Multimode short wavelength infrared and radio-frequency seeker
View Patent ↗A multimode seeker includes a radio-frequency antenna and a controller. The radio-frequency antenna comprises a substrate and an electrically conductive film deposited on the substrate. The substrate is transparent to short wavelength infrared radiation. The electrically conductive film is configured to transmit and receive radio-frequency radiation and is transparent to the short wavelength infrared radiation. The controller is configured to receive and interpret data from the radio-frequency antenna.
1. A multimode seeker comprising:
a radio-frequency antenna comprising:
a substrate that is transparent to short wavelength infrared radiation; and
an electrically conductive film deposited on the substrate and configured to transmit and receive radio-frequency radiation, wherein the electrically conductive film is transparent to the short wavelength infrared radiation; and
a controller configured to receive and interpret data from the radio-frequency antenna.
2. The multimode seeker of claim 1 , further comprising optics and a short wavelength infrared detector that receives the short wavelength infrared radiation, wherein the optics focus the short wavelength infrared radiation to the short wavelength infrared detector, and wherein the optics are positioned between the radio-frequency antenna and the short wavelength infrared detector.
3. The sensor of claim 2 , further comprising a radome, wherein the short-wavelength infrared detector is a focal plane array, and wherein the radio-frequency antenna is positioned between the radome and the optics, and wherein the short wavelength infrared radiation and the radio-frequency radiation are both received by the sensor through the radome.
4. The multimode seeker of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to control navigation of a flight body, wherein the multimode seeker is implemented within the flight body.
5. The multimode seeker of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive film is transparent to greater than ninety percent of short wavelength infrared radiation and has a conductivity of approximately 10 −4 ohm-centimeters.
6. The multimode seeker of claim 5 , wherein the electrically conductive film is indium tin oxide (no) and the substrate is glass and/or sapphire.
7. The multimode seeker of claim 1 , wherein the film coating forms a patch antenna on the substrate configured to emit and receive radio-frequency energy.
8. The multimode seeker of claim 7 , wherein the patch antenna comprises:
a patch array deposited on a first side of the substrate; and
a ground plane deposited on a second side of the substrate.
9. A sensor for use on a flight body, the sensor comprising:
a patch antenna that transmits and receives radio-frequency radiation;
a short wavelength infrared detector that receives short wavelength infrared radiation, wherein the patch antenna is transparent to the short wavelength infrared radiation, and wherein the short wavelength radiation propagates through the patch antenna to the short wavelength infrared detector; and
sensor electronics that control the flight body based upon data received from the patch antenna and the short wavelength infrared detector.
10. The sensor of claim 9 , wherein the patch antenna comprises:
a substrate that is transparent to the short wavelength infrared radiation; and
an electrically conductive film deposited on the substrate and configured to transmit and receive the radio-frequency radiation, wherein the electrically conductive film is transparent to the short wavelength infrared radiation.
11. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the electrically conductive film comprises:
a patch array deposited on a first side of the substrate, wherein the patch array is connected to the sensor electronics; and
a ground plane deposited on a second side of the substrate, wherein the ground plane is connected to an electronics ground.
12. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein the electrically conductive film is transparent to greater than ninety percent of short wavelength infrared radiation and has a conductivity of approximately 10 4 ohm-centimeters.
13. The sensor of claim 12 , wherein the electrically conductive film is indium tin oxide (no).
14. The sensor of claim 9 , further comprising optics to focus the short wavelength infrared radiation to the short wavelength infrared detector, wherein the short wavelength infrared detector is a focal plane array, and wherein the optics are positioned between the patch antenna and the focal plane array.
15. The sensor of claim 14 , further comprising a radome, wherein the patch antenna is positioned between the radome and the optics, and wherein the short wavelength infrared radiation and the radio-frequency radiation are both received by the sensor through the radome.