Aircraft Radar Antenna Segmentation for Wide Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radar devices with gimbal mechanisms are bulky and heavy, making them difficult to mount on aircraft with weight constraints, and enlarging the coverage area without gimbals increases the device's volume, while using multiple antennas also results in a larger volume.
Innovation Solution
A radar device with an antenna system that includes a second rotation mechanism orthogonal to the antenna surface and a first rotation mechanism inclined relative to the second, allowing for wide coverage area adjustment without the need for a gimbal mechanism, and a control unit to maintain the plane of polarization orientation, which can be fixed to the airframe or ground coordinate systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a gimbal mechanism is used to change antenna orientation, then the covering area of the radar is enlarged, but the volume and weight of the radar device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radar device is divided into multiple independent antenna units (first through fourth antennas) that can be independently controlled. Each antenna can be oriented in different directions, allowing the system to achieve wide covering area without requiring a large-volume gimbal mechanism. The segmentation of the antenna system enables flexible spatial coverage while maintaining compact device volume.
2Area of stationary object
If a gimbal mechanism is used to change antenna orientation, then the covering area of the radar is enlarged, but the weight of the radar device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radar device is divided into multiple independent antenna units (first through fourth antennas) that can be independently controlled. Each antenna can be oriented in different directions, allowing the system to achieve wide covering area without requiring a large-volume gimbal mechanism. The segmentation of the antenna system enables flexible spatial coverage while maintaining compact device volume.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple antennas are provided to enlarge covering area without gimbal mechanism, then the volume of the radar device increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple antenna units are integrated within a compact radome structure, with each antenna nested within the same housing. The first through fourth antennas are arranged to radiate in different directions (front, rear, left, right) while occupying minimal space within the radome. This nesting approach allows wide covering area without proportionally increasing the overall device volume.
4Area of stationary object
If the antenna orientation is changed by rotating about an inclined axis, then the covering area is enlarged, but the plane of polarization orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The radar system dynamically adjusts the plane of polarization by selectively controlling which antennas are activated and how they are oriented. When the antenna assembly rotates about the inclined first rotation axis, the control unit dynamically changes the effective radiation direction to maintain the plane of polarization in a predetermined orientation. This dynamic control allows both wide covering area and maintained polarization orientation.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is provided with: an antenna 23 having an antenna surface 28 for radiating radio waves so as to have a prescribed plane of polarization; a second rotary mechanism 22 which is connected to the antenna 23 and which rotates the antenna 23 about a second rotation axis I2 that is set in a normal direction orthogonal to the antenna surface 28; and a first rotary mechanism 21 which is connected to the second rotary mechanism 22 and which rotates the antenna 23 and the second rotary mechanism 22 about a first rotation axis I1 that is set in a direction slanted with respect to the second rotation axis I2.