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EP3028341B1 - Élément rayonnant en boucle empilé à symétriseur intégré - Google Patents

Élément rayonnant en boucle empilé à symétriseur intégré Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3028341B1
EP3028341B1 EP14740122.8A EP14740122A EP3028341B1 EP 3028341 B1 EP3028341 B1 EP 3028341B1 EP 14740122 A EP14740122 A EP 14740122A EP 3028341 B1 EP3028341 B1 EP 3028341B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
balun
antenna element
slab
feed
column
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP14740122.8A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3028341A1 (fr
Inventor
Angelo M. Puzella
Kenneth S. Komisarek
James A. Robbins
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Raytheon Co
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Raytheon Co
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Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US13/956,875 external-priority patent/US9306262B2/en
Application filed by Raytheon Co filed Critical Raytheon Co
Publication of EP3028341A1 publication Critical patent/EP3028341A1/fr
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Publication of EP3028341B1 publication Critical patent/EP3028341B1/fr
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/24—Combinations of antenna units polarised in different directions for transmitting or receiving circularly and elliptically polarised waves or waves linearly polarised in any direction
    • H01Q21/26—Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q19/00—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic
    • H01Q19/28—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements
    • H01Q19/30—Combinations of primary active antenna elements and units with secondary devices, e.g. with quasi-optical devices, for giving the antenna a desired directional characteristic using a secondary device in the form of two or more substantially straight conductive elements the primary active element being centre-fed and substantially straight, e.g. Yagi antenna
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/061—Two dimensional planar arrays
    • H01Q21/062—Two dimensional planar arrays using dipole aerials
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
    • H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
    • H01Q9/16—Resonant antennas with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole
    • H01Q9/28—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

Definitions

  • RF radio frequency
  • phased array antennas are comprised of a plurality of antenna elements or radiators.
  • a trade-off must typically be made between an operating frequency bandwidth characteristics and cross-polarization isolation characteristics.
  • an array of dipole elements can be provided a relatively high cross-polarization isolation characteristics in all scan planes; however, bandwidth is limited.
  • array antennas provided from notch radiators or Vivaldi radiators are capable or operating over a relatively wide frequency bandwidth, but have a relatively low cross-polarization isolation characteristic off the principal axes.
  • Droopy bowtie elements disposed above a ground plane are a well known means for producing nominally circular polarized (CP) reception or transmission radiation patterns at frequencies from VHF to microwave wavelengths.
  • Droopy bowtie elements are often coupled to a balun which is realized in a co-axial configuration involving separate subassemblies for achieving balun matching and arm phasing functions.
  • Such a design typically results in an integrated antenna-balun assembly having good bandwidth but a poor cross-polarization isolation characteristic.
  • such a design is relatively difficult to assemble (high recurring engineering cost) and cannot easily be adapted to different operating frequencies or polarizations (high non-recurring engineering cost).
  • US 2011/0291907 A1 describes an antenna element and balun.
  • the antenna includes a plurality of droopy bowtie antenna elements.
  • US 4,668,956 describes a broadband cup antenna comprising dipole means having at least one pair of short spiral type monopoles diametrically disposed in a common plane in proximity to the open end of the cup. Parasitic elements are in juxtaposition with the monopoles and are electrically connected by a conductive ring mounted about coaxial lines.
  • US 5,418,544 describes an antenna element formed from two stacked crossed grid dipole elements.
  • an antenna element comprises a dielectric substrate having a general pyramidal shape with a feed point provided at the center.
  • the substrate has an inner surface and an outer surface.
  • Four driven conductors are disposed over the inner surface of the substrate, each of the driven conductors has a generally triangular shape with one vertex terminating proximate the feed point.
  • four passive conductors are disposed over the outer surface of said substrate, each of the passive conductors being opposite to at least one inner conductor.
  • each passive conductor may have a smaller surface area compared to corresponding ones of the driven conductors.
  • the feed point of the antenna element is electrically coupled to a quad-line vertical balun column.
  • the quad-line balun column has a square cross-sectional shape and a central conductive member with first and second opposing ends.
  • the central conductive member includes four (4) dielectric balun slabs, each having a first surface disposed over a conductive surface of the central member and a second opposing conductive surface.
  • the antenna element driven conductors are fed by the balun and the passive conductors are parasitically coupled to the corresponding ones of the driven conductors.
  • an antenna assembly comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), a feed circuit disposed on one surface of the circuit board, an antenna element, and a quad-line balun column electrically coupled to the feed circuit at one end and electrically coupled to the antenna element at an opposite end.
  • the antenna element comprises a dielectric radiator block having a height and a cavity region formed therein with the cavity region having a pair of opposing surfaces and a feed point provide at the center point of the cavity.
  • the antenna element further comprises a conductive layer disposed on each of the surfaces, each conductive layer coupled to the feed point.
  • the quad-line balun column comprises a central member having four conductive surfaces and first and second opposing conductive ends.
  • the balun column further comprises four (4) dielectric balun slabs, each having a first surface disposed over a conductive surface of the central member and a second opposing conductive surface.
  • the antenna assembly feed circuit comprises a ground conductor coupled to each balun central member conductive surface, a first feed conductor coupled to first balun slab feed conductor, a second feed conductor coupled to second balun slab feed conductor, a third feed conductor coupled to third balun slab feed conductor, and a fourth feed conductor coupled to fourth balun slab feed conductor.
  • the antenna assembly further comprises a support structure over which the antenna element is disposed, wherein a first end of the balun is exposed through a first opening in the support structure and a second end of said balun is exposed through a second opening in the support structure.
  • a plurality of antenna assemblies are provided, arranged in a two-dimensional array pattern.
  • a method for assembling an antenna assembly includes coupling a first end of a quad-line vertical balun column to a circuit board and coupling a second end of the balun to an antenna element.
  • a quad-line balun column coupled to an antenna element of a particular type, size and/or shape.
  • antenna element is a so-called stacked bowtie antenna element, a type of turnstile antenna, having a size and shape compatible with operation at a particular frequency (e.g. 10 GHz) or over a particular range of frequencies (e.g. the L, S, C, and/or X-band frequency ranges).
  • a particular frequency e.g. 10 GHz
  • frequencies e.g. the L, S, C, and/or X-band frequency ranges.
  • an antenna element other than a droopy bowtie antenna element may also be used with a quad line balun column and that the size of one or more antenna elements may be selected for operation at any frequency in the RF frequency range (e.g. any frequency in the range of about 1 GHz to about 100 GHz).
  • the types of radiating elements which may be used with a quad-line balun column include but are not limited to bowties, notch elements, dipoles, slots or any other antenna element (regardless of whether the element is a printed circuit element) known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the antenna elements in the array can be provided having any one of a plurality of different antenna element lattice arrangements including periodic lattice arrangements (or configurations) such as rectangular, square, triangular (e.g. equilateral or isosceles triangular), and spiral configurations as well as non-periodic or arbitrary lattice arrangements.
  • periodic lattice arrangements or configurations
  • triangular e.g. equilateral or isosceles triangular
  • spiral configurations as well as non-periodic or arbitrary lattice arrangements.
  • balun and/or stacked bowtie antenna element described herein may be used include, but are not limited to: radar, electronic warfare (EW) and communication systems for a wide variety of applications including ship based, airborne, missile and satellite applications.
  • EW electronic warfare
  • an integrated balun and stacked bowtie antenna element are applicable, but not limited to, military, airborne, shipborne, communications, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and/or commercial wireless applications.
  • UAV unmanned aerial vehicles
  • an integrated antenna element 10 includes a quad-line balun column 12 (or more simply balun 12) having a first end electrically coupled to a feed point of a stacked bowtie antenna element 14 (herein also referred to as antenna element 14). Since balun column 12 is electrically coupled to the center of antenna element 14, the element is also sometimes referred to as a center-fed stacked bowtie antenna element 14.
  • the balun column 12 can be mechanically coupled to the antenna element 14 using any technique known in the art including but not limited to soldering, welding, adhering using epoxy, or friction fitting.
  • the antenna element 14 has an opening 14a through which balun column 14 can be inserted. As described further below in conjunction with FIGS. 9-9C , this configuration allows the integrated antenna element 14 to be assembled using commercial pick-and-place robots and, therefore, may reduce recurring costs.
  • the antenna element 14 is a three-dimensional structure which may have a truncated pyramidal shape, as shown in FIGS. 1-1B .
  • FIG. 1A the antenna element 14 is shown upside down to reveal a cavity 19 formed by the pyramidal shape.
  • the antenna element 14 includes a plurality, here four (4), stacked bowtie radiators 20, each having a driven conductor 20b and a passive conductor 20a separated by a dielectric material 20c.
  • the antenna element 14 can be a single structure formed by injecting liquid crystal polymer (LCP) into a mold of any suitable shape and size. It will be appreciated that LCP can further serve as the dielectric 20c.
  • LCP liquid crystal polymer
  • each stacked bowtie radiator 20 is manufactured separately and later secured together (e.g. by epoxy) to form the antenna element 14.
  • the dielectric 20c may be either a single piece of dielectric or four separate pieces of dielectric.
  • slots may be provided between adjacent stacked bowtie radiators 20 to improve isolation and reduce LPC usage/cost. In a preferred embodiment, such slots have a length of about 180 mils.
  • the driven conductors 20b may be provided as four surface-plated metal wings within pyramidal shaped cavity 19 of antenna element 14.
  • the metal wings can be formed through any subtractive or additive process known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the passive conductors 20a may also be provided as four surface-plated metal wings disposed opposite each driven conductor 20b. For reasons that will be discussed below, each driven conductor 20b may have a larger surface area than each corresponding passive conductor 20a.
  • the antenna element 14 is copper platted and copper is selectively removed/etched using a laser to form conductive surfaces 20a and 20b.
  • the antenna element 14 has a width/length w 4 (shown in FIG. 1A ) of about 380 mils and a height h 1 (shown in FIG. 1B ) of about 140 mils, and the passive conductors 21 have a long edge width w5 of about 284 mils, a short edge width w 6 of about 84 mils, and a tapered edge length of about 147 mils (shown in FIG. 1 ).
  • balun column 12 is electrically coupled to the driven conductors 20b (only two driven conductors 20b are visible in FIG. 1B ).
  • balun column 12 is coupled to the driven conductors 20b via a solder connection.
  • solder connection Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, of course, that techniques other than soldering may also be used to couple balun column 12 to conductors 20b. Such techniques, include but are not limited to welding techniques, and conductive epoxy techniques.
  • driven conductors 20b are electrically coupled to balun column 12, which in turn is electrically coupled to a feed circuit (not shown).
  • passive conductors 20a are not electrically coupled to the feed circuit.
  • each driven conductor 20b is arranged opposite and has a smaller surface area than corresponding ones of the passive conductors 20a.
  • the driven conductors 20b are driven/fed by the feed circuit that operate over a first frequency band (centered around a first resonant frequency), whereas the passive conductors 20a are "parasitic elements" not driven/fed by the feed circuit that operate over a second frequency band (centered around a second resonant frequency).
  • the stacked bowtie radiators disclosed herein provide increased bandwidth and operating range compared with existing turnstile radiators.
  • each stacked bowtie radiator 20 may have a generally straight shape.
  • each radiator 20 may have a convex shape or a concave (negative convex) shape.
  • a convexity factor, ⁇ controls the shape of the driven conductors 20b.
  • the shape of dielectrics 20c and passive conductors 20a can be adapted to generally match the shape of the driven conductors 20b.
  • changing the convexity factor changes the radiator shape from a convex shape, to a straight shape, to a concave shape.
  • the convexity factor may typically vary from about 0.2 mm to about -0.2 mm for operation in the X-band frequency range. Such a variation usually has a minor effect on the antenna impedance characteristics but, at the same time, it provides acceptable mechanical tolerances to be established for antenna manufacturing. Convexity also provides another design parameter that can be used to optimize element pattern performance with respect to bandwidth. It should, however, be appreciated that regardless of the convexity factor setting, stacked bowtie performance can be toleranced to variations in this factor which make it amenable to established manufacturing processes.
  • a convexity factor controls the shape of the driven conductors 20b.
  • the stacked bow-tie radiators 20 may have a generally straight shape.
  • the radiators 20 may have a convex shape or a concave (negative convex) shape.
  • the shape of dielectrics 20c and passive conductors 20a can be adapted to generally match the shape of the driven conductors 20b.
  • changing the convexity factor changes the radiator shape from a convex shape, to a straight shape, to a concave shape.
  • the convexity factor may typically vary from about 0.2 mm to about -0.2 mm for operation in the X-band frequency range. Such a variation usually has a minor effect on the antenna impedance characteristics but, at the same time, it provides acceptable mechanical tolerances to be established for antenna manufacturing. Convexity also provides another design parameter that can be used to optimize element pattern performance with respect to bandwidth. It should, however, be appreciated that regardless of the convexity factor setting, stacked bowtie performance can be toleranced to variations in this factor which make it amenable to established manufacturing processes.
  • an antenna element 14 ( FIG. 3 ) has a convexity factor ( ⁇ ) set equal to zero.
  • ⁇ convexity factor
  • the element 14 and corresponding driven conductors 20b, dielectric 20c, and passive conductors (not shown) are said to be straight or non-convex.
  • An antenna element 14' in FIG. 3A is provided having a convexity factor ( ⁇ ) set equal to 0.06.
  • element 14' and corresponding driven conductors 20b', dielectric 20c', and passive conductors (not shown) have a positive convexity and are said to be convex.
  • an antenna element 14" is provided having a convexity factor ( ⁇ ) set equal to -0.06.
  • ⁇ convexity factor
  • element 14" and corresponding driven conductors 20b", dielectric 20c", and passive conductors (not shown) have a negative convexity and are thus said to be concave.
  • a support structure 30 is disposed over a printed circuit board (PCB) 40.
  • a feed circuit 42 is disposed (e.g. printed) onto a surface of the PCB 40, as shown.
  • a quad-line balun column 12 has a first end electrically coupled to feed circuit 42 and mechanically coupled to PCB 40.
  • Feed circuit 42 may be coupled to other RF circuits (not shown on FIG. 4A ), here through via holes 44 for example.
  • balun column 12 may be electrically coupled to feed circuit 42 via solder connections 46.
  • the solder connections 46 could, of course, also provide mechanical coupling.
  • the first end of the balun column includes a post, such as post 72 in FIG. 5 , which may fit inside a post receptor, such as receptor 48 in FIG. 6 to secure the balun column to the PCB.
  • the feed circuit 42 is discussed more fully below in conjunction with FIGS. 6 and 6A .
  • the balun column 12 further has a second end which may be exposed through, and extend past, an opening in the support structure 30, as shown. It should be appreciated that the second end of balun column 12 can be electrically and mechanically coupled to an antenna element, such as antenna element 14, as shown in FIGS. 1-1B .
  • a support structure for ease of reference, the combination of a support structure, a feed circuit, a balun column, and a stacked bowtie antenna (not shown in FIG. 4 ) may hereinafter be referred to as a "unit cell.”
  • the support structure 30 or portions thereof is/are fabricated using injection molding techniques. However, it should be appreciated that other techniques known in the art may be used to fabricate the support structure 30.
  • the support structure 30 has conductive surfaces (e.g. metallized walls), thereby providing electrical isolation and suppress surface wave mode coupling between adjacent unit cells within an array antenna (such as the array shown in FIG. 9B ).
  • the support structure 30 has a height h 2 of 160 mils., a thickness d 2 of 30 mils., and a width/length w 3 of 440 mils.
  • Column 12 includes a plurality of, here four (4), dielectric substrates 15a-15d (only dielectric substrates 15b and 15c being visible in Fig. 4A ) with each substrate 15a-15d having conductors 13a-13d (only conductors 13a-13c visible in Fig. 4A ) disposed thereon with each of the conductors 13a-13d having a first end coupled to a corresponding one of four radiators 20 and a second end coupled to a conductor 42 on PCB 40.
  • conductors 13a-13d are provided having a width equal to the width of the respective substrates 15a-15d on which they are disposed. In other embodiments, the width of conductors 13a-13d is less than the width of the respective substrates. In general, the width of conductors 13a-13d are selected to provide desired impedance and isolation characteristics.
  • the balun column 70 includes a central conductive member 78 having a square cross-sectional shape.
  • Dielectric substrates 82a-82d are disposed over external surfaces of the central member 78.
  • dielectric substrates 82a-82d are composed of Rogers RT/duroid 6010 PTFE dielectric material.
  • Dielectric substrates 82a-82d may be secured to central member 78 using solder, glue, epoxy, welding or any other fastening technique well-known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • dielectric substrates 82a-82d are each provided having conductive material 80a-80d (conductors 80a and 80d not visible in FIG. 5 ) disposed on one surface, but not on the opposing surface.
  • the central member 78 is provided as an opposing conductor.
  • the dielectric substrates 82a-82d and respective conductive surfaces 80a-80b form four adjacent coplanar microstrip transmission lines sharing the same ground provided by the central conductive member 78 (i.e. each disposed on side surfaces of the central conductive member).
  • balun column 70 is the same or similar to balun column 12 in FIGS. 1-1B , 4 , and 4A , in which case conductors 80a-80d may correspond to conductors 13a-13d respectively.
  • the central conductive member 78 is provided having a square or rectangular cross-sectional shape and is provided as a solid metal conductor (e.g. a copper or brass bar). In other embodiments, the central conductive member need not be solid (e.g. it could be hollow or partially hollow). Also, the central conductive member 78 may be provided from a nonconductive material and have a conductive coating or a conductive surface disposed thereover to provide a central conductive member 78. In one embodiment, the central conductive 78 member is provided from a machining technique. In other embodiments, the conductive member 78 may be formed via a molding technique (e.g. injection molding). Other techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art may also be used to provide a central conductive member.
  • a molding technique e.g. injection molding
  • conductors 80a-80d have a width substantially equal to the width of the respective dielectric substrates 82a-82d on which the conductors 80a-80d are disposed. In other embodiments, each conductor 80a-80d may have a width which is less than the width of the respective dielectric substrates 82a-82d on which it is disposed.
  • a mounting post 72 may be provided upon the column 70 for mechanically coupling to a PCB.
  • the mounting post 72 is made of a conductive material and therefore also provides electrical coupling to central conductive member 78 and a feed circuit, such as feed circuit 42 shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the mounting post 72 could be made of non-conductive material and a separate means for electrically coupling the central conductive member 78 to a feed circuit may be provided.
  • each dielectric substrate 82a-82d has height h 1 , width w 2 , and thickness d 1 , as shown.
  • the central conductive member 78 has a width w 1 and generally the same height h 1 (not including mounting post 72) as each dielectric substrate 82a-82d.
  • w 1 is chosen to be 50 mils.
  • w 2 is chosen to be 25 mils.
  • d 1 is chosen to be 10 mil.
  • h 1 is chosen to be 300 mils.
  • the height h 1 should be chosen based on the desired operating frequency range.
  • the quad line balun includes coplanar microstrip transmission lines provided from Rogers RT/duroid 6010 PTFE ceramic laminate having a relative dielectric constant ( ⁇ r ) in the range of about 10.2 to about 10.9 and a loss tangent of about 0.0023.
  • the laminate is provided having a conductive material disposed on opposing surfaces thereof.
  • the conductive material may be provided as 1 ⁇ 2 oz. of rolled copper or electrodeposited (ED) copper, for example.
  • the transmission lines are cut, etched or otherwise provided from a dielectric sheet, as double-sided strips, and then coupled to a central conductive member using a soldering technique or other suitable attachment technique.
  • the transmission lines may be soldered to the central conductive member 78.
  • balun column 70 provides a higher isolation between two turnstile antenna elements than prior art baluns or feeds since two pairs of feeding transmission lines are shielded.
  • the balun transmission lines may each have a characteristic impedance of about 30 Ohms per port, assuming that opposite are fed out of phase by 180 deg. This means a 60 Ohm impedance per one dipole antenna that is fed with two ports in series, which should provide a good impedance match to a stacked bowtie radiator such as that discussed in conjunction with Figs 1-3B above.
  • a balun constructed as described is suitable for operation over the L-Band, S-band, C-band, and X-band frequency ranges, without changing balun dimensions (excepting length).
  • a feed circuit 42 is disposed (e.g. printed) onto a surface of a PCB 40, as shown.
  • the feed circuit 42 includes four feed lines 42a-42d which can each be electrically coupled one of four coplanar transmission line conductors provided upon a quad-line balun column, such as conductors 80a-80d in FIG. 5 .
  • the feed circuit 42 also includes a center conductor 48 which can be electrically coupled to a quad-line balun column central conductive member, such as member 78 in FIG. 5 .
  • Such electrical couplings can be made, for example, using a solder reflow technique to form a conductive solder joints.
  • the feed lines 42a-42d and center conductor 48 can be provided upon the PCB using either a subtractive or an additive PCB manufacturing process.
  • the PCB 40 may provide or be electrically coupled to additional RF circuitry (not shown), such as an RF distribution circuit.
  • the feed lines 42a-42d may be electrically coupled to the additional RF circuitry via holes 44a-44d (hole 42a not shown in FIG. 6A ).
  • the holes 44a-44d may be provided in the PCB 40 via a machining operating (e.g. via a punching technique, a milling technique, or via any other technique known to those of ordinary skill in the art).
  • PCB 40 also includes a balun post receptor which accepts a balun column post, such as post 72 in FIG. 5 , to secure the balun column to the PCB.
  • the center connector 48 may herein also be referred to as the balun post receptor 48.
  • the balun post receptor 48 may be a recess which extends entirely through the PCB 40 (e.g. as a through hole) or may extend only partway into the PCB.
  • the balun post receptor 48 may be provided in the PCB 40 by any process known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • the balun column post 72 and post receptor 48 have complimentary cross-sectionals shapes such that the balun column post mates with the receptor, thereby securing the balun 70 (in FIG. 5 ) to the PCB 40.
  • the post 72 may be knurled and may be press fit into receptor 48. It should be appreciated that other means, including but not limited to fasteners and brackets, may also be used to secure a balun column to the PCB 40.
  • FIG. 7 three reference planes and three separate microwave network elements of the complete quad-line balun-based antenna radiator are shown.
  • the feeding balun for only one antenna element is shown.
  • the antenna model in FIG. 7 simplifies as shown in FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 8 a block diagram of a complete quad-line balun-based antenna radiator with a symmetric antenna load is shown. It should be noted that to promote clarity in the drawing, the balun for only one antenna element is shown.
  • the power divider may be provided as either a T-divider or a Wilkinson power divider.
  • Z in Z 0 Z T + jZ 0 tan ⁇ L Z 0 + jZ T tan ⁇ L in which:
  • phase shifter a simple ⁇ /2 delay line may be used, whose transmission line model is also given by Equations 1 and 2.
  • an antenna array assembly 96 (also sometimes referred to herein as antenna array 96, array antenna 96, or more simply array 96) is shown in various stages of an assembly process, described hereinbelow.
  • antenna array 96 comprises a plurality of unit cells, here twelve (12) unit cells arranged in a 2x6 rectangular lattice shape.
  • Each of unit cells may be the same as or similar to the unit cell described above in conjunction with FIG. 4 and includes a balun column 92, a stacked bowtie antenna element 94, and a support structure 90a.
  • Each support structure 90a includes two openings at opposing ends.
  • the plurality of unit cell support structures 90a are provided by a single "egg crate" support structure 90.
  • the egg crate 90 is formed via an injection molding technique, however it should be appreciated that other fabrication techniques can also be used.
  • the egg crate 90 may be bonded to a PCB (not shown in FIGS. 9-9C ) having a plurality of feed circuits.
  • the feed circuits may be arranged on the PCB such that, when the egg crate 90 is disposed over the PCB, each feed circuit is exposed through one opening of a corresponding support structure 90a.
  • the array 96 is provided having a length L, a width W and a thickness T. In one particular embodiment, for operation in the X-band frequency range, the array 96 is provided having 8 rows and 16 columns. It should be appreciated that array 96 may be used as a subarray in a larger array structure provided form a plurality of such subarrays 96.
  • FIGS. 9-9C illustrate an exemplary array shape and array lattice geometry
  • array shapes other than rectangular or substantially rectangular shapes could also be used.
  • circular, elliptical or other regular or even non-regular shapes may be used.
  • array geometries other than rectangular or triangular may also be used.
  • the array is here shown having a square shape and a particular number of antenna elements, an antenna array having any array shape and/or physical size or any number of antenna elements may also be used.
  • the array shape and/or physical size may be determined by a number of factors, including bandwidth requirements, polarization requirements, power requirements, and/or desired scan volume.
  • a radome may be disposed over the array 96 to protect it from weather and/or conceal it from view.
  • the empty egg crate 90 has a plurality of support structures 90a and may be bounded to a PCB having a plurality of feed circuits (not shown).
  • a balun column 92 having a post at one end (such as balun column 70 in FIG. 5 ) is inserted through each support structure 90a and into a balun column post receptor provided as part of a corresponding one of the feed circuits.
  • an antenna element 94 having an opening through which the balun column can be inserted (such as antenna element 14 in FIG.
  • array 96 assembly process may proceed in a different order from than described hereinabove.
  • the antenna assembly 94 may be placed upon the support structure 90a before the balun column is inserted.
  • the integrated antenna element design, the scalable phased array antenna architecture, and the assembly techniques describe above allow commercial fabrication and assembly processes to be leveraged, thereby reducing recurring engineering costs.
  • the stacked bowtie antenna element can be fabricated using injection molding and copper plating/etching techniques.
  • the balun column and coplanar transmission lines can be mass produced using a cast and automated soldering techniques.
  • automated assembly techniques such as commercial pick-and-place robots and solder re-flow lines, may be used to easily and inexpensively assemble unit cells, sub-array assemblies, and entire phased array antennas.
  • phased array antenna architecture and fabrication technique described herein offers a cost effective solution for design, fabrication, and assembly of phased arrays antennas that can be used in a wide variety of radar missions or communication missions for ground, sea and airborne platforms.

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Claims (15)

  1. Élément d'antenne intégré (10) comprenant :
    un élément d'antenne (14) comprenant :
    un substrat diélectrique (20c) ayant une forme généralement pyramidale avec un point d'alimentation disposé au centre, le substrat (20c) ayant une surface interne et une surface externe ;
    au moins deux conducteurs internes (20b) disposés sur la surface interne du substrat (20c), chacun des conducteurs internes (20b) ayant une forme généralement triangulaire avec un sommet se terminant à proximité du point d'alimentation ; caractérisé en ce que l'élément d'antenne comprend en outre :
    au moins deux conducteurs externes (20a) disposés sur la surface externe dudit substrat (20c), chacun des conducteurs externes (20a) étant opposé à au moins un conducteur interne (20b).
  2. Élément d'antenne intégré (10) selon la revendication 1, ayant au moins quatre conducteurs internes (20b) disposés sur la surface interne dudit substrat diélectrique (20c) et au moins quatre conducteurs externes (20a) disposés sur la surface externe du substrat diélectrique (20c), dans lequel lesdits quatre conducteurs externes (20a) sont disposés de sorte à être couplés de manière parasite à au moins l'un desdits quatre conducteurs internes (20b).
  3. Élément d'antenne intégré (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'aire superficielle des conducteurs externes (20a) est inférieure à l'aire superficielle de n'importe quels conducteurs internes correspondants des conducteurs internes (20b).
  4. Élément d'antenne intégré (10) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre :
    une colonne de symétriseur vertical à lignes quad (70) ayant une extrémité couplée électriquement au point d'alimentation de l'élément d'antenne (10), la colonne de symétriseur vertical à lignes quad (70) comprenant :
    un élément central (13a) ayant quatre surfaces conductrices raccordées de manière continue et des première et seconde extrémités conductrices opposées, l'élément central ayant une forme carrée en coupe transversale ;
    une première plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82a) ayant une première surface disposée sur une première surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la première plaque de symétriseur (82a) comporte un conducteur respectif (80a) disposé sur cette dernière ;
    une deuxième plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82b) ayant une première surface disposée sur une deuxième surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la deuxième plaque de symétriseur (82b) comporte un conducteur respectif (80b) disposé sur cette dernière ;
    une troisième plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82c) ayant une première surface disposée sur une troisième surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la plaque de symétriseur (82c) comporte un conducteur respectif (80c) disposé sur cette dernière ; et
    une quatrième plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82d) ayant une première surface disposée sur une quatrième surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la quatrième plaque de symétriseur (82d) comporte un conducteur respectif (80d) disposé sur cette dernière.
  5. Élément d'antenne intégré (10) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel l'élément d'antenne (14) comportant une ouverture pour recevoir la colonne de symétriseur (70).
  6. Élément d'antenne intégré (10) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les conducteurs internes (20b) sont alimentés par la colonne de symétriseur (70) et les conducteurs externes (20a) sont couplés de manière parasite aux conducteurs internes correspondants des conducteurs internes (20b).
  7. Ensemble antenne comprenant :
    a. une carte de circuit imprimé (40) ;
    b. un circuit d'alimentation (42) disposé sur une seule surface de la carte de circuit imprimé (40) ;
    c. l'élément d'antenne selon la revendication 1 ;
    d. une colonne de symétriseur vertical à lignes quad (70) ayant une première extrémité couplée électriquement au circuit d'alimentation (42) et une seconde extrémité couplée électriquement au point d'alimentation d'antenne (14), la colonne de symétriseur vertical à lignes quad (70) comprenant :
    i. un élément central (78) ayant quatre surfaces conductrices et des première et seconde extrémités conductrices opposées ;
    ii. une première plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82a) ayant une première surface disposée sur une première surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la première plaque de symétriseur (82a) comporte un conducteur d'alimentation respectif (80a) disposé sur cette dernière ;
    iii. une deuxième plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82b) ayant une première surface disposée sur une deuxième surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la deuxième plaque de symétriseur (82b) comporte un conducteur d'alimentation respectif (80b) disposé sur cette dernière ;
    iv. une troisième plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82c) ayant une première surface disposée sur une troisième surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la troisième plaque de symétriseur (82c) comporte un conducteur d'alimentation respectif (80c) disposé sur cette dernière ; et
    v. une quatrième plaque diélectrique de symétriseur (82d) ayant une première surface disposée sur une quatrième surface conductrice de l'élément central (78) et dans lequel une seconde surface opposée de la quatrième plaque de symétriseur (82d) comporte un conducteur d'alimentation respectif (80d) disposé sur cette dernière.
  8. Ensemble antenne selon la revendication 7, dans lequel chaque circuit d'alimentation comprend :
    a. un conducteur de mise à la terre couplé à chaque surface conductrice d'élément central de symétriseur ;
    b. un premier conducteur d'alimentation (42a) couplé à un premier conducteur d'alimentation de plaque de symétriseur (80a) ;
    c. un deuxième conducteur d'alimentation (42b) couplé à un deuxième conducteur d'alimentation de plaque de symétriseur (80b) ;
    d. un troisième conducteur d'alimentation (42c) couplé à un troisième conducteur d'alimentation de plaque de symétriseur (80c) ; et
    e. un quatrième conducteur d'alimentation (42d) couplé à un quatrième conducteur d'alimentation de plaque de symétriseur (80d).
  9. Ensemble antenne selon la revendication 7, dans lequel le circuit d'alimentation est un premier circuit d'alimentation d'une pluralité de circuits d'alimentation, l'élément d'antenne (94) est le premier élément d'antenne d'une pluralité d'éléments d'antenne et la colonne de symétriseur vertical à lignes quad (92) est la premier colonne de symétriseur vertical à lignes quad d'une pluralité de symétriseurs verticaux à lignes quad, chacun des colonnes symétriseurs verticaux à lignes quad est couplé électriquement à un circuit d'alimentation correspondant au niveau d'une extrémité et couplé électriquement à un élément d'antenne correspondant au niveau de l'extrémité opposée.
  10. Ensemble antenne selon la revendication 9, dans lequel les circuits d'alimentation sont agencés selon un motif de réseau bidimensionnel sur la carte de circuit imprimé (40).
  11. Ensemble antenne selon la revendication 7, comprenant en outre une structure de support (30) sur laquelle l'élément d'antenne (14) est disposé, dans lequel une première extrémité de la colonne symétriseur (70) est exposée à travers une première ouverture dans la structure de support (30) et une seconde extrémité de ladite colonne symétriseur (70) est exposée à travers une seconde ouverture dans la structure de support (30).
  12. Procédé consistant :
    à coupler une première extrémité d'une colonne de symétriseur vertical à lignes quad (70) à une carte de circuit imprimé (40) ; et
    à coupler une seconde extrémité de la colonne symétriseur vertical à lignes quad (70) à un élément d'antenne (14), l'élément d'antenne (14) comprenant :
    un substrat diélectrique (20c) ayant une forme généralement pyramidale avec un point d'alimentation disposé au centre, le substrat (20c) ayant une surface interne et une surface externe ;
    au moins deux conducteurs internes (20b) disposés sur la surface interne du substrat (20c), chacun des conducteurs internes (20b) ayant une forme généralement triangulaire avec un sommet se terminant à proximité du point d'alimentation ; et
    au moins deux conducteurs externes (20a) disposés sur la surface externe dudit substrat (20c), chacun des conducteurs externes (20a) étant opposé à au moins un conducteur interne (20b).
  13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel une première extrémité de la colonne symétriseur (70) est couplée à la carte de circuit imprimé (40) avant qu'une seconde extrémité de la colonne symétriseur (70) ne soit couplée à l'élément d'antenne (40).
  14. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel une seconde extrémité de la colonne symétriseur (70) est couplée à l'élément d'antenne (14) avant que la première extrémité de la colonne symétriseur (70) ne soit couplée à la carte de circuit imprimé (40).
  15. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel la première extrémité de la colonne symétriseur (70) comprend un montant (72), la carte de circuit imprimé (40) fournit un évidement (48) qui peut recevoir le montant (72) et la première extrémité de la colonne symétriseur (70) est couplée à la carte de circuit imprimé (40) en insérant le montant (72) dans l'évidement (48) .
EP14740122.8A 2013-08-01 2014-06-30 Élément rayonnant en boucle empilé à symétriseur intégré Active EP3028341B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/956,875 US9306262B2 (en) 2010-06-01 2013-08-01 Stacked bowtie radiator with integrated balun
PCT/US2014/044780 WO2015017064A1 (fr) 2013-08-01 2014-06-30 Élément rayonnant en boucle empilé à symétriseur intégré

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EP3028341A1 EP3028341A1 (fr) 2016-06-08
EP3028341B1 true EP3028341B1 (fr) 2019-06-26

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EP (1) EP3028341B1 (fr)
KR (1) KR101679543B1 (fr)
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CN108963441A (zh) * 2018-07-24 2018-12-07 复旦大学 维瓦尔第天线阵
US11123867B2 (en) * 2019-05-13 2021-09-21 Raytheon Company Automated radar assembly system
CN110691474B (zh) * 2019-09-23 2021-02-12 京信通信技术(广州)有限公司 一种辐射单元的焊接方法

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US4668956A (en) * 1985-04-12 1987-05-26 Jampro Antennas, Inc. Broadband cup antennas
US5418544A (en) * 1993-04-16 1995-05-23 Apti, Inc. Stacked crossed grid dipole antenna array element
US8581801B2 (en) * 2010-06-01 2013-11-12 Raytheon Company Droopy bowtie radiator with integrated balun
KR20120086838A (ko) * 2011-01-27 2012-08-06 엘에스전선 주식회사 Ｐｃｂ 기판형 광대역 이중 편파 다이폴 안테나

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KR20160037205A (ko) 2016-04-05
WO2015017064A1 (fr) 2015-02-05
KR101679543B1 (ko) 2016-11-24
AU2014296755B2 (en) 2016-09-22
EP3028341A1 (fr) 2016-06-08

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