Patent attributes
The present disclosure is directed to low range altimeter (LRA) antenna implementations that are resistant to signal degradation under critical weather conditions. An altimeter may include a first antenna communicatively coupled to a transmitter configured to transmit a ranging signal to a surface. The altimeter may further include a second antenna communicatively coupled to a receiver configured to receive at least a portion of the ranging signal reflected from the surface. Each of the first (transmitting) antenna and the second (receiving) antenna may include a driven element and at least one parasitic director element. In some embodiments, at least a portion of an aircraft surface may function as a parasitic reflector element in accordance with a Yagi-Uda array antenna topology.
