SBIR-STTR Award

Fischer Custom Communications, Inc. proposes to determine the types of magnetic core materials required to design and fabricate a current injection transformer capable of exciting various parts of a ships superstructure to act as a transmit antenna in the 2 MHz to 30 MHz frequency range. Conventional high frequency shipboard antennas occupy substantial volume, making them difficult to site on the ship without interfering with ship operations. Conventional anntennas have high maintenance and have a significant and distinct radar cross section. A current injection transformer is virtually maintenance free and would replace existing transmit antennas. By using the existing ship structure as an antenna, the current injection transformer provides HF communication and eliminates adverse operations, maintenance and RCS impact of conventional antennas. In Phase I the appropriate magnetic core materials will be determined and feasibility of the current injection transformer will be demonstrated

Benefit:
Conventional high frequency shipboard antennas are difficult to site on the ship without interfering with ship operations, have high maintenance and a significant radar cross section. The transmit mast current probe is virtually maintenance free, has a significantly lower radar cross section and would replace the exisitng transmit antennas. The price of a transmit mast probe will be significantly less than the conventional shipboard HF communication antenna. The annual maintenance cost of the transmit mast probe will be a fraction of the conventional HF transmit antenna. Commercial applications include industrial and recreational maritime communications as well as other industrial and recreational HF communications systems.

Keywords:
Current Probe, Current Probe, Mast, Transmit, Injection Probe, Current Transformer, Clamp-on, Current Injection Transformer, Transmit Mast Probe, Current, probe, HF, Transmit Probe

The objective of this Phase II SBIR effort is to develop a fully capable and shipboard qualified clamp-on mast transmit probe for the DDG 51 Flight II and other ship classes.

Benefit:
Existing shipboard high frequency (HF) antennas occupy significant volume. This makes it difficult to locate topside antenna installation locations that do not interfere with ship's operation such as flight or weapons engagement. The location is further constrained by requirements for radiation efficiency and freedom of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) or electromagnetic interference (EMI) problems. In addition, existing HF antennas have a significant and distinctive radar cross section (RCS) that increases the probability that the ship may be detected and attacked. Furthermore, the HF antennas exhibit chronically high maintenance costs. Similar problems for the receive antennas have been successfully addressed by replacing the antenna with a clamp on current probe that responds to HF signals induced on the ship's superstructure or mast. In effect, the ship becomes its own antenna with the receive probe providing the interface transducer between the HF receiver and the superstructure. The receive probes offer equivalent HF link performance and eliminate the operational or maintenance penalties of conventional antennas. Similar benefits are anticipated from replacing the transmit antennas with appropriately designed and located injection probes. It is anticipated that a succesful completion of this program will save the Navy multimillions of dollars in maintenance cost per year while enhancing the capabiltiy to produce stealth ships.

Keywords:
Injection Probe, Current Probe, Clamp-on, Current Transformer, Mast, Current, Transmit Probe, Transmit Mast Probe, Transmit, HF, probe, Current Injection Transformer