Conformal multifunction shared-aperture antenna

Claim 2

A multifunction conformable antenna for use over a broad frequency range comprising: a substantially planar spiral mode microstrip (SMM) antenna formed of two or more interleaved arms and having a multimode capability and a finite ground plane; means for maintaining said SMM antenna and said ground plane in spaced relationship comprising a spacer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant in the range of 1 to 4.5 for supporting said SMM antenna on one surface thereof with said ground plane adjacent the opposite surface thereof; a loop antenna member substantially surrounding said SMM antenna and spaced therefrom; connecting means for electrically connecting said loop antenna member to said SMM antenna, said means including means for preventing signals in the FM broadcast band and higher frequencies from passing between said loop antenna and said SMM antenna; and said antenna having a low profile and being conformable to the contour of the surface upon which it is to be mounted.

Claim 3

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein said SMM antenna has first and second input/output terminals approximately at the geometric center thereof.

Claim 4

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 2 wherein said loop antenna has first and second ends, each of said ends having an input/output terminal.

Claim 5

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of said input/output terminals of said loop antenna is connected to the ground plane.

Claim 6

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising an AM-broadcast-band-signal-blocking member on said loop antenna between said connecting means and the input/output terminal at one of said first and second ends of said loop antenna.

Claim 7

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 5 wherein one of said input/output terminals of said loop antenna is connected to the ground plane.

Claim 8

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein said loop antenna has a folded dipole configuration.

Claim 9

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 7 wherein said loop antenna lies in a plane spaced from the plane of the SMM antenna and parallel thereto.

Claim 10

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 7 wherein said loop antenna spans the distance between the plane of the SMM antenna and the plane of the ground plane.

Claim 11

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 1 wherein said loop antenna is supported on one of said surfaces of said spacer member.

Claim 12

A shared aperture multifunction conformable antenna for use over a broad frequency range comprising: a substantially planar multimode spiral mode microstrip (SMM) antenna formed of two or more interleaved arms and having a multimode capability; first and second input/output terminals connected to different ones of side arms at the approximate center of said SMM antenna, said first and second input/output terminals being configured and adapted to produce a spiral mode reception and radiation pattern of said SMM antenna; a spacer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant in the range of 1 to 4.5 and having first and second surfaces, and SMM antenna being mounted on said first surface, said second surface being adapted to abut a ground planar member; a loop antenna member substantially surrounding said SMM antenna and spaced therefrom, said loop antenna member having third and fourth input/output terminals connected thereto; connecting means electrically connecting said loop antenna to said SMM antenna, said connecting means being adapted to block signals above the AM broadcast band from passing between said loop antenna and said SMM antenna while permitting signals in the AM broadcast band to pass between said loop antenna and said SMM antenna; AM-broadcast-band-signal blocking means in said loop between sid connecting means and said third input/output terminal; and said antenna being conformable to the contour of the surface upon which it is to be mounted.

Claim 13

A shared aperture multifunction conformable antenna for use over a broad frequency range comprising: a substantially planar multimode spiral mode microstrip (SMM) antenna formed of two or more interleaved arms and having a multimode capability; first and second input/output terminals connected to different ones of side arms at the approximate center of said SMM antenna, said first and second input/output terminals being configured and adapted to produce a spiral mode reception and radiation pattern of said SMM antenna; a spacer of dielectric material having a dielectric constant in the range of 1 to 4.5 and having first and second surfaces, and SMM antenna being mounted on said first surface, said second surface being adapted to abut a ground planar member; a loop antenna member substantially surrounding said SMM antenna and spaced therefrom, said loop antenna member having third and fourth input/output terminals connected thereto; connecting means electrically connecting said loop antenna to said SMM antenna, said connecting means being adapted to block signals above the AM broadcast band from passing between said loop antenna and said SMM antenna while permitting signals in the AM broadcast band to pass between said loop antenna and said SMM antenna; AM-broadcast-band-signal blocking means in said loop between sid connecting means and said third input/output terminal; and said antenna being conformable to the contour of the surface upon which it is to be mounted.

Claim 14

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 11 wherein said loop antenna is mounted on said first surface of said spacer.

Claim 15

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 11 wherein said loop antenna lies in a plane spaced from the plane of said SMM antenna and parallel thereto.

Claim 16

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 11 wherein said loop antenna spans the distance between the plane of the SMM antenna and the plane of the ground plane.

Claim 17

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 11 wherein said connecting means is an inductive choke.

Claim 18

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 15 wherein said inductive choke has a value of approximately 0.5 micro-henries.

Claim 19

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 11 wherein said AM-broadcast-band-signal-blocking means is a capacitor.

Claim 20

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 17 wherein said capacitor has a value of approximately 250 pico-farads.

Claim 21

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 11 wherein the dimensions of the loop antenna are greater than the dimensions of the ground plane.

Claim 22

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 11 and further including circuit means connected to said first and second output terminals for receiving and/or transmitting one or more spiral modes.

Claim 23

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 20 wherein said circuit means is an RF hybrid circuit for generating one or more spiral modes.

Claim 24

A multifunction conformable antenna as claimed in claim 20 wherein said circuit means is a balun, for generating one or more spiral modes.