US 12,451,611 B2
3D printed metallic dual-polarized vivaldi arrays on square and triangular lattices
Jeffrey Massman, Dayton, OH (US); Carl Pfeiffer, Beavercreek, OH (US); and Steffen Thomas, Xenia, OH (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed by Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH (US)
Filed on Apr. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/303,679.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/347,880, filed on Jun. 1, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0395983 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. H01Q 13/10 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); H01Q 1/48 (2006.01); H01Q 21/24 (2006.01); H01R 24/40 (2011.01)
CPC H01Q 13/106 (2013.01) [B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); H01Q 1/48 (2013.01); H01Q 21/24 (2013.01); H01R 24/40 (2013.01); H01R 2201/02 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A 3-D printable dual-polarized Vivaldi array including:
a plurality of Vivaldi antennas, at least one of the Vivaldi antennas displaying characteristics including:
a monolithic 3-D printed modular construction;
a plurality of Sub-Miniature Push-on, Micro (SMPM) connectors forming a plurality of ground plane skirts supporting a lattice, each SMPM connector having a detent, the detent comprising a raised central portion, a proximal undercut portion, and a distal relief portion;
a support structure between the lattice and at least one ground plane skirt;
and the ground plane skirt having a skirt swept forward angle of 40 to 60 degrees.
 
8. A 3-D printable dual-polarized Vivaldi array manufacturing process comprising manufacturing:
a plurality of Vivaldi antennas utilizing a monolithic 3-D printed modular construction;
a plurality of Sub-Miniature Push-on, Micro (SMPM) connectors forming a plurality of ground plane skirts supporting a lattice, each SMPM Connector having a detent, the detent comprising a raised central portion, a proximal undercut portion, and a distal relief portion;
a support structure between the lattice and the ground plane skirts, each of the ground plane skirts having a skirt swept forward angle of 40 to 60 degree printable Vivaldi array, wherein a 3-D printed triangular lattice has added a 3-D printed modular support structure and a perforated ground plane skirt; and
adding at least one coaxial input port to complete the 3-D printable Vivaldi array.