IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,237,570
Granted Patent B1
US 12,237,570 · App. 18/444,574 · Granted Feb 25, 2025

Tethered unmanned aircraft antenna

Inventors: Christopher P. Henry (Malibu, CA); Walter S. Wall (Malibu, CA); Carson White (Malibu, CA); Richard Berg (Driggs, ID)
Assignee: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
H01Q1/28B64C39/022B64C39/024B64F3/02H01Q1/46B64U10/13B64U50/19B64U50/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,237,570
App. No.
18/444,574
Granted
Feb 25, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

Tethered Unmanned Aircraft Antenna utilizing a Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) which may be provided by quadcopter drone (for example) constrained by a tether connected at one end to a maritime or land-based platform, the tether also being used as a RF antenna. The tether is capable of transmitting DC power to the UAS or drone at a desired antenna height and simultaneously supports RF transmission power with the help of a DC power isolation circuit. The tether is desirously lightweight and corona resistant.

Claims (5)

1. A tethered unmanned aircraft antenna system comprising a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) system, which is constrained, in use, by a tether connected at one end to a maritime or land-based platform or vehicle and at another end to the VTOL UAS, the tether also being used as an RF antenna; wherein the tether includes a coaxial cable having a core and an exterior sheath, the coaxial cable being provided for transmitting DC power to the UAS at a desired antenna height by applying said DC energy between the core and the exterior sheath; where the coaxial cable simultaneously supports RF power transmission via the exterior sheath to radiate a desired RF pattern from the exterior sheath.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tether comprises one of a sufficient diameter, a sheath of corrosion resistant metal, a metal sheath with a polymeric coating, a conductive cone, and multiple sheaths for providing corona discharge reduction.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the UAS comprises a conductive perimeter corona reduction ring.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said RF power is applied between the exterior sheath of the coaxial cable and a ground plane.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ground plane comprises one of: a ship and its surrounding ocean; and a purposefully deployed ground plane.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2024
From: HENRY, CHRISTOPHER P; WALL, WALTER S; WHITE, CARSON R; BERG, RICHARD
To: HRL LABORATORIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 068231/0974 →
Continuity (2)
Division 17326266 · May 20, 2021
Provisional Application 63029352 · May 22, 2020
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