US5099254A — Modular transmitter and antenna array system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 138 words

A radio frequency system of the type having an array antenna, said system comprising: a) a plurality of modules, each module comprising: (i) a supporting base, having a frontal edge, a rearward edge, and a surface disposed between said frontal edge and said rearward edge; (ii) a plurality of antenna elements mounted along said frontal edge of the supporting base; and (iii) a plurality of RF packages mounted on said surface of the supporting base, each such RF package having an RF signal port electrically coupled to a different one of the plurality of antenna elements; and b) means for mounting the plurality of modules along the rearward edge of each of the plurality of modules with the plurality of antenna elements of each of the plurality of modules arranged to from the array antenna of the system.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 138 words

A radio frequency system of the type having an array antenna, said system comprising: a) a plurality of modules, each module comprising: (i) a supporting base, having a frontal edge, a rearward edge, and a surface disposed between said frontal edge and said rearward edge; (ii) a plurality of antenna elements mounted along said frontal edge of the supporting base; and (iii) a plurality of RF packages mounted on said surface of the supporting base, each such RF package having an RF signal port electrically coupled to a different one of the plurality of antenna elements; and b) means for mounting the plurality of modules along the rearward edge of each of the plurality of modules with the plurality of antenna elements of each of the plurality of modules arranged to from the array antenna of the system.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 37 words

The radio frequency system of claim 1 wherein each RF package comprises, electrically coupled to its RF signal port, a) an amplifier for radio frequency signals; and b) a phase shifter, connected in series with the amplifier.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 49 words

The radio frequency system of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of modules additionally comprises an integrated circuit chip, mounted over the supporting base thereof, said chip representing logic circuitry for generating control signals to the amplifier and phase shifter in each of the plurality of RF packages.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

The radio frequency system of claim 3 wherein each of the plurality of modules additionally comprises a printed circuit board mounted to the first surface of the supporting base thereof and wherein the integrated circuit chip is mounted on the printed circuit board.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

The radio frequency system of claim 4 additionally comprises: a) control electronics; and b) means for electrically connecting the control electronics to the integrated circuit chip of each of the plurality of modules, said means passing through the mounting means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The radio frequency system of claim 5 wherein the mounting means comprises a channel for carrying cooling fluid.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The radio frequency system of claim 6 including means for thermally coupling each of the plurality of modules to the channel.

Claim 9

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 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

The radio frequency system of claim 8 wherein the supporting base of each of the plurality of modules comprises a fin which projects into a corresponding one of said plurality of slots.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 38 words

The radio frequency system of claim 9 wherein the supporting base of each of the plurality of modules comprises at least one heat pipe, one end of said at least one heat pipe being disposed in the fin.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The radio frequency system of claim 10 wherein the at least one heat pipe is disposed adjacent one of the plurality of RF packages.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

The radio frequency system of claim 1 additionally comprising a plurality of heat pipes disposed in the supporting base of each of the plurality of modules.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The radio frequency system of claim 12 wherein each of the plurality heat pipes is disposed adjacent one of the plurality of RF packages.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

The radio frequency system of claim 13 wherein the mounting means comprises means for dissipating heat and including means for thermally coupling each of the plurality of heat pipes to the means for dissipating heat.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 48 words

The antenna recited in claim 2 wherein each one of the plurality of antenna elements of each one of the plurality of modules has a co-polarization input and a cross-polarization input and wherein the plurality of RF packages mounted on said surface are coupled to the co-polarization inputs.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 40 words

The antenna recited in claim 15 wherein each one of the modules includes a second plurality of RF packages mounted on a second surface of the supporting base, such second plurality of RF packages being coupled to the cross-polarization inputs.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 69 words

The radio frequency system of claim 2 wherein each of the plurality of modules additionally comprises: a) a dielectric layer having stripline circuitry disposed thereon, said dielectric layer being mounted on the first surface of the supporting base thereof between the plurality of RF packages and the plurality of antenna elements, said stripline circuitry being electrically connected to the plurality of RF packages and the plurality of antenna elements.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 137 words

An electronic system comprising: a) a plurality of modules, each module comprising: (i) a supporting base having a fin disposed along one edge; (ii) at least one package of electronics mounted on the supporting base; and (iii) at least one heat pipe, comprising a vapor channel and wick, disposed in the supporting base, said at least one heat pipe having an end disposed in the fin; and b) means, having a heat removing channel and a plurality of slots formed therein, for mounting said plurality of modules, said mounting means comprising: (i) means for dissipating heat, said means being disposed in the heat removing channel of the mounting means, and wherein the fin of each module projects into a corresponding one of the plurality of slots and is in thermal contact with the means for dissipating heat.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 137 words

An electronic system comprising: a) a plurality of modules, each module comprising: (i) a supporting base having a fin disposed along one edge; (ii) at least one package of electronics mounted on the supporting base; and (iii) at least one heat pipe, comprising a vapor channel and wick, disposed in the supporting base, said at least one heat pipe having an end disposed in the fin; and b) means, having a heat removing channel and a plurality of slots formed therein, for mounting said plurality of modules, said mounting means comprising: (i) means for dissipating heat, said means being disposed in the heat removing channel of the mounting means, and wherein the fin of each module projects into a corresponding one of the plurality of slots and is in thermal contact with the means for dissipating heat.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

The electronic system of claim 18 wherein the means for dissipating heat comprises a refrigerated fluid.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 46 words

The electronic system of claim 19 wherein the mounting means additionally comprises means for coupling electrical signals to said at least one package of electronics of each of the plurality of modules, said coupling means passing through the the heat removing channel of the mounting means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 77 words

The electronic system of claim 20 wherein each of the plurality of modules comprises a plurality of packages of electronics, wherein the supporting base of each of the plurality of modules comprises two sides, and wherein a first portion of said plurality of packages of electronics is mounted on a first one of said two sides and a second portion of said plurality of packages of electronics is mounted on a second one of said two sides.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 48 words

The electronic system of claim 21 wherein each of the plurality of modules comprises one heat pipe for each one of said first portion of said plurality of packages of electronics and wherein said one heat pipe is disposed adjacent to said one of said plurality of packages.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The electronic system of claim 22 wherein each of said plurality of packages of electronics comprises Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC).

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

The electronic system of claim 23 wherein each of said plurality of packages of electronics comprises: a) an RF input port; b) an amplifier; and c) a phase shifter, said amplifier and said phase shifter being connected in series with the RF input port.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-24	1995-09-23	1996-03-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-24	1999-09-23	2000-03-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-24	2003-09-23	2004-03-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular transmitter and antenna array system

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