Integrated low profile phased array antenna system

• US 9,761,939 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Pietila, Douglas Allan, Mohoric, David Lee, de La Chapelle, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US14/827,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20170054208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 343824
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/02 Arrangements for de-icing; Arrangements for drying-out ; Arrangements for cooling; Arrangements for preventing corrosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/28 Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/286 substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/52 Means for reducing coupling between antennas; Means for reducing coupling between an antenna and another structure absorbing means H01Q17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/525 between emitting and receiving antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/526 Electromagnetic shields
• 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 21/0025 Modular arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/06 Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/061 Two dimensional planar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• 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

Abstract

A phased array antenna for a mobile platform combines transmit and receive antennas within a common, low profile enclosure. Transmit and receive functions, a power supply, up and down frequency converters, and an antenna controller are integrated into closely packaged layers within the enclosure.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna system for a mobile platform, comprising:

an antenna enclosure adapted to be mounted on the mobile platform;

a phased array transmit antenna mounted within the antenna enclosure;

a phased array receive antenna mounted within the antenna enclosure and adjacent the phased array transmit antenna;

spaced apart partition walls within the antenna enclosure defining a space between the phased array transmit antenna and the phased array receive antenna, the spaced apart partition walls being formed of a material providing an RF barrier; and

an electrical power supply within the antenna enclosure and located in the space between the spaced apart partition walls.

2. The phased array antenna system of claim 1, wherein the phased array transmit antenna is in close proximity to the phased array receive antenna.

3. The phased array antenna system of claim 2, wherein the phased array transmit antenna and the phased array receive antenna are substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the mobile platform.

4. The phased array antenna system of claim 1, further comprising:

antenna controller located in the space between the spaced apart partition walls and operative to control the phased array transmit antenna and the phased array receive antenna.

5. The phased array antenna system of claim 1, wherein:

the phased array transmit antenna includes a transmit aperture;

the phased array receive antenna includes a receive aperture, and

the antenna enclosure includes an adapter plate adapted to be attached to the mobile platform; and

a fairing covering the adapter plate and having an opening therein surrounding the transmit aperture and the receive aperture.

6. The phased array antenna system of claim 1, wherein the antenna enclosure includes an integral transmit aperture plate, and an integral receive aperture plate.

7. The phased array antenna system of claim 6, wherein the antenna enclosure includes an outer face having a set of grooves between the integral transmit aperture plate and the integral receive aperture plate providing RF isolation of the phased array receive antenna from the phased array transmit antenna.

8. The phased array antenna system of claim 7, wherein the set of grooves contain a dielectric material.

9. The phased array antenna system of claim 6, wherein each of a plurality of phased array transmit antennas and a plurality of phased array receive antennas includes:

a layer of tiles arranged as an array, wherein each tile includes an array of antenna elements;

a printed wiring board coupled with the tiles including an antenna beam former; and

a plate sandwiched between the layer of tiles and the printed wiring board for drawing heat away from the tiles and the printed wiring board and for aligning the tiles with a corresponding one of the integral transmit aperture plate and an integral receive aperture plate.

10. The phased array antenna system of claim 9, wherein each of the integral transmit aperture plate and the integral receive aperture plate includes an array of waveguide holes respectively aligned with the array of antenna elements.

11. A phased array antenna system, comprising:

an antenna enclosure;

an array of waveguides in the antenna enclosure;

an array of printed wiring assemblies arranged in a layer, each printed wiring assembly in the array containing a plurality of antenna elements respectively aligned with the waveguides;

a printed wiring board coupled with the array of printed wiring assemblies and including on array distribution assembly having an electric signal converter;

a plate sandwiched between the array of printed wiring assemblies and the printed wiring board; and

a plurality of alignment pins passing through the plate, the printed wiring board and each of the printed wiring assemblies for aligning the antenna elements with the array of waveguides.

12. The phased array antenna system of claim 11, wherein:

the antenna enclosure includes an integral aperture plate; and

the array of waveguides are formed in the integral aperture plate.

13. The phased array antenna system of claim 12, further comprising:

fasteners attached to the plate and passing through the printed wiring board and each of the printed wiring assemblies for attaching the plate, the printed wiring board and each of printed wiring assemblies to the integral aperture plate.

14. The phased array antenna system of claim 11, further comprising:

a power supply inside the antenna enclosure and coupled with the printed wiring board; and

an antenna controller located inside the antenna enclosure and coupled with the printed wiring board.

15. A low-profile, phased array antenna system, comprising:

an antenna enclosure;

a steerable beam transmit antenna in the antenna enclosure, the steerable beam transmit antenna including;

a transmit aperture through which radio frequency signals may be transmitted;

a transmit sub-array tile assembly including a plurality of transmit tiles each having a plurality of transmit antenna elements for transmitting radio frequency signals; and

a transmit distribution assembly for delivering radio frequency signals to the transmit sub-array tile assembly; and

a steerable beam receive antenna in the antenna enclosure, the steerable beam receive antenna including;

a receive aperture through which radio frequency signals may be received;

a receive sub-array tile assembly including a plurality of receive tiles each having a plurality of receive antenna elements for receiving radio frequency signals; and

a receive array distribution assembly for converting the radio frequency signals received by the receive antenna elements to intermediate frequencies.

16. The low-profile, phased array antenna system of claim 15, wherein:

the transmit tiles are arranged in an array;

the transmit distribution assembly is arranged as a layer beneath the transmit tiles;

the receive tiles are arranged in an array; and

the receive array distribution assembly is arranged as a layer beneath the receive tiles.

17. The low profile, phased array antenna system of claim 16, further comprising:

a first alignment and cold plate sandwiched between the transmit tiles and the transmit distribution assembly for drawing heat away from the transmit tiles and the transmit distribution assembly, and for aligning the transmit tiles with the transmit aperture; and

a second alignment and cold plate sandwiched between the receive tiles and the receive array distribution assembly for drawing heat away from the receive tiles and the receive distribution assembly, and for aligning the receive tiles with the receive aperture.

18. The low profile, phased array antenna system of claim 15, further comprising:

a power supply coupled with the transmit distribution assembly and the receive array distribution assembly; and

an antenna controller for controlling the steerable beam transmit antenna and the steerable beam receive antenna.

19. The low-profile, phased array antenna system of claim 18, wherein:

the power supply and the antenna controller are located between the steerable beam transmit antenna and the steerable beam receive antenna; and

the antenna enclosure includes partition walls providing radio frequency isolation of the power supply and the antenna controller from the steerable beam transmit antenna and the steerable beam receive antenna.