US3451127A - Method of making radome with an integral antenna - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1969 HOWARD ET AL 3,451,127

METHOD OF MAKING RADOME WITH AN INTEGRAL ANTENNA Filed June 17, 1963 FIGZ DARNLEY M. HOWARD IRVING MATHIS INVENTORS ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,451,127 METHOD OF MAKING RADOME WITH AN INTEGRAL ANTENNA Darnley M. Howard and Irving Mathis, College Park,

Md., assignors, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed June 17, 1963, Ser. No. 288,570 Int. Cl. Htllp 11/00; C23b 5/44 US. Cl. 29-600 5 Claims The present invention relates to antenna structures and more particularly a structure where a radome and an antenna are an integral unit.

Devices using a radome having a separate antenna positioned inside the reflector are known. However, any relative motion between the antenna and the radome is a source of microphonics resulting in a loss of sensitivity. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior devices by eliminating a potential source of microphonics due to relative motion between the antenna and radome.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel integral radome and antenna structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integral radome-antenna which eliminates microphonics due to relative motion between antenna and radome.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an antenna-radome structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts in each of the figures.

A cylindrical radome is formed from a heat stable, water repellent plastic laminate, for example, (such as silicone glass laminate) for compatible electrical and mechanical properties. The inside surface of radome 10 is roughened by a mild abrasive and thoroughly cleaned. A preliminary thin coating of conductive material, such as silver conductive paint, is deposited on the roughened area in the desired antenna pattern and then burnished into the pores to insure electrical continuity and satisfactory adhesion. The antenna 12, of silver or other suitable metal, shown as being in three segments separated by spaces 14 in the drawings, is fastened to the inner surface of radome 10 by means of the preliminary thin conductive coating which is applied by vacuum depositing or other suitable process and then burnished. The desired thickness 3,451 ,127 Patented June 24, 1969 of the conductive paths of antenna 12 is built up by electroplating onto the preliminary thin coating of conductive material. By this method of plating the antenna pattern to the inside of the radome the loss of sensitivity is minimized and microphonics due to motion between the antenna and radome are eliminated. Also, the mechanical and electrical properties of materials are compatible, low in cost and readily available.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of making a radome with an integral antenna having characteristics wherein electrical continuity and satisfactory adhesion is assured, loss of sensitivity is minimized, and microphonics due to relative motion between the antenna and radome is eliminated comprising:

(a) forming a hollow radome from a heat stable,

water repellent silicone glass-plastic laminate,

(b) roughening a portion of the inside surface of said radome in a desired antenna pattern,

(0) applying a preliminary thin coating of conductive material on said roughened surface in the desired antenna pattern,

(d) burnishing said conductive material into the pores of the roughened surface of said radome to insure electrical continuity and satisfactory adhesion,

(e) applying a suitable antenna metal in desired thickness onto said burnished preliminary thin conductive coating,

(f) burnishing said antenna metal.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said preliminary conductive coating is a silver conductive paint.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said preliminary conductive coating is applied by vacuum depositing.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein said suitable antenna metal is electroplated onto said burnished preliminary conductive coating until a desired thickness is built up.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said suitable antenna metal is silver.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,948,896 8/1960 Hart 343-873 3,110,030 11/1963 Cole 343873 3,296,685 1/1967 Sulitanu 29--600 JOHN F. CAMPBELL, Primary Examiner.

J. L. CLINE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A METHOD OF MAKING A RADOME WITH AN INTEGRAL ANTENNA HAVING CHARACTERISTICS WHEREIN ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY AND SATISFACTORY ADHESION IS ASSURED, LOSS OF SENSITIVITY IS MINIMIZED, AND MICROPHONICS DUE TO RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE ANTENNA AND RADOME IS ELIMINATED COMPRISING: (A) FORMING A HOLLOW RADOME FROM A HEAT STABLE, WATER REPELLENT SILICONE GLASS-PLASTIC LAMINATE, (B) ROUGHENING A PORTION OF THE INSIDE SURFACE OF SAID RADOME IN A DESIRED ANTENNA PATTERN, (C) APPLYING A PRELIMINARY THIN COATING OF CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL ON SAID ROUGHENED SURFACE IN THE DESIRED ANTENNA PATTERN, (D) BURNISHING SAID CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL INTO THE PORES OF THE ROUGHENED SURFACE OF SAID RADOME TO INSURE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY AND SATISFACTORY ADHESION, (E) APPLYING A SUITABLE ANTENNA METAL IN DESIRED THICKNESS ONTO SAID BURNISHED PRELIMINARY THIN CONDUCTIVE COATING, (F) BURNISHING SAID ANTENNA METAL.

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