BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a handheld radio connection to the SATCOM antenna of this invention wherein articulation of the antenna is shown in dotted and solid lines;
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the coupler and the bottom radiator section of the antenna;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of that portion of the bottom radiator section depicted in cross section in FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring initially to FIG. 1, the SATCOM antenna 10 of this invention is shown connected to a handheld radio 12 by a coupler 14. The antenna 10 is preferably a dipole antenna having a top radiator section 16, and a bottom radiator section 18 which is formed by a circuit board housing 20 and a linkage 22. The linkage 22 is preferably a gooseneck or other form of readily bendable length of metal or similar flexible conductor which may be moved to a particular position and remain there until moved again. The degree of articulation of the linkage 22 is partially illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the antenna 10 is depicted in both solid and phantom lines. It should be understood that the linkage 22 may also be moved in and out of the plane of the sheet on which FIG. 1 is depicted, as well as toward the radio 12, if desired. Further, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “inner” and “outer” as used herein refer to the position and/or direction of elements of this invention in the orientation in which they are shown in the Figs.
As best seen in FIG. 2, the coupler 14 includes a connector 24 and a balun 26 which are axially aligned with one another and coupled to one end of a coaxial cable 28. The connector 24 is preferably a threaded Neill-Concelman (TNC) connector, or other connector suitable for coupling the coaxial cable to radio 12. In order to form the coupler 14, one end of the linkage 22 is placed in axial alignment with the connector 24 and balun 26, and then all three components are encased within a non-conductive body 30 formed of epoxy or other suitable material which may be poured or injected over such components and thereafter cured to form a hardened structure which insures alignment of linkage 22 and connector 24. The body 30 is then covered by an overwrap 32, preferably in the form of a layer or layers of resilient material such as rubber or the like.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the circuit board housing 20 of the bottom radiator section 18 of the antenna 10 is shown in detail. Housing 20 includes a casing 34 preferably formed in the shape of a cylinder cut in half along its longitudinal axis, thus defining one half section depicted in FIG. 3 and a cover (not shown). The cover is connected by screws 36 to the other half of casing 34 in the locations illustrated in FIG. 3. The two halves of casing 34 define a side wall 38, opposed end walls 40 and 42, and, a cylindrical-shaped extension 44 which protrudes outwardly from the end wall 40. The extension 44 is connected to one end of linkage 22, such as by crimping or the like.
In the presently preferred embodiment, a printed circuit board 46 is mounted within the casing 34 in the position shown in FIG. 4. One end of the printed circuit board 46 connects to the end wall 40, and its opposite end extends past the end wall 42 into engagement with a slot formed in a conical conductor nut 50 having an internally threaded bore 52. The coaxial cable 28 from the coupler 14 extends through the hollow linkage 22 and connects to the printed circuit board 46 near the end wall 40. As schematically depicted in FIG. 4, the printed circuit board 46 includes an LNA 54 which is therefore integrated into the bottom radiator section 18 of the antenna 10.
The casing 34, and, hence, printed circuit board 46, as well as the nut 50 and a portion of the linkage 22, are preferably encased within a conductive body 56 of the same material as body 30 described above. Initially, the two halves of the casing 34 of the housing 20 are assembled, and a sleeve 58 formed of plastic or the like is slipped over the inner end of the conical conductive nut 50. The sleeve 58 prevents epoxy from entering the interior of casing 34 and contaminating the printed circuit board 46 as it is poured over the casing 34 and nut 50. Once the epoxy has cured to form non-conductive body 56, an overwrap 60 of the same type as overwrap 32 covers the body 56 and engages both the linkage 22 and nut 50. The casing 34, body 56 and overwrap 60 collectively form the housing 20 for the printed circuit board 46.
The top radiator section 16 is formed with a threaded extension (not shown) which is received within the threaded bore 52 of the nut 50 in order to connector the two radiator sections 16 and 18 together. This forms the completed antenna 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1. With the coupler 14 connecting the antenna 10 to the radio 12, the antenna 10 may be moved to essentially an infinite number of positions to align it with a satellite of interest. Because the LNA 54 is integrated into the bottom radiator section 18 of the antenna 10, transmission line losses are reduced. The radio 12 supplies 12 volts DC to both switch and power the LNA 54.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20080030408
