Rhomboidal shaped, modularly expandable phased array antenna and method therefor

• US 8,081,134 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Raby, Scott A., Worl, Robert T., Miller, Dan R., Mohoric, David L., Ternes, Randy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): DUONG, DIEU HIEN
• Application Number:
  US11/856,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS, 343/853
• US Class Current: 343/853
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/26 varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture H01Q3/12, H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49018 with other electrical component

Abstract

A modularly expandable, phased array antenna having a rhomboidal shaped antenna aperture formed by a plurality of rhomboidal shaped subarrays. Each subarray has a rhomboidal shaped printed wiring board on which is formed a plurality of antenna elements, where the elements collectively form a rhomboidal shape in accordance with the printed wiring board. The rhomboidal shaped subarrays enable a modular aperture to be formed without producing any gaps between columns or rows of adjacently positioned subarrays. Thus, a uniform, consistent spacing is maintained between all the antenna elements on the subarrays. This improves antenna radiation and low observability performance for the antenna system, as well as reducing the overall size of the antenna aperture and its cost of construction.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna aperture comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements arranged in a rhomboidal shape on a rhomboidal shaped printed wiring board;

a connector electrically and mechanically coupled to said printed wiring board along and extending laterally from a peripheral edge portion of the printed wiring board for supplying power and logic signals to said printed wiring board;

further comprising an additional plurality of printed wiring boards each having an additional plurality of antenna elements thereon, each said additional printed wiring board also having a rhomboidal shape and an associated connector extending laterally from a peripheral edge portion thereof, said printed wiring board and said additional printed wiring boards that each is a subarray abutted against edges of one another to form an enlarged antenna aperture without a gap between rows or columns of said additional antenna elements and said antenna elements; and

a bus bar extending along at least a portion of a periphery for communicating with said connectors to supply power to said printed wiring board and said additional printed wiring boards without creating gaps between rows or columns of adjacently placed subarrays.

2. The antenna aperture of claim 1, further comprising a cold plate for supporting said printed wiring board and cooling said printed wiring board.

3. The antenna aperture of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency (RF) amplifier coupled to a surface of said printed wiring board.

4. A rhomboidal shaped phased array antenna comprising:

a first printed wiring board arranged in a rhomboidal shape and having a first plurality of antenna elements formed thereon, said first plurality of antenna elements further being arranged in said rhomboidal shape;

a first connector board extending laterally from a first edge of said first printed wiring board;

a second printed wiring board arranged in a rhomboidal shape and having a second plurality of antenna elements formed thereon, said second plurality of antenna elements further being arranged in said rhomboidal shape;

a second connector board extending laterally from coupled to a first edge of said second printed wiring board;

said second printed wiring board further being abutted against said first printed wiring board such that said first and second pluralities of antenna elements that are each a subarray form a uniform, contiguous array of elements with uniform, consistent spacing between said array of elements, and with said first and second connector boards extending from a common peripheral edge of said first and second printed wiring boards and being configured to supply power and logic signals to their respective said printed wiring boards; and

a power bus bar arranged along a common periphery of said first and second connectors and physically attached to said first and second connector boards for supplying power to said first and second printed wiring boards without creating gaps between rows or columns of adjacently placed subarrays.

5. The antenna of claim 4, wherein said first and second connectors each comprise connectors that couple direct current (DC) power from said power bus bar to said first and second printed wiring boards, respectively.

6. The antenna of claim 4, further comprising a cold plate for supporting said printed wiring boards thereon, and wherein said cold plate is adapted to circulate a coolant therethrough to assist in cooling said printed wiring boards.

7. The antenna of claim 4, further comprising a first radio frequency (RF) amplifier coupled to said first printed wiring board, and a second RF amplifier coupled to said second printed wiring board.

8. The antenna of claim 4, wherein at least one of said first and second printed wiring boards comprises fourth hundred ninety-six independent ones of said antenna elements, and two RF coupling connectors.

9. The antenna of claim 4, wherein said antenna is modularly expandable to accommodate additional, non-square shaped printed wiring boards while maintaining said uniform, consistent spacing between all of said array elements.

10. A method for forming a rhomboidal shaped phased array antenna, comprising

forming a first printed circuit board in a rhomboidal shape and with a peripheral edge;

forming a first array of antenna elements on said printed circuit board in a uniform pattern having an overall rhomboidal shape; and

coupling a first electrical connector, extending laterally from a first edge of said first printed wiring board, along said peripheral edge of said printed wiring board;

forming a second printed wiring board in a rhomboidal shape, and with a peripheral edge;

forming a second array of antenna elements on said second printed wiring board in a uniform pattern having an overall rhomboidal shape;

coupling a second electrical connector, extending laterally from a first edge of said second printed wiring board, on said peripheral edge of said second printed wiring board;

locating said second printed wiring board in abutting relationship with said first printed wiring board such that said printed wiring boards cooperatively form a modular, enlarged antenna aperture having a uniform array of antenna elements with consistent, uniform spacing there between, and such that said electrical connectors extend from a common peripheral edge of said first and second printed circuit boards and are adapted to supply power and logic signals to respective said printed wiring boards, and do not interfere with abutting placement of said printed wiring boards; and

locating a power bus along a common periphery of said first and second electrical connectors and physically attaching said power bus to said first and second connector boards to supply power to said first and second printed wiring boards without creating gaps between rows or columns of adjacently placed subarrays.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

disposing a bus bar adjacent said common peripheral edges of said first and second printed wiring boards;

coupling said bus bar to said first and second electrical connectors of said printed wiring boards; and

using said bus bar to transfer power to said printed wiring boards.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

disposing said printed wiring boards on a cold plate; and

circulating said a coolant through said cold plate to assist in cooling said printed wiring boards.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

disposing a bus bar adjacent said peripheral edges of said first and second printed wiring boards;

coupling said bus bar to said electrical connectors of said printed wiring boards; and

using said bus bar to transfer power to said printed wiring boards.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising coupling a radio frequency (RF) amplifier to said printed wiring board.