Miniaturization and efficiency are often at odds in the design of broadband radiating structures. This relationship becomes even more complicated once the application-driven size and weight constraints are included into the design process. Structural integration (e.g., being load-bearing) and other dimensions of multifunctionality add additional complexity into this design-space. However, they also represent a means of finding alternative integration techniques for balancing the system-level objectives through the design of the radiating aperture. This work examines the role of an internally-fed Archimedean spiral antenna which makes use of the volumetric spaces created by the topology of an internalized stripline feed network; specifically as a means to reduce the footprint of peripheral systems such as sensors, radios, etc. by integrating them directly into the radiating structure. This inclusion of essential components into the structure is analogous to the concept of a chassis in automobiles (which typically includes the "running gear" and other essential components), and provides the motivation for concept of an aperchassis (a radiating structure with structural functionality and volumes/surfaces for internalized subsystems). The design, operation, and experimental results of the stripline-based dyson-style balun, broadband impedance transformer, and stripline-based high-impedance spiral aperchassis will be discussed in this work, and simulated results will also be discussed which extend the functionality of the structure.
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