US4937585A — Microwave circuit module, such as an antenna, and…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 110 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 110 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The antenna array of claim 1 further comprising a plastic layer, said array of radiator elements being deposited on said plastic layer and said plastic layer being adhered to said first surface of said substrate.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 41 words

The antenna of claim 2 wherein said plastic layer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene, polyvinylchloride, thermosetting polyester, polycarbonate, diglycol carbonate, aromatic polyamides, saturated polyester, polyester with unsaturated acid components, polyester with unsaturated alcohol components, and polyimides.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The antenna array of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said radiator elements and said feed network are formed of electrically conductive ink.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The antenna array of claim 4 wherein said electrically conductive ink includes at least 40% by weight of a solid selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, nickel and graphite.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The antenna array of claim 5 wherein said electrically conductive ink includes a liquid selected from the group consisting of epoxy resin, polyurethane, acrylic and thermoplastic solvent.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The antenna array of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said radiator elements and said feed network are vacuum deposited on said first surface of said substrate or on said plastic layer, respectively.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The antenna array of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said radiator elements are all of substantially the same dimensions and are substantially square in shape.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The antenna array of claim 8 wherein said feed network includes respective column conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective columns.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The antenna array of claim 9 wherein said feed network additionally includes respective row conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective rows.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 28 words

The antenna array of claim 10 further comprising switch means for selectively coupling said I/O means to the respective columns or to the respective rows of radiator elements.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

The antenna array of claim 7 wherein said radiator elements and said feed network are comprised of copper.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 18 words

The antenna array of claim 7 wherein said radiator elements and said feed network are comprised of silver.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

The antenna array of claim 1 wherein said ground plane is selected from the group consisting of copper, silver, aluminum and nickel.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

The antenna array of claim 2 wherein said array of radiator elements is sandwiched between said substrate and said plastic layer.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 31 words

The antenna array of claim 1 further comprising a layer of conductive material on said first surface of said substrate on which said radiator elements and said feed network are deposited.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 191 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; said feed network including respective column conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective columns and respective row conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective rows; said radiator elements including a diagonal slit therein at an angle approximately 45° to said column conductor means and to said row conductor means for transmitting a circularly polarized signal when a signal to be transmitted is supplied thereto by said column conductor means or by said row conductor means; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 191 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; said feed network including respective column conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective columns and respective row conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective rows; said radiator elements including a diagonal slit therein at an angle approximately 45° to said column conductor means and to said row conductor means for transmitting a circularly polarized signal when a signal to be transmitted is supplied thereto by said column conductor means or by said row conductor means; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 59 words

The antenna array of claim 17 further comprising switch means for selectively coupling said I/O means to said column conductor means for the transmission of a signal circularly polarized in a first direction; said switch means selectively coupling said I/O means to said row conductor means for the transmission of a signal circularly polarized in a second, opposite direction.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 169 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array, said feed network including respective column conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective columns; and wherein adjacent radiator elements are separated from each other by a distance equal approximately to λ/2; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 169 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array, said feed network including respective column conductor means for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in respective columns; and wherein adjacent radiator elements are separated from each other by a distance equal approximately to λ/2; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array or for receiving a signal received by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The antenna array of claim 19 further including means for varying the phase shifts of said phase shift means by different amounts, thereby electronically steering the beam directivity of said antenna array.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 53 words

The antenna array of claim 20 wherein said means for varying the phase shifts of said phase shift means comprises a source of phase control voltage; plural cascaded voltage divider means coupled to said source to produce respective control voltages; and means for applying said respective control voltages to each phase shift means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 67 words

The antenna array of claim 21 further comprising a plastic layer, said array of radiator elements and said feed network being deposited on one surface of said plastic layer, said phase shift means being deposited on another surface of said plastic layer, connecting means for connecting said phase shift means to said feed network, and said plastic layer being adhered to said first surface of said substrate.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 159 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate, said radiator elements are all of substantially the same dimensions and are substantially square in shape, the length of the side of each radiator element being substantially equal to one-half the wavelength of the signal transmitted or received by said antenna array and wherein adjacent radiator elements are separated from each other by a distance equal approximately to λ/2; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 159 words

An antenna array comprised of: a polyethylene foam substrate having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a dielectric constant less than 1.3; an array of n×m radiator elements formed of electrically conductive material deposited on a first surface of said substrate, said radiator elements are all of substantially the same dimensions and are substantially square in shape, the length of the side of each radiator element being substantially equal to one-half the wavelength of the signal transmitted or received by said antenna array and wherein adjacent radiator elements are separated from each other by a distance equal approximately to λ/2; a feed network formed of electrically conductive material deposited on said first surface of said substrate for electrically interconnecting said radiator elements in said array; I/O means coupled to said feed network for supplying a signal to be transmitted by said antenna array; and a ground plane of conductive material deposited on a second surface of said substrate.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 8 words

The antenna array of claim 23 wherein n=m.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

The antenna array of claim 24 wherein said feed network comprises a corporate feed arrangement.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 56 words

A microwave circuit module comprising: a polyethylene foam layer having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a relative dielectric constant less than 1.3; a predetermined pattern formed of conductive material provided on one surface of said polyethylene foam layer; and an electrically conductive ground plane secured to the opposite layer of said polyethylene foam layer.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 56 words

A microwave circuit module comprising: a polyethylene foam layer having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a relative dielectric constant less than 1.3; a predetermined pattern formed of conductive material provided on one surface of said polyethylene foam layer; and an electrically conductive ground plane secured to the opposite layer of said polyethylene foam layer.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 33 words

The microwave circuit module of claim 26 further comprising a plastic sheet disposed on said one surface of said polyethylene foam layer, and wherein said predetermined, pattern is disposed on said plastic sheet.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The microwave circuit module of claim 26 or 27 wherein said predetermined pattern is formed of conductive ink comprised of solids containing at least 40% silver by weight.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 54 words

A method of forming microwave components comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined conductive pattern on one surface of a polyethylene foam layer having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a relative dielectric constant less than 1.3; and securing the other surface of said polyethylene foam layer to an electrically conductive ground plane.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 54 words

A method of forming microwave components comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined conductive pattern on one surface of a polyethylene foam layer having a loss tangent less than 0.001 and a relative dielectric constant less than 1.3; and securing the other surface of said polyethylene foam layer to an electrically conductive ground plane.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 29 wherein said step of providing a predetermined conductive pattern comprises silk screen printing said pattern directly on said one surface of said polyethylene foam layer with a conductive ink comprised of solids containing at least 40% silver by weight.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 29 wherein said step of providing a predetermined conductive pattern comprises printing said pattern on a plastic sheet with a conductive ink comprised of solids containing at least 40% silver by weight, and adhering said sheet to said one surface of said polyethylene foam layer.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-06-25	1993-12-25	1994-06-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-06-25	1997-12-25	1998-06-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-06-25	2001-12-25	2002-06-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Microwave circuit module, such as an antenna, and method of making same

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