IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,570,237
Granted Patent B2
US 8,570,237 · App. 13/019,108 · Granted Oct 29, 2013

Multi-band electronically scanned array antenna

Inventors: Matthew D. Brown (Allen, TX); George F. Barson (Plano, TX); William P. Hull, Jr. (Fairview, TX); Steven P. Mcfarlane (Mckinney, TX); James S. Wilson (Hurst, TX); Karl L. Worthen (Dallas, TX); Joshua Lamb (Garland, TX); Thomas H. Taylor (Wylie, TX)
Assignee: Raytheon Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,570,237
App. No.
13/019,108
Granted
Oct 29, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multi-band electronically scanned array antenna including a first sub-assembly having electronic circuits for a first frequency band; a second sub-assembly mechanically coupled to the first sub-assembly and having electronic circuits for a second frequency band; and an aperture adjacent to the first sub-assembly, the aperture being shared by the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly. The array antenna may further include a band switching circuit, or a combining circuit for coupling the first sub-assembly or the second sub-assembly to the aperture. The array antenna may also include a third sub-assembly including electronic circuits for a third frequency band. In this way, the aperture is shared by the first sub-assembly, the second sub-assembly, and the third sub-assembly to provide a smaller and lighter array antenna.

Claims (27)

1. A multi-band electronically scanned array antenna comprising:

a first sub-assembly including electronic circuits of a first frequency band of said multi-band electronically scanned array antenna;

a second sub-assembly mechanically coupled to the first sub-assembly and including electronic circuits for a second frequency band; and

an aperture adjacent to the first sub-assembly, the aperture being shared by the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, wherein the first sub-assembly is positioned between the aperture and the second sub-assembly.

2. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a band switching circuit for coupling the first sub-assembly or the second sub-assembly to the aperture.

3. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a combining circuit for coupling the first sub-assembly or the second sub-assembly to the aperture.

4. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a third sub-assembly including electronic circuits for a third frequency band, wherein the aperture is shared by the first sub-assembly, the second sub-assembly, and the third sub-assembly.

5. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna.

6. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the antenna is a Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) antenna.

7. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the electronics for the first frequency band and electronics for the second frequency band are mounted on two or more separate printed circuit boards.

8. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second assemblies include a separate circulator layer, a cold plate layer, transmit/receive channels, and RF-DC distribution layer and coupling means positioned on top of each other.

9. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , further comprising electrical interconnect means positioned between only the first sub-assembly and the aperture.

10. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , further comprising a cover coupled to the second sub-assembly.

11. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 2 , wherein the band switching circuit for coupling the first sub-assembly or the second sub-assembly to the aperture is selectable.

12. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency band is a higher frequency than the second frequency band.

13. A multi-band electronically scanned array antenna comprising:

a first sub-assembly including a first transmitter/receiver circuit for transmitting and receiving a first frequency band of said multi-band electronically scanned array antenna;

a second sub-assembly mechanically coupled to the first sub-assembly and including a second transmitter/receiver circuit for transmitting and receiving a second frequency band of said multi-band electronically scanned array antenna;

an aperture adjacent to the first sub-assembly, the aperture being shared by the first sub-assembly and the second sub-assembly, wherein the first sub-assembly is positioned between the aperture and the second sub-assembly; and

a band switching circuit coupled between the first sub-assembly and the aperture for electrically coupling the first sub-assembly or the second sub-assembly to the aperture.

14. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 13 , further comprising a cover coupled to the second sub-assembly.

15. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 13 , wherein the band switching circuit is selectable.

16. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 13 , wherein the first frequency band is a higher frequency than the second frequency band.

17. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 13 , wherein the antenna is an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) antenna.

18. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 13 , wherein the antenna is a Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) antenna.

19. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 13 , wherein the first sub-assembly further includes a first circulator and the second sub-assembly further includes a second circulator different from the first circulator.

20. The multi-band electronically scanned array antenna of claim 13 , wherein the first sub-assembly further includes a first transmitter/receiver switch and the second sub-assembly further includes a second transmitter/receiver switch.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2011
From: BROWN, MATTHEW D.; BARSON, GEORGE F.; HULL, WILLIAM P., JR.; MCFARLANE, STEVEN P.; WILSON, JAMES S.; WORTHEN, KARL L.; LAMB, JOSHUA; TAYLOR, THOMAS H.
To: RAYTHEON COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025729/0612 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120194406A1 · Aug 2, 2012