Antenna array panel structure

Claim 1

An antenna array, comprising: a monolithic three dimensional grid of dielectric material having sidewalls defining a plurality of adjacent polygonal cells, said sidewalls having an upper and lower edge; an antenna circuit formed on at least one of the sidewalls of a plurality of the cells, between the upper and lower edge thereof, to form a plurality of notch radiating elements having a horn shaped configuration, said radiating elements being positioned near the center of said sidewalls, and wherein each of said sidewalls is offset intermediate their ends so that approximately one-half of the sidewall is offset from another half, and the antenna circuitry comprises a notch formed by circuitry on opposite surfaces of the wall offset from one another; a first sheet of dielectric material bonded to the upper edge of the grid serving as a structural outer skin and antenna radome; and a second sheet bonded to the lower edge of each of the sidewalls serving as both a structural inner skin and as a member supporting interconnecting circuitry of the antenna.