RADIATION ELEMENT RETAINER DEVICE

• US 20120313835A1
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIC Corporation, Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Gebretnsae, Mussie
• Granted Patent: US 9,153,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/892
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1207 for fastening a rigid aerial element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays

Abstract

An antenna system including a radiation element retainer device including an attachment element configured to attach a radiation element to the radiation element retainer device. An attachment element attaches one radiation element to the radiation element retainer device. The radiation element retainer device is configured to be arranged with a circuit board carrier, such that the radiation element is electrically connectable to a circuit board, arranged at the circuit board carrier, as the radiation element is fixed on the radiation element retainer device by the attachment elements. The antenna system further includes a main board and a plurality of sets of attachment elements. The attachment elements are integrated formed with the retainer device, such that the attachment elements and the main board include one single piece of material that forms the radiation element retainer device.

Claims

1. An antenna system, comprising:

numerous radiation elements,

at least one circuit board carrier,

at least one circuit board, and

at least one radiation element retainer device, said radiation element retainer device comprising an attachment element configured to attach one radiation element to the radiation element retainer device such, that said radiation element can be electrically connected to the at least one circuit board which is arranged on the at least one circuit board carrier, the radiation element retainer device further comprising a main board on which the attaching element is located, and one radiation element retainer device comprising a plurality of attachment elements, whereby said attachment elements are integrally formed with the main board, such that the attachment elements and the main board comprise one single piece of material.

2. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein each attaching element positions and holds one radiation element in an X-, Y- and Z-direction, wherein the X-, Y- and Z-directions are perpendicular to each other.

3. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment elements are formed, such that the radiation elements can be snap-fit into position.

4. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation element retainer device is made out of a piece of metal sheet and thereby a profile of the attachment elements are cut and/or punched out of the piece of metal sheet such that the attachment elements can be bent into a position required to receive the radiation element.

5. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation element retainer device and the attachment comprise a polymeric material.

6. The antenna system according to claim 5, wherein the radiation element retainer device is injection molded.

7. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation element retainer device and the attachment elements comprise carbon fiber.

8. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier board is attached to the side of the radiation element retainer device opposite the attachment element.

9. The antenna system according to claim 8, wherein the carrier board is hollow, such that a ventilation system and/or a cooling fluid conduit can be arranged in the hollow interior of the carrier board.

10. The antenna system according to claim 8, wherein the carrier board is integrally formed with the radiation element retainer device, such that the carrier board and the radiation element retainer device comprise one single piece of material.

11. The antenna system according to claim 8, wherein the carrier board is detachable attached to the radiation element retainer device.

12. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment elements are arranged in one row on the radiation element retainer device.

13. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment elements are arranged in a plurality of rows on the radiation element retainer device, such that a matrix of attachment elements is created, wherein the matrix can be a rectangular matrix or a triangular matrix.

14. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the radiation element retainer device is curved in at least one direction, such that the radiation element retainer device has the form of a cylinder segment or sphere segment.

15. The antenna system according to claim 1, wherein the antenna system comprises a plurality of radiation element retainer devices, the antenna system further comprising:

fittings arranged on at least one edge of the radiation elements retainer devices, wherein the fittings locate two neighboring radiation retainer devices in their correct position relative each other, such that as two neighboring radiation elements, are at a specific predetermined distance from each other, wherein said two neighboring radiation elements are located at different neighboring radiation retainer devices.