US-12621055-B2 - Conformal digital dismount antenna

Abstract

A conforming dismount antenna for use in a communication system includes a signal converter, a modulation component, a flexible fiber optic cable, and a flexible radiating element. The flexible fiber optic cable connects the conforming dismount antenna to a radio transceiver. The conforming dismount antenna bends to the contours of the user wearing the conforming dismount antenna or conforming to the contours of camouflage netting resting on a vehicle. When transmitting or receiving a broadcast, the conforming dismount antenna converts the radio frequency signal into a digital optical signal within the conforming dismount antenna. Communication systems including the conforming dismount antenna and methods of using the conforming dismount antenna are also described.

Inventors

• Scott R. Burnside
• THOMAS J. ROUSH

Assignees

• NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230825

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A communication device comprising: a radio frequency (RF) converter component configured to convert the transmission optical signal to a transmitted RF signal and to convert a received RF signal to the received optical signal; and a flexible fiber optic cable configured to propagate the transmission and received optical signals between the signal converter and a radio transceiver; and a flexible antenna disposed on an entity and being configured to conform to a contour of the entity, the flexible antenna being configured to transmit and receive the transmitted and received RF signals, the flexible antenna comprising: a compressible foam material providing a buffer between the flexible antenna and the entity; an electronics layer disposed on the compressible foam layer; a spacer disposed over the electronic layer, the spacer configured to control radiation characteristics of the flexible antenna; and a flexible protective encasing disposed on the compressible foam layer and over the electronic layer and the spacer.
2. 2 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic layer includes conducting traces that conform to the contour of the covering.
3. 3 . The communication device of claim 2 , wherein the electronics layer comprises an RF filter, an amplifier, and an RF switch.
4. 4 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a dielectric material having a lower dielectric constant to mitigate signal loss.
5. 5 . The communication device of claim 4 , wherein the dielectric material provides a higher dielectric constant to control the radiation characteristics of the flexible antenna.
6. 6 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible antenna comprises one or more radiating elements disposed on the spacer to provide an arraying effect for beamforming.
7. 7 . The communication device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more radiating elements comprises a wire mesh, a conducting fabric, a conductive ink, or a plurality of graphite composite pieces.
8. 8 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the flexible protective encasing is an uppermost layer of the flexible antenna and comprises an RF transparent material.
9. 9 . The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the compressible foam material is an inner most layer of the flexible antenna.
10. 10 . A method of communicating with a communication device, the method comprising: providing a flexible antenna disposed on an entity, the flexible antenna configured to conform to a contour of the entity, the flexible antenna comprising: a compressible foam material providing a buffer between the flexible antenna and the entity; an electronics layer disposed on the compressible foam layer; a spacer disposed over the electronic layer, the spacer configured to control radiation characteristics of the flexible antenna; and a flexible protective encasing disposed on the compressible foam layer and over the electronic layer and the spacer; converting a transmission analog signal to a transmission optical signal via a radio transceiver; propagating the transmission optical signal to the flexible antenna through a flexible fiber optic cable; converting the transmission optical signal to a transmission radio frequency (RF) signal at the flexible antenna; transmitting the transmission RF signal via the flexible antenna; converting the received RF signal to a received optical signal at the flexible antenna; propagating the received optical signal to the radio transceiver through the flexible fiber optic cable; and converting the received optical signal to a received analog signal at the radio transceiver.
11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising filtering the transmitted and received RF signals through an RF filter to provide a band-pass, a band-stop, a low-pass, or a high-pass of frequencies in the transmitted and received RF signal.
12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising amplifying the transmitted RF signal to convert a low-power RF signal to a higher-power RF signal, wherein an amplifier drives the flexible antenna.
13. 13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising switching a path configuration of the transmitted and received RF signals by an RF switch.
14. 14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the flexible antenna comprises one or more radiating elements to provide an arraying effect for beamforming.
15. 15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the flexible antenna comprises a wire mesh, a conducting fabric, a conductive ink, or a plurality of graphite composite pieces.
16. 16 . A wearable communication system comprising: a radio transceiver comprising a microphone at a first position to obtain first audio signal data representative of a first vocal communication associated with speech by a first user and a speaker at a second position to obtain second audio signal data representative of a second vocal communication associated with speech by a second user; a signal converter configured to convert a transmitted analog signal to a transmitted optical signal and to convert a received optical signal to a received analog signal; a flexible fiber optic cable configured to propagate the transmitted and received optical signals, wherein the flexible fiber optic cable is coupled to the radio transceiver; an optical transducer configured to convert the transmitted optical signal of the radio transceiver to a transmitted radio frequency (RF) signal and to convert a received RF signal to the received optical signal; and a flexible antenna disposed on an entity and being configured to conform to a contour of the entity, the flexible antenna being configured to transmit and receive the transmitted and received RF signals, the flexible antenna comprising: a compressible foam material providing a buffer between the flexible antenna and the entity; an electronics layer disposed on the compressible foam layer; a spacer disposed over the electronic layer, the spacer configured to control radiation characteristics of the flexible antenna; and a flexible protective encasing disposed on the compressible foam layer and over the electronic layer and the spacer.
17. 17 . The wearable communication system of claim 16 , further comprising an RF filter configured to provide band-pass filtering, band-stop filtering, low-pass filtering, or high-pass filtering of frequencies in the transmitted and received RF signal.
18. 18 . The wearable communication system of claim 16 , further comprising an amplifier configured to drive the flexible antenna, wherein the transmitted RF signal is amplified from a low-power RF signal to a higher-power RF signal.
19. 19 . The wearable communication system of claim 16 , further comprising an RF switch configured to switch a path configuration of the transmitted and received RF signal.
20. 20 . The wearable communication system of claim 16 , wherein the flexible antenna comprises one or more radiating elements to provide an arraying effect for beamforming.

Description

BACKGROUND Dismount antennas are known for use in tactical communications during combat to keep ground forces connected while on the move or while holding a position. Dismount antennas are typically elongated devices extending from a soldier such that, during battlefield operations, the radio operator can be restricted from performing movements due to the size and location of the antenna element extending from the radio. The dismount antenna can also cause the radio operator to be identified as a target. Many modern tactical voice radios have been known to incorporate linear polarized antennas allowing for longer range communication than circular polarized antennas of the same gain. Tactical dismount antennas are designed to work in the 30-512 MHz range. With the advancement of computer science, tactical voice radio can be encrypted, and large amounts of data can be sent over the airwaves in quick bursts of signals with more complex encryption. Several different variations of dismount antenna designs have been developed. Whip and blade antenna structures are designed with a low visual profile, high gain, and good voltage standing wave ratio. Dismount antennas can be connected directly to a portable radio transceiver such that the antenna has a generally vertical orientation. SUMMARY The following is a brief summary of subject matter that is described in greater detail herein. This summary is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the claims. In a first example, a communication device comprising a radio frequency (RF) converter component is configured to convert the transmission optical signal to a transmitted RF signal and to convert a received RF signal to the received optical signal. A flexible fiber optic cable is configured to propagate the transmission and received optical signals between the signal converter and a radio transceiver. A flexible antenna is configured to conform to a contour of a covering on an entity. The flexible antenna is configured to transmit and receive the transmitted and received RF signals. According to a second example, a method of communicating with a communication device includes converting a transmission analog signal to a transmission optical signal via a radio transceiver. The method includes propagating the transmission optical signal to a flexible antenna through a flexible fiber optic cable. The method includes converting the transmission optical signal to a transmission radio frequency signal at the flexible antenna. The method includes transmitting the transmission RF signal via the flexible antenna configured to conform to a contour of a covering on an entity. The method includes receiving a received RF signal at the flexible antenna. The method includes converting the received RF signal to a received optical signal at the flexible antenna. The method includes propagating the received optical signal to the radio transceiver through the flexible fiber optic cable. The method includes converting the received optical signal to a received analog signal at the radio transceiver. In a third example, a wearable communication system includes a radio transceiver. The radio transceiver includes a microphone at a first position to obtain first audio signal data representative of a first vocal communication associated with speech by a first user. The radio transceiver includes a speaker at a second position to obtain second audio signal data representative of a second vocal communication associated with speech by a second user. The wearable communication system includes a signal converter configured to convert a transmitted analog signal to a transmitted optical signal and to convert a received optical signal to a received analog signal. The wearable communication system includes a flexible fiber optic cable configured to propagate the transmitted and received optical signals. The flexible fiber optic cable is coupled to the radio transceiver. The wearable communication system includes an optical transducer configured to convert the transmitted optical signal of the radio transceiver to a transmitted radio frequency signal and to convert a received RF signal to the received optical signal. The wearable communication system includes a flexible antenna configured to conform to a contour of a covering on an entity. The flexible antenna is configured to transmit and receive the transmitted and received RF signals. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS The general inventive concepts, as well as illustrative examples and advantages thereof, are described below in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings in which: FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a digital antenna system. FIG. 2 illustrates the overall system block diagram. FIG. 3 illustrates the mounting of a conformal digital antenna in a typical helmet. FIG. 4 illustrates the mounting of a conformal digital antenna in a camouflage netting. FIG. 5 is a block flow diagram for a method in which a digital