The Preparation And Mechanical-electrical Properties Analysis Of Flexible Conformal Antennas

With the development of future aircraft to miniaturization, lightweight, rigiddielectric substrate antennas cannot meet the requirements. Therefore, it isnecessary to study a new type of flexible conformal antenna structure. Flexibleconformal antenna can not only well conformal with the structure, but can curl tosave storage space and provide the necessary space for the realization of thecomponents of the other functions.Based on the above background, we design and prepare a new type of flexibleconformal antenna. We design antenna element and2×8antenna array ofaperture-coupled micro-strip antenna according to the micro-strip antenna theory.We also design the feed network which meets the requirements of antenna array.Compared to a conventional antenna, the relative bandwidth of the designedantenna in this paper, as high as15%or more, the performance is far superior to theordinary antenna.In order to achieve a flexible antenna patch and the grounding plane, we useconductive silver paste by screen printing process printing on a polyimide film.Screen printing process suit for printing the large pattern on the substrate. Theaerosol jet printing technology to achieve a flexible antenna feed, aerosoltechnology can control the printing accuracy, suitable for a small area ofhigh-precision printing. Prepared for the realization of the good kind of electricalproperties of the test, using a conductive silver glue bonding the50Ω flange SMAantenna structure to the feeder and the ground plate to solve the traditional weldingmethod will burn the polyimide film problem. Finally, the flexible antenna of is test,tested, and compared with simulation results.The flexible antenna in the practical application of the process, certainly with thedeformation of the structure and affect its normal play. Therefore, we study thedeformation of the structure of the electromagnetic properties of the flexibleantenna. We use of parametric CAD model the variation of the antenna electricalproperties of different curvature. The results show that the curvature within therange of0.013to0.026of the antenna can still work effectively.