U.S. patent application number 11/841580 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-03 for modular mmw power source.
Invention is credited to Andrew Kent Brown, Kenneth William Brown, William Earl Dolash, Darin Michael Gritters, Thomas Lee Obert, Michael John Sotelo.
Application Number | 20120105290 11/841580 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39940666 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120105290 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Kenneth William ; et
al. |
May 3, 2012 |
MODULAR MMW POWER SOURCE
Abstract
A millimeter wave power source module may include N submodules,
each of which includes M circuit devices, where M and N are greater
than one. Each circuit device may have an output connected to a
corresponding radiating element. Each submodule may include a power
divider having K input ports and M output ports, where K is a
factor of M. Each input port may be coupled to a corresponding
receiving element, and each output port may be coupled to an input
of a corresponding circuit device. Each submodule may include a
heat spreader for removing heat from the circuit devices. The power
source module may include a combination RF feed network and heat
sink. The combination RF feed network and heat sink may include a
wavefront expander to expand the RF input wavefront along at least
one axis, and to direct the expanded wavefront to the receiving
elements of the N submodules. The combination RF feed network and
heat sink may also include a heat exchanger thermally coupled to
the heat spreaders of the N submodules.
Inventors: |
Brown; Kenneth William;
(Yucaipa, CA) ; Brown; Andrew Kent; (Victorville,
CA) ; Dolash; William Earl; (Montclair, CA) ;
Gritters; Darin Michael; (Calimesa, CA) ; Obert;
Thomas Lee; (Claremont, CA) ; Sotelo; Michael
John; (Chino, CA) |
Family ID: |
39940666 |
Appl. No.: |
11/841580 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
343/720 ;
361/716 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 2924/0002 20130101;
H01Q 1/02 20130101; H01Q 21/0087 20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101;
H01Q 21/064 20130101; H01L 25/112 20130101; H01L 23/66 20130101;
H01L 2924/00 20130101; H01Q 21/0025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
343/720 ;
361/716 |
International
Class: |
H01Q 1/44 20060101
H01Q001/44; H05K 7/20 20060101 H05K007/20 |
Claims
1. A millimeter wave power source module, comprising N submodules,
where N is an integer greater than 1, each submodule comprising M
circuit devices, where M is an integer greater than 1, each circuit
device having an input and an output M radiating elements disposed
in a linear array along a first side of each submodule, each
radiating element coupled to the output of a corresponding one of
the M circuit devices K receiving elements, where K is an integer
less than M, disposed along a second side of each submodule, the
second side opposed to the first side a K:M power divider having K
input ports and M output ports, each input port coupled to a
corresponding receiving element, and each output port coupled to
the input of a corresponding one of the M circuit devices a heat
spreader for removing heat from the M circuit devices a combination
RF feed network and heat sink disposed adjacent to the second sides
of the N submodules and thermally coupled to the heat spreaders of
the N submodules along at least a portion of the second side of
each submodule, the combination RF feed network and heat sink
comprising a wavefront expander to receive an RF input wavefront,
to expand the RF input wavefront along at least one axis, and to
direct the expanded wavefront to the receiving elements on each of
the N submodules.
2. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, wherein K, M
and N are powers of two.
3. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, wherein M
and N are equal.
4. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, wherein the
N submodules are stacked in parallel to provide a planar array of
N.times.M radiating elements.
5. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 4, wherein the
N.times.M radiating elements are disposed on a rectilinear X-Y grid
with the spacing between adjacent pairs of radiating elements
substantially equal to .lamda.x on the X axis and substantially
equal to .lamda.y on the Y axes, where .lamda. is an operating
wavelength of the millimeter wave power source module and x and y
are constants selected in the range from 0.5 to 1.0.
6. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 5, wherein the
overall dimensions of the millimeter wave power source module,
measured along the X-Y grid are essentially equal to N.lamda.x by
M.lamda.y or N.lamda.x by (M+1).lamda.y.
7. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 4, wherein the
module is adapted to be juxtaposed with a plurality of similar
modules to provide a modular array, wherein the radiating elements
of the modular array are disposed on a rectilinear X-Y grid with
the spacing between adjacent grid points substantially equal to
.lamda.x on the X axis and substantially equal to .lamda.y on the Y
axes, where .lamda. is an operating wavelength of the millimeter
wave power source module and x and y are constants selected in the
range from 0.5 to 1.0, and wherein no more than one row or column
of radiating elements is absent at the boundary between adjacent
juxtaposed modules.
8. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, wherein each
circuit device comprises at least one of an amplifier, an amplitude
adjuster, and a phase shifter.
9. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, wherein each
receiving element and each radiating element comprises a Vivaldi
antenna element.
10. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, wherein
each K:M power divider comprises a stripline power divider.
11. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, wherein the
combination RF feed network and heat sink couples a plane wave of
millimeter wave radiation to the receiving elements on each of the
N submodules.
12. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 1, the
combination RF feed network and heat sink further comprising one of
a waveguide power divider and a asymmetrical horn embedded in a
metal block.
13. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 12, wherein
the metal block is thermally coupled to the heat spreaders of each
of the N submodules the metal block having passages adapted to
receive a fluid coolant.
14. A millimeter wave power source array, comprising a plurality of
juxtaposed modules, wherein each module further comprises N
submodules, where N is an integer greater than 1, each submodule
comprising M circuit devices, where M is an integer greater than 1,
each circuit device having an input and an output M radiating
elements disposed in a linear array along a first side of each
module, each radiating element coupled to the output of a
corresponding one of the M circuit devices K receiving elements,
where K is an integer less than M, disposed along a second side of
each submodule, the second side opposed to the first side a K:M
power divider having K input ports and M output ports, each input
port coupled to a corresponding receiving element, and each output
port coupled to the input of a corresponding one of the M circuit
devices a heat spreader for removing heat from the M circuit
devices a combination RF feed network and heat sink disposed
adjacent to the second sides of the N submodules and thermally
coupled to the heat spreaders of the N submodules along at least a
portion of the second side of each submodule, the combination RF
feed network and heat sink comprising a wavefront expander to
receive an RF input wave, to expand the RF input wave along at
least one axis, and to direct the expanded input wave to the
receiving elements of the N submodules.
15. The millimeter wave power source array of claim 14, wherein the
radiating elements of the millimeter wave power source array are
disposed on a rectilinear X-Y grid with the spacing between
adjacent grid points substantially equal to .lamda.x on the X axis
and substantially equal to .lamda.y on the Y axes, where .lamda. is
an operating wavelength of the millimeter wave power source module
and x and y are constants selected in the range from 0.5 to 1.0
wherein no more than one row or column of radiating elements is
absent at the boundary between adjacent juxtaposed modules.
16. A millimeter wave power source module, comprising N submodules,
where N is an integer greater than 1, each submodule comprising a
linear array of M radiating elements disposed along a first side of
each submodule at least one receiving element disposed along a
second side of each submodule opposed to the first side a heat
spreader for removing heat a combination RF feed network and heat
sink disposed adjacent to the second sides of the N submodules
comprising a wavefront expander to receive an RF input wavefront,
to expand the RF input wavefront along at least one axis, and to
couple the expanded wavefront to the at least one receiving element
on each of the N submodules a heat exchanger thermally coupled to
the heat spreaders along at least a portion of the second side of
each of the N submodules.
17. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 16, wherein
the N submodules are stacked in parallel to provide a planar array
of N.times.M radiating elements.
18. The millimeter wave power source module of claim 17, wherein
the millimeter wave power source module is adapted to be juxtaposed
with a plurality of similar modules to provide a modular array,
wherein the radiating elements of the modular array are disposed on
a rectilinear X-Y grid with the spacing between adjacent grid
points substantially equal to .lamda.x on the X axis and
substantially equal to .lamda.y on the Y axes, where .lamda. is an
operating frequency wavelength of the millimeter wave power source
module and x and y are constants selected in the range from 0.5 to
1.0 no more than one row or column of radiating elements is absent
at the boundary between adjacent juxtaposed modules.
19. A millimeter wave power source array, comprising a plurality of
juxtaposed modules, wherein each module further comprises N
submodules, where N is an integer greater than 1, each submodule
comprising a linear array of M radiating elements disposed along a
first side of each submodule at least one receiving element
disposed along a second side of each submodule opposed to the first
side a heat spreader for removing heat a combination RF feed
network and heat sink disposed adjacent to the second sides of the
N submodules comprising a wavefront expander to receive an RF input
wavefront, to expand the RF input wavefront along at least one
axis, and to couple the expanded wavefront to the at least one
receiving element on each of the N submodules a heat exchanger
thermally coupled to the heat spreader along at least a portion of
the second side of each of the N submodules.
20. The millimeter wave power source array of claim 19, wherein the
radiating elements of the millimeter wave power source array are
disposed on a rectilinear X-Y grid with the spacing between
adjacent grid points substantially equal to .lamda.x on the X axis
and substantially equal to .lamda.y on the Y axes, where X, is an
operating frequency wavelength of the millimeter wave power source
module and x and y are constants selected in the range from 0.5 to
1.0 no more than one row or column of radiating elements is absent
at the boundary between adjacent juxtaposed modules.
Description
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent
document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become
trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has
no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent
disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent
files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade
dress rights whatsoever.
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION
[0002] This patent is related to a copending application, attorney
docket number R009-P07337US, entitled "Lens Array Module".
BACKGROUND
[0003] 1. Field
[0004] This disclosure relates to sources for millimeter wave (MMW)
RF power, and to high power sources for W-band applications in
particular.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Sources of medium and high power MMW radiation can be
applied in communications systems and in directed energy weapons.
While lower frequency MMW wave application can now be satisfied
with solid-state sources, high power sources for the W-band (75 MHz
to 110 MHz) traditionally incorporate tubes such as magnetrons or
gyrotrons. However, such tubes are expensive, bulky, fragile, and
require high voltage electrical power. Thus MMW sources
incorporating tubes are not readily portable.
[0007] Semiconductor devices are now available for use as
oscillators or amplifiers in the W-band, but the available power
output from each semiconductor device may be limited to no more
than a few watts. Thus medium and high power solid state W-band
sources may use quasi-optical methods that combine the power output
from a large plurality of semiconductor devices within a waveguide
or in free space. Approaches that have been suggested for combining
the power output from plural semiconductor devices include the
reflect array amplifier described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,535, the
grid array amplifier described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,559,734, and the
lens array or tray amplifier described in U.S. Pat. No.
5,736,908.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power source module.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a power source module.
[0010] FIG. 3A is planar view of the front of a submodule.
[0011] FIG. 3B is a planar view of the back of a submodule.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an end view of a power source module.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of a power source module.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a power source module.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a another perspective view of a power source
module.
[0016] FIG. 8 is an end view of a modular power source using plural
power source modules.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples
shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on
the apparatus and methods disclosed or claimed.
[0018] Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures
are assigned three-digit reference designators, where the most
significant digit is the figure number and the two least
significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is
not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have
the same characteristics and function as a previously-described
element having a reference designator with the same least
significant digits.
[0019] Description of Apparatus
[0020] Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 1, an exemplary
power source module 100 may include a plurality of submodules
140A-H. The submodules 140A-H may or may not be identical. While
eight submodules 140A-H are shown in this example, the power source
module 100 may include N submodules, where N is an integer greater
than one. The number of submodules may be a power of two. Each
submodule 140A-H may be comprised of a generally planar substrate
supporting a plurality of circuit devices 160A-H. While eight
circuit devices 160A-H are shown on submodule 140A in this example,
each submodule 140A-H may include M circuit devices 160, where M is
an integer greater than one. The number of circuit devices per
submodule may be a power of two. The number of circuit devices per
submodule may be less than, equal to, or greater than the number of
submodules.
[0021] Each circuit device 160A-H may include one or more of an
amplitude adjuster 166, a phase shifter 164 and an amplifier 163.
Each circuit device 160A-H may include one or more of an RF switch,
a circulator, and a low noise amplifier (none of which are shown in
FIG. 1) in which case the power source module 100 may have a
capability to function as a receiver as well as a power source. The
amplitude adjuster 166 may be a variable attenuator, a variable
gain amplifier stage within or in addition to amplifier 163, or
some other gain adjusting device. The amplitude adjuster 166, the
phase shifter 164 and the amplifier 163, may be separate devices or
components, or may be completed or partially implemented in one or
more monolithic microwave integrated circuits. The circuit devices
160A-H on any submodule 140A-H may be identical or may be
different.
[0022] Each submodule may also include other circuitry represented
by control circuitry 147. Control circuitry 147 may provide signals
to control phase shifters and/or amplitude adjusters within circuit
devices 160A-H. Control circuitry 147 may include a microcontroller
or other processor to receive instructions from external to the
power source module and to generate the control signals.
[0023] Each circuit device 160A-H may have an input coupled to a
power divider 155 and an output coupled to a radiating element. For
example, the output of circuit element 160A may be coupled to
radiating element 170A. Radiating element 170A may be a flared
notch antenna, a tapered slot antenna, a Vivaldi antenna, a dipole
antenna, a Yagi-uda antenna or any other end-fire antenna
element.
[0024] The power source module 100 may include a wavefront expander
120 to accept an MMW input wavefront 110 and to provide an expanded
MMW wavefront 130. The MMW input wavefront 110 may be coupled from
a waveguide or other transmission medium. The wavefront expander
120, represented in the block diagram of FIG. 1 as a 8:1 power
divider, may include a parallel-plate horn, a waveguide power
divider or other power divider, lenses, curved or flat reflectors,
and combinations of these and other elements. The expanded MMW
wavefront 130 may be a plane wave or other wavefront.
[0025] The expanded MMW wavefront 130 may be coupled to a receiving
element 150 on each of the submodules 140A-H. Each receiving
element may convert a portion of the energy of expanded MMW
wavefront 130 into a signal coupled to the input of the power
divider 155. The power divider 155 may be a stripline power divider
or other power divider. The power divider 155 may have M outputs,
where M is the number of circuit devices 160A-H on a submodule. M
is equal to eight in the example of FIG. 1, but M may be less than
or greater than eight. Each of the M power divider outputs may be
coupled to the input of a corresponding circuit device. Each
circuit device may amplify or otherwise modify the input signal
from the corresponding power divider output and provide an output
signal to the corresponding radiating element.
[0026] For example, receiving element 150 may provide an input
signal power divider 155, which provides a divided signal to the
input of circuit device 160A. Circuit device 160A may, in turn,
provide an output signal to radiating element 170A. Each radiating
element may convert the output signal from the corresponding
circuit element into a radiated wavefront (not shown). The radiated
wavefronts from the plurality of radiating elements on the
plurality of submodules may be spatially combined to provide an
output wavefront (not shown) that differs from the expanded
wavefront 130 in amplitude, direction, or some other property. The
spatially combined output wavefront may be radiated into free space
or coupled into an output waveguide (not shown), a waveguide horn
(not shown), or another device.
[0027] Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 2, another
exemplary power source module 200 may include a plurality of
submodules 240A-H. Each submodule 240A-H may be comprised of a
generally planar substrate supporting M circuit devices 260A-H. M
is again equal to eight in the example of FIG. 2, but M may be less
than or greater than eight.
[0028] Each circuit device 260A-H may have an input coupled to one
of a first power divider 255A or a second power divider 255B. Each
circuit device 260A-H may also have an output coupled to a
radiating element. In this example, the inputs of circuit devices
260A-D may be coupled to outputs of first power divider 255A, and
the inputs of circuit devices 260E-H may be coupled to outputs of
second power divider 255B.
[0029] The power source module 200 may include a wavefront expander
220 to accept an MMW input wavefront 210 and to provide a first
expanded MMW wavefront 230A and a second expanded MMW wavefront
230B. The MMW input wavefront 210 may be coupled from a waveguide
or other transmission medium. The wavefront expander 220,
represented in the block diagram of FIG. 1 as a 1:2:8 power
divider, may include an asymmetric horn, a waveguide power divider
or other power divider, lenses, curved or flat reflectors, and
combinations of these and other elements. The expanded MMW
wavefronts 230A and 230B may be plane waves or other
wavefronts.
[0030] The first expanded MMW wavefront 230A may be coupled to a
first receiving element 250A on each of the submodules 240A-H. Each
receiving element may convert a portion of the energy of expanded
MMW wavefront 230A into a signal coupled to the input of the first
power divider 255A. Similarly, the second expanded MMW wavefront
230B may be coupled to a second receiving element 250B on each of
the submodules 240A-H. Each receiving element may convert a portion
of the energy of expanded MMW wavefront 230B into a signal coupled
to the input of the second power divider 255B. The power dividers
255A and 255B may each be a stripline power divider or other power
divider. Each of the power dividers 255A and 255B may have M/2
outputs, where M is the number of circuit devices 260A-H on a
submodule. Each of the M/2 power divider outputs may be coupled to
the input of a corresponding circuit device. Each circuit device
may amplify or otherwise modify the input signal from the
corresponding power divider output and provide an output signal to
the corresponding radiating element. For example, receiving element
250A may provide an input signal power divider 255A, which provides
a divided signal to the input of circuit device 260A. Circuit
device 260A may, in turn, provide an output signal to radiating
element 270A. Each radiating element may convert the output signal
from the corresponding circuit element into a radiated wavefront
(not shown). The radiated wavefronts from the plurality of
radiating elements on the plurality of submodules may be spatially
combined to provide an output wavefront (not shown) that differs
from the expanded wavefront 130 in amplitude, direction, or some
other property. The spatially combined output wavefront may be
coupled into an output waveguide (not shown) or radiated into free
space.
[0031] The example of FIG. 2 shows two receiving elements 205A and
250B coupled to power dividers 255A and 255B on each submodule.
However, there may be K receiving elements on each submodule, where
K may be an integer smaller than M. K may be a factor of M. The K
receiving elements may be coupled to K inputs of a K:M power
divider. The K:M power divider may consist of K separate power
dividers, each of which has one input and M/K outputs. The
wavefront expander 220 may provide a total of K separate expanded
wavefronts, or one or more expanded wavefront that can be coupled
to all K receiving elements on each of the submodules.
[0032] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are front and back views of a submodule
300 which may be suitable for use in the power source module 100 of
FIG. 1. Submodule 300 may include a generally rectangular
dielectric substrate 342 having parallel front and back surfaces.
The dielectric substrate 342 may be fabricated of alumina,
beryllia, aluminum nitride, or other dielectric material suitable
for use at the frequency of operation of the power source module
300. A plurality of circuit devices (eight in the example of FIG.
3A), of which circuit device 360 is typical, may be disposed on the
front surface of substrate 342. A plurality of radiating elements,
of which radiating element 370 is typical, may be disposed in a
linear array along a first side of substrate 342 (the top side as
seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B). Each radiating element may be coupled to
an output of a corresponding circuit element. At least one
receiving elements 350 may be disposed proximate a second side of
substrate 342 opposed to the first side. The receiving element 350
may be coupled to an input of a power divider 355 may that be
comprised of stripline conductors on the surface of substrate 342.
The power divider 355 may have a plurality of outputs, each of
which is coupled to an input of a corresponding circuit element,
such as circuit element 360.
[0033] Submodule 300 may include a heat spreader 344. The heat
spreader 344 may be comprised, for example, of a metal material
such as aluminum or copper; a thermally conductive ceramic material
such as alumina, beryllia, or aluminum nitride; or a composite
material containing a thermally conductive filler such as pryolitic
graphite. The heat spreader 344 may be the same material as the
dielectric substrate 342 or another material. The heat spreader 344
may be bonded or otherwise thermally coupled to the dielectric
substrate 342 with a heat conducting material. Suitable heat
conducting materials may include a thermally-conductive grease, a
thermally-conductive adhesive, a brazing material, or some other
thermally-conductive material. Heat spreader 344 may be thermally
coupled to substantially the entire back surface of substrate 342,
except for the portions occupied by the radiating elements (such as
radiating element 370), the at least one receiving element 350, and
two or more contact regions 348A and 348B that may be used to
connect a primary power supply to submodule 300. Contact regions
348A and 348B may include multiple electrical contacts (not shown
in FIG. 3A or 3B) used to connect both power forms and control
signals to submodule 300. The heat spreader 344 may have an
interface surface 346 adapted to engage a heat exchanger. The at
least one receiving element 370, the contact regions 348A and 348B,
and the interface surface may all be disposed proximate to the
second side of substrate 342.
[0034] FIG. 4 is an end view of a power source module 400, which
may be similar in architecture and function to power source module
100. A plurality of submodules 440A-H may be stacked in parallel.
Each submodule may be similar to submodule 300 of FIG. 3. Each
submodule may include a dielectric substrate 442 supporting a
plurality of circuit devices, of which circuit device 460 is
typical. Each submodule may also include a heat spreader 444 to
remove heat from the circuit devices.
[0035] Each dielectric substrate 442 may support linear arrays of
receiving elements and radiating elements coupled to and generally
aligned with the circuit devices such as circuit device 460. The
receiving elements and radiating elements may be constructed as
metal films on one or both sides of the dielectric substrate 442
and are thus not visible in FIG. 4. The plurality of submodules may
be stacked in parallel and appropriately spaced such that the
plurality of radiating elements are located on a Cartesian X-Y
grid, with the ends of the plurality of radiating elements lying in
a common plane. The spacing between the columns of radiating
elements (the center-to-center spacing of the submodules as shown
in FIG. 4) may be .lamda.x, where .lamda., is the frequency of
operation of the power source module 400 and x is a constant
typically between 0.5 and 1.0. The spacing between adjacent columns
of elements may be exactly equal to the nominal spacing of .lamda.x
or may deviate from the nominal spacing by a tolerance. The
tolerance may be .lamda./10 or some other tolerance. The constant x
may be chosen such that the spacing between adjacent columns of
radiating elements is from 0.5.lamda. to 1.0.lamda..
[0036] The spacing between the rows of radiating elements (the
center-to-center spacing of the radiating elements on each
submodule as shown in FIG. 4) may be .lamda.y, where .lamda. is the
frequency of operation of the power source module 400 and y is a
constant typically between 0.5 and 1.0. The spacing between
adjacent rows of elements may be exactly equal to the nominal
spacing of .lamda.y or may deviate from the nominal spacing by a
tolerance. The tolerance may be .lamda./10 or some other tolerance.
The constant y may be chosen such that the spacing between adjacent
rows of radiating elements is from 0.5.lamda. to 1.0.lamda.. The
constants x and y may be equal or unequal.
[0037] FIG. 5 is a side view of a power source module 500, which
may be similar to the power source module 400 of FIG. 4. The power
source module 500 may contain a plurality of submodules stacked in
parallel, of which only submodule 540 is visible. Submodule 540 may
include a plurality of circuit devices, of which circuit device 560
is representative. Each circuit device may have an input coupled to
power divider 545 and an output coupled to a radiating element such
as radiating element 570.
[0038] Metal structures 522 and 524 may collectively form a
combined heat sink and wavefront expander. The combined heat sink
and wavefront expander 522/524 may accept an input wavefront 510
from a waveguide or other transmission medium and expand the input
wavefront along the axis normal to the plane of FIG. 5 to form an
expanded wavefront 530. The input wavefront 510 may be expanded by
means of a waveguide power divider, a uniaxial horn, or other
structure embedded in the metal structures 522 and 524 in the
region indicated by dashed line 520. The expanded wavefront 530 may
be coupled to the inputs of a plurality of power dividers (of which
only power divider 545 is visible) disposed on the plurality of
submodules.
[0039] The combined heat sink and wavefront expander 522/524 may
function as a heat exchanger to remove heat generated in the
submodules such as submodule 540. Heat generated in the circuit
devices, such as circuit device 560, on the plurality of submodules
may be coupled to heat spreaders (not visible) incorporated in the
submodules, as previously described. The submodule heat spreaders
may, in turn, be thermally coupled to the combined heat sink and
wavefront expander 522/524 at an interface surface 546. The heat
coupled from the submodule heat spreaders may be conducted through
the metal structures 522 and 524, and then transferred to a coolant
fluid flowing through the one or more heat exchanger coolant
channels 590. The coolant fluid may be, for example, a gas or a
liquid. While the heat exchanger coolant channels 590 are shown as
simple circular openings in FIG. 5, the coolant channels may
include fins, vanes, posts and other structures. Such structures
may be incorporated to increase the surface area exposed to the
flowing coolant and/or to increase the turbulence of the coolant to
improve the efficiency of heat transfer from the metal structures
to the coolant. Each metal structure 522 and 524 may have multiple
coolant channels, which may be disposed at any location where the
thickness of the metal structure is sufficient.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a power source module 600,
which may be similar to power source module 400 and/or power source
module 500. Power source module 600 may include a stack of a
plurality of submodules, such as submodules 640. Each of the
submodules may include a heat spreader, such as heat spreader 644,
which may be a component of submodule 640. The power source module
600 may include a combined wavefront expander and heat exchanger
620. The combined wavefront expander and heat exchanger 620 may
have an exit port 626 in proximity to the receiving elements on
each of the submodules, of which only receiving element 630 is
visible. The exit port 626 may be aligned with, but spaced away
from, the receiving elements such as receiving element 630.
[0041] Each submodule may have accessible contact regions 648A and
648B for the coupling of DC power and other signals to each
submodule. The DC power and other signals may be coupled from
interface units 649A and 649B. Each of the interface units 649a and
649B may be a circuit card, an electrical connector, a wiring
harness, or other electric interface mechanism. The DC power and
other signals may be coupled between the interface units 649A and
649B and each submodule by means of wires (not shown) attached to
the contact regions 648A/B, electrical connectors (not shown) that
engage the contact regions 648A/B, or other electrical coupling
method. Each submodule may include electrical connectors (not
shown) disposed at the contact regions 649A and 649B.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a power source module 700,
which may be similar to power source module 600. Power source
module 700 may include a stack of a plurality of submodules, such
as submodule 740. Each of the plurality of submodules may include a
heat spreader, such as heat spreader 744, which is a portion of
submodule 740. The power source module 600 may include a combined
wavefront expander and heat exchanger 720. The combined wavefront
expander and heat exchanger 720 may have an input port 728. The
combined wavefront expander and heat exchanger 720 may include ribs
782A and 782B that are thermally coupled to the heat spreaders of
the submodules, such as heat spreader 744. The submodules may be
supported and urged into thermal contact with the combined
wavefront expander and heat exchanger 720 by screws, such as screw
780, that pass through the ribs 782A and 782B and engage with
threaded holes in the heat spreaders, such as heat spreader
744.
[0043] FIG. 8 is an end view of a modular MMW power source
comprised of four power source modules 800A-D, which may be similar
to previously described power source modules 400, 600 and 700. The
four modules are juxtaposed to form a 2N.times.2M Cartesian array
of radiating elements, where N is the number of submodules per
module and M is the number of radiating elements per submodule. The
width 810 of each module, measured normal to the planes of the
submodules, may be essentially equal to N.lamda.x, where .lamda.,
is the operating frequency of the power source and x is a constant
typically between 0.5 and 1.0. In this context, "essentially equal
to" means exactly equal to the nominal value of N.lamda.x or
deviating from the nominal value by no more than an acceptable
tolerance, which may be .+-..lamda./10. In the event that the width
of each module is exactly equal to N.lamda.x, the modules may be
directly abutted to maintain uniform spacing 820 essentially equal
to .lamda.x between columns of radiating elements. In the event
that the width of each module is slightly less than N.lamda.x,
shims or another spacing mechanism may be used to establish the
correct spacing between adjacent modules.
[0044] The height 830 of each submodule may be essentially equal to
M.lamda.y. To allow room for the metal structures that conduct heat
away from the submodules, the height 830 of each submodule may be
essentially equal to (M+1).lamda.y. In this case the spacing 840
between rows of radiating elements may be essentially equal to
.lamda.y except at the boundaries between adjacent submodules,
where the spacing 850 between radiating elements may be essentially
equal to 2.lamda.y. Effectively, a single row of radiating elements
may be missing at the boundary between adjacent modules.
[0045] As used in the preceding paragraphs, height and width, and
row and column, are relative terms descriptive of the modular power
source as shown in FIG. 8. These terms do not imply any absolute
orientation of the modular power source.
CLOSING COMMENTS
[0046] The foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting,
having been presented by way of example only. Although examples
have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having
ordinary skill in the art that changes, modifications, and/or
alterations may be made.
[0047] Although many of the examples presented herein involve
specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should
be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in
other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to
flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps
as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods
described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in
connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from
a similar role in other embodiments.
[0048] For means-plus-function limitations recited in the claims,
the means are not intended to be limited to the means disclosed
herein for performing the recited function, but are intended to
cover in scope any means, known now or later developed, for
performing the recited function.
[0049] As used herein, "plurality" means two or more.
[0050] As used herein, a "set" of items may include one or more of
such items.
[0051] As used herein, whether in the written description or the
claims, the terms "comprising", "including", "carrying", "having",
"containing", "involving", and the like are to be understood to be
open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the
transitional phrases "consisting of" and "consisting essentially
of" respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases
with respect to claims.
[0052] Use of ordinal terms such as "first", "second", "third",
etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself
connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element
over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are
performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim
element having a certain name from another element having a same
name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim
elements.
[0053] As used herein, "and/or" means that the listed items are
alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of
the listed items.
* * * * *