Compact, low profile electronically scanned antenna
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A compact, low profile electronically scanned antenna module is provided. The antenna module includes a multi-layer antenna integrated printed wiring board (AiPWB) that includes a radiator layer on a front surface. The radiator layer includes a plurality of RF radiating elements. The antenna module additionally includes a plurality of radiator electronics modules orthogonally connected to a back surface of the AiPWB. The electronics modules are interconnected with radiating elements through the AiPWB and include a plurality of beam steering electronic elements mounted to a multi layer conformable substrate. The orthogonal connections allow the antenna module to have outer dimensions that are substantially equal to the dimensions of a perimeter of the AiPWB. Additionally, frequency and scanning angle requirements of the antenna module can be increased by merely increasing the length of the electronics modules in the orthogonal direction to allow for additional beam steering electronic elements needed to accommodate the increased frequency and scanning requirements.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. (canceled)
-
2. (canceled)
-
3. A compact, low profile electronically scanned antenna module comprising:
-
a multi-layer antenna integrated printed wiring board (AiPWB) including a radiator layer comprising a plurality of RF radiating elements on a front surface of the AiPWB; and a plurality of radiator electronics modules orthogonally connected to a back surface of the AiPWB such that outer dimensions of the antenna module are substantially equal to the dimensions of a perimeter of the AiPWB, the electronics modules interconnected with radiating elements through the AiPWB, each electronics module comprising a multi layer conformable substrate including integrated, monolithic transmission and distribution lines that interconnect a plurality of beam steering electronic elements mounted to the conformable substrate, the interconnected beam steering electronic elements comprising two separate radiator beam steering control circuits, each beam steering control circuit associated with one of the radiators. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A compact, low profile electronically scanned antenna module comprising:
-
a multi-layer antenna integrated printed wiring board (AiPWB) including a distribution layer for distributing radio frequency (RF) signals and a radiator layer comprising a plurality of RF radiating elements on a top surface of the AiPWB for at least one of transmitting and receiving the RF signals; and a plurality of radiator electronics modules directly connected to a bottom surface of the AiPWB to orthogonally extend from the bottom surface such that outer dimensions of the antenna module are substantially equal to the dimensions of a perimeter of the AiPWB, each electronics module comprising a multi layer conformable substrate including a plurality of interconnected beam steering electronic elements mounted thereon that form at least two separate radiator beam steering control circuits, each beam steering control circuit associated with at least one of the radiators. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. (canceled)
-
19. A method for forming a compact, low profile electronically scanned antenna module, said method comprising:
-
providing a multi-layer antenna integrated printed wiring board (AiPWB) including a radiator layer comprising a plurality of RF radiating elements on a front surface of the AiPWB; and orthogonally coupling a plurality of radiator electronics modules directly to a back surface of the AiPWB such that outer dimensions of the antenna module are substantially equal to the dimensions of a perimeter of the AiPWB, the electronics module interconnected with radiating elements through the AiPWB wherein orthogonally coupling the plurality of radiator modules directly to the back surface of the AiPWB comprises mounting a plurality of beam steering electronic elements to a multi layer conformable substrate including integrated, monolithic transmission and distribution lines that interconnect the beam steering electronic elements. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
Specification