US5325103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lightweight patch radiator antenna
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1992-11-05
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Granted: 1994-06-28
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Expires: 2012-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A lightweight patch radiator phased array antenna having a single layer patch construction on an artificial dielectric, such as syntactic foam, which achieves a factor-of-ten weight savings over an array constructed with conventional materials. An additional sixty-five percent weight reduction is achieved by cutting away the dielectric material down to the array antenna's ground plane everywhere except under the patch radiator. This construction allows placement of a thermal control material over the patch and ground plane for space applications.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack J. Schuss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01Q; H01Q1/00; H01Q1/27; H01Q1/28; H01Q1/288; H01Q1/40; H01Q9/00; H01Q9/04; H01Q9/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A patch radiator antenna comprising: an antenna panel, said panel providing a ground plane; a first thermal control material means bonded to said ground plane surface of said antenna panel; a plurality of patch radiators arranged on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; each of said plurality of patch radiators comprising: (a) a dielectric means having a first surface and a second surface; (b) a patch element disposed on and bonded to said first surface of said dielectric means; (c) a flange bonded to said second surface of said dielectric means; (d) a second thermal control material means bonded to said patch element; and (e) probe means extending from said patch radiator for coupling said patch element to an RF signal source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A patch radiator antenna comprising: an antenna panel, said panel providing a ground plane; a first thermal control material means bonded to said ground plane surface of said antenna panel; a plurality of patch radiators arranged on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; each of said plurality of patch radiators comprising: (a) a dielectric means having a first surface and a second surface; (b) a patch element disposed on and bonded to said first surface of said dielectric means; (c) a flange bonded to said second surface of said dielectric means; (d) a second thermal control material means bonded to said patch element; and (e) probe means extending from said patch radiator for coupling said patch element to an RF signal source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The patch radiator antenna as recited in claim 1 wherein: said antenna panel comprises an aluminum honeycomb material means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The patch radiator antenna as recited in claim 1 wherein: said dielectric means comprises a low weight, high dielectric, syntactic foam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The patch radiator antenna as recited in claim 1 wherein: said thermal control material means comprises a flexible optical solar reflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The patch radiator antenna as recited in claim 1 wherein: said thermal control material comprises a thermal control paint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
A phased array antenna comprising: an antenna panel, aid panel providing a ground plane; a first thermal control means bonded to said ground plane surface of said antenna panel; a plurality of patch radiators arranged on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; a transmit/receive (T/R) module coupled to each of said plurality of patch radiators; each of said y of patch radiators comprising: (a) a dielectric having a first surface and a second surface; (b) a patch disposed on and bonded to said first surface of said dielectric means; (c) a flange bonded to said second surface of said dielectric means; (d) a second thermal control material means bonded to said patch element; and (e) probe means extending from said patch radiator for coupling said patch element to said T/R module.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
142 words
A phased array antenna comprising: an antenna panel, aid panel providing a ground plane; a first thermal control means bonded to said ground plane surface of said antenna panel; a plurality of patch radiators arranged on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; a transmit/receive (T/R) module coupled to each of said plurality of patch radiators; each of said y of patch radiators comprising: (a) a dielectric having a first surface and a second surface; (b) a patch disposed on and bonded to said first surface of said dielectric means; (c) a flange bonded to said second surface of said dielectric means; (d) a second thermal control material means bonded to said patch element; and (e) probe means extending from said patch radiator for coupling said patch element to said T/R module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The phased array antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein: said antenna panel comprises an aluminum honeycomb material means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The phased array antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein: said dielectric means comprises a low weight, high dielectric, syntactic foam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The phased array antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein: said thermal control material means comprises a flexible optical solar reflector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The phased array antenna as recited in claim 6 wherein: said thermal control material comprises a thermal control paint.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for providing a lightweight patch radiator antenna comprising the steps of: providing an antenna panel having a ground plane; bonding to said ground plane surface of said antenna panel a first thermal control material means; arranging on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner a plurality of patch radiators with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; providing a dielectric means having a first surface and a second surface for each of said plurality of patch radiators; disposing a patch element on and bonding it to said first surface of said dielectric means; bonding a flange to said second surface of said dielectric means; bonding a second thermal control material means to said patch element; and coupling said patch element to an RF signal source with probe means extending from said patch radiator.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for providing a lightweight patch radiator antenna comprising the steps of: providing an antenna panel having a ground plane; bonding to said ground plane surface of said antenna panel a first thermal control material means; arranging on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner a plurality of patch radiators with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; providing a dielectric means having a first surface and a second surface for each of said plurality of patch radiators; disposing a patch element on and bonding it to said first surface of said dielectric means; bonding a flange to said second surface of said dielectric means; bonding a second thermal control material means to said patch element; and coupling said patch element to an RF signal source with probe means extending from said patch radiator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein: said step of providing an antenna panel comprises said panel having an aluminum honeycomb material means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said step of providing a dielectric means includes said dielectric means comprising a low weight, high dielectric, syntactic foam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein: said step of providing a thermal control material means comprises bonding a flexible optical solar reflector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 11 wherein: said step of providing thermal control material means comprises a thermal control paint.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for providing a phased array antenna comprising the steps of: providing an panel having a ground plane; bonding to s ground plane surface of said antenna panel a first thermal control material means; arranging on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner a plurality of patch radiators with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; coupling a transmit/receive (T/R) module to each of said plurality of patch radiators; providing a dielectric means having a first surface and a second surface for each of said plurality of patch radiators; disposing a patch element on and bonding it to said first surface of said dielectric means; bonding a flange to said second surface of said dielectric means; bonding a second thermal control material means to said patch element; and coupling said patch element to said T/R module with probe means extending from said patch radiator.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for providing a phased array antenna comprising the steps of: providing an panel having a ground plane; bonding to s ground plane surface of said antenna panel a first thermal control material means; arranging on said antenna panel in a spaced apart manner a plurality of patch radiators with no solid dielectric material between said patch radiators; coupling a transmit/receive (T/R) module to each of said plurality of patch radiators; providing a dielectric means having a first surface and a second surface for each of said plurality of patch radiators; disposing a patch element on and bonding it to said first surface of said dielectric means; bonding a flange to said second surface of said dielectric means; bonding a second thermal control material means to said patch element; and coupling said patch element to said T/R module with probe means extending from said patch radiator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 16 wherein: said step of providing an antenna panel comprises said panel having an aluminum honeycomb material means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of providing a dielectric means includes said dielectric means comprising a low weight, high dielectric, syntactic foam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as recited in claim 16 wherein: said step of providing a thermal control material means comprises bonding a flexible optical solar reflector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 16 wherein: said step of providing thermal control material means comprises a thermal control paint.
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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) | 1997-06-27 | 1997-12-27 | 1998-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-27 | 2001-12-27 | 2002-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-27 | 2005-12-27 | 2006-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |