Phased array antenna for efficient radiation of microwave and thermal energy

摘要

An active phased array antenna for radiating both microwave and thermal energy comprises a plurality of subarray elements (20). Each element (20) comprises heat generating means including electronic circuit means comprising a plurality of electronic components including an RF amplifying means for generating radio frequency energy, housing means (30) formed of heat conducting material, means mounting said circuit means in heat conducting relationship with said housing means (30), RF probe means (56) connected with said electronic circuit means, said housing means (30) including an opening for receiving said RF probe means. An upper panel assembly (22) of heat conducting material includes a feed waveguide (24) and a plurality of radiating waveguides (26), said feed waveguide (24) receiving energy generated from said RF amplifying means and including a plurality of coupling slots for coupling said RF energy to respective ones of said plurality of radiating waveguides (26). Each radiating waveguide (26) includes a plurality of radiating slots (28) and a first mirror (42) bonded to an outside surface of said upper panel assembly (28) and having slots (44) aligned with said radiating slots (28). A lower panel assembly (34) of heat conducting material comprises a second mirror (46) bonded to its outside surface and means (36, 38) joining at least some portion of said upper and lower assemblies (22, 34) in heat conducting contact with each other and with said housing means (30). A circuit board (32) is positioned between said upper and lower panel assembly (22, 34) for distributing power and control signals to said electronic circuit means.