EP2006956A2 - Système et procédé pour une conception de transmission radiofréquence (RF) pour un système d'antenne réseau à commande de phase utilisant un réseau à réalisation de faisceau - Google Patents

Système et procédé pour une conception de transmission radiofréquence (RF) pour un système d'antenne réseau à commande de phase utilisant un réseau à réalisation de faisceau Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2006956A2
EP2006956A2 EP08252104A EP08252104A EP2006956A2 EP 2006956 A2 EP2006956 A2 EP 2006956A2 EP 08252104 A EP08252104 A EP 08252104A EP 08252104 A EP08252104 A EP 08252104A EP 2006956 A2 EP2006956 A2 EP 2006956A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
wiring board
printed wiring
beam forming
phased array
transition
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP08252104A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2006956A3 (fr
EP2006956B1 (fr
Inventor
Ming Chen
Robert L. Wightman, Jr.
Dan R. Miller
Chris D. Mckinley
John B. O'connell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Boeing Co
Original Assignee
Boeing Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US11/767,170 external-priority patent/US8154469B2/en
Priority claimed from US11/767,129 external-priority patent/US7609210B2/en
Application filed by Boeing Co filed Critical Boeing Co
Publication of EP2006956A2 publication Critical patent/EP2006956A2/fr
Publication of EP2006956A3 publication Critical patent/EP2006956A3/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2006956B1 publication Critical patent/EP2006956B1/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
    • H01Q21/0025—Modular arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P5/00—Coupling devices of the waveguide type
    • H01P5/08—Coupling devices of the waveguide type for linking dissimilar lines or devices
    • H01P5/085—Coaxial-line/strip-line transitions
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P5/00—Coupling devices of the waveguide type
    • H01P5/08—Coupling devices of the waveguide type for linking dissimilar lines or devices
    • H01P5/10—Coupling devices of the waveguide type for linking dissimilar lines or devices for coupling balanced lines or devices with unbalanced lines or devices
    • H01P5/107—Hollow-waveguide/strip-line transitions
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
    • H01Q21/0075—Stripline fed arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/0087—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for manufacturing antenna arrays
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
    • H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
    • H01Q21/061—Two dimensional planar arrays
    • H01Q21/064—Two dimensional planar arrays using horn or slot aerials

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates generally to beam forming networks and more particularly to phased array antennas utilizing such networks.
  • Active phased array antenna systems are capable of forming one or more antenna beams of electromagnetic energy and electronically steering the beams to targets, with no mechanical moving parts involved.
  • a phased array antenna system has many advantages over other types of mechanical antennas, such as dishes, in terms of beam steering agility and speed, low profiles, low observability, and low maintenance.
  • a beam forming network is a major and critical part of a phased array antenna system.
  • the beam forming network is responsible for collecting all the electromagnetic signals from the array antenna modules and combining them in a phase coherent way for the optimum antenna performance.
  • the element spacing in a phased array is typically at one-half of the wavelength for electromagnetic waves in space.
  • phased array there are design challenges when utilizing a phased array antenna system. Firstly, it is important that the phased array include a rhombic shape of aperture for low observabilty requirements of the system. In addition, the system should be as small as possible to conserve space while still having the same performance characteristics of conventional shaped phased array antenna systems. Furthermore, as array antenna frequency increases, the element spacing decreases in an inversely proportional manner. Due to this tight spacing in phased arrays at microwave frequencies, transitions of radio frequency (RF) energy from inside of the beam forming network printed wiring board to the backside of the antenna have always been one of the critical RF design factors in phased array development. Conventional designs had tighter tolerances in the feature alignments of the RF transition, which limits the choice of suppliers for the systems and impacts the cost and schedule for producing the antennas as well.
  • RF radio frequency
  • a phased array antenna system includes 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, and a plurality of connectors located on the backside of the printed wiring board configured to allow for expansion of the system.
  • a method for forming a phased array beam includes 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, and providing a plurality of connectors only on the back side of the printed wiring board to allow for expansion of the phased array beams.
  • a radio frequency "RF" transition system includes a stripline trace section with openings in ground planes and forms a quarter wavelength resonator, and an electromagnetic mechanism to couple the RF energy from the stripline trace section to a connector, wherein the RF signal energy is transferred from inside a beam forming network printed wiring board to an antenna back plane with minimal RF losses.
  • a radio-frequency "RF" transition module includes a first port, a can coupled above the first port, the can including dielectric material therein; wherein the can tunes the transition module by varying the properties of the dielectric material, a connector coupled to the first port, and a second port coupled to the connector, wherein the transition modules provide RF signals to a phased array antenna system.
  • a phased array antenna system includes 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, a radio-frequency "RF" transition system comprising a stripline trace section with openings in ground planes and forms a quarter wavelength resonator; and an electromagnetic mechanism to couple the RF energy from the stripline trace section to a connector, wherein the RF signal energy is transferred from inside the printed wiring board to an antenna back plane with minimal RF losses, and a plurality of connectors located on the backside of the printed wiring board that allows for expansion of the system.
  • RF radio-frequency
  • a method for transferring radio-frequency "RF" signal energy includes forming a quarter-wavelength resonator, and coupling the RF signal energy from a stripline trace section to a connector, wherein the RF signal energy is transferred from inside a beam forming network printed wiring board to an antenna back plane with minimal RF losses.
  • the present embodiment relates generally to beam forming networks and more particularly to phased array antennas utilizing such networks.
  • the following description is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the embodiment and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements.
  • Various modifications to the embodiments and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • the present embodiment is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
  • Every phased array antenna system includes a beam forming network to coherently combine the signals from all of its many elements. It is this signal combining ability that forms the electromagnetic beam.
  • a beam forming distribution board for a conventional phased array antenna system has a rectangular shape for the beam forming network. As is known the rectangular shape provides problems because it is easily observable electronically due to its electronic signature. Hence it is desirable for the phased array antenna system to be rhombic in shape to allow for low observability.
  • phased arrays have been produced that contain a large number of phased array elements.
  • the Boeing Company has produced such a phased array antenna system that contains 4,096 elements in 8 subarrays arranged in a 2x4 configuration.
  • phased array antenna systems such as K-band arrays
  • the rhombic shape of aperture for phased array antennas were accomplished by either using the metal plate itself, (which offered only the minimum benefit to the low observability), or having passive dummy elements placed around the rectangular shape of active elements.
  • a phased array antenna system in accordance with an embodiment expands the capabilities of phased array antenna systems in two critical areas: (1) providing a low observability compliant phased array aperture with reduced size, weight and cost; and (2) providing a beam forming network scalability to large full- size arrays. Both capabilities allow for the enhanced phased array antennas utilized for a variety of applications. To describe the features of the phased array antenna system refer now to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
  • FIG. 1A is a mechanical schematic of one embodiment of a beam forming network 100 within a printed wiring board 102.
  • the beam forming network 100 is formed inside a rhombic shape printed wiring board (PWB) 102, so that two or more of such identical boards can be put together to form a larger sized array without compromising the low observability characteristics.
  • PWB printed wiring board
  • the rhombic shape of the aperture is covered with active beam forming elements for a maximum cost effective benefit to the antenna system.
  • the PWB 102 includes nine layers as shown in Figure 1B .
  • FIG. 2 is a mechanical schematic of the receive phased array antenna system 200 with two subarrays 202a and 202b of the beam forming network, according to an embodiment.
  • One critical feature is the narrowing of the non-active-element gaps around each board when two or more identical PWBs are put together to form large arrays.
  • FIG. 2 shows that the edge gaps 204 in-between the adjacent boards are of only one element spacing, as compared with two element spacing in the conventional phased arrays. This reduction in the gap width improves the antenna beam patterns.
  • the reduction of gap width is accomplished by laying out the beam forming circuits of the subarrays 202a and 202b in a more efficient manner. Also, by placing all of the circuitry and connectors on the backside adjacent subarrays, the subarrays can be placed closer together than the subarrays utilized in a conventional phased array antenna system.
  • FIG. 3A is a diagram of a portion of the beam forming network circuits 200 inside the PWB 202.
  • FIG. 3A shows stripline traces 302 on the RF layer 300 embedded inside the printed wiring board 202. These stripline traces 302 form the RF distribution network for the beam forming function.
  • the data and clock lines are arranged in an orthogonal style to provide a more efficient layout on the PWB 202 and more robust signal integrity for array's beam steering control.
  • FIG. 4 is a diagram of a receive phased array antenna assembly 400.
  • one subarray 410a is shown assembled and one subarray 410b is shown in exploded view.
  • the subarray 410b includes a plurality of subarray elements 412, a module shim 414, a multilayer wiring board (MLWB) 416, an elastomer connector shim 418 and a pressure plate with thermal transfer material 420.
  • the MWLB is utilized advantageously to provide the RF, power and logic distribution for the phased array antenna. These elements are coupled together as shown in subarray 410a to provide the rhombic shaped array.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the back side of the phased array antenna system showing the back side connectors for DC/logic connector 502, and the RF port coaxial connector 504 for the RF signals.
  • the RF port connector provides for an RF transition for the beam forming network printed wiring board and the array housing.
  • the connectors are placed on the sides of the PWB thereby causing adjacent subarrays to be placed at a distance from each other based upon the size of the connectors. In one embodiment there is one port per each subarray.
  • a phased array antenna system in accordance with an embodiment expands the capabilities of phased array antenna systems in two critical areas: (1) providing a low observability compliant phased array aperture with reduced size, weight and cost; and (2) providing a beam forming network scalability to large full size arrays. Both capabilities allow for the enhanced phased array antennas utilized for a variety of applications.
  • the embodiment includes a RF transition module that two key improvements over the previous RF transition modules:
  • the RF distribution network constructed inside the PWB for the beam forming function is shown in FIG. 3A .
  • the RF traces are connected at each 256-element level to the transition module 600 shown above in FIG. 6 .
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a stripline to waveguide RF transition module 600 or system in accordance with one or more embodiments.
  • FIG. 7A shows a side view of the RF transition module 600.
  • FIG. 7B shows an isometric view of the RF transition module 600.
  • FIG. 7C shows a plan view of the RF transition module 600.
  • FIG. 7D shows an electromagnetic field distribution inside the RF transition module 600.
  • the RF energy comes in along the stripline 602 (Port 1) and is coupled into the rectangular waveguide 604 (Port 2).
  • the rectangular block 606 placed above the trace represents the dielectric material that is inserted in a can (not shown).
  • the dielectric material 606 tunes the transition coupling performance by varying the material dielectric properties.
  • the RF transition module comprises a stripline trace section with openings in the nearby ground planes forming a quarter-wavelength resonator.
  • the RF energy from the stripline is electromagnetically coupled to either a rectangular wavelength piece or a coaxial contact.
  • This RF transition module 600 is integrated in the beam-forming-network-printed-wiring-board.
  • the rhombic shape beam forming network printed wiring board is shown in FIG. 1A .
  • two RF transition modules are integrated with the phased array.
  • the transition modules are responsible for combining the elements in one subarray.
  • the subarray includes 256 elements.
  • FIG. 8 represents the results of a finite-element electromagnetic field simulation within the RF waveguide transition structure shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the insert material simulated includes Teflon, Taconic, Rexolite, Rogers Duroid, and Arlon Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE).
  • CLTE Arlon Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion
  • the insert material is simulated by varying its dielectric constant and the return losses for the RF transition are plotted as a function of the RF frequency. All materials within the numerical analysis result in a "double null" pattern across the frequency band of interest - this is a desirable characteristic because it means less reflection, better impedance matching, and wider bandwidth in the desired frequency range.
  • FIG. 8 indicates that a return loss of 20 dB or better has been achieved over more than 2 GHz frequency range - better than 10% bandwidth at K-band (20 GHz). This is a significant improvement in operation bandwidth from previous designs.
  • FIGs. 9A and 9C show a perspective view and side view of a stripline to coaxial module 900 which also includes a coaxial interface.
  • Figure 9B shows the performance of the stripline to waveguide module and the stripline to coaxial connector transition module
  • transition modules display wide bandwidth while having a below -25 dB return loss.
  • the waveguide transition module is less sensitive to trace width / length variance, representing manufacturing tolerance fluctuation.
  • the above-identified modules are simpler structures and less costly than conventional transition modules.
  • the new coaxial transition module is easier to manufacture thereby reducing the cost and the schedule risk associated with manufacturing of the beam forming network.
  • a phased array antenna system in accordance with an embodiment expands the capabilities of phased array antenna systems in two critical areas: (1) providing a low observability compliant phased array aperture with reduced size, weight and cost; and (2) providing a beam forming network scalability to large full size arrays. Both capabilities allow for the enhanced phased array antennas utilized for a variety of applications.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
EP08252104.8A 2007-06-22 2008-06-19 Système et procédé pour une conception de transmission radiofréquence (RF) pour un système d'antenne réseau à commande de phase utilisant un réseau à réalisation de faisceau Not-in-force EP2006956B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/767,170 US8154469B2 (en) 2007-06-22 2007-06-22 Radio frequency (RF) transition design for a phased array antenna system utilizing a beam forming network
US11/767,129 US7609210B2 (en) 2007-06-22 2007-06-22 Phased array antenna system utilizing a beam forming network

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2006956A2 true EP2006956A2 (fr) 2008-12-24
EP2006956A3 EP2006956A3 (fr) 2009-02-11
EP2006956B1 EP2006956B1 (fr) 2017-12-13

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7609210B2 (en) 2007-06-22 2009-10-27 Boeing Company Phased array antenna system utilizing a beam forming network
WO2014005699A1 (fr) * 2012-07-03 2014-01-09 Qest Quantenelektronische Systeme Gmbh Système d'antennes pour communication satellite large bande dans la plage de fréquences ghz, doté d'un réseau d'alimentation
US9532234B2 (en) 2013-06-28 2016-12-27 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Multimode base station control method and base station
CN113824456A (zh) * 2021-09-14 2021-12-21 重庆两江卫星移动通信有限公司 一种有源多波束瓦片式相控阵接收组件

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003049231A1 (fr) 2001-12-05 2003-06-12 The Boeing Company Systeme d'antenne reseau a commande de phase

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GB865474A (en) * 1958-08-25 1961-04-19 Cossor Ltd A C Improvements in and relating to radio frequency coupling devices
EP1221181A4 (fr) * 1999-09-02 2003-03-19 Commw Scient Ind Res Org Structure d'alimentation pour guides d'ondes electromagnetiques
US6606056B2 (en) * 2001-11-19 2003-08-12 The Boeing Company Beam steering controller for a curved surface phased array antenna
GB0228233D0 (en) * 2002-12-04 2003-01-08 Astrium Ltd Improvements relatings to antennas
US6975267B2 (en) * 2003-02-05 2005-12-13 Northrop Grumman Corporation Low profile active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) for Ka-band radar systems
US7287987B2 (en) * 2005-05-31 2007-10-30 The Boeing Company Electrical connector apparatus and method

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003049231A1 (fr) 2001-12-05 2003-06-12 The Boeing Company Systeme d'antenne reseau a commande de phase

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7609210B2 (en) 2007-06-22 2009-10-27 Boeing Company Phased array antenna system utilizing a beam forming network
WO2014005699A1 (fr) * 2012-07-03 2014-01-09 Qest Quantenelektronische Systeme Gmbh Système d'antennes pour communication satellite large bande dans la plage de fréquences ghz, doté d'un réseau d'alimentation
US9660352B2 (en) 2012-07-03 2017-05-23 Lisa Draexlmaier Gmbh Antenna system for broadband satellite communication in the GHz frequency range, comprising horn antennas with geometrical constrictions
US9716321B2 (en) 2012-07-03 2017-07-25 Lisa Draexlmaier Gmbh Antenna system for broadband satellite communication in the GHz frequency range, comprising a feeding arrangement
US10211543B2 (en) 2012-07-03 2019-02-19 Lisa Draexlmaier Gmbh Antenna system for broadband satellite communication in the GHz frequency range, comprising dielectrically filled horn antennas
US9532234B2 (en) 2013-06-28 2016-12-27 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Multimode base station control method and base station
CN113824456A (zh) * 2021-09-14 2021-12-21 重庆两江卫星移动通信有限公司 一种有源多波束瓦片式相控阵接收组件
CN113824456B (zh) * 2021-09-14 2023-03-21 重庆两江卫星移动通信有限公司 一种有源多波束瓦片式相控阵接收组件

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Publication number Publication date
EP2006956A3 (fr) 2009-02-11
EP2006956B1 (fr) 2017-12-13

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