# US 9,882,271 B2 · Conformal antenna and related methods of manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,882,271 B2 - Document ID: US9882271B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/790,260 - Filed: 2015-07-02 - Published: 2017-01-05 - Granted: 2018-01-30 - Earliest claimed: 2015-07-02 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Applicants: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: Tommy Lam; Nicholas Gretzinger; Christopher Jordan Torbitt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882271B2 ## CPC - H01Q 1/286: {substantially flush mounted with the skin of the craft} - B22F 7/08: with one or more parts not made from powder {(B22F7/062 takes precedence)} - H01Q 1/287: {integrated in a wing or a stabiliser} - H01Q 1/50: Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors - H01Q 9/065: {Microstrip dipole antennas (patch antenna H01Q9/0407)} - B22F 10/25: Direct deposition of metal particles, e.g. direct metal deposition [DMD] or laser engineered net shaping [LENS] - B22F 10/28: Powder bed fusion, e.g. selective laser melting [SLM] or electron beam melting [EBM] - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - 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 9/0407: {Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna (dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40)} - Y02P 10/25: Process efficiency - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - B22F: WORKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; MAKING METALLIC POWDER (making alloys by powder metallurgy C22C); APPARATUS OR DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR METALLIC POWDER - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract According to some aspects, an antenna is provided comprising a substrate, a first conductive region disposed on a first side of the substrate, a second conductive region disposed on a second side of the substrate, and a coaxial transmission line, an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the first conductive region and an outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the second conductive region, wherein the second conductive region includes at least one structural feature that functions as a choke when the first and second conductive regions are operated together as an antenna. According to some aspects, an aerial vehicle comprising a conformal antenna is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An antenna, comprising: a substrate; a first conductive region disposed on a first side of the substrate; a second conductive region disposed on a second side of the substrate; and a coaxial transmission line, an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the first conductive region and an outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the second conductive region, wherein the first conductive region includes one or more first slots, wherein the second conductive region includes at least one structural feature that functions as a choke when the first and second conductive regions are operated together as an antenna, wherein the at least one structural feature comprises one or more second slots that inhibit current flow on an exterior of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and wherein the second conductive region comprises a tapered section that narrows toward a first end of the second conductive region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the second side of the substrate opposes the first side of the substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically couples to the second conductive region at a second end of the second conductive region, and wherein the second end of the second conductive region opposes the first end of the second conductive region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the tapered section has a triangular shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically couples to the first conductive region at a first end of the first conductive region, and wherein the first conductive region comprises a tapered section that narrows toward the first end of the first conductive region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first conductive region includes a first feed line that electrically couples the first conductive region to the to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and wherein the second conductive region includes a second feed line that electrically couples the second conductive region to the to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first conductive region is rotationally symmetric to a portion of the second conductive region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the choke is an RF choke. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the substrate is non-planar. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the coaxial transmission line is a coaxial connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna produces a vertically polarized signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein at least the first conductive region and second conductive regions each comprise a plurality of layers formed through additive fabrication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second conductive regions comprise silver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The antenna of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). ### Claim 15 A method of fabricating a conformal antenna, comprising: forming a substrate from a dielectric material via additive fabrication; forming, from a conductive material via additive fabrication, a first conductive region on a first side of the substrate, wherein the first conductive region includes one or more first slots; and forming, from the conductive material via additive fabrication, a second conductive region on a second side of the substrate, wherein the second conductive region includes at least one feature that functions as a choke when the first and second conductive regions are operated together as an antenna, wherein the at least one feature comprises one or more second slots that inhibit current flow on an exterior of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and wherein the second conductive region comprises a tapered section that narrows toward a first end of the second conductive region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically couples to the second conductive region at a second end of the second conductive region, and wherein the second end of the second conductive region opposes the first end of the second conductive region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising forming at least a portion of a coaxial transmission line such that an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line is electrically coupled to the first conductive region and an outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line is electrically coupled to the second conductive region. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the first conductive region includes a first feed line that electrically couples the first conductive region to the to the inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and wherein the second conductive region includes a second feed line that electrically couples the second conductive region to the to the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the substrate is non-planar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the dielectric material is a low-k dielectric. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein forming the first conductive region comprises: applying a metallic material to the substrate; and sintering the metallic material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein forming the first and second conductive regions via additive fabrication utilizes an additive fabrication device having more than three axes of motion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein forming the first and second conductive regions via additive fabrication utilizes an aerosol jet additive fabrication device. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second conductive regions comprise silver. ### Claim 25 An aerial vehicle comprising: at least one conformal antenna that comprises: a substrate; a first conductive region disposed on a first side of the substrate and including one or more first slots; a second conductive region disposed on a second side of the substrate; and a coaxial transmission line, an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the first conductive region and an outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the second conductive region, wherein the second conductive region includes at least one structural feature that functions as a choke when the first and second conductive regions are operated together as an antenna, wherein the at least one structural feature comprises one or more second slots that inhibit current flow on an exterior of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, and wherein the second conductive region comprises a tapered section that narrows toward a first end of the second conductive region. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The aerial vehicle of claim 25, wherein the substrate is at least a portion of a functional component of the aerial vehicle's structure. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The aerial vehicle of claim 26, wherein the functional component is a wing or a tailfin. ### Claim 28 An antenna, comprising: a substrate; a first conductive region disposed on a first side of the substrate; a second conductive region disposed on a second side of the substrate; and a coaxial transmission line, an inner conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the first conductive region and an outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line electrically coupled to the second conductive region, wherein the second conductive region includes at least one structural feature that functions as a choke when the first and second conductive regions are operated together as an antenna, wherein the at least one structural feature comprises one or more slots that inhibit current flow on an exterior of the outer conductor of the coaxial transmission line, at least a first slot of the one or more slots including a first portion oriented in a first direction and a second portion oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the second conductive region comprises a tapered section that narrows toward a first end of the second conductive region.