Radiator structures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A foldable radiator assembly, comprising:
- a thin, flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein, the flexible substrate structure flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, wherein the substrate structure has a base portion mounted to a base structure, a flexing portion which is movable with respect to the base portion, said radiator conductor pattern carried by the flexing portion, and wherein the radiator conductor pattern defines a coplanar strip transmission line which passes through a hinge area between the base portion and the flexing portion; and
an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy.
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Abstract
A foldable radiator assembly includes a flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein. The flexible substrate structure can be flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, or can be fixed in position by dielectric structures. An excitation circuit excites the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy. Strips of the radiator assemblies can be used to form an array aperture.
43 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A foldable radiator assembly, comprising:
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a thin, flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein, the flexible substrate structure flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, wherein the substrate structure has a base portion mounted to a base structure, a flexing portion which is movable with respect to the base portion, said radiator conductor pattern carried by the flexing portion, and wherein the radiator conductor pattern defines a coplanar strip transmission line which passes through a hinge area between the base portion and the flexing portion; and an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An antenna array, comprising:
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a plurality of radiator strips, each comprising a flexible dielectric substrate structure having a plurality of radiator conductor patterns formed therein, the flexible substrate structure having a base portion mounted to an RF feed base structure, and a flexing portion which is movable with respect to the base portion in absence of restraining structures, said radiator conductor pattern carried by the flexing portion; and an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A foldable, pop-up radiator assembly, comprising:
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a thin, flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein, the flexible substrate structure flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, the flexible substrate structure having a spring force when in the folded position tending to urge the flexible substrate structure to the deployed position such that the flexible substrate structure pops up to the deployed position when released from the folded position; an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A foldable radiator assembly, comprising:
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a thin, common unitary flexible dielectric substrate structure comprising a strip of radiator assemblies oriented along an array H-plane having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein, the flexible substrate structure flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position; an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy; and a plurality of strips of the radiator assemblies, each strip oriented in parallel to the array H-plane and spaced along an array E-plane. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A foldable radiator assembly, comprising:
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a thin, flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein, the flexible substrate structure flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, wherein the substrate structure has a base portion mounted to a base structure, and a flexing portion which is movable with respect to the base portion, said radiator conductor pattern carried by the flexing portion; a dielectric gusset structure connected between a distal portion of the flexing portion and the base portion to set the deployed position of the flexing portion; and an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A foldable radiator assembly, comprising:
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a thin, flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein, the flexible substrate structure flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, wherein the substrate structure has a base portion mounted to a base structure, a flexing portion which is movable with respect to the base portion, said radiator conductor pattern carried by the flexing portion, wherein the flexing portion joins the base portion along a hinge areas of the substrate assembly, and wherein a plurality of spaced slots are formed through the dielectric substrate assembly along the joint area to control a springback force; and an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy.
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43. A foldable radiator assembly, comprising
a thin, flexible dielectric substrate structure having a radiator conductor pattern formed therein, the flexible substrate structure flexible for movement between a folded position and a deployed position, wherein the substrate structure has a base portion mounted to a base structure, and a flexing portion which is movable with respect to the base portion, said radiator conductor pattern carried by the flexing portion; -
a dielectric line attached to said flexing portion of the substrate structure for applying a deploying force to more the flexing portion to the deployed position; and an excitation circuit for exciting the radiator conductor pattern with RF energy.
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Specification