Waveguide antenna fabrication

• US 9,653,819 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Izadian, Jamal
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Graham
• Assistant Examiner(s): Baltzell, Andrea Lindgren
• Application Number:
  US14/450,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 343771
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/005 Slotted waveguides arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0087 Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062

Abstract

An example method of fabricating a waveguide antenna may involve providing a first metal layer with waveguide channels formed therein. The method may also involve selecting at least one coupling surface on the first metal layer that is proximate to at least edges of the waveguide channels. The method may also involve removing respective oxidation layers from second and third metal layers. The method may also involve providing, to the selected at least one coupling surface, a fusible metal material and a reactive metal foil between surfaces of the first and second metal layers and between surfaces of the first and third metal layers. The method may also involve coupling the layers together by igniting the reactive metal foil so as to locally provide heat to the surfaces of the layers and melt the fusible metal material, and then cooling the melted fusible metal material.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a waveguide antenna comprising:

providing a first metal layer including one or more waveguide channels formed into the first metal layer, wherein the first metal layer is a sheet of metal having a predefined thickness;

selecting, on the first metal layer, at least one coupling surface proximate to at least edges of the one or more waveguide channels;

removing an oxidation layer from a second metal layer and from a third metal layer;

providing a reactive metal foil between a first surface of the first metal layer and a surface of the second metal layer, and between a second surface of the first metal layer and a surface of the third metal layer, the second surface of the first metal layer being opposite the first surface, wherein the reactive metal foil is provided to the selected at least one coupling surface;

providing a fusible metal material between the first surface of the first metal layer and the surface of the second metal layer, and between the second surface of the first metal layer and the surface of the third metal layer, wherein the fusible metal material is provided to the selected at least one coupling surface; and

coupling the first surface of the first metal layer to the surface of the second metal layer and coupling the second surface of the first metal layer to the surface of the third metal layer, wherein the couplings comprise;

igniting the reactive metal foil so as to locally provide heat to the surfaces of the first, second, and third metal layers and melt the fusible metal material, and

cooling the melted fusible metal material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the waveguide antenna is configured to operate at 77 Gigahertz (GHz) and propagate millimeter (mm) electromagnetic waves.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fusible metal material and the reactive metal foil are provided to only the edges of the one or more waveguide channels.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming, into at least one of the second metal layer and the third metal layer, at least a portion of one or more waveguide channels,

wherein coupling the first surface of the first metal layer to the surface of the second metal layer and coupling the second surface of the first metal layer to the surface of the third metal layer includes coupling the first, second, and third metal layers such that the one or more waveguide channels of the first metal layer are substantially aligned with the one or more waveguide channels formed into at least one of the second metal layer and the third metal layer so as to form one or more waveguide channels in the waveguide antenna configured to propagate millimeter (mm) electromagnetic waves.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after removing the oxidation layer from the second and third metal layers, depositing a chromate coating to the surface of the second metal layer and to the surface of the third metal layer, the chromate coating being effective to protect the surface of the second metal layer and the surface of the third metal layer from oxygen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the fusible metal material comprises providing the fusible metal material to the reactive metal foil so as to coat the reactive metal foil with the fusible metal material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the waveguide antenna has dimensions corresponding to a height and a depth, the height being less than the depth, wherein the waveguide antenna comprises a radiating element, wherein the radiating element comprises a slot configured to radiate millimeter electromagnetic waves, and wherein the slot has a rotational orientation relative to a dimension of the one or more waveguide channels.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the slot is defined by an angular path having a Z-shape, wherein the Z-shape includes a center portion and two arms, wherein each arm is connected to the center portion at opposing ends of the center portion.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first metal layer is an aluminum sheet that is thicker than the second and third metal layers, and wherein the second and third metal layers are copper sheets.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the reactive metal foil includes one or more of aluminum, nickel, titanium, silicon, and magnesium.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined thickness is at least as thick as a height of the one or more waveguide channels.

11. A waveguide antenna comprising:

a first metal layer including (i) one or more waveguide channels formed into the first metal layer and (ii) at least one coupling surface proximate to at least edges of the one or more waveguide channels, wherein the first metal layer is a sheet of metal having a predefined thickness;

a second metal layer and a third metal layer, each with respective oxidation layers removed;

a reactive metal foil that is (i) provided to the at least one coupling surface, (ii) located between a first surface of the first metal layer and a surface of the second metal layer, and (iii) located between a second surface of the first metal layer and a surface of the third metal layer, the second surface of the first metal layer being opposite the first surface;

a fusible metal material that is (i) provided to the at least one coupling surface, (ii) located between the first surface of the first metal layer and the surface of the second metal layer, and (iii) located between the second surface of the first metal layer and the surface of the third metal layer; and

wherein the first surface of the first metal layer is coupled to the surface of the second metal layer and the second surface of the first metal layer is coupled to the surface of the third metal layer by;

igniting the reactive metal foil so as to locally provide heat to the surfaces of the first, second, and third metal layers and melt the fusible metal material, and

cooling the melted fusible metal material.

12. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the waveguide antenna is configured to operate at 77 Gigahertz (GHz) and propagate millimeter (mm) electromagnetic waves.

13. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the fusible metal material and the reactive metal foil are provided to only the edges of the one or more waveguide channels.

14. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein at least one of the second metal layer and the third metal layer each include at least a portion of one or more waveguide channels,

wherein the first surface of the first metal layer is coupled to the surface of the second metal layer and the second surface of the first metal layer is coupled to the surface of the third metal layer such that the one or more waveguide channels of the first metal layer are substantially aligned with the one or more waveguide channels formed into at least one of the second metal layer and the third metal layer so as to form one or more waveguide channels in the waveguide antenna configured to propagate millimeter (mm) electromagnetic waves.

15. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the surface of the second metal layer and the surface of the third metal layer each include a deposited chromate coating, the deposited chromate coating being effective to protect the surface of the second metal layer and the surface of the third metal layer from oxygen.

16. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the fusible metal material being provided to the at least one coupling surface comprises providing the fusible metal material to the reactive metal foil so as to coat the reactive metal foil with the fusible metal material.

17. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the waveguide antenna has dimensions corresponding to a height and a depth, the height being less than the depth, wherein the waveguide antenna comprises a radiating element, wherein the radiating element comprises a slot configured to radiate millimeter electromagnetic waves, and wherein the slot has a rotational orientation relative to a dimension of the one or more waveguide channels.

18. The waveguide antenna of claim 17, wherein the slot is defined by an angular path having a Z-shape, wherein the Z-shape includes a center portion and two arms, wherein each arm is connected to the center portion at opposing ends of the center portion.

19. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the first metal layer is an aluminum sheet that is thicker than the second and third metal layers, and wherein the second and third metal layers are copper sheets.

20. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the reactive metal foil includes one or more of aluminum, nickel, titanium, silicon, and magnesium.

22. The waveguide antenna of claim 11, wherein the predefined thickness is at least as thick as a height of the one or more waveguide channels.