US 11,855,360 B1
Airborne mesh network forming phase array antenna
William Robert Allen Ziegler, Ijamsville, MD (US); and Ronald H. Smith, Rockville, MD (US)
Assigned to 4S-Silversword Software and Services, LLC, Catonsville, MD (US)
Filed by 4S-SILVERSWORD SOFTWARE AND SERVICES, LLC, Catonsville, MD (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/779,943.
Application 16/779,943 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/991,973, filed on May 29, 2018, granted, now 10,608,741.
Int. Cl. H04B 10/118 (2013.01); H01Q 3/01 (2006.01); H04B 7/185 (2006.01)
CPC H01Q 3/01 (2013.01) [H04B 7/18506 (2013.01); H04B 10/118 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An airborne mesh network forming RF phase array antenna comprising:
a plurality of mobile platforms, wherein each mobile platform comprises:
at least one RF emitter, wherein the at least one RF emitter is in phase with at least one other mobile platform for wave propagation in a selected direction;
an optical communications device utilizing a retroreflector for determining platform positional information,
wherein the optical communication device further comprises
a processor configured to provide at least a tracking mode and a communications mode;
an input-output interface coupled to the processor;
an electro-optic controller coupled to the input-output interface;
an acquisition-tracking portion coupled to the electro-optic controller;
a communication portion coupled to the electro-optic controller; and
wherein at least one mobile platform of the plurality of mobile platforms is a designated signal seed;
wherein the airborne mesh network forming RF phase array antenna is a Free Space Optical system to provide relative distance and angle measurements into a map of an overall platform community.