Antenna system for a micro air vehicle
US7701384B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 8, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01S13/882
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An antenna for a micro air vehicle (MAV) takes the form of a wrap-around antenna (e.g., wrapped around a portion of the MAV) that selectively emits radio signals in different directions depending on a frequency selected by a radio altimeter in the MAV. The radar altimeter may be a pulsed or a frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar altimeter. The wrap-around antenna includes groups of radiating elements in which at least each group includes an average height that is different from an average height of an adjacent group. Further, the average height of the group determines which group will emit the signals most efficiently so that a desired sector of space may be covered by the signals emitted from the antenna. In one example, the center frequency of the radar altimeter may be controlled in a deterministic manner to cause the radiating elements to successively cover desired sectors of space.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.