US4609923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gold-plated tungsten knit RF reflective surface
Assignee: Harris Corp
•
Filing: 1983-09-09
•
Granted: 1986-09-02
•
Expires: 2003-09-09
Abstract
Abstract An improved antenna mesh material is made of gold-plated tungsten wire. Because gold-plated tungsten can be drawn to a very fine diameter (less than one mil) it results in a knit mesh having low mechanical stiffness. It also has high electrical conductivity, thereby enhancing its operation as an antenna reflector up to the higher RF frequencies (EHF). In addition, gold-plated tungsten has both sufficient tensile strength and a low coefficient of thermal expansion which enables it to maintain high reflector surface accuracy for changing thermal conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Bobby J. Boan
- 👤 Martin Schwam
- 👤 Marvin R. Sullivan
- 👤 Amos W. Morse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q15/00; H01Q15/14; H01Q15/16; H01Q15/161
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An antenna for radio waves comprising a conductive open mesh formed of wire containing gold and tungsten, with each opening of said mesh being defined by multiple loops of wire, wherein at least one of said loops is formed by the same wire folded back upon itself, the mesh being configured such that relative displacement between loops of wire at different portions of the mesh is permitted, thereby enabling the loops of wire of said mesh at relatively different portions of the mesh to pass by one another and enter open regions of the mesh, so as to be effectively mechanically displaceable with respect to one another in the contour of the mesh in response to changes in environmental conditions, whereby the effective contour of the antenna formed by the mesh is retained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
An antenna for radio waves comprising a conductive open mesh formed of wire containing gold and tungsten, with each opening of said mesh being defined by multiple loops of wire, wherein at least one of said loops is formed by the same wire folded back upon itself, the mesh being configured such that relative displacement between loops of wire at different portions of the mesh is permitted, thereby enabling the loops of wire of said mesh at relatively different portions of the mesh to pass by one another and enter open regions of the mesh, so as to be effectively mechanically displaceable with respect to one another in the contour of the mesh in response to changes in environmental conditions, whereby the effective contour of the antenna formed by the mesh is retained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said wire comprises a center wire of tungsten surrounded by a layer of gold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said wire is comprised of respective layers of gold and tungsten.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An antenna according to claim 1, wherein said wire comprises gold-plated tungsten wire.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An antenna according to claim 4, wherein the diameter of said tungsten wire lies in a range from 0.4 to 1.5 mils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An antenna according to claim 5, wherein the thickness of gold plated on said tungsten wire lies in a range of from 5 to 100 micro-inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An antenna according to claim 3, wherein said wire further includes an understrike layer of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, gold and silver intermediate said layers of gold and tungsten.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An antenna according to claim 4, wherein said mesh is formed as a knit mesh having multiple twist loops such that a tear or cut in the mesh does not propagate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
An antenna for radio waves comprising wire having a center wire of tungsten surrounded by a layer of gold formed as open knit mesh, with each opening of said mesh being defined by multiple loops of wire, defined by multiple loops of wire, wherein at least one of said loops is formed by the same wire folded back upon itself, the mesh being configured such that relative displacement between loops of wire at different portions of the mesh is permitted, thereby enabling the loops of wire of said mesh at relatively different portions of the mesh to pass by one another and enter open regions of the mesh, so as to be effectively mechanically displaceable with respect to one another in the contour of the mesh in response to changes in environmental conditions, whereby the effective contour of the antenna formed by the mesh is retained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
An antenna for radio waves comprising wire having a center wire of tungsten surrounded by a layer of gold formed as open knit mesh, with each opening of said mesh being defined by multiple loops of wire, defined by multiple loops of wire, wherein at least one of said loops is formed by the same wire folded back upon itself, the mesh being configured such that relative displacement between loops of wire at different portions of the mesh is permitted, thereby enabling the loops of wire of said mesh at relatively different portions of the mesh to pass by one another and enter open regions of the mesh, so as to be effectively mechanically displaceable with respect to one another in the contour of the mesh in response to changes in environmental conditions, whereby the effective contour of the antenna formed by the mesh is retained.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An antenna according to claim 9, wherein said wire further includes an understrike layer of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of copper, gold and silver intermediate said tungsten wire and said layer of gold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An antenna according to claim 9, wherein the diameter of said tungsten wire lies in a range from 0.4 to 1.5 mils.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An antenna according to claim 11, wherein the thickness of gold plated on said tungsten wire lies in a range from 5 to 100 micro-inches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An antenna according to claim 9, wherein said mesh is formed as a knit mesh having multiple twist loops such that a tear or cut in the mesh does not propagate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3327866A
Cited
US3864179A
Cited
US3855598A
Cited
US4191604A
Cited
US4439768A
Cited
US4353070A
Cited
US4549187A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-01 | 1990-03-03 | 1990-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-01 | 1994-03-03 | 1994-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-01 | 1998-03-03 | 1998-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |