Apparatus and method for covering integrated antenna elements utilizing composite materials

• US 20090109116A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Olszewski, Edward P. JR., Strempel, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,973,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/873
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/30 Means for trailing antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

The present invention provides an antenna system for transmitting and receiving radar signals comprising a first non-conductive material embedding a plurality of parasitic antenna elements, where the first non-conductive material interfaces a second non-conductive material embedding a plurality of electrical feed elements, and wherein the first non-conductive material covers one or more adjacent interconnecting joints.

Claims

1. An antenna system for transmitting and receiving radar signals having interconnecting joints comprising:

a first non-conductive material embedding a plurality of parasitic antenna elements, said material interfacing a second non-conductive material embedding a plurality of electrical feed elements;

wherein the first non-conductive material covers at least one adjacent interconnecting joint.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first non-conductive material embedding the parasitic antenna element is separated by a dielectric material from the second material embedding an electrical feed element.

3. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein connection for the electrical feed element extends through at least a portion of the non-conductive material layer.

4. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the electrical feed element is in electrical continuity with the associated radar system.

5. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein each embedded antenna element is disposed between materials of a different type.

6. An antenna for transmitting and receiving radar signals having feed interconnections comprising:

a top cover interfacing a first set of non conductive material layers embedding a plurality of parasitic antenna elements, said first set of material layers interfacing a second set of material layers embedding a plurality of feed antenna elements, such that the top cover protects the feed interconnections from the environment.

7. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the material is one of graphitecarbon/epoxy, fiberglass/epoxy, and polyimide/epoxycarbon/polymide composite material.

8. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the parasitic element is chosen from a material selected from the group of aluminum copper, brass, or copper alloy.

9. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the cover forms a first non-conductive material layer separate and distinct from the balance of the non-conductive material layers.

10. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the cover is composed of a material different from a balance of the non-conductive material layers.

11. The antenna of claim 10, wherein a bonding material secures the balance of the underlying layers to the top layer.

12. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the cover material is selected from one of the group of acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, epoxy resins and aramid fiber.

13. The antenna of claim 6, wherein the cover is removable or replaceable.

14. A method of fabricating an embedded antenna for transmitting and receiving radar signals comprising the steps of:

covering the antenna face with a continuous layer of a first non-conductive material having one or more layers;

embedding a parasitic element into the one or more layers of the first non-conductive material;

embedding an electrical feed patch into a layer of a second non-conductive material, and interfacing the first and second non-conductive materials, wherein the first non-conductive material covers one or more adjacent interconnecting joints.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the continuous layer of said first non-conductive material is a composite material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the continuous layer covers a plurality of antenna elements.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the composite material comprises graphite/epoxy.

18. A method of maintaining an embedded antenna for transmitting and receiving radar signals having a first non-conductive material cover comprising the steps selected from one of:

(a) cleaning the cover to remove contamination;

(b) removing the cover if contaminated;

(c) replacing the cover.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cover is a continuous layer of composite material.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the composite material is graphite/epoxy.