Array Antenna Beam Steering Using Planar Reflection Boards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing array antennas have limited flexibility in adjusting beam angles due to structural constraints, leading to restricted beam transmission and reception capabilities, and energy leakage through grating lobes in single-beam antennas with grating lobes.
Innovation Solution
An array antenna configuration that includes a multi-beam antenna body, planar reflection boards, and an adjusting unit to adjust the angles and positions of the beams, allowing for flexible beam direction adjustment and parallel transmission or reception of beams without the need for relay nodes, using multiple planar reflection boards greater than or equal to the number of beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all beams of the array antenna are transmitted or received by centering on the antenna, then the structure is simple, but the beam transmitting angle is restricted and the angle of the beam is not flexibly adjustable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple independent planar reflection boards, each capable of being adjusted independently. This segmentation allows each beam to be directed to different angles without requiring the entire antenna structure to be complex and reconfigurable, thus improving beam angle adjustability while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an adjusting unit that enables dynamic adjustment of the planar reflection boards' positions and angles. This dynamic capability allows the beam angles to be flexibly changed according to communication needs, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation (beam adjustability) and device complexity.
2Loss of energy
If a single-beam antenna with grating lobes is used, then the structure is simple, but image beams are generated in other directions and energy leaks in unexpected directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple planar reflection boards to segment the beam formation process. Each reflection board is configured to reflect beams in specific directions, allowing precise control over beam directions and eliminating unwanted grating lobes. This segmentation approach reduces energy leakage while avoiding the need for a complex single-beam antenna design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different orientations and positions to each planar reflection board, creating local quality variations in the reflection characteristics. This allows each board to be optimized for specific beam directions, effectively suppressing grating lobes in unwanted directions while maintaining overall system simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple planar reflection boards are used to enable flexible beam adjustment, then beam angle adjustability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the planar reflection boards with a universal structure that can be adjusted to perform multiple functions - each board can reflect beams in different directions and can be reconfigured for different beam patterns. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, thereby improving adaptability while controlling device complexity.
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
Enables flexible adjustment of beam angles, reduces energy leakage by aligning beams in the same direction, and facilitates direct point-to-point communication, improving communication system capacity and reliability through LOS-MIMO diversity and multiplexing.
Implementation Method 1
planar reflection boards, configured to reflect the beam set transmitted or received by the antenna body
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the communication field and provide an array antenna, a configuration method, and a communication system to implement flexible adjustment of beam angles in the array antenna. The array antenna includes: an antenna body, which is a multi-beam antenna, a single-beam antenna without grating lobes, or a single-beam antenna with grating lobes and transmits or receives a beam set by centering on the antenna body, where the beam set includes at least one beam; a planar reflection board, configured to reflect the beam set transmitted or received by the antenna body; and an adjusting unit, connected to the antenna body and/or the planar reflection board, and configured to adjust a relative position between the planar reflection board and the beam set of the antenna body so that the beam set of the antenna body can be transmitted or received in any direction after being reflected by the planar reflection board. The array antenna, the configuration method, and the communication system are used for communication of the array antenna.