Antenna Arrangement with Variable Pattern via Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna arrangements face inefficiencies in power management when trying to dynamically change elevation beamwidth and main lobe direction, as they often require reducing output power of amplifiers or using attenuators, leading to reduced power efficiency and total output power.
Innovation Solution
An antenna arrangement with an even number of elements, each connected to a steerable phase shifter, and a pyramid distribution network of hybrid couplers, allowing phase control to vary the antenna pattern without amplitude tapering, thus maintaining power efficiency and output power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual antenna element amplifiers or attenuators are used to control elevation beamwidth and main lobe direction, then the antenna pattern can be varied, but power efficiency and total output power are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical amplitude control system (amplifiers and attenuators) with a phase-only control system. By using phase shifters instead of amplitude modulators, the system achieves antenna pattern variation without the power losses associated with amplitude tapering. The phase shifters modify the phase of signals at each antenna element while maintaining constant amplitude, thereby eliminating the energy dissipation that occurs when amplifiers reduce output power or attenuators decrease signal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from amplitude (power level) to phase (signal timing). Instead of varying the amplitude of signals at different antenna elements to control beamwidth and direction, the system varies only the phase of each element's signal. This parameter change allows the antenna pattern to be steered and shaped while keeping all power amplifiers operating at full output power, thus maintaining high power efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual antenna element amplifiers are used to control elevation beamwidth, then the antenna pattern can be dynamically changed, but total output power is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes amplitude-based beamwidth control with phase-based control. By using phase shifters to create the desired antenna radiation pattern instead of varying amplifier output powers, the system maintains constant total output power across all antenna elements. The phase relationships between elements are adjusted to achieve different beamwidths and main lobe directions while all power amplifiers continue to operate at their maximum rated power.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuous full-power operation of all antenna elements by eliminating amplitude tapering. Instead of having some elements operate at reduced power levels to achieve beam shaping, all elements continuously operate at full power with their signals coherently combined through phase control. This continuous full-power operation maximizes the total output power of the antenna array while maintaining dynamic beamwidth control capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna arrangement comprising an even number E>3 of antenna elements 210, 210′, connected to steerable phase shifters 211, and a number C=(E/2)*(E/2+1)/2 of hybrid couplers 212, as well as a number of E antenna arrangement ports 213 configured as an interface to the antenna arrangement. Hybrid coupler ports of a bottommost tier 218 of hybrid couplers 212 are connected to respective antenna arrangement ports 213, and hybrid couplers in an overlaying at least one tier 219 are connected to hybrid couplers in a tier immediately below. Unconnected hybrid coupler ports are connected directly to the first antenna element 210′ or to one of the other antenna elements 210.