Miniature GPS Antenna Arrays Using Novel Materials

Ubiquitous needs for Global Positioning System (GPS) systems implies a requirement for smaller GPS antennas and arrays that can be adapted in all sorts of military and commercial platforms from missiles to small UAVs and even for hand-held applications. Current anti-Jam GPS antennas are approximately 14" in diameter making them too large for several platforms of interest such as unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles and fighter aircrafts. Recent designs are based on 7" apertures, but smaller arrays are still needed. Applied EM is proposing a miniature controlled radiation pattern antenna array (CRPA) occupying an aperture of only 3.5" in diameter. A  4.5" aperture will be also considered. The feasibility of the 3.5" and 4.5" apertures using smaller elements was already evaluated under the Phase I effort. During the proposed Phase II effort, Applied EM will take advantage of the novel GPS antenna (1" in diameter) developed under Phase I to realize a small CRPA (S-CRPA). A new feeding structure is proposed designed to minimize inter-element coupling as well as carrier phase and code phase biases. Further, a new reference mode is proposed delivering much greater gain and survivability. BENEFIT: Applied EM will capitalize on the military demand for small anti-jamming antennas for helicopters, UAVs, etc. GPS is becoming increasingly popular in automobiles and for other personal uses. A miniature GPS antenna system with anti-jamming capability would be of immense commercial use for integrating into personal vehicles, hand-hand held devices, wireless systems, etc.