Alternating Polarization Array Antenna Grating Lobe Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional array antenna devices do not effectively suppress grating lobes when dealing with two polarization types, as they lack a clear method for arranging antennas with distinct polarization types within the same antenna aperture, particularly in communication applications utilizing polarization division multiplexing.
Innovation Solution
The array antenna device arranges first and second element antennas with perpendicular polarization planes alternately and at equal intervals, shifting their positions by half the arrangement interval, ensuring that corresponding elements in adjacent linear array antennas are aligned two positions apart, effectively canceling grating lobes across two polarization types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If element antennas are arranged at narrow intervals to prevent grating lobes, then grating lobe suppression is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase due to physical constraints of element antenna size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna array into multiple linear array antennas, each containing first and second element antennas with different polarization orientations. This segmentation allows independent arrangement of differently polarized elements, enabling grating lobe suppression through alternating polarization patterns while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different polarization orientations to different local regions (first element antennas vs. second element antennas) within the same linear array. This local quality differentiation enables the array to suppress grating lobes by creating alternating polarization patterns at specific positions, rather than requiring uniform narrow spacing throughout the entire array
2Productivity
If conventional single-polarization array arrangements are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to support polarization division multiplexing and double information transmission is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a linear array antenna structure that simultaneously supports both vertical and horizontal polarizations within the same aperture. This multi-functional design enables the antenna to perform polarization division multiplexing (transmitting two independent information streams) while maintaining grating lobe suppression through the alternating polarization arrangement of first and second element antennas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges two differently polarized element antenna types (first with vertical polarization, second with horizontal polarization) into a single linear array structure. This combining allows the system to achieve polarization division multiplexing capability while the merged alternating pattern provides grating lobe suppression, resolving the contradiction between increased transmission capacity and grating lobe interference
3Productivity
If multiple polarization types are integrated in the same antenna aperture, then information transmission capacity is doubled through polarization division multiplexing, but grating lobe suppression becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging all element antennas of the same polarization together (conventional approach), the patent inverts the arrangement by alternating first element antennas (vertical polarization) and second element antennas (horizontal polarization) within the same linear array. This inverted alternating pattern creates phase cancellation of grating lobes while maintaining polarization division multiplexing capability, solving the contradiction between multi-polarization integration and grating lobe suppression
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 configuration significantly suppresses grating lobes in array antenna devices with two polarization types, maintaining equal intervals to prevent unwanted lobes and supporting efficient communication by doubling information transmission without interference.
Implementation Method 1
linear array antennas in each of which a first element antenna and a second element antenna are alternately arranged linearly, the first and second element antennas having respective polarization planes perpendicular to each other
Implementation Method 2
positions of the first element antennas in the arrangement direction are shifted from each other by a half an arrangement interval between the element antennas and positions of the second element antennas in the arrangement direction are shifted from each other by a half the arrangement interval
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
In adjacent two of linear array antennas (10 to 80), respective first element antennas (11a to 84a) and respective second element antennas (11b to 84b) are arranged so that positions of the first element antennas in the arrangement direction are shifted from each other by a half an arrangement interval and positions of the second element antennas in the arrangement direction are shifted from each other by a half the arrangement interval, the arrangement interval being an interval between the element antennas. In two of the linear array antennas, the first element antennas (11a to 84a) of one of the two and the second element antennas (11 b to 84b) of the other one of the two are arranged at the same positions, and the second element antennas (11b to 84b) of the one of the two and the first element antennas (11 a to 84a) of the other one of the two are arranged at the same positions, the two being located two linear array antennas away from each other.