Antenna Beam Control Elements for Interference Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna systems face performance limitations due to physical structures and nearby radio systems, which cause interference and reduce the usable angle and bandwidth, leading to increased costs and complexity with prior solutions like directional antennas and absorbers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of beam control elements with a combination of absorbing and reflective materials positioned near the antenna to manage radiation reflections, enhancing antenna gain and reducing undesirable radiation, allowing for wider beam coverage and improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If directional antennas are used to reduce interference from physical structures, then antenna gain is improved, but coverage area is reduced and more antennas are required
Solution Approach 1:
A beam control element is introduced as an intermediary component between the antenna and the physical structure. This element selectively controls electromagnetic radiation by absorbing or reflecting waves at specific angles, allowing the antenna to maintain high gain while reducing interference from structures within its coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam control element applies different properties to different angular regions: it absorbs radiation from directions where physical structures are located while allowing radiation in other directions. This creates localized quality control of the electromagnetic field without affecting the overall antenna gain or coverage area.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If absorbers are added to the physical structure to reduce reflections, then interference is reduced, but cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the physical structure with absorbers, a beam control element is positioned near the antenna to serve as an intermediary that prevents reflected waves from reaching the antenna. This approach avoids the complexity of installing absorbers on large structures while achieving the same interference reduction effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The function of reducing reflections is extracted from the physical structure and transferred to a separate, manageable beam control element. This allows the interference reduction function to be implemented independently of the structure's size and complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If the antenna beam is steered close to the physical structure, then coverage is improved, but accuracy is reduced due to undesired reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The beam control element acts as an intermediary that selectively blocks reflected waves from physical structures while allowing the main beam to cover the desired area. This enables the antenna to operate at azimuth angles close to structures without sacrificing measurement accuracy, as the element prevents reflected waves from entering the antenna.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If RF absorbing material is added to the physical structure, then reflections are reduced, but cost increases due to the large size of the structure
Solution Approach 1:
A beam control element is positioned near the antenna to intercept and absorb or reflect electromagnetic waves before they interact with the physical structure. This eliminates the need to cover large structure surfaces with expensive RF absorbing material, as the element is much smaller and positioned strategically to control the beam path.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflection control function is extracted from the physical structure and implemented in a separate, compact beam control element. This reduces the quantity of RF absorbing material needed from potentially large amounts required to cover the structure to a small amount in the beam control element.
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 solution increases antenna gain and coverage area while reducing interference from nearby structures, enabling effective operation at wider angles and distances with reduced installation complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The beam control element is configured to attenuate radiation emitted from or approaching the antenna at an angle that is greater than the first angle
Implementation Method 2
The beam control element can be placed in the antenna near field to increase the antenna gain and enhance radiation emitted or received by the antenna
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The present invention provides, among other things, antenna beam control devices, systems, architectures, and methods for radar and other applications, such as wireless communications, etc., to improve transmit and/or receive performance of the devices and systems employing such antennas by deploying beam control elements (20) to increase antenna gain at an angle less than a first angle relative to the antenna gain at angle greater than a first angle. Beam control elements are deployed in combination with the one or more antennas (12) in various systems of the present invention, such that the impact of reflected radiation from wind mill, communication, or other towers supporting the system or other nearby structures, as well as radiation from nearby wireless communication networks is decreased to an acceptable level. The beam control elements can include absorbing and reflective material and can be placed in the antenna near field to minimize costs.