Three dimensional packaging architecture for phased array antenna elements

• US 6,424,313 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Riemer, Dietrich E., Navarro, Julio Angel, Pietila, Douglas Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wimer, Michael C.
• Application Number:
  US09/650,947
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: H01/Q 2.300, 343/853, 343/779, 343/777, 343/767, 343/778, 343/770, 342/158
• US Class Current: 343/853
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0093 Monolithic arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005

Abstract

An electronically steerable phased array antenna module having a conformable circuit element. The conformable circuit element forms a packaging architecture which includes a flexible substrate on which the control electronics of the antenna can be mounted directly or electrically coupled to the flexible substrate. The radiating elements are integrally formed on the substrate together with monolithic transmission lines which couple the radiating elements to the integrated circuits forming the control electronics. In one preferred embodiment, integrated power combiner/splitters may be integrally formed on the conformable circuit element and integrated transmission feed lines are formed on the circuit element coupling the power combiner/splitter circuits to the control electronics. The conformable circuit element provides a packaging architecture which enables a large plurality of antenna radiating elements and associated interconnecting transmission and feed to be packaged in a cost efficient and compact manner, and which can be easily adapted for a variety of different forms of phased array antennas.

Claims

1. An electronically steerable phased array antenna module comprising:

a conformable circuit element;

a plurality of radiating elements integrally formed on said conformable circuit element;

a plurality of beam steering elements electrically coupled to said conformable circuit element;

a plurality of interconnecting elements integrally formed on said conformable circuit element for enabling coupling of said radiating elements to said beam steering elements;

a central core;

wherein said conformable circuit element is secured to said central core;

wherein said conformable circuit element comprises first, second and third portions, and wherein said radiating elements are disposed on said first portion, at least one of said beam steering elements is disposed on said second portion which extends generally orthogonal to said first portion, and wherein at least one of said beam steering elements is disposed on said third portion of said conformable circuit element and extends generally orthogonal to said first and second portions.

2. The antenna module of claim 1, further comprising:

a power control element electrically coupled to said conformable circuit element; and

a plurality of power feed elements integrally formed on said conformable circuit element for coupling said power control elements with said beam steering elements.

3. The antenna module of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of monolithic transmission feed lines integrally formed on said conformable circuit element;

and

an output pad comprising a plurality of outputs in communication with said monolithic transmission feed line.

4. The antenna module of claim 1, wherein said central core comprises a waveguide.

5. The antenna module of claim 2, wherein each of said radiating elements comprises a Vivaldi element.

6. An electronically steerable phased array antenna module comprising:

a conformable circuit element;

a plurality of radiating elements monolithically etched onto said conformable circuit element;

a corresponding plurality of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICS) mounted on said conformable circuit element;

a plurality of interconnecting elements etched on said conformable circuit element for enabling coupling of said radiating elements to said monolithic microwave integrated circuits;

a plurality of power control circuits secured to said conformable circuit element;

a plurality of monolithic feed transmission lines formed on said conformable circuit element for coupling said power control circuits with a plurality of output pads;

a core element to which said conformable circuit element is mounted; and

wherein a first portion of said conformable circuit element includes said radiating elements, and wherein said first portion is positioned on said core element to extend orthogonally to a second portion of said conformable circuit element, wherein said second portion includes said monolithic microwave integrated circuits.

7. The antenna module of claim 6, wherein said core element comprises a plurality of loaded waveguides.

8. The antenna module of claim 6, wherein said radiating elements comprise Vivaldi elements.

9. A method for forming a phased array antenna module comprising the steps of:

providing a conformable circuit element that can be disposed in a non-planar configuration;

integrally forming on said conformable circuit element a plurality of radiating elements and a plurality of transmission lines in communication with said radiating elements;

electrically coupling a plurality of beam steering elements to said plurality of transmission lines;

securing said conformable circuit element to a core element such that a first portion of said conformable circuit element includes said radiating elements and is disposed orthogonally to a secured portion of said conformable circuit element, and wherein said second portion includes a beam steering element.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

integrally forming a plurality of feed transmission lines on said conformable circuit element;

integrally forming a plurality of output pads on said conformable circuit element, said output pads being in electrical communication with said feed transmission lines.