Collapsible portable antenna
View Patent ↗A mechanism is disclosed to dismantle/erect a portable antenna that includes a linkage between radial driven elements and radial ground plane elements of the antenna which acts to cause them to move together between a collapsed and an erect arrangement.
1. A man-portable antenna comprising:
a driven element, and a ground plane element both mounted to a support, both the driven element and the ground plane element being configured to collapse towards the support into a stowed configuration; and
a linkage between the driven element and ground plane element configured to cause, when one of the driven element or ground plane element is collapsed, the other to also collapse.
2. A man-portable antenna according to claim 1 wherein the driven element and ground plane element each comprise:
an elongate member which is rotatably mounted to the support to rotate to a collapsed configuration.
3. A man-portable antenna according to claim 2 wherein the elongate member(s) of the driven element are configured to rotate towards a collapsed configuration in an opposite direction as compared the elongate members of the ground plane.
4. A man-portable antenna according to claim 3 wherein the elongate members of the ground plane elements are hingedly mounted to the support.
5. A man-portable antenna according to claim 3 wherein one end of each elongate member of the driven elements is slideably mounted to the support.
6. A man-portable antenna according to claim 3 wherein the elongate member of the driven element is hinged to a further elongate member, one end of the further elongate member being slidably mounted to the support.
7. A man-portable antenna according to claim 6 wherein one end of each further elongate member is mounted to a ring that is slidably mounted to the support.
8. A man-portable antenna according to claim 6 wherein the further elongate member forms part of the driven element.
9. A man-portable antenna according to 6 wherein, when deployed, a portion of the further elongate member radially inward of a point at which it is attached to the elongate member comprises:
an electrical insulator and/or an electrical insulator for electrical insulation from the driven element.
10. A man-portable antenna according to claim 9 wherein a portion of the elongate member radially inward of a point at which it is attached to an arm comprises:
an electrical insulator and/or an electrical insulator for electrical insulation from the arm and, if present, a portion of the elongate member radially outwards of a pivot.
11. A man-portable antenna according to claim 3 wherein the linkage is connected between the ground plane element and an arm which is rotatably mounted at one end to the support and at the other end to a elongate member of the driven element, and configured when the linkage is drawn, to cause a slidably mounted end of the elongate member of the driven element to slide relative to the support towards the ground plane.
12. A man-portable antenna according to claim 11 wherein the linkage and arm are both connected to a pivot member of the support.
13. A man-portable antenna according to claim 11 wherein the driven element is configured from the arm and the elongate member to which it is connected.
14. A man-portable antenna according to claim 11 wherein, when deployed, a portion of the elongate member radially inward of a point at which it is attached to the arm comprises:
an electrical insulator and/or an electrical insulator for electrical insulation from the driven element.
15. A man-portable antenna according to claim 14 wherein a portion of the elongate member radially inward of a point at which it is attached to the arm comprises:
an electrical insulator and/or an electrical insulator for electrical insulation from the arm and, if present, a portion of the elongate member radially outwards of a pivot.
16. A man-portable antenna according to claim 1 wherein the driven element comprises:
multiple elongate members, and multiple ground plane elements configured from multiple elongate members, and wherein the antenna comprises a linkage between each elongate member of the driven element and the elongate member of the ground plane element substantially directly beneath it.
17. A man-portable antenna according to claim 2 wherein the driven element comprises:
multiple elongate members, and multiple ground plane elements configured from multiple elongate members, and wherein the antenna comprises a linkage between each elongate member of the driven element and the elongate member of the ground plane element substantially directly beneath it.
18. A man-portable antenna according to claim 1 comprising:
means to bias the driven element and ground plane away element from a collapsed configuration into an operational configuration.
19. A man-portable antenna according to claim 1 wherein the elongate members, when rotated to a collapsed configuration, lie more parallel with the support than when in an operational configuration.
20. A man-portable antenna according to claim 1 comprising:
two dipoles orientated substantially perpendicular to one another and at least four grounded radial elements which act as a reflector for the dipoles.