Raytheon Company

Raymond C Tugwell

Clifton Quan

Gerald A Cox

David E Roberts

Timothy D Keesey

Chris E Schutzenberger

Douglas A Hubbard

I-Ping Yu

Stephen R Kerner

An RF interconnect between an airline circuit including a dielectric substrate having a conductor trace formed on a first substrate surface and an RF circuit separated from the airline circuit by a separation distance. The RF interconnect includes a compressible conductor structure having an uncompressed length exceeding the separation distance, and a dielectric sleeve structure surrounding at least a portion of the uncompressed length of the compressible conductor structure. The RF interconnect structure is disposed between the substrate and the RF circuit such that the compressible conductor is placed under compression between the substrate and the RF circuit. Examples of the RF circuit include a vertical coaxial transmission line or a grounded coplanar waveguide circuit disposed in parallel with the airline circuit.

Vertical interconnect between coaxial or GCPW circuits and airline via compressible center conductors

An RF interconnect between a rectangular coaxial transmission line including a coaxial center conductor and a dielectric structure with a rectilinear cross-sectional configuration fitted around the coaxial center conductor and an RF circuit separated from the airline circuit by a separation distance. The RF interconnect includes a compressible conductor structure having an uncompressed length exceeding the separation distance, and a dielectric sleeve structure surrounding at least a portion of the uncompressed length of the compressible conductor structure. The RF interconnect structure is disposed between the rectangular coaxial transmission line and the RF circuit such that the compressible conductor is placed under compression between the substrate and the RF circuit. Examples of the RF circuit include a vertical coaxial transmission line or a grounded coplanar waveguide circuit disposed in parallel with the center conductor of the rectangular coaxial transmission line.

Vertical interconnect between coaxial and rectangular coaxial transmission line via compressible center conductors

A radio frequency antenna is fabricated by first injection molding a group of broadband radio frequency radiating elements from a polymeric material, metallizing each broadband radio frequency radiating element, and installing a transmission line within each broadband radio frequency radiating element. A support structure is prepared by injection molding at least one, and preferably multiple, flat support plates, and metallizing each plate. A pattern of electrical connectors is formed on the plates. A forward plate has a group of attachment locations thereon, and, collectively, the pattern of electrical conductors provide an electrical feed to each of the attachment locations. A broadband radio frequency radiating element is affixed, preferably by ultrasonic welding, to each of the plurality of attachment locations, with the transmission line of each broadband radio frequency radiating element in electrical communication with the electrical conductor extending to the respective attachment location. The flat plates are connected together, and associated structure, such as feeds, are provided.

Radio frequency antenna and its fabrication

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Simi Valley, CA, United States of America

Raymond C Tugwell