Patent Publication Number: US-9887453-B2

Title: Ballistic radome with extended field of view

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Non-Provisional of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/816,997 filed Apr. 29, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a ballistic radome, and more specifically, to a ballistic radome with an extended field of view. 
     A vehicle that needs to communicate with an off-board system may include one or more antennas. These antennas are often arranged in antenna arrays that include multiple transmission and reception modules. These antenna arrays are often referred to as electronically scanned arrays (ESAs). The ESAs for a given vehicle are generally disposed at an exterior of the vehicle so that data transmitted between the vehicle and the off-board system need not pass through the exterior of the vehicle. As such, the ESAs often need to be protected by one or more radomes that permit electromagnetic radiation of certain frequencies to be transmitted to and from the ESAs with little to no interference at wide angle ranges. Since these radomes are often located along with the ESAs at the exterior of the vehicle, the radomes are often also required to protect the ESAs from atmospheric conditions, such as humidity, and from impacts by foreign objects, such as armor piercing projectiles. Radomes that are particularly suited for such additional protection may be referred to as “ballistic radomes.” A ballistic radome can be much thicker than the conventional half-wave wall, A-sandwich, B-sandwich or C-sandwich radomes. 
     During vehicle use, if an ESA becomes non-functional, the area of electromagnetic radiation transmission that is affected by the lost ESA needs to be covered. Frequently, such coverage may be provided by the ESAs on either side of the non-functional ESA. In these cases, the functional ESAs may be configured to have extended respective fields of view (FOVs) to thereby provide some amount of coverage for the affected area. However, for ESAs that have ballistic radomes, the thick ballistic radomes may have to be unrealistically large in order to accommodate the extended FOVs. In other cases, the ballistic radomes may be provided with curved radome surfaces that allow for extended FOVs but cause distortion in the transmitted electromagnetic radiation. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, a ballistic radome is provided and includes a flattened radome portion disposable in a primary field of view (FOV) of an antenna and a curved radome portion configured to define an extended FOV of the antenna about the primary FOV. 
     According to another embodiment, a ballistic radome for use with an antenna having a primary field of view (FOV) is provided. The ballistic radome includes a flattened radome portion disposable in the primary FOV and a curved radome portion configured to define an extended FOV of the antenna about the primary FOV. The flattened radome portion includes an outer edge, which is disposable at a periphery of the primary FOV. The curved radome portion includes a forward edge, which is configured to be affixed to the outer edge. 
     According to another embodiment, a radome system is provided and includes an antenna having a primary field of view (FOV) and a ballistic radome supportively disposable proximate to the antenna. The ballistic radome includes a flattened radome portion disposable in the primary FOV and a curved radome portion configured to define an extended FOV of the antenna about the primary FOV. 
     Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present invention. Other embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed invention. For a better understanding of the invention with the advantages and the features, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ballistic radome of a radome system in accordance with embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the ballistic radome of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a ballistic radome in accordance with alternative embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of a ballistic radome in accordance with alternative embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a ballistic radome in accordance with alternative embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial side view of the radome system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of a portion of the ballistic radome of  FIG. 1  in accordance with further embodiments; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a portion of the ballistic radome of  FIG. 1  in accordance with further alternative embodiments; and 
         FIG. 9  is a graphical depiction of loss performance of the ballistic radome of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The description provided herein relates to a radome system for an antenna (i.e., an ESA) having a primary field of view (FOV). The radome system includes a ballistic radome that itself includes a substantially flat ballistic radome portion in the primary FOV and a curved or faceted ballistic radome portion that defines an extended FOV. The substantially flat ballistic radome portion in the primary FOV will permit transmission of electromagnetic radiation with minimal or reduced distortion and/or loss. The curved or faceted ballistic radome portions allows for a smaller radome footprint, but provides the extended or wider FOV. The curved or faceted ballistic radome portion thus saves valuable real estate on a vehicle and reduces weight and costs as well. 
     For the extended FOV defined by the curved or faceted ballistic radome portion, there could be degraded performance due to distortion and/or loss, but this is acceptable since the extended FOV is used in concert with the primary FOV and may only be required when an antenna becomes non-functional. In addition, the substantially flat ballistic radome portion may be relatively small and lightweight as compared to other radomes. 
     The radome system thus provides for undiminished performance in the primary FOV of the antenna despite the extended FOV capability and does not require additional space, weight or material for the extended FOV capability. In addition, a curvature around a periphery of the curved radome portion can provide for a corner armor solution. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-8 , a radome system  10  is provided.  FIG. 1  illustrates an inner surface of the radome system  10 . For simplicity, certain features of the radome wall structure and thickness are variable in accordance with design considerations and application of the radome system  10  and are not shown. The radome system  10  includes an antenna or, more particularly, an antenna array  20 . This antenna array  20  may be provided as an electronically scanned array (ESA)  21  and has a primary field of view (FOV)  30  (see  FIG. 6 ). As shown in  FIG. 1 , the ESA  21  may be but is not required to be substantially rectangular in cross-sectional shape and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , may include a substantially flat, planar surface  210 . Most, if not all, of the transmitted electromagnetic radiation passes through this surface  210 . The primary FOV  30  is generally defined outwardly from the surface  210  at angles that range from a normal angle (i.e., perpendicular to a plane of the surface  210 ) to an acute angle (i.e., transverse to the normal angle). The magnitude of the acute angle can vary based on a type of the ESA and a type of the transmitted electromagnetic radiation. For purposes of clarity and brevity it will be assumed that the acute angle is a predefined angle α, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The radome system  10  further includes a structural support  40  and a ballistic radome  50 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the structural support  40  is disposed perimetrically about the ESA  20  and includes a structural wall  41 , which may not be designed for radio frequency (RF) transmission. The structural wall  41  extends substantially in parallel with a side of the ESA  20  and generally terminates at the plane of the surface  210 . The structural wall  41  includes a flange  410  at an outer diameter thereof that protrudes beyond the plane of the surface  210  and serves to secure the ballistic radome  50  in place. In accordance with some embodiments, the flange  410  may terminate at a plane of an interior surface of the ballistic radome  50 . 
     The ballistic radome  50  is supportively disposable on the structural wall  41  within the flange  410  such that the ballistic radome  50  is proximate to the ESA  20 . The ballistic radome  50  includes a substantially flattened radome portion  51  and a curved (or faceted) radome portion  52 . With the ballistic radome  50  supportively disposable on the structural wall  41 , the substantially flattened radome portion  51  is disposable in the primary FOV  30 . Meanwhile, the curved radome portion  52  is configured to define an extended FOV  60  of the ESA  20  about the primary FOV  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the extended FOV  60  will have angular ranges from the predefined angle α to the extended angle β. At this extended angle, which may be substantially transverse with respect to the normal angle, it is possible that the electromagnetic radiation transmitted with respect to the ESA  20  will experience distortion and/or loss. It is also possible that such distortion or losses will be increased by the curvature of the curved radome portion  52 . The distortion and/or loss can be improved by applying proper phase calibration. Some distortion or loss are acceptable due to the fact that the angular range at which transmission of electromagnetic radiation is permitted is substantially increased by the ballistic radome  50  without a corresponding increase in size, weight or material of the ballistic radome  50 . 
     The substantially flattened radome portion  51  includes an outer edge  510 . The outer edge  510  is disposable at a periphery of the primary FOV  30 . The curved radome portion  52  includes a forward edge  520  and a rearward edge  521 . The forward edge  520  is configured to be affixed to the outer edge  510  of the substantially flattened portion  51 . The rearward edge  521  may be substantially coplanar with the surface  210  of the ESA  20  and may be surrounded by the flange  410 . In accordance with embodiments, the rearward edge  521  may be press fit inside the flange  410  or, alternatively, the flange  410  may be fastened to an outer periphery of the curved radome portion  52  by fastening elements, such as screws, bolts and/or adhesive. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2-5, 7 and 8 , it will be understood that the shape of the ballistic radome  50  and the ESA  20  can vary in accordance with multiple alternative embodiments. A selection of these alternative embodiments is described herein but is not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the application in any way. Other shapes and sizes of the ballistic radome  50  are of course possible. In addition, it will be further understood that the embodiments described herein may be provided alone or in combination with one another. 
     As an exemplary embodiment and as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the outer edge  510  of the substantially flattened radome portion  51 , the forward edge  520  of the curved radome portion  52  and the rearward edge  521  of the curved radome portion  52  may be substantially elliptical or circular, angular as shown in  FIG. 4  or oval-shaped as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some or all of these cases, the outer edge  510 , the forward edge  520  and the rearward edge  521  may be smoothly defined around a perimeter of the ESA  20 . Moreover, in some or all of these cases, the ESA  20  may be square or rectangular as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 and 5  or polygonal as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In accordance with another exemplary embodiment and, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the outer edge  510  of the substantially flattened radome portion  51 , the forward edge  520  of the curved radome portion  52  and the rearward edge  521  of the curved radome portion  52  may be straight and parallel with each other. In this case, the curved radome portion  52  may include a faceted surface  525  and thus may be formed of a plurality of faces  526  arrayed in one or more rows around a perimeter of the ESA  20 . 
     In accordance with another exemplary embodiment and, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the outer edge  510  of the substantially flattened radome portion  51 , the forward edge  520  of the curved radome portion  52  and the rearward edge  521  of the curved radome portion  52  may be segmented and parallel with each other, with each segment being curved. In this case, the curved radome portion  52  may include a scalloped surface  527  and thus may be formed of a plurality of scallop faces  528  arrayed in one or more rows around a perimeter of the ESA  20 . 
     As described above and, with reference to  FIG. 9 , the radome system  10  includes the substantially flattened radome portion  51  in the primary FOV  30  of the ESA  20  and a curved (or faceted) radome portion  52  for the extended FOV  60 . The primary FOV  30  will thus have minimal distortion and/or loss. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the FOV  80  and beyond was totally blocked by the structural wall  70  of the flat ballistic radome. On the other embodiments, the curved section  71  of the curved ballistic radome provides the extended window  81  and beyond. Hence, the curved radome allows a smaller radome footprint while providing a wider FOV. 
     In accordance with still further embodiments, it will be understood that the ballistic radome  50  may be formed of a single component or multiple, layered components. In either case, the ballistic radome  50  material may be selected to be impedance matched with the ESA  20  and/or the other features of the radome system  10 . Where the ballistic radome  50  is formed of multiple, layered components, the ballistic radome  50  may be formed in a manner similar to the description provided in U.S. Patent Application No. 2012/009229 (and U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0136731 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,817,099), entitled “Broadband Ballistic Resistant Radome.” The radome may also be made from multiple components across the face of the radome. For instance, if ceramic is used, the overall ceramic shape may be composed of individual pieces of ceramic instead of a monolithic piece. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one more other features, integers, steps, operations, element components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 
     While the preferred embodiments to the invention have been described, it will be understood that those skilled in the art, both now and in the future, may make various improvements and enhancements which fall within the scope of the claims which follow. These claims should be construed to maintain the proper protection for the invention first described.