Antenna Radome with Stepwise Thickness for Gain Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna apparatuses face challenges in achieving high gain in specific directions while suppressing unnecessary gain in other angles and maintaining a compact size, as convex lens-shaped radomes increase thickness and height, and existing solutions do not effectively control gain in specific directions.
Innovation Solution
The antenna apparatus features a patch array antenna with a radome that has varying thickness and shape, including a region with a smaller thickness between -50° and +50° relative to the radiation vertical surface, and a connecting portion with a specific interval and thickness, allowing for high gain in specific directions and reduced height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the radome is formed in a convex lens shape to narrow directivity in the orthogonal direction, then the directivity control is improved, but the thickness and height of the antenna apparatus are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The radome is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, having a first thickness in the radiation direction and a second thickness in the orthogonal direction, where the thickness ratio is controlled within 0.5 to 1.5. This local variation in thickness allows different regions of the radome to serve different functions: controlling directivity in the radiation direction while limiting height increase in the orthogonal direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the radome, specifically the thickness dimensions in different directions. By controlling the thickness ratio between the radiation direction and orthogonal direction within a specific range (0.5 to 1.5), the invention achieves optimal balance between directivity control and compactness, avoiding the excessive height increase associated with traditional convex lens shapes.
2Manufacturing precision
If the radome thickness is increased to control directivity, then the gain in specific directions is improved, but the overall size of the antenna apparatus is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The radome employs localized thickness variation with a specific thickness ratio (0.5 to 1.5) between the radiation direction and orthogonal direction. This allows the radome to achieve effective directivity control and gain enhancement in specific directions without requiring uniform thickness increase throughout the entire structure, thereby maintaining compact overall dimensions.
3Manufacturing precision
If a sharp directivity in a narrow angle range is implemented, then the gain in specific directions is improved, but the directivity range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By controlling the thickness ratio parameter within the range of 0.5 to 1.5, the invention achieves optimal balance between sharpness of directivity and coverage range. This parameter optimization allows the antenna to maintain high gain in specific directions (±45° from vehicle front/rear) while preserving adequate directivity range for effective obstacle detection in the surrounding environment.
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 configuration enhances gain in specific directions, reduces unnecessary gain in wider angles, and minimizes the overall height of the antenna apparatus, achieving a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
a radome configured to accommodate the patch array antenna... an inner wall of the radome is formed to include a region in which a radome thickness in a range in which an angle with respect to a radiation vertical surface when viewed from a center of the patch array antenna is larger than -50° and smaller than +50° is smaller than a radome thickness at a position of ±50°
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2~3
Figure 4(a)~4(b)
AI summary
Provided is an antenna apparatus which is capable of improving a gain in a specific direction, reducing an unnecessary gain in an angle range, and reducing its height. A radome 220 is formed such that a central portion positioned above a patch array antenna 130 is formed in different shapes in an outer wall and an inner wall. The central portion of the outer wall of the radome 220 is formed in a flat shape, and thus the height of the radome 120 is reduced. On the other hand, the center portion of the inner wall of the radome 220 is formed such that a radome thickness at a position of the radome 220 in directions in which an angle θ is about -45° and about +45° when viewed from the center of the patch array antenna 130 changes stepwise. A radome thickness t2 on a center side further than a position at which the radome thickness changes stepwise is small, and a radome thickness t1 on an outer side than the position is large.