Rhomboidal Modular Phased Array Antenna Gapless Subarray Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency phased array antennas face challenges in maintaining uniform spacing and performance due to gaps between subarrays, particularly in rhombic shaped apertures, leading to antenna pattern degradation and increased radar cross section.
Innovation Solution
A modularly expandable phased array antenna with a rhomboidal shaped aperture, where antenna elements are arranged on rhomboidal printed wiring boards with connectors along the peripheral edge, allowing additional boards to be added without creating gaps, ensuring uniform spacing and consistent performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple subarrays are configured to form a rhombic shaped antenna aperture, then the antenna aperture can be formed and manufactured, but gaps are created between rows and columns of antenna elements where subarrays meet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using a rhombic (non-rectangular) subarray geometry instead of conventional rectangular arrangements. This asymmetric rhombic configuration allows subarrays to be positioned at angles that eliminate gaps between adjacent subarrays, thereby maintaining uniform element spacing across the entire aperture while preserving manufacturing modularity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional rectangular grid arrangements to a three-dimensional angular configuration where rhombic subarrays are oriented at specific angles relative to each other. This dimensional change in the arrangement geometry enables gapless assembly while maintaining uniform spacing, resolving the contradiction between manufacturability and precision.
2Reliability
If gaps are eliminated between antenna elements in modular subarrays, then antenna performance is improved, but the complexity of positioning and assembling subarrays increases
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric rhombic geometry provides inherent positioning advantages where the angular orientation and edge alignment of subarrays naturally guide correct placement. This geometric asymmetry simplifies the positioning task compared to generic modular assemblies, as the rhombic shapes must align at specific angles to achieve gapless configuration, reducing positioning complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the subarray configuration from conventional rectangular to rhombic shapes with specific angular orientations. This parameter change optimizes the assembly process by creating a configuration where subarrays naturally fit together without gaps, reducing the complexity of positioning and assembly while improving performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A modularly expandable, phased array antenna having a rhomboidal shaped antenna aperture formed by a plurality of rhomboidal shaped subarrays. Each subarray has a rhomboidal shaped printed wiring board on which is formed a plurality of antenna elements, where the elements collectively form a rhomboidal shape in accordance with the printed wiring board. The rhomboidal shaped subarrays enable a modular aperture to be formed without producing any gaps between columns or rows of adjacently positioned subarrays. Thus, a uniform, consistent spacing is maintained between all the antenna elements on the subarrays. This improves antenna radiation and low observability performance for the antenna system, as well as reducing the overall size of the antenna aperture and its cost of construction.