Lightweight dual band active electronically steered array

• US 8,564,494 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Howard IP Law Group
• Inventors: Turner, Earl L., Robinson, Kevin L., Carnahan, Blake A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US12/013,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20090179813A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,108 Days
• Field of Search: 343/810, 343/795, 343/872, 343/700.MS, 343/702, 343/754, 342371-375
• US Class Current: 343/810
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0018 Space- fed arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/065 Patch antenna array
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/26 Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/44 with a plurality of divergent straight elements, e.g. V-dipole, X-antenna; with a plurality of elements having mutually inclined substantially straight portions combinations of two or more active elements H01Q21/00; turnstile antennas H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49016 Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making

Abstract

This invention pertains to a lightweight dual-band electronically steered phased array antenna having a multi-layer circuit for supplying DC and a ground plane to RF-on-flex subarrays. A dipole and two additional legs form a four-legged pyramid that stiffens the multi-layer circuit structure and serves as a bonding point to a radome surface. Two of the legs of the pyramid incorporate a low-band V dipole-radiating element. A third leg of the pyramid distributes RF energy to the subarrays via the multi-layer circuit. At the base of the pyramid is an open rectangular frame that accepts the insertion of the multi-layer circuit. An infrared laser transmitter distributes high and low band transmit/receive module control signals to an infrared detector on the opposite side of the subarrays.

Claims

1. A multiband phased array antenna comprising:

a plurality of multi-layer circuits having tile subarrays thereon, each tile subarray attached to a corresponding one of a plurality of discrete frames, each discrete frame comprising a plurality of support members including a dipole-radiating element member and an RF distribution element member electrically connected to the plurality of multi-layer circuits,

wherein the plurality of discrete frames and corresponding tiles are configured to be joined together to form a scalable array antenna.

2. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of discrete frames directly supports an opposing radome.

3. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein each frame is in the form of a four legged pyramid.

4. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the pyramid includes a base, at the base of the pyramid an open rectangular frame accepts the insertion of the subarray tiles.

5. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the dipole-radiating element is a printed circuit conductive layer.

6. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 5, wherein the dipole-radiating element is an inverted low-band V dipole.

7. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the frames are arranged in rows and columns.

8. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 2, wherein tiles radiate through the pyramids and radome.

9. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the tiles contain an RF ground plane for the transmission frequency bands.

10. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 3, wherein each pyramid and associated tile has a mass density less than 1 Kilogram per square meter.

11. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 3, wherein each pyramid and associated tile has a semi-rigid frame structure that provides a planar surface across the high band elements for reducing the calibration update rate.

12. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layer circuits are constructed from polyimide material.

13. The multiband phased array antenna according to claim 1, wherein the subarray tiles are RF-on-flex tiles.

14. A multiband phased array antenna comprising a plurality of multi-layer circuits configured as a frame panel;

a plurality of RF-on-flex subarray tiles, wherein each of the multi-layer circuits are coupled to a discrete pyramidal frame that serves as bonding point to an opposing radome surface, each discrete pyramidal frame having two legs that incorporate a low-band V dipole-radiating element, a third leg that distributes RF energy to the subarray tiles, and a base that forms a sub frame of said frame panel to accept the insertion of a corresponding one of the subarray tiles,

wherein the plurality of discrete pyramidal frames and corresponding subarray tiles are configured to be joined together to form a scalable array antenna.

15. The antenna of claim 14, wherein the pyramidal frame comprises a semi-rigid flex material.

16. The antenna of claim 14, wherein the subarray tiles comprise a polymide material.

17. A method for making a multiband phased array antenna comprising:

providing a plurality of multi-layer circuits; and

forming a pyramidal frame support having legs which supply a plurality of dipole elements extending outwardly from the pyramidal frame support vertex, and

attaching the multi-layer circuits to the base of the four legs of the pyramidal frame support and arranging the pyramidal frame in a rectangular tessellation.

18. The method of claim 17, further including providing RF-on Flex tiles to the frame support.

19. The method of claim 17, further including bonding the pyramidal frame to the multi-layer circuits.

20. The method of claim 17, further including bonding the pyramidal frame vertex to a radome.

21. A multiband phased array antenna comprising:

a plurality of multi-layer circuits;

a pyramidal frame support having legs which supply a plurality of dipole elements extending outwardly from the pyramidal frame support vertex, and

multi-layer circuits attached to the base of the four legs of the pyramidal frame support,

wherein the pyramidal frame in arranged in a rectangular tessellation.

22. The antenna of claim 21, further comprising RF-on Flex tiles provided on the frame support.

23. The antenna of claim 21, wherein the pyramidal frame is bonded to the multi-layer circuits.

24. The antenna of claim 21, wherein the pyramidal frame vertex is bonded to a radome.