Patent classifications
H01Q1/281
Co-located sensors for precision guided munitions
A precision guided munition (PGM) system is disclosed. The PGM system comprises a body including a nose portion. The nose portion includes an aperture. A window is attached, secured, or adhered to the body at the nose portion. One or more antenna substrates is attached, secured, or adhered to the window. A plurality of radiating elements is attached, secured, or adhered to the one or more antenna substrates. An image sensor configured to capture an image in front of the body. The image sensor is behind the aperture and is configured to focus at an infinity focus in front of the body. The one or more antenna substrates include unpopulated areas configured to let photons pass through the antenna substrates from the window to the image sensor. The photons are parallel or collimated and the captured image does not include features of the antenna substrates.
Radome cover shell and opening kinematic
An aircraft with an aircraft structure that comprises a radome cover opening kinematic and a radome cover shell that is adapted to enclose equipment in a nose region of the aircraft in a closed position. The radome cover opening kinematic may enable movements of the radome cover shell between the closed position and an opened position and vice versa. The radome cover opening kinematic may include a guiding rail that is attached to the radome cover shell, and at least three rollers that are attached to the aircraft structure, wherein a first and a second roller are arranged on opposing sides of the guiding rail, and wherein the second and a third roller are arranged on the same side of the guiding rail. The radome shell opening kinematic further comprises a radome cover shell rotation stopper that can stop movement of the radome cover shell at the completely opened position.
SENSOR WAVEGUIDE SYSTEM FOR A SEEKER ANTENNA ARRAY
A sensor waveguide system includes a sensor waveguide and a plurality of sensors. The sensor waveguide includes a main body defining a peak, a base, an axis of rotation, and a plurality of waveguide channels. The main body converges from the base to the peak to create a predetermined tapered profile. The plurality of waveguide channels are oriented parallel to the axis of rotation of the sensor waveguide and each waveguide channel defines an exit disposed at the base of the main body. A sensor is disposed at the exit of each of the plurality of waveguide channels.
ROTATING MULTI-BEAM ANTENNA
Apparatus and associated methods relate to using a plurality of antennas radially distributed about a rotatable turret to sequentially scan a field of view. Each of the plurality of antennas directs an electromagnetic beam and senses its reflection along a principal direction defined by a roll position of the rotatable turret and an azimuthal beam angle. The principal directions of the antennas have a unique azimuthal beam angle relative to a boresight (i.e., axis of rotation). As the turret rotates, each of these antennas is sequentially turned on at a first roll position and off at a second roll position. This enables electromagnetic beams generated by the antennas to pan a scene both in azimuth and roll. An image processor then determines, based on the reflected signals received by the plurality of antennas, directions to and/or velocities of objects within the scanned field of view.
Mechanically assisted phased array for extended scan limits
A radar apparatus with a transmission antenna array that outputs a high aspect ratio frequency modulation continuous wave (FMCW) transmission beam that illuminates a large field of regard in elevation and may be both electronically and mechanically scanned in azimuth. The weather radar apparatus includes a receive array and receive electronics that may receive the reflected return radar signals and digitally form a plurality of receive beams that may be used to determine characteristics of the area in the field of regard. The receive beams may be used to determine reflectivity of weather systems and provide a coherent weather picture. The weather radar apparatus may simultaneously process the receive signals into monopulse beams that may be used for accurate navigation as well as collision avoidance.
Aircraft enhanced vision system, related aircraft, and vision process
An aircraft enhanced vision system includes an electromagnetic sensor comprising at least one group of transmitters and at least one group of receivers. The electromagnetic sensor includes a waveform generation assembly powering each transmitter in order to generate the transmitted signal and a signal capture assembly to capture the signal received by each receiver after reflection off of the ground. The transmitters are distinct and spaced apart from the receivers, being arranged so as to form at least one virtual transmitter/receiver network extending in an elongation direction perpendicular to the observation direction from each transmitter/receiver combination between the group of transmitters and the group of receivers.
Conformal antenna
An antenna device is presented comprising: a conformal antenna body which has a desired geometry corresponding to a front portion of a platform on which the antenna device is to be mounted, and an antenna unit carried by the antenna body. The antenna unit comprises at least one phased array of antenna elements, the antenna elements of each of the at least one array being arranged in a spaced-apart relationship in a closed loop path along a circumference of the antenna body having a desired geometry corresponding to the front portion of the platform on which the antenna unit is to be mounted. Each of the antenna elements is configured as an end-fire antenna element capable of emitting linearly polarized radiation. The array of the antenna elements is operable as a forward looking end-fire antenna array, enabling electronic steering of an antenna beam by controllably modifying phases of the antenna elements of each array.
Compact radar with X band long-distance weather monitoring and W band high-resolution obstacle imaging for landing in a degraded visual environment
The antenna uses X Band frequencies for long-distance weather monitoring and W Band frequencies for imaging of terrain and obstacles, for use in a radar system in aircraft nose radome to operate effectively in a degraded visual environment. The antenna's feed structure includes concentrically positioned first and second horns. First and second rectangular waveguides are positioned on a cylindrical portion of the first horn, and at a first and second radial positions spaced 90 degrees apart. First and second coaxial cables respectively couple the first and second rectangular waveguides to a polarization converter, which launches linearly polarized waves received from each of the first and second coaxial cables to form a W-hand circularly polarized wave. The feed structure collects and disseminates W Band and X Band electromagnetic energy.
RF EMITTER CHARACTERIZATION SYSTEMS
A multiport antenna in which the antenna conductive elements are arranged to form an at least partially enclosed volume which can accommodate an enclosure containing one or more electronic components, or optical components, or optoelectronic components, or a combination of these. The enclosure may also be provided with a conductive transparent window which permits optical components to receive and/or send optical information.
UAV AND UAV OPERATOR DETECTOR
Disclosed herein A UAV and/or UAV operator detector (1) configured to be mounted to an aircraft (2). The detector comprises an array of multiple Directional Radio Frequency (RF) antennae spaced apart from one another over two or three dimensions.