Sep 9, 2025

US12412976 - Flexline wrap antenna for projectile

A projectile circuitry assembly for use in projectiles comprising a chassis defining a generally cylindrical a main body portion and further defining an interior cavity for containing one or more projectile components and further defining an antenna aperture through the body portion to expose the interior cavity. In various embodiments the projectile circuitry assembly comprises a plurality of circuit boards and a wrap antenna, the plurality of circuit boards and wrap antenna interconnected via an integrated flex-line to define a single unitary device without the use of a connector, the wrap antenna comprising one or more antenna elements defined on a flexible antenna substrate layer, wherein the plurality of circuit boards are positioned in the interior cavity and the wrap antenna is threaded through the antenna aperture and wrapped circumferentially about an exterior of the cylindrical wall of the body portion.

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
Inventors: Jacob M. Parrow, Christopher A. McKellips, Hossein Aliaghai
Filing date: 2023-12-06

The patent describes a projectile that incorporates a circuitry assembly featuring a wrap antenna, which is integrated with circuit boards and designed to be housed within a cylindrical chassis. This assembly allows for enhanced communication capabilities while maintaining a streamlined design, with the antenna wrapped around the exterior of the projectile’s body.

Claim 1

A projectile having a nose portion with a forward tip, a body portion, a tail portion, and a central axis, the projectile comprising: a chassis extending from the tail portion to the nose portion, the chassis defining a generally cylindrical wall of the body portion and further defining an interior cavity within the projectile and further defining an antenna aperture through the cylindrical wall of the body portion; a projectile circuitry assembly comprising one or more circuit boards and a wrap antenna, the one or more circuit boards and the wrap antenna interconnected via an integrated flex-line, the wrap antenna comprising one or more antenna elements that are defined on a flexible antenna substrate layer, wherein the one or more circuit boards are positioned in the interior cavity and at least a portion of the wrap antenna projects through the antenna aperture and is wrapped circumferentially about an exterior of the cylindrical wall of the body portion; and a sealing material sealing the antenna aperture. a chassis extending from the tail portion to the nose portion, the chassis defining a generally cylindrical wall of the body portion and further defining an interior cavity within the projectile and further defining an antenna aperture through the cylindrical wall of the body portion; a projectile circuitry assembly comprising one or more circuit boards and a wrap antenna, the one or more circuit boards and the wrap antenna interconnected via an integrated flex-line, the wrap antenna comprising one or more antenna elements that are defined on a flexible antenna substrate layer, wherein the one or more circuit boards are positioned in the interior cavity and at least a portion of the wrap antenna projects through the antenna aperture and is wrapped circumferentially about an exterior of the cylindrical wall of the body portion; and a sealing material sealing the antenna aperture.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12412976

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12412976