Embedded Radome Antenna Structure for Aperture and Signal Transmission

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radome-protected antennas on aircrafts are limited by the larger surface area of the radome shell, which restricts the antenna aperture size and causes signal attenuation due to thicker materials used in certain areas for protection.

Innovation Solution

The antenna is embedded within or proximate to the radome shell, minimizing the distance between the antenna and the radome shell to maximize the aperture size, and using a more signal-permeable material for protection, such as Dyneema fiber.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the radome shell is designed to cover the antenna with a greater surface area for protection, then the antenna is protected from environmental aspects, but the antenna aperture size is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from environmental aspectsVSAvoidantenna aperture size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna and radome shell are merged into a single integrated structure where the antenna is embedded within the radome shell. This eliminates the need for a separate covering radome, allowing the antenna aperture to extend to the outer surface of the radome shell, thereby maximizing aperture size while maintaining protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna is nested within the radome shell structure, with the antenna elements positioned inside or on the inner surface of the radome shell. This nesting arrangement allows the antenna to be protected by the radome shell while the antenna aperture can utilize the full surface area of the radome shell.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If thicker materials are used in certain areas of the radome shell for protection, then structural integrity is improved, but signal attenuation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidsignal attenuation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The radome shell is designed with varying material thickness and composition at different locations. Areas requiring higher structural strength (such as the front for bird strike protection) use thicker or more robust materials, while areas where signal transmission is critical use thinner or more signal-permeable materials, optimizing both structural integrity and signal transmission locally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The radome shell employs composite materials with different properties at different locations. Signal-permeable materials such as Dyneema fiber are used in areas where signal transmission is most critical, while other materials providing higher mechanical strength are used where structural protection is the primary concern, achieving a balance between strength and signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12283746B2Antenna embedded in a radome

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 GOGO BUSINESS AVIATION LLC

AI summary

An aircraft-mounted mobile communicator for communicating with one or more satellites or base stations is disclosed. The aircraft-mounted mobile communicator includes a radome structure and one or more antenna elements embedded within or proximate to a shell of the radome structure that maximizes an aperture of the one or more antenna elements, wherein the one or more antenna elements are configured to operate over one or more frequency bands.