Conformal Monocone Antenna for Reduced Aerodynamic Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vertically polarized antennas, such as monopole and monocone antennas, create aerodynamic drag and are prone to damage due to their protrusion above the aircraft surface, and shortening them increases inductance, affecting performance.
Innovation Solution
A conformal monocone antenna with a conical radiation element and a capacitive ring for impedance matching, which is electrically shortened to less than one-tenth of a wavelength, reducing protrusion and aerodynamic drag while maintaining performance by mitigating added inductance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna is made one quarter wavelength in height, then vertically polarized signal transmission and reception is efficient, but aerodynamic drag increases and the antenna becomes prone to damage due to protrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameters of the antenna by introducing a loading element that modifies the current distribution and electrical length. This allows the physical length to be reduced while maintaining the electrical characteristics of a quarter-wave antenna, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag and damage risk while preserving signal transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading element is nested within or integrated with the antenna structure, allowing the antenna to achieve its electrical length through a compact, space-efficient configuration that reduces the protruding physical dimensions while maintaining the required electrical performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the antenna is shortened to reduce protrusion, then aerodynamic drag and damage risk are reduced, but the inductance of the antenna increases which deteriorates performance
Solution Approach 1:
The loading element changes the electrical parameters by introducing a specific impedance transformation that compensates for the increased inductance caused by shortening. This allows the antenna to maintain its resonant frequency and impedance matching characteristics despite the reduced physical length.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading element acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the shortened antenna structure and the feed line, transforming the impedance and electrical characteristics to maintain proper matching and performance despite the physical shortening.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The conformal monocone antenna achieves a low profile, reducing aerodynamic drag and potential damage while maintaining effective signal transmission and reception, even when recessed into the aircraft surface.
Implementation Method 1
A capacitive ring is configured to be connected to a ground plane for the monocone antenna. The capacitive ring adds capacitance to the monocone antenna and lowers inductance of the conical radiation element.
Implementation Method 2
The monocone antenna includes a conical radiation element that defines a radiator of the monocone antenna. The feed point is configured to be connected to a feed transmission line.
Data Source
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AI summary
A monocone antenna (100) includes a conical radiation element (102) having a feed point (104) at a vertex (105) of the conical radiation element being connected to a feed transmission line (106) and a capacitive ring (110) radially outside of the conical radiation element and in proximity to the conical radiation element. The capacitive ring is connected to a ground plane of the monocone antenna. Optionally, a capacitive gap (112) may be defined between the conical radiation element and the capacitive ring that is substantially filled with dielectric material.