Patent ID: 7283096

Claim:
An antenna operational within a high temperature environment, comprising: an antenna radiating element, comprising a patch formed by a conductive element in contact with a dielectric element, operative to communicate electromagnetic signals; and a housing comprising a conductive material and operable to accept the antenna radiating element, the housing having one or more cooling orifices and at least one passage supporting a flow of air for cooling the antenna radiating element within the high temperature environment of greater than 600 degrees Fahrenheit, at least one of the cooling temperature positioned along the housing and away from the antenna radiating element to distribute cooling air through the passage and within the housing to another one of the cooling orifices located adjacent to the antenna radiating element, whereby the flow of cooling air supports conductive cooling by direct contact with the housing and the antenna radiating element and provides a boundary layer proximate to the antenna radiating element for protection from gases generated by the high temperature environment.