Phased array antenna including transverse circuit boards and associated methods

• US 20070152882A1
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Anthony, Taylor, Robert, Hash, Ronald, Jandzio, Gregory, PALMER, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US11/324,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20070152882A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/700.MS
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/062 using dipole aerials; H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence

Abstract

A phased array antenna may include a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by the substrate. A plurality of intermediate circuit boards may be arranged in spaced apart relation and each may extend transversely from the substrate. Each intermediate circuit board may have a forward end connected to a plurality of respective phased array antenna elements. A rear circuit board may be connected to the plurality of intermediate circuit boards at rearward ends thereof opposite the substrate.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna comprising:

a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by said substrate;

a plurality of intermediate circuit boards arranged in spaced apart relation and extending transversely from said substrate, each intermediate circuit board having a forward end connected to a plurality of respective phased array antenna elements and a rearward end opposite the forward end; and

a rear circuit board connected to said plurality of intermediate circuit boards at rearward ends thereof opposite said substrate.

2. The phased array antenna according to claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises:

a dielectric layer carrying said phased array antenna elements on a front surface thereof; and

a ground plane on a back surface of said dielectric layer.

3. The phased array antenna according to claim 1 further comprising at least one heat sink carried by each intermediate circuit board.

4. The phased array antenna according to claim 1 wherein said rear circuit board comprises control circuitry for controlling the plurality of phased array antenna elements.

5. The phased array antenna according to claim 1 wherein each intermediate circuit board comprises control circuitry for controlling the plurality of phased array antenna elements.

6. The phased array antenna according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate circuit boards each comprises at least one signal path between said substrate and said rear circuit board.

7. The phased array antenna according to claim 6 wherein said intermediate circuit boards each further comprises a plurality of forward connectors on the forward end thereof, and at least one rearward connector on the rearward end thereof;

and wherein said at least one signal path connects said plurality of forward connectors to said at least one rearward connector.

8. The phased array antenna according to claim 6 wherein said rear circuit board further comprises a plurality of connectors mating with said rearward connectors of said intermediate circuit boards.

9. The phased array antenna according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of phased array antenna elements comprises an array of dipole elements, each comprising a medial feed portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom, adjacent legs of adjacent dipole elements including respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling between the adjacent dipole elements.

10. A phased array antenna comprising:

a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by said substrate;

a plurality of intermediate circuit boards arranged in spaced apart relation and extending transversely from said substrate, each intermediate circuit board having a forward end connected to a plurality of respective phased array antenna elements and a rearward end opposite the forward end;

each intermediate circuit board comprising first control circuitry for controlling the plurality of phased array antenna elements; and

a rear circuit board connected to said plurality of intermediate circuit boards at rearward ends thereof opposite said substrate;

said rear circuit board comprising second control circuitry for controlling the plurality of phased array antenna elements in cooperation with said first control circuitry.

11. The phased array antenna according to claim 10 wherein said substrate comprises:

a dielectric layer carrying said phased array antenna elements on a front surface thereof; and

a ground plane on a back surface of said dielectric layer.

12. The phased array antenna according to claim 10 further comprising at least one heat sink carried by each intermediate circuit board.

13. The phased array antenna according to claim 10 wherein said intermediate circuit boards each comprises at least one signal path between said substrate and said rear circuit board.

14. The phased array antenna according to claim 13 wherein said intermediate circuit boards each further comprises a plurality of forward connectors on the forward end thereof, and at least one rearward connector on the rearward end thereof;

and wherein said at least one signal path connects said plurality of forward connectors to said at least one rearward connector.

15. The phased array antenna according to claim 13 wherein said rear circuit board further comprises a plurality of connectors mating with said rearward connectors of said intermediate circuit boards.

16. The phased array antenna according to claim 10 wherein said plurality of phased array antenna elements comprises an array of dipole elements, each comprising a medial feed portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom, adjacent legs of adjacent dipole elements including respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling between the adjacent dipole elements.

17. A method of making a phased array antenna comprising a substrate and a plurality of phased array antenna elements carried by the substrate, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of intermediate circuit boards in spaced apart relation and extending transversely from the substrate, each intermediate circuit board having a forward end connected to a plurality of respective phased array antenna elements; and

connecting a rear circuit board to the plurality of intermediate circuit boards at rearward ends thereof opposite the substrate.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising connecting at least one heat sink adjacent to each intermediate circuit board.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the plurality of phased array antenna elements comprises an array of dipole elements, each comprising a medial feed portion and a pair of legs extending outwardly therefrom, adjacent legs of adjacent dipole elements including respective spaced apart end portions having predetermined shapes and relative positioning to provide increased capacitive coupling between the adjacent dipole elements.