Systems and devices for an RF signal carrying cable of a multi-pack launcher system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11145435-B2
Application number	US-202017016070-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2020
Priority date	Sep 10, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods including a launch control box; a multi-pack launcher (MPL) box; and a cable connecting the launch control box and the MPL box, where the cable comprises: an outer jacket, a shielded braid, a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a fourth wire, where the first wire and the second wire are shielded by the shielded braid, where the third wire and the fourth wire are outside of the shielded braid, and where the third wire and the fourth wire act as an antenna.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a launch control box;
a multi-pack launcher (MPL) box; and
a cable connecting the launch control box and the MPL box, wherein the cable comprises: an outer jacket, a shielded braid, a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a fourth wire, wherein the first wire and the second wire are shielded by the shielded braid, wherein the third wire and the fourth wire are outside of the shielded braid, and wherein the third wire and the fourth wire act as an antenna.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one missile disposed in the MPL box.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one missile is at least one of:
an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and an all-up-round (AUR).

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one missile further comprises at least one antenna, wherein the at least one antenna is configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from the third wire and the fourth wire of the cable acting as an antenna.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a control printed circuit board (PCB) disposed within the MPL box.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the RF signals produced by the cable are filtered with an RF filter disposed on the PCB.

7. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
an actuator configured to open and close a door of the MPL box.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a current sense circuit in communication with the actuator.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the current sense circuit is configured to detect an object that prevents closing of the door of the MPL box.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the current sense circuit detects the object by determining if a current of the actuator exceeds a preset amount for a present amount of time.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the current sense circuit is configured to open the door via the actuator if the object preventing closing of the door is detected.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the current sense circuit is configured to turn on a door open indicator light.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the MPL box comprises a metal case.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a box interface disposed in an opening of the MPL box configured to receive the cable, wherein the box interface isolates the cable from the metal case of the MPL box, and wherein the box interface prevents RF signals picked up on the third wire and fourth wire of the cable from dissipating into the metal case.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the box interface comprises at least one of: polyoxymethylene and rubber.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a built-in fuse connected to the cable, wherein the built-in fuse is configured to blow if the cable is punctured or damaged, wherein at least one of the third wire and the fourth wire is shorted to the shielded braid when the cable is punctured or damaged, and wherein the shielded braid is at ground potential.

17. A method comprising:
receiving one or more radio frequency (RF) signals in a portion of a cable disposed outside of a multi-pack launcher (MPL) box, wherein the cable comprises: an outer jacket, a shielded braid, a first wire, a second wire, a third wire, and a fourth wire, wherein the first wire and the second wire are shielded by the shielded braid, wherein the third wire and the fourth wire are outside of the shielded braid, and wherein the third wire and the fourth wire act as an antenna; and
transmitting the received one or more RF signals from a portion of the cable disposed inside the MPL box to one or more missiles located inside the MPL box.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
removing RF energy from the cable by an RF filter connected to an end of the cable, wherein the RF filter is disposed within the MPL box.

Assignees

• Aerovironment Inc

Inventors

• Miremadi Reza

Classifications

• B64U70/20

  for releasing or capturing UAVs in flight by another aircraft · CPC title

• B64U50/15

  using combustion exhausts other than turbojets or turbofans, e.g. using rockets, ramjets, scramjets or pulse-reactors · CPC title

• B64U80/40

  for two or more UAVs · CPC title

• B64U70/50

  Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes · CPC title

• F41F1/08

  Multibarrel guns, e.g. twin guns · CPC title