Apparatus and method for covering integrated antenna elements utilizing composite materials

• US 7,973,734 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Strempel, John F., Olszewski, Edward P. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie; Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hammond; Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US11/981,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,343 Days
• Field of Search: 343/873, 343/872, 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343834-836
• US Class Current: 343/873
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/30 Means for trailing antennas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

The present invention provides an antenna system for transmitting and receiving radar signals comprising a first non-conductive material embedding a plurality of parasitic antenna elements, where the first non-conductive material interfaces a second non-conductive material embedding a plurality of electrical feed elements, and wherein the first non-conductive material covers one or more adjacent interconnecting joints.

Claims

1. An antenna system for transmitting and receiving radar signals having interconnecting joints comprising:

a first non-conductive composite material defining an outer cover for the antenna system and embedding a plurality of parasitic antenna elements, said material interfacing a second non-conductive material embedding a plurality of electrical feed elements;

wherein the first non-conductive material covers at least one interconnecting joint.

2. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the first nonconductive material embedding the parasitic antenna element is separated by a dielectric material from the second material embedding an electrical feed element.

3. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein connection for the electrical feed elements extends through at least a portion of the second non-conductive material layer.

4. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein the electrical feed element is in electrical continuity with the associated radar system.

5. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein each embedded antenna element is disposed between materials of a different type.

6. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein each interconnecting joint forms a seam between parasitic antenna elements.

7. The antenna system of claim 6, wherein the first non-conductive composite material covers all of said plurality of electrical feed elements and all of said interconnecting joints in said antenna system.

8. The antenna system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of parasitic antenna elements abut the first non-conductive composite material on each of their sides.

9. An antenna for transmitting and receiving radar signals having feed interconnections comprising:

a non-conductive top cover interfacing a first set of non conductive material layers embedding a plurality of parasitic antenna elements, said first set of material layers interfacing a second set of material layers embedding a plurality of feed antenna elements, such that the top cover protects the feed interconnections from the environment.

10. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the material is one of graphitecarbon/epoxy, fiberglass/epoxy, and polyimide/epoxycarbon/polymide composite material.

11. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the parasitic element is chosen from a material selected from the group of aluminum copper, brass, or copper alloy.

12. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the cover forms a first non-conductive material layer separate and distinct from the first and second sets of non-conductive material layers.

13. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the cover is composed of a material different from the first and second sets of non-conductive material layers.

14. The antenna of claim 13, wherein a bonding material secures the cover to the first set of non conductive material layers.

15. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the cover material is selected from one of the group of acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, epoxy resins and aramid fiber.

16. The antenna of claim 9, wherein the cover is removable or replaceable.

17. A method of fabricating an embedded antenna for transmitting and receiving radar signals comprising the steps of:

embedding a series of antenna feed elements within corresponding non-conductive material layers separated via interconnecting joints defining an array pattern having a top most layer;

covering the top most layer of the non-conductive material layers with a continuous layer of a first non-conductive material having embedded therein corresponding parasitic antenna elements;

wherein the continuous layer covers the interconnecting joints.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the continuous layer of said first non-conductive material is a composite material.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the continuous layer is removable.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the composite material comprises graphite/epoxy.