Radial reconfigurable broadband slanted polarization conformal array antenna

Abstract

This invention provides a reconfigurable, broadband, obliquely polarized conformal array antenna. It consists of several identical array antenna modules, arranged in a stepped layout for conformal fitting. Through motor control, the conformal arc can be flexibly varied, resulting in an arc-shaped surface array with any angle within a 180° span. This invention reduces the difficulty of conformal fitting and improves structural flexibility through modular design, achieving an impedance bandwidth of over 30%, a stable and controllable radiation pattern, and a two-dimensional ±45° beam scanning capability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of array antenna technology, and specifically relates to an arc-reconfigurable broadband slant-polarized conformal array antenna. Background Technology

[0002] Phased array systems have been widely used in communications, radar and other fields due to their fast beam scanning, multi-functionality and modularity. With the continuous development of various types of equipment, miniaturization, modularization and integrated design have gradually become the mainstream requirements.

[0003] In applications with limited space, conformal arrays are a common choice. Arc-shaped conformal arrays require high precision in antenna profile, typically employing methods such as piecewise linear fitting or antenna surface curvature for conformal design. Microstrip antennas offer advantages such as low profile, multi-polarization, and high integration, making them a better choice for conformal arrays within a certain bandwidth range. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a reconfigurable, broadband, obliquely polarized conformal array antenna. It consists of several identical array antenna modules, employing a stepped layout for conformal fitting. Through motor control, the conformal arc can be flexibly varied, resulting in an arc-shaped surface array with any angle within a 180° span. This invention reduces the difficulty of conformal fitting and improves structural flexibility through modular design, achieving an impedance bandwidth of over 30%, a stable and controllable radiation pattern, and a two-dimensional ±45° beam scanning capability.

[0005] A radii-reconfigurable broadband oblique polarization conformal array antenna is characterized by being composed of several identical array antenna modules, each array antenna module including an antenna array (1), a metal carrier (2) and a positioning pin screw (3), the antenna array (1) being positioned and sintered and fixed on each metal carrier (2) by the positioning pin screw (3);

[0006] The antenna array (1) uses a slot-coupled microstrip patch antenna with an air reflector as a unit antenna, which consists of a radiating patch (4), a radiating dielectric layer (5), a metal ground plane with coupling slots (6), a feeding structure (7), a metal mounting carrier (8), and a metallized edging (9).

[0007] The feed structure (7) consists of a coupling dielectric layer (10), a microstrip feed line (11), a metal isolation pillar (12), a conversion dielectric layer (13), and a coaxial feed line (14), which are pressed tightly together in sequence to realize the conversion from microstrip line to coaxial feed line structure.

[0008] The antenna module adopts a stepped layout for conformal fitting, and can be controlled by a motor to achieve an arc-shaped array with any angle within a 180° span.

[0009] Furthermore, the radiation dielectric layer (5), coupling dielectric layer (10) and conversion dielectric layer (13) are made of the same dielectric substrate and are pressed together from top to bottom. After pressing, metallization is performed on both sides. The radiation patch (4) and the metal ground plane (6) with coupling gap are printed on the upper and lower surfaces of the radiation dielectric layer (5), respectively. The microstrip feed line (11) is printed on the lower surface of the coupling dielectric layer (10). The metal isolation pillar (12) penetrates the coupling dielectric layer (10) and the conversion dielectric layer (13). The coaxial feed line (14) penetrates the conversion dielectric layer (13) and then contacts the microstrip feed line (11).

[0010] The beneficial effects of this invention are: modular design reduces the difficulty of conformal mapping and improves the flexibility of the structure; the step-fit ​​conformal curvature is adopted, resulting in a simple structure, stable radiation performance, and sidelobes that do not rise as the conformal angle increases; motor control enables reconfigurable arcuate ranges, encompassing arrays from planar arrays to arcuate arrays with an angle of 180°, allowing for arbitrary arcuate switching while maintaining relatively stable radiation pattern and gain; and the addition of metallized edging on both sides of the antenna array structure simulates the boundary conditions during large-angle scanning, preventing excessive changes in the antenna's electrical performance under different conformal angles. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the arc-reconfigurable broadband oblique polarization conformal array antenna structure of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a single array antenna module of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the antenna array structure of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the reconfigurable conformal curvature of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 5 This is a comparison diagram of the reference frequency radiation patterns under the three conformal states of the present invention;

[0016] Among them, (a) - reference frequency pattern under planar array, (b) - reference frequency pattern under conformal array with 50° angle, and (c) - reference frequency pattern under conformal array with 90° angle;

[0017] Figure 6 This is the reference frequency scanning pattern of the present invention under a 90° arc array;

[0018] Among them, (a) is the 0° tangential pattern, (b) is the 45° tangential pattern, (c) is the 90° tangential pattern, and (d) is the 135° tangential pattern. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The present invention includes, but is not limited to, the following embodiments.

[0020] This invention provides a radii-reconfigurable broadband oblique polarization conformal array antenna. The optimization of the overfeed structure achieves an impedance bandwidth of over 30% and a two-dimensional ±45° beam scanning capability. At the same time, the modular design allows for independent control of the array modules using motors, thereby achieving conformal radii reconfigurability within a certain range.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the radian-reconfigurable broadband slanted polarization conformal array antenna consists of several identical array antenna modules, wherein each array antenna module is as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes an antenna array (1), a metal carrier (2) and a positioning pin screw (3). The antenna array (1) is positioned and sintered on each metal carrier (2) by the positioning pin screw (3).

[0022] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, the unit of the antenna array (1) includes a radiating patch (4), a radiating dielectric layer (5), a metal ground plane with coupling gaps (6), a feeding structure (7), a metal mounting carrier (8), and a metallized edge (9). The feeding structure (7) includes a coupling dielectric layer (10), a microstrip feed line (11), a metal isolation pillar (12), a conversion dielectric layer (13), and a coaxial feed line (14).

[0023] The radiating dielectric layer, coupling dielectric layer, and conversion dielectric layer use the same dielectric substrate and are laminated sequentially from top to bottom. After lamination, metallization is applied to both sides. The radiating patch and the metal ground plane with coupling gaps are printed on the upper and lower surfaces of the radiating dielectric layer, respectively; the microstrip feed line is printed on the lower surface of the coupling dielectric layer; the metal isolation pillar penetrates the coupling dielectric layer and the conversion dielectric layer; the coaxial feed line penetrates the conversion dielectric layer and then contacts the microstrip feed line.

[0024] Electromagnetic waves enter through a coaxial feeder, are converted by the feeding structure and transmitted through the microstrip feeder, and are radiated upward through the coupling gaps on the metal floor to excite the radiating patch, thus completing the radiation into free space.

[0025] In this invention, the metallized edging on both sides of the array antenna restricts the transmission of electromagnetic waves, simulating the metal boundary conditions that would occur during large-angle scanning, thus avoiding significant differences in the boundaries between the planar array state and the large-angle conformal array state, which would lead to large differences in radiation performance.

[0026] In this invention, the bottom of the array antenna module is a metal mounting surface, and the coaxial feed structure extends to the rear for connection. It can be integrated with other modules as needed to achieve high integration.

[0027] In this invention, there is a path difference between the conformal antenna elements. After phase compensation based on the frequency, beam scanning can be performed normally, and it has two-dimensional beam scanning capability.

[0028] Figures 4-6 This is a schematic diagram and simulation results of a conformal array antenna example under the structure of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 4 An arc reconfigurable structure is presented, in which several array antenna modules are fitted conformally using a stepped layout. Each array antenna module is moved independently radially along an arc-shaped carrier by a motor, enabling arc shaping within a certain range, encompassing variations from planar arrays to arc-shaped surface arrays with an angle of 180°.

[0030] Figure 5 The radiation patterns at the reference frequency are presented under three conformal curvature states (planar array, 50° conformal array, and 90° conformal array). Figure (a) compares the radiation patterns of the three conformal curvature states under the phi = 0° section; Figure (b) compares the radiation patterns of the three conformal curvature states under the phi = 45° section; Figure (c) compares the radiation patterns of the three conformal curvature states under the phi = 90° section; and Figure (d) compares the radiation patterns of the three conformal curvature states under the phi = 135° section. The horizontal axis represents the angle range, and the vertical axis represents the gain value. As can be seen from the figures, the antenna radiation pattern is relatively stable with the change of conformal curvature, and the gain fluctuation is within 0.3 dBi. From the radiation patterns of the examples, it can be seen that, unlike the traditional arc-shaped conformal array, the sidelobes of the radiation pattern do not rise with the increase of the conformal curvature.

[0031] Figure 6 The scanning patterns of a small-scale array antenna under conformal conditions with a 90° angle are given. Figure (a) is the scanning pattern of the Phi=0° section, Figure (b) is the scanning pattern of the Phi=45° section, Figure (c) is the scanning pattern of the Phi=90° section, and Figure (d) is the scanning pattern of the Phi=135° section. The horizontal axis represents the angle range, and the vertical axis represents the gain value. As can be seen from the figures, the scanning performance is good, with no grid lobes or distortion points, and the scanning loss is less than 2.6dB.

[0032] The example described is merely one embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A radii-reconfigurable broadband oblique polarization conformal array antenna, characterized in that: It consists of several identical array antenna modules. Each array antenna module includes an antenna array (1), a metal carrier (2), and a positioning pin screw (3). The antenna array (1) is positioned and sintered on each metal carrier (2) by the positioning pin screw (3). The antenna array (1) uses a slot-coupled microstrip patch antenna with an air reflector as a unit antenna, which consists of a radiating patch (4), a radiating dielectric layer (5), a metal ground plane with coupling slots (6), a feeding structure (7), a metal mounting carrier (8), and a metallized edging (9). The feed structure (7) consists of a coupling dielectric layer (10), a microstrip feed line (11), a metal isolation pillar (12), a conversion dielectric layer (13), and a coaxial feed line (14), which are pressed tightly together in sequence to realize the conversion from microstrip line to coaxial feed line structure; The antenna module adopts a stepped layout for conformal fitting, and can be controlled by a motor to achieve an arc-shaped array with any angle within a 180° span.

2. The arc-reconfigurable broadband slanted polarization conformal array antenna as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The radiation dielectric layer (5), coupling dielectric layer (10) and conversion dielectric layer (13) are made of the same dielectric substrate and are pressed together from top to bottom. After pressing, metallization is performed on both sides. The radiation patch (4) and the metal ground plane (6) with coupling gap are printed on the upper and lower surfaces of the radiation dielectric layer (5), respectively. The microstrip feed line (11) is printed on the lower surface of the coupling dielectric layer (10). The metal isolation pillar (12) penetrates the coupling dielectric layer (10) and the conversion dielectric layer (13). The coaxial feed line (14) penetrates the conversion dielectric layer (13) and then contacts the microstrip feed line (11).

Images