Support apparatus for an active aperture radar antenna
First Claim
1. An active aperture radar antenna, comprising:
- a plurality of T/R modules for producing and processing microwave signals;
a plurality of radiating elements, electrically coupled to said modules, for transmitting said microwave signals toward a target object and receiving signals reflected from said target object; and
support means for supporting said modules and said radiating elements in predetermined relative positions, said support means defining an interior flow passage between said modules and radiating elements and a surface exterior to said flow passage for supporting said modules, wherein said support means surface is actively cooled by the flow of coolant through said flow passage, thereby providing an actively cooled heat sink to said modules.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An active aperture radar antenna includes a plurality of T/R modules and a plurality of radiators, each being supported upon an intermediate support structure disposed therebetween for holding the modules and the radiators at predetermined positions relative to one another. The support structure is a composite structure formed by ribbed support housings and joined by a central plate. The ribs in the support housings defining channels for accommodating coolant tubes and for stiffening the structure. The T/R modules contact the support structure proximate the transmit amplifier chains for enhanced cooling. The radiator array is formed upon a circuit board, is independent of the T/R modules and is disposed upon an opposing surface of the support structure. The T/R modules can be removed and replaced without disturbing any radiators or their relative coplanarity.
33 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An active aperture radar antenna, comprising:
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a plurality of T/R modules for producing and processing microwave signals; a plurality of radiating elements, electrically coupled to said modules, for transmitting said microwave signals toward a target object and receiving signals reflected from said target object; and support means for supporting said modules and said radiating elements in predetermined relative positions, said support means defining an interior flow passage between said modules and radiating elements and a surface exterior to said flow passage for supporting said modules, wherein said support means surface is actively cooled by the flow of coolant through said flow passage, thereby providing an actively cooled heat sink to said modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A radar antenna, comprising:
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a plurality of radiating elements for transmitting microwave signals; heat sink means coupled to said radiating elements; and a plurality of modules for producing said microwave signals, said plurality of modules being removably attachable to said heat sink means wherein said modules are both cooled by said heat sink means and electrically coupled to said radiating elements when said plurality of modules are selectively attached to said heat sink means. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. An active aperture radar antenna comprising:
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a plurality of T/R modules for producing and processing microwave signals; a plurality of radiating elements electrically coupled to said modules, for transmitting said microwave signals toward a target object and receiving signals reflected from said target object; and support means for supporting said modules and said radiating elements in predetermined relative positions, said support means including a first external surface in supporting contact with said radiating elements and a second external surface in supporting contact with said modules, and said support means defining at least one flow passage disposed between said external surfaces, wherein said support means is actively cooled by the flow of coolant through said flow passage. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification