Semi-Transparent Radome for In-Flight Connectivity Terminal
Enclosures for aircraft antenna are described which utilizes a semi-transparent radome having both a transparent portion and a non-transparent portion. The transparent portion permits the transmission and receipt of electromagnetic waves, while the non-transparent portion can be used to dissipate heat from the enclosure that is generated by the antenna. The enclosure has a skirt that connects with the radome to create a smooth profile without any air inlets, ducts, or fins. Heat transfer mechanisms such as a heat pipe, or systems to increase the natural air convection, can be used to move heat from the antenna to the walls of the enclosure to thereby dissipate heat to the outside air.
1 . An enclosure for an antenna configured to be mounted to an aircraft, comprising:
a skirt defining a lower portion of the enclosure between a fuselage of the aircraft and a radome;
wherein the radome defines an upper portion of the enclosure;
wherein the radome comprises both a non-transparent portion and a transparent portion, and wherein the transparent portion is composed of a radio-transmissive material. and wherein the skirt is composed of a high thermal conductive material;
a heat transfer mechanism disposed below the antenna and configured to move heat from the antenna outside of the enclosure; and
wherein an outside surface of the skirt and radome comprise a smooth profile that is non-porous.
2 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the non-transparent portion of the radome is disposed between the transparent portion of the radome and the skirt.
3 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the non-transparent portion and the skirt are composed of one or more non-radio-transmissive materials.
4 . The enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the non-transparent portion is composed of a high thermal conductive material and wherein the transparent portion is composed of a low thermal conductive material.
5 . The enclosure of claim 4 , wherein the non-transparent portion and skirt are composed of aluminum.
6 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the non-transparent portion covers 0 to 10 degrees elevation with respect to edges of the upper surface of the antenna.
7 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer mechanism comprises a heat pipe.
8 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe comprises a closed-loop system having a working fluid that moves heat from one portion of the heat pipe to another portion.
9 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the heat pipe moves heat from the antenna to the skirt or non-transparent portion of the radome, and wherein the skirt or non-transparent portion of the radome act as a heat exchanger with an outside air to move the heat outside of the antenna.
10 . (canceled)
11 . An aircraft antenna comprising:
an adapter plate;
an electronically steered antenna mounted to the adapter plate and comprising two flat phased-array panels;
a radome covering the adapter plate and at least partially enclosing the antenna; and
a skirt extending around the adapter plate and connected to the radome, wherein the skirt is composed of a high thermal conductive material;
wherein the radome comprises a non-transparent portion disposed adjacent to the skirt and a transparent portion composed of a radio-transmissive material;
a heat transfer mechanism disposed below the antenna and configured to move heat from the antenna outside of the enclosure; and
wherein an outside surface of the skirt and radome comprise a smooth profile that is non-porous.
12 . The aircraft antenna of claim 11 , wherein the non-transparent portion of the radome is disposed between the transparent portion of the radome and the skirt.
13 . The aircraft antenna of claim 11 , wherein the non-transparent portion and the skirt are composed of one or more non-radio-transmissive materials.
14 . The aircraft antenna of claim 13 , wherein the non-transparent portion is composed of a high thermal conductive material and wherein the transparent portion is composed of a low thermal conductive material.
15 . The aircraft antenna of claim 14 , wherein the non-transparent portion and skirt are composed of aluminum.
16 . The aircraft antenna of claim 11 , wherein the non-transparent portion covers 0 to 10 degrees elevation with respect to edges of the upper surface of the antenna.
17 . The aircraft antenna of claim 11 ,
wherein the heat transfer mechanism comprises one or more heat pipes.
18 . The aircraft antenna of claim 17 , wherein the one or more heat pipes comprise a closed-loop system having a working fluid that moves heat from one portion of one or more heat pipes to another portion.
19 . The aircraft antenna of claim 18 , wherein the one or more heat pipes moves heat from the antenna to the skirt or non-transparent portion of the radome, and wherein the skirt or non-transparent portion of the radome act as a heat exchanger with an outside air to move the heat outside of the antenna.
20 . (canceled)