Active Antenna Array for EMC Testing Power Loss Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current EMC testing systems experience significant power losses due to the combination of high power RF amplifiers and broadband antennas, and the receiving antennas have limited gain and directivity, making them large, complex, and expensive.
Innovation Solution
An active antenna array system comprising multiple narrowband or broadband antenna elements and amplifiers, each operating in a specific frequency range, which reduces power losses by eliminating the need for power combiners and allows for more efficient generation and reception of broadband RF fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a single broadband antenna is used to generate broadband RF field, then broadband coverage is achieved, but significant power losses occur due to combiners and cable connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single broadband antenna system into multiple narrowband antenna elements, each operating at a specific frequency. This segmentation eliminates the need for power combiners and reduces cable losses, directly addressing the power loss problem while maintaining broadband coverage through coordinated operation of multiple elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-antenna spatial configuration to a multi-element array configuration. By distributing antenna elements in space and controlling their phases and amplitudes, the system achieves broadband performance through spatial diversity rather than temporal combining, reducing power losses in the process.
2Reliability
If a broadband receiving antenna is used, then broadband reception is achieved, but the antenna becomes large, complex and expensive with limited gain and directivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broadband receiving antenna into multiple narrowband antenna elements. Each element can be optimized for its specific frequency range, achieving better gain and directivity in its operating band. The collective array provides broadband reception capability without requiring a single large, complex broadband antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple narrowband antenna elements into a unified receiving array. By merging the signals from multiple elements with optimized individual characteristics, the system achieves both broadband coverage and high reception quality, avoiding the need for a single large broadband antenna.
3Power
If multiple low power amplifiers are combined to generate high power, then high power output is achieved, but significant power losses occur in the combiners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the power combiner component from the system architecture. Instead of combining powers from multiple amplifiers, each antenna element operates independently with its own amplifier, removing the source of combiner losses while maintaining high power output capability through parallel operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a single broadband antenna is used, then broadband coverage is achieved, but the antenna must be large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broadband antenna requirement into multiple narrowband antenna elements. Each element can be smaller and less expensive since it operates at a specific frequency rather than requiring broadband operation. The array as a whole provides broadband coverage through the coordinated operation of these smaller, more economical elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces power requirements, enhances accuracy, and lowers costs by minimizing power losses and the complexity of the system, while maintaining efficient broadband coverage and uniform field generation and reception.
Implementation Method 1
Every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is configured for operating in a predetermined frequency range and is associated with an amplifier of said plurality of amplifiers which is configured for said predetermined frequency range
Implementation Method 2
an active antenna array for generation of a plurality of near-field electromagnetic fields in order to build up a homogeneous far-field electromagnetic field in front of the antenna
Implementation Method 3
the emitted fields are combined (added or summed) in order to obtain the required homogeneous field
Implementation Method 4
the plurality of amplifiers is arranged to amplify signals received by the plurality of antenna elements
Data Source
AI summary
Broadband antenna system comprising a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of amplifiers; wherein every antenna element of said plurality of antenna elements is configured for operating in a predetermined frequency range and is associated with an amplifier of said plurality of amplifiers which is configured for said predetermined frequency range; said plurality of antenna elements covering a broadband range.