MMW Very Low-Cost Electronic Scan Antenna For Projectile Guidance

A strapdown all weather millimeter-wave seeker is a highly desired configuration for Naval surface fire support projectiles. This means an electronic scan antenna. However despite two decades and hundreds of millions of dollars invested in phase-shifters, MMIC and similar technologies, low-cost electronic scan remains an oxymoron. Clearly an entirely new approach is required. Malibu Research believes as a regular manufacturer of MMW antennas that we have such an approach, based on the merging of two proven technologies, our FLAPS EM phased-surface technique and high resolution plasma displays. A principal product of ours for microwave/millimeter wave antennas is the FLAPS phased surface. It utilizes arrays of varying length dipoles to control beam shape and direction. By dynamic variation of the dipole pattern electronic beam scanning will result. The specific means of accomplishing this is by a programmable plasma display - similar in nature to plasma display television and laptop computers. The concept and preliminary parameters for this are given in our proposal. The key points are as follows: (a) The proposed technique is a merger of two advanced but proven technologies. (b) The plasma display elements are highly RF conductive, ionized gases- (c) The resolution, speed and huge number of computer updatable display elements yields a highly dynamic, large RF size electronic antenna with multi-band capability. The key to this concept for the LCS is the fact that plasma displays of 3" to 6" diameter sell for hundreds of dollars, and they are naturally very rugged and g-tolerant. Establishing this level of cost in a MMW antenna configuration with 10,000 g capability will be emphasized in this effort. The proposed effort includes demonstration of a mini, MMW scannable antenna using plasma elements.