FLEXIBLE PHASED ARRAY ANTENNAS

• US 20100177011A1
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Sego, Daniel J., Banks, David L., Urcia, Manny S.
• Application Number:
  US12/352,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20100177011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/893
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A phased array antenna (PAA) is provided. The PAA includes a plurality of layers fabricated using an additive process such that the PAA conforms to a curvilinear surface. The plurality of layers include: a radiating layer placed on a first surface of a first dielectric layer; a feed layer operationally coupled to a second surface of the first dielectric layer; and a second dielectric layer having a first surface operationally coupled a power and control layer and a second surface operationally coupled to a ground layer. An adhesive layer operationally couples the feed layer to the power and control layer.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna, comprising:

a plurality of layers fabricated using an additive process such that the phased array antenna conforms to a curvilinear surface;

wherein the plurality of layers include;

a radiating layer placed on a first surface of a dielectric layer;

a feed layer operationally coupled to a second surface of the first dielectric layer; and

a second dielectric layer having a first surface operationally coupled to a power and control layer and second surface operationally coupled to a ground layer;

wherein an adhesive layer operationally couples the feed layer to the power and control layer.

2. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are formed of liquid crystal polymer.

3. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiating layer includes radiating elements additively deposited on first surface of the first dielectric layer.

4. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the radiating layer is deposited directly on the first dielectric layer.

5. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the second surface of the second dielectric layer rests on the ground layer.

6. The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the power and control layer is deposited directly on the second dielectric layer.

7. A phased array antenna, comprising:

a plurality of layers fabricated using an additive process such that the phased array antenna conforms to a curvilinear surface;

wherein the plurality of layers include;

a radiating layer placed on a first surface of a first dielectric layer;

a feed layer operationally coupled to a second surface of the first dielectric layer; and

a second dielectric layer having a first surface operationally coupled to a power and control layer and second surface operationally coupled to a ground layer;

wherein an adhesive layer operationally couples the feed layer to the power and control layer;

wherein the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are formed of liquid crystal polymer; and

wherein the radiating layer includes radiating patch elements additively deposited directly on the first surface of the first dielectric layer.

8. The flexible phased array antenna of claim 8, wherein the second surface of the second dielectric layer rests on the ground layer.

9. The flexible phased array antenna of claim 9, wherein the power and control layer is deposited directly on the second dielectric layer.

10. A method for fabricating a phased array antenna, comprising:

(a) depositing radiating elements on a first surface of a first dielectric layer;

(b) depositing a feed layer on a second surface of the first dielectric layer;

(c) depositing a power and control logic layer on a first surface of a second dielectric layer, and depositing a substrate layer on the second surface of the second dielectric layer;

(d) coupling the first dielectric layer with the deposited feed layer and radiating elements of step (b) with the second dielectric layer, such that a surface of the feed layer couples to a surface of the power and control logic layer with a structural adhesive to form a multi-layer structure; and

(e) curing the multi-layer structure of step (e) to form the phased array antenna that is flexible and conforms to a curvilinear surface.

11. The method of claim 11, wherein the radiating elements are deposited by an additive process.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the feed layer is deposited by an additive process.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein step (d) of claim 11 uses an adhesive layer between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer.

12. The method of claim 12, wherein the additive process is direct write process.

14. The method of claim 14, wherein the additive process is direct write process.