Antenna device with circularly polarized antenna elements on a body head

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antenna arrangement. The antenna arrangement comprises a head of a body; and a plurality M of antenna elements arranged on the head of the body and outside the body.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to antenna arrangements, in particular an antenna arrangement with circularly polarized antenna elements on a head of a body for applications in radar technology. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] To guide missiles, they can be equipped with a radar head to enable the acquisition of radar data from the missile's perspective. This radar data can be analyzed and used, for example, to steer the missile or to control other objects. The radar head occupies space within the missile, typically in its nose. The missile's propulsion system can be adapted to the dimensions of the radar head (volume, body, shape, arrangement, weight, etc.) to meet one or more performance requirements. For precise control using radar data, the shape and structure of the missile, including its antenna array, can be significant.

[0003] One of the objects of the invention is to provide antenna arrangements which make it possible to increase the performance of the radar head or the missile, e.g. by reducing the complexity of the radar head with regard to an analysis of the acquired radar data, or with regard to a reduction of the volume occupied by the radar head.

[0004] CN 103 000 997 B2 discloses a miniaturized L-band spiral antenna comprising a spiral component and a coaxial cable, wherein the spiral component is a spiral structure made of metal and the coaxial cable comprises an inner core and an outer sheath.

[0005] US 3,110,030 A discloses dipole antenna groups formed integrally with a conical surface of an aerodynamic vehicle to form a composite body which does not impair the aerodynamic properties of the vehicle.

[0006] Lee, BS, Winder, WF, and Smith, D., Design of an antenna subsystem for a semi active radar target, Proceedings of MELECON '94. Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference, Antalya, Turkey, 1994, pp. 1158-1161 vol.3, disclose circularly polarized antennas with a dielectric rod in a cylindrical waveguide. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention is defined by the independent claims. The dependent claims define advantageous embodiments.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, an antenna arrangement comprises a body head and a plurality M of antenna elements arranged on the body head and outside the body. This increases the volume within the body and reduces the complexity of analyzing the acquired radar data. Each plurality of antenna elements comprises a housing, a tip, and an antenna, the antenna having the form of an elongated helix extending along a longitudinal direction of the antenna arrangement. This reduces polarization losses.

[0009] According to a training course, a variety of antenna elements are configured to transmit and / or receive circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation, particularly electromagnetic radiation for radar applications. This enables transmission and / or reception and increases the radar's range.

[0010] According to further training, the length of the housing is no less than the length of the antenna. This allows the antenna to be positioned completely outside the head of the body.

[0011] According to a further training, the numerous antenna elements are arranged symmetrically around an axis of symmetry of the antenna array. This enables a simplified analysis of the radar data.

[0012] According to further training, the multitude M of antenna elements comprises a multitude E of antenna elements for receiving, a multitude S of antenna elements for transmitting and / or a multitude B of antenna elements for bidirectional transmission. and Received, with E + S + B = M and E ≥ 0, S ≥ 0, B ≥ 0. This expands functionality and increases reach or reduces complexity.

[0013] According to a further training, the numerous antenna elements are arranged longitudinally along one edge of the body's head. This can increase the transmission and / or reception power or enable a wider field of view.

[0014] According to further training, the multiple antenna elements each comprise a housing made of one material, and the head of the body is made of a second material, with the first and second materials differing. This optimizes the transmission and / or reception performance.

[0015] According to further training, the multiple antenna elements are configured to generate and / or receive radiation with the same left- or right-hand circular polarization. This reduces polarization losses.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, a missile comprises the antenna arrangement as described above. This enables a missile with an extended performance range. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will now be explained with reference to the figures in the drawings. The figures show: Fig. 1 Front view of an exemplary antenna arrangement with antenna elements arranged symmetrically on a rotationally symmetrical head of a body. Fig. 2 Side view of the exemplary antenna arrangement of Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Side view of a missile with an exemplary antenna arrangement.

[0018] The accompanying figures are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in conjunction with the description, serve to explain the principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the aforementioned advantages become apparent with reference to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Directional terminology such as "above," "below," "left," "right," "over," "below," "horizontal," "vertical," "front," "back," and similar terms are used for explanatory purposes only and are not intended to limit the general public to specific embodiments as shown in the figures.

[0019] In the figures, the same reference symbols regularly denote identical or functionally equivalent components, unless otherwise stated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a front view of an exemplary antenna arrangement 110 with antenna elements on the head of a body and outside the body, for example a missile 300 as in Fig. 3 The head of the body exhibits rotational symmetry without loss of generality (o BdA), meaning it can be circular when viewed from the front along an axis of rotation x. The head of the body can also be elliptical, for example, when viewed from the front along the axis of rotation. x considered.

[0021] As in the Fig. 1 As shown, the antenna arrangement comprises a variety of M of antenna elements m with 1 ≤ m ≤ M. The multitude MIt can be an even or an odd integer, for example 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, or 18. The antenna elements can be identical or different. For example, S Antenna elements for transmitting, E Antenna elements for receiving and / or B Antenna elements for bidirectional transmission and It must be configured to receive electromagnetic radiation. The multitude M of antenna elements m It can, for example, comprise 0, 2, 4, or 8 antenna elements for transmitting and 16, 14, 12, or 8 antenna elements for receiving, totaling 16 antenna elements in each case. The multitude M The antenna array can also comprise 4 transmitting elements and 14 receiving elements, for a total of 16 elements (2 transmitting and 2 receiving elements). Other combinations are also possible, particularly the case where all antenna elements are configured for both transmitting and receiving. B = M Antenna elements can differ at least in the direction of polarization rotation and otherwise be identical.

[0022] The transmitting antenna elements and the receiving antenna elements can be arranged in groups sequentially on the body or the head of the body, e.g., 2 of the multitude S and 14 of the multitude E; or 4 of the multitude S and 12 of the multitude E; or 4 of the multitude S, 4 of the multitude E, 4 of the multitude S, 4 of the multitude E; or alternately 1 of the multitude S and 1 of the multitude E. The 16 antenna elements, for example, can all be configured for transmitting and / or receiving. The transmitting configuration can exclude the receiving configuration and vice versa.In the case of a purely receive-only arrangement, where all antenna elements are configured to receive and no antenna element is configured to transmit, the antenna arrangement can, for example, receive radar waves reflected from a target object that were emitted by a transmitter towards the target object.

[0023] The antenna elements can be configured specifically for transmitting and / or receiving electromagnetic radiation for radar applications. The antenna elements can also be configured for transmitting and / or receiving in different frequency ranges.

[0024] The multitude M The antenna elements m can be rotationally symmetric on a circle with radius r i , in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation x The antenna elements can be positioned, for example, on the head of a missile. The position of the antenna elements can be determined, for example, by a rotation angle. φ ( m ) with 1 ≤ m ≤M The rotation angle will be displayed. φ ( m ) for the antenna element m can be determined by the relationship φ ( m ) = ( m - 1) × Δ φ , with Δ φ = 360° / M be given. For the multitude S and the multitude E Different rotation angles are possible. As in the Fig. 1 The radius is shown. r i smaller than a radius of the missile r a , if, without loss of generality, the case is concentric circles as the shape of the missile (outer, solid circle in Fig. 1 ) and the arrangement of the antenna elements (inner, dotted circle in Fig. 1 ) is considered. A radius d m / 2 of one, several, or all of the antenna elements m can be less than, equal to, or greater than the difference r a - r i of the radii r a and rThe position of the antenna elements at the edge of the head of the body can, for example, allow for a larger field of view.

[0025] Fig. 2 shows a side view of an exemplary antenna arrangement 210 with antenna elements mounted on the head of a body outside the body, for example a missile 300 as in Fig. 3 , are arranged. The head of the body has a hyperbolic shape when viewed laterally, along an axis. y considered, orthogonal to an axis x The head of the body can, for example, also have the shape of a circle or a triangle when viewed laterally, along an axis y.

[0026] As with reference to Fig. 1 The antenna arrangement, described in detail, comprises a multitude of M of antenna elements m with 1 ≤ m ≤ M. To simplify the description, in Fig. 2An example with 8 antenna elements is illustrated. Alternative solutions, all of which are identical to the example in Fig. 2 can be combined, and vice versa, are related to Fig. 1 described in detail.

[0027] Each of the antenna elements m can be a radome (from the English "radar dome" derived) comprising a housing 211 and a tip 212. The housing can have a diameter (cf. d m in Fig. 1 ) in the range of 5 to 50 mm, preferably 10 to 20 mm, more preferably 12 to 15 mm. The housing 211 can have a length lThe antenna elements m have a diameter of 20 to 200 mm, preferably 50 to 120 mm, and more preferably 70 to 100 mm. The radome can be arranged completely or at least partially outside the head of the body to increase the volume of available space within the head of the body. Each of the antenna elements m can further comprise an antenna 213. The antenna 213 can be a helical antenna configured for transmitting and / or receiving circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation. Other antennas extending in one direction, e.g., in the x-direction, configured for transmitting and / or receiving circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation are also possible. The antenna 213 can, for example, form a helix around a cylinder, a cone, an ellipsoid, etc. The antenna 213 can have a directional characteristic 214 that is rotationally symmetrical in one direction of radiation.

[0028] The antenna 213 can be arranged in the radome. In particular, the length of the antenna 213 can be less than the length l m of the radome, so that the antenna 213 can be arranged completely outside the head of the body in the radome.

[0029] The shape and material of each individual radome of an Antenna 213 can be independent of the shape and material of the antenna head to ensure optimal performance. This minimizes losses and / or distortions during the transmission and reception of a radar signal. The shape and material of the respective radomes can also be adapted to the configuration of the Antenna 213 (transmit, receive, transmit and receive).

[0030] Due to the shape of the antenna elements and the dimensioning of the respective antenna 213, the antenna elements can be mounted on the head of a missile 300 as in Fig. 3Antenna arrangements can be installed in such a way that space is freed up inside the head or missile for, for example, a second instrument for guiding the missile. The second instrument can be an optical seeker head, such as a seeker head for detecting electromagnetic radiation in the infrared frequency range. Antenna arrangements according to the present disclosure can thus enable the use of multiple seekers to improve missile guidance without requiring a comprehensive change in the missile's shape.

[0031] Each antenna 213 can be configured to produce radiation with the same left- or right-hand circular polarization, regardless of the relative position and orientation of the antenna elements. m.This allows a radar signal emitted and backscattered from any transmitting antenna to be received by any receiving antenna without polarization loss. Polarization loss refers to losses caused by differing polarizations.

[0032] Fig. 3 Figure 3 shows a side view of a missile 300 with an antenna assembly 310 and a fuselage 320. The fuselage 320 can comprise a single-stage, two-stage, or multi-stage propulsion module. One or more of the propulsion stages of the propulsion module can be jettisonable. The antenna assembly 310 can surround one or more submodules. The antenna assembly 310 can, for example, surround an active or passive radar, one or more effectors, a control system, and / or means for wireless communication. In particular, an antenna assembly 310 can comprise a plurality of antenna elements, as shown with reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 described in detail.

[0033] In the preceding detailed description, various features have been summarized in one or more examples to improve the clarity of the presentation. However, it should be clear that the above description is merely illustrative and in no way limiting. It serves to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of the various features and embodiments. Many other examples will be immediately and directly clear to the person skilled in the art based on their technical knowledge, given the above description.

[0034] The exemplary embodiments were selected and described to best illustrate the principles underlying the invention and its practical applications. This enables those skilled in the art to optimally modify and utilize the invention and its various embodiments with regard to the intended purpose. In the claims and the description, the terms "including" and "comprising" are used as neutral language terms for the corresponding terms "comprehensive." Furthermore, the use of the terms "a," "a," and "an" is not intended to fundamentally exclude multiple features and components described in this way. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0035] x10Antenna arrangement (x = 1, 2 or 3) 211Housing of a radome of an antenna element m 212 Tip of a radome of an antenna element m 213 Antenna of an antenna element m214 Directional characteristic of an antenna element m 300 missile 320 missile fuselage 300

Claims

1. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310), comprising: a head of a body; and a plurality M of antenna elements (m) that are arranged on the head (110) of the body and outside the body; wherein the plurality M of antenna elements (m) each comprise a housing (211), a tip (212), and an antenna (213), wherein the antenna (213) is in the form of an elongated helix that extends in a longitudinal direction of the antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310).

2. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality M of antenna elements (m) is configured for transmitting and / or receiving circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation, in particular electromagnetic radiation for applications in radar technology.

3. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to claim 1, wherein a length lm of the housing (211) is not less than a length of the antenna (213).

4. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality M of antenna elements (m) is arranged symmetrically about an axis of symmetry (x) of the antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310).

5. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality M of antenna elements (m) comprises a plurality E of antenna elements for receiving, a plurality S of antenna elements for transmitting, and / or a plurality B of antenna elements for bidirectional transmitting and receiving, with E + S + B = M and E ≥ 0, S ≥ 0, B ≥ 0.

6. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality M of antenna elements (m) is arranged in a longitudinal direction of the antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) at an edge of the head of the body.

7. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality M of antenna elements (m) each comprise a housing (211) that is made of a first material and the head of the body is made of a second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different.

8. Antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plurality M of antenna elements (m) is configured to generate and / or receive radiation with the same left-handed or right-handed circular polarization.

9. Missile (300), comprising: the antenna arrangement (110, 210, 310) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the body is the missile (300).

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