Method and apparatus for folded antenna components

• US 9,825,368 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fractal Antenna Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fractal Antenna Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Cohen, Nathan, Salkind, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Levi, Dameon E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lotter, David
• Application Number:
  US14/629,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20150314526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 343907
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0005 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/005 coated
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3456 Antennas, e.g. radomes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/00 Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas arrangements for varying orientation of directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/28 Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/40 Element having extended radiating surface

Abstract

Method and apparatus for making antennas and antenna components suitable for wideband transmission and reception are disclosed. Material accretion devices or apparatus such as a 3D printer can be used to form the antennas and antenna components. The antenna and antenna components can include folded and/or self-similar features.

Claims

1. A method for producing an antenna component, the method comprising:

with a material accreting device, accreting material in a plurality of layers, wherein each layer defines a separate portion of a predetermined three-dimensional (3D) shape of a folded antenna component;

by successive accretion of each of the plurality of layers, combining the plurality of layers, thereby forming a complete folded antenna component having the predetermined three-dimensional (3D) shape that is substantially non-planar; and

painting the folded antenna component with a conductive paint, for at least a portion of the component;

wherein the folded antenna component includes a folded or self-similar shape for at least a portion of the component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-similar shape is fractal in finite iterations for at least a portion.