Low-cost lightweight integrated antenna for airborne weather radar

• US 10,191,152 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Bunch, Brian P., Vacanti, David C., Jensen, Robert J., Mowry, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Bythrow, Peter M
• Application Number:
  US15/223,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20180031699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/953 mounted on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/03 Details of HF subsystems specially adapted therefor, e.g. common to transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/04 Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/281 Nose antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/40 Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0043 Slotted waveguides combination with horns H01Q13/0233
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/005 Slotted waveguides arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/06 over a restricted angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A weather radar with an integrated flat plate slotted array antenna system mounted to a motorized, gimbaled platform. The integrated antenna system includes a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) receiver/transmitter antenna integrated with other printed circuit board (PCB) layers. The PCB includes radar transmitter, receiver and processing circuits configured to communicate with weather radar display and controller units. A protective shield provides radio-frequency (RF) shielding and mechanical support for the integrated antenna system.

Claims

1. A weather radar system comprising an integrated radar antenna, the integrated radar antenna comprising a multi-layer circuit board comprising:

a slotted array waveguide antenna, wherein the slotted array waveguide antenna comprises a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) antenna;

radar transmitter electronics in signal communication with the slotted array waveguide antenna, wherein the radar transmit electronics, in conjunction with the slotted array waveguide antenna, are configured to output radar signals;

radar receiver electronics in signal communication with the slotted array waveguide antenna, wherein the radar receiver electronics are configured to receive from the slotted array waveguide antenna radar reflections corresponding to the outputted radar signals.

2. The weather radar system of claim 1, further comprising a protective shield, wherein the protective shield is configured to support, protect and provide an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield for the integrated radar antenna.

3. The weather radar system of claim 2, further comprising a gimbaled mount, wherein the gimbaled mount is configured to:

support the integrated radar antenna;

receive an antenna position signal;

aim the integrated radar antenna in response to the antenna position signal.

4. The weather radar system of claim 3, further comprising one or more processors configured to:

determine an aim direction for the integrated radar antenna at a first time;

send the antenna position signal to the gimbaled mount.

5. The weather radar system of claim 1, wherein the weather radar system is configured to mount to an aircraft.

6. The weather radar system of claim 1, wherein the weather radar system is configured to send weather information to a weather display device.

7. The weather radar system of claim 1, wherein the multi-layer circuit board comprises at least one layer to provide mechanical strength.

8. The weather radar system of claim 1, wherein the integrated radar antenna further comprises one or more processors.