US 11,670,869 B2
Phased array antenna aperture and method for producing same
Peter T. Heisen, Tukwila, WA (US); and Raymond Say, Tacoma, WA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/550,316.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/139,223, filed on Jan. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0231425 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. H01Q 21/00 (2006.01); H01Q 3/00 (2006.01); H01Q 3/36 (2006.01); H01Q 21/06 (2006.01); H01Q 3/26 (2006.01); H01Q 3/24 (2006.01)
CPC H01Q 21/0087 (2013.01) [H01Q 3/24 (2013.01); H01Q 3/26 (2013.01); H01Q 3/36 (2013.01); H01Q 21/061 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of assembling an antenna comprising an aperture plate having a plurality of aperture elements therethrough, each aperture element having a dielectric load disposed therein, the method comprising:
forming a matrix of the at least a subset of the dielectric loads, each dielectric load having a longitudinal axis, the matrix of the at least the subset of the dielectric loads joined together by planar sacrificial interconnecting material perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of each dielectric load of the subset of dielectric loads;
inserting the matrix of the at least the subset of the dielectric loads in at least a subset of the plurality of aperture elements; and
removing the planar sacrificial interconnecting material.