Polarization-Reconfigurable Antenna Subarray for Grating Lobe Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna technologies, particularly linearly polarized antennas, fail to meet the requirements of satellite communication and radar systems due to signal leakage and polarization distortion caused by ionospheric Faraday rotation, necessitating a solution for polarization reconfiguration to match transmit and receive antennas.
Innovation Solution
The development of a polarization reconfigurable antenna subarray and array with closely spaced circularly polarized antenna elements, allowing for phase configuration to switch between left-handed and right-handed circular polarization, which reduces signal leakage and avoids grating lobes during large-angle scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If linearly polarized antenna is used, then device complexity is reduced, but signal leakage and polarization distortion occur in complex electromagnetic environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements polarization reconfiguration capability in the antenna array, allowing dynamic switching between different polarization states (horizontal, vertical, circular, etc.). This enables the antenna to adapt to complex electromagnetic environments and ionospheric Faraday rotation effects, resolving the contradiction between simple structure and reliable signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the polarization parameter of the antenna elements, using circularly polarized antenna elements instead of linearly polarized ones. This parameter change enables the antenna to reduce signal leakage and polarization distortion in complex electromagnetic environments while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
2Reliability
If antenna element spacing is increased, then grating lobe generation is avoided, but antenna array size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spacing parameter between antenna elements to be less than 0.5λ (wavelength), which is a specific parameter optimization that prevents grating lobe generation during large-angle scanning while keeping the antenna array compact. This resolves the contradiction between scanning performance and array size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If polarization reconfiguration is implemented, then adaptability to different communication scenarios is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple independently controllable antenna elements with uniform spacing. Each element can be individually phased and amplitude-controlled, enabling polarization reconfiguration through simple phase shifters and amplitude controllers rather than complex mechanical structures. This segmentation approach achieves adaptability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical polarization adjustment mechanisms with electronic phase and amplitude control of antenna elements. This substitution achieves polarization reconfiguration through electrical signals rather than mechanical movement, significantly reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna subarray, an antenna array, and a polarization reconfiguration method and apparatus are provided. The antenna subarray includes m antenna elements. m is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The m antenna elements are placed at an interval of 360/m degrees in sequence. A distance between any two adjacent antenna elements is less than 0.5 times an operating wavelength. The distance between any two antenna elements is controlled within 0.5λ, so that polarization reconfiguration may be implemented.