US4918458A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secondary radar transponder
Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
•
Filing: 1980-05-14
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Granted: 1990-04-17
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Expires: 2000-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A secondary radar transponder on a mobile target has an antenna arrangement which can receive interrogation signals from all directions and radiate reply signals. The antenna arrangement includes several individual antennas, each of which, with its primary lobe, covers a specific sector of the entire 360° range and is connected to a receiver, so that through receiving level comparison, that particular sector from which the interrogation signal incides can be ascertained. The reply signal is then radiated only by the individual antenna covering that particular sector. The transponder is particularly suited for identification friend-foe (IFF) purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Anton Brunner
- 👤 Karl-Heinz Kristkoiz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/28; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/74; H01Q13/00; H01Q13/08; H01Q3/00; H01Q3/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; and said radiator halves rotated at least partially with respect to the plane of feeding and each of said halves including a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; and said radiator halves rotated at least partially with respect to the plane of feeding and each of said halves including a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, and further comprising: an insulating layer carrying said radiator halves on opposite surfaces thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The antenna structure of claim 2, wherein: said insulating layer and radiator halves are constituted by an etched, double metal-clad insulating plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The antenna structure of claim 2 and further comprising: for each pair of radiator halves, a separate symmetrical double-line feed extending from the feed location on opposite sides of said insulating layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, and further comprising: support mounting means; and wherein said two radiator halves are mounted on said support mounting means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna structure of claim 5, wherein: said support mounting means have increasing length in the direction of said radiator end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein: the radiator halves are at least partially defined by boundary lines of curvature which follow an exponential function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein: the radiator halves are at least partially defined by boundary lines of curvature which follow a trigonometric function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein: the radiator halves are at least partially defined by boundary lines of curvature which follow an elliptical function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein: the radiator halves are at least partially defined by boundary lines of curvature which follow a simulated polygonal function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein: each of said radiator halves are sheet metal surfaces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein: each of said radiator halves is a grid-shaped structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna structure of claim 12, wherein: each of said radiator halves includes grid openings of equal size.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, wherein: the maximum width and the maximum length of each radiator half is approximately half the wavelength of the longest electromagnetic wave to be transmitted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, and further comprising: an angle reflector including two metallic surfaces which are divergent in the direction of the radiator end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The antenna structure of claim 15, wherein: the two radiator halves are mechanically and electrically connected to one of the two reflector surfaces of the angle reflector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna structure of claim 15, and further comprising: an additional antenna secured to said angle reflector orthogonally to the plane of said radiator halves.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna structure of claim 17, wherein: said additional antenna comprises a rod-shaped radiator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The antenna structure of claim 17, wherein: said additional antenna is a transmitting antenna.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The antenna structure of claim 15, and further comprising: coaxial cable feed means; and symmetrization means secured behind the vertex end of the divergent structure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, and further comprising: an etched feed system integrated with said antenna.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The antenna structure of claim 1, comprising: a plurality of said antenna structures each including an angle reflector and all mounted in a circular array to define a plurality of sectors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The antenna structure of claim 22, wherein: the aperture angle (α) reflector corresponds to a boundary angle (φ) of the sector to be covered by the respective antenna.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The antenna structure of claim 22, wherein: the aperture angle (α) reflector is smaller than the boundary angle (φ) of the sector to be covered by the respective antenna.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna structure of claim 22, wherein: all of said radiator halves comprise a single, etched, double metal-clad insulating plate.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna structure of claim 22, wherein: said radiator halves of adjacent antennas are selectively connected to produce specific radiation patterns.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
72 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; and each of said radiator halves having a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat, each of said radiator halves being a grid-shaped structure including grid openings which increase in size away from the feed location.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
72 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; and each of said radiator halves having a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat, each of said radiator halves being a grid-shaped structure including grid openings which increase in size away from the feed location.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; and each of said radiator halves including a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat, and hard foam material embedding said radiator halves.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; and each of said radiator halves including a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat, and hard foam material embedding said radiator halves.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
144 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; each of said radiator halves having a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat; an angle reflector including two metallic surfaces which are divergent in the direction of the radiator end; the two radiator halves being mechanically and electrically connected to one of the two reflector surfaces of the angle reflectors; a coaxial cable connection mounted in one of said two reflector surfaces; and a coaxial cable section connecting said coaxial cable connection to said feed location, including an external conductor which is conductively connected over its length to one of said radiator halves and an inner conductor connected at the feed location to the other radiator half.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
144 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; each of said radiator halves having a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat; an angle reflector including two metallic surfaces which are divergent in the direction of the radiator end; the two radiator halves being mechanically and electrically connected to one of the two reflector surfaces of the angle reflectors; a coaxial cable connection mounted in one of said two reflector surfaces; and a coaxial cable section connecting said coaxial cable connection to said feed location, including an external conductor which is conductively connected over its length to one of said radiator halves and an inner conductor connected at the feed location to the other radiator half.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
52 words
The antenna structure of claim 29, and further comprising: another coaxial cable section including an outer conductor which is electrically connected over its length to said other radiator half in a mirror-symmetrical arrangement with respect to the first mentioned coaxial cable section, the inner conductor of the latter coaxial cable being unconnected.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
The antenna structure of claim 30, and further comprising: etched printed wiring boards constituting the coaxial cable sections.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
82 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; each of said radiator halves having a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat; an angle reflector including two metallic surfaces which are divergent in the direction of the radiator end; and means mounting said radiator halves and said feed location and at said reflector surfaces.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
82 words
An antenna structure for a secondary radar transponder, comprising: a pair of spaced radiator halves which extend from a feed location in a V-shaped diverging pattern toward a radiator end; each of said radiator halves having a surface width which increases toward said radiator end and is arcuately terminated thereat; an angle reflector including two metallic surfaces which are divergent in the direction of the radiator end; and means mounting said radiator halves and said feed location and at said reflector surfaces.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The antenna structure of claim 32, wherein: said reflector comprises a planar reflector section perpendicular to the direction of propagation at its vertex.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The antenna structure of claim 33, and further comprising: parallel metallic boundary elements connecting said reflector surfaces at the farthest points in respect of the direction of propagation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The antenna structure of claim 34, wherein: said reflector surfaces and said metallic boundary elements are homogeneous metallic plates.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna structure of claim 34, wherein: said boundary elements are grid-shaped elements.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna structure of claim 34, wherein: said boundary elements are feathered elements.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
13 words
The antenna structure of claim 34, wherein: said boundary elements are slotted elements.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The antenna structure of claim 34, wherein: said reflector surfaces, in the direction of propagation terminate in an oval fashion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna structure of claim 34, wherein: said reflector surfaces, in the direction of propagation terminate in at least one peak.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The antenna structure of claim 34, wherein: said reflector surfaces, in the direction of propagation terminate in a plurality of peaks.
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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) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-04-16 | 2001-10-16 | 2002-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |