US4336543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronically scanned aircraft antenna system having a linear array of yagi elements
Assignee: Grumman Corp
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Filing: 1980-04-22
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Granted: 1982-06-22
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Expires: 2000-04-22
Abstract
Abstract An electronically scanned antenna system having a linear array of endfire elements. The endfire elements are laterally spaced between about 0.3 λ to 0.9 λ apart, preferably about 0.55 λ apart, to enhance the effects of mutual coupling therebetween for broadening the radiation signal pattern of the elements in the plane of the array. Advantageously, the endfire elements may be of the Yagi type with each endfire element including a common reflector, a driver, and a plurality of directors.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick M. Ganz
- 👤 Justine D. Cermignani
- 👤 Richard H. Imgram
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:59
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q19/00; H01Q19/28; H01Q19/30; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q1/286; H01Q1/287; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An antenna system for conformal mounting on an aircraft for generating an electronically scanned main radiation lobe comprising: (a) a linear array of Yagi antennas which are laterally spaced from one another a distance of about 0.3λ to 0.9λ center to center, each of said Yagi antennas including a driven element, a reflector member and a director member, each of which having a length less than the spacing between each adjacent Yagi antenna, each of said Yagi antennas being operative to radiate: i. free space beam widths Bx and By in the coordinate X and Y planes, respectively, the values of Bx and By being substantially less than 90°; and ii. free space maximum gain in the direction of the lengths of said Yagi antennas; and (b) means for scanning the antenna system main lobe in the X plane over an angle A substantially greater than Bx, while at the same time maintaining a system main lobe beam width in the Y plane which approximates By, said scan angle A being able to be broadened to greater than 90° as a result of enhanced mutual coupling between said Yagi antennas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An antenna system for conformal mounting on an aircraft for generating an electronically scanned main radiation lobe comprising: (a) a linear array of Yagi antennas which are laterally spaced from one another a distance of about 0.3λ to 0.9λ center to center, each of said Yagi antennas including a driven element, a reflector member and a director member, each of which having a length less than the spacing between each adjacent Yagi antenna, each of said Yagi antennas being operative to radiate: i. free space beam widths Bx and By in the coordinate X and Y planes, respectively, the values of Bx and By being substantially less than 90°; and ii. free space maximum gain in the direction of the lengths of said Yagi antennas; and (b) means for scanning the antenna system main lobe in the X plane over an angle A substantially greater than Bx, while at the same time maintaining a system main lobe beam width in the Y plane which approximates By, said scan angle A being able to be broadened to greater than 90° as a result of enhanced mutual coupling between said Yagi antennas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna system of claim 1, wherein: the spacing between said Yagi antennas is about 0.55λ.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna system as claimed in claim 1, wherein: Bx is approximately 42°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna system of claim 1, wherein: the system main lobe beam width in the Y plane is about 48°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The antenna system claimed in claim 1, wherein: said linear array includes ten Yagi antennas which are arrayed in the E-plane, each Yagi antenna further including three additional director members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 1, further including means for conformally mounting said Yagi antennas in an aircraft wing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system as defined in claim 1, further including (1) a pair of side-looking antennae; (2) means for conformally mounting said sidelooking antennae and said electronically scanned antenna system in an aircraft whereby wide azimuthal coverage is obtained.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system as defined in claim 7 wherein there are two of said electronically scanned antenna systems and wherein said mounting means include further means for mouting said two systems in a back-to-back relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system as defined in claim 7 in which said mounting means are adapted to conformally mount said electronically scanned antenna systems within the wing of said aircraft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system as defined in claim 8 in which said further means are adapted to conformally mount said two systems in the wing and horizontal stabilizer of said aircraft, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 10, wherein: said side-looking antenna are conformally mounted on an aircraft fuselage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna system of claim 1 wherein the reflector member of each of said Yagi antennas is a common reflector member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna system of claim 1 wherein each Yagi antenna has a length of approximately 1.25λ.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The antenna system of claim 1 wherein said Yagi antennas include non-conductive support means for fixedly positioning the driven element, reflector member, and driven member of each Yagi antenna relative to one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The antenna system of claim 1 in which said driven element, reflector member and director member of each Yagi antenna are spaced from one another a distance of about 0.25λ.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2407169A
Cited
US3373434A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-06-21 | 1985-12-21 | 1986-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-06-21 | 1989-12-21 | 1990-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-06-21 | 1993-12-21 | 1994-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |