Compliant, internally cooled antenna apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An antenna system comprising:
- an elongated mandrel for supporting a plurality of electronics subassemblies;
the mandrel having material removed at one end to form a plurality of leaf spring like sections;
each said leaf spring like section enabling a subsection of the mandrel to be able to flex relative to other subsections such that the mandrel forms a conformable support member that can be secured to an external electrical component and conform to a surface curvature of the external electrical component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A phased array antenna system including a mandrel having compliant portions and an internally formed cooling passageway. The compliant portions are formed by removing portions of material along one end of the mandrel to form a plurality of pairs of generally U-shaped, leaf spring-like connecting areas. The connecting areas allow a degree of movement of a lower portion of the mandrel relative to the remainder of the mandrel, when the mandrel is fixedly secured to a printed wiring board (PWB). This enables flexible electrical interconnects, positioned over the compliant portions, to make electrical contact with circuit traces on the PWB, even if the PWB has a curved or undulating surface.
55 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An antenna system comprising:
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an elongated mandrel for supporting a plurality of electronics subassemblies;
the mandrel having material removed at one end to form a plurality of leaf spring like sections;
each said leaf spring like section enabling a subsection of the mandrel to be able to flex relative to other subsections such that the mandrel forms a conformable support member that can be secured to an external electrical component and conform to a surface curvature of the external electrical component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An antenna system comprising:
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an elongated mandrel for supporting a plurality of electronic printed wiring boards along a side portion thereof;
the mandrel having material removed at opposing sides of one end to form a plurality of leaf spring like sections along a length thereof;
each said leaf spring like section enabling a subsection of the mandrel to be able to flex relative to other subsections such that the mandrel forms a conformable support member that can be secured to an external electrical component and conform to a surface curvature of the external electrical component; and
the mandrel further including a fluid passageway for enabling a cooling medium to be circulated through the mandrel to assist in cooling the mandrel during operating of the antenna system. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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8. The antenna system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of electronic printed wiring boards secured to opposite side surfaces of the mandrel and in thermal communication with the mandrel.
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11. A method for forming a phased array antenna, the method comprising:
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forming a metallic material into an elongated support mandrel;
forming a hollowed area in the mandrel;
forming a pair of opposing slots, in sections, at one end of the mandrel, and along a length of the mandrel such that a plurality of independent, flexible sections are formed that enable the mandrel to be secured to an undulating component while making contact with said undulating component along substantially an entire length of the mandrel; and
securing a plurality of electronic components to side surfaces of the mandrel.
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12. An antenna system comprising:
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a thermally conductive core component, the core component having an internal flow passage;
an electronic component supported from the core component in a manner to transmit heat generated by the electronic component to the core component; and
a cooling medium in communication with the core component for circulating a cooling medium through the core component to absorb and carry away heat absorbed by the core component, to thus cool the electronic component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification