Thinned Array Feed Reflector Beam Peak Adjustment Without Mechanical Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reflector antennas in high-frequency applications, such as satellite communications, face significant signal loss due to small beam mispointing errors caused by imperfect installation and environmental changes, which existing mechanical adjustment systems are prone to fail under changing conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that electronically adjusts the pointing direction of a reflector antenna beam by activating different sets of antenna elements within an array feed, measuring signal metrics iteratively, and selecting the optimal set for operation, eliminating the need for mechanical adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mechanical control system is used to tilt the reflector antenna's feed for beam peak adjustment, then the beam pointing accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to mechanical failure risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tilt control system with an electronic beamforming system. Instead of physically tilting the feed antenna using mechanical actuators, the invention uses electronic phase shifters and amplitude controllers to adjust the beam pointing direction. This substitution eliminates mechanical components while achieving the same beam alignment function, thereby reducing device complexity and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameters from mechanical position (tilt angle) to electrical parameters (phase and amplitude distribution across array elements). By controlling the complex weights applied to each antenna element in the array, the beam pointing direction can be electronically adjusted without any mechanical movement, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity.
2Measurement precision
If a mechanical control system is used to tilt the reflector antenna's feed for beam peak adjustment, then the beam pointing accuracy is improved, but the reliability worsens due to susceptibility to environmental conditions and mechanical failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tilt control system with an electronic beamforming system. Instead of physically tilting the feed antenna using mechanical actuators, the invention uses electronic phase shifters and amplitude controllers to adjust the beam pointing direction. This substitution eliminates mechanical components while achieving the same beam alignment function, thereby reducing device complexity and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an automatic beam peak search and tracking system that continuously monitors signal strength and autonomously adjusts the electronic beamforming parameters to maintain optimal alignment. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual mechanical adjustments and ensures the system adapts to environmental changes without external intervention, thereby improving reliability.
3Productivity
If all N antenna elements are activated in the array feed, then the beamforming capability is maximized, but the system complexity and signal processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the array feed into multiple sub-arrays or groups of antenna elements. Instead of processing signals from all N elements simultaneously, the system segments them into manageable groups that can be independently controlled and processed. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity of beamforming while maintaining effective beam steering capability through coordinated activation of different element groups.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for adjusting a pointing direction of an antenna beam involves forming a beam with a reflector antenna including a reflector and a feed, the feed including an array of N antenna elements, by activating a first set of antenna elements among the N antenna elements. A signal metric of a signal communicated via the beam is measured. In an iterative fashion, a pointing direction of the beam is adjusted at least in part by activating a different set of antenna elements among the N antenna elements, and the signal metric is re-measured with each iterative adjustment. A final pointing direction and associated final set of antenna elements are selected for operation of the reflector antenna based on the signal metric measurements.