US3781894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Balloon carried directional antenna
Assignee: Centre National d'Études Spatiales
•
Filing: 1971-09-09
•
Granted: 1973-12-25
•
Expires: 1991-09-09
Abstract
Abstract Directional antenna comprising a cylindrical skirt and a base perpendicular to the skirt axis, and a unipole extending from the base along the axis and out of the skirt. Electrically insulated fixing means extending through an aperture in the base fix the unipole to the base. A coaxial feeder line extends through the skirt and has its inner conductor extending through the insulated fixing means and connected to the unipole through the aperture and its outer conductor connected to the skirt. The unipole has a length of </=0.25 lambda , the skirt has a length of 0.35 lambda -0.65 lambda and a diameter of 0.05-0.2 lambda , whereby the antenna has a radiation pattern which lies substantially entirely on the side of the plane of the skirt base opposed to the unipole.
Inventors
- 👤 C Ancona
- 👤 J Choquer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/12; H01Q1/1292; H01Q9/00; H01Q9/04; H01Q9/16; H01Q9/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A directional antenna comprising a hollow conducting cylindrical skirt of constant diameter having an axis and at one end a base extending in a plane perpendicular to said axis, a hole provided in said base, a unipole extending from said base along the axis of said skirt and outside of the latter, electrically isolated fixing means extending through said hole for mechanically fixing said unipole to said base, a coaxial feeder cable extending through said skirt and having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, said inner conductor extending through said isolated fixing means so as to be connected to said unipole through said hole, said outer conductor being connected to said skirt and lambda being the operating wavelength of the antenna, the unipole having a length of 0.25 lambda , the cylindrical skirt having a length between 0.35 lambda and 0.65 lambda and a diameter between 0.05 and 0.2 lambda , whereby the antenna is substantially asymmetric and has a radiation pattern which lies substantially entirely at the side of the plane of said base opposite to said unipole, an elongated casing of light material enclosing said unipole and said skirt, said casing comprising mounting means for positioning said unipole and said skirt therein and calibrated passage means for said coaxial cable so as to hold the cable straight in said casing, said antenna further comprising a suspension strap provided on said casing at the end of the latter opposite to that of said unipole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A directional antenna comprising a hollow conducting cylindrical skirt of constant diameter having an axis and at one end a base extending in a plane perpendicular to said axis, a hole provided in said base, a unipole extending from said base along the axis of said skirt and outside of the latter, electrically isolated fixing means extending through said hole for mechanically fixing said unipole to said base, a coaxial feeder cable extending through said skirt and having an inner conductor and an outer conductor, said inner conductor extending through said isolated fixing means so as to be connected to said unipole through said hole, said outer conductor being connected to said skirt and lambda being the operating wavelength of the antenna, the unipole having a length of 0.25 lambda , the cylindrical skirt having a length between 0.35 lambda and 0.65 lambda and a diameter between 0.05 and 0.2 lambda , whereby the antenna is substantially asymmetric and has a radiation pattern which lies substantially entirely at the side of the plane of said base opposite to said unipole, an elongated casing of light material enclosing said unipole and said skirt, said casing comprising mounting means for positioning said unipole and said skirt therein and calibrated passage means for said coaxial cable so as to hold the cable straight in said casing, said antenna further comprising a suspension strap provided on said casing at the end of the latter opposite to that of said unipole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
170 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, said antenna further comprising a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of the first skirt, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, and a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, the electrical connection between the first and second skirts being by means of a shorting element constituted by a conductive band folded in a zig-zag pattern and connected by its apices to the skirts, so that the band maintains the skirts together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, said antenna further comprising a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of the first skirt, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, and a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, the electrical connection between the first and second skirts being by means of a shorting element constituted by a conductive band folded in a zig-zag pattern and connected by its apices to the skirts, so that the band maintains the skirts together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of said first skirt, a third cylindrical skirt coaxial with said first and second skirts and electrIcally connected thereto at one of its ends adjacent the unipole and extending from said last-mentioned end a distance different from the first and second skirts, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, said first, second and third skirts being electrically connected to each other through shorting elements, each being constituted by a band folded in a zig-zag pattern and connected by its apices to adjacent skirts so as to maintain the skirts assembled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of said first skirt, a third cylindrical skirt coaxial with said first and second skirts and electrIcally connected thereto at one of its ends adjacent the unipole and extending from said last-mentioned end a distance different from the first and second skirts, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, said first, second and third skirts being electrically connected to each other through shorting elements, each being constituted by a band folded in a zig-zag pattern and connected by its apices to adjacent skirts so as to maintain the skirts assembled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
185 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of said first skirt, a third cylindrical skirt coaxial with said first and second skirts and electrically connected thereto at one of its ends adjacent the unipole and extending from said last-mentioned end a distance different from the first and second skirts, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, the third skirt being closed at its free end by a shorting disc having a center aperture for the passage of the coaxial line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
185 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of said first skirt, a third cylindrical skirt coaxial with said first and second skirts and electrically connected thereto at one of its ends adjacent the unipole and extending from said last-mentioned end a distance different from the first and second skirts, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, the third skirt being closed at its free end by a shorting disc having a center aperture for the passage of the coaxial line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 2, wherein said spacer means comprises a washer having a circular flange which maintains said free edges of said first and second skirts spaced apart.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein the unipole is a metal rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein the unipole has a U-shape and is cut from a sheet of foil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, said antenna further comprising a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of the first skirt, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, and a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, said unipole having an U-shape and being cut from a sheet of foil, said antenna further comprising two half-shells which have a generally semicylindrical shape and are adjoining in an axial plane, the unipole being clamped between respective adjoining edges of said half-shells.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, said antenna further comprising a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of the first skirt, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts, and a coaxial supply line whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, said unipole having an U-shape and being cut from a sheet of foil, said antenna further comprising two half-shells which have a generally semicylindrical shape and are adjoining in an axial plane, the unipole being clamped between respective adjoining edges of said half-shells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 3, comprising a case having two identical halves which are in adjoining relation in a radial plane, and means for fixing in position component parts of the antenna inside the case.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 9, wherein the case is of expanded polystyrene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
225 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, said antenna further comprising a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of the first skirt, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts and a coaxial supply lIne whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, a third cylindrical skirt coaxial with the other two skirts and electrically connected to the other two skirts at one of its ends adjacent the unipole and extending from the last-mentioned end a distance different from the first and second skirts, the free edge portion of the third skirt being in contact with said spacer means, said unipole being made of metal foil having U-shape, and a casing comprising two identical halves which are in adjoining relation in a radial plane, the case being provided with means for fixing in position the component parts of the antenna.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
225 words
A directional antenna comprising a unipole defining an axis, a conductive disc located in a plane perpendicular to said axis at one of the ends of the unipole, a first skirt coaxial with the unipole and extending from said plane in the opposite direction to the unipole to which it is electrically connected, said antenna further comprising a second cylindrical skirt which is coaxial with the first skirt and electrically connected at its end adjacent the unipole to the first skirt and has an extent from said end different from the extent of the first skirt, spacer means for positioning the free edges of said skirts and a coaxial supply lIne whose outer sheath is connected to said skirts and whose inner conductor is connected to said unipole, a third cylindrical skirt coaxial with the other two skirts and electrically connected to the other two skirts at one of its ends adjacent the unipole and extending from the last-mentioned end a distance different from the first and second skirts, the free edge portion of the third skirt being in contact with said spacer means, said unipole being made of metal foil having U-shape, and a casing comprising two identical halves which are in adjoining relation in a radial plane, the case being provided with means for fixing in position the component parts of the antenna.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A directional antenna as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one choke is mounted in the coaxial line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A directional antenna as claimed in claim 11, comprising a matching line for matching said unipole to the impedance of the coaxial line, said matching line being connected in parallel to a point of connection between the inner conductor of the coaxial line and the unipole,
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein said spacer means comprises a washer having a circular flange which maintains said free edges of said first and second skirts spaced apart.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one choke is mounted in said coaxial line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 15, wherein said choke comprises a number of turns constituted by a winding of the coaxial line itself.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
An antenna as claimed in claim 15, wherein said choke is housed in a case of plastics material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |