Patent Application
20240322446
The present disclosure relates to conformal active electronically scanned arrays in general, and to architectures for conformal active electronically scanned arrays in particular.
An active electronically scanned array (AESA) is a type of phased array antenna that is a computer-controlled array antenna in which the beam of radio waves can be electronically steered to point in different directions without moving the antenna. In an AESA, each antenna element is connected to a solid-state transmit/receive module (TRM) under the control of a computer that performs the functions of transmitter and/or receiver for the antenna.
A planar ultrawideband modular antenna (PUMA) array is a type of ultrawideband (UWB) array that may utilize etched circuits and vias fabricated as a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB). A PUMA array may be described as having feed layers, dipole layers, and a wide-angle impedance matching (WAIM) layer.
A slat array architecture is an array architecture that includes a series of slats that are conventionally arranged perpendicular to the face of the array. Each slat provides a large surface area on which TRM modules and supporting components can be attached.
A conformal antenna or conformal array may be a flat array antenna that conforms to a prescribed shape, such as a curved surface. The multiple individual antennas mounted on or in the curved surface work together as a single antenna to transmit or receive radio waves.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a conformal antenna device is provided that includes a conformance panel, an antenna array, a combiner board, and a plurality of slats. The conformance panel (CP) has an CP inner radial surface, a CP outer radial surface, a width extending between a first axial end and a second axial end, and a length extending between a first lateral end and a second lateral end. The conformance panel extends linearly in a widthwise direction and extends arcuately in a lengthwise direction. The conformance panel includes a plurality of apertures extending between the CP inner radial surface and the CP outer radial surface. The antenna array is attached to the outer radial surface of the conformance panel. The plurality of slats extend between the combiner board and the conformance panel in a spoke arrangement. Each slat includes a first plate and a second plate. Each second plate includes electrical circuitry and one or more components and is in signal communication with the antenna array.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the slats of the plurality of slats may be spaced apart from one another by one or more CB inter-slat spacings proximate the combiner board, and the plurality of slats may be spaced apart from one another by one or more CP inter-slat spacings proximate the combiner board, and each of the one or more CP inter-slat spacings may be greater than each of the one or more CB inter-slat spacings.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the one or more CP inter-slat spacings may be uniform, and the one or more CB inter-slat spacings may be uniform.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the combiner board may include a CB outer radial surface that extends arcuately between lengthwise ends, and the CB outer radial surface may have a CB arcuate configuration.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the conformance panel extending arcuately in a lengthwise direction is a CP arcuate configuration, and the CB arcuate configuration may nest with the CP arcuate configuration.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the CP arcuate configuration may be disposed at a first radius, and the CB arcuate configuration may be disposed at a second radius, and the second radius may be less than the first radius.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the conformance panel may include a plurality of slat tab rows extending outwardly from the CP inner radial surface, and the slat tab rows may extend between the first axial end and the second axial end of the conformance panel, and each slat tab row may include a plurality of slat tabs.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the antenna array may have an inner radial side, an outer radial side, and a plurality of finger interfaces extending out from the inner radial side. Each finger interface of the plurality of finger interfaces may extend through a respective aperture extending between the CP inner radial surface and the CP outer radial surface, and outwardly from the inner radial surface of the conformance panel. The second plate of each slat may be in signal communication with one or more of the finger interfaces.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the finger interfaces of the plurality of finger interfaces may be disposed in rows parallel to the slat tab rows, and each respective slat tab row may be spaced apart a distance from a respective finger interface row. Each slat of the plurality of slats may be disposed between a respective slat tab row and a finger interface row. Each finger interface may be in signal communication with the second plate of the slat disposed between the respective slat tab row and a finger interface row.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the antenna array may be a planar ultrawideband modular antenna (PUMA) array attached to the outer radial surface of the conformance panel. The PUMA array may have an inner radial side, an outer radial side, a first PA axial end, and a second PA axial end.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the PUMA array may include a plurality of finger interfaces extending out from the inner radial side. Each finger interface may extend through a respective aperture extending between the CP inner radial surface and the CP outer radial surface, and outwardly from the inner radial surface of the conformance panel. The second plate of each slat may be in signal communication with one or more of the finger interfaces.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the PUMA array (PA) may include rows of PA apertures extending through the PUMA array. The rows of PA apertures may extend between the first PA axial end and the second PA axial end.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the PUMA array may include a stack of feed layers, dipole layers, and a wide-angle impedance matching (WAIM) layer disposed between the inner radial side and the outer radial side. The PUMA array may include a plurality of channels disposed in the feed layers or the WAIM layer. The channels may extend between the first PA axial end and the second PA axial end, and the plurality of channels may be disposed in both the feed layers and the dipole layers.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the PUMA array may extend linearly in a widthwise direction and extend arcuately in a lengthwise direction and may be configured to mate with the conformance panel.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the second plate of each slat may be a printed wire board or a printed circuit.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the first plate of each slat may be configured as a thermal sink and may be configured to carry a ground connection between the conformance panel and the combiner board.
In any of the aspects or embodiments described above and herein, the conformance panel may be attached to each respective slat by one or more fasteners engaged with the first panel of the respective slat.
The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. For example, aspects and/or embodiments of the present disclosure may include any one or more of the individual features or elements disclosed above and/or below alone or in any combination thereof. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.
Referring to
The PUMA array 22 is an ultrawideband (UWB) array comprised of unit cells. Collectively, the PUMA array 22 may be described as having an outer radial side 24, an inner radial side 26, a first axial end 28, a second axial end 30, a first lateral end 32, and a second lateral end 34. The PUMA array 22 shown in
Each of the unit cells in the PUMA array 22 includes circuits and vias fabricated as a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB), and at least one signal connector (e.g., a finger interface 36) for signal connection with a slat 38 as will be described herein. Each unit cell may be described as having feed layers 22A, dipole layers 22B, and a wide angle impedance matching (WAIM) layer 22C. The aforesaid layers 22A-C in each unit cell are disposed in a stacked configuration such that the dipole layers 22B are disposed between the feed layers 22A and the WAIM layer 22C, with the feed layers 22A defining the inner radial side 26 of the array 22 and the WAIM layer 22C defining the outer radial side 24 of the array 22. A radome 23 is typically disposed outside of the WAIM layer 22C. The first and second axial ends 28, 30 of the PUMA array 22 are disposed on opposite axial ends (which may be referred to as the widthwise ends-extending along a Y-axis) and the first and second lateral ends 32, 34 of the PUMA array 22 are disposed on opposite lateral ends (which may be referred to as the lengthwise ends—extending along an X-axis). The inner radial side 26 of the PUMA array 22 is disposed contiguous with and is attached to the conformance panel 40; e.g., the PUMA array 22 may be bonded to the conformance panel 40. The feed layers 22A, the dipole layers 22B, and the WAIM layer 22C of the unit cells may collectively be referred to as the “radiator” of the PUMA array 22. The WAIM layer 22C is adhered, or bonded, or otherwise attached to the dipole layers 22B. The radome 23 may have an interior surface that is faceted for interface with the WAIM layer 22C of the PUMA array 22.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
The WAIM layer 22C has an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface. The WAIM layer 22C interior surface is contiguous with and attached to the dipole layers 22B. The WAIM layer 22C may be produced having the desired X-Z plane lengthwise arcuate configuration, or the WAIM layer 22C may be configured to be disposable (e.g., bendable) in the desired X-Z plane arcuate configuration.
The radome 23 is a protective structure that is transparent to electromagnetic/RF signals. The term “transparent” is used here to mean that the radome 23 is configured to not appreciably attenuate electromagnetic/RF signals passing there through.
Referring to
The conformance panel 40 includes a plurality of slat tabs 62 extending outwardly from the inner radial surface 52. The slat tabs 62 may be arranged in rows extending between the first and second axial ends 54, 56 of the conformance panel 40. The slat tab rows may be oriented perpendicular relative to the first and second axial ends 54, 56. The slat tab 62 in each row may be a single continuous slat tab 62 extending between the first and second axial ends 54, 56, or there may be a plurality slat tabs 62 disposed in each row.
Each slat tab 62 has a length 64 that extends from the inner radial surface 52 to a distal end 66. Each slat tab 62 has a first lateral surface 68 and an opposite second lateral surface 70. As will be disclosed herein, the second lateral surface 70 of each slat tab 62 is disposed contiguous with a slat 38. In some embodiments, a slat tab 62 may include a chamfer 72 extending between the second lateral surface 70 and the distal end 66.
The conformance panel 40 includes rows of apertures 74 extending through the inner and outer radial surfaces 52, 50. In some embodiments, the apertures 74 may have a slot configuration (e.g., oval, rectangular, or the like) having a major axis and a minor axis. The major axis is greater than the minor axis. The present disclosure is not limited to any particular aperture 74 geometry. The aperture 74 rows may extend parallel with the slat tab 62 rows.
The conformance panel 40 may include rows of fastener apertures 76 extending through the inner and outer radial surfaces 52, 50. Each row of fastener apertures 76 extends between the first and second axial ends 54, 56 and includes a plurality of fastener apertures 76. Each fastener aperture 76 row may be oriented perpendicular relative to the first and second axial ends 54, 56. Each fastener aperture 76 is configured to receive a fastener 78 that is used to secure a respective slat 38 to the conformance panel 40 and to carry a ground connection therebetween. In some applications, each fastener aperture 76 is configured such that the head of the fastener 78 is countersunk when installed and therefore does not extend above the outer radial surface 50 of the conformance panel 40; e.g., an aperture configured to receive a bevel head fastener.
The slats 38 extend between the combiner board 80 and the conformance panel 40. Each slat 38 includes a first plate (which may be referred to hereinafter as a “cold plate 82”) and a second plate (which may be referred to hereinafter as a “circuit board 84”). The cold plate 82 and the circuit board 84 of each slat 38 may be attached to one another. The circuit board 84 includes electrical circuitry and components. The electrical circuitry and components may be attached to a substrate, or the electrical circuitry and components may be integral; e.g., in the form of a printed wire board (PWB) or a printed circuit board (PCB), or the like. The circuit board 84 of each slat 38 is configured for signal communication to and from the PUMA array 22 and to and from external devices. The cold plate 82 provides an electrical ground path between the PUMA array 22 and the combiner board 80. The cold plate 82 may be configured to function as a thermal energy sink, accepting thermal energy transfer from the circuit board 84 (and/or components attached thereto) and dissipating that thermal energy. The cold plate 82 may also be configured to provide structural support to the circuit board 84. Each slat 38 has a height 86 extending between an outer end surface 88 and an inner end surface 90, and a width 92 extending between a first axial end 94 and a second axial end 96. Embodiments of the present disclosure may utilize different slat heights 86, and the present disclosure is not therefore limited to any particular slat height 86. The circuit board 84 is configured to create a signal connection with the feed layers of the PUMA array 22. For example, finger interfaces 36 that extend outwardly from each unit cell of the PUMA array 22 may engage with the circuit board 84 to permit signal communication between the circuit board 84 and the PUMA array 22. Although finger interfaces 36 provide a desirable means of providing signal connection, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The circuitry within the circuit board 84 may be configured (e.g., configured to include microstrip tapering) to provide impedance matching between the circuit board 84, the finger interfaces 36 and the PUMA array 22.
The combiner board 80 may be a printed wire board (PWB) or a printed circuit board (PCB) that is configured to establish signal communication with the slats 38 and external components used in the operation of the present disclosure AESA antenna device 20. The combiner board 80 has an outer surface 98, an inner surface 100, a width 102 that extends linearly (i.e., extends along a straight line between two points, along a Y-axis), and a length 104. The outer surface 98 extends arcuately between lengthwise ends. The lengthwise arcuate configuration of the outer surface 98 may be described as an arcuate configuration within the X-Z plane. Like the conformance panel 40, the outer surface 98 of the combiner board 80 may have a lengthwise arcuate configuration in the X-Z plane that is a constant radius, or it may have a lengthwise arcuate configuration in the X-Z plane that includes a plurality of different radii. The outer surface lengthwise arcuate configuration may be described as having a nested relationship with the X-Z plane lengthwise arcuate configuration of the conformance panel 40 and the PUMA array 22. For example, in some embodiments the X-Z plane lengthwise arcuate configuration of the present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 components (e.g., the outer surface 98 of combiner board 80, the conformance panel 40, and the PUMA array 22) may share a point of origin, with the lengthwise arcuate configuration of each component having a different radius. In other embodiments, the relative arcuate configurations of the outer surface 98 of the combiner board 80 and the conformance panel 40 are such that the spacing therebetween is constant at any particular lengthwise position. In other words, the curvature of the outer surface 98 of the combiner board 80 may not be parti-circular and the curvature of the conformance panel 40 may not be parti-circular, but the aforesaid curvatures track with one another. In still other embodiments, the relative arcuate configurations of the outer surface 98 of the combiner board 80 and the conformance panel 40 may not track exactly with each other and the relative spacing therebetween may vary.
In some embodiments, the combiner board 80 may be configured for mechanical attachment with each respective slat 38; e.g., the combiner board 80 may include physical features (e.g., slots), or a fastener element (e.g., mechanical fasteners like a screw or a bonding agent, or the like), or some combination that facilitates attachment between the slats 38 and the combiner board 80.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 may include a base plate 106 (e.g., see
The slats 38 extend between the combiner board 80 and the conformance panel 40 in a spoke-like fashion. The inter-spoke spacing at the combiner board 80 is less than the inter-spoke spacing at the conformance panel 40. The slats 38 may be uniformly spaced relative to one another. For example, in some embodiments the inter-spoke spacing at the combiner board 80 may be uniform, and/or in some embodiments the inter-spoke spacing at the conformance panel 40 may be uniform. The present disclosure is not, however, limited to uniform inter-spoke spacing at the combiner board 80 or uniform inter-spoke spacing at the conformance panel 40. The inter-spoke spacing may be, but is not required to be, uniform in the widthwise direction between the first and second axial ends 94, 96, 54, 56 of the combiner board 80 and the conformance panel 40.
The architecture of present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 facilitates the production of the device 20, decreases the time and money associated with producing the device 20, and lends the device 20 to modular configuration. The PUMA array 22 is attached to the outer radial surface 50 of the conformance panel 40 with the finger interfaces 36 (or other connectors) extending outwardly from the array 22 and through the apertures 74 within the conformance panel 40 so that the finger interfaces 36 extend outwardly from the inner radial surface 52 of the conformance panel 40. The PUMA array 22 (i.e., the feed layers 22A, the dipole layers 22B, and WAIM layer 22C) is configured to permit the PUMA array 22 to assume an arcuate configuration in the X-Z plane. As stated herein, the inner and outer dipole layers and the dielectric layers may be produced to have an arcuate configuration within the X-Z plane that mates with the curvature of the conformance panel 40, or the aforesaid layers may be configured (e.g., bendable) to be disposable in the aforesaid X-Z plane arcuate configuration. In either of these configurations, some embodiments of the PUMA array 22 may include rows of widthwise extending channels 48 disposed in the feed layers 22A and the WAIM layer 22C to facilitate the X-Z plane arcuate configuration.
Each slat 38 is inserted in a respective region disposed at the inner radial surface 52 of the conformance panel 40, between a respective slat tab 62 row and the finger interfaces 36 associated with the row (e.g., see
The present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 architecture is scalable to cover different frequencies and thereby be broadly applicable across multiple platforms. For example in a first embodiment, the present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 may be configured with a PUMA array 22 curvature, slat height 86 (i.e., the distance between the inner and outer end surfaces 88, 90), and inter-slat spacing associated with a first frequency range, and in a second embodiment the present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 may be configured with a PUMA array 22 curvature, associated slat height 86, and inter-slat spacing associated with a second frequency range, and so on. As a specific example, a present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 with a four-inch (4 in.) radius curvature may be configured for use with frequencies in the V-band range (˜40-75 GHZ). As another example, a present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 with a six-inch (6 in.) radius curvature may be configured for use with frequencies in the X-band range (˜8-12 GHz). As another example, a present disclosure AESA antenna device 20 with an eight-inch (8 in.) radius curvature may be configured for use with frequencies in the KA-band range (˜27-40 GHz). These examples are intended to illustrate that the architecture of the present disclosure is readily scalable. The present disclosure architecture also permits unit cell spacing to be varied (which may implicate slat spacing) to vary frequency characteristics of the antenna.
While the principles of the disclosure have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.
It is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process which is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a block diagram, etc. Although any one of these structures may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc.
The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to one or more than one, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “comprising a specimen” includes single or plural specimens and is considered equivalent to the phrase “comprising at least one specimen.” The term “or” refers to a single element of stated alternative elements or a combination of two or more elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, “comprises” means “includes.” Thus, “comprising A or B,” means “including A or B, or A and B,” without excluding additional elements.
It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements in the present description and drawings (the contents of which are included in this disclosure by way of reference). It is noted that these connections are general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. Any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option.
No element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the disclosures may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts, and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present application. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts, and features of the disclosures—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, and components, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts, or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present application even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. For example, in the exemplary embodiments described above within the Detailed Description portion of the present specification, elements may be described as individual units and shown as independent of one another to facilitate the description. In alternative embodiments, such elements may be configured as combined elements. It is further noted that various method or process steps for embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. The description may present method and/or process steps as a particular sequence. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the description should not be construed as a limitation.
