Antenna Assembly Conductive Cage Coupling Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Higher frequency wireless signals with millimeter wavelengths experience higher path loss, making it difficult for cellular or WLAN communications to be feasible over long distances, and existing antenna arrays face challenges with coupling between adjacent antennas that distort the radiation pattern and cause interference.
Innovation Solution
An antenna assembly with a conductive cage composed of a conductive material, including at least three ground vias connected to a ground plane, which operates as a Faraday cage to suppress undesired electromagnetic radiation and isolate the antenna assembly from adjacent antennas, thereby reducing coupling and interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher frequency signals are used to increase transmission rates, then throughput is improved, but path loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive cage acts as an intermediary structure between the feed and surrounding environment, suppressing unwanted electromagnetic radiation from the feed while allowing desired radiation from the radiating element. This mediator structure reduces energy loss by preventing harmful electromagnetic coupling and interference, thereby improving overall signal efficiency at high frequencies
2Volume of moving object
If adjacent antenna assemblies are placed close together, then device compactness is improved, but coupling between antennas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive cage serves as a shielding intermediary between adjacent antenna assemblies, blocking electromagnetic coupling between them. This allows antenna elements to be positioned closer together in compact device configurations while maintaining isolation through the conductive cage barrier, thus reducing harmful interference without sacrificing compactness
3Ease of manufacture
If feed structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but unwanted electromagnetic radiation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive cage provides electromagnetic suppression for simple feed structures without requiring complex feed designs. The cage acts as a shield that contains and directs electromagnetic energy, allowing the use of straightforward feed geometries that are easy to manufacture while the cage prevents unwanted radiation patterns and interference
4Object-generated harmful factors
If conductive cage is added to suppress radiation, then coupling is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive cage is implemented as a thin-walled structure with ground vias that provides effective electromagnetic suppression without adding significant bulk or complexity. The cage acts as a lightweight shield that can be integrated into the antenna assembly, offering coupling suppression while maintaining a relatively simple and compact overall device structure
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 conductive cage effectively attenuates electromagnetic radiation and coupling, enhancing the antenna's ability to communicate over longer distances by maintaining a clear radiation pattern and reducing interference with other components.
Implementation Method 1
The conductive cage operates as a Faraday cage and suppresses this undesired electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is disclosed for an antenna with a conductive cage. In an example aspect, the apparatus includes a ground plane with at least one opening. The apparatus also includes at least one antenna assembly with at least one radiating element, at least one feed via, and a conductive cage. The radiating element is implemented on a first plane that is substantially parallel to the ground plane. The feed via is connected to the at least one radiating element and is configured to connect to at least one transmission line through the opening. The conductive cage includes at least three ground vias, which are connected to the ground plane at positions that are distributed around the opening. Lengths of the at least three ground vias extend a portion of a distance between the ground plane and the radiating element.