Microstrip Antenna Array Side Lobe Suppression via Peripheral Attenuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microstrip antenna arrays with balanced energy distribution have a low side lobe suppression ratio, making it difficult to meet design requirements for effective energy distribution and signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
The integration of energy attenuation circuits, specifically resistive attenuators, into the feeders connected to peripheral array elements, which attenuate energy and alter the energy distribution to achieve unbalanced energy distribution, thereby increasing the side lobe suppression ratio without requiring new feeder designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If balanced energy distribution is implemented in microstrip antenna array, then wiring of feeders is simple and clear, but side lobe suppression ratio is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing energy attenuation circuits at specific locations (peripheral array elements) rather than uniformly across the entire antenna array. This allows different regions of the antenna to have different energy distribution characteristics - central elements maintain full energy while peripheral elements have attenuated energy, thereby improving side lobe suppression without completely redesigning the feeder system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the energy parameter by introducing attenuation circuits that reduce the amplitude of signals fed to peripheral array elements. By adjusting the attenuation amount (e.g., 3dB, 6dB), the energy distribution across the array is modified to suppress side lobes while maintaining the overall balanced feeder structure
2Reliability
If unbalanced energy distribution is implemented to increase side lobe suppression ratio, then side lobe suppression ratio is improved, but feeder design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses energy attenuation circuits as intermediary components inserted into the feeder lines. These circuits act as mediators that modify the energy distribution without requiring complex feeder routing or asymmetric antenna element arrangements. The attenuation circuits are standard components that can be easily integrated into existing feeder designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the feeder system by introducing discrete attenuation circuits at specific feeder locations (peripheral elements) rather than redesigning the entire feeder network. This segmentation allows selective energy attenuation at problem areas while leaving the rest of the feeder system unchanged, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity
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 approach enhances the side lobe suppression ratio of the antenna, improving signal transmission quality by reducing energy to peripheral array elements and maintaining balanced energy distribution within the array, thus meeting design requirements and simplifying the design process.
Implementation Method 1
the energy attenuation circuit comprises a resistor, wherein the resistor is grounded, and the resistor is configured to consume a part of energy in the to-be attenuated feeder in a grounded manner
Data Source
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AI summary
An antenna and a communications device are disclosed, so as to increase a side lobe suppression ratio of the antenna. The antenna includes: multiple feeders, a microstrip antenna array, and at least one energy attenuation circuit; the microstrip antenna array includes multiple array elements, where each of the multiple array elements is connected to a cable feeding port by using one of the multiple feeders; each of the at least one energy attenuation circuit is located at a to-be-attenuated feeder and divides the to-be-attenuated feeder into two segments, where the to-be-attenuated feeder is a feeder that is of the multiple feeders and that is connected to a to-be-attenuated array element, and the to-be-attenuated array element is an array element located at a periphery of the multiple array elements; a first end of the energy attenuation circuit is connected to the cable feeding port by using one segment of the to-be-attenuated feeder, a second end of the energy attenuation circuit is connected to the to-be-attenuated array element by using the other segment of the to-be-attenuated feeder, and a third end of the energy attenuation circuit is grounded; and the energy attenuation circuit includes a resistor, where the resistor is grounded, and the resistor consumes a part of energy in the to-be attenuated feeder in a grounded manner.