Aircraft window plug antenna assembly
A conformal load-bearing antenna assembly comprises a pan shaped to fit within an aircraft window opening, an antenna element disposed within the pan, and a connection for coupling a signal to the antenna element.
1. A conformal load-bearing antenna assembly comprising:
a pan providing structural rigidity and shaped to fit within an aircraft window opening;
an antenna element disposed within the pan;
a connection for coupling a signal to the antenna element; and
a conductive gasket positioned adjacent to the perimeter of the antenna assembly, electrically bonding the antenna assembly to an aircraft fuselage and providing a pressure seal.
2. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna element comprises a stripline supported by a dielectric sheet, and at least one radiating element coupled to the stripline.
3. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pan forms a pressure seal with the aircraft window opening.
4. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bonding strap for carrying lightning currents from the antenna assembly to a fuselage of the aircraft.
5. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the antenna element comprises a tapered stripline.
6. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pan forms a cavity behind the antenna element.
7. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pan is a structural replacement for a window plug.
8. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a radio frequency connector mounted in the pan.
9. The antenna assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pan forms a pressure seal over a window opening.
10. A conformal load-bearing antenna assembly comprising:
a pan providing structural rigidity and shaped to fit within an aircraft window opening;
an antenna element disposed within the pan, wherein the antenna element comprises a stripline supported by a dielectric sheet, and at least one radiating element coupled to the stripline; and
a connection for coupling a signal to the antenna element;
wherein the antenna element further comprises a front ground plane and a back ground plane, with the front ground plane forming one or more slots adjacent to the radiating element.
11. The antenna assembly of claim 10 , wherein the front ground plane and the back ground plane are electrically bonded to each other.
12. The antenna assembly of claim 10 , wherein the back ground plane is electrically bonded to the pan.