Endfire antenna structure on an aerodynamic system

An RF system configured for use on an aerodynamic system, the RF system comprising:

• a processor configured to generate a digital signal;
• at least one digital to analog converter (DAC) configured to transform the digital signal into an analog signal;
• front end circuitry configured to receive the analog signal from the DAC and perform any of amplification, up-converting, modulation, or filtering to the analog signal, thereby providing a transmission signal;
• and
• an antenna structure configured to radiate the transmission signal received from the front end circuitry, wherein the antenna structure comprises
• a first layer of patterned metal, wherein the patterned metal of the first layer includes a plurality of parallel slots etched through the metal, each of the parallel slots extending lengthwise in a first direction that is perpendicular to a second direction along a length of the aerodynamic system extending between a nose cone and a tail end of the aerodynamic system,
• a second layer of patterned metal, wherein the patterned metal of the second layer includes a tapered radio frequency (RF) feedline having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end being coupled to an input/output (I/O) antenna connection, wherein the second layer of patterned metal is aligned over the first layer of patterned metal such that the tapered RF feedline has a length that extends across the plurality of parallel slots in the second direction, and
• a stack of material layers that includes the first layer of patterned metal and the second layer of patterned metal, the stack of material layers being flexible such that the stack of material layers is configured to wrap at least partially around a fuselage of the aerodynamic system.

A method of making an antenna structure configured for use on an aerodynamic system, the method comprising:

• wrapping a sheet having a plurality of dielectric material slabs around a fuselage of the aerodynamic system;
• removing the sheet, thus leaving behind the dielectric material slabs within corresponding cavities in the fuselage;
• wrapping a flexible substrate around the fuselage and over the dielectric material slabs, wherein the flexible substrate comprises
• a first layer of patterned metal on a first surface of the flexible substrate, wherein the patterned metal of the first layer includes a plurality of parallel slots etched through the metal, each of the parallel slots extending lengthwise in a first direction, and
• a second layer of patterned metal on a second surface of the flexible substrate opposite from the first surface, wherein the patterned metal of the second layer includes a tapered radio frequency (RF) feedline having a narrow end and a wide end, the narrow end being coupled to an input/output (I/O) antenna connection, wherein the second layer of patterned metal is aligned with the first layer of patterned metal such that the tapered RF feedline has a length that extends across the plurality of parallel slots in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction;
• and
• wrapping a dielectric layer at least partially around the fuselage and over the flexible substrate.