LIGHT WEIGHT STOWABLE PHASED ARRAY LENS ANTENNA ASSEMBLY

• US 20100231479A1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanakaya, Gregg M., Yang, Fangchou, Quan, Clifton, Hauhe, Mark, Sauer, Rohn
• Granted Patent: US 8,274,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/881
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/085 Flexible aerials; Whip aerials with a resilient base
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/008 lens fed multibeam arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/46 Active lenses or reflecting arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/269 including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

A light weight stowable antenna lens array assembly is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a stowable lens antenna array including at least one antenna pair including a transmit antenna on a first layered composite, a receive antenna on a second layered composite, a ground plane on a third layered composite, the ground plane being between and spaced apart from the transmit antenna and the receive antenna, and a balanced transmission line coupling the transmit antenna to the receive antenna, and an articulating structure attached to at least one of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite, the articulating structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein at least one of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite includes a polymeric film.

Claims

6. A lens antenna array comprising:

at least one antenna pair comprising;

a transmit antenna on a first layered composite;

a receive antenna on a second layered composite;

a ground plane on a third layered composite, the ground plane disposed between, and spaced apart from, the transmit antenna and the receive antenna; and

a balanced transmission line coupling the transmit antenna to the receive antenna;

wherein at least one of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite comprises;

a first outer layer comprised of a polymeric film;

a second outer layer comprised of a polymeric film;

a middle layer disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the middle layer comprising a patterned reinforcing material;

a first adhesive layer disposed between the first outer layer and the middle layer; and

a second adhesive layer disposed between the middle layer and the second outer layer.

7. The lens antenna array of claim 6, further comprising a phase shifter disposed along the balanced transmission line.

8. The lens antenna array of claim 6, wherein the transmit antenna and the receive antenna are components of a dipole antenna having an operating center frequency of approximately 1500 MHz.

9. The lens antenna array of claim 6, wherein the at least one antenna pair comprises a plurality of antenna pairs.

10. A stowable lens antenna array comprising:

at least one antenna pair comprising;

a transmit antenna on a first layered composite;

a receive antenna on a second layered composite;

a ground plane on a third layered composite, the ground plane being between and spaced apart from the transmit antenna and the receive antenna; and

a balanced transmission line coupling the transmit antenna to the receive antenna; and

an articulating structure attached to at least one of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite, the articulating structure having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;

wherein at least one of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite comprises;

a first outer layer comprised of a polymeric film;

a second outer layer comprised of a polymeric film;

a middle layer disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the middle layer comprising a patterned reinforcing material;

a first adhesive layer disposed between the first outer layer and the middle layer; and

a second adhesive layer disposed between the middle layer and the second outer layer.

1. A layered composite for a microwave transmit/receive lens antenna pair, the composite comprising:

a first outer layer comprised of a polymeric film;

a second outer layer comprised of a polymeric film;

a middle layer disposed between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the middle layer comprising a patterned reinforcing material;

a first adhesive layer disposed between the first outer layer and the middle layer; and

a second adhesive layer disposed between the middle layer and the second outer layer.

2. The composite of claim 1, wherein the patterned reinforcing material comprises a patterned aromatic polyester fiber.

3. The composite of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer each comprise a bonding material.

4. The composite of claim 1, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer and the middle layer each have a thickness of approximately 0.0002 inches.

5. The composite of claim 1, wherein the first outer layer, the second outer layer and the middle layer each comprise a metallization layer.

11. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 10, wherein each of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite comprise arcuate edges each having an elongated sleeve configured to receive a cable.

12. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 11, wherein each of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite comprise four arcuate edges.

13. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 11, wherein the articulating structure is configured to apply a tension to the cable making substantially flat each of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite in a deployed position.

14. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 13, wherein the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite each form an approximately square shape in the deployed position.

15. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 13, wherein the articulating structure is configured to release the tension collapsing the stowable lens antenna array in a retracted position.

16. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 11, wherein each of the arcuate edges comprises a catenary form.

17. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 10, wherein the transmit antenna and the receive antenna are components of a dipole antenna having a center operating frequency of approximately 1500 MHz.

18. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 10, wherein the at least one antenna pair comprises a plurality of antenna pairs.

19. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 10, wherein the articulating structure comprises a pantograph structure.

15-1. The stowable lens antenna array of claim 11, wherein the articulating structure is coupled to the cable at corners of each of the first layered composite, the second layered composite and the third layered composite.