Patent ID: 6975267
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: H01P,H01Q

Abstract:
1. An active electronically scanned antenna (AESA) array for a phased array radar system, comprising: a vertically integrated generally planar assembly including, at least one RF transceiver module having a plurality of signal ports including an RF input/output signal port; beam control means coupled to said RF input/output signal port of said at least one transceiver module, said beam control means including a dielectric substrate having an arrangement of dielectric waveguide stripline and coaxial transmission line elements and vias designed to route RF signals to and from the transceiver module and a plurality of RF signal amplifier circuits coupled between a first RF waveguide formed in the substrate and terminating in an RF signal port in a rear face thereof, said RF signal port being coupled to the RF input/output signal port of the transceiver module, and a plurality of second RF waveguides also formed in said substrate and terminating in a respective plurality of waveguide ports having a predetermined port configuration in a front face thereof; an antenna including a two dimensional array of regularly spaced antenna radiator elements having a predetermined spacing and orientation; waveguide relocator means located between the beam control means and the antenna, said waveguide relocator means including a dielectric substrate having a plurality of waveguide ports formed therein located on a rear face thereof and being equal in number and having a port configuration matching the predetermined port configuration in the front face of said beam control means and a like plurality of waveguide ports formed therein on a front face thereof matching the spacing and orientation of the antenna radiator elements, said waveguide relocator means additionally including a plurality of waveguide transitions which selectively rotate and translate respective waveguides formed in the substrate which couple the waveguide ports on the rear face of the waveguide relocator means to the waveguide ports on the front face of the waveguide relocation means; and means for providing and ensuring waveguide interconnection between mutually facing waveguide ports and radiator elements of the vertically integrated assembly as well as preventing RF leakage therefrom.