Inventors:
Peter A. Stenger - Woodbine MD, US
Fred C. Kuss - Elkridge MD, US
Kevin LaCour - Laurel MD, US
Craig Heffner - Ellicott City MD, US
Robert Sisk - Annapolis MD, US
Carl D. Wise - Severna Park MD, US
Joseph Paquin - Columbia MD, US
Tujuana Hinton - Baltimore MD, US
Andrew Walters - Elkridge MD, US
David Krafcsik - Crownsville MD, US
Brian T. McMonagle - Woodstock MD, US
Steven D. Block - Pikesville MD, US
Steven S. Handley - Severna Park MD, US
Assignee:
Northrop Grumman Corporation - Los Angeles CA
International Classification:
H01Q 19/06
Abstract:
A vertically integrated Ka-band active electronically scanned antenna including, among other things, a transitioning RF waveguide relocator panel located behind a radiator faceplate and an array of beam control tiles respectively coupled to one of a plurality of transceiver modules via an RF manifold. Each of the beam control tiles includes a respective plurality of high power transmit/receive (T/R) cells as well as dielectric waveguides, RF stripline and coaxial transmission line elements. The waveguide relocator panel is preferably fabricated by a diffusion bonded copper laminate stack up with dielectric filling. The beam control tiles are preferably fabricated by the use of multiple layers of low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) material laminated together. The waveguide relocator panel and the beam control tiles are designed to route RF signals to and from a respective transceiver module of four transceiver modules and a quadrature array of antenna radiators matched to free space formed in the faceplate. Planar type metal spring gaskets are provided between the interfacing layers so as to provide and ensure interconnection between mutually facing waveguide ports and to prevent RF leakage from around the perimeter of the waveguide ports.
