High curvature antenna forming process
First Claim
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1. A process for fabricating high curvature antenna having a small radius of curvature, comprising the steps of:
- forming a microstrip component upon a first laminate layer;
attaching a second laminate layer to the first laminate layer, the second laminate layer having an electrically conductive material attached to one surface thereof, the second laminate layer attached to first laminate layer opposite the microstrip component such that the electrically conductive material is opposite the first laminate layer, thus forming a multilayer antenna structure;
attaching a radome layer to the multilayer antenna structure so as to cover the microstrip component, the radome layer attached before the multilayer antenna structure is formed into the substantially semicylindrical configuration; and
pressing the multilayer antenna structure into a mold while concurrently heating the multilayer antenna structure, the mold for forming the multilayer antenna structure into a substantially semicylindrical configuration.
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Abstract
A high curvature antenna is formed by using a multiple layer of laminate positioned between all microstrip elements and the conductive ground plane. By using multiple layers of laminate material, attached to one another with a thin bonding film, the antenna is easily configured in a high curvature manner. This structure and method of fabrication allows for the manufacture of a high curvature antenna having no wrinkles, kinks or discontinuities of any type in the ground plane, thus reducing defects when the antenna is produced.
29 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A process for fabricating high curvature antenna having a small radius of curvature, comprising the steps of:
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forming a microstrip component upon a first laminate layer; attaching a second laminate layer to the first laminate layer, the second laminate layer having an electrically conductive material attached to one surface thereof, the second laminate layer attached to first laminate layer opposite the microstrip component such that the electrically conductive material is opposite the first laminate layer, thus forming a multilayer antenna structure; attaching a radome layer to the multilayer antenna structure so as to cover the microstrip component, the radome layer attached before the multilayer antenna structure is formed into the substantially semicylindrical configuration; and pressing the multilayer antenna structure into a mold while concurrently heating the multilayer antenna structure, the mold for forming the multilayer antenna structure into a substantially semicylindrical configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. The process of claim 7 wherein the second microstrip component is a matching network.
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8. A method for making a high curvature microwave antenna having a small radius of curvature, comprising the steps of:
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assembling a multilayer planar antenna by attaching a plurality of microstrip antenna components to a plurality of planar laminate layers and a ground plane to the plurality of laminate layers all attached to one another by a bonding film and positioned in juxtaposition with one another, the plurality of microstrip antenna components being attached to the plurality of laminate layers on a first side thereof and the ground plane being attached to a second side, the first side and the second side opposite one another; attaching a radome layer over the plurality of microstrip components; heating the multilayer planar antenna; and bending the multilayer planar antenna into a high curvature configuration by applying pressure to the multilayer planar antenna. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification