Patent ID: 8766875
Filing Date: 2014-07-01
Classification: H01Q

Abstract:
1. An integrated stiffener and RF reflector (stiffener/reflector) for an RF emitter comprising: a plurality of vertical ribs including metallization layer forming side walls of the stiffener/reflector; a plurality of horizontal ribs formed in a width direction of the stiffener/reflector; a top cover including a metallization layer, the top cover and the side walls being electrically coupled to a ground layer of the RF emitter and configured in such a way to direct all of RF energy in an opposite direction to the top cover, wherein each of the plurality of vertical and horizontal ribs has a sandwich structure comprising: a foam core layer disposed on a layer of the RF emitter; a thin film layer bonded to sides and top of the ribs to faun facesheets of the sandwich structure; the metallization layer on the thin film layer, wherein the thin film layer and the metallization layer on the top of the sandwich structure form the top cover of the stiffener/reflector; and a conductive epoxy formed on a side of the sandwich structure to electrically couple the metallization layer to the ground layer of the RF emitter.