Electronically Steered Array Antenna With Delay-Line Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antennas for SATCOM On-The-Move systems in Ku and Ka frequency bands face challenges in achieving high gain, azimuth and elevation shifts, polarization selectivity, and compact thickness while minimizing airflow disturbances and costs, with many solutions only partially addressing these constraints.
Innovation Solution
An array antenna design featuring a control unit that adjusts delay values in delay lines with variable capacitance and inductance, allowing for direction control without moving parts, manufactured using printed circuit technologies, and incorporating a shielding structure to reduce spurious radiation, enabling high directivity and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical shifting or reconfigurable materials are used to achieve high gain and direction control, then antenna gain and directivity are improved, but device complexity, fragility, and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical shifting mechanisms with electronic phase control using delay lines and phase shifters. The antenna elements are fixed in position, and beam steering is achieved by electronically adjusting the phase and delay of signals fed to each element, eliminating moving parts while maintaining high gain and directivity control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses variable delay lines with adjustable capacitance and inductance to change the electrical parameters of the feed network. By varying the delay and phase parameters electronically, the antenna beam direction can be controlled without physical movement, resolving the contradiction between gain performance and mechanical complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If reconfigurable materials like ferrites or liquid crystals are used to achieve polarization selectivity and gain control, then antenna performance is improved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces reconfigurable materials with electronic phase shifters and delay lines that provide polarization control through signal processing. The polarization selectivity is achieved by controlling the phase relationship between orthogonal antenna elements rather than using ferrite or liquid crystal materials, significantly reducing manufacturing cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identical fixed antenna elements for both polarizations, with electronic phase control creating the polarization selectivity. Instead of using different materials or structures for different polarizations, the same physical elements are used with electronically controlled signal phases, simplifying manufacturing.
3Manufacturing precision
If thick antenna structures are used to achieve high gain, then antenna gain is improved, but the antenna thickness increases causing air flow disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves high gain through a large number of antenna elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, rather than increasing the thickness of individual elements. The gain is obtained from the collective radiation pattern of many thin elements, allowing the antenna to be aerodynamically thin while maintaining high gain performance through spatial distribution of radiating elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the antenna into many discrete radiating elements arranged in an array, where each element is thin but the overall array achieves high gain through constructive interference of radiation from multiple elements. This segmentation allows the antenna to maintain thin profile while achieving the required gain through the combined effect of numerous elements.
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
The solution provides a compact, high-gain antenna with improved directivity and polarization selectivity, suitable for SATCOM On-The-Move systems, operating across Ku and Ka frequency bands with reduced thickness and cost, while maintaining functionality across a wide temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first capacitor with variable capacitance
Implementation Method 2
a conductive track meander which is combined with a second variable capacitor to produce a variable value of inductance
Implementation Method 3
the control unit determines, via individual commands, a direction of radiation emission by the array antenna
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
An array antenna (100) is formed from delay lines (L1, L2, L3...) and includes radiating elements (E11, E12, E21...) which are individually connected to line patterns (M11, M12, M21...) of the delay lines. Such an array antenna structure can be implemented by a printed circuit technology and can be used to establish radio links for data communication between a mobile carrier, such as an aircraft, and a geostationary satellite.