John Donald Reale

US Patent:

53510623, Sep 27, 1994

Filed:

Sep 8, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/941814

Inventors:

John R. Knapp - Cazenovia NY
John D. Reale - Syracuse NY
Donald P. Miller - Liverpool NY
David L. Binsley - Liverpool NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Philadelphia PA

International Classification:

H01Q 108

US Classification:

343880

Abstract:

A retractable distributed array antenna has a multiplicity of radiative elements arranged in a beam-forming array of desired configuration and resolvable into a plurality C of columns, with each column having at least one of the antenna radiator elements. Each of a number P of elongated column members, up to but not exceeding C in number, supports the antenna elements of an associated column. The column members are arranged with their elongated dimension generally parallel to one another. The adjacent end portions of each pair of column member, or of a column member and a central stowage module, are joined by a spring-loaded hinge assembly, which urges the joined column member end portions away from each other, to place the columns of elements into the desired distributed array antenna configuration, if no retroactive forces are present. A retraction mechanism, which may use drum-fed drawcables, is provided for controllably drawing the joined column member end portions towards each other, against the action of the hinge spring forces, to collapse the array into a smaller volume than the volume which is occupied by the expanded array.

US Patent:

54124140, May 2, 1995

Filed:

Apr 8, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/179546

Inventors:

Harry C. Ast - Camillus NY
Albert H. Berical - Liverpool NY
Blake A. Carnahan - Cazenovia NY
James W. Krueger - Liverpool NY
Donald P. Miller - Liverpool NY
John D. Reale - Syracuse NY

Assignee:

Martin Marietta Corporation - Syracuse NY

International Classification:

G01S 740

US Classification:

342174

Abstract:

The invention relates to a self monitoring/calibrating phased array radar in which the operating path for transmission and the operating path for reception may be monitored/calibrated by the addition of a corporate calibration network coupled at the plural end to the antenna elements and at the singular end to the exciter/receiver, and switching means to selectively route the monitoring/calibrating signal derived from the exciter in a transmit path to calibration path sequence or in a calibration path to receive path sequence. In one embodiment of the invention, a phase shifter common to transmit and receive paths is adjustable in increments under active logical control for calibration, while power and gain performance is monitored but not actively controlled. A novel T/R sub-assembly houses the operating electronics for four antenna elements in the form of four T/R modules with a one to four divider network in the transmit/receive path and in the calibration path. The four antenna elements are an integral part of the T/R sub-assembly.

US Patent:

47836660, Nov 8, 1988

Filed:

May 21, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/052728

Inventors:

Harry C. Ast - Camillus NY
John D. Reale - Syracuse NY

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Syracuse NY

International Classification:

H01Q 142

US Classification:

343872

Abstract:

A protective shield for an electrically steered, high performance C Band antenna array is disclosed. The shield is of a multi-layer construction in which a sandwich is formed between two fiberglass layers and a central foam core to minimize electrical reflections; and in which an additional foam layer is provided for structural support and to minimize changes in mutual coupling, installed between the sandwich and planarly disposed dipoles of the array. In addition, a teflon layer is applied to the outer layer of the sandwich and coated with fumed SiO. sub. 2. The hydrophobic properties of the teflon-fumed SiO. sub. 2 combination minimizes the effects of rain on antenna performance.