Low profile active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) for Ka-band radar systems
First Claim
1. Heat sink apparatus for a Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna comprising:
- an internal air cooled planar heat sink member located between a planar array of beam control elements and a waveguide relocator panel for dissipating heat generated by active circuit components of one or more RF signal amplifier circuits located in said beam control elements, and including a plurality of raised elongated substantially parallel heat sink body portions including respective sets of waveguides formed therethrough for coupling waveguide ports in a front face of an array of beam control elements to waveguide ports in a back face of a waveguide relocator element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vertically integrated Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna including, among other things, a transitioning RF waveguide relocator panel located behind a radiator faceplate and an array of beam control tiles respectively coupled to one of a plurality of transceiver modules via an RF manifold. Each of the beam control tiles includes a respective plurality of high power transmit/receive (T/R) cells as well as dielectric waveguides, RF stripline and coaxial transmission line elements. The waveguide relocator panel is preferably fabricated by a diffusion bonded copper laminate stack up with dielectric filling. The beam control tiles are preferably fabricated by the use of multiple layers of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material laminated together. The waveguide relocator panel and the beam control tiles are designed to route RF signals to and from a respective transceiver module of four transceiver modules and a quadrature array of antenna radiators matched to free space formed in the faceplate. Planar type metal spring gaskets are provided between the interfacing layers so as to provide and ensure interconnection between mutually facing waveguide ports and to prevent RF leakage from around the perimeter of the waveguide ports. Cooling of the various components is achieved by a pair of planar forced air heat sink members which are located on either side of the array of beam control tiles. DC power and control of the T/R cells is provided by a printed circuit wiring board assembly located adjacent to the array of beam controlled tiles with solderless DC connections being provided by an arrangement of “fuzz button” electrical connector elements.
74 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Heat sink apparatus for a Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna comprising:
an internal air cooled planar heat sink member located between a planar array of beam control elements and a waveguide relocator panel for dissipating heat generated by active circuit components of one or more RF signal amplifier circuits located in said beam control elements, and including a plurality of raised elongated substantially parallel heat sink body portions including respective sets of waveguides formed therethrough for coupling waveguide ports in a front face of an array of beam control elements to waveguide ports in a back face of a waveguide relocator element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Heat sink apparatus for a Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna, comprising:
an internal air-cooled planar heat sink member located between an array of beam control elements and at least one RF transceiver module for dissipating heat generated by one or more active RF signal amplifier circuits located in said beam control elements and said transceiver module and including RF coupling apparatus and a plurality of waveguide ports for coupling an input/output signal port of the transceiver modules to a waveguide port in each of the beam control elements. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification