Patent ID: 7609753
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
1. A Link 16 radio system for use in an aircraft, comprising: a first hemispherical antenna element for disposition on an upper portion of the aircraft; a second hemispherical antenna element for disposition on a lower portion of the aircraft; a combiner coupled to the first hemispherical antenna element and the second hemispherical antenna element, the combiner configured to receive a first Link 16 signal from the first hemispherical antenna element and a second Link 16 signal from the second hemispherical antenna element, the combiner providing a combined signal based on the first Link 16 signal and the second Link 16 signal, the first Link 16 signal being delayed with respect to the second Link 16 signal; and a rake receiver configured to receive the combined signal from the combiner and identify a strongest signal, wherein the strongest signal is one of the first Link 16 signal and the second Link 16 signal wherein an analog gain of 3 dB can be achieved due to collecting the first Link 16 signal and the second Link 16 signal but with half the noise from each of the first and second hemispherical antenna elements.