Itt Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.

Alliant Techsystems Inc.

Coi Ceramics, Inc.

Andrew B MacFarland

Wolodymyr Mohuchy

Thomas Barrett Jackson

John R Glabe

Paul C Kuhl

Peter A Beyerle

Ethan C Saladin

Victor G Williams

Jay C Marcum

Radomes include an outer wall having a first average thickness and an inner wall having a second average thickness that is different from the first average thickness. At least a major portion of the inner wall is separated from at least a major portion of the outer wall by a space therebetween. The outer wall may comprise a layer of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) material. Aircraft and spacecraft include such radomes. Methods of forming radomes include forming an outer wall having a first average thickness, forming an inner wall having a different second average thickness, and coupling together the inner wall and the outer wall in such a manner as to provide a space between at least a major portion of the outer wall and at least a major portion of the inner wall.

Radomes, aircraft and spacecraft including such radomes, and methods of forming radomes

A three-dimensional FSS fabrication system is described. FSS elements are pre-mapped in two-dimensional form and constructed on a flat FSS panel that is then formed into a desired three-dimensional shape. The 2-D flat surface of the designed FSS is mapped into a desired three-dimensional curvature so that when formed from 2-D into the 3-D shape, the FSS elements are moved into a desired position and/or orientation. In one embodiment, the mapping from 2-D to 3-D is performed using the elastic properties of a desired substrate material. In one embodiment, one or more flat FSS panels are constructed on a formable or thermo-formable substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a thermoplastic. In one embodiment, the substrate includes a thermoplastic material with fiber reinforcement. The FSS elements can be created by printing, deposition, photo-etching, etc. The flat FSS layers are thermoformed or chemically formed over a tool having the desired shape. In one embodiment, the FSS layers are formed to the shape of the tool by using vacuum techniques. In one embodiment, the FSS layers are formed to the shape of the tool by supporting the FSS layer between male and female tools.

Thermoformed frequency selective surface

A dual-polarized radiator for a phased array antenna includes two planar microstrip notch elements that interlock and are perpendicular to each other having their phase centers coincident to provide advantageous operational characteristics when the elements are used to form a wide bandwidth, wide scan angle phased array antenna.

Broadband dual-polarized microstrip notch antenna

Growing community of inventors

Beavercreek, OH, United States of America

Andrew B MacFarland