Elementary Antenna Amplification Chains Impedance Matching

Solution Overview

Problem

Array antennas face inefficiencies due to impedance mismatch between power and low noise amplification chains, leading to energy losses and degraded signal-to-noise ratio, particularly when handling signals with different power levels and frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates distinct amplification chains with optimal impedance matching for each excitation point, allowing for simultaneous transmission and reception of high-power and low-power signals without the need for impedance transformers, by positioning and coupling amplification chains to load their optimal impedance, thereby optimizing energy consumption and noise figure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an impedance transformer is disposed at the output of the power amplification chain and at the input of the low noise amplification chain to adjust impedance mismatch, then the impedance matching is improved, but energy losses increase and noise figure degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpedance matchingVSAvoidenergy losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the amplification system into separate power amplification chains and low noise amplification chains, each with dedicated excitation points on the radiating element. This segmentation allows each chain to operate with its optimal impedance without requiring an impedance transformer, thereby avoiding the energy losses and noise figure degradation that would result from such a transformer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different impedance characteristics to different excitation points on the radiating element. Each excitation point is designed with a specific impedance tailored to the type of amplification chain it serves (power or low noise), allowing both chains to operate optimally without mutual interference or the need for impedance transformation components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If an impedance transformer is disposed at the output of the power amplification chain and at the input of the low noise amplification chain to adjust impedance mismatch, then the impedance matching is improved, but the signal-to-noise ratio is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpedance matchingVSAvoidsignal-to-noise ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the amplification system into separate power amplification chains and low noise amplification chains, each with dedicated excitation points on the radiating element. This segmentation allows each chain to operate with its optimal impedance without requiring an impedance transformer, thereby avoiding the energy losses and noise figure degradation that would result from such a transformer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different impedance characteristics to different excitation points on the radiating element. Each excitation point is designed with a specific impedance tailored to the type of amplification chain it serves (power or low noise), allowing both chains to operate optimally without mutual interference or the need for impedance transformation components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If a transformer with signal summator is integrated upstream of the radiating element in MMIC to amplify different signal types, then the signal amplification is improved, but the device volume increases and energy losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal amplificationVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the amplification system into separate power amplification chains and low noise amplification chains, each with dedicated excitation points on the radiating element. This segmentation allows each chain to operate with its optimal impedance without requiring an impedance transformer, thereby avoiding the energy losses and noise figure degradation that would result from such a transformer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different impedance characteristics to different excitation points on the radiating element. Each excitation point is designed with a specific impedance tailored to the type of amplification chain it serves (power or low noise), allowing both chains to operate optimally without mutual interference or the need for impedance transformation components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10992061B2Elementary antenna comprising amplification chains for delivering signals to and amplifying signals arising from a planar radiating device thereof

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 THALES SA

AI summary

An elementary antenna includes a planar radiating device comprising a substantially plane radiating element and a transmit and/or receive circuit comprising at least one amplification chain of a first type and at least one amplification chain of a second type, each amplification chain of the first type being coupled to at least one excitation point of a first set of at least one excitation point of the radiating element and each amplification chain of the second type being coupled to at least one point of a second set of points, the excitation points of the first and second set being distinct and the amplification chain of the first type being different from the amplification chain of the second type so that they exhibit different amplification properties.