# US 2014/0152510 A1 · Structural wideband multifunctional apertures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152510 A1 - Document ID: US20140152510A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,309 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Charles W. Manry, JR.; Manny S. Urcia; David L. Banks - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152510A1 ## CPC - H01Q 21/061: {Two dimensional planar arrays} - H01Q 1/286: {substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft} - H01Q 1/38: formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142)} - H01Q 1/42: Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome - H01Q 9/0457: {electromagnetically coupled to the feed line} - 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 21/0075: {Stripline fed arrays (H01Q21/065 takes precedence)} - H01Q 21/0087: {Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays (manufacturing waveguides H01P11/00)} - 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 - H01Q 25/001: {Crossed polarisation dual antennas (orthomode horns H01Q13/0258; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; orthomode transducers H01P1/161)} - Y10T 29/49016: Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A structural wideband multifunctional aperture and methods are presented. A ground plane grounds radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) electrical fields. A structural egg crate circuit board comprises a grid of circuit board planes coupled to the ground plane and perpendicular to the ground plane around open boxes. A signal feed-line is coupled to the structural egg crate circuit board and couple-able to a signal transmission line. A driven feed layer parallel to the ground plane is coupled to the signal feed-line and to a side of the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structural wideband multifunctional aperture comprising: a ground plane operable to ground radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) electrical fields; a structural egg crate circuit board comprising a grid of circuit board planes coupled to the ground plane and configured substantially perpendicular to the ground plane around a plurality of open boxes; a signal feed-line coupled to the structural egg crate circuit board and operable to couple to a signal transmission line; and a driven feed layer configured substantially parallel to the ground plane and coupled to the signal feed-line and to a side of the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 1, further comprising: a grounded shorting-line coupled to the structural egg crate circuit board and the ground plane; and a grounded feed layer configured parallel to the ground plane and coupled to the grounded shorting-line and to the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 2, wherein the driven feed layer and the grounded feed layer comprise a trapezoidal configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 2, further comprising: a driven antenna element configured to electromagnetically couple to the driven feed layer; and a grounded antenna element configured to electromagnetically couple to the grounded feed layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 4, wherein the driven antenna element and the grounded antenna element comprise a bow-tie configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 4, further comprising a dielectric cover covering the driven antenna element and the grounded antenna element, wherein the dielectric cover comprises one of: a single layer comprising low electromagnetic loss material, a plurality of layers comprising differing low electromagnetic loss materials. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 1, wherein the structural wideband multifunctional aperture comprises an aircraft skin, and is configured to bear loads on the aircraft skin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 1, wherein the structural egg crate circuit board comprises a low dielectric quartz fabric. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The structural wideband multifunctional aperture of claim 1, wherein the open boxes are filled with a low dielectric material. ### Claim 10 A method for forming a structural wideband multifunctional aperture comprising: coupling a structural egg crate circuit board comprising a grid of circuit board planes to a ground plane; configuring the structural egg crate circuit board substantially perpendicular to the ground plane around a plurality of open boxes; coupling a signal feed-line to the structural egg crate circuit board, the signal feed-line operable to couple to a signal transmission line; configuring a driven feed layer substantially parallel to the ground plane; and coupling the driven feed layer to the signal feed-line and to a side of the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: coupling a grounded shorting-line to the structural egg crate circuit board and the ground plane; configuring a grounded feed layer parallel to the ground plane; and coupling the grounded feed layer to the grounded shorting-line and to the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising configuring the driven feed layer and the grounded feed layer in a trapezoidal configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: configuring a driven antenna element to electromagnetically couple to the driven feed layer; and configuring a grounded antenna element to electromagnetically couple to the grounded feed layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising configuring the driven antenna element and the grounded antenna to comprise a bow-tie configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising filling the open boxes with a low dielectric material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising configuring an aircraft skin comprising the structural wideband multifunctional aperture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising configuring the ground plane to ground radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) electrical fields. ### Claim 18 A method for operating a structural wideband multifunctional aperture comprising: electromagnetically coupling a signal feed-line to a signal transmission line, the signal feed-line coupled to a structural egg crate circuit board comprising a grid of circuit board planes coupled to a ground plane and configured substantially perpendicular to the ground plane around a plurality of open boxes; and electromagnetically coupling a driven feed layer to the signal feed-line, the driven feed layer configured substantially parallel to the ground plane and coupled to the signal feed-line and coupled to a side of the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: grounding a grounded shorting-line coupled to the structural egg crate circuit board to the ground plane operable to ground radio frequency (RF) and direct current (DC) electrical fields; and grounding a grounded feed layer with the grounded shorting-line, the grounded feed layer configured parallel to the ground plane and coupled to the grounded shorting-line and to the structural egg crate circuit board opposite to the ground plane. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising: electromagnetically coupling a driven antenna element to the driven feed layer; and electromagnetically coupling a grounded antenna element to the grounded feed layer.