Aerogel-based antennas for aerospace and terrestrial applications

• US 9,356,341 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2012
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Inventors: Meador, Mary Ann, Miranda, Felix, Van Keuls, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoang V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Munoz, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US13/653,027
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 343/700.MS
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/288 Satellite antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/00 Antenna arrays or systems arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40

Abstract

Systems and methods for lightweight, customizable antenna with improved performance and mechanical properties are disclosed. In some aspects, aerogels can be used, for example, as a substrate for antenna fabrication. The reduced weight and expense, as well as the increased ability to adapt antenna designs, permits a systems to mitigate a variety of burdens associated with antennas while providing added benefits.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

a substrate portion; and

a metallized portion capable of receiving and/or transmitting an electromagnetic signal, the metallized portion being deposited/grown onto the substrate portion;

where the substrate portion is a polymer aerogel consisting entirely of polymer material.

2. The antenna of claim 1, where the metallized portion includes an antenna pattern.

3. The antenna of claim 2, where the antenna pattern is on a first side of the substrate;

the metallized portion includes a ground plane on a second side; and

the second side is opposite the first side.

4. The antenna of claim 1, where the substrate portion is molded to a non-planar shape.

5. The antenna of claim 1, where the substrate portion is flexible.

6. The antenna of claim 1, where the aerogel is a polyimide aerogel.

7. The antenna of claim 6, where the polyimide aerogel is made with 2,2′

-dimethylbenzidine (DMBZ), biphenyl-3,3′

,4,4′

-tetracarboxylic dianydride (BPDA) and an aromatic triamine (TAB).

8. The antenna of claim 5, where the aerogel is made with polyimide-polyurea aerogels cross-linked with an aromatic triamine (TAB).

9. The antenna of claim 1, where the substrate and the metallized portion comprise a patch antenna.

10. The antenna of claim 1, where the aerogel is flexible.

11. A system, comprising an antenna array including a plurality of antennas fabricated at least in part using a polymer aerogel consisting entirely of polymer material.

12. A method for making an antenna, comprising:

forming a polymer aerogel base element consisting entirely of polymer material; and

applying a metal element to the aerogel base element.

13. The method of claim 12, where applying the metal element includes applying an antenna pattern to a first side of the aerogel base element, and applying a ground plane to a second side of the aerogel base element.

14. The method of claim 13, where applying the metal element is conducted via metallization.

15. The method of claim 14, where the metallization is electron beam evaporation.

16. The method of claim 15, where the metallization is sputtering metallization.

17. The method of claim 15, where the metallization is ink jet printing.

18. The method of claim 15, where the metallization is electroplating.

19. The method of claim 13, comprising shaping the aerogel base element to conform to a non-planar contour.

20. The method of claim 13, comprising making an aerogel for use in the aerogel base element.