Radome, antenna and method for manufacturing a radome

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of communication, in particular to an antenna cover, an antenna and a manufacturing method of the antenna cover. The antenna cover encloses a containing space, and comprises one or more cover body parts. When the antenna cover comprises multiple cover body parts, each cover body part comprises a first end part and a second end part arranged along a first direction, and a third end part and a fourth end part arranged along a direction different from the first direction. The multiple cover body parts are arranged in a ring shape. The first end parts of the multiple cover body parts enclose a first opening, and the second end parts of the multiple cover body parts enclose a second opening. In two adjacent cover body parts, the end parts of the two cover body parts are arranged in a laminated mode and are fixedly connected. The antenna cover has high matching degree with the shape of the cover body parts, and is easy to manufacture. The end parts of the two adjacent cover body parts are arranged in a laminated mode, and the connection part has high strength. The cover body parts have thermoplasticity, are easy to form and are recyclable. Therefore, the antenna cover has high strength, is easy to manufacture and has low cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an antenna radome, an antenna, and a method for manufacturing the antenna radome. Background Technology

[0002] A radome is the protective shell of an antenna, playing a crucial role in protecting the antenna's internal structure from external environmental influences. Base station antennas are generally large and operate in harsh environments, requiring radomes to be large in size and possess high strength and toughness. Currently, fiberglass is commonly used to make radomes, offering high strength. However, balancing high strength with low cost remains a pressing issue. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this application is to provide an antenna radome, an antenna, and a method for manufacturing the antenna radome.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an antenna radome that encloses a receiving space. The antenna radome includes one or more radome portions, the material of which includes a thermoplastic material. When the antenna radome includes multiple radome portions, each radome portion includes a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a direction different from the first direction. The multiple radome portions are arranged around each other, the first end of the multiple radome portions forming a first opening, and the second end of the multiple radome portions forming a second opening. The first opening and the second opening respectively connect the receiving space and the external space of the antenna radome. In two adjacent radome portions, the third end of the first radome portion connects to the second radome portion. The fourth end of the radome is fixedly connected and stacked along the thickness direction of the third end of the first radome; when the radome includes a radome, the radome includes a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a direction different from the first direction. The radome is annular, the first end of the radome surrounds a first opening, and the second end of the radome surrounds a second opening. The first opening and the second opening respectively connect the accommodating space and the external space of the radome; the third end of the radome is fixedly connected to the fourth end of the radome and stacked along the thickness direction of the third end of the radome.

[0005] For example, multiple cover sections are arranged around a first direction.

[0006] For example, adjacent radome portions are fixedly connected to form a connection area. The structures of the two radome portions located in the connection area are stacked and fixedly connected to form a single integral structure, thus forming an antenna radome. The extension direction of the connection area can be the same as the first direction.

[0007] For example, the cross-section of the radome perpendicular to the first direction can be a closed structure.

[0008] In this embodiment, by providing a first opening and a second opening arranged along the first direction, the radome is made to have a generally cylindrical structure extending along the first direction. Furthermore, since multiple radome portions are arranged around the first direction and adjacent radome portions are fixedly connected, the radome portions also extend roughly along the first direction. The extension direction of the radome portions corresponds to the extension direction of the radome. The shape of the radome matches the shape of the radome portions well, making it easy to directly form the radome by splicing the radome portions, thus facilitating the manufacture of the radome.

[0009] In addition, multiple radome sections extend along the first direction, and the extension directions of the multiple radome sections are the same. Therefore, it is convenient for adjacent radome sections to be directly overlapped and stacked, which facilitates the manufacture of the radome. Furthermore, the strength of the radome in the first direction is not weakened due to the splicing of multiple radome sections, and the connection between two adjacent radome sections has high strength in its thickness direction due to the stacking arrangement, which helps to improve the overall strength of the radome.

[0010] Furthermore, the radome is thermoplastic, making it easy to directly obtain the radome by heating and shaping the raw material sheet. The shape and molding method of the radome are highly compatible with the raw material sheet, facilitating its molding. Thermoplastic materials are recyclable, which also benefits the recycling of the radome.

[0011] Therefore, this embodiment can ensure that the radome has high strength, is easy to manufacture, and has low cost.

[0012] In some embodiments, the cover portion includes a first prepreg layer, the first prepreg layer includes a matrix and a fiber body, the fiber body of the first prepreg layer is a continuous fiber, the fiber body of the first prepreg layer is embedded in the matrix of the first prepreg layer, and the material of the matrix of the first prepreg layer is a thermoplastic material.

[0013] For example, the matrix material may be one or more of PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), and PC (polycarbonate).

[0014] For example, the fiber body of the first prepreg layer can be a continuous unidirectional fiber, that is, the fiber body is a long fiber and the fiber body is arranged in parallel unidirectional direction.

[0015] For example, the fiber body of the first prepreg layer can be a woven fabric, that is, the first prepreg layer is a woven prepreg.

[0016] For example, the radome portion can be formed from a first prepreg layer, which can be formed by a one-time molding process. The first prepreg layer can be a sheet, and the first prepreg layer can be directly formed into the radome portion of the antenna radome through a secondary molding process.

[0017] In this embodiment, the first prepreg layer is a composite material. The fiber body of the first prepreg layer has strong strength, which can greatly improve the strength of the first prepreg layer, thereby significantly improving the mechanical properties of the radome and ensuring the strength of the radome. This, in turn, helps to reduce the thickness of the radome and reduce the weight of the radome, achieving lightweight and low cost of the radome.

[0018] In some embodiments, the cover portion further includes a second prepreg layer, which includes a matrix and a fiber body. The fiber body of the second prepreg layer is embedded in the matrix of the second prepreg layer. The fiber body of the first prepreg layer is a continuous unidirectional fiber, and the fiber body of the second prepreg layer is a continuous unidirectional fiber. The second prepreg layer and the first prepreg layer are stacked along the thickness direction of the cover portion, and the fiber body of the second prepreg layer is set at an angle to the fiber body of the first prepreg layer. The angle between the fiber body of the second prepreg layer and the fiber body of the first prepreg layer is a first angle, wherein 0°≤a≤90°; or, a=45°; or a=90°.

[0019] In this embodiment, by setting the fibers of the first prepreg layer and the second prepreg layer at an angle, the radome can be strengthened in both directions of the angle, thereby improving the strength of the radome in different directions.

[0020] In some embodiments, the cover portion further includes a third prepreg layer, which includes a matrix and a fiber body. The fiber body of the third prepreg layer is embedded in the matrix of the third prepreg layer. The fiber body of the third prepreg layer is a continuous unidirectional fiber. The first prepreg layer, the second prepreg layer, and the third prepreg layer are stacked sequentially, and the fiber bodies of the first prepreg layer and the third prepreg layer are arranged in parallel.

[0021] In this embodiment, the first prepreg layer and the third prepreg layer can serve as the top and bottom layers of the cover portion, respectively. When the sheet forming the cover portion is manufactured, the fiber bodies of the first prepreg layer and the fiber bodies of the third prepreg layer extend in parallel directions, which makes it easier to form the sheet and facilitates manufacturing, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the raw materials for the cover portion.

[0022] In some embodiments, the radome further includes a protective layer made of thermoplastic material. The protective layer is located on the side of the radome away from the receiving space, and / or on the side of the radome facing the receiving space.

[0023] For example, the material of the protective layer can be one or more of PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

[0024] In this embodiment, the protective layer can further protect the first prepreg layer on the surface of the radome, improve the flatness of the outer side of the radome, thereby improving the wear resistance and wind resistance of the radome, and prevent the structure inside the protective layer (such as the fiber body of the first prepreg layer) from being exposed, thereby improving the service life of the radome.

[0025] In some embodiments, the cover portion includes a protective layer and at least one prepreg layer; the material of the protective layer includes a thermoplastic material, and the material of the prepreg layer includes a thermoplastic material; the protective layer is fixedly connected to the prepreg layer, and the protective layer is located on the side of the at least one prepreg layer away from the receiving space; the melting point of the material of the protective layer is greater than the melting point of the material of the prepreg layer.

[0026] In two adjacent radome sections, the prepreg layer at the third end of the first radome section is stacked and fused together with the prepreg layer at the fourth end of the second radome section; the protective layers of the first radome section and the protective layers of the second radome section are arranged circumferentially along the antenna radome.

[0027] In this embodiment, at the connection between adjacent radome sections, the prepreg layer of one radome section and the prepreg layer of the other radome section are directly fused together, which is equivalent to reducing the thickness of a protective layer at the connection, thereby helping to reduce the thickness at the connection between the two radome sections and making the thickness distribution of the radome more uniform.

[0028] Furthermore, when the melting point of the protective layer material is higher than that of the prepreg matrix, it is easier to directly fuse the prepreg layers of two adjacent cover sections at a lower temperature, without having to melt the protective layer. This reduces the conditions for fusion connection between two adjacent cover sections and allows the protective layer to have a higher melting point, better performance, better protection, and a longer service life.

[0029] In some embodiments, multiple radome parts are formed by thermoforming and fusion to form an antenna radome, which is a one-piece structural component.

[0030] For example, the sheets forming the radome are heated. Since the material of the radome is a thermoplastic material, the sheets soften as a whole when heated, and the sheets can be heat-formed into the shape of the sidewall of the radome. Furthermore, since two adjacent radomes are fused together, the adjacent radomes can be fused together synchronously during the forming process of the radome.

[0031] In this embodiment, multiple radome sections can be formed by hot pressing, and the connection between adjacent radome sections can also be achieved by hot pressing. The same forming method and connection method between multiple radome sections simplify the forming steps of the radome, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. The connection between adjacent radome sections is achieved through the material of the radome sections themselves, without the need for additional components. The connection method between multiple radome sections is simple and reliable, which helps to simplify the structure of the radome, reduce its weight, and thus reduce the material cost of the radome.

[0032] In some embodiments, the thickness m of the cover portion satisfies: m≤3 mm, or m≤1 mm.

[0033] In this embodiment, the radome has high strength and a small thickness, which reduces the weight of the radome and achieves a lightweight design. Furthermore, the material cost of the radome is low, which helps to reduce the cost of the radome.

[0034] In some implementations, the density p of the radome satisfies: p ≤ 1.8 g / cm³ or p ≤ 1.5 g / cm³.

[0035] In this embodiment, the radome is made of a thermoplastic material. Thermoplastic materials have a low density, which helps to reduce the overall density of the radome, thereby reducing the weight of the radome and facilitating its lightweight design.

[0036] In some embodiments, the plurality of cover portions include a first cover portion and a second cover portion. The third end portion and the fourth end portion of the first cover portion are arranged along a second direction, and the third end portion and the fourth end portion of the second cover portion are arranged along a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The third end portion of the first cover portion and the fourth end portion of the second cover portion are stacked along the second direction to form a first connecting region. The fourth end portion of the second cover portion is located on the side of the third end portion of the first cover portion facing the receiving space. The fourth end portion of the first cover portion and the third end portion of the second cover portion are stacked along the second direction to form a first connecting region. The third end portion of the second cover portion is located on the side of the fourth end portion of the first cover portion facing the receiving space.

[0037] In this embodiment, since the first radome portion and the second radome portion are arranged around each other, and the stacking direction of the third end of the first radome portion and the fourth end of the second radome portion and the stacking direction of the fourth end of the first radome portion and the third end of the second radome portion are the same, which are both the second direction, the third end of the first radome portion, the fourth end of the second radome portion, the third end of the second radome portion and the fourth end of the first radome portion are arranged sequentially along the second direction. At this time, the structures of the first radome portion and the second radome portion are roughly the same or symmetrical, which makes it easier to simplify the fabrication of the radome.

[0038] Furthermore, the third and fourth ends of the second radome are located between the third and fourth ends of the first radome, which is equivalent to the first radome partially clamping the second radome. In the arrangement direction of the third and fourth ends of the second radome, the first and second radomes can mutually limit each other. When the antenna radome is subjected to external force in the arrangement direction of the third and fourth ends of the second radome, the first and second radomes can abut against each other, thereby reducing the stress on the connection structure of the first and second radomes, improving the connection reliability of the first and second radomes, and thus improving the structural strength of the antenna radome.

[0039] In some embodiments, the radome extends in a straight line along a first direction, and the radome includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a third side plate, and a fourth side plate connected in sequence; the first side plate and the third side plate are arranged opposite to each other, the second side plate and the fourth side plate are arranged opposite to each other, and the distance between the first side plate and the third side plate is greater than the distance between the second side plate and the fourth side plate.

[0040] In this embodiment, the radome is generally cylindrical in shape, making it simple to manufacture and easy to mass-produce. The cross-section of the radome perpendicular to the first direction is approximately rectangular, which provides strong bending resistance and ensures sufficient strength. Furthermore, when used in an antenna, the rectangular shape makes it easier to adapt to rectangular reflectors and other components, thus improving the radome's adaptability.

[0041] In some embodiments, the radome extends in a straight line along a first direction, and the cross-section of the radome perpendicular to the first direction is annular.

[0042] In this embodiment, the radome has relatively balanced mechanical properties in all directions in a cross-section perpendicular to the first direction, which helps to improve the radome's adaptability to the external environment. In addition, since multiple radome sections are arranged around the first direction, the arrangement of multiple radome sections is more compatible with the cross-sectional shape of the radome, making it easier to form the radome from a larger number of radome sections.

[0043] In some embodiments, the radome further includes a side portion extending from the first opening to the second opening, the side portion being made of a thermoplastic material, and the side portion connecting two adjacent radome portions among a plurality of radome portions.

[0044] In this embodiment, the side portion is used to connect the stacked connection of the radome portion, thereby making the wall thickness of the radome at the stacked connection of the radome portion thicker, which is beneficial to improving the structural strength of the stacked connection and forming a surface structure on the side portion, thereby enabling the radome to have more functions (such as wind resistance).

[0045] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an antenna, including an antenna element and an antenna radome as provided in any embodiment of the first aspect, the antenna radome being disposed on the outside of the antenna element.

[0046] In this embodiment, since the radome can balance high strength and lightweight, it has a low cost, thus the antenna has strong environmental adaptability and a low cost.

[0047] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a method for manufacturing an antenna radome, the method comprising:

[0048] Provided multiple sheets, wherein the multiple sheets include a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a second direction, and the material of the sheets includes a thermoplastic material;

[0049] Multiple sheets are bent to form multiple preformed segments, wherein in two adjacent preformed segments, the third end of the first preformed segment and the fourth end of the second preformed segment are stacked along the thickness direction of the third end of the first preformed segment.

[0050] The third end of the first preformed segment is fixedly connected to the fourth end of the second preformed segment, the first ends of the multiple preformed segments form a first opening, and the second ends of the multiple preformed segments form a second opening to form an antenna radome.

[0051] For example, sheets are used to ultimately form the radome body portion. One sheet corresponds to one radome body portion, and the number of sheets can be set one-to-one according to the number of radome body portions.

[0052] For example, the sheet may be a generally rectangular sheet structure, and the first direction may be parallel to the length extension direction of the sheet.

[0053] For example, the sheet can be bent in a direction perpendicular to the first direction so that the shape of the sheet corresponds to the shape of the sidewall of the radome.

[0054] For example, multiple preformed segments after bending can be distributed around a first direction, and multiple sheets can be arranged into a cylindrical structure.

[0055] For example, since the sheet material includes thermoplastics, the preformed segments can be shaped by heating, and adjacent preformed segments can be connected by heating.

[0056] A radome can be formed by bending and connecting multiple sheets. During the bending process, the ends of multiple sheets can be stacked simultaneously, facilitating direct connection between adjacent preformed sections. This combination of bending and connecting steps simplifies the radome manufacturing process. Furthermore, the sheet shapes closely match the sidewall shapes of the radome, eliminating the need for material removal and maximizing sheet utilization, thus reducing costs. Additionally, forming the radome by splicing sheets, and since the radome's extension direction is the same as that of the precursor (preformed section) and the raw material (sheet), direct splicing is easy, and the connection point has minimal impact on the radome's strength along its length. Moreover, the sheets are thermoplastic materials with low density, resulting in a low-density radome, which helps reduce its weight. The sheet forming method is the same as and simpler than the sheet-to-radome forming method, reducing processing costs and consequently lowering the overall radome manufacturing cost.

[0057] Therefore, the manufacturing method of this embodiment is quite ingenious, the manufacturing process is simple and low-cost, the radome combines high strength and lightweight, and it is recyclable.

[0058] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes, in the step of fixing the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment:

[0059] Multiple pre-formed segments are heated and extruded, so that the third end of the first pre-formed segment and the fourth end of the second pre-formed segment are fused together to form a fused segment;

[0060] The cooling and fusion section forms the cylindrical body.

[0061] In this embodiment, based on the cylindrical structure of the radome, combined with thermoplastic materials, the arrangement and connection of multiple preformed segments, the shaping of the preformed segments and the connection of multiple preformed segments can be carried out simultaneously as one step, reducing processing steps, greatly improving processing efficiency, and effectively reducing manufacturing costs.

[0062] In some embodiments, in the cooling and fusion section, after the formation of the cylinder, the manufacturing method further includes: cutting the cylinder to a preset length; drilling holes in the cylinder; and cleaning the cylinder.

[0063] In this embodiment, the cylinder is cut to facilitate the mass production of radomes, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0064] In addition, the drilling and cleaning processes can improve the structure of the radome, making it easier to use directly in the future.

[0065] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes:

[0066] The device provides an unwinding device, a preforming device, a forming device, a traction device, and a mandrel; multiple sheets are wound on the unwinding device, the preforming device is used to bend the multiple sheets along the surface shape of the mandrel to form multiple preformed segments; the forming device is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment.

[0067] Multiple sheets are pulled by a traction device, so that the multiple sheets of the unwinding device are arranged around the mandrel and pass through the preforming device, forming device and traction device in sequence along the axial direction of the mandrel.

[0068] For example, the shape of the core mold can be set according to the cross-sectional shape of the radome to be manufactured, and the core mold is used to provide support for shaping the sheet.

[0069] For example, the forming apparatus may include a heated extrusion die and a cooled shaping die, the heated extrusion die being located between the preforming die and the cooled shaping die.

[0070] For example, the unwinding device is used to continuously output a continuous sheet.

[0071] In this embodiment, by moving multiple sheets and processing them sequentially through processing steps, the multiple sheets are connected and spliced ​​together to form an antenna radome, achieving large-scale automated processing of the antenna radome. This process is highly efficient, with high sheet utilization, significantly reducing the manufacturing cost of the antenna radome, while also taking into account the antenna radome's high strength, lightweight, and recyclability.

[0072] In some embodiments, after providing the unwinding device, preforming device, forming device, traction device, and mandrel, the manufacturing method further includes providing a reforming device;

[0073] After the step of pulling multiple sheets by a traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: shaping the surface of the fusion section by a re-forming device or covering the surface of the fusion section with a structural layer.

[0074] In this embodiment, the surface of the prepared radome is made smoother through the processing of the remolding device, and the radome can be formed into a more complex structure, thereby further improving and optimizing the performance of the radome and increasing the reliability of the prepared radome. Therefore, this embodiment, based on the formation of the radome by splicing, further processes it through the remolding device, combining the splicing and fusion process of this application with processes such as extrusion and injection molding, which is beneficial to further optimize the structure of the radome and further improve its adaptability and reliability.

[0075] In some embodiments, after providing the unwinding device, preforming device, forming device, traction device, and mandrel, the manufacturing method further includes providing a connecting device, which includes one or more of the following: a heated extrusion device, an ultrasonic welding device, a hot air welding device, a stitching connecting device, a gluing device, a riveting device, and a threaded connecting device.

[0076] After the step of pulling multiple sheets by a traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: reconnecting the connection area formed by the fusion of two adjacent preformed sections in the fusion section by a connecting device.

[0077] In this embodiment, the fusion section is reconnected by a connecting device, thereby increasing the structural strength of the connection area formed by connecting two adjacent preformed sections in the fusion section, and thus increasing the strength of the fabricated radome.

[0078] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method of this application further includes: providing an unwinding device, a preforming device, a forming device, a traction device, a connecting device, and a mandrel; multiple sheets are wound on the unwinding device, the preforming device is used to bend the multiple sheets along the surface shape of the mandrel to form multiple preformed segments; the forming device is used to heat the multiple preformed segments to shape the multiple preformed segments; and the connecting device is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment.

[0079] Multiple sheets are pulled by a traction device, so that the multiple sheets of the unwinding device are arranged around the mandrel and pass through the preforming device, forming device, connecting device and traction device in sequence along the axial direction of the mandrel.

[0080] In this embodiment, by setting up a forming device and a connecting device, the shaping and connecting of the preformed section are carried out separately, which is beneficial to the accurate execution of the shaping and connecting processes, thereby making the shape of the radome more accurate.

[0081] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes: providing a plurality of edge materials; processing the plurality of edge materials and a plurality of sheets simultaneously, wherein one edge material is located at the stacking connection of two adjacent sheets; and connecting each edge material to two corresponding adjacent preformed segments to form an antenna radome.

[0082] In this embodiment, by processing the edge material simultaneously, the resulting radome can be made stronger and the processing efficiency can be improved.

[0083] In some embodiments, prior to the step of providing multiple sheets, the manufacturing method further includes: preparing the sheets; and winding the sheets along their length extension direction to form a sheet roll.

[0084] In this embodiment, the sheet can be formed from thermoplastic raw materials, that is, the sheet is first formed in one step, which facilitates the secondary forming of the sheet to prepare the radome. Furthermore, the sheet is wound to form a sheet roll, and a sheet roll can have a relatively long length. On the one hand, this reduces the placement space of the sheet roll and facilitates the movement and placement of the sheet; on the other hand, the length of the sheet in the sheet roll can be much greater than the length of the radome, and one sheet roll can be used to make multiple radomes, which facilitates the mass production of radomes.

[0085] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes: providing a multilayer prepreg, the prepreg including a matrix and a fiber body, the fiber body of the prepreg being embedded in the matrix connecting the prepreg; stacking and connecting the multilayer prepregs to form a sheet, wherein at least one layer of prepreg fiber body and another layer of prepreg fiber body are arranged at an angle.

[0086] For example, the multilayer prepreg can have four layers: a first prepreg layer, a second prepreg layer, a third prepreg layer, and a fourth prepreg layer. The materials of the first, second, third, and fourth prepreg layers can be the same. To maintain consistency with the radome, the first, second, and fourth prepreg layers can be stacked sequentially. With the third prepreg layer as the bottom layer, the fibers of the fourth prepreg layer are arranged at a 90° angle to each other, the fibers of the second and fourth prepreg layers are arranged parallel to each other, and the fibers of the first and second prepreg layers are arranged at a 90° angle to each other. The first prepreg layer can serve as the top layer. In this case, the fibers of the first and third prepreg layers extend in parallel directions, facilitating sheet forming. Furthermore, the sheet obtained in this way can have four prepreg layers, namely a first prepreg layer, a second prepreg layer, a third prepreg layer, and a fourth prepreg layer.

[0087] In this embodiment, the prepreg is a composite material. The fibers of the prepreg have high strength, which can greatly improve the strength of the prepreg, thereby significantly improving the mechanical properties of the sheet, ensuring the strength of the sheet, and helping to reduce the thickness of the sheet, thereby reducing the wall thickness and weight of the radome, achieving lightweight and low cost of the radome.

[0088] In some implementations, the number of multiple sheets is two, and the thickness of the multiple sheets is in the range of 0.3 to 3 millimeters.

[0089] In this embodiment, each sheet exhibits moderate deformation during deformation, and two sheets can be joined to form two connection points, resulting in a smaller number of connection points. This facilitates the deformation and connection of the sheets, thereby improving the reliability of the radome. Furthermore, the sheets are relatively thin, leading to a correspondingly thinner radome wall, which is beneficial for lightweight radome design.

[0090] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a method for manufacturing an antenna radome, the method comprising:

[0091] A sheet is provided, wherein the sheet includes a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a second direction, and the material of the sheet includes a thermoplastic material;

[0092] A sheet is bent into a ring shape to form a preformed segment, wherein a third end of a preformed segment and a fourth end of a preformed segment are stacked along the thickness direction of the third end of the preformed segment.

[0093] A third end of a preformed segment is fixedly connected to a fourth end of a preformed segment, a first end of a preformed segment forms a first opening, and a second end of a preformed segment forms a second opening to form an antenna radome.

[0094] In this embodiment, an radome can be formed by bending and connecting a sheet material. During bending, the two ends of the sheet can be stacked simultaneously, facilitating subsequent direct connection. The combination of bending and connecting steps simplifies the radome manufacturing process. Furthermore, the shape of the sheet material closely matches the sidewall shape of the radome, eliminating the need for material removal and maximizing material utilization, thus reducing costs. Additionally, forming the radome by connecting the ends of a single sheet, and since the radome's extension direction is the same as that of the precursor (preform) and the raw material (sheet), direct connection is easy, and the connection point has minimal impact on the radome's strength along its length. A single sheet material results in only one connection point, leading to good overall integrity and high strength. Moreover, the sheet material is a thermoplastic with low density, resulting in a low-density radome, which helps reduce its weight. The sheet forming method is the same as and simpler than the sheet-to-radome forming method, reducing processing costs and consequently lowering the overall manufacturing cost of the radome.

[0095] Therefore, the manufacturing method of this embodiment is quite ingenious, the manufacturing process is simple and low-cost, the radome combines high strength and lightweight, and it is recyclable.

[0096] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes: heating and extruding a preformed segment to fuse the third end of the first preformed segment with the fourth end of a preformed segment to form a fused segment; and cooling the fused segment to form a cylinder.

[0097] In this embodiment, based on the cylindrical structure of the radome, combined with thermoplastic materials and connection methods, the shaping of the preformed section and the connection of the preformed section itself can be carried out simultaneously as one step, reducing processing steps, greatly improving processing efficiency, and effectively reducing manufacturing costs.

[0098] In some embodiments, in the cooling and fusion section, after the formation of the cylinder, the manufacturing method further includes: cutting the cylinder to a set length; drilling holes in the cylinder; and cleaning the cylinder.

[0099] In this embodiment, the cylindrical body is cut to facilitate mass production of the radome, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the drilling and cleaning steps result in a more refined radome structure, making it easier to use directly afterward.

[0100] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes:

[0101] The device provides an unwinding device, a preforming device, a forming device, a traction device, and a mandrel; a roll of material is wound on the unwinding device, the preforming device is used to bend a sheet of material along the surface shape of the mandrel to form a preformed section; the forming device is used to fix the third end of the first preformed section to the fourth end of the second preformed section.

[0102] A sheet is pulled by a traction device, causing a sheet from an unwinding device to be wound around a mandrel, and then sequentially passes through a preforming device, a forming device, and a traction device.

[0103] In this embodiment, by moving a sheet and processing it sequentially through processing steps, the sheets are connected to form an antenna radome, achieving large-scale automated processing of the antenna radome. This process is highly efficient, with high sheet utilization, significantly reducing the manufacturing cost of the antenna radome, while also taking into account the antenna radome's high strength, lightweight, and recyclability.

[0104] In some embodiments, after providing the unwinding device, preforming device, forming device, traction device, and mandrel, the manufacturing method further includes providing a reforming device;

[0105] After the step of pulling a sheet material by a traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: shaping the surface of the fusion section by a re-forming device or covering the surface of the fusion section with a structural layer.

[0106] In this embodiment, the surface of the prepared radome is made smoother through the processing of the remolding device, and the radome can be formed into a more complex structure, thereby further improving and optimizing the performance of the radome and increasing the reliability of the prepared radome. Therefore, this embodiment, based on the formation of the radome by splicing, further processes it through the remolding device, combining the splicing and fusion process of this application with processes such as extrusion and injection molding, which is beneficial to further optimize the structure of the radome and further improve its adaptability and reliability.

[0107] In some embodiments, after providing the unwinding device, preforming device, forming device, traction device, and mandrel, the manufacturing method further includes providing a connecting device, which includes one or more of the following: a heated extrusion device, an ultrasonic welding device, a hot air welding device, a stitching connecting device, a gluing device, a riveting device, and a threaded connecting device.

[0108] After the step of pulling a sheet using a traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: reconnecting the connection area formed by the fusion of two adjacent preformed sections in the fusion section using a connecting device.

[0109] In this embodiment, the fusion section is reconnected by a connecting device, thereby increasing the structural strength of the connection area formed by connecting two adjacent preformed sections in the fusion section, and thus increasing the strength of the fabricated radome.

[0110] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method of this application further includes: providing an unwinding device, a preforming device, a forming device, a traction device, a connecting device, and a mandrel; a sheet is wound around the unwinding device; the preforming device is used to bend the sheet along the surface shape of the mandrel to form a preformed segment; the forming device is used to heat the preformed segment to shape the preformed segment; and the connecting device is used to fix the third end of the preformed segment to the fourth end of the preformed segment to form a fused segment.

[0111] A sheet is pulled by a traction device, so that a sheet from the unwinding device is arranged circumferentially along the mandrel, and passes sequentially along the axial direction of the mandrel through a preforming device, a forming device, a connecting device, and a traction device.

[0112] In this embodiment, by setting up a forming device and a connecting device, the shaping and connecting of the preformed section are carried out separately, which is beneficial to the accurate execution of the shaping and connecting processes, thereby making the shape of the radome more accurate.

[0113] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes: providing an edge material; processing the edge material and a sheet material simultaneously, wherein the edge material is located at the lamination joint of the sheet material; and fixing the edge material to a preformed segment to form an radome.

[0114] In this embodiment, by processing the edge material simultaneously, the resulting radome can be made stronger and the processing efficiency can be improved. Attached Figure Description

[0115] To illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or background art of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments or background art of this application will be described below.

[0116] Figure 1 This is a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless communication system.

[0117] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shown is a simplified schematic of the antenna structure.

[0118] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A sectional view cut at point AA in the middle;

[0119] Figure 4a yes Figure 2 The diagram shown is a simplified schematic representation of the antenna radome in some embodiments.

[0120] Figure 4b yes Figure 4a The diagram shown is an exploded view of the antenna radome in some embodiments.

[0121] Figure 5a yes Figure 4a A simplified schematic diagram of a partial cross-section of the radome shown.

[0122] Figure 5b yes Figure 4a A partial cross-section of the radome shown is illustrated in a simplified structural diagram of some other embodiments;

[0123] Figure 5c yes Figure 4a The partial cross-section of the radome shown is a simplified structural diagram of some embodiments;

[0124] Figure 6 yes Figure 5b An exploded view of the section shown.

[0125] Figure 7a yes Figure 4a The diagram shows a structural schematic of the radome in some of its embodiments;

[0126] Figure 7b yes Figure 7a The diagram shown is an exploded view of the radome in some embodiments.

[0127] Figure 8a yes Figure 4a The diagram shown is a simplified schematic representation of the antenna radome in some embodiments.

[0128] Figure 8b yes Figure 4a The diagram shown is a simplified schematic representation of the radome in some other embodiments;

[0129] Figure 8c yes Figure 4a The diagram shown is a simplified schematic representation of the antenna radome in some other embodiments.

[0130] Figure 9 yes Figure 2 The diagram shown is a simplified schematic representation of the radome in some other embodiments;

[0131] Figure 10 This is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an antenna radome in some embodiments;

[0132] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 A simplified flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method shown;

[0133] Figure 12 yes Figure 10 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown;

[0134] Figure 13 yes Figure 12 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown;

[0135] Figure 14a yes Figure 13 The following is a simplified flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method in some embodiments;

[0136] Figure 14b yes Figure 13 The flowchart shown is a simplified representation of the manufacturing method in some other embodiments;

[0137] Figure 14c yes Figure 13 The manufacturing method shown is a simplified flowchart of some embodiments.

[0138] Figure 14d yes Figure 13 The manufacturing method shown is illustrated in simplified flowcharts of other embodiments.

[0139] Figure 15 yes Figure 12 The flowcharts of the manufacturing method shown in some other embodiments;

[0140] Figure 16 yes Figure 15 The following is a simplified flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method in some embodiments;

[0141] Figure 17 yes Figure 10 The flowcharts of the manufacturing method shown in some other embodiments;

[0142] Figure 18 yes Figure 17 The following is a simplified flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method in some embodiments;

[0143] Figure 19 yes Figure 10 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown;

[0144] Figure 20 yes Figure 19 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown;

[0145] Figure 21 yes Figure 20 The following is a simplified flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method in some embodiments;

[0146] Figure 22 This is a flowchart of another method for manufacturing an antenna radome in some embodiments;

[0147] Figure 23 yes Figure 22 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown;

[0148] Figure 24 yes Figure 23 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown;

[0149] Figure 25 yes Figure 24 The following is a simplified flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method in some embodiments;

[0150] Figure 26 yes Figure 22 The embodiments are schematic flowcharts in other embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0151] The embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0152] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a detachable connection or a non-detachable connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. "Multiple" refers to at least two.

[0153] The directional terms mentioned in the embodiments of this application, such as "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "top", "bottom", "side", etc., are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer explanation and understanding of the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0154] In the embodiments of this application, the relative positional relationships mentioned, such as parallel, perpendicular, and aligned, are defined in relation to the current technological level, rather than being absolutely strict. Slight deviations are permissible; approximations of parallelism, perpendicularity, or alignment are all acceptable. For example, "A and B are parallel" means that A and B are parallel or approximately parallel, and the angle between A and B can be between 0 and 10 degrees. Similarly, "A and B are perpendicular" means that A and B are perpendicular or approximately perpendicular, and the angle between A and B can be between 80 and 100 degrees.

[0155] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0156] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1This is a simplified schematic diagram of a wireless communication system.

[0157] The base station 100 of this application can be applied to a wireless communication system 1000, which may include the base station 100 and the user equipment 200.

[0158] Base station 100 can be used to support user equipment 200 to access wireless communication system 1000. For example, base station 100 can be an evolved NodeB (eNB) in a 4G access technology communication system, a next-generation NodeB (gNB) in a 5G access technology communication system, a Transmission Reception Point (TRP), a Relay Node, an Access Point (AP), etc.

[0159] It is understood that base station 100 can transmit and receive signals to achieve communication. Base station 100 may have antenna 1001, and transmit and receive signals through antenna 1001, thereby realizing signal transmission in space. Antenna 1001 may be installed on signal poles, signal towers, or iron towers to achieve signal transmission in different environments. Base station 100 may also include BBU (Building Baseband Unit), RRU (Remote Radio Unit), and other devices, which are not specifically limited in this embodiment.

[0160] The user equipment 200 can communicate with the base station 100 and transmit data. The user equipment 200 can be a fixed or mobile device. For example, the user equipment 200 can also be referred to as a terminal, mobile station, subscriber unit, station, or terminal equipment (TE). The UE can be a cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), modem, handheld device, laptop computer, cordless phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, or tablet computer, etc.

[0161] It is understandable that, with the development of wireless communication technology, other devices that can access the wireless communication system 1000, communicate with the network side of the wireless communication system 1000, or communicate with other devices through the wireless communication system 1000 can all be user equipment 200 in this application embodiment. For example, terminals and cars in intelligent transportation, home appliances in smart homes, electricity meter reading instruments, voltage monitoring instruments, environmental monitoring instruments in smart grids, video surveillance instruments in smart security networks, cash registers, etc.

[0162] For example, there can be multiple user equipment 200s, and the base station 100 can support multiple user equipment 200s to form a wireless communication network.

[0163] Please refer to the following: Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows a simplified structural representation of antenna 1001. Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A sectional view cut at point AA.

[0164] Antenna 1001 may include antenna element 10, reflector 20, and radome 30. Antenna element 10 is fixed to reflector 20, and radome 30 covers the outside of reflector 20 and antenna element 10.

[0165] The antenna element 10 constitutes the basic structural unit of the antenna array. The antenna element 10 can be made of a metal with good electrical conductivity, enabling it to effectively radiate or receive signals from the antenna 1001. The antenna element 10 guides and amplifies electromagnetic waves, making the electromagnetic signal received by the antenna 1001 stronger. There can be one or more antenna elements 10, and the frequencies of different antenna elements 10 can be the same or different.

[0166] The reflector 20 can also be called a base plate, antenna panel, or metal reflective surface, etc., and the antenna element 10 is located on the front side of the reflector 20. The reflector 20 can focus the received signal on the receiving point (antenna element 10), thereby greatly enhancing the signal reception or transmission capability. At the same time, the reflector 20 can also shield the signals radiated backward by the antenna element 10, and can also shield the interference signals from the rear side of the reflector 20, but it is not limited to these functions.

[0167] The radome 30 can be made of a wave-transparent material to provide excellent electromagnetic wave penetration characteristics. The radome 30 can also be constructed with high-strength structures and materials to ensure good mechanical properties. Outdoor antennas 1001 are typically placed in open-air environments, directly exposed to natural elements such as storms, snow, dust storms, and solar radiation, leading to reduced accuracy, shortened lifespan, and poor reliability. The radome 30 protects components such as the antenna element 10 from environmental influences, thereby extending the antenna's lifespan.

[0168] It is understood that the antenna 1001 may also include other components, such as related circuits and electronic components, etc., which are not specifically limited in this embodiment.

[0169] Please refer to the following: Figure 4a and Figure 4b , Figure 4a yes Figure 2 The diagram shown is a simplified schematic representation of the antenna radome 30 in some embodiments. Figure 4b yes Figure 4a The diagram shows an exploded view of the radome 30 in some embodiments.

[0170] In some embodiments, the radome 30 may be a generally hollow cylindrical structure, and an accommodating space may be formed inside the radome 30 to accommodate components in the antenna 1001. The radome 30 may include a plurality of radome portions 1.

[0171] Each cover portion 1 includes a first end portion 11 and a second end portion 12 arranged along a first direction, and a third end portion 13 and a fourth end portion 14 arranged along a direction different from the first direction. For example, the third end portion 13 and the fourth end portion 14 may be arranged along a second direction, which may be perpendicular to the first direction. This embodiment does not specifically limit the arrangement direction of the third end portion 13 and the fourth end portion 14.

[0172] For example, the radome portion 1 is the main structure constituting the radome 30. It is understood that the length direction of the radome portion 1 may be parallel to the first direction. The wall thickness of the radome 30 depends on the wall thickness of the radome portion 1, and therefore, the radome portion 1 may have a thinner thickness so that the radome 30 has a thinner thickness.

[0173] For example, the material of the cover portion 1 may include a thermoplastic material. The cover portion 1 may be formed from a single material, which may be a thermoplastic material. The cover portion 1 may also be a composite material, which may include a variety of different materials, but the main material of the composite material is a thermoplastic material, making the cover portion 1 as a whole thermoplastic. In this case, the cover portion 1 can be shaped by heating.

[0174] For example, thermoplastic materials can be thermoplastic resins, such as PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride), but are not limited thereto.

[0175] In this embodiment, multiple cover portions 1 are arranged around each other. For example, the multiple cover portions 1 are arranged around a first direction, and adjacent cover portions 1 are fixedly connected to form the cylindrical structure of the antenna cover 30. For example, the number of multiple cover portions 1 can be 2, 3 or more, and this embodiment does not make a specific limitation.

[0176] For example, in two adjacent cover portions 1, the third end portion 13 of the first cover portion 1 is fixedly connected to the fourth end portion 14 of the second cover portion 1, and is stacked along the thickness direction of the third end portion 13 of the first cover portion 1.

[0177] For example, a connection region 2 is formed at the fixed connection point of adjacent radome portions 1. The structures of the two radome portions 1 located in the connection region 2 are stacked and fixedly connected, thereby splicing them into a whole structure to form an antenna radome 30. The extension direction of the connection region 2 can be approximately the same as the first direction.

[0178] The radome 30 has a first opening 3 and a second opening 4. The first end portion 11 of the plurality of radome portions 1 surrounds the first opening 3, and the second end portion 12 of the plurality of radome portions 1 surrounds the second opening 4. The first opening 3 and the second opening 4 are respectively connected to the accommodating space and the external space of the radome 30.

[0179] Since the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the cover portion 1 are arranged along the first direction, the first opening 3 and the second opening 4 are spaced apart along the first direction.

[0180] By forming a first opening 3 and a second opening 4 in the radome 30, the radome 30 is made to have a roughly cylindrical structure, which facilitates the manufacture of the radome 30 and also facilitates the installation of the radome 30 in the antenna.

[0181] It is understandable that the radome 30 may have a closed cross-section perpendicular to the first direction to provide strong protection. It is also understandable that the radome 30 may have a thin-walled structure to reduce its weight.

[0182] In this embodiment, by providing a first opening 3 and a second opening 4 arranged along the first direction, the radome 30 is made to have a generally cylindrical structure extending along the first direction. Furthermore, since multiple radome portions 1 are arranged around the first direction and adjacent radome portions 1 are fixedly connected, the radome portions 1 also extend roughly along the first direction. The extension direction of the radome portions 1 corresponds to the extension direction of the radome 30. The shape of the radome 30 matches the shape of the radome portions 1 to a high degree, making it easy to directly form the radome 30 by splicing the radome portions 1, thereby facilitating the manufacture of the radome 30.

[0183] In addition, multiple dome portions 1 extend along the first direction, and the extension directions of the multiple dome portions 1 are the same. Therefore, it is convenient for adjacent dome portions 1 to be directly overlapped and stacked, which facilitates the manufacture of the radome 30. Furthermore, the strength of the radome 30 in the first direction is not weakened due to the splicing of multiple dome portions 1. Moreover, due to the stacking arrangement, the connection between two adjacent dome portions 1 has high strength in its thickness direction, which helps to improve the overall strength of the radome 30.

[0184] Furthermore, the radome 1 is thermoplastic, making it easy to directly obtain the radome 1 by heating and shaping the raw material sheet; this facilitates the molding of the radome 1. Thermoplastic materials are recyclable, which also benefits the recycling of the radome 30.

[0185] Therefore, this embodiment can ensure that the radome 30 has high strength, is easy to manufacture, and has low cost.

[0186] In some embodiments, multiple hood portions 1 are formed by hot pressing and fused together to form an antenna radome 30, which is an integral structural component.

[0187] For example, the sheets forming the radome 1 are heated. Since the material of the radome 1 is a thermoplastic material, the sheet softens as a whole when heated, and the sheet can be heat-formed into the shape of the sidewall of the radome 30. Furthermore, since two adjacent radome portions 1 are fused together, during the forming process of the radome portion 1, adjacent radome portions 1 can be fused together synchronously to achieve connection.

[0188] In this embodiment, multiple radome portions 1 can be formed by hot pressing, and the connection between two adjacent radome portions 1 can also be achieved by hot pressing. The forming method of the radome portions 1 and the connection method between multiple radome portions 1 are the same, which simplifies the forming steps of the radome 30 and thus reduces the manufacturing cost of the radome 30. The connection between adjacent radome portions 1 is achieved through the material of the radome portion 1 itself, without the need for other additional components. The connection method of multiple radome portions 1 is simple and reliable, which helps to simplify the structure of the radome 30, reduce the weight of the radome 30, and thus reduce the material cost of the radome 30.

[0189] In other embodiments, the connection between the multiple cover parts 1 can also be one or more of the following methods: gluing, screw connection, riveting, sewing and welding. This embodiment does not limit this method.

[0190] Furthermore, after the multiple cover parts 1 are fused together, they can be connected by one or more of the following methods: gluing, screwing, riveting, sewing, and welding. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0191] In some embodiments, the thickness m of the radome 1 satisfies: m ≤ 3 mm, or m ≤ 1 mm. In this embodiment, the radome 30 has high strength and the radome 1 has a small thickness, thus reducing the weight of the radome 30 and achieving a lightweight design. Furthermore, the material cost of the radome 30 is low, which helps to reduce the cost of the radome 30.

[0192] In some embodiments, the density p of the radome 30 satisfies: p ≤ 1.8 g / cm³, or p ≤ 1.5 g / cm³. In this embodiment, the radome 30 comprises a thermoplastic material, which has a low density, thus contributing to a lower overall density of the radome 30, thereby reducing its weight and facilitating a lightweight design.

[0193] Please refer to the following: Figure 4a and Figure 4b In some embodiments, the plurality of cover portions 1 may specifically include a first cover portion 1a and a second cover portion 1b.

[0194] The third end portion 13a and the fourth end portion 14a of the first cover portion 1a are arranged along the second direction, and the third end portion 13b and the fourth end portion 14b of the second cover portion 1b are arranged along the second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0195] The third end 13a of the first cover portion 1a and the fourth end 14b of the second cover portion 1b are stacked along the second direction to form a first connecting region, and the fourth end 14b of the second cover portion 1b is located on the side of the third end 13a of the first cover portion 1a facing the receiving space; the fourth end 14a of the first cover portion 1a and the third end 13b of the second cover portion 1b are stacked along the second direction to form a second connecting region, and the third end 13b of the second cover portion 1b is located on the side of the fourth end 14a of the first cover portion 1a facing the receiving space.

[0196] For example, the first connection area and the second connection area are set relative to each other.

[0197] For example, the width of the connecting region 2 in the thickness direction perpendicular to the first end portion 11 of the cover portion 1 may be greater than 1 cm, but is not limited thereto.

[0198] It is understandable that when the radome 30 has more radome portions 1, it can have the same number of connection regions 2, and the multiple connection regions 2 are distributed around the first direction.

[0199] In this embodiment, since the first cover portion 1a and the second cover portion 1b are arranged around each other, and the stacking direction of the third end portion 13a of the first cover portion 1a and the fourth end portion 14b of the second cover portion 1b is the same as that of the fourth end portion 14a of the first cover portion 1a and the third end portion 13b of the second cover portion 1b, which is the second direction, the third end portion 13a of the first cover portion 1a, the fourth end portion 14b of the second cover portion 1b, the third end portion 13b of the second cover portion 1b and the fourth end portion 14a of the first cover portion 1a are arranged sequentially along the second direction. At this time, the structures of the first cover portion 1a and the second cover portion 1b are similar, which makes it easier to simplify the manufacturing of the antenna cover 30.

[0200] Furthermore, the third end 13b and the fourth end 14b of the second radome 1b are located between the third end 13a and the fourth end 14a of the first radome 1a, which is equivalent to the first radome 1a partially clamping the second radome 1b. In the arrangement direction of the third end 13b and the fourth end 14b of the second radome 1b, the first radome 1a and the second radome 1b can mutually limit each other. When the antenna cover 30 is subjected to external force in the arrangement direction of the third end 13b and the fourth end 14b of the second radome 1b, the first radome 1a and the second radome 1b can abut against each other, thereby reducing the stress on the connection structure of the first radome 1a and the second radome 1b, improving the connection reliability of the first radome 1a and the second radome 1b, and thus improving the structural strength of the antenna cover 30.

[0201] Please refer to the following: Figures 5a to 6 , Figure 5a yes Figure 4aA simplified schematic diagram of a partial cross-section of the radome 30 shown. Figure 5b yes Figure 4a The partial cross-section of the radome 30 shown is illustrated in a simplified structural diagram of some other embodiments. Figure 5c yes Figure 4a The partial cross-section of the radome 30 shown is a simplified structural diagram of some embodiments. Figure 6 yes Figure 5b The diagram shows an exploded view of a portion of the cross-section.

[0202] In some embodiments, the cover portion 1 includes a first prepreg layer 15.

[0203] The first prepreg layer 15 includes a matrix 151 and a fiber body 152. The fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 is embedded in the matrix 151 of the first prepreg layer 15. The material of the matrix 151 of the first prepreg layer 15 is a thermoplastic material.

[0204] For example, the material of the matrix 151 can be one or more of PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), and PC (polycarbonate).

[0205] For example, the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 can be continuous unidirectional fibers, that is, the fibers of the fiber body 152 are long fibers, and the fibers of the fiber body 152 are arranged in parallel unidirectional directions. For example, the fibers of the fiber body 152 can be carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, etc. For example, the extension direction of the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 can be the same as the length extension direction of the radome 30. In this case, when the length of the radome 30 is long, it is beneficial to improve the strength of the radome 30 in the length direction. In some other embodiments, the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 can be a woven fabric, that is, the first prepreg layer 15 is a woven prepreg. In some embodiments, the first prepreg layer 15 can also be UD (Uni-Directional Fabric), also called unidirectional fabric. This embodiment does not strictly limit the shape of the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15.

[0206] It is understandable that the radome 1 can be formed from the first prepreg layer 15, the first prepreg layer 15 can be formed by a one-time molding process, the first prepreg layer 15 can be a thin layer, and the first prepreg layer 15 can be directly formed into the radome 30 radome 1 by a two-time molding process.

[0207] In this embodiment, the first prepreg layer 15 is a composite material. The fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 has strong strength, which can greatly improve the strength of the first prepreg layer 15, thereby significantly improving the mechanical properties of the cover part 1, ensuring the strength of the cover part 1, and thus helping to reduce the thickness of the cover part 1 and reduce the weight of the antenna cover 30, achieving lightweight and low cost of the antenna cover 30.

[0208] In some embodiments, the cover portion 1 further includes a second prepreg layer 16.

[0209] The second prepreg layer 16 includes a matrix 161 and a fiber body 162, with the fiber body 162 embedded in the matrix 161. The fiber body 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 is a continuous unidirectional fiber. The fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 is also a continuous unidirectional fiber. The second prepreg layer 16 and the first prepreg layer 15 are stacked along the thickness direction of the cover portion 1, with the fiber body 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 and the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 arranged at an angle.

[0210] At this time, the angle between the fiber body 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 and the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 is the first angle a, where 0°≤a≤90°.

[0211] For example, a = 90°. In this case, the fibers 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 and the fibers 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 are perpendicular, making the first and second prepregs easy to lay. Furthermore, the fibers 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 and the fibers 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 can respectively reinforce the cover portion 1 in the vertical direction, thus giving the cover portion 1 strong strength in both mutually perpendicular directions. In some other examples, a = 45°.

[0212] It is understandable that, since the orientation of the fibers 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 and the fibers 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 is not defined, the maximum angle between the fibers 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 and the fibers 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 is 90°.

[0213] The materials of the matrix 161 and fiber 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 can be referenced to the materials of the matrix 151 and fiber 152 of the first prepreg layer 15, which will not be described in detail here.

[0214] In this embodiment, by setting the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 and the fiber body 162 of the second prepreg layer 16 at an angle, the hood portion 1 can be strengthened in both directions of the angle, thereby improving the strength of the radome 30 in different directions.

[0215] In some embodiments, the cover portion 1 may further include a third prepreg layer 17, the third prepreg layer 17 including a matrix 171 and a fiber body 172, the fiber body 172 of the third prepreg layer 17 being embedded in the matrix 171 of the third prepreg layer 17; the fiber body 172 of the third prepreg layer 17 being continuous unidirectional fibers; the first prepreg layer 15, the second prepreg layer 16 and the third prepreg layer 17 are stacked sequentially, and the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 and the fiber body 172 of the third prepreg layer 17 are arranged in parallel.

[0216] The materials of the matrix 171 and fiber 172 of the third prepreg layer 17 can be referenced to the materials of the matrix 151 and fiber 152 of the first prepreg layer 15, which will not be described in detail here.

[0217] In this embodiment, the first prepreg layer 15 and the third prepreg layer 17 can serve as the top and bottom layers of the cover portion 1, respectively. When the sheet forming the cover portion 1 is manufactured, the extension directions of the fiber body 152 of the first prepreg layer 15 and the fiber body 172 of the third prepreg layer 17 are parallel, which makes it easier to form the sheet and facilitates manufacturing, thus reducing the manufacturing cost of the raw materials for the cover portion 1.

[0218] Please see Figure 5b In some embodiments, the cover portion 1 may further include a fourth prepreg layer 18, which includes a matrix 181 and a fiber body 182, with the fiber body 182 embedded in the matrix 181 of the fourth prepreg layer 18. The first prepreg layer 15, the second prepreg layer 16, the fourth prepreg layer 18, and the third prepreg layer 17 are sequentially stacked.

[0219] The materials of the matrix 181 and the fiber of the fourth prepreg layer 18 can be referenced to the materials of the matrix 151 and the fiber 152 of the first prepreg layer 15, which will not be described in detail here.

[0220] At this time, the radome 1 has strong strength in multiple directions, which helps to balance strong strength, thin thickness and low density, so that the radome 30 can meet the requirements of strength, lightweight and low cost.

[0221] Please continue reading. Figure 5b and Figure 5c In some embodiments, the cover portion 1 further includes a protective layer 19, the material of which is a thermoplastic resin material.

[0222] For example, such as Figure 5b The protective layer 19 can be located on the side of the radome 30 away from the receiving space. For example, the protective layer 19 can be located on the side of the first prepreg layer 15 away from the second prepreg layer 16.

[0223] For example, such as Figure 5c The protective layer 19 can be located on the side of the radome 30 facing the receiving space. For example, the protective layer 19 can be located on the side of the third prepreg layer 17 opposite to the second prepreg layer 16.

[0224] In some examples, the protective layer 19 may have two layers, which may be located on the side of the radome 30 away from the receiving space and on the side facing the receiving space, respectively. That is, the protective layer 19 is provided on both the inner and outer sides of the radome 30.

[0225] For example, the material of the protective layer 19 can be one or more of PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The material of the protective layer 19 can be the same as or different from the material of the substrate 151 of the first prepreg layer 15; this embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0226] In this embodiment, the protective layer 19 can further protect the radome 30 on the surface of the radome 30, improve the surface flatness of the radome 30, thereby improving the wear resistance and wind resistance of the radome 30, and prevent the structure inside the protective layer 19 (such as the first prepreg layer 15) from directly contacting the external environment of the radome 30, reducing the probability of water leakage of the radome 30, and thus improving the service life of the radome 30.

[0227] Please refer to the following: Figure 7a and Figure 7b , Figure 7a yes Figure 4a The radome 30 shown is a structural schematic diagram of some embodiments. Figure 7b yes Figure 7a The radome 30 shown is an exploded view in some embodiments.

[0228] In some embodiments, the cover portion 1 includes a protective layer 19 and at least one prepreg layer 110; the material of the protective layer 19 includes a thermoplastic material, and the material of the prepreg layer 110 includes a thermoplastic material; the protective layer 19 is fixedly connected to the prepreg layer 110, and the protective layer 19 is located on the side of the at least one prepreg layer 110 away from the receiving space.

[0229] In the two adjacent radome portions 1, the prepreg layer 110 of the third end portion 13 of the first radome portion 1 is stacked and fused with the prepreg layer of the fourth end portion 14 of the second radome portion 1; the protective layer 19 of the first radome portion 1 and the protective layer 19 of the second radome portion 1 are arranged circumferentially along the antenna radome 30.

[0230] The melting point of the material of the protective layer 19 can be greater than that of the material of the prepreg layer 110. For example, the material of the protective layer 19 can be PP, and the material of the substrate of the prepreg layer 110 can be PET, PTFE, etc., but is not limited to these.

[0231] The material and arrangement of at least one prepreg layer 110 can be referenced. Figures 5a to 6 The relevant solutions of the embodiments will not be described again in this embodiment. For example, the prepreg layer 110 can be a single layer, and the prepreg layer 110 can be a first prepreg layer.

[0232] It is understandable that in two adjacent cover portions 1, the third end 13 of the first cover portion 1 or the fourth end 14 of the second cover portion 1 is not covered by the protective layer 19, so that the prepreg layers 110 of the two cover portions 1 can be directly fused.

[0233] For example, see Figure 7b The third end 13 and fourth end 14 of the top cover portion 1 are directly covered with the protective layer 19, while the third end 13 and fourth end 14 of the bottom cover portion 1 are not covered with the protective layer 19. However, the other parts of the bottom cover portion 1 are covered with the protective layer 19. Therefore, see... Figure 7a The prepreg layer 110 of the top cover portion 1 and the prepreg layer 110 of the bottom cover portion 1 are directly fused together. The protective layer 19 of the top cover portion 1 and the protective layer 19 of the bottom cover portion 1 are arranged along the circumference of the radome and are joined together, thereby covering the outer surface of the radome.

[0234] In this embodiment, at the connection of adjacent cover parts 1, the prepreg layer 110 of one cover part 1 and the prepreg layer 110 of another cover part 1 are directly fused together, which is equivalent to reducing the thickness of a protective layer 19 at the connection, thereby helping to reduce the thickness at the connection of the two cover parts 1 and making the thickness distribution of the antenna cover 30 more uniform.

[0235] Furthermore, when the melting point of the material of the protective layer 19 is higher than that of the substrate of the prepreg layer 110, it is convenient to directly fuse the prepreg layers 110 of the two adjacent radome parts 1 at a lower temperature, without having to melt the protective layer 19. On the one hand, this reduces the conditions for fusion connection of the two adjacent radome parts 1, and on the other hand, it makes the protective layer 19 have a higher melting point, better performance, and better protection capability, thereby extending the service life of the radome 30.

[0236] Please refer to the following: Figure 4b and Figure 8a , Figure 8a yes Figure 4a The diagram shown is a simplified schematic representation of the antenna radome 30 in some embodiments.

[0237] In some embodiments, the radome 30 extends linearly along a first direction and includes a first side plate 101, a second side plate 102, a third side plate 103, and a fourth side plate 104 connected in sequence; the first side plate 101 and the third side plate 103 are disposed opposite to each other, the second side plate 102 and the fourth side plate 104 are disposed opposite to each other, and the distance between the first side plate 101 and the third side plate 103 is greater than the distance between the second side plate 102 and the fourth side plate 104.

[0238] For example, the first side panel 101 may be composed of a portion of the structure of the first cover portion 1a and a portion of the structure of the second cover portion 1b, the second side panel 102 may be composed of a portion of the structure of the first cover portion 1a, the third side panel 103 may be composed of a portion of the structure of the first cover portion 1a and the second cover portion 1b, and the fourth side panel 104 may be composed of a portion of the structure of the second cover portion 1b.

[0239] For example, there may be two connection areas 2, one connection area 2 located on the second side plate 102 and the other connection area 2 located on the fourth side plate 104.

[0240] It is understandable that adjacent side plates can be connected with rounded corners to facilitate the forming of the radome 30 and reduce stress concentration.

[0241] In this embodiment, the radome 30 is generally cylindrical in shape. Its simple structure makes it easy to mass-produce. The cross-section of the radome 30 perpendicular to the first direction is approximately rectangular, which provides strong bending resistance and ensures sufficient strength. Furthermore, when the radome 30 is used in the antenna 1001, its rectangular shape makes it easier to adapt to rectangular reflectors and other components, thus improving its adaptability.

[0242] Please see Figure 8b , Figure 8b yes Figure 4aThe radome 30 shown is a schematic diagram of the structure in some other embodiments.

[0243] In some embodiments, the radome 30 extends linearly along a first direction, and the cross-section of the radome 30 perpendicular to the first direction is annular. For example, the cross-section of the radome 30 can be annular, and the radome 30 as a whole can have a cylindrical structure.

[0244] In this embodiment, in a cross-section perpendicular to the first direction, the radome 30 has relatively balanced mechanical properties in all directions. When the radome 30 is subjected to wind force, its drag coefficient is low, and its wind resistance is strong in all directions, thereby improving its adaptability to the external environment. Furthermore, since the multiple radome portions 1 are arranged around the first direction, the arrangement of the multiple radomes 30 is more compatible with the cross-sectional shape of the radome 30, making it easier to form the radome 30 from a larger number of radome portions 1.

[0245] Please see Figure 8c , Figure 8c yes Figure 4a The radome 30 shown is a simplified structural diagram of some other embodiments.

[0246] In some embodiments, the radome 30 further includes a side portion 5 extending from the first opening 3 to the second opening 4. The side portion 5 is made of a thermoplastic material and connects two adjacent radome portions 1 among a plurality of radome portions 1.

[0247] The side portion 5 can be made of resin. For example, the side portion can be one or more of PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride), but is not limited thereto.

[0248] In this embodiment, the side portion 5 is used to connect the stacked connection of the radome portion 1, thereby making the wall thickness of the radome 30 at the stacked connection of the radome portion 1 thicker, which is beneficial to improving the structural strength of the stacked connection, and to forming a surface structure on the side portion 5, which in turn is beneficial to enabling the radome 30 to have more functions (such as wind resistance).

[0249] Please see Figure 9 , Figure 9 yes Figure 2 The radome 30 shown is a simplified structural diagram in some other embodiments. Figure 9 The radome 30 shown in the embodiment includes Figure 4a Most of the technical features of the radome 30 shown in the embodiment will not be repeated for the same technical features. The following mainly describes the differences between the two.

[0250] Figure 9 The radome 30 shown in the embodiment and Figure 4a The main difference in the radome 30 shown in the embodiment is the number of radome sections 1.

[0251] In some embodiments, when the radome 30 includes a radome portion 1, the radome portion 1 includes a first end portion 11 and a second end portion 12 arranged along a first direction, and a third end portion 13 and a fourth end portion 14 arranged along a direction different from the first direction. The radome portion 1 is annular, the first end portion 11 of the radome portion 1 surrounds a first opening 3, and the second end portion 12 of the radome portion 1 surrounds a second opening 4. The first opening 3 and the second opening 4 respectively connect the accommodating space and the external space of the radome 30. The third end portion 13 of the radome portion 1 is fixedly connected to the fourth end portion 14 of the radome portion 1, and is stacked along the thickness direction of the third end portion 13 of the first radome portion 1.

[0252] It is understandable that a cover part 1 connects itself to form a connection area 2.

[0253] The overall structure of the radome 30, the structure of the radome 1, and the materials of the radome 1 can be referenced from [reference needed]. Figures 4a to 8b The relevant descriptions of the embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0254] In this embodiment, by providing a first opening 3 and a second opening 4 arranged along the first direction, the radome 30 is made to have a generally cylindrical structure extending along the first direction. Furthermore, since multiple radome portions 1 are arranged around the first direction and adjacent radome portions 1 are fixedly connected, the radome portions 1 also extend roughly along the first direction. The extension direction of the radome portions 1 corresponds to the extension direction of the radome 30. The shape of the radome 30 matches the shape of the radome portions 1 to a high degree, making it easy to directly form the radome 30 by splicing the radome portions 1, thereby facilitating the manufacture of the radome 30.

[0255] Furthermore, since multiple dome portions 1 extend along the first direction and the extension directions of the multiple dome portions 1 are the same, it is convenient for adjacent dome portions 1 to be directly overlapped and stacked, which facilitates the manufacture of the radome 30. Moreover, the strength of the radome 30 in the first direction is not weakened due to the splicing of multiple dome portions 1, and the connection between two adjacent dome portions 1 has high strength in its thickness direction due to the stacking arrangement, which helps to improve the overall strength of the radome 30. Since the radome 30 is directly formed from a dome portion 1, the integrity of the radome 30 is good and the overall strength is high.

[0256] Furthermore, the radome 1 is thermoplastic, making it easy to directly obtain the radome 1 by heating and shaping the raw material sheet; the shape and molding method of the radome 1 are easy to manufacture from the raw material sheet, thus facilitating the molding of the radome 1. Thermoplastic materials are recyclable, which also facilitates the recycling of the radome 30.

[0257] Therefore, this embodiment can ensure that the radome 30 has high strength, is easy to manufacture, and has low cost.

[0258] Please refer to the following: Figure 10 and Figure 11 , Figure 10 This is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing an antenna radome in some embodiments. Figure 11 yes Figure 10 A simplified flowchart illustrating the manufacturing method shown.

[0259] In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the radome 30 includes:

[0260] Step S102, providing a plurality of sheets 40, wherein the plurality of sheets 40 include a first end 401 and a second end 402 arranged along a first direction, and a third end 403 and a fourth end 404 arranged along a second direction, and the material of the sheets 40 includes a thermoplastic material.

[0261] The sheet 40 is used to ultimately form the shroud portion 1 of the radome 30. For example, one sheet 40 corresponds to one shroud portion 1, and the number of sheets 40 can be set one-to-one according to the number of shroud portions 1 of the radome 30.

[0262] For example, the sheet 40 may be a generally rectangular sheet structure, and the first direction may be parallel to the length extension direction of the sheet 40. Multiple sheets 40 may have generally the same shape, but are not limited thereto. It is understood that the first end 401, the third end 403, the second end 402, and the fourth end 404 are distributed circumferentially along the sheet 40 in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the sheet 40.

[0263] For example, thermoplastic materials can be thermoplastic resins, such as PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or more.

[0264] For example, sheet 40 may include a thermoplastic prepreg, and in some other embodiments, sheet 40 may not include a thermoplastic prepreg.

[0265] For example, the sheet 40 can be obtained by one-time molding, and the subsequent step of making the sheet 40 into the radome 30 is a secondary molding step.

[0266] In step S104, multiple sheets 40 are bent to form multiple preformed segments 50, wherein in two adjacent preformed segments 50, the third end 403 of the first preformed segment 50 and the fourth end 404 of the second preformed segment 50 are stacked along the thickness direction of the third end 403 of the first preformed segment 50.

[0267] For example, the sheet 40 can be bent in a direction perpendicular to the first direction so that the shape of the sheet 40 corresponds to the shape of the sidewall of the radome 30, thereby facilitating the subsequent forming steps of the radome 30.

[0268] For example, multiple sheets 40 can be processed simultaneously to improve production efficiency.

[0269] For example, the multiple preformed segments 50, after bending, can be distributed around a first direction, and the multiple sheets 40 can be generally formed into a cylindrical structure to roughly correspond to the shape of the radome 30. The preformed segments 50 can maintain their bent shape under external forces to reduce the number of forming steps. In some other examples, the preformed segments 50 can also be shaped to maintain their bent shape under internal forces.

[0270] It is understandable that a sheet 40 can correspond to a preformed segment 50, but it is not limited to this.

[0271] In step S106, the third end 403 of the first preformed segment 50 is fixedly connected to the fourth end 404 of the second preformed segment 50, the first ends 401 of the multiple preformed segments 50 form a first opening, and the second ends 402 of the multiple preformed segments 50 form a second opening to form an antenna radome 30.

[0272] In each pair of adjacent preformed sections 50, the third end 403 of the first preformed section 50 is fixedly connected to the fourth end 404 of the second preformed section 50. In this way, adjacent preformed sections 50 can be fixedly connected, thereby connecting multiple preformed sections 50 into a cylindrical structure.

[0273] For example, the first opening formed by multiple connected preformed segments 50 can correspond to the first opening of the radome 30, and the second opening formed by multiple connected preformed segments 50 can correspond to the second opening of the radome 30. The multiple preformed segments 50 can serve as multiple hood parts 1 of the radome 30, and the shape of the multiple preformed segments 50 after being fixedly connected is basically consistent with the shape of the radome 30.

[0274] For example, since the material of sheet 40 includes thermoplastic material, sheet 40 is thermoplastic, so preformed segments 50 can be shaped by heating, and adjacent preformed segments 50 can also be connected by heating.

[0275] For example, adjacent preformed segments 50 can be fused together by heating and cooling. In other examples, adjacent preformed segments 50 can also be connected by bolts, riveting, gluing, stitching, welding, etc. Among them, welding can be ultrasonic welding, hot air welding, laser welding, etc.

[0276] Understandably, a third end 403 of a preformed section 50 is used to form a third end 13 of a hood portion 1 of the radome 30, and a fourth end 404 of a preformed section 50 is used to form a fourth end 14 of a hood portion 1 of the radome 30, so that adjacent hood portions 1 of the radome 30 are fixedly connected.

[0277] It is understood that the preformed section 50 extends from the first end 401 to the second end 402 along the first direction, and the radome 30 extends from the first opening to the second opening along the first direction. The extension direction of the radome 30 is the same as the extension direction of the precursor (preformed section 50) and the raw material (sheet 40).

[0278] It is understood that the manufacturing method of this embodiment can be used to manufacture... Figure 2 The radome 30 shown.

[0279] In this embodiment, the radome 30 is formed by bending and connecting multiple sheets 40. During the bending process, the ends of the multiple sheets 40 can be stacked simultaneously, facilitating direct connection between adjacent preformed sections 50. The combination of bending and connecting steps simplifies the fabrication process of the radome 30. Furthermore, the shape of the sheets 40 closely matches the sidewall shape of the radome 30, eliminating the need for material removal from the sheets 40, resulting in high utilization and cost reduction. Additionally, the radome 30 is formed by splicing the sheets 40. Since the extension direction of the radome 30 is the same as that of the precursor (preformed section 50) and the raw material (sheet 40), direct splicing is convenient, and the connection point has minimal impact on the strength of the radome 30 along its length. Furthermore, sheet 40 is a thermoplastic material with low density, resulting in a lower density radome 30, which helps reduce the weight of the radome 30. The forming method of sheet 40 is the same as and simpler than the method of forming radome 30 from sheet 40, which helps reduce processing costs and thus reduce the manufacturing cost of radome 30.

[0280] Therefore, the manufacturing method of this embodiment is quite ingenious, the manufacturing process is simple and low-cost, and the radome 30 combines high strength and lightweight, and is recyclable.

[0281] In some embodiments, the number of sheets 40 is two, and the thickness of the sheets 40 is in the range of 0.3 to 3 mm. In this case, the deformation of each sheet 40 is moderate during deformation, and two connection points can be formed when two sheets 40 are connected. The number of connection points is small, which facilitates the deformation and connection of the sheets 40 and helps to improve the reliability of the radome 30. Furthermore, the thinner sheet 40 results in a correspondingly thinner wall of the radome 30, which is beneficial for the lightweight design of the radome 30.

[0282] Please see Figure 12 , Figure 12 yes Figure 10 The flowcharts for some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown.

[0283] In some embodiments, step S106 may include the following steps:

[0284] In step S202, multiple pre-formed segments 50 are heated and extruded to fuse the third end 403 of the first pre-formed segment 50 with the fourth end 404 of the second pre-formed segment 50 to form a fused segment.

[0285] Multiple preformed segments 50 can be simultaneously heated and extruded, allowing them to be heated and compressed concurrently. Due to their thermoplastic nature, the preformed segments 50 can eliminate internal stress and maintain their bent shape after heating. Furthermore, the overlapping portions between adjacent preformed segments 50 can fuse, thus achieving a connection between them. Pressure helps maintain the bent shape of the multiple preformed segments 50 and makes the connection between adjacent segments more reliable, thereby forming a fused segment. It is understood that the fused segment comprises multiple preformed segments 50 of the precursor. The shape of the fused segment is substantially consistent with the shape of the radome 30.

[0286] In some examples, during the process of heating and extruding multiple preformed segments 50, through holes can be formed at the third end 403 of the first preformed segment 50 and the fourth end 404 of the second preformed segment 50, respectively, so as to connect the two adjacent preformed segments 50 by means of screw connection, riveting, etc., without the need to drill additional holes at the connection of the two adjacent preformed segments 50.

[0287] Step S204, cooling and fusion section, forming the cylinder.

[0288] Cooling the fusion section allows its shape to solidify and reduces deformation. The resulting cylindrical shape, formed after cooling, facilitates other processing steps.

[0289] In this embodiment, based on the cylindrical structure of the radome 30, combined with thermoplastic materials, the arrangement and connection of multiple preformed segments 50, the shaping of the preformed segments 50 and the connection of multiple preformed segments 50 can be carried out simultaneously as one step, reducing processing steps, greatly improving processing efficiency, and effectively reducing manufacturing costs.

[0290] In some embodiments, the steps following step S204 may further include the following steps:

[0291] Step S302: Cut the cylinder to the preset length.

[0292] The cylindrical body extends along a first direction, and its length can be relatively large, or the cylindrical body can be continuously formed and output. Therefore, the cylindrical body is cut according to a preset length to obtain a cylindrical body of the same length as the radome 30. It can be understood that the cylindrical body obtained after cutting can directly form the first opening and the second opening.

[0293] In this embodiment, the length of the cylinder can be relatively long. By cutting the cylinder, it is possible to mass-produce the radome 30, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0294] In some embodiments, the steps following step S204 may further include the following steps:

[0295] Step S304: Drill holes in the cylinder.

[0296] For example, holes can be drilled into the thin-walled cylinder wall, allowing for through-holes. Holes can also be drilled into the cylinder after cutting. This embodiment does not limit the location or number of holes; they can be set according to specific requirements.

[0297] By drilling holes in the cylinder, the final antenna cover 30 is made to have connection holes, which facilitates the fixed connection between the antenna cover 30 and other components in the antenna 1001.

[0298] Step S306: Clean the cylinder.

[0299] For example, the cylinder can be cleaned after drilling to reduce the number of cleaning cycles. Alcohol or similar substances can be used to clean the cylinder surface to remove grease, dust, and other contaminants.

[0300] For example, cleaning the cylinder can be the last step in the method of making the radome 30. The cleaned cylinder can be directly used to form the radome 30, thus completing the making of the radome 30, but it is not limited to this.

[0301] In this embodiment, the drilling and cleaning steps make the structure of the obtained radome 30 more perfect, which facilitates the subsequent direct use of the radome 30.

[0302] Please refer to the following: Figure 13 and Figure 14a , Figure 13 yes Figure 12 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method shown are as follows. Figure 14a yes Figure 13 The diagram shows a simplified flowchart of the manufacturing method in some embodiments.

[0303] In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the radome 30 may further include the following steps:

[0304] S402 provides an unwinding device 601, a preforming device 602, a forming device 603, a traction device 604, and a mandrel 605; a plurality of sheets 40 are wound on the unwinding device 601, the preforming device 602 is used to bend the plurality of sheets 40 along the surface shape of the mandrel 605 to form a plurality of preformed segments; the forming device 603 is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment.

[0305] The shape of the core mold 605 can be set according to the cross-sectional shape of the antenna radome 30 to be manufactured. The core mold 605 is used to provide support for the shaping of the sheet 40 so as to obtain the antenna radome 30 of the required shape.

[0306] The unwinding device 601 can be located at one end of the mandrel 605 and spaced apart from it. The unwinding device 601 is used to hold the sheet 40. Multiple sheets 40 can be independently wound onto the unwinding device 601 to allow the unwinding device 601 to carry longer sheets 40. Each sheet 40 can be continuously wound into a sheet roll. Multiple sheets 40 can be spaced apart. The unwinding device 601 can be used to perform step S102. For example, multiple sheets 40 can be pre-placed on the unwinding device 601 along the circumference of the mandrel 605. For example, the sheets 40 output by the unwinding device 601 can be continuous.

[0307] The preforming device 602 may surround the outer surface of the core mold 605. The preforming device 602 may be used to perform step S104. Exemplarily, the preforming device 602 may cooperate with the core mold 605 to extrude multiple sheets, thereby bending the multiple sheets 40 into the shape of a core material, and keeping the multiple sheets 40 bent to facilitate subsequent processing by the forming device 603. Exemplarily, the preforming device 602 may include a preforming mold, with a gap between the preforming mold and the core mold 605 for accommodating the multiple sheets 40. It is understood that by applying force to the multiple sheets 40 to keep them bent, the preforming sheets 40 are positioned within the preforming device 602.

[0308] The forming device 603 can surround the outer surface of the core mold 605 and is spaced apart from the preforming device 602. The forming device 603 can be used to perform step S106. The forming device 603 can shape the preformed segments, and the structure formed after shaping is substantially consistent with the shape of the radome 30, so as to obtain the radome 30. For example, the forming device 603 can include a heating extrusion mold 6031 and a cooling shaping mold 6032, with the heating extrusion mold 6031 located between the preforming mold and the cooling shaping mold 6032. Both the heating extrusion mold 6031 and the cooling shaping mold 6032 are spaced apart from the core mold 605, and the shape of the space can be substantially consistent with the shape of the radome 30 to be prepared. The heating extrusion mold 6031 is used to heat and extrude multiple preformed segments and fuse them together. The cooling shaping mold shapes the fused multiple preformed segments by cooling, so that the manufactured radome 30 has high strength.

[0309] S404, multiple sheets 40 are pulled by the traction device 604, so that the multiple sheets 40 of the unwinding device 601 are arranged circumferentially along the core mold 605, and pass through the preforming device 602, the forming device 603 and the traction device 604 in sequence along the axial direction of the core mold 605.

[0310] The traction device 604 provides power for the movement of the plurality of sheets 40. Since the traction device 604 provides traction force, it can be located on the side of the forming device 603 away from the preforming device 602. Because the plurality of sheets 40 can sequentially pass through the preforming device 602, the forming device 603, and the traction device 604, the plurality of sheets 40 can form a plurality of preformed segments, which are then processed and shaped before passing through the traction device 604. For example, the sheets 40 can move axially along the mandrel 605.

[0311] Understandably, the unwinding device 601 can continuously output a continuous sheet 40, which is continuously processed. The continuous output of the sheet 40 by the unwinding device 601 allows the fabrication of the radome 30 to continue.

[0312] It is understandable that after step S404, steps S302 to S306 can continue to be executed to obtain the radome 30, and this implementation does not impose specific restrictions on this.

[0313] In this embodiment, by moving multiple sheets 40 and processing them sequentially, the multiple sheets 40 are connected and spliced ​​to form an antenna radome 30, realizing the large-scale automatic processing of the antenna radome 30. This process is highly efficient, with high utilization of the sheets 40, greatly reducing the manufacturing cost of the antenna radome 30, and also taking into account the high strength, lightweight, and recyclability of the antenna radome 30.

[0314] Please see Figure 14b , Figure 14b yes Figure 13 The illustrated manufacturing method is shown in simplified flowcharts of some other embodiments.

[0315] In some embodiments, each sheet 40 includes a plurality of sub-sheets 40a, which are stacked together.

[0316] For example, each sheet 40 includes two sub-sheets 40a, which are each wound into a roll and placed in an unwinding device 601. The two sub-sheets 40a are stacked as they pass through a preforming device 602 and joined and fused together as they pass through a forming device 603 to form a preformed segment. For example, when the thickness of a desired sheet 40 is 1 mm (not limited thereto), the thickness of each of the two sub-sheets 40a can be 0.5 mm.

[0317] In this embodiment, the sheet 40 is formed by stacking multiple sub-sheets 40a, and the sheet 40 is essentially a separate unit. When bending the sheet 40, each sub-sheet 40a is bent simultaneously. Compared to the thicker, integral sheet 40, each sub-sheet 40a is thinner and easier to bend. Therefore, the sheet 40 in this embodiment is easier to form, thus reducing the manufacturing difficulty of the radome 30.

[0318] Please refer to the following: Figure 13 and Figure 14c , Figure 14c yes Figure 13 The manufacturing method shown is illustrated in a simplified flowchart of some embodiments.

[0319] In some embodiments, the steps following step S402 further include the following step: Step S4021, providing the remolding apparatus 606.

[0320] For example, the reforming device 606 may be an extrusion device or an injection molding device. For example, the reforming device 606 may be located on the side of the molding device 603 away from the preforming device 602. The position of the reforming device 606 relative to other devices behind the molding device 603...

[0321] The process following step S404 also includes the following steps: Step S4041, the surface of the fusion segment is shaped by the reshaping device 606 or a structural layer is applied to the surface of the fusion segment.

[0322] The fusion section can be placed in the reforming device 606. Through the processing of the reforming device 606, the surface of the fusion section can be shaped to make the surface of the fusion section smoother. The reforming device 606 can also cover the surface of the fusion section with a structural layer. The structural layer can completely cover the surface of the fusion section or partially cover the surface of the fusion section to form a local structure.

[0323] In this embodiment, the surface of the prepared radome 30 is made smoother through the processing of the remolding device 606, and the radome 30 can form a more complex structure. This further improves and optimizes the performance of the radome 30, thereby increasing its reliability. Therefore, this embodiment, based on the formation of the radome 30 through splicing, further processes it through the remolding device 606, combining the splicing and fusion process of this application with processes such as extrusion and injection molding. This facilitates further optimization of the structure of the radome 30, further enhancing its adaptability and reliability.

[0324] Please refer to the following: Figure 13 and Figure 14d , Figure 14d yes Figure 13The manufacturing method shown is illustrated in simplified flowcharts of other embodiments.

[0325] In some embodiments, the steps following step S402 further include the following step: Step S4023, providing the connection device 607.

[0326] For example, the connecting device 607 includes one or more of the following: a heated extrusion device, an ultrasonic welding device, a hot air welding device, a stitching connection device, a bonding device, a riveting device, and a threaded connection device, but is not strictly limited thereto. The connecting device 607 may be located on the side of the forming device 603 away from the preforming device 602. The positional relationship between the connecting device 607 and other devices behind the forming device 603 is not specifically limited. It is understood that the pressure extrusion device may be a pressure extrusion mold, and this embodiment does not specifically limit this.

[0327] The process following step S404 also includes the following steps: Step S4043, the connecting area formed by the fusion of two adjacent preformed segments in the fusion segment is reconnected by the connecting device 607.

[0328] The fusion section can be placed in the connecting device 607. Through the processing of the connecting device 607, adjacent preformed sections in the fusion section can be reconnected, making the connection between adjacent preformed sections more reliable.

[0329] In this embodiment, the fusion segment is reconnected by the connecting device 607, thereby increasing the structural strength of the connection area formed by connecting two adjacent preformed segments in the fusion segment, and thus increasing the strength of the fabricated radome.

[0330] Please refer to the following: Figure 15 and Figure 16 , Figure 15 yes Figure 12 The flowcharts of the manufacturing method shown in some other embodiments are as follows. Figure 16 yes Figure 15 The diagram shows a simplified flowchart of some embodiments of the manufacturing method. Figure 15 The method shown in the embodiment includes Figure 13 Most of the technical features of the methods shown in the embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment for the same technical features. The following mainly describes the differences between the two.

[0331] Figure 15 The method shown in the embodiment and Figure 13 The main difference in the method shown in the embodiment lies in the function of the molding device and the setting of the connecting device 607.

[0332] In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the radome 30 may further include the following steps:

[0333] Step S403: An unwinding device 601, a preforming device 602, a forming device 603, a traction device 604, a connecting device 607, and a mandrel are provided; multiple sheets 40 are wound on the unwinding device 601; the preforming device 602 is used to bend the multiple sheets 40 along the surface shape of the mandrel 605 to form multiple preformed segments; the forming device 603 is used to heat the multiple preformed segments to shape them; the connecting device 607 is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment.

[0334] In step S405, multiple sheets are pulled by the traction device 604, so that the multiple sheets 40 of the unwinding device 601 are arranged circumferentially along the core mold 605, and pass sequentially along the axial direction of the core mold 605 through the preforming device 602, the forming device 603, the connecting device 607 and the traction device 604.

[0335] The unwinding device 601, preforming device 602, traction device 604, and core mold can be referenced. Figure 13 Related solutions in the embodiments.

[0336] The forming device 603 is used to heat and shape multiple pre-forming sections, but it does not connect adjacent pre-forming sections. Adjacent pre-forming sections are connected by a connecting device 607.

[0337] In this embodiment, by setting the forming device 603 and the connecting device 607, the shaping and connecting of the preformed section are carried out separately, which is beneficial to the accurate execution of the shaping and connecting process, thereby making the shape of the radome 30 more accurate.

[0338] Please refer to the following: Figure 17 and Figure 18 , Figure 17 yes Figure 10 The flowcharts of the manufacturing method shown in some other embodiments are as follows. Figure 18 yes Figure 17 The diagram shows a simplified flowchart of some embodiments of the manufacturing method. Figure 17 The method shown in the embodiment includes Figure 10 Most of the technical features of the methods shown in the embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment for the same technical features. The following mainly describes the differences between the two.

[0339] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes:

[0340] Step S102 also includes step S1021, providing a plurality of edge materials 80.

[0341] Step S1041: The plurality of edge materials 80 and the plurality of sheets 40 are processed simultaneously, wherein one edge material 80 is located at the stacking connection of two adjacent sheets 40.

[0342] For example, multiple edge materials and multiple sheets can be pre-formed simultaneously. When multiple sheets 40 are bent, the edge materials can be simultaneously bonded to the sheets and stacked with the sheets. One edge material can be stacked with two adjacent sheets at the same time.

[0343] Step S1061: Connect each edge material 80 to two adjacent preformed segments to form an antenna radome.

[0344] Multiple edge materials 80 are used to form the side portions of the radome 30.

[0345] For example, the material of the sapwood 80 may be one or more of PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PC (polycarbonate), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), PA (polyamide), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic), PEEK (polyetheretherketone), and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

[0346] See Figure 18 For example, the edge material 80 can be rolled up, and multiple edge materials 80 can be arranged along the axis of the mandrel. The number of edge materials 80 can correspond one-to-one with the number of sheets 40, but this is not strictly limited. The multiple edge materials 80 can be arranged alternately with the multiple sheets 40. It is understood that the edge materials 80 and the sheets 40 can be processed simultaneously to obtain the radome.

[0347] In this embodiment, by processing the edge material 80 simultaneously, the resulting radome 30 can be made stronger and the processing efficiency can be improved.

[0348] Please see Figure 19 , Figure 19 yes Figure 10 The flowcharts for some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown.

[0349] In some embodiments, prior to step S102, the manufacturing method further includes the following steps:

[0350] Step S502: Prepare the sheet.

[0351] Step S504: Wind the sheet along its length to form a sheet roll.

[0352] In this embodiment, the sheet can be formed from thermoplastic raw materials, that is, the sheet is first formed in one step, which facilitates the secondary forming of the sheet to prepare the radome 30. Furthermore, the sheet is rolled into a sheet roll, and a sheet roll can have a relatively long length. On the one hand, this can reduce the placement space of the sheet roll and facilitate the movement and placement of the sheet; on the other hand, the length of the sheet in the sheet roll can be much greater than the length of the radome 30, and one sheet roll can be used to make multiple radomes 30, which facilitates the mass production of the radome 30.

[0353] Please refer to the following: Figure 20 and Figure 21 , Figure 20 yes Figure 19 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method shown are as follows. Figure 21 yes Figure 20 The diagram shows a simplified flowchart of the manufacturing method in some embodiments.

[0354] In some embodiments, step S502 may include the following steps:

[0355] Step S602: Provide a multilayer prepreg 70, the prepreg 70 including a matrix and a fiber body, the fiber body of the prepreg 70 being embedded in the matrix connecting the prepreg 70;

[0356] The prepreg 70 layer includes a matrix and a fiber body. The fiber body of the prepreg 70 is embedded in the matrix of the prepreg 70. The matrix of the prepreg 70 is made of thermoplastic material.

[0357] For example, the matrix material can be one or more of PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), and PC (polycarbonate).

[0358] For example, the fibers of the prepreg 70 can be continuous unidirectional fibers, that is, the fibers of the fiber body are long fibers, and the fibers of the fiber body are arranged in parallel unidirectional directions. For example, the fibers of the fiber body can be carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, etc. In some other embodiments, the fibers of the prepreg 70 can be woven fabric, that is, the prepreg 70 is a woven prepreg 70.

[0359] For example, the multilayer prepreg 70 may have two, three, four, or other layers. In some other embodiments, the prepreg 70 may have only one layer.

[0360] Step S604: The multilayer prepreg 70 is stacked and connected to form a sheet 40, wherein at least one layer of prepreg 70 fibers and another layer of prepreg 70 fibers are arranged at an angle.

[0361] In this process, the multiple layers of prepreg 70 are interlaced during layup, such that in the thickness direction of the prepreg 70, the fibers of one layer of prepreg 70 and the fibers of another layer are arranged at an angle. It can be understood that one layer of prepreg 70 can form one layer of prepreg 70 in the sheet 40, and the different prepregs 70 can be approximately parallel to each other, so that the different prepreg layers 70 in the sheet 40 can be arranged approximately parallel to each other.

[0362] In this configuration, one layer of prepreg fiber and another layer of prepreg fiber form a first included angle α, where 0° ≤ α ≤ 90°. For example, α = 90° or α = 45°.

[0363] The multilayer prepreg 70 can be fused together to form a sheet 40, which is an integral structural component. The multilayer prepreg 70 can correspond to the multilayer prepreg 70 layers forming the sheet 40.

[0364] For example, such as Figure 21 The multilayer prepreg 70 can have four layers: a first prepreg layer 701, a second prepreg layer 702, a third prepreg layer 703, and a fourth prepreg layer 704. The first prepreg layer 701, the second prepreg layer 702, the third prepreg layer 703, and the fourth prepreg layer 704 can be made of the same material. To maintain consistency with the radome 30, the first prepreg layer 701, the second prepreg layer 702, the fourth prepreg layer 704, and the third prepreg layer 703 can be stacked sequentially. In this design, the third prepreg layer 703 serves as the bottom layer. The fibers of the fourth prepreg layer 704 are arranged at a 90° angle to each other, the fibers of the second prepreg layer 702 are arranged parallel to those of the fourth prepreg layer 704, and the fibers of the first prepreg layer 701 are arranged at a 90° angle to those of the second prepreg layer 702. The first prepreg layer 701 can serve as the top layer. In this configuration, the fibers of the first and third prepreg layers extend in parallel directions, facilitating the forming of the sheet 40. Furthermore, the resulting sheet 40 can have four prepreg layers: the first prepreg layer 701, the second prepreg layer 702, the third prepreg layer 703, and the fourth prepreg layer 704. The materials and arrangement of these four layers can be referenced from the materials and arrangement of the four prepreg layers, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0365] Understandably, this is in conjunction with references Figure 6The first prepreg layer 701, the second prepreg layer 702, the third prepreg layer 703 and the fourth prepreg layer 704 of the sheet 40 can respectively correspond to the first prepreg layer 15, the second prepreg layer 16, the third prepreg layer 17 and the fourth prepreg layer 18 of the radome 30.

[0366] In this embodiment, the prepreg 70 is a composite material. The fibers of the prepreg 70 have strong strength, which can greatly improve the strength of the prepreg 70, thereby significantly improving the mechanical properties of the sheet 40, ensuring the strength of the sheet 40, which is conducive to reducing the thickness of the sheet 40, thereby reducing the wall thickness and weight of the radome 30, and achieving lightweighting and low cost of the radome 30.

[0367] By setting at least one layer of prepreg fiber and another layer of prepreg fiber at an angle, the sheet 40 can be strengthened in both directions of the angle, thereby improving the strength of the sheet 40 in different directions, which in turn helps to make the radome 30 have higher strength in different directions.

[0368] In some embodiments, the sheet 40 may have a protective layer 705, which may be located on the side of the first prepreg layer 701 opposite to the second prepreg layer 702; and / or, the sheet 40 may also be located on the side of the third prepreg layer 703 opposite to the fourth prepreg layer 704. The protective layer 705 may be made of a thermoplastic material.

[0369] In some embodiments, the sheet 40 may include a protective layer 705 and a first prepreg layer 701, which are fixedly connected. The third and / or fourth ends of the sheet 40 may not be covered by the protective layer, and the first prepreg layer 701 at the end not covered by the protective layer 705 may be fused to the first prepreg layer 701 at the end of another sheet, thereby forming a shape as shown. Figure 7a and Figure 7b The radome shown in the embodiment.

[0370] Please see Figure 22 , Figure 22 This is a flowchart of some embodiments of another method for manufacturing an antenna radome. Among them, Figure 22 The manufacturing method shown in the embodiment includes Figure 10 Most of the technical features of the manufacturing method of the embodiment will not be repeated for the same technical features in both; the following will only describe the differences between the two.

[0371] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method of this embodiment is similar to... Figure 10 The main difference in the manufacturing method of this embodiment lies in the number of sheets. The manufacturing method of this embodiment includes the following steps:

[0372] Step S702, a sheet is provided, wherein the sheet includes a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a second direction, and the material of the sheet includes a thermoplastic material.

[0373] The sheet material is used to ultimately form the radome body portion. One sheet material is used to form one radome body portion, therefore, a radome formed from one sheet material includes one radome body portion.

[0374] In this step, the shape and material of the sheet can be referred to the relevant solution in step S102, and will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0375] Step S704: A sheet is bent into a ring shape to form a preformed segment, wherein the third end of a preformed segment and the fourth end of a preformed segment are stacked along the thickness direction of the third end of the preformed segment.

[0376] The preforming process of the sheet material in this step can refer to the relevant scheme in step S104, and will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0377] Step S706: The third end of a preformed segment is fixedly connected to the fourth end of a preformed segment, the first end of a preformed segment forms a first opening, and the second end of a preformed segment forms a second opening to form an antenna radome.

[0378] Since there is only one preformed section, the third and fourth ends of the preformed section can be directly connected to form a cylindrical structure similar to the radome.

[0379] Other settings for the preformed section in this step can refer to the relevant scheme in step S106, and will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0380] It is understood that the manufacturing method of this embodiment can also be used to manufacture... Figure 2 The radome shown.

[0381] In this embodiment, an radome can be formed by bending and connecting a sheet material. During bending, the two ends of the sheet can be stacked simultaneously, facilitating subsequent direct connection. The combination of bending and connecting steps simplifies the radome manufacturing process. Furthermore, the shape of the sheet material closely matches the sidewall shape of the radome, eliminating the need for material removal and maximizing material utilization, thus reducing costs. Additionally, forming the radome by connecting the ends of a single sheet, and since the radome's extension direction is the same as that of the precursor (preformed section) and the raw material (sheet), direct connection of the sheets is easy, and the connection point has minimal impact on the radome's strength along its length. A single sheet material results in only one connection point for the radome, leading to good overall integrity and high strength. Moreover, the sheet material is a thermoplastic with low density, resulting in a low-density radome, which helps reduce its weight. The sheet forming method is the same as and simpler than the sheet-to-radome forming method, reducing processing costs and consequently lowering the overall manufacturing cost of the radome.

[0382] Therefore, the manufacturing method of this embodiment is quite ingenious, the manufacturing process is simple and low-cost, the radome combines high strength and lightweight, and it is recyclable.

[0383] Please see Figure 23 , Figure 23 yes Figure 22 The flowcharts for some embodiments of the manufacturing method are shown.

[0384] In some embodiments, step S706 may include the following steps:

[0385] Step S802: Heat and extrude a preformed segment to fuse the third end of the preformed segment with the fourth end of the preformed segment to form a fused segment;

[0386] Step S804, cooling and fusion section, forming the cylinder.

[0387] Steps S802 to S804 can be referred to as steps S202 to S204.

[0388] In this embodiment, based on the cylindrical structure of the radome, combined with thermoplastic materials and connection methods, the shaping of the preformed section and the connection of the preformed section itself can be carried out simultaneously as one step, reducing processing steps, greatly improving processing efficiency, and effectively reducing manufacturing costs.

[0389] In some embodiments, the steps following step S804 may further include the following steps:

[0390] Step S806: Cut the cylinder to the set length;

[0391] Step S808: Drill holes in the cylinder;

[0392] Step S810: Clean the cylinder.

[0393] Steps S806 to S810 can be referred to as steps S302 to 306 respectively.

[0394] In this embodiment, the cylindrical body is cut to facilitate mass production of the radome, thereby improving production efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the drilling and cleaning steps result in a more complete radome structure, making it easier to use directly afterward.

[0395] Please refer to the following: Figure 24 and Figure 25 , Figure 24 yes Figure 23 The flowcharts of some embodiments of the manufacturing method shown are as follows. Figure 25 yes Figure 24 The diagram shows a simplified flowchart of the manufacturing method in some embodiments.

[0396] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the radome 30 may further include the following steps:

[0397] Step S902, providing an unwinding device 601, a preforming device 602, a forming device 603, a traction device 604, and a mandrel 605; a roll of material is wound on the unwinding device 601, the preforming device 602 is used to bend a sheet 40 along the surface shape of the mandrel 605 to form a preformed segment; the forming device 603 is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment.

[0398] In step S904, a sheet 40 is pulled by the traction device 604, so that the sheet 40 of the unwinding device 601 is wound around the mandrel 605 and passes through the preforming device 602, the forming device 603 and the traction device 604 in sequence.

[0399] Steps S902 to S904 can be referred to as steps S402 to S404.

[0400] In this embodiment, by moving a sheet 40 and processing it sequentially through processing steps, the sheet 40 is connected to form an antenna radome 30, thereby achieving large-scale automated processing of the antenna radome 30 with high processing efficiency and high utilization of the sheet 40. This greatly reduces the manufacturing cost of the antenna radome 30 and also takes into account the high strength, lightweight and recyclable characteristics of the antenna radome 30.

[0401] In some embodiments, the preparation of sheet 40 may refer to Figures 19 to 21The relevant solutions in this embodiment will not be described again in this embodiment.

[0402] In some embodiments, the method of manufacturing the radome 30 may also include: step S9021, providing a remolding apparatus 606;

[0403] Step S9041: The surface of the fused segment is shaped or a structural layer is applied to the surface of the fused segment by the reshaping device 606.

[0404] For details, please refer to... Figure 13 The relevant solutions in this embodiment will not be described again in this embodiment.

[0405] In some embodiments, after step S902, the manufacturing method further includes:

[0406] Step S9023, providing a connecting device 607, which includes one or more of the following: a heating and extrusion device, an ultrasonic welding device, a hot air welding device, a stitching connection device, a gluing device, a riveting device, and a threaded connection device.

[0407] Step S9043, after the step of pulling multiple sheets by the traction device 604, the manufacturing method further includes: reconnecting the connection area formed by the fusion of a preformed section in the fusion section by the connecting device 607.

[0408] In this embodiment, the fusion segment is reconnected by the connecting device 607, thereby increasing the structural strength of the connection area formed by connecting a preformed segment in the fusion segment, and thus increasing the strength of the antenna radome 30.

[0409] For details, please refer to... Figure 13 The relevant solutions in this embodiment will not be described again in this embodiment.

[0410] Please see Figure 26 , Figure 26 yes Figure 22 The embodiments are schematic flowcharts in other embodiments.

[0411] In some embodiments, the manufacturing method further includes:

[0412] Step S702 includes step S7021: providing an edge material;

[0413] Step S704 includes step S7041: processing one of the edge materials and one of the sheets simultaneously, wherein one of the edge materials is located at the lamination connection of one of the sheets;

[0414] Step S706 includes step S7061: fixing one of the edge materials to one of the preformed segments to form an antenna radome.

[0415] In this embodiment, by processing the edge material simultaneously, the resulting radome can be made stronger and the processing efficiency can be improved.

[0416] For details, please refer to... Figure 17 The relevant descriptions of the embodiments will not be repeated in this embodiment.

[0417] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other, and any combination of features in different embodiments is also within the protection scope of this application. That is to say, the multiple embodiments described above can also be arbitrarily combined according to actual needs.

[0418] It should be noted that all the above figures are exemplary illustrations of this application and do not represent the actual size of the product. Furthermore, the dimensional proportions between the components in the figures are not intended to limit the actual product of this application.

[0419] The above are merely some embodiments and implementation methods of this application. The scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An antenna radome, characterized in that, The radome encloses a receiving space, and the radome includes one or more radome sections, the material of which includes thermoplastic materials; When the radome includes multiple radome portions, each radome portion includes a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a direction different from the first direction. The multiple radome portions are arranged around each other, the first ends of the multiple radome portions form a first opening, and the second ends of the multiple radome portions form a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are respectively connected to the receiving space and the external space of the radome. In two adjacent cover portions, the third end of the first cover portion is fixedly connected to the fourth end of the second cover portion, and they are stacked together along the thickness direction of the third end of the first cover portion. When the radome includes a radome portion, the radome portion includes a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a direction different from the first direction. The radome portion is annular. The first end of the radome portion forms a first opening, and the second end of the radome portion forms a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are respectively connected to the receiving space and the external space of the radome. A third end of one of the cover portions is fixedly connected to a fourth end of another of the cover portions, and the cover portions are stacked together along the thickness direction of the third end of the cover portion.

2. The radome according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover portion includes a first prepreg layer, which includes a matrix and a fiber body. The fiber body of the first prepreg layer is a continuous fiber. The fiber body of the first prepreg layer is embedded in the matrix of the first prepreg layer. The matrix of the first prepreg layer is made of a thermoplastic material.

3. The radome according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover portion further includes a second prepreg layer, which includes a matrix and a fiber body. The fiber body of the second prepreg layer is embedded in the matrix of the second prepreg layer. The fiber body of the first prepreg layer is a continuous unidirectional fiber, and the fiber body of the second prepreg layer is a continuous unidirectional fiber. The second prepreg layer and the first prepreg layer are stacked along the thickness direction of the cover portion, and the fibers of the second prepreg layer are arranged at an angle to the fibers of the first prepreg layer; the angle between the fibers of the second prepreg layer and the fibers of the first prepreg layer is a first angle α, where 0°≤a≤90°; or, a=45°; or a=90°.

4. The radome according to claim 3, characterized in that, The cover portion further includes a third prepreg layer, which includes a matrix and a fiber body. The fiber body of the third prepreg layer is embedded in the matrix of the third prepreg layer. The fiber body of the third prepreg layer is a continuous unidirectional fiber. The first prepreg layer, the second prepreg layer, and the third prepreg layer are stacked sequentially, and the fiber bodies of the first prepreg layer and the third prepreg layer are arranged in parallel.

5. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The cover also includes a protective layer, the material of which is a thermoplastic material; The protective layer is located on the side of the radome away from the receiving space, and / or the protective layer is located on the side of the radome facing the receiving space.

6. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The cover portion includes a protective layer and at least one prepreg layer; the material of the protective layer includes a thermoplastic material, and the material of the prepreg layer includes a thermoplastic material; the protective layer is fixedly connected to the prepreg layer, and the protective layer is located on the side of the at least one prepreg layer opposite to the receiving space; the melting point of the material of the protective layer is greater than the melting point of the material of the prepreg layer; In two adjacent radome sections, the prepreg layer at the third end of the first radome section and the prepreg layer at the fourth end of the second radome section are stacked and fused together; the protective layers of the first radome section and the protective layers of the second radome section are arranged circumferentially along the radome.

7. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The antenna radome is formed by hot pressing and fusion of multiple radome parts, and the antenna radome is an integral structural component.

8. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The multiple cover parts are connected by one or more of the following methods: adhesive bonding, sewing, and welding.

9. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The thickness m of the cover portion satisfies: m≤3 mm, or m≤1 mm.

10. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The density p of the radome satisfies: P ≤ 1.8 g / cm³, or p ≤ 1.5 g / cm³.

11. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that, The plurality of cover portions include a first cover portion and a second cover portion, wherein the third end portion and the fourth end portion of the first cover portion are arranged along a second direction, and the third end portion and the fourth end portion of the second cover portion are arranged along a second direction, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction; The third end of the first cover portion and the fourth end of the second cover portion are stacked along the second direction to form a first connecting area, and the fourth end of the second cover portion is located on the side of the third end of the first cover portion facing the receiving space; the fourth end of the first cover portion and the third end of the second cover portion are stacked along the second direction to form a first connecting area, and the third end of the second cover portion is located on the side of the fourth end of the first cover portion facing the receiving space.

12. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, The radome extends in a straight line along a first direction. The radome includes a first side plate, a second side plate, a third side plate, and a fourth side plate connected in sequence. The first side plate and the third side plate are arranged opposite to each other, and the second side plate and the fourth side plate are arranged opposite to each other. The distance between the first side plate and the third side plate is greater than the distance between the second side plate and the fourth side plate.

13. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that, The radome extends in a straight line along a first direction, and the cross-section of the radome perpendicular to the first direction is annular.

14. The radome according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that, The radome also includes a side portion that extends from the first opening to the second opening. The side portion is made of thermoplastic material and connects two adjacent radome portions among the plurality of radome portions.

15. An antenna, characterized in that, It includes an antenna element and an antenna radome as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, the antenna radome being disposed on the outside of the antenna element.

16. A method for manufacturing an antenna radome, characterized in that, The production method includes: A plurality of sheets are provided, wherein the plurality of sheets include a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a second direction, and the material of the sheets includes a thermoplastic material; The multiple sheets are bent to form multiple preformed segments, wherein in two adjacent preformed segments, the third end of the first preformed segment and the fourth end of the second preformed segment are stacked along the thickness direction of the third end of the first preformed segment. The third end of the first preformed segment is fixedly connected to the fourth end of the second preformed segment, the first ends of the plurality of preformed segments form a first opening, and the second ends of the plurality of preformed segments form a second opening to form an antenna radome.

17. The manufacturing method according to claim 16, characterized in that, In the step of fixing the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment, the manufacturing method further includes: Multiple preformed segments are heated and extruded to fuse the third end of the first preformed segment with the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment; The fusion section is cooled to form a cylindrical body.

18. The manufacturing method according to claim 17, characterized in that, In the step after cooling the fusion section to form the cylinder, the manufacturing method further includes: The cylinder is cut to a preset length; Drill holes in the cylinder; Clean the cylinder.

19. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that, The manufacturing method further includes: The system provides an unwinding device, a preforming device, a forming device, a traction device, and a mandrel; a plurality of the sheets are wound on the unwinding device; the preforming device is used to bend the plurality of the sheets along the surface shape of the mandrel to form a plurality of preformed segments; the forming device is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment; The traction device pulls multiple sheets, causing the multiple sheets of the unwinding device to be arranged circumferentially along the core mold, and sequentially pass through the preforming device, the forming device and the traction device along the axial direction of the core mold.

20. The manufacturing method according to claim 19, characterized in that, Each sheet comprises multiple sub-sheets, which are stacked and arranged by the preforming device and fused together by the forming device.

21. The manufacturing method according to claim 19, characterized in that, After providing the unwinding device, preforming device, forming device, traction device, and mandrel, the manufacturing method further includes providing a reforming device; After the step of pulling multiple sheets by the traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: shaping the surface of the fused section or covering the surface of the fused section with a structural layer by a re-forming device.

22. The manufacturing method according to claim 19, characterized in that, After providing the unwinding device, preforming device, forming device, traction device, and mandrel, the manufacturing method further includes: A connecting device is provided, the connecting device comprising one or more of the following: a heated extrusion device, an ultrasonic welding device, a hot air welding device, a stitching connection device, a gluing device, a riveting device, and a threaded connection device; After the step of pulling multiple sheets by the traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: reconnecting the connection area formed by the fusion of two adjacent preformed sections in the fusion section by the connecting device.

23. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that, The manufacturing method further includes: The system provides an unwinding device, a preforming device, a forming device, a traction device, a connecting device, and a mandrel; a plurality of sheets are wound on the unwinding device; the preforming device is used to bend the plurality of sheets along the surface shape of the mandrel to form a plurality of preformed segments; the forming device is used to heat the plurality of preformed segments to shape the plurality of preformed segments; the connecting device is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment; The traction device pulls multiple sheets, causing the multiple sheets of the unwinding device to be arranged circumferentially along the core mold, and sequentially pass through the preforming device, forming device, connecting device and traction device along the axial direction of the core mold.

24. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 16 to 23, characterized in that, The manufacturing method further includes: Multiple sapwoods are available; Multiple edge materials and multiple sheets are processed simultaneously, wherein one edge material is located at the lamination joint of two adjacent sheets; Each of the edge pieces is connected to two adjacent preformed segments to form an antenna radome.

25. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 16 to 24, characterized in that, Prior to the step of providing multiple sheets, the manufacturing method further includes: Preparation of sheets; The sheet is wound along its length to form a sheet roll.

26. The manufacturing method according to claim 25, characterized in that, In the step of preparing the sheet, the manufacturing method further includes: A multilayer prepreg is provided, the prepreg comprising a matrix and a fiber body, wherein the fiber body of the prepreg is embedded in the matrix connecting the prepreg; The prepregs are stacked and connected in multiple layers to form the sheet, wherein at least one layer of prepreg fibers and another layer of prepreg fibers are arranged at an angle to each other.

27. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 16 to 26, characterized in that, The number of the plurality of sheets is two, and the thickness of the plurality of sheets is in the range of 0.3 to 3 millimeters.

28. A method for manufacturing an antenna radome, characterized in that, The production method includes: A sheet is provided, wherein one of the sheets includes a first end and a second end arranged along a first direction, and a third end and a fourth end arranged along a second direction, the material of the sheet including a thermoplastic material; A sheet is bent into a ring shape to form a preformed segment, wherein a third end of the preformed segment and a fourth end of the preformed segment are stacked along the thickness direction of the third end of the preformed segment. A third end of one of the preformed segments is fixedly connected to a fourth end of another preformed segment, a first end of one preformed segment forms a first opening, and a second end of one preformed segment forms a second opening to form an antenna radome.

29. The manufacturing method according to claim 28, characterized in that, In the step of fixing the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of one of the preformed segments, the manufacturing method further includes: A preformed segment is heated and extruded to fuse the third end of the first preformed segment with the fourth end of another preformed segment to form a fused segment. The fusion section is cooled to form a cylindrical body.

30. The manufacturing method according to claim 29, characterized in that, In the step after cooling the fusion section to form the cylinder, the manufacturing method further includes: Cut the cylinder to a set length; Drill holes in the cylinder; Clean the cylinder.

31. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that, The manufacturing method further includes: The device provides an unwinding device, a preforming device, a forming device, a traction device, and a mandrel; a roll of material is wound on the unwinding device, the preforming device is used to bend a sheet of material along the surface shape of the mandrel to form a preformed segment; the forming device is used to fix the third end of the first preformed segment to the fourth end of the second preformed segment to form a fused segment. The sheet is pulled by the traction device, so that the sheet of the unwinding device is wound around the mandrel and passes through the preforming device, the forming device and the traction device in sequence.

32. The manufacturing method according to claim 31, characterized in that, After providing the unwinding device, preforming device, forming device, traction device, and mandrel, the manufacturing method further includes providing a reforming device; After the step of pulling one of the sheets by the traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: shaping the surface of the fused section by a re-forming device or covering the surface of the fused section with a structural layer.

33. The manufacturing method according to claim 31, characterized in that, The manufacturing method further includes: A connecting device is provided, the connecting device comprising one or more of a heating extrusion device, an ultrasonic welding device, a hot air welding device, a stitching connection device, and a bonding device; After the step of pulling one of the sheets by the traction device, the manufacturing method further includes: connecting the connection area formed by fusing a preformed section in the fusion section again by the connecting device.

34. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 28 to 33, characterized in that, The manufacturing method further includes: Provide one edge material; One of the edge materials and one of the sheets are processed simultaneously, wherein one of the edge materials is located at the lamination joint of one of the sheets; One of the edge materials is fixedly connected to one of the preformed sections to form an antenna radome.

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