Conformal electronically scanned phased array antenna and communication system for helmets and other platforms

• US 20080191950A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Quan, Clifton, Nichols, Richard W., Chang, Ike Y., Newberg, Irwin L., Gordon, Jonathan D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 343/718
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/276 for mounting on helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/106 Microstrip slot antennas patch antenna elements H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/18 the slot being backed by, or formed in boundary wall of, a resonant cavity longitudinally slotted cylinder H01Q13/12 ; Open cavity antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/0075 Stripline fed arrays H01Q21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/064 using horn or slot aerials slotted waveguides arrays H01Q21/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/34 by electrical means active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46

Abstract

A phased array antenna adapted to be mounted in a helmet. In the illustrative embodiment, the antenna comprises a substrate and an array of radiating elements disposed on said substrate, each of the elements including a-resonant cavity and a mechanism for feeding the cavity with an electromagnetic signal., The cavity is formed in a multi-layer structure between a ground plane and a layer of metallization. A radiating slot or slots are provided in the layer of metallization. A first layer of dielectric material is disposed within the cavity. The feed mechanism is a microstrip feed disposed in the first layer of dielectric material parallel to a plane of a portion of the substrate over which an associated element is disposed. A layer of foam is disposed between the layer of dielectric material and the ground plane. Second and third parallel layers of dielectric material are included in each element. The second layer is disposed adjacent to the ground plane. A layer of element interconnection circuitry is disposed between the second and third layers of dielectric material. A transmit/receive module or circuitry for each element is secured to the third layer of dielectric material. The substrate may be conformal or conformable, as well as rigid. An arrangement is included for steering a beam transmitted or received by the antenna.

Claims

1. An antenna comprising:

a conformal substrate and

an array of radiating elements disposed on said substrate.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said substrate is conformed to a shape of a helmet.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said elements includes a resonant cavity and an arrangement for feeding said cavity with an electromagnetic signal.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said cavity is formed in a multi-layer structure.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said cavity is formed between a ground plane and a layer of metallization.

6. The invention of claim 5 further including a radiating slot in said layer of metallization.

7. The invention of claim 6 further including a first layer of dielectric material disposed within said cavity.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said means for feeding includes a microstrip feed disposed in said layer of dielectric material.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said microstrip feed is parallel to a plane of a portion of said substrate over which an associated element is disposed.

10. The invention of claim 7 further including a layer of foam disposed between said layer of dielectric material and said ground plane.

11. The invention of claim 10 further including second and third parallel layers of dielectric material, said second layer being disposed adjacent to said ground plane.

12. The invention of claim 11 further including a layer of element interconnection circuitry disposed between said second and third layers of dielectric material.

13. The invention of claim 12 further including a transmit/receive module for each element secured to said third layer of dielectric material.

14. The invention of claim 1 further including a transmit/receive module for each element.

15. The invention of claim 1 further including means for selectively exciting said elements.

16. The invention of claim 1 further including means for bonding said antenna to a helmet.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein said helmet is constructed with Kevlar.

18. The invention of claim 1 wherein said substrate is conformal.

19. The invention of claim 1 wherein said substrate is conformable.

20. The invention of claim 19 wherein said substrate is flexible.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein said substrate is rigid.

22. The invention of claim 1 further including means for transmitting or receiving a beam with linear or circular polarization.

23. The invention of claim 22 wherein receive and transmit beams may be independently steered.

24. A helmet construction comprising:

a conformal shell and a phased array antenna conformal to said shell.

25. The invention of claim 24 wherein said antenna comprises a substrate and an array of radiating elements disposed on said substrate, each of said elements including a resonant cavity and means for feeding said cavity with an electromagnetic signal.

26. A communication system comprising:

a helmet;

a phased array antenna conformal to said helmet; and

a communication system coupled to said antenna and disposed, at least partially, within said helmet.

27. A method for communicating including the steps of:

mounting a phased array antenna in a helmet and

selectively activating elements in said array to steer a beam relative to said array.