(19)
TEPZZ￥544__8A_T
(11)
EP3 544 118A1
(12)
(43)Date of publication:
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
(51)Int Cl.:
H01Q9/16(2006.01)H01Q13/02(2006.01)H01Q21/26(2006.01)
H01Q9/22(2006.01)H01Q19/10(2006.01)B33Y80/00(2015.01)
25.09.2019Bulletin2019/39
(21)Application number: 19164587.8(22)Date of filing: 22.03.2019(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TRDesignated Extension States: BA ME
Designated Validation States: KH MA MD TN
?BIETI, Martin W
Chicago, IL Illinois 60606-2016 (US)?LANGMACK, Michael John
Chicago, IL Illinois 60606-2016 (US)?HASTINGS, Nicole M
Chicago, IL Illinois 60606-2016 (US)?SCHOENBORN, Nicole Diane
Chicago, IL Illinois 60606-2016 (US)
(30)Priority:22.03.2018US 201815933289(71)Applicant: The Boeing Company
Chicago, IL 60606-2016 (US)
(74)Representative: Boult Wade Tennant LLP
5th Floor, Salisbury Square House 8, Salisbury SquareLondon EC4Y 8AP (GB)
(72)Inventors:
?ASTON, Richard W
Chicago, IL Illinois 60606-2016 (US)
(54)(57)
ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED ANTENNA
cludes a lattice stiffening structure configured to eliminatesecondary printing support.
An additively manufactured antenna device is
disclosed, including a base portion and a body portion.The body portion is attached to the base portion and in-
EP3 544 118A1Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)
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EP3 544 118A12
DescriptionFIELD
[0001]This disclosure relates to systems and methodsfor radio signal communication. More specifically, the dis-closed examples relate to antennas and antenna com-ponents.INTRODUCTION
[0002]Antennas are a key element of radio communi-cations technology, for transmitting and/or receiving ra-dio signals. The conductive material of an antenna servesas an interface between electric currents in a communi-cator circuit and radiated electromagnetic waves. Geom-etry and material of the antenna determine propertiessuch as impedance, directionality, and bandwidth. Pref-erable properties depend on the intended location andapplication of the antenna, which may vary widely. Forexample, consumer FM radios may use a monopole om-nidirectional antenna appropriate to receiving signalsfrom any direction, whereas GPS satellites may use ahighly directional waveguide for earth directed transmis-sion. For many applications, complex geometry must beexecuted with high precision to produce an effective an-tenna. Such antennas are conventionally manufacturedby hand assembly of multiple individually machinedparts, a slow and expensive process.
[0003]Additive Manufacturing (AM) is quickly gainingpopularity in many industries as a method of rapid pro-duction at relatively low cost. AM, sometimes known as3D printing, can be used to create a solid object from a3D model by building the object incrementally. AM typi-cally applies a raw material that is then selectively joinedor fused to create the desired object. The raw materialis typically applied in layers, where the thickness of theindividual layers can depend upon the particular tech-niques used.
[0004]Often the raw material is in the form of granulesor powder, applied as a layer and then selectively fusedby a heat source. In many cases, the upper surface of abed of such material is fused, and the growing workpieceis then lowered slightly into the bed itself. A fresh layerof raw material is then applied to the bed, and the nextlayer is fused onto the previous one. The granular rawmaterial may include for example thermoplastic polymer,metal powder, metal alloy powder, or ceramic powder,which may be fused using a computer-controlled heatsource, such as a scanning laser or scanning electronbeam. Exemplary methods include selective laser melt-ing (SLM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selectivelaser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modelling (FDM),and electron beam melting (EBM) among others.
[0005]Conventional part designs used for machiningor other subtractive manufacturing may be inefficient oreven unworkable for AM. Depending on the process andmaterial used, unsupported features may collapse, del-
icate features may be rendered with insufficient clarity,and/or warping and cracking may occur. New designsmaintaining functionality of conventional parts while en-abling efficient use of AM methods are needed.
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SUMMARY
[0006]The present disclosure provides systems, ap-paratuses, and methods relating to antenna devices and10
components. In some examples, an additively manufac-tured antenna device may include a base portion and abody portion. The body portion may be attached to thebase portion and may include a lattice stiffening structureconfigured to eliminate secondary printing support.
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[0007]In some examples, an antenna component maycomprise an elongate hollow body portion of laser sin-tered alloy. The body portion may be configured to directradio frequency signals and may include a lattice stiffen-ing structure on an outer circumferential side. The lattice20
stiffening structure may be configured to avoid secondaryprinting support requirements.
[0008]A method of manufacturing an antenna maycomprise printing a tubular structure configured to sendor receive radio frequency signals, the tubular structure25
having an outer circumferential side portion supportedby a lattice array.
[0009]Features, functions, and advantages may beachieved independently in various examples of thepresent disclosure, or may be combined in yet other ex-30
amples, further details of which can be seen with refer-ence to the following description and drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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[0010]
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative an-tenna device
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an illustrative lattice40
stiffening structure.
Fig. 3 is an isometric view of an illustrative conven-tionally manufactured command horn antenna asdescribed herein.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the antenna of Fig.45
3, along line 4-4.
Fig. 5 is an isometric view of an illustrative additivelymanufactured command horn antenna.
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the antenna of Fig.5, along line 6-6.
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Fig. 7 is a side view of the antenna of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is an isometric view of an illustrative coaxialadaptor, as described herein.
Fig. 9 is a top view of the antenna of Fig. 5.
Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the antenna of55
Fig. 5, along line 10-10 in Fig. 7.
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the antenna ofFig. 5, along line 11-11 in Fig. 7.
Fig. 12 is a bottom view of the antenna of Fig. 5.
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EP3544118A1附加制造的天线[专利] - 图文
