phase shifted electrical signal passes through zero amplitude, and means responsive to said detectors for sampling the voltage magnitude of the electrical signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The radar antenna of claim 14 and further comprising: means for generating driving pulses to said motor means, the width of said pulses being proportional to the amplitude of the sampled voltage magnitude of the electrical signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
133 words
A mechanically swept radar antenna for use in an aircraft landing monitor comprising: an antenna housing mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on an aircraft, an elongated waveguide array extending along the length of said housing for directing a radar beam narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation plane, motor means for oscillating said housing about said vertical axis for sweeping said radar beam across a predetermined azimuth angle sufficient for airport runway detection during approach by the aircraft, means for generating an electrical signal representative of the antenna housing position, means for generating an error signal in response to comparison of the amplitude of said electrical signal against a preset value, and means responsive to said error signal for driving said motor means to maintain the desired antenna sweep.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
A mechanically swept radar antenna for use in an aircraft landing monitor comprising: an antenna housing mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis on an aircraft, an elongated waveguide array extending along the length of said housing for directing a radar beam narrower in the azimuth than in the elevation plane, motor means for oscillating said housing about said vertical axis for sweeping said radar beam across a predetermined azimuth angle sufficient for airport runway detection during approach by the aircraft, means for generating an electrical signal representative of the antenna housing position, means for generating an error signal in response to comparison of the amplitude of said electrical signal against a preset value, and means responsive to said error signal for driving said motor means to maintain the desired antenna sweep.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The radar antenna of claim 16 and further comprising: means for phase shifting said electrical signal, detectors for generating signals when the phase shifted electrical signal passes through zero amplitude, and means responsive to said detectors for sampling the voltage magnitude of the electrical signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The radar antenna of claim 17 and further comprising: means for generating driving pulses to said motor means, the width of said pulses being proportional to the amplitude of the sampled voltage magnitude of the electrical signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |