Aircraft Radome Lightning Arrester Strip Antenna Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lightning arrester strips in aircraft radomes interfere with the emission and reception quality of electromagnetic signals, as they are not designed to function as antennas and can cause disruptions in the transmission of electromagnetic waves.
Innovation Solution
The system integrates lightning arrester strips as emitting and receiving antennas by electrically connecting a part of the strip to the aircraft's metal frame and another part to an emitting/receiving device via a metal element, forming a capacitive link, allowing the strip to operate as an antenna while minimizing interference with electromagnetic signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lightning arrester strips are placed on the radome surface, then protection from lightning impacts is improved, but interference with electromagnetic signal transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lightning arrester strip is designed to perform dual functions: protecting the radome from lightning strikes and serving as an emitting/receiving antenna for electromagnetic waves. By integrating the antenna function into the protective strip, the invention eliminates the need for separate components and reduces interference with electromagnetic signals while maintaining lightning protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the lightning protection function and the electromagnetic wave emission/reception function into a single integrated system. The lightning arrester strip is electrically connected to both the metal frame (for grounding) and the emitting/receiving device (for antenna operation), combining two previously separate functions into one component.
2Reliability
If traditional lightning arrester strips are used, then lightning protection is achieved, but additional antennas cannot be placed in the radome
Solution Approach 1:
The lightning arrester strip serves multiple purposes: it provides lightning protection and simultaneously functions as an antenna for electromagnetic wave emission and reception. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain lightning protection while enabling versatile antenna placement options within the radome structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lightning arrester strip serves itself by functioning as both a protective element and an active antenna. The same structural component that protects against lightning also performs the electromagnetic wave emission/reception function, eliminating the need for additional dedicated antenna structures in certain configurations.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If lightning arrester strips are integrated as antennas, then interference with electromagnetic signals is reduced, but the strip must be electrically connected to both metal frame and emitting device
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection structure is designed to combine multiple functions: the lightning arrester strip is connected to both the metal frame (providing grounding for lightning protection) and the emitting/receiving device (providing antenna operation). This merged connection approach, while appearing complex, actually simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for separate grounding and antenna feed structures.
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
This configuration reduces interference with electromagnetic signal transmission and emission, enhancing the performance of antennas in radomes by utilizing lightning arrester strips as functional antennas, thus protecting the aircraft's electronic equipment from lightning impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a part of the metal element is placed at a predetermined distance from a part of the metal frame of the aircraft for forming a capacitive link between the metal element and the metal frame of the aircraft
Implementation Method 2
solid metal strips are known to convey the energy of a lightning arc by conduction of the current in their thickness to the metal frame of the aircraft
Implementation Method 3
The current induced by a lightning arc is routed by successive leaps, from segment to segment, by local ionization of the air above the segments
Data Source
AI summary
A system for emitting and/or receiving electromagnetic waves embedded in an aircraft, the aircraft including an emitting and/or receiving device for emitting and/or receiving electrical signals, a radome having an electrically insulating protective envelope (12), on which at least one lightning arrester strip (21) is arranged, the radome being attached to a metal frame of the aircraft (30), a first part of the at least one lightning arrester strip is electrically connected to the metal frame of the aircraft, a second part of the at least one lightning arrester strip is connected to the emitting and/or receiving device via a metal element (35) of a predetermined shape, the at least one lightning arrester strip forming an antenna and a part of the metal element (35) is placed at a predetermined distance (d) from a part of the metal frame of the aircraft (30) for forming a capacitive link between the metal element and the metal frame of the aircraft.