US4766444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conformal cavity-less interferometer array
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1986-07-01
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Granted: 1988-08-23
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Expires: 2006-07-01
Abstract
Abstract An interferometer spiral antennae array having a deformable cavity-less spacer which can be shaped to a nonplanar surface without distorting the alignment of the spiral antennae or increasing the difficulty of aligning Alignment is increased by mounting the spiral antennae the antennae. The accuracy of antennae on a stratum, separate from a ground plane by the deformable spacer. The spiral antennae are electrically connected to RF components on a stripline or microstrip feed/balun circuit board by integral finger-like extensions of the circuit, extending through the ground plane and the deformable spacer, thereby eliminating the need for connectors or cables.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J. Conroy
- 👤 Ronald A. Marino
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:00
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q9/00; H01Q9/04; H01Q9/16; H01Q9/26; H01Q9/27; H01Q21/00; H01Q21/0006; H01Q21/0075; H01Q21/06; H01Q21/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, comprising a plurality of spiral antennae rotationally, mechanically aligned; stratum means for mounting said antennae thereon; a ground plane situated below said stratum means; deformable spacing means separating said stratum means from said ground plane; said spacing means for forming a cavity-less space in close proximity to said antennae between said stratum means and said ground plane; and said stratum means, ground plane and deformable spacing means capable of being conformally shaped to a surface for shaping said antennae.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, comprising a plurality of spiral antennae rotationally, mechanically aligned; stratum means for mounting said antennae thereon; a ground plane situated below said stratum means; deformable spacing means separating said stratum means from said ground plane; said spacing means for forming a cavity-less space in close proximity to said antennae between said stratum means and said ground plane; and said stratum means, ground plane and deformable spacing means capable of being conformally shaped to a surface for shaping said antennae.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: said stratum means having an outside surface and mounting said antennae on said outside surface; and protective means for protecting and covering said antennae.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said stratum means is spaced a quarter wavelength from said ground plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said spacing means includes a flexible hex-cell structure; and said spacing means is interposed between said stratum means and said ground plane such that it separates said elements by a quarter wavelength.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said spacing means has a width of a quarter wavelength and a plurality of passageways therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 5, wherein: said plurality of passageways within said spacing means are formed to receive said connecting member and include counter sunk holes to receive said antennae.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a connecting member comprising a printed circuit board; and said connecting member includes RF components mounted thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said connecting member further includes a plurality of feed through finger means which pass through said deformable spacing means to make electrical connection to said antennae.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said feed through finger means include a microstrip connection formed thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said feed through finger means include a stripline connector formed thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 1, additionally comprising: an array capable of being shaped to a nonplanar configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 11, wherein; said nonplanar configuration is a cylindrical surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 11, wherein: said nonplanar configuration is an arcuate surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
111 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, comprising: a plurality of spiral antennae rotationally, mechanically aligned; stratum means for mounting said antennae thereon; a ground plane situated below said stratum means; deformable spacing means separating said stratum means from said ground plane; said spacing means forming a cavity-less space in close proximity to said antennae between said stratum means and said ground plane; a printed circuit board adjacent said ground plane and including a plurality of protruding members passing upward through said spacing means to provide electrical connections to said antennae; and said stratum means, ground plane and deformable spacing means capable of being conformally shaped to a surface for shaping said antennae.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
111 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, comprising: a plurality of spiral antennae rotationally, mechanically aligned; stratum means for mounting said antennae thereon; a ground plane situated below said stratum means; deformable spacing means separating said stratum means from said ground plane; said spacing means forming a cavity-less space in close proximity to said antennae between said stratum means and said ground plane; a printed circuit board adjacent said ground plane and including a plurality of protruding members passing upward through said spacing means to provide electrical connections to said antennae; and said stratum means, ground plane and deformable spacing means capable of being conformally shaped to a surface for shaping said antennae.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: said stratum means having an outside surface for mounting said antennae thereon; and protective cover means for covering said antennae.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said antennae means is spaced a quarter wavelength from said ground plane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said spacing means includes a flexible hex-cell structure; and said spacing means is interposed between said stratum and said ground plane such that it separates said elements by a quarter wavelength.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said spacing means has a width of a quarter wavelength and a plurality of passageways therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 18, wherein: said plurality of passageways within said spacing means are formed to receive said circuit board and include counter sunk holes to receive said antennae.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said circuit board includes RF components mounted thereon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said plurality of protruding members further includes feed through finger means which pass through said deformable spacing means to make said electrical connection to said antennae.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 21, wherein: said circuit board includes a microstrip connection formed thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 21, wherein: said circuit board includes a stripline connector formed thereon.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 14, includes: an array capable of being shaped to a nonplanar configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 24, wherein: said nonplanar configuration is a cylindrical surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 24, wherein: said nonplanar configuration is an arcuate surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
111 words
A conformal cavity-less spiral interferometer array comprising: a plurality of spiral antennae rotationally, mechanically aligned; stratum means for mounting said antennae thereon; a ground plane situated below said stratum means; deformable spacing means separating said stratum means from said ground plane; said spacing means forming a cavity-less space in close proximity to said antennae between said stratum means and said ground plane; a printed circuit board adjacent said ground plane; and an electrical conducting means forming an integral part of said board for making electrical connection to said antennae; and said stratum means, ground plane and deformable spacing means capable of being conformally shaped to a surface for shaping said antennae.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
111 words
A conformal cavity-less spiral interferometer array comprising: a plurality of spiral antennae rotationally, mechanically aligned; stratum means for mounting said antennae thereon; a ground plane situated below said stratum means; deformable spacing means separating said stratum means from said ground plane; said spacing means forming a cavity-less space in close proximity to said antennae between said stratum means and said ground plane; a printed circuit board adjacent said ground plane; and an electrical conducting means forming an integral part of said board for making electrical connection to said antennae; and said stratum means, ground plane and deformable spacing means capable of being conformally shaped to a surface for shaping said antennae.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 27, including: said stratum means having an outside surface for mounting said antennae thereon; and a protective cover means for protecting and covering said antennae.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said antennae means is spaced a quarter wavelength from said ground plane.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said spacing means includes a flexible hex-cell structure; and said spacing means is interposed between said stratum and said ground plane such that it separates said elements by a quarter wavelength.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 30, wherein: said spacing means has a width of a quarter wavelength and a plurality of passageways therein.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 31, wherein: said passageways are shaped to receive said electrical conducting means and counter sunk to receive said antennae.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 27 wherein: said circuit board includes RF componenets mounted thereon.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said electrical conducting means further includes a plurality of feed through finger means which pass through said deformable spacing means to make said electrical connection to said antennae.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 19, wherein: said electrical conducting means include a microstrip connection formed thereon.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
a conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 34, wherein: said electrical conducting means includes a stripline connection formed thereon.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 27, includes: an array capable of being shaped to a non-planer configuration.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conformation spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 37, wherein: said nonplanar configuration is a cylindrical surface.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
A conformal spiral interferometer array, as claimed in claim 37, wherein: said nonplanar configuration is an arcuate surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-23 | 1992-02-22 | 1992-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-23 | 1996-02-22 | 1996-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-23 | 2000-02-22 | 2000-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |