Alternating Array Antenna Substrate for Grating Lobe Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Array antenna apparatuses dealing with millimeter or terahertz wavebands face challenges in practicality due to short wavelengths, leading to issues such as grating lobes, connection loss, and fluctuations in radio wave intensity, especially when the distance between antenna elements is smaller than the width of high-frequency circuits.
Innovation Solution
The array antenna substrate is configured with alternating arrangements of first and second antenna elements in the Z-direction, allowing for equal feeder lengths and adjusted phase shifts, thereby suppressing grating lobes and enhancing antenna gain while maintaining practicality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the interval between antenna elements is reduced to half the wavelength to suppress grating lobes, then grating lobe suppression is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase due to the extremely small interval required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. First antenna elements are arranged on one surface while second antenna elements are arranged on the opposite surface of the base body, utilizing the third dimension (Y-direction) to achieve the required half-wavelength spacing without compressing the planar layout. This dimensional transition allows maintaining proper element spacing while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna array is segmented into two separate groups: first antenna elements on one surface and second antenna elements on the other surface. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each group's positioning and feeding, simplifying the overall design and manufacturing process while achieving the desired half-wavelength interval for grating lobe suppression.
2Power
If the interval between antenna elements is reduced to half the wavelength to increase antenna gain, then antenna gain is improved, but connection loss increases due to the extremely small interval
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the third dimension (Y-direction) to separate antenna elements across opposite surfaces of the base body, the patent achieves the half-wavelength spacing required for high antenna gain without creating the connection loss issues that would arise from compressing elements in the same plane. The vertical separation provides clear pathways for feeding structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The base body acts as an intermediary structure that physically separates the first and second antenna elements while maintaining the required spacing. This intermediary enables the feeding structures to connect to antenna elements on opposite surfaces without the connection loss that would occur with direct planar proximity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the interval between antenna elements is reduced to half the wavelength to suppress grating lobes, then grating lobe suppression is improved, but fluctuations in radio wave intensity occur due to the extremely small interval
Solution Approach 1:
The stacked configuration across opposite surfaces of the base body provides stable, precise half-wavelength spacing in the vertical dimension, eliminating the intensity fluctuations that occur when attempting to achieve similar spacing through planar compression. The rigid structural separation ensures consistent element spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement where first antenna elements and second antenna elements are positioned on opposite surfaces with alternating patterns in the Z-direction. This asymmetric, alternating configuration stabilizes the radio wave intensity by preventing the constructive and destructive interference patterns that cause fluctuations in symmetric or compressed arrangements.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If alternating arrangements of antenna elements are implemented to suppress grating lobes, then grating lobe suppression is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By moving the precision requirement from the planar X-Z plane to the vertical Y-direction (thickness direction of the base body), the patent makes manufacturing more feasible. The alternating elements are positioned on opposite surfaces, allowing standard PCB or substrate fabrication techniques to achieve the required precision more easily than compressing elements in the same plane.
Solution Approach 2:
Segmenting the antenna elements into two separate groups on opposite surfaces allows each group to be manufactured and positioned independently with standard precision tolerances. This segmentation reduces the cumulative precision error that would result from attempting to position all elements in a single compressed plane.
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 effectively suppresses grating lobes and increases antenna gain, improving the practicality and directivity of array antenna apparatuses by optimizing the distance and phase relationships between antenna elements.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of first antenna elements, arranged on an edge of the X-directional side of one surface of the base body, and configured to emit a radio wave at least in the X-direction
Data Source
AI summary
In order to provide a technique for increasing practicality of an array antenna apparatus, included are: a base body (11) extending parallel to a Z-X plane in an orthogonal coordinate system X-Y-Z; a plurality of first antenna elements (21L), arranged on an edge of the X-directional side of one surface of the base body, and configured to emit a radio wave at least in the X-direction; a plurality of second antenna elements (21R), arranged on an edge of the X-directional side of the other surface of the base body, and configured to emit a radio wave at least in the X-direction. The plurality of first antenna elements is arranged in the Z-direction, the plurality of second antenna elements is arranged in the Z-direction, and the first antenna elements and the second antenna elements are located alternately viewed in the Z-direction.