Molded or encapsulated transmit-receive module or TR module/antenna element for active array

• US 7,864,532 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Issued: 01/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehret, Timothy, Smith, Bradley M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US11/944,676
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 165/104.26, 165/104.33, 361688-690, 361/697, 361/699, 361/700, 361/704, 361/709, 361/711, 361/713, 361/715, 361/719
• US Class Current: 361/713
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/0283 Apparatus or processes specially provided for manufacturing horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 23/00 Antennas with active circuits or circuit elements integrated within them or attached to them
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49082 Resistor making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49083 Heater type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49085 Thermally variable

Abstract

An array of electrically conductive waveguides is made a method including defining slots in broad surfaces of planar dielectric slabs. The surfaces of the slabs, including slots, are metallized. The broad sides of the slabs are juxtaposed, with the slots registered with the planar surfaces of another slab, to form one or more closed waveguides. The waveguides may feed microchips, or act as antennas. The slabs may include electrical conductors andor heat pipes. Heat pipes are made by defining apertures with the dielectric slabs, and introducing wick material into the apertures.

Claims

1. An arrangement comprising

a solid dielectric mass enclosing a heat-producing active electrical element, the solid dielectric mass defining a heat pipe in thermal communication with said heat-producing active electrical element,

wherein said heat pipe consists of an elongated channel in said solid dielectric mass, the inner surface of which elongated channel is said solid dielectric mass, the heat pipe extending through said solid dielectric mass to a location remote from said electrical element,

wherein said heat pipe also includes a wick extending along substantially the entire length of said channel and a vaporizable coolant liquid within said channel;

and

wherein the solid dielectric mass comprises first and second opposing slabs of dielectric material, opposing planar surfaces of said first and second opposing slabs comprising electrically conductive surfaces in contact with each other.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said wick comprises powdered material.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said powder comprises metallic material.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said wick is wetted by said coolant.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said wick comprises a roughened surface.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said roughened surface defines at least longitudinal grooves.

7. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first and second opposing slabs of dielectric material each comprises one half of the heat pipe.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, wherein a first portion of the heat pipe is defined in the first opposing slab and the second portion of the heat pipe is defined in the second opposing slab, and wherein the first and second portions are registered when the first and second opposing slabs are juxtaposed to form the elongated channel.

9. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the heat pipe walls consist of the hollowed-out dielectric material, and not any other material.

18. An arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a first recess formed in the planar surface of the first opposing slab and a second recess formed in the planar surface of the second opposing slab,

wherein surfaces of said first and second recesses are electrically conductive;

and

wherein the first and second recesses cooperate to form an electrically conductive channel when the first and second opposing slabs are connected.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the electrically conductive channel is a rectangular waveguide.

10. An arrangement comprising:

a solid dielectric mass enclosing a heat-producing electrical element, the solid dielectric mass defining an elongated channel, a heat pipe consisting of said elongated channel, the heat pipe further being in thermal communication with the electrical element,

wherein the inner surface of the heat pipe is said solid dielectric mass,

wherein said heat pipe further comprises a wick extending along substantially the entire length of said channel, and a vaporizable coolant liquid disposed within said channel; and

wherein the solid dielectric mass comprises first and second opposing slabs of dielectric material, opposing planar surfaces of said first and second opposing slabs comprising electrically conductive surfaces in contact with each other.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the first and second opposing slabs of dielectric material are provided with registration pins and corresponding registration holes for aligning the slabs with each other.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein a first portion of the heat pipe is defined in the first opposing slab and the second portion of the elongated channel is defined in the second opposing slab, and wherein the first and second portions are registered when the first and second opposing slabs are juxtaposed to form the heat pipe.

13. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the heat pipe walls consist of the hollowed-out dielectric material, and not any other material.

14. An arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the heat pipe defined by the elongated channel has a center region and first and second ends, the center region being at a location near the heat-producing electrical element, the first and second ends being at a location remote from the heat-producing electrical element.

20. An arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising a first recess formed in the planar surface of the first opposing slab and a second recess formed in the planar surface of the second opposing slab,

wherein surfaces of said first and second recesses are electrically conductive;

and

wherein the first and second recesses cooperate to form an electrically conductive channel when the first and second opposing slabs are connected.

21. An arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the electrically conductive channel is a rectangular waveguide.

15. An arrangement comprising:

a solid dielectric mass enclosing a heat-producing electrical element, the solid dielectric mass defining an elongated channel, a heat pipe consisting of said elongated channel, the heat pipe further being in thermal communication with the electrical element,

wherein the solid dielectric mass is comprised of first and second opposing slabs of dielectric material, opposing planar surfaces of said first and second opposing slabs comprising electrically conductive surfaces in contact with each other;

wherein a first portion of the elongated channel is formed in the first opposing slab and a second portion of the elongated channel is formed in the second opposing slab, and wherein the first and second portions are registered when the first and second opposing slabs are juxtaposed to form the elongated channel;

wherein the inner surface of the elongated channel is said solid dielectric mass, and

wherein said heat pipe further comprises a wick extending along substantially the entire length of said channel, and a vaporizable coolant liquid disposed within said channel.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the wick comprises a roughened surface.

17. An arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the first and second opposing slabs of dielectric material each comprises one half of the heat pipe.

22. An arrangement according to claim 15, further comprising a first recess formed in the planar surface of the first opposing slab and a second recess formed in the planar surface of the second opposing slab,

wherein surfaces of said first and second recesses are electrically conductive;

and

wherein the first and second recesses cooperate to form an electrically conductive channel when the first and second opposing slabs are connected.

23. An arrangement according to claim 22, wherein the electrically conductive channel is a rectangular waveguide.