WO1992002972A1 - Reflecteur radar - Google Patents

Reflecteur radar Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1992002972A1
WO1992002972A1 PCT/GB1991/001359 GB9101359W WO9202972A1 WO 1992002972 A1 WO1992002972 A1 WO 1992002972A1 GB 9101359 W GB9101359 W GB 9101359W WO 9202972 A1 WO9202972 A1 WO 9202972A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
reflector
corner
radar
cluster
radar reflector
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1991/001359
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Arthur Charles Large
Klaus Norbert Tusch
Original Assignee
Colebrand Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB909017561A external-priority patent/GB9017561D0/en
Priority claimed from GB919114536A external-priority patent/GB9114536D0/en
Application filed by Colebrand Limited filed Critical Colebrand Limited
Publication of WO1992002972A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992002972A1/fr
Priority to GB9206727A priority Critical patent/GB2257567A/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q15/00—Devices for reflection, refraction, diffraction or polarisation of waves radiated from an antenna, e.g. quasi-optical devices
    • H01Q15/14—Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures
    • H01Q15/18—Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures comprising plurality of mutually inclined plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a radar reflector, particularly sue a reflector as ⁇ iay be used on board a vessel such as a yacht to determine its position.
  • Such reflectors are often installed on ships and other vessels to reflect radar signals which can be used to locate the vessel. They are usually, however, large and unsightly in appearance, and do not always work in reflecting radar energy incident over 360°, particularly if they are based on tetrahedra -where the faces do not bisect at right angles.
  • a type of reflector freqi ⁇ ly used for such applications is the pentagonal or other multiple corner cluster type.
  • the pentagonal corner cluster reflector In its conventional configuration the pentagonal corner cluster reflector consists of five individual corner reflectors joined in a ring such that the major reflection lobes of each corner -" ⁇ flector point outward around the circ ⁇ mfer c nce of the ring. The m. oer five would be varied for other multiple corner clusters.
  • Each constituent corner reflector consists of at least three mutually inclined and intersecting surfaces.
  • a three surface reflector may have an apex where all three surfaces intersect and corners at the ends of each line of intersection between pairs of surfaces. The three surfaces define a volume.
  • adjacent reflectors touch at two of their corners. The apices point inwardly, but do not touch.
  • the level of radar reflection for a corner reflector is dependent on the physical size of the corner reflector and the shape of the inclined surfaces forming it as well as on the reflective material used. Therefore in order to achieve a high radar performance, it is often necessary to construct a corner cluster reflector which is large, cumbersome and heavy and hence difficult to mount on a boat mast or other such support on board a vessel. It is an object of this invention to seek to provide a modified multiple corner reflector which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
  • a radar reflector corrprising a plurality of corner reflector elements each in the form of a sector of a circle, defined by a curved surface and intersecting, preferably planar surfaces which c ⁇ rprise reflective material, the arrangement being such that when the elements are assembled intersecting surfaces of adjacent elements engage and the respective curved surfaces provide a continuous external ring like configuration.
  • the corner reflective elements may co ⁇ prise a foam material.
  • a radar reflector c ⁇ tprising a plurality of foam elements which each have a curved surface and intersecting, preferably planar surfaces cc ⁇ prising a reflector material, the arrangement being such that when the elements are assembled intersecting surfaces of adjacent elements engage and the respective curved surfaces provide a continuous external spherical, part-spherical, oblate spherical or similar configuration.
  • the reflective material may comprise a plastic sheet material and a reflector.
  • the reflector may c ⁇ rprise an aluminium foil laminated with the plastic.
  • the laminate may c ⁇ r-prise a plastic sheet or foil sandwiched between two external layers of plastic.
  • the reflective material may c ⁇ tprise a plastic foil, for exairple l/2mm thick, al-cminised on both sides.
  • the corner reflector elements may be secured together to form a c ⁇ tposite body by suitable means such as tape over joints between adjacent curved surface parts.
  • the reflective material may be secured to the suitably planar intersecting surfaces by adhesive.
  • the plurality of corner reflectors may cc ⁇ prise a pentagonal or other multiple corner cluster in which one or more of the surfaces defining a sector of a circle has a segment missing.
  • One corner of the pentagonal or other multiple corner cluster may intrude upon the volume defined by the adjacent corner reflector. This can be achieved by leaving a gap in one or more surfaces adjacent a corner in order that the corner of the adjacent reflector can extend through the gap. The intrusion of one reflector into the volume defined by the adjacent reflector enables the reflectors to be packed closer together within the cluster so that the cluster occupies a smaller volume.
  • the weight of the material forming the surfaces is reduced c ⁇ tpared to the -wsight when there are no missing portions of the surfaces but by arranging the missing portions of the surfaces remote from the apex the reduction in reflecting performance is not of a corresponding amount.
  • Fig.l is a diagram of a pentagonal corner cluster
  • Fig.2 is a diagram showing the orientation of an individual corner reflector forming part of the cluster of Fig.l;
  • Fig.3 shows an individual corner reflector with certain portions missing forming an e ⁇ ixxliment of the invention
  • Fig.4 shows the arrangement of two corner reflectors forming of the cluster according to an embodiment of the invention
  • Fig.5 is a section through a cluster in a protective housing
  • Fig.6 is a perspective view of the arrangonent of Fig.5;
  • Fig.7 is a section through a further embodiment of a cluster
  • Fig.8 is a perspective view of the cluster of Fig. 7;
  • Fig.9 shows a two-portion arrangement of the cluster of Fig.8;
  • Fig.10 shows the cluster of Fig.9 assembled around a support
  • Fig.11 shows the arrangement of Fig. 8 with an additional corner reflector.
  • Fig. 1 shows diagra ⁇ iatically five corner reflectors 11 arranged in a pentagonal cluster.
  • each co er reflector 11 comprises three plates 12 welded together along mutually orthogonal lines each plate 12 comprising a right angled sector of a circle.
  • the free edges 14 of each plate 12 form an arc of a circle.
  • Fig.2 shews the arrangement of the corner reflector 11 relative to its horizontal axis, one plate 11 sloping upwards to the apex 15 of the reflector where all three plates 12 meet at such an angle that the peak reflection direction 16 from the corner reflector 11 is horizontal.
  • the individual corner reflectors 11 tilted as shown in Fig.2 are assembled touching corner to corner so that the corners are arranged on a horizontal circle 17.
  • the apices 15 do not touch and are elevated above the horizontal plane of the touching corners.
  • Fig. 3 shews an individual corner reflector 21 similar to that shown in Fig.2 itrpr ⁇ ved according to one embodiment of the invention.
  • Two of the plates 22 which meet along a line 23 which is closest to the vertical (which is the line furthest frcm the horizontal circle 17 of touching corners in Fig.l) have segrrent 31 cut frcm their curved edges 24.
  • the segment 31 starts a small distance 32 frcm a lower corner 33 of a reflector 21 and finishes a greater distance 34 from the top corner 35 of the reflector 21.
  • the ranoval of these segments 31 reduces the weight of the reflector 21 whilst not making a corresponding reduction in its reflective performance.
  • Fig.3 shows another portion of the full sector plates 22 missing which may be arranged in addition to the missing segirents 31 or as an alternative to them.
  • the two plates 41 and 42 leading to one corner which in the arrangement of Fig.l would be touching the adjacent reflector 21 are formed with a missing V-shape 43 to allow the corner of an adjacent reflector 21 in the cluster to extend into the volume defined by the first reflector 21 through the V-shape 43 as ⁇ ore clearly shown in Fig.4.
  • Reflectors in the cluster can therefore be placed more closely together and so occupy a smaller overall volume.
  • Figs. 5 and 6 show a cluster in a protective housing 5" which is annular in shape.
  • the housing walls extend over the open faces 52 of the corner reflector 11 and across the bottom 54 and top 53 of the cluster and defining a cylindrical central passage 55 which extends betwsen the spaced apices 25 of the reflectors 21.
  • This passage allcws the cluster to be mounted on a vertical member extending through the passage.
  • Figs. 7 and 8 shew a variation on the arrangement of Figs. 5 and 6, in which the -upper and lewer surfaces 61 and 62 of the protective housing are conical, the cones forming an envelope for the lines 23 on the individual reflectors 21 extending from their apices 25.
  • Figs.9 and 10 shew hew the protected cluster 21 of Fig. 6 can be divided in order to allow the cluster in its protective housing 51 to be asse ⁇ bled around a vertical support member 64 when it is not possible to lower the cc ⁇ plete protected cluster 21 of Fig.6 over the top of the vertical support me ⁇ toer 64. Because the cc ⁇ plete cluster contains five individual reflectors 21 (when it is a pentagonal cluster) the cluster is divided unevenly, one portion 65 containing two corner reflectors 21 and the other portion 66 three reflectors. Fig. 10 shows the two portions 65 and 66 of the reflector 21 assembled around the vertical support, in other words the reflector is toroidal.
  • Fig. 11 shows the reflector 60 of Fig. 8 with the addition of a further corner reflector 67 directed upwardly in order to improve the reflective performance of the cluster in the vertical direction.
  • the major reflective lobe was horizontal.
  • the additional reflector 67 of Fig. 11 could be conical or it could be formed from three plates 22 as the other reflectors 21 already illustrated.
  • Reflectors embodying the invention may be mounted on a suitable mount such as a stand or may have a suspension means such as an eye whereby it may be suspended frcm a suitable point such as on a sheet of a yacht.
  • the assembled reflectors may thus have the shape of an orange, golf or football.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Aerials With Secondary Devices (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un réflecteur radar à utiliser sur des embarations ou similaires, composé de cinq réflecteurs (11) formant des coins et comprenant chacun trois plaques (12) soudées le long de lignes réciproquement orthogonales; chaque plaque (12) comprend la partie d'un cercle à angle droit et les réflecteurs assemblés (11) forment un réflecteur dont la configuration extérieure est annulaire et continue.
PCT/GB1991/001359 1990-08-10 1991-08-09 Reflecteur radar WO1992002972A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9206727A GB2257567A (en) 1990-08-10 1992-03-26 Radar reflector

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909017561A GB9017561D0 (en) 1990-08-10 1990-08-10 Radar reflector
GB9017561.3 1990-08-10
GB919114536A GB9114536D0 (en) 1991-07-05 1991-07-05 Reflector
GB9114536.7 1991-07-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992002972A1 true WO1992002972A1 (fr) 1992-02-20

Family

ID=26297489

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1991/001359 WO1992002972A1 (fr) 1990-08-10 1991-08-09 Reflecteur radar

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU8426791A (fr)
WO (1) WO1992002972A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1847453A3 (fr) * 2006-04-21 2008-06-04 Haindl Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH Signaux optiques
DE202012008653U1 (de) 2012-09-03 2012-11-09 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen Radar-Reflektoreinrichtung und Schwimmvorrichtung mit Reflektoreinrichtung
WO2018236215A1 (fr) * 2017-06-21 2018-12-27 Technische Universiteit Delft Dispositif rétroréflecteur radar et procédé de préparation d'un dispositif rétroréflecteur radar
WO2019012503A1 (fr) * 2017-07-14 2019-01-17 Tubitak Leurre passif à réflexion arrière omnidirectionnelle

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3451060A (en) * 1965-06-30 1969-06-17 Us Navy Corner reflector
GB1261957A (en) * 1969-11-17 1972-02-02 Chemring Ltd Improvements in or relating to corner reflectors
DE2550709A1 (de) * 1975-11-12 1977-05-18 Hans E Dr Ing Speckter Passiver radarreflektor fuer anwendungen im bereich der luft- und schifffahrt
DE2308701B2 (de) * 1973-02-22 1981-07-02 Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke Ag, 2890 Nordenham Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Radarreflektors
DE3032085A1 (de) * 1980-08-26 1982-04-08 Autoflug Gmbh, 2084 Rellingen Radarwirksame passive peilvorrichtung
DE3347389A1 (de) * 1983-12-29 1986-02-20 Ballonfabrik See- und Luftausrüstung GmbH & Co KG, 8900 Augsburg Vorrichtung zur reflexion von radarwellen fuer ortungszwecke

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3451060A (en) * 1965-06-30 1969-06-17 Us Navy Corner reflector
GB1261957A (en) * 1969-11-17 1972-02-02 Chemring Ltd Improvements in or relating to corner reflectors
DE2308701B2 (de) * 1973-02-22 1981-07-02 Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke Ag, 2890 Nordenham Verfahren zur Herstellung eines Radarreflektors
DE2550709A1 (de) * 1975-11-12 1977-05-18 Hans E Dr Ing Speckter Passiver radarreflektor fuer anwendungen im bereich der luft- und schifffahrt
DE3032085A1 (de) * 1980-08-26 1982-04-08 Autoflug Gmbh, 2084 Rellingen Radarwirksame passive peilvorrichtung
DE3347389A1 (de) * 1983-12-29 1986-02-20 Ballonfabrik See- und Luftausrüstung GmbH & Co KG, 8900 Augsburg Vorrichtung zur reflexion von radarwellen fuer ortungszwecke

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1847453A3 (fr) * 2006-04-21 2008-06-04 Haindl Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH Signaux optiques
DE202012008653U1 (de) 2012-09-03 2012-11-09 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen Radar-Reflektoreinrichtung und Schwimmvorrichtung mit Reflektoreinrichtung
DE102012108156A1 (de) 2012-09-03 2014-03-06 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen Radar-Reflektoreinrichtung und Schwimmvorrichtung mit Reflektoreinrichtung
WO2018236215A1 (fr) * 2017-06-21 2018-12-27 Technische Universiteit Delft Dispositif rétroréflecteur radar et procédé de préparation d'un dispositif rétroréflecteur radar
NL2019103B1 (en) * 2017-06-21 2019-01-02 Univ Delft Tech A radar retroreflector device and a method of preparing a radar retroreflector device
WO2019012503A1 (fr) * 2017-07-14 2019-01-17 Tubitak Leurre passif à réflexion arrière omnidirectionnelle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU8426791A (en) 1992-03-02

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