Patent US6097343A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6097343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conformal load-bearing antenna system that excites aircraft structure
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
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Filing: 1998-10-23
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Granted: 2000-08-01
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Expires: 2018-10-23
Abstract
Abstract An antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, such as a wing (30), horizontal tail section (36), or vertical tail fin (20) in such a way as to cause practically no added aerodynamic drag and to add minimal weight to the aircraft. The antenna system includes a flared notch (22, 32, 34 or 38) of non-conductive material and an antenna feed (12) that excites conductive portions of the structural member on opposite sides of the notch at a selected feed point (40). The conductive portions of the structural member and other conductive portions of the entire aircraft are excited by signals applied to the antenna feed. As a result, the antenna performance provides high gain omnidirectionally, and supports both vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions over a wide range of VHF and UHF bands.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan C. Goetz
- 👤 Haigan K. Chea
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q13/00; H01Q13/08; H01Q13/085; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q1/286; H01Q13/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An aircraft antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, the antenna comprising: an antenna notch formed from non-conductive material and positioned between two adjacent conductive regions of an aircraft structural load-bearing member, wherein the notch and the two adjacent conductive regions are structurally integrated to perform mechanical functions of the load-bearing member, and wherein the notch extends from a narrow region to a flared wider region; and an antenna feed terminating at a feed point located in the narrow region of the notch, to couple transmitted energy into the notch and to couple received energy out of the notch; and wherein the adjacent conductive regions and other conductive regions of the entire aircraft structure function as a radiating and receiving component of the antenna system, which provides an omnidirectional radiation pattern supporting vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An aircraft antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, the antenna comprising: an antenna notch formed from non-conductive material and positioned between two adjacent conductive regions of an aircraft structural load-bearing member, wherein the notch and the two adjacent conductive regions are structurally integrated to perform mechanical functions of the load-bearing member, and wherein the notch extends from a narrow region to a flared wider region; and an antenna feed terminating at a feed point located in the narrow region of the notch, to couple transmitted energy into the notch and to couple received energy out of the notch; and wherein the adjacent conductive regions and other conductive regions of the entire aircraft structure function as a radiating and receiving component of the antenna system, which provides an omnidirectional radiation pattern supporting vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An aircraft antenna system as defined in claim 1, wherein: the load-bearing structural member into which the antenna is integrated is a vertical tail fin, and the antenna notch extends from a narrow region at a leading edge of the tail fin to a wider region located higher on the leading edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
184 words
An aircraft antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, the antenna comprising: an antenna notch formed from non-conductive material and positioned between two adjacent conductive regions of an aircraft structural load-bearing member, wherein the notch and the two adjacent conductive regions are structurally integrated to perform mechanical functions of the load-bearing member, and wherein the notch extends from a narrow region to a flared wider region; and an antenna feed terminating at a feed point located in the narrow region of the notch, to couple transmitted energy into the notch and to couple received energy out of the notch; and wherein the adjacent conductive regions and other conductive regions of the entire aircraft structure function as a radiating and receiving component of the antenna system, which provides an omnidirectional radiation pattern supporting vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions; and wherein the load-bearing structural member into which the antenna is integrated is a wing section, and the antenna notch extends from a narrow region at an edge of the wing section to a wider region located on the same edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
184 words
An aircraft antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, the antenna comprising: an antenna notch formed from non-conductive material and positioned between two adjacent conductive regions of an aircraft structural load-bearing member, wherein the notch and the two adjacent conductive regions are structurally integrated to perform mechanical functions of the load-bearing member, and wherein the notch extends from a narrow region to a flared wider region; and an antenna feed terminating at a feed point located in the narrow region of the notch, to couple transmitted energy into the notch and to couple received energy out of the notch; and wherein the adjacent conductive regions and other conductive regions of the entire aircraft structure function as a radiating and receiving component of the antenna system, which provides an omnidirectional radiation pattern supporting vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions; and wherein the load-bearing structural member into which the antenna is integrated is a wing section, and the antenna notch extends from a narrow region at an edge of the wing section to a wider region located on the same edge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An aircraft antenna system as defined in claim 3, wherein: the antenna is located near the leading edge of the wing section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An aircraft antenna system as defined in claim 3, wherein: the antenna is located near the trailing edge of the wing section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
187 words
An aircraft antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, the antenna comprising: an antenna notch formed from non-conductive material and positioned between two adjacent conductive regions of an aircraft structural load-bearing member, wherein the notch and the two adjacent conductive regions are structurally integrated to perform mechanical functions of the load-bearing member, and wherein the notch extends from a narrow region to a flared wider region; and an antenna feed terminating at a feed point located in the narrow region of the notch, to couple transmitted energy into the notch and to couple received energy out of the notch; and wherein the adjacent conductive regions and other conductive regions of the entire aircraft structure function as a radiating and receiving component of the antenna system, which provides an omnidirectional radiation pattern supporting vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions; and wherein the load-bearing structural member into which the antenna is integrated is a horizontal tail section, and the antenna notch extends from a narrow region at a leading edge of the horizontal tail section to a wider region located on the same edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
187 words
An aircraft antenna system structurally integrated into a load-bearing structural member of an aircraft, the antenna comprising: an antenna notch formed from non-conductive material and positioned between two adjacent conductive regions of an aircraft structural load-bearing member, wherein the notch and the two adjacent conductive regions are structurally integrated to perform mechanical functions of the load-bearing member, and wherein the notch extends from a narrow region to a flared wider region; and an antenna feed terminating at a feed point located in the narrow region of the notch, to couple transmitted energy into the notch and to couple received energy out of the notch; and wherein the adjacent conductive regions and other conductive regions of the entire aircraft structure function as a radiating and receiving component of the antenna system, which provides an omnidirectional radiation pattern supporting vertically and horizontally polarized communication functions; and wherein the load-bearing structural member into which the antenna is integrated is a horizontal tail section, and the antenna notch extends from a narrow region at a leading edge of the horizontal tail section to a wider region located on the same edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2518843A
Cited
US2701307A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-01 | 2004-01-31 | 2004-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-01 | 2008-01-31 | 2008-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-01 | 2012-01-31 | 2012-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |