US 2002/0171506 A1 · Two-sided printed circuit anti-symmetric balun

Abstract

A balun component or structural subassembly, for use in conjunction with an antenna radome assembly, comprises a two-sided printed circuit board substrate having a longitudinal axis, wherein each side of the two-sided printed circuit board substrate is asymmetric with respect to itself but is in effect anti-symmetric with respect to the opposite side of the two-sided printed circuit board substrate in a 180° out-of-phase manner such that the entire two-sided printed circuit board balun component or structural subassembly exhibits diametrical symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis of the overall two-sided printed circuit board substrate. Such diametrical symmetry with respect to the longitudinal axis of the overall two-sided printed circuit board substrate enables operatively associated antenna sensor amplitude and phase comparison assemblies or systems to achieve well-behaved and unsquinted amplitude and phase patterns regardless or independent of polarization in order to reduce angle of arrival (AOA) errors. In addition, the balun component or structural subassembly comprises tapered transformer structure which effectively converts the coaxial feed point impedance values of incoming signals to signals having impedance values at the output or downstream end which are able to achieve good impedance matching with the aforenoted spiral circuit component or assembly of the radome elements or components of the overall antenna structure. Still further, such tapered transformer structure positively affects or enhances the range of bandwidth frequencies over which the balun component or structural subassembly is capable of operating.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A balun component structural subassembly for use in connection with an antenna radome assembly, comprising:

a printed circuit board substrate having a longitudinal axis, and a pair of opposite side surfaces;
a coaxial feed point electrically connected to a first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces for feeding incoming signals onto said printed circuit board substrate;
a first ground plane disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said coaxial feed point;
a first transformer disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said first ground plane;
a second ground plane disposed upon a second one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said first ground plane disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces;
and
a second transformer disposed upon said second one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said second ground plane;
said first ground plane and said first transformer disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces of said printed circuit board substrate being disposed in an anti-symmetric manner with respect to said second ground plane and said second transformer disposed upon said second one of said pair of opposite sides of said printed circuit board substrate in a 180° out-of-phase manner such that the entire balun component structural subassembly exhibits diametrical symmetry with respect to said longitudinal axis of said printed circuit board substrate.

5 more elements

An antenna radome assembly, comprising:

an antenna radome element;
a spiral circuit element upon which said antenna radome element is mounted;
a housing upon which said spiral circuit element is mounted;
and
a balun component structural subassembly mounted within said housing and operatively connected to said spiral circuit element;
wherein said balun component structural subassembly comprises a printed circuit board substrate having a longitudinal axis, and a pair of opposite side surfaces;
a coaxial feed point electrically connected to a first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces for feeding incoming signals onto said printed circuit board substrate;
a first ground plane disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said coaxial feed point;
a first transformer disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said first ground plane;
a second ground plane disposed upon a second one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said first ground plane disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces;
and a second transformer disposed upon said second one of said pair of opposite side surfaces and electrically connected to said second ground plane;
said first ground plane and said first transformer disposed upon said first one of said pair of opposite side surfaces of said printed circuit board substrate being disposed in an anti-symmetric manner with respect to said second ground plane and said second transformer disposed upon said second one of said pair of opposite sides of said printed circuit board substrate in a 180° out-of-phase manner such that the entire balun component structural subassembly exhibits diametrical symmetry with respect to said longitudinal axis of said printed circuit board substrate such that said antenna radome assembly can achieve well-behaved and unsquinted amplitude and phase patterns regardless and independent of polarization in order to reduce angle of arrival (AOA) errors to said antenna radome element.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Two-sided printed circuit anti-symmetric balun

Life of this patent

Two-sided printed circuit anti-symmetric balun

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18