摘要 |
<p>An antenna radome (12), suitable for use with high precision, environmentally sensitive array antennas (10), includes a dielectric sheet (20,22) formed to protect the antenna from environmental conditions and a series of conductors (16) fixed on the sheet in a certain pattern so that the sheet with the conductors provides a lower reflection coefficient to electromagnetic waves at the antenna's operating wavelength than in the absence of the conductors. Current is caused to flow through the conductors (16), thus generating heat in areas of the dielectric sheet (20,22) where the conductors (16) are fixed. Accordingly, ice formation on the protective dielectric sheet can be prevented while the antenna array is operational, and accurate antenna performance is ensured. Further, the dielectric sheet presents a significantly lower reflection coefficient at the operating wavelength than radomes in which a conventional grid of heater wires is provided for melting ice. <IMAGE></p> |