Aerogel-based antennas for aerospace and terrestrial applications

• US 10,446,920 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. Government Administrator of NASA (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Inventors: Meador, Mary Ann B., Miranda, Felix A., Van Keuls, Frederick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh V
• Application Number:
  US15/095,894
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/02 2 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/102 synthetic resin or rubber layer being a foamed layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/28 Multiple coating on one surface
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2266/126 Aerogel, i.e. a supercritically dried gel
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/204 Di-electric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/54 Yield strength; Tensile strength
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/72 Density
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/08 PCBs, i.e. printed circuit boards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/18 characterised by features of a layer of foamed material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/085 Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/32 Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
• 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 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

Systems and methods for lightweight, customizable antenna with improved performance and mechanical properties are disclosed. In some aspects, aerogels can be used, for example, as a substrate for antenna fabrication. The reduced weight and expense, as well as the increased ability to adapt antenna designs, permits a systems to mitigate a variety of burdens associated with antennas while providing added benefits.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate coupled to the first substrate; and

a metallized portion deposited on the first substrate,

wherein the first substrate is a polymer aerogel consisting entirely of polymer material.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the second substrate in an aerogel.

3. The antenna of claim 2 further comprising a ground plane disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

4. The antenna of claim 3 further comprising a slot defined in the ground plane and a feed line disposed on the second substrate, wherein the slot facilitates an electric coupling of the feed line to the metallized portion.

5. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the metallized portion includes an antenna pattern.

6. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the polymer aerogel is a polyimide aerogel.

7. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the polyimide aerogel is a fluorinated polyimide aerogel.

8. The antenna of claim 7, wherein the polyimide aerogel is made with fluorinated dianhydride, 2,2-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA).

9. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the first substrate, second substrate, and the metallized portion comprise a patch antenna.

10. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the aerogel is flexible.

11. A system comprising an antenna array including a plurality of antennas fabricated at least in part using a polymer aerogel consisting entirely of polymer material.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of antennas are patch antennas.

13. The antenna of claim 11, wherein the polymer aerogel is a polyimide aerogel.

14. The antenna of claim 13, wherein the polyimide aerogel is a fluorinated polyimide aerogel.

15. The antenna of claim 14, wherein the polyimide aerogel is made with fluorinated dianhydride, 2,2-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA).

16. A method for making an antenna comprising:

forming a first polymer aerogel substrate consisting entirely of polymer material; and

applying a metal element to the first polymer aerogel substrate.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising forming a second aerogel substrate coupled to the first polymer aerogel substrate.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a ground plane disposed between the first polymer aerogel substrate and the second aerogel substrate, wherein a slot defined in the ground plane electrically couples the metal element to a feed line disponed on the second aerogel substrate.

19. The antenna of claim 18, wherein the polymer aerogel is a fluorinated polyimide aerogel.

20. The antenna of claim 19, wherein the polyimide aerogel is made with fluorinated dianhydride, 2,2-bis (3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA).