Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Other

Alexander D Johnson

James F Fung

Jacob Tamasy

Jean L Kubwimana

Randall R Lapierre

Matthew J Ney

William K Grefe

Matilda Livadaru

Matthew A Cerniway

Daniel G Morin

Mark Fosberry

Techniques are provided for fabricating an expandable tightly coupled dipole array (TCDA) antenna with dual-linear linear polarization. An antenna implementing the techniques according to an embodiment includes an array of the electrically coupled antenna elements. The antenna elements comprise a horizontally polarized planar dipole antenna disposed on a first foldable substrate and a ground plane disposed on a second foldable substrate. The second substrate is parallel to the first substrate. The antenna elements also comprise a first printed circuit board (PCB) coupling the first substrate to the second substrate, the first PCB perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate, and a second PCB coupling the first substrate to the second substrate, the second PCB perpendicular to the first substrate and the second substrate and parallel to the first PCB. The antenna elements further comprise a vertically polarized dipole antenna disposed on the second PCB.

Size expandable dual polarized antenna array

An antenna assembly includes a first flare arm, a second flare arm located adjacent to the first flare arm, a feed block having an opening therein, a feed slot extending from the opening to an outer periphery of the feed block, and a feed line integral with the feed block as a contiguous unitary component. The first flare arm and the second flare arm are symmetric about the feed block. The feed line can have a first portion integrated into the feed block and a second portion at least partially extending across the feed slot. A method of fabricating an antenna assembly includes additively manufacturing a feed block having a feed slot adjacent to a first flare arm and a second flare arm, and additively manufacturing a feed line having a first portion integral with the feed block, and a second portion at least partially extending across the feed slot.

Additively manufactured antenna with Vivaldi element

An antenna assembly includes a first dielectric material, a ground plane above the first dielectric material, and two or more patch antennas above the ground plane. In an example, the ground plane has a first aperture slot, and a second aperture slot that is non-intersecting with the first aperture slot. The antenna assembly further includes a second dielectric material separating the two or more patch antennas from the ground plane. In an example, the first dielectric material comprises a printed circuit board (PCB). In some examples, the ground plane and the two or more patch antennas are manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques (such as three-dimensional printing techniques), and in some such examples, the second dielectric material includes dielectric foam. For example, the dielectric foam supports the two or more patch antennas above the ground plane.

Additively manufactured modular aperture (AMMA) stacked patch antenna

An antenna assembly includes a ground plane having a first aperture slot and a second aperture slot. The first and second aperture slots are non-intersecting and substantially symmetrical with each other about an imaginary plane of symmetry that divides the ground plane into two substantially symmetrical halves, and that is orthogonal to the ground plane. The antenna assembly includes a first patch antenna above the ground plane, and a second patch antenna above the first patch antenna. The first patch antenna is separated from the ground plane, and the second patch antenna is separated from the first patch antenna. The imaginary plane also divides the first patch antenna into two substantially symmetrical halves, and divides the second patch antenna into two substantially symmetrical halves. A first feed line and a second feed line are at least in part below the first aperture slot and the second aperture slot, respectively.

Dual polarized aperture fed stacked patch antenna

An antenna assembly includes a balanced antenna feed configured to receive a differential signal and a ground plane. The assembly further includes a first conductive dipole arm in planar alignment with a surface of the ground plane and a second conductive dipole arm in planar alignment with the surface of the ground plane and adjacent to the first conductive dipole arm. The assembly further includes a first feedline in electrical communication with the first conductive dipole arm and the balanced antenna feed and a second feedline in electrical communication with the second conductive dipole arm and the balanced antenna feed. The assembly further includes a conductive wall ('H-wall') in electrical communication with the ground plane and having an end adjacent to, and physically separate from, the second conductive dipole arm. The H-wall has an axial length orthogonal to the ground plane.

Bandwidth extended balanced tightly coupled dipole array additively manufactured modular aperture

An antenna assembly includes a first flexible layer including a conductive ground plane on a first layer of dielectric material, and a second flexible layer including a first array of conductive patches on a second layer of dielectric material. The antenna assembly further includes a second array of conductive patches on a third layer of dielectric material. The first, second, and third flexible layers are rollable or foldable, to provide a stowed position for the antenna assembly and a deployed position for the antenna assembly. In an example, the first array of conductive patches includes at least a first patch and a second patch, and the second array of conductive patches includes at least a third patch and a fourth patch. In the deployed position, the first patch is above the third patch and the ground plane, and the second patch is above the fourth patch and the ground plane.

Flexible aperture fed patch antenna

A device includes a frame and at least one printed circuit board attached to the frame. The frame includes an integrated aperture antenna array and an antenna feed in electrical communication with the at least one printed circuit board. The integrated aperture antenna array further includes a first conductive dipole arm in planar alignment with a surface of the frame; a second conductive dipole arm in planar alignment with the surface of the frame and adjacent to the first conductive dipole arm; a first feedline in electrical communication with the first conductive dipole arm and the antenna feed; a second feedline in electrical communication with the second conductive dipole arm and the surface of the frame; and a shorting arm in electrical communication with second conductive dipole arm and the frame.

Integrated additively manufactured modular aperture antenna

An antenna assembly includes an antenna feed configured to receive a signal over a wide bandwidth, a ground plane, and an antenna element. The antenna element includes first and second conductive dipole arms each in planar alignment with a surface of the ground plane and adjacent to each other. The antenna assembly further includes a conductive wall ('H-wall') in electrical communication with the ground plane and having an end adjacent to, and physically separate from, the second conductive dipole arm, where an axial length of the H-wall being orthogonal to the ground plane, and a resistive surface having an attenuation effect on the reflected signal from the ground plane.

Resistively loaded tightly coupled dipole array additively manufactured modular aperture

A method of manufacturing an antenna assembly includes additively manufacturing an element that is a monolithic structure and that includes (i) a ground plane including one or more aperture slots, (ii) a patch antenna above the ground plane, and (iii) a sacrificial support feature to support the patch antenna above the ground plane. The method further includes applying a dielectric material between the ground plane and the patch antenna. In an example, applying the dielectric material between the ground plane and the patch antenna includes providing a dielectric foam between the ground plane and the patch antenna, where the dielectric foam at least in part supports the patch antenna above the ground plane. The method further includes removing at least a section of the sacrificial support feature, such that any remnant of the support feature does not physically couple the ground plane to the patch antenna.

Additive manufacturing of aperture fed patch antenna

The system for a collapsible direction finding antenna. The antenna comprising a rigid central portion and a plurality of foldable arms. The antenna is aerial/kite lifted once launched from a tube to provide increased line of sight above a surface. The antennas being launchable from a UUV, a user in the field, and the like. The antenna being a full azimuth direction finding antenna. In some cases, operating at a wide matched frequency of 1 to 6 GHz.

Collapsible direction finding antenna array for space-disadvantaged cylindrical platforms

A tightly coupled dipole array is an egg-crate configuration defined by a plurality of electrically connected antenna unit cells. At least one of the unit cells utilizes a short or conductive element that shorts the common mode resonance. Shorting the common mode resonance in an intentional manner removes instances of the common mode resonance. To achieve the shorting of the common mode resonance, a conductive element is connected with one of the dipole arms and connected to the outer conductor of the feed or a ground plane. This creates a grounding loop that pushes the resonance out of the band of interest.

Wideband dipole array with differential feeding

The system for an antenna assembly for use on unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV). The antennas are low-cost, lightweight, single-use, and have a small form factor amenable to use on a micro-UUV. A central post and pivotally attached arms form an antenna (e.g., a monopole) that is lifted via an aerial, kite, or the like, when deployed from the UUV to extend the line of site of the antenna several meters above the surface of the water. In some cases, the antenna may be used on a number of UUVs in a swarm formation.

Collapsible monopole antenna for space-disadvantaged cylindrical platforms

A skimmer assembly for use in a well has a shielded float/filter assembly with a hydrophobic/oleophilic filter element, which permits selective passage of lighter than water liquids, such as oil or other hydrocarbons, to the inlet of a pumping assembly. The pumping assembly is provided with two pumps: a lower pump for pumping the lighter than water liquid to the surface of the earth, and an upper pump for pumping water in the well to the surface of the earth. Each pump is operated by a common logic valve, to which compressed air is supplied and which regulates the application of compressed air to the upper side of a diaphragm in each pump. The lower side of the diaphragm is forced upwardly by means of a spring arranged within the pumping volume of the pump housing and a backing plate positioned just below the diaphragm. A bias spring between the backing plate and a centrally located inlet valve function to close the valve from the inlet to the pump. The logic valve provides an adjustable pumping cycle and incorporates a poppet valve and a pilot leading to an adjustable metering valve. The skimmer assembly can be left in situ for extended periods of time without deterioration in the pumping operation. Because the pump has its controlling logic built-in, there is no need for complicated above ground pump controls.

Growing community of inventors

Waltham, MA, United States of America

Alexander D Johnson