Wideband array antenna and manufacturing methods
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorDaniel T. McGrath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A base block of a flare antenna may be made by: forming a ground plane on a base insulating layer; forming an intermediate insulating layer over the ground plane; patterning radiating and shorting traces on the intermediate insulating layer; forming a top insulating layer over the radiating and shorting traces; forming a top metallization layer; connecting the top metallization layer to the ground plane with vias passing through the intermediate insulating layer; and forming a via that contacts the radiating trace and passes through the ground plane and is not in electrical contact with the top metallization layer or the ground plane.
Claims20
An antenna, comprising:
- a base formed of at least two base blocks including a first base block and a second base block connected to one another, the first base block including:
- a ground plane, a top metallization layer and a second metallization between the ground plane and the top metallization layer;
- cage posts electrically connecting the ground plane and the top metallization layer;
- a shorting trace formed in the second metallization layer on first side of the first base block;
- a radiating trace formed in the second metallization layer on a second, opposite side of the first base block;
- a connection surrounded by the cage posts that connects the radiating trace to a wiring layer or connector;
- and
- a shorting connection coupling the shorting trace to the top metallization layer;
- and
- two or more pyramids disposed on top of the at least two base blocks.
A base block for a flare antenna, the base block including:
- a ground plane, a top metallization layer and a second metallization between the ground plane and the top metallization layer;
- cage posts electrically connecting the ground plane and the top metallization layer;
- a shorting trace formed in the second metallization layer on first side of the base block;
- a radiating trace formed in the second metallization layer on a second, opposite side of the base block;
- a connection surrounded by the cage posts that connects the radiating trace to a wiring layer;
- and
- a shorting connection coupling the shorting trace to the top metallization layer.
A method of forming a base block of a flare antenna, the method comprising:
- forming a ground plane on a base insulating layer;
- forming an intermediate insulating layer over the ground plane;
- patterning radiating and shorting traces on the intermediate insulating layer;
- forming a top insulating layer over the radiating and shorting traces;
- forming a top metallization layer;
- connecting the top metallization layer to the ground plane with vias passing through the intermediate insulating layer;
- and
- forming a via that contacts the radiating trace and passes through the ground plane and is not in electrical contact with the top metallization layer or the ground plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.