Hybrid dual band buoyant cable antenna element
View Patent ↗The invention as disclosed is a buoyant cable antenna configured for both VLF/LF and HF signals. A 100 foot antenna element has a low-pass filter assembly positioned at the midpoint of the antenna element to block HF signals. The outboard tip of the antenna element is shorted. In this way, the antenna element appears as a 50 foot open circuit antenna element to HF signals and as a 100 foot shorted antenna element to VLF/LF signals.
1. A hybrid dual band buoyant cable antenna element comprising:
an antenna element comprising a wire surrounded by a buoyant insulating jacket, wherein the antenna element has a first end and a second end, the first end being joined to a coaxial transmission line at a grounding point and the second end consisting of an outboard tip;
a low-pass filter assembly, having a first end and a second end, that is integrated into a midpoint of the antenna element to block transmission and reception of high frequency signals in half of the antenna element while allowing very low frequency and low frequency signals to pass through the entire antenna element; and
a short circuit termination joined to the outboard tip of the antenna element such that the antenna element appears as an open circuit antenna element to high frequency signals and as a shorted antenna element to very low frequency and low frequency signals.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna element is 100 feet long.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the low pass filter assembly contains a single high frequency shielded inductor that is electrically connected in series to the wire of the antenna element, said inductor having an inductive reactance that is low enough at very low frequency (VLF) reception to allow current to flow through the entire length of the antenna element and high enough compared to the impedance of the antenna element to restrict current flow to half of the antenna element at high frequency (HF) transmission and reception.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the low pass filter assembly further comprises:
a chassis that contains the single high frequency shielded inductor;
a housing surrounding the chassis to give the low pass filter assembly mechanical strength; and
a watertight tube surrounding the housing to protect the low pass filter assembly from seawater corrosion and to give it mechanical strength to withstand being towed through the water.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the low pass filter assembly is integrated into the antenna element through a first and a second water tight connector, wherein the first water tight connector is joined to the first end of the low pass filter assembly and connects a first half of the antenna element to the first end of the low pass filter assembly, wherein the second water tight connector is joined to the second end of the low pass filter assembly and connects a second half of the antenna element to the second end of the low pass filter assembly.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the low pass filter assembly contains a pi-type filter.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the low pass filter assembly contains a t-type filter.