# US 7,609,210 B2 · Phased array antenna system utilizing a beam forming network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,210 B2 - Document ID: US7609210B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/767,129 - Filed: 2007-06-22 - Published: 2008-12-25 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2007-06-22 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Ming Chen; Robert L. Wightman; Dan R. Miller; Chris D. McKinley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609210B2 ## CPC - H01P 5/103: Hollow-waveguide/coaxial-line transitions - H01P 5/107: Hollow-waveguide/strip-line transitions - H01Q 3/26: varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture ({H01Q3/12,} H01Q3/22, H01Q3/24 take precedence) - 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 21/065: {Patch antenna array} - Y10T 29/49016: Antenna or wave energy "plumbing" making - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract In accordance with an embodiment, a phased array antenna system includes a printed wiring board formed in rhombic shape that accommodates requirements for low observability and a beam forming network located within the printed wiring board. The beam forming network is located over substantially the entire printed wiring board. The embodiment includes connectors located on the backside of the printed wiring board. The back side connectors allow the array architecture to expand to include more subarrays and therefore allowing for more beam forming elements in a full size array than conventional phased arrays. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A phased array antenna system comprising: a printed wiring board formed in rhombic shape that accommodates requirements for low observability; a beam forming network located within the printed wiring board, wherein the beam forming network is located over substantially the entire printed wiring board, wherein the beam forming network includes at least one subarray of a plurality of beam forming elements, wherein data and clock lines of the beam forming elements are arranged in an orthogonal style to provide an efficient layout of the printed wiring board and robust signal integrity for the array beam steering control; wherein the subarray comprises a plurality of subarray elements, a module shim coupled to the plurality of subarray elements, a multilayer wiring board coupled to the module shim, a connector shim coupled to the multilayer wiring board; and a pressure plate coupled to the connector shim, wherein two or more subarrays are coupled together to provide a rhombic shaped array; and connectors located on the backside of the printed wiring board that allows for expansion of the system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein the non-active element gaps between at least two subarrays are minimized. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein the multilayer wiring board provides radio frequency (RF) power and logic distribution for the phased array antenna system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The phased array antenna system of claim 1 wherein the interconnections on the back side of the array comprises a direct-current (DC)/logic connector and an RF port connector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The phased array antenna system of claim 4 wherein the RF port connector provides for an RF transition for the beam forming network. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The phased array antenna system of claim 5 wherein the RF port connector comprises a coaxial connector. ### Claim 7 A method for forming a phased array beam comprising: providing a printed wiring board formed in a rhombic shape; providing a beam forming network located within the printed wiring board, wherein the beam-forming network is located over substantially the entire printed wiring board, wherein the beam forming network includes at least one subarray of a plurality of beam forming elements, wherein data and clock lines of the beam forming elements are arranged in an orthogonal style to provide an efficient layout of the printed wiring board and robust signal integrity for the array beam steering control; wherein each subarray comprises a plurality of subarray elements, a module shim coupled to the plurality of subarray elements, a multilayer wiring board coupled to the module shim, a connector shim coupled to the multilayer wiring board; and a pressure plate coupled to the connector shim, wherein two or more subarrays are coupled together to provide a rhombic shaped array; and providing connectors only on the back side of the printed wiring board to allow for expansion of the phased array beams. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the non-active element gaps between the at least two subarrays are minimized. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the multilayer wiring board provides RF power and logic distribution for the phased array antenna system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein the interconnections on the back side of the array comprises a DC/logic connector and an RF port connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein the RF port connector provides for an RF transition for the beam forming network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the RF port connector comprises a coaxial connector. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the RF traces of the RF distribution network are coupled to the RF Port connector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 which includes laying out the beam array elements in a manner to minimize the distance between adjacent subarrays.