# US 12,003,030 B2 · Low-profile, wideband electronically scanned array for integrated geo-location, communications, and radar > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,030 B2 - Document ID: US12003030B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/071,789 - Filed: 2020-10-15 - Published: 2021-01-28 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-18 - Assignees: The MITRE Corporation - Applicants: The MITRE Corporation - Inventors: Cecelia Franzini; Mohamed Wajih Elsallal; Jamie Hood - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003030B2 ## CPC - H01Q 21/22: Antenna units of the array energised non-uniformly in amplitude or phase, e.g. tapered array or binomial array - H01Q 3/34: by electrical means (active lenses or reflecting arrays H01Q3/46) - H01Q 5/50: Feeding or matching arrangements for broad-band or multi-band operation - H01Q 9/28: Conical, cylindrical, cage, strip, gauze, or like elements having an extended radiating surface; Elements comprising two conical surfaces having collinear axes and adjacent apices and fed by two-conductor transmission lines (waveguide horns or mouths H01Q13/00; slot antennas H01Q13/00) - H01Q 21/062: {using dipole aerials; (H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence)} - H01Q 21/26: Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre - H01R 13/2414: {conductive elastomers} - H01R 2201/02: for antennas - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract An antenna element including a base plate, a first ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate, a second ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate and spaced apart from a first side of the first ground clustered pillar is provided. The ground clustered pillars, the signal ears, and the ground ears can be shapes so that the capacitive coupling between the ears and the pillars is sufficient to allow them to be spaced further apart, thereby reducing the number of elements required in the phased array. In some embodiments, the ground ear can be directly machined with the base plate thereby obviating the need for the ground ear to be overmolded into the base plate with the signal ear. In other embodiments the phased array antenna can utilize elastomeric connectors to further improve the mechanical and electrical reliability of the connections of the phase array antenna. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A phased array antenna comprising: a plurality of unit cells, wherein each unit cell comprises: a base plate; a first ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate; a second ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate and spaced apart from a first side of the first ground clustered pillar; a first ground member projecting from the base plate between the first ground clustered pillar and the second ground clustered pillar; and a first signal member projecting from the base plate between the first ground clustered pillar and the first ground member, wherein the first signal member is inserted into the base plate and is connected to a flexible conductor on a first side of the flexible conductor, wherein the flexible conductor is connected to a rigid conductor on a second side of the flexible conductor, and wherein the first signal ear, the flexible conductor, and the rigid conductor are configured to create an electrical path between the first signal ear and the rigid connector. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the flexible conductor is an elastomeric conductor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The phased array antenna of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric conductor is a Fujipoly Zebra connector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the flexible conductor is a fuzz button connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the rigid connector is an SubMiniature Version A (SMA) connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the rigid connector is a printed circuit board (PCB) connector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the first signal member is overmolded into a plug, and wherein the plug electrically isolates the first signal ear from the first ground ear and the base plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The phased array antenna of claim 7, wherein the plug with the inserted first signal member is inserted into the base plate. ### Claim 9 A phased array antenna comprising: a plurality of unit cells, wherein each unit cell comprises: a base plate; a first ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate; a second ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate and spaced apart from a first side of the first ground clustered pillar; a first ground member projecting from the base plate between the first ground clustered pillar and the second ground clustered pillar, wherein the first ground member is integrated directly into the base plate; and a first signal member projecting from the base plate between the first ground clustered pillar and the first ground member, wherein the first signal member is overmolded into a plug, wherein the plug electrically isolates the first signal ear from the first ground ear and the base plate, and wherein the plug with the inserted first signal member is inserted into the base plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The phased array antenna of claim 9, wherein the first signal member is inserted into the base plate and is connected to a flexible conductor on a first side of the flexible conductor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The phased array antenna of claim 10, wherein the flexible conductor is connected to a rigid conductor on a second side of the flexible conductor, and wherein the first signal ear, the flexible conductor, and the rigid conductor are configured to create an electrical path between the first signal ear and the rigid connector. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The phased array antenna of claim 11, wherein the flexible conductor is connected to a rigid conductor on a second side of the flexible conductor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The phased array antenna of claim 12, wherein the first signal ear, the flexible conductor, and the rigid conductor are configured to create an electrical path between the first signal ear and the rigid connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The phased array antenna of claim 12, wherein the flexible conductor is an elastomeric conductor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The phased array antenna of claim 14, wherein the elastomeric conductor is a Fujipoly Zebra connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The phased array antenna of claim 14, wherein the flexible conductor is a fuzz button connector.