Communications: radio wave antennas – Antennas – Microstrip
Reexamination Certificate
1996-05-17
2001-02-06
Wimer, Michael C. (Department: 2821)
Communications: radio wave antennas
Antennas
Microstrip
C343S853000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06184832
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to phased array antennas and more particularly to phase array antennas adapted for volume production and having effective, compact cooling structures for active elements in the phase shifter sections used in the phased array antenna.
As is known in the art, phased array antenna systems are adapted to produce a beam of radio frequency energy (RF) and direct such beam along a selected direction by controlling the phase of the energy passing between a transmitter/receiver and an array of antenna elements through a plurality of phase shifter sections. This direction is provided by sending a control word (i.e., data representative of the desired phase shift, as well as attenuation and other control data such as a strobe signal) to each of the phase shifter sections.
As is also known in the art, it is desirable to provide phase array antennas adapted for high volume production and having effective, compact cooling structures for active elements in the phase shifter sections used in the array antenna.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a phased array antenna is provided having an array of antenna elements, an array of phase shifter sections, each one thereof being associated with a corresponding one of the antenna elements, and a cold-plate having a pair of surfaces, one of the surfaces having the array of phase shifter sections mounted, and thermally coupled, thereto and an opposite one of the pair of surfaces having thermally conductive posts projecting outwardly therefrom, each one of the posts being disposed behind a corresponding one of the plurality of mounted phase shifter sections. A heat sink plate is thermally coupled to distal ends of the posts.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the cold-plate has a plurality of feeds passing therethrough. A set of such feeds is associated with a corresponding one of the phase shifter sections. A pair of such feeds in each set thereof is adapted to provide power to the associated one of the phase shifter sections and another one of the feeds in the set thereof is adapted to couple therethrough radio frequency energy associated with such one of the phase shifter sections.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the phased array antenna includes a power/radio frequency energy distribution section mounted to said opposite one of the pair of cold-plate surfaces for distributing power and radio frequency energy among the phase shifter sections mounted to the cold-plate. The radio frequency energy distribution section comprises a plurality of stacked printed circuit boards and the posts pass through the stacked printed circuit boards to the heat sink plate.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the array of antenna elements are arranged in columns and one of the stacked, power/radio frequency energy distribution section printed circuit boards includes a plurality of voltage buses disposed in columns and an additional bus disposed obliquely to, and electrically interconnecting, the plurality of voltage buses.
In accordance with still another feature of the invention the heat sink plate has a radio frequency connector and the power/radio frequency energy distribution section is coupled to the radio frequency connector and radio frequency energy fed to the radio frequency connector is coupled to the phase shifter section through power dividers and coupling slots provided in the stacked, power/radio frequency energy distribution section printed circuit boards.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, an array of antenna elements is provided having an array of patch radiators. A conductive layer is provided with an array of cavities, each one of the patch radiators being disposed over an associated one of the cavities.
In a preferred embodiment, an RF feed is provide for each one of the cavities. Each RF feed includes a pair of orthognal slots.
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1995 IEEE MTT-S Digest, Andre' Brunel, et al., Demonstration of Photonically-Controlled GAAS Digital/MMIC for RF Optical Links, pp. 1283-1285.
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First Annual DARPA/RADC Symposium on Photonics Systems for Antenna Applications, Dec. 13-14, 1990, Monteray, CA, C. P. McClay, et al., Microwave Optical Integrated Circuit for Phased Array Antennas.
IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques vol. 38, No. 5, May 1990, Peter J. Heim, et al., Frequency Division Multiplex Microwave and Baseband Digital Optical Fiber Link for Phased Array Antennas, pp. 494-500.
IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 4, No. 7, Jul. 1992, Y. Akahori, et al., 10-Gb/s High-Speed Monolithically Integrated Photoreceiver Using InGaAs p-i-n PD and Planar Doped InA1As/InGaAs HEMT's, pp. 754-756.
IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 7, No. 2, Feb. 1995, L. M. Lunardi, et al., A 12-Gb/s High Performance, High-Sensitivity Monolithic p-i-n/HBT Photoreceiver Module for Long-Wavelength Transmission Systems, pp. 182-184.
Geyh Edward A.
Rhein James E.
Zagrodnick Robert P.
Daly, Crowley & Mofford LLP
Raytheon Company
Wimer Michael C.
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