EP0448318A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Array antenna system structure
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1991-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-03-18
Abstract
Abstract For constructing a modular transmitter having an array antenna, a module (10) contains antenna elements (14A, B, C, D) along the front edge of a base (18). RF circuitry (16A-16H) is provided on both the top and the bottom sides (20A, 20B) of the base (18). The base (18) contains heat pipes (301A-D, Fig. 3) to carry heat away from RF circuitry. The base (18) is made to be plugged into a mounting block (12) which provides electrical signals (58A-B, 60A-B) to the module (10) and acts as a sink for the heat removed by the heat pipes. Complementary recesses (64A-D, 66A-B, 69) and projections (62A-D, 67A-B, 68) provide keying vertically and horizontally between adjacent modules. RF power is passed through stripline structures (40, 42; 40B, 42B; 46, 48; 46B, 48B) utilizing the base (18) as bottom ground plane. Control signals are supplied from circuit boards (24, 24B) to the RF circuitry (16A-16H) by flexicables (32).
Inventors
- 👤 Toshikazu Tsukii
- 👤 William A. Allard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/0006; H01Q21/0025; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/002; H01Q1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A radio frequency system of the type having an array antenna, said system comprising a plurality of modules, each module comprising: a) a base; b) a plurality of antenna elements mounted along one edge of the base; c) a plurality of RF packages mounted on a first surface of the base, each such RF package coupled to one of the plurality of antenna elements; wherein the plurality of antenna elements on each module form the array antenna of the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 1 wherein each RF package contains a) an amplifier for radio frequency signals; and b) a phase shifter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 1 additionally comprising an integrated circuit chip, said chip containing logic circuitry for generating control signals to the amplifiers and phase shifters in each of the RF packages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 3 additionally comprising a printed circuit board mounted to the first surface of the base and wherein the integrated circuit chip is mounted on the printed circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 4 additionally comprising: a) mounting means, and wherein each of the plurality of modules is attached to the mounting means; b) control electronics; and c) means for electrically connecting the control electronics to the integrated circuit chip, said means passing through the mounting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 5 wherein the mounting means comprises a channel for carrying cooling fluid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of modules is thermally coupled to the channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 6 wherein the mounting means comprises a plurality of slots, each slot being bounded by walls projecting into the channel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 8 wherein the base of each module comprises a tab which projects into one of the slots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 9 wherein the base comprises at least one heat pipe, one end of each pipe being disposed in the tab.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 10, one of the at least one heat pipes is disposed in the base adjacent one of the plurality of RF packages.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of heat pipes disposed in the base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 12 wherein each heat pipe is disposed adjacent one of the RF packages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 12 additionally comprising a mounting means wherein each of the plurality of modules is attached to'the mounting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 14 wherein the mounting means comprises means for dissipating heat and wherein each of the plurality of heat pipes is thermally coupled to the means for dissipating heat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The radio frequency system of Claim 2 additionally comprising: a) a dielectric layer having stripline circuitry disposed thereon, said dielectric layer being mounted on the first surface of the base between the plurality of RF packages and the antenna elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electronic system comprising: a) a plurality of modules, each module comprising: (i) a base having a tab disposed along one edge; (ii) at least one package of electronics mounted to the base; and (iii) at least one heat pipe disposed in the base, each heat pipe having an end disposed in the tab; b) a mounting means having a channel and a plurality of slots formed therein, said mounting means comprising: (i) means for dissipating heat, said means being disposed in the channel, and wherein the tab of each module projects into one of the plurality of slots and is in thermal contact with the means for dissipating heat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electronic system of Claim 17 wherein the means for dissipating heat comprises a refrigerated fluid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electronic system of Claim 18 wherein the mounting means additionally comprises means for coupling electrical signals, said coupling means passing through the channel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electronic system of Claim 19 wherein a plurality of packages of electronics are mounted on two sides of the base.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electronic system of Claim 20 wherein the at least one heat pipe comprises one heat pipe for each package on one side of the base and one heat pipe is disposed adjacent to each package.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electronic system of Claim 21 wherein each package of electronics comprises Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electronic system of Claim 22 wherein each package of electronics comprises an amplifier and a phase shifter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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