Antenna Assembly Shielding Structure for Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna assemblies face challenges in decoupling transmit antennas from receive antennas, leading to increased extension and complexity, particularly when multiple transmit antennas are used, which affects collocation performance and requires costly solutions like collocation filters and multiple carrier amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
The use of a shielding structure and frame to position transmit antennas such that their transmit minima point towards specific zones defined by the shielding structure, reducing direct electromagnetic radiation and diffraction to the receive antenna, thereby minimizing coupling and extension while allowing for improved collocation performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antennas are stacked collinearly to improve decoupling, then decoupling performance is improved, but the extension of the antenna assembly increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from vertical stacking to horizontal separation arrangement, placing transmit and receive antennas side-by-side rather than one above the other. This dimensional change allows decoupling to be achieved without increasing the vertical extension of the antenna assembly, resolving the contradiction between decoupling performance and compact form factor
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a shielding structure as an intermediary element positioned between the transmit and receive antennas. This shielding structure acts as a mediator that blocks electromagnetic coupling between the antennas, enabling effective decoupling while maintaining a compact horizontal arrangement rather than requiring extended vertical stacking
2Reliability
If substantial horizontal separation is provided between antennas, then decoupling is improved, but the extension of the antenna assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding structure serves as an intermediary that enables effective decoupling without requiring large horizontal separation distances. By placing the shielding structure between the transmit and receive antennas, the patent achieves isolation while maintaining a compact overall extension of the antenna assembly
3Productivity
If multiple transmit antennas are used, then transmission capacity is improved, but coupling to receive antennas increases and collocation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shielding structure acts as an intermediary that blocks electromagnetic radiation from multiple transmit antennas from coupling into the receive antenna. This enables the system to support multiple transmit antennas for increased transmission capacity while maintaining effective isolation and collocation performance
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 reduces radiation coupling between transmit and receive antennas, achieving higher isolation and reduced extension, simplifying frequency planning, and minimizing performance degradation, while being cost-effective and adaptable to various platforms.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one shielding structure is configured for obstructing (or at least impeding) direct electromagnetic radiation generated by the plurality of transmit antennas
Implementation Method 2
radiation, which emanates from the first transmit antenna and which is diffracted by the at least one shielding structure towards the at least one receive antenna
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an antenna assembly (2, 102, 202, 302) comprising: a plurality of transmit antennas, at least one receive antenna (4), at least one shielding structure (6), and at least one frame (8), wherein the at least one frame is configured for: setting a pointing direction of a first transmit antenna (10) such that a first transmit minimum (16) of the first receive antenna (10) points towards a first zone (24), and setting a pointing direction of a second transmit antenna (12) such that a second transmit minimum (18) of the second antenna (12) points towards a second zone (26), whereby coupling of radiation from the plurality of transmit antennas to the receive antenna (4) is reduced.