Modular system for detecting, tracking, and transmitting to identified objects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12255404-B2
Application number	US-202218051801-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2022
Priority date	May 20, 2022
Publication date	Mar 18, 2025
Grant date	Mar 18, 2025

Abstract

A modular, radio frequency (“RF”) system includes one or more directional antennas and is configured with both hardware and software components to enable the RF system to monitor (e.g., detect or track signals or objects) and/or interact with (e.g., track signals or objects, or transmit signals) objects in particular directions. The RF system includes one or more machine learning models to determine, based on received signals, one or more signals to transmit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular RF system comprising:
a first module enclosure configured to house a first plurality of modules;
one or more antennas coupled to the module enclosure on one or more exterior surfaces of the module enclosure and configured to receive RF signals and transmit RF signals;
a first channel extending from a bottom portion of the first module enclosure, through an interior portion of the first module enclosure, to a top portion of the first module enclosure;
a first one or more heat sinks positioned within the first channel and thermally coupled to the first plurality of modules; and
at least one fan positioned at a top or a bottom of the first module enclosure and configured to cause air to flow through the first channel and the first one or more heat sinks.

2. The modular RF system of claim 1 further comprising:
a direction finder coupled to an exterior surface of the RF system, in communication with at least one of the first plurality of modules, and configured to receive RF signals and provide direction finding information to the at least one of the first plurality of modules.

3. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas comprise a first two antennas, and wherein the first two antennas are in electrical communication with at least two of the first plurality of modules.

4. The modular RF system of claim 1 further comprising:
a second module enclosure configured to house a second plurality of modules and coupled to the first module enclosure;
a second channel extending from a bottom portion of the second module enclosure, through an interior portion of the second module enclosure, to a top portion of the second module enclosure, wherein the second channel is aligned with the first channel; and
a second one or more heat sinks positioned within the first channel and thermally coupled to the first plurality of modules,
wherein the at least one fan is configured to cause air to flow through the first and second channels, through and the first and second one or more heat sinks.

5. The modular RF system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more antennas comprise four antennas, wherein two antennas of the four antennas are in electrical communication with at least two of the first plurality of modules, and wherein two other antennas of the four antennas are in electrical communication with at least two of the second plurality of modules.

6. The modular RF system of claim 4 , wherein the second module enclosure is coupled to the first module enclosure via a joining enclosure.

7. The modular RF system of claim 1 further comprising:
an upper enclosure with air vents; and
a lower enclosure with air vents.

8. The modular RF system of claim 7 , wherein a first fan is positioned in the upper enclosure, and wherein a second fan is positioned in the lower enclosure.

9. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of modules includes at least one of: a power supply module, an RF module, or a processing module.

10. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of modules is housed within a peripheral portion of the first module enclosure that surrounds the first channel and is configured to hermetically seal the first plurality of modules within the peripheral portion.

11. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas comprise broad-bandwidth, directional antennas.

12. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the one or more antennas radiates or receives greater power in a specific direction,
the one or more antennas are configured to operate independently, and
each of the one or more antennas is configured operate in coordination with one or more other of the one or more antennas.

13. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas includes a first antenna that radiates or receives signals over an area that is between 80 degrees and 110 degrees in a direction the first antenna is configured to face.

14. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein one or more antennas comprises two, three, or four antennas.

15. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more antennas are configured to be adjustable with respect to an angle of elevation or tilt as compared to a plane the modular RF system is stationed on.

16. The modular RF system of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of modules comprises at least: a power supply module, two RF modules, and a processing module.

17. The modular RF system of claim 16 , wherein the power supply module is configured to provide power to at least the two RF modules and the processing module.

18. The modular RF system of claim 16 , wherein each respective one of the two RF modules is in electrical communication with a respective one of the one or more antennas, and wherein each of the two RF modules is in electrical communication with the processing module and configured with at least: a multiplexer, a reception amplifier, and a transmission amplifier.

19. The modular RF system of claim 16 , wherein each of the RF modules is configured to:
receive RF signals from an antenna of the one or more antennas;
amplify, filter, and/or limit the received RF signals; and
provide the amplified, filtered, and/or limited received RF signals to the processing module.

20. The modular RF system of claim 16 , wherein each of the RF modules is configured to:
receive RF signals from the processing module;
amplify, filter, and/or limit the received RF signals; and
transmit the amplified, filtered, and/or limited received RF signals via an antenna of the one or more antennas.

21. The modular RF system of claim 16 , wherein the processing module is configured to:
receive RF signals;
process RF signals;
determine RF signals to transmit based on the processed RF signals;
generate RF signals to transmit; and
cause transmission of generated RF signals.

22. The modular RF system of claim 16 , wherein the processing module comprises at least: a processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a software defined radio (SDR) transceiver, and a storage device.

Assignees

• Anduril Industries Inc

Inventors

• El-Akkad Sam
• Fischer Christopher
• Whitaker Travis
• Pearson Bryden
• Berk Todd
• Pham Thao
• Hsu Jon
• Dart Cameron

Classifications

• H01Q1/247

  with frequency mixer, e.g. for direct satellite reception or Doppler radar · CPC title

• H01Q21/205

  providing an omnidirectional coverage (turnstile aerials H01Q21/26) · CPC title

• H01Q21/29 Primary

  Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic (H01Q25/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01Q1/1264 Primary

  Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit · CPC title