Integrated Patch Antenna Radome Conformal Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patch antennas and radomes are often designed and manufactured independently, leading to increased costs in conformal installations and compatibility issues, as well as potential performance degradation due to material incompatibilities and separate integration challenges.
Innovation Solution
An integrated patch antenna and radome assembly is developed, where the antenna and radome are combined into a single unit using a dielectric substrate with a conductive coating and a moat structure, allowing for conformal installations without compromising antenna performance, and utilizing materials like FR4 and quartz or glass pre-impregnated fabric for the radome.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If patch antenna and radome are designed and manufactured independently, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase for conformal installations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna and radome into a single integrated structure where the radome serves dual functions as both a protective enclosure and an antenna element. The radome includes antenna elements (conductive patches, dipoles, or monopoles) embedded within or on its surface, eliminating the need for separate antenna and radome components while reducing installation complexity and cost for conformal applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If antenna elements are placed on solid substrate surfaces, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but electromagnetic performance deteriorates due to material incompatibilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material structures within the radome, combining dielectric materials with conductive elements (patches, dipoles, monopoles) to create an integrated antenna-radome system. The radome utilizes layers of dielectric material with embedded or surface-mounted conductive elements, allowing simultaneous achievement of mechanical protection and electromagnetic functionality while maintaining material compatibility.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 3~4B
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an integrated patch antenna may comprise a radome layer, having an outside surface and an inside surface, and a radiating layer. The radiating layer has a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface of the radiating layer conforming to the shape of the inside surface of the radome layer. The radiating layer comprises a dielectric layer, a radiating element formed on a first side of the dielectric layer, and a moat formed in the dielectric layer around its perimeter forming an inner perimeter sidewall and an outer perimeter sidewall. The radiating layer also comprises a conductive coating disposed on the inner perimeter sidewall or the outer perimeter sidewall and a feed line disposed on a second side of the dielectric substrate.