Antenna systems using aircraft propellers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10439293-B2
Application number	US-201715463167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 20, 2017
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system includes an aircraft body and a propeller coupled to the aircraft body. The propeller includes a plurality of blades forming a rearward-facing curvature with respect to an axis running longitudinally with the aircraft body. The system further includes a surface coupled to a first blade of the propeller that is operable to reflect radio frequency (RF) waves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an aircraft body;
a propeller coupled to the aircraft body, the propeller comprising a plurality of blades forming a rearward-facing curvature with respect to an axis running longitudinally with the aircraft body; and
a surface coupled to a first blade of the propeller, the surface operable to reflect radio frequency (RF) waves.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a transceiver coupled to the aircraft body and configured to transmit RF signals toward the RF wave-reflective surface.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the transceiver is a directional RF antenna.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rearward-facing curvature is a parabolic curvature.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rearward-facing curvature is a spherical curvature.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface is coupled to a rear-facing portion of the first blade.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor operable to detect a relative location of the first blade during rotation of the propeller.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor is coupled to a shaft of the propeller, the sensor further operable to detect and encode a rotation angle.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the sensor includes a laser or other optical encoding device coupled to the aircraft body.

10. The system of claim 7 , further comprising a transceiver that is configured to gate transmitted RF pulses based on the detected relative location of the first blade and a desired propagation direction.

11. A system, comprising:
an aircraft body;
a propeller coupled to the aircraft body, the propeller comprising a plurality of blades that are approximately perpendicular to an axis running longitudinally with the aircraft body; and
a plurality of surfaces coupled to a first blade of the propeller, wherein each of the plurality of surfaces forms a rearward-facing curvature with respect to the axis running longitudinally with the aircraft body and is operable to reflect radio frequency (RF) waves.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a transceiver coupled to the aircraft body and configured to transmit RF signals toward the plurality of surfaces.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the transceiver is a directional RF antenna.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the rearward-facing curvature is a parabolic curvature.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the rearward-facing curvature is a spherical curvature.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein each surface of the plurality of surfaces is coupled to a rear-facing portion of the first blade.

17. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor operable to detect a relative location of the first blade during rotation of the propeller.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the sensor is coupled to a shaft of the propeller, the sensor further operable to detect and encode a rotation angle.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the sensor includes a laser or other optical encoding device coupled to the aircraft body.

20. A system, comprising:
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) body;
a propeller coupled to the UAV body, the propeller comprising a plurality of blades;
a surface coupled to each blade of the propeller, wherein each surface forms a parabolic curvature with respect to an axis running longitudinally with the UAV body; and
a transceiver configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals toward the plurality of surfaces.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Jones Mike I

Classifications

• B64U50/14

  ducted or shrouded · CPC title

• B64C11/00

  Propellers, e.g. of ducted type; Features common to propellers and rotors for rotorcraft · CPC title

• B64C11/20

  Constructional features · CPC title

• H01Q1/44

  using equipment having another main function to serve additionally as an antenna {, e.g. means for giving an antenna an aesthetic aspect}(H01Q1/27 - H01Q1/34 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/28

  Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons · CPC title