Ball Corporation

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Dan A Payne

Dean A Paschen

P Keith Kelly

Method and apparatus for providing a configurable circuit are disclosed. In addition, method and apparatus for providing a phased array antenna having an integrated configurable circuit are provided. According to the present invention, at least a first component of a configurable circuit is formed on a first substrate. At least a second component of a configurable circuit is formed on at least a portion of a moveable cantilever formed from a second substrate. The first and second substrates are registered with one another to form a completed configurable circuit. According to the present invention, a configurable circuit may comprise a variable capacitor or a switch. In addition, a configurable circuit may be used in connection with phase shifting a radio frequency signal provided to an element of a phased array antenna. Antennas having integrated configurable circuits may be formed by registering and interconnecting a completed configurable circuit with a plurality of radiator elements, and with a feed network. The present invention also allows antennas with integrated configurable circuits having relatively large surface areas to be economically produced.

Electromechanical switching for circuits constructed with flexible materials

A rotary mount flexural pivot is disclosed which is integrally formed from a single piece of feed stock and which uses no mechanical connections. Two hollow cylindrical mounts are axially aligned and at least two flexural members are disposed on the interior of these two mounts, are integrally interconnected with each of these two mounts, and cross to define an intersection. These two flexural members are integrally interconnected with each other along the entire extent of this intersection. The mounts therefore move relative to each other by a relative rotation about the flexural member intersection.

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Morrison, CO, United States of America

Dan A Payne