Low-profile array element antenna of end-fire array antenna

Abstract

The invention belongs to the field of array element antenna design, and relates to a low-profile array element antenna of an end-fire array antenna, which comprises a reflector, a director and a radiation oscillator, the radiation oscillator is arranged between the reflector and the director, and the director, the radiation oscillator and the reflector are sequentially arranged from low to high; through the folding and overlapping design of the director, the radiation oscillator and the reflector, the space occupation is effectively reduced and the profile height of the end-fire array antenna is reduced while the director, the radiation oscillator and the reflector are ensured to have enough antenna area so as to ensure the radiation performance, so that the end-fire array antenna has the basis of carrier platform conformalization. On the premise of ensuring the performance of the radar antenna, the traditional'cauldron 'or'balance beam' early warning radar antenna form is abandoned, and the early warning radar antenna is fused in the appearance of an airborne platform, so that conformal integration of the radar and an airplane is realized, and the influence of the early warning radar antenna on the aerodynamic performance of the airborne platform is reduced to the greatest extent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application belongs to the field of array element antenna design, and in particular relates to a low-profile array element antenna of an end-fire array antenna. Background Art

[0002] The airborne early warning radar system requires that the external radar antenna has low air resistance, light weight, high gain, and does not threaten the carrying capacity and aerodynamics of the carrier aircraft. In practical applications, these two conditions are difficult to meet at the same time. According to the antenna principle, in order to make the gain of a certain airspace as high as possible, a corresponding sufficiently large aperture is required in the corresponding direction, but the forward aperture of the airborne platform is limited, and the aperture position that can be used for the radar system is even more tense. Therefore, in order to obtain high gain, the aperture position can only be found on other surfaces of the aircraft. However, if the aerodynamics of the aircraft is also to be guaranteed, the airborne radar antenna is required to achieve low profile or even conformal at these aperture positions. Taking the Swedish "balance beam" airborne radar system PS-890 as an example, it adopts a back-to-back active side-firing phased array installation form. Compared with the "big pot" early warning radar, the aerodynamics of the carrier aircraft are all improved, but the fuselage still has a large-sized protrusion.

[0003] In order to improve combat capability, future early warning aircraft will pursue ultra-high-speed aerodynamic performance and large-caliber high-gain performance, which puts forward the functional requirements of low-profile conformal for airborne radar antennas, especially the low-profile conformal requirements for radar antennas of early warning aircraft radars. As we all know, the size of the antenna depends on the operating frequency. Most early warning radars operate in the P band with an operating wavelength greater than 30 cm, and it is extremely difficult to achieve low-profile design of the antenna.

[0004] The existing technology has the following disadvantages:

[0005] Main disadvantage 1: When scanning at a large angle, the antenna operating frequency band is offset, and the performance of the radiation pattern is deteriorated;

[0006] The second major disadvantage: The current end-fire array antenna is too large and not conducive to conformality.

[0007] Therefore, how to significantly reduce the profile height of the end-fire array antenna is a problem that needs to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0008] The purpose of the present application is to provide a low-profile array element antenna for an end-fire array antenna, so as to solve the problem of high profile height of existing low-profile end-fire array antennas.

[0009] The technical solution of the present application is: a low-profile array element antenna of an end-fire array antenna, comprising a reflector, a director and a radiating element; the radiating element is arranged between the reflector and the director, the director, the radiating element and the reflector are designed in a stepped manner, and the heights of the director, the radiating element and the reflector are arranged in sequence from low to high; both ends of the director, the radiating element and the reflector are folded downward, and the two sides of the radiating element overlap with part of the structure of the reflector and the director up and down; there is a gap between the director, the radiating element and the reflector.

[0010] Preferably, the director, radiation oscillator and reflector all include a main circuit structure, an extended circuit structure and a folded circuit structure; the main circuit structure and the extended circuit structure are both horizontally arranged and the upper planes of the main circuit structure and the extended circuit structure are coplanar, and the folded circuit structure is located directly below the main circuit structure; the main circuit structure, the extended circuit structure and the folded circuit structure are arranged integrally.

[0011] Preferably, the folded circuit structure is in a rectangular, circular, elliptical or wavy shape.

[0012] Preferably, it also includes a coaxial connector, which is coaxially connected to the bottom of the radiating oscillator and the lower end of the coaxial connector is fixed to the floor; the reflector and the director are directly fixed to the floor; and the height of the radiating oscillator from the ground is 1 / 20 wavelength.

[0013] Preferably, the director, the radiating oscillator and the reflector further include supporting columns, the supporting columns of the director and the reflector are connected to the floor, and the supporting column of the radiating oscillator is connected to a coaxial connector.

[0014] Preferably, the director, the radiating element and the reflector are all made of metal and the director, the radiating element and the reflector form a complete Yagi antenna.

[0015] The low-profile array element antenna of the end-fire array antenna of the present application, through the folding and overlapping design of the director, radiating vibrator and reflector, effectively reduces the space occupation and the profile height of the end-fire array antenna while ensuring that the director, radiating vibrator and reflector have sufficient antenna area to ensure radiation performance, so that it has the basis for conformalization of the carrier platform. Under the premise of ensuring the performance of the radar antenna, the traditional "big pot" or "balance beam" early warning radar antenna form is abandoned, and the early warning radar antenna is integrated into the shape of the airborne platform to achieve conformal integration of the radar and the aircraft, and minimize the impact of the early warning radar antenna on the aerodynamic performance of the airborne platform. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution provided by the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application.

[0017] Figure 1 This is the axonometric drawing of the overall structure of this application;

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of multiple groups of directors, radiators and reflectors in this application;

[0019] Figure 3 This is the main view of the overall structure of this application;

[0020] Figure 4 This is the azimuth radiation pattern of the low-profile end-fire antenna array element of this application.

[0021] 1. Director; 2. Radiating oscillator; 3. Reflector; 4. Main circuit structure; 5. Extended circuit structure; 6. Folded circuit structure; 7. Coaxial connector; 8. Support column. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] A low profile element antenna of an end-fire array antenna, such as Figure 1 , including a reflector 3, a director 1 and a radiation vibrator 2; the radiation vibrator 2 is arranged between the reflector 3 and the director 1, the director 1, the radiation vibrator 2 and the reflector 3 are designed in a stepped manner, and the heights of the director 1, the radiation vibrator 2 and the reflector 3 are arranged in sequence from low to high; both ends of the director 1, the radiation vibrator 2 and the reflector 3 are folded downward, and both sides of the radiation vibrator 2 overlap with part of the structure of the reflector 3 and the director 1 up and down; there is a gap between the director 1, the radiation vibrator 2 and the reflector 3.

[0024] Through the folding and overlapping design of the director 1, the radiating vibrator 2 and the reflector 3, while ensuring that the director 1, the radiating vibrator 2 and the reflector 3 all have sufficient antenna area to ensure radiation performance, the space occupation and the profile height of the end-fire array antenna are effectively reduced, so that it has the basis for conformalization of the carrier platform. Under the premise of ensuring the performance of the radar antenna, the traditional "big pot" or "balance beam" early warning radar antenna form is abandoned, and the early warning radar antenna is integrated into the shape of the airborne platform to achieve conformal integration of the radar and the aircraft, and minimize the impact of the early warning radar antenna on the aerodynamic performance of the airborne platform.

[0025] In actual use, there are multiple groups of directors 1, radiation oscillators 2 and reflectors 3, which are arranged in parallel. Figure 2shown.

[0026] Combination Figure 3 Preferably, the director 1, the radiation oscillator 2 and the reflector 3 all include a main circuit structure 4, an extended circuit structure 5 and a folded circuit structure 6; the main circuit structure 4 and the extended circuit structure 5 are both arranged horizontally and the upper planes of the main circuit structure 4 and the extended circuit structure 5 are coplanar, and the folded circuit structure 6 is located directly below the main circuit structure 4; the main circuit structure 4, the extended circuit structure 5 and the folded circuit structure 6 are arranged integrally. Since the radiation performance of the antenna is only affected by the antenna area, this inner folding design greatly guarantees the radiation performance while ensuring the antenna area, and the upper and lower interconnections are achieved through the extended circuit structure 5 to ensure structural stability.

[0027] Preferably, the shape of the folded circuit structure 6 is rectangular, circular, elliptical or wavy, but is certainly not limited to the above structures. Any structure that can meet the spatial shape requirements is within the design scope of this application. Some structures can achieve a larger folding area, such as a wavy shape, making the configuration more flexible.

[0028] Preferably, it also includes a coaxial connector 7, which is coaxially connected to the bottom of the radiating oscillator 2, and the lower end of the coaxial connector 7 is fixed to the floor; the reflector 3 and the director 1 are directly fixed to the floor to achieve stable fixation of the radiating oscillator 2; and the height of the radiating oscillator 2 from the ground is 1 / 20 wavelength to ensure the radiation intensity requirements.

[0029] Preferably, the director 1, the radiating oscillator 2 and the reflector 3 further include a supporting column 8, the supporting columns 8 of the director 1 and the reflector 3 are connected to the floor, and the supporting column 8 of the radiating oscillator 2 is connected to the coaxial connector 7, so as to further improve the stability of the connection.

[0030] Preferably, the director 1, the radiating element 2 and the reflector 3 are all made of metal and the director 1, the radiating element 2 and the reflector 3 form a complete Yagi antenna to achieve a symmetrical beam shape in azimuth and a quasi-end-fire beam shape in elevation, such as Figure 4 shown.

[0031] The above design has the following advantages:

[0032] 1. The platform has little or negligible impact on the radiation performance of the end-fire array antenna;

[0033] 2. Significantly reduce the profile height of the early warning radar antenna;

[0034] 3. Enable it to have the ability to conform to the carrier platform.

[0035] Finally, it should be noted that: the drawings of the embodiments disclosed in the present invention only involve structures related to the embodiments disclosed in the present invention, and other structures can refer to the general design. In the absence of conflict, the same embodiment and different embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other;

[0036] Finally: The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A low-profile element antenna of an end-fire array antenna, characterized in that: The invention comprises a reflector (3), a director (1) and a radiation vibrator (2); the radiation vibrator (2) is arranged between the reflector (3) and the director (1); the director (1), the radiation vibrator (2) and the reflector (3) are designed in a stepped manner, and the heights of the director (1), the radiation vibrator (2) and the reflector (3) are arranged in sequence from low to high; both ends of the director (1), the radiation vibrator (2) and the reflector (3) are folded downward, and both sides of the radiation vibrator (2) overlap with parts of the reflector (3) and the director (1) up and down; and there is a gap between the director (1), the radiation vibrator (2) and the reflector (3).

2. The low-profile array element antenna of the end-fire array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The director (1), the radiation oscillator (2) and the reflector (3) all comprise a main circuit structure (4), an extended circuit structure (5) and a folded circuit structure (6); the main circuit structure (4) and the extended circuit structure (5) are both arranged horizontally, and the upper planes of the main circuit structure (4) and the extended circuit structure (5) are coplanar, and the folded circuit structure (6) is located directly below the main circuit structure (4); the main circuit structure (4), the extended circuit structure (5) and the folded circuit structure (6) are arranged in one piece.

3. The low-profile array element antenna of the end-fire array antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that: The folded circuit structure (6) is in the shape of a rectangle, a circle, an ellipse or a wave.

4. The low-profile array element antenna of the end-fire array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a coaxial connector (7), which is coaxially connected to the bottom of the radiation oscillator (2), and the lower end of the coaxial connector (7) is fixed to the floor; the reflector (3) and the director (1) are both directly fixed to the floor; and the height between the radiation oscillator (2) and the ground is 1 / 20 wavelength.

5. The low-profile array element antenna of the end-fire array antenna according to claim 4, characterized in that: The director (1), the radiation oscillator (2) and the reflector (3) further comprise a support column (8); the support columns (8) of the director (1) and the reflector (3) are connected to the floor, and the support column (8) of the radiation oscillator (2) is connected to the coaxial connector (7).

6. The low profile element antenna of the end-fire array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The director (1), the radiating element (2) and the reflector (3) are all made of metal, and the director (1), the radiating element (2) and the reflector (3) form a complete Yagi antenna.

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