Radio frequency transmitting and receiving module and array of such modules

• US 7,142,821 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ludwig, Louis Martin, Mohuchy, Wolodymyr
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dean, Raymond S.
• Application Number:
  US10/323,509
• Time in Patent Office: 1,440 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.R, 343/700.MS, 343/895, 343/725, 343/770, 343/776, 343/780, 343/844, 343/853, 343/893, 455/561, 455/562.1, 455/13.3, 455/19, 455/25, 455/73, 342/368
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/27 Spiral antennas

Abstract

A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module having a support housing that has a hexagonal face member mounted to the support housing. This face member has an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals. Mounted within the support housing is circuitry for (a) conducting radio frequency signals to the antenna for transmission by the antenna, and (b) conducting radio frequency signals received by the antenna from the antenna for processing. Such a module, functioning as a hexagonal power unit core, can be fixed in a honeycomb cellular array employing “plug and play” assembly techniques.

Claims

1. An array of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modularized modules, each modularized module comprising:

a separate support housing for each modularized module;

a hexagonal face member mounted to each of said support housing and having an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals; and

circuitry within and mounted to each of said support housing for;

(a) conducting radio frequency signals to said antenna for transmission by said antenna, and

(b) conducting radio frequency signals received by said antenna from said antenna for processing,

wherein each separate support housing includes walls configured to form a hexagonal perimeter, and

at least one of the walls of one support housing of a modularized module is touching at least one of the walls of a support housing of another modularized module.

2. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 1 wherein said antenna is a high-power, reflective-cavity backed spiral antenna composed of first and second interlaced spiral windings.

3. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 2 wherein said circuitry includes:

(a) a transmit/receive module on a first substrate, and

(b) control electronics and power conditioning networks on a second substrate.

4. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 3 further including a cooling fan mounted within and to said support housing.

5. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 4 wherein said support housing includes:

(a) a first end plate at a first end of said support housing on which said hexagonal face member is mounted,

(b) a second plate at a second end of said support housing on which said cooling fan is mounted, and

(c) a cowling extending around the peripheral edges of said first end plate and said second end plate and enveloping said first end plate, said second end plate, said circuitry, and said cooling fan.

6. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 5 wherein said cowling is composed of two parts that are secured to said first end plate and said second end plate.

7. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 6 wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are disposed transverse to the axis radio frequency transmitting and receiving module as with the first embodiment.

8. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 6 wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are disposed parallel to the axis of the radio frequency transmitting and receiving module.

9. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 8 further including a first heat sink attached to said first substrate and a second heat sink attached to said second substrate.

10. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving modularized module for incorporation into an array of modules comprising:

a separate support housing for each modularized module including;

(a) a first end plate, and

(b) a second end plate secured to said first end plate; and

an antenna mounted to said first end plate for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals; and

circuitry including;

(a) a transmit/receive module on a first substrate, and

(b) control electronics and power conditioning networks on a second substrate

within said separate housing and sandwiched between said first end plate and said second end plate for;

(a) conducting radio frequency signals to said antenna for transmission by said antenna, and

(b) conducting radio frequency signals received by said antenna from said antenna for processing,

wherein each separate support housing includes walls configured to form a hexagonal perimeter, and

at least one of the walls of one support housing of a modularized module is touching at least one of the walls of a support housing of another modularized module.

11. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 10 further including a cooling fan mounted to said second end plate.

12. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 11 wherein said means for securing together said first end plate and said second end plate include first and second cowling members extending around the peripheral edges of said first end plate and said second end plate and enveloping said first end plate, said second end plate, said transmitter/receiver circuitry module, and said cooling fan.

13. A radio frequency transmitting and receiving module according to claim 12 wherein said antenna is a high-power, reflective-cavity backed spiral antenna composed of first and second interlaced spiral windings.

14. An array of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modularized modules comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modularized modules disposed in a desired pattern and each having;

(a) a separate support housing for each modularized module,

(b) a hexagonal face member mounted to said separate support housing and having an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, and

(c) circuitry within and mounted to said separate support housing for;

(1) conducting radio frequency signals to said antenna for transmission by said antenna, and

(2) conducting radio frequency signals received by said antenna from said antenna for processing; and

means for fixing said radio frequency transmitting and receiving modules in said desired pattern,

wherein each separate support housing includes walls configured to form a hexagonal perimeter, and

at least one of the walls of one support housing of a modularized module is touching at least one of the walls of a support housing of another modularized module.

15. An array of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modules according to claim 14 wherein each antenna is a high-power, reflective-cavity backed spiral antenna composed of first and second interlaced spiral windings.

16. An array of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modules comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modularized modules disposed in a desired pattern and each having;

(a) a separate support housing for each modularized module including;

(1) a first end plate,

(2) a second end plate secured to said first end plate, and

(3) a cowling extending around and secured to the peripheral edges of said first end plate and said second end plate and enveloping said first end plate and said second end plate,

(b) an antenna mounted to said first end plate for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals, and

(c) circuitry including;

(1) a transmit/receive module on a first substrate, and

(2) control electronics and power conditioning networks on a second substrate

within said housing and sandwiched between said first end plate and said second end plate for;

(1) conducting radio frequency signals to said antenna for transmission by said antenna, and

(2) conducting radio frequency signals received by said antenna from said antenna for processing; and

means for fixing said radio frequency transmitting and receiving modularized modules in said desired pattern,

wherein each separate support housing includes walls configured to form a hexagonal perimeter, and

at least one of the walls of one support housing of a modularized module is touching at least one of the walls of a support housing of another modularized module.

17. An array of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modules according to claim 16 wherein:

(a) each first end plate is hexagonal,

(b) each second end plate is hexagonal and aligned with that first end plate in the same module,

(c) each cowling is hexagonal, and

(d) each antenna is a high-power, reflective-cavity backed spiral antenna composed of first and second interlaced spiral windings.

18. An array of radio frequency transmitting and receiving modules according to claim 17 wherein said means for fixing said radio frequency transmitting and receiving modules in said desired pattern include:

(a) a first pair of rear mounting claws on a first hexagonal edge of a second end plate of a first module,

(b) a second pair of rear mounting claws on a second hexagonal edge adjacent said first hexagonal edge of said second end plate of said first module,

(c) a pair of rear mounting pockets on a hexagonal edge of a second end plate of a second module within which said first pair of rear mounting claws are received,

(d) a pair of rear mounting pockets on a hexagonal edge of a second end plate of a third module within which said second pair of rear mounting claws are received,

(e) a first forward mounting claw on a first hexagonal edge of a first end plate of said first module,

(f) a second forward mounting claw on a second hexagonal edge adjacent said first hexagonal edge of said first end plate of said first module,

(g) a forward mounting pocket on a hexagonal edge of a first end plate of said second module within which said first forward mounting claw is received, and

(h) a forward mounting pocket on a hexagonal edge of a first end plate of said third module within which said second forward mounting claw is received.