Coupling-Slot Antenna Array for Feed Line Interference Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low-orbit satellite systems face challenges with antenna arrays due to mutual interference between antenna units and feed sources, leading to reduced radiation efficiency and limited communication capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An antenna array design with a coupling layer that includes coupling slots to reduce interference between feed lines, enhancing isolation and improving antenna gain by using a feeding module with perpendicular feed lines and phase couplers to generate dual circularly polarized waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If antenna units and feed sources are densely arranged to improve communication capability, then the radiation efficiency decreases due to mutual coupling and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coupling layer with coupling slots as an intermediary structure between the feeding layer and radiation layer. This coupling layer mediates the electromagnetic interaction between feed lines and radiators, controlling and reducing mutual coupling effects. The coupling slots act as intermediaries that selectively transmit or block electromagnetic energy, thereby reducing interference between adjacent antenna elements while maintaining efficient signal transmission to the radiators.
2Area of stationary object
If the area of antenna array is limited to reduce system size, then the coupling and interference between antenna units increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional planar antenna structure to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. The feeding layer, coupling layer, and radiation layer are arranged in different spatial dimensions (vertical stacking), allowing compact antenna elements to be positioned close together in the horizontal plane while maintaining electrical isolation through the vertical separation provided by the coupling layer. This dimensional transformation enables dense packing without proportionally increasing mutual interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling layer serves as a spatial intermediary that physically separates the feeding structures from the radiation structures. This intermediate layer with its controlled coupling slots provides both physical and electromagnetic isolation, allowing antenna elements to be densely arranged in the horizontal plane while the vertical coupling layer prevents direct strong coupling between adjacent elements.
3Reliability
If circular polarization is achieved using two feed sources with 90-degree phase difference, then polarization loss is avoided but mutual interference between feed sources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling layer with coupling slots acts as an intermediary that separately couples each feed line to its corresponding radiator. This intermediary structure provides isolation between the two feed sources while maintaining the required 90-degree phase difference for circular polarization. The coupling slots control the electromagnetic interaction, allowing each feed source to operate with minimal interference from the other, thereby maintaining signal reliability without excessive mutual coupling.
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
The design achieves high antenna gain and efficient communication by minimizing coupling interference, enabling simultaneous signal transmission and reception with low-orbit satellites.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling layer is provided with a plurality of first coupling slots 1311 and a plurality of second coupling slots 1312, the first coupling slots 1311 and the second coupling slots 1312 being arranged in one-to-one correspondence to form a plurality of coupling units
Implementation Method 2
The antenna can achieve circular polarization by setting two feed sources with a phase difference of 90 degrees between the two feed sources
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna array and a ground station, including at least one radiation module and a feeding module, the radiation module includes a radiation layer and a dielectric layer arranged in stack, the radiation layer includes a plurality of radiators, each radiator radiates signals; the feeding module includes a coupling layer arranged in stack, the feeding layer includes a plurality of first feed lines and second feed lines being one-to-one correspondingly arranged to form a plurality of feeding units being one-to-one corresponding to the radiators and feed current to the radiators; the coupling layer couples the current flowing through the feeding units to the radiation module; the coupling layer is provided with a plurality of first coupling slots and second coupling slots arranged in one-to-one correspondence, to form a plurality of coupling units.