Patent Publication Number: US-8976071-B1

Title: Integrated L/C/Ku band antenna with omni-directional coverage

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a divisional application and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/383,099 filed Mar. 19, 2009. The U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/383,099 filed Mar. 19, 2009 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of Radio Frequency (RF) devices (ex.—antenna technology) and Advanced Radio Systems and particularly to a system for providing an integrated L/C/Ku band antenna with omni-directional coverage. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A number of current RF devices (ex.—antennas) may not perform to a desired level. 
     Thus, it would be desirable to provide a system for providing an antenna which obviates the problems associated with current antennas. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an embodiment of the present invention is directed to an antenna system, including: a first antenna sub-system, the first antenna sub-system being a Ku-band antenna sub-system; and a second antenna sub-system, the second antenna sub-system being one of: an L-band antenna sub-system and a C-band antenna sub-system, wherein the second antenna sub-system is integrated with the first antenna sub-system and said antenna system provides omni-directional coverage/provides an omni-direction radiation pattern. 
     An additional embodiment of the present invention is directed to an antenna system, including: a Ku-band antenna sub-system, the Ku-band antenna sub-system including a diplexer and a Ku-band antenna, said Ku-band antenna configured for being mounted upon said diplexer, said Ku-band antenna including an antenna body portion and a Ku-band feed network, said antenna body portion including a plurality of radiating surfaces, said Ku-band feed network including a Ku-band feed board configured for providing a feed to the Ku-band antenna; and an L-band antenna sub-system, the L-band antenna sub-system including a plurality of L-band monopoles and a planar support, said Ku-band antenna sub-system and said plurality of L-band monopoles being configured for being mounted upon said planar support, said planar support configured for serving as a local, L-band ground plane and an L-band feed plane for the plurality of L-band monopoles, wherein said L-band antenna sub-system is integrated with said Ku-band antenna sub-system. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to an antenna system, including: a Ku-band antenna sub-system, the Ku-band antenna sub-system including a Ku-band diplexer and a Ku-band antenna, said Ku-band antenna configured for being mounted upon said Ku-band diplexer, said Ku-band antenna including a Ku-band antenna body portion and a Ku-band feed network, said Ku-band antenna body portion including a plurality of Ku-band radiating surfaces and a support surface, said Ku-band feed network including a Ku-band feed board configured for providing a feed to the Ku-band antenna; and a C-band antenna sub-system, the C-band antenna sub-system including a C-band monopole and a C-band feed, said C-band monopole configured for being at least partially mounted upon said support surface of said Ku-band antenna body portion, said support surface of said Ku-band antenna body portion serving as a C-band ground plane for the C-band monopole, said C-band feed configured for being connected to the C-band monopole, wherein said C-band antenna sub-system is integrated with said Ku-band antenna sub-system. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The numerous advantages of the present invention may be better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a cutaway view of an antenna system in which a C-band antenna sub-system is integrated with a Ku-band antenna sub-system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of an antenna system in which an L-band antenna sub-system is integrated with a Ku-band antenna sub-system in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , antenna systems in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown.  FIG. 1  illustrates an antenna system  100 , in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna system  100  may include a first antenna sub-system  102 . For example, the first antenna sub-system  102  may be a Ku-band antenna sub-system/Ku-band array. Further, the antenna system  100  may include a second antenna sub-system  104 . For instance, the second antenna sub-system  104  may be a C-band antenna sub-system/C-band antenna. 
     In a current embodiment of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna sub-system  102  may include a diplexer  106  (ex.—a Ku-band diplexer). In an exemplary embodiment, the diplexer  106  may be formed of metal/may be metallic. In a further embodiment, the diplexer may be two inches (2″) tall by 1″ by 0.5″. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna sub-system  102  may further include an antenna  108  (ex.—a Ku-band antenna). The Ku-band antenna  108  may be configured for being mounted upon the Ku-band diplexer  106 . In further embodiments of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna  108  may include a Ku-band antenna body portion  110 . The Ku-band antenna body portion  110  may form/may include a plurality of radiating surfaces  112  (ex.—Ku-band radiating surfaces). Further, the Ku-band antenna body portion  110  may include a support surface  114 . For instance, the Ku-band antenna body portion  110  may be cylindrically-shaped/may form an antenna cylinder/may form a cylindrically-shaped enclosure (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), having an outer wall (ex—includes the radiating surfaces  112 ), a first end/bottom end/bottom surface  116  (ex.—which may be supported upon/mounted upon the diplexer  106 ), and a second end/top end/upper surface (ex.—the support surface  114 , which may be oriented away from the diplexer  106 ). 
     In current embodiments of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna  108  may further include a feed network  118  (ex.—a Ku-band feed network). In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the Ku-band feed network  118  may include a feed board  120  (ex.—a Ku-band feed board). The Ku-band feed board  120  may be configured for providing a feed to the Ku-band antenna  108 . Further, the Ku-band feed board  120  may form an aperture  122  (ex—may include a surface which forms an aperture/may have an aperture formed therethrough), as shown in  FIG. 1 . In further embodiments, the Ku-band feed board  120  may be configured for being disposed at least substantially within/for being at least substantially contained within the Ku-band antenna body portion  110 . 
     As mentioned above, in exemplary embodiments, the second antenna sub-system  104  may be a C-band antenna sub-system/C-band antenna. The C-band antenna sub-system  104  may include a C-band monopole/C-band element  124 . For example, the C-band monopole/C-band element  124  may be a wideband C-band monopole/wideband C-band element. The C-band monopole  124  is configured for being at least partially upon the support surface  114  of the Ku-band antenna body portion  110 . Further, the support surface  114  of the Ku-band antenna body portion  110  is configured for serving as/providing a ground plane (ex.—a C-band ground plane) for the C-band monopole  124 . 
     In current embodiments of the present invention, the C-band antenna sub-system  104  may further include a C-band feed  126 . The C-band feed  126  may be configured for being connected to the C-band monopole  124 . For example, the C-band feed  126  may be a coaxial feed which is configured for being routed through the bottom surface  116  (ex.—via an aperture  119  formed by/formed through the bottom surface  116 ) of the Ku-band antenna body portion  110  and through the aperture  122  of the Ku-band feed board  120  to the C-band monopole  124 . 
     In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the C-band monopole  124  may be configured for providing an omni-directional radiation pattern/may be omni-directional/may produce an omni pattern/may provide omni-directional radiation. Further, the C-band monopole  124  is configured for providing a wideband response. For example, the C-band antenna sub-system  104  may be integrated with the Ku-band antenna sub-system  102 /seamlessly integrated with the Ku-band antenna sub-system  102 /tightly integrated on top of the Ku-band antenna sub-system/Ku-band array  102 . Further, the C-band monopole  124  may be shaped for covering 5-7 GHz. The shape and feed configuration of the C-band monopole  124  may determine its frequency response and bandwidth. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an antenna system  200 , in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna system  200  may include a first antenna sub-system  202 . For example, the first antenna sub-system  202  may be a Ku-band antenna sub-system/Ku-band array. Further, the antenna system  200  may include a second antenna sub-system  204 . For instance, the second antenna sub-system  204  may be an L-band antenna sub-system/L-band antenna/L-band array. 
     In a current embodiment of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna sub-system  202  may include a diplexer  206  (ex.—a Ku-band diplexer). In an exemplary embodiment, the diplexer  206  may be formed of metal/may be metallic. In a further embodiment, the diplexer may be two inches (2″) tall by 1″ by 0.5″. 
     In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna sub-system  202  may further include an antenna  208  (ex.—a Ku-band antenna). The Ku-band antenna  208  may be configured for being mounted upon the Ku-band diplexer  206 . In further embodiments of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna  208  may include a Ku-band antenna body portion  210 . The Ku-band antenna body portion  210  may form/may include a plurality of radiating surfaces  212  (ex.—Ku-band radiating surfaces). Further, the Ku-band antenna body portion  210  may be cylindrically-shaped/may form an antenna cylinder/may form a cylindrically-shaped enclosure, having an outer wall (ex—includes the radiating surfaces  212 ), a first end/bottom end/bottom surface  214  (ex.—which may be supported upon/mounted upon the diplexer  206 ), and a second end/top end/upper surface  216  (ex.—which may be oriented away from the diplexer  206 ). 
     In current embodiments of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna  108  may further include a feed network  218  (ex.—a Ku-band feed network). In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the Ku-band feed network  218  may include a feed board  220  (ex.—a Ku-band feed board). The Ku-band feed board  220  may be configured for providing a feed to the Ku-band antenna  208 . In further embodiments, the Ku-band feed board  220  may be configured for being disposed at least substantially within/for being at least substantially contained within the Ku-band antenna body portion  210 . 
     As mentioned above, in exemplary embodiments, the second antenna sub-system  204  may be an L-band antenna sub-system/L-band antenna/L-band array. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the L-band antenna sub-system  204  may include a plurality of monopoles/elements  222  (ex.—L-band monopoles/L-band elements). Further, the second antenna sub-system  204  may include a planar support  224 . In current embodiments of the present invention, the Ku-band antenna sub-system  202  and the plurality of L-band monopoles  222  may be configured for being mounted upon the planar support  224 . Further, the planar support  224  may be configured for serving as/providing a local, L-band ground plane for the plurality of L-band monopoles  222 . Still further, the planar support  224  may be configured for serving as/providing an L-band feed plane/horizontal feed network for the plurality of L-band monopoles. 
     In exemplary embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the diplexer  206  may be/may form a post (ex.—a central post) which may be configured for being centrally-positioned/generally centrally-positioned on said planar support  224 . Further, the plurality of L-band monopoles  222  may be shaped monopoles, such as four (4) L-band wideband monopoles/L-band elements, which may be mounted upon the planar support  224  and configured/distributed/positioned/spaced (at least partially) around the central post/diplexer  206 , such as in a circular or cylindrical arrangement/array (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). 
     In current embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of L-band monopoles  222  may be configured for providing an omni-directional radiation pattern/may be omni-directional/may produce an omni pattern/may provide omni-directional radiation. Further, the plurality of L-band monopoles  222  is configured for providing a wideband response (ex.—1350 Megahertz to 1850 Megahertz). Still further, the L-band antenna sub-system  204  may be integrated with the Ku-band antenna sub-system  202 /seamlessly integrated with the Ku-band antenna sub-system  202 /tightly integrated around the Ku-band antenna sub-system/Ku-band array  202 . 
     In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the antenna system  200  may further include a radome  226  (ex.—a Ku-band radome). The radome  226  may be configured for at least substantially enclosing the Ku-band antenna  208  and the plurality of L-band monopoles  222 . In current embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of L-band monopoles  222  may by conformal with the Ku-band radome  226  for minimal Size Weight and Power (SWAP) impact. 
     The antenna system embodiments  100 ,  200  of the present invention may be implemented as part of/with a mini-Common Data Link (mini-CDL) antenna system, a Quint Networking Technology (QNT) system, a rover system, etc., since integrated antenna bands/integrated hardware of said antenna system embodiments of the present invention support said mini-CDL, QNT and rover systems. 
     The antenna system embodiments  100 ,  200  of the present invention allow for seamless integration of either a C-band antenna system/sub-system or an L-band antenna system/sub-system with a Ku-band antenna system/sub-system, thereby obviating any need to have separate antenna installations for separate bands. 
     In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, Ku-band may be defined as a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from at least approximately eleven to eighteen Gigahertz (11 GHz-18 GHz). In further embodiments of the present invention, C-band may be defined as a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from at least approximately three to eight Gigahertz (3 GHz-8 GHz). In still further embodiments of the present invention, L-band may be defined as a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies ranging from at least approximately 0.8 GHz to 2.0 GHz. 
     It is believed that the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.