Asymmetric Tile Structure for Shape-Adaptive Phased Array Antennas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional tile structures of phased array antennas suffer from structural interference when arranged on curved surfaces, leading to reduced electrical beam steering performance and increased side-lobes due to the need for large separation intervals, which is not suitable for compact and lightweight airborne radar systems.

Innovation Solution

A shape-adaptive tile structure formed in a 'T' shape with a narrower lower portion than the upper portion, allowing for closer tile arrangement and minimizing structural interference, while enabling adaptation to various curved surface shapes by varying the sizes of upper and lower tiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If rectangular tiles are arranged on curved surfaces, then the antenna can be implemented on curved surfaces, but structural interference occurs between tiles requiring large separation intervals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to curved surfacesVSAvoidseparation interval between tiles

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by changing the tile shape from a conventional symmetric rectangular form to an asymmetric shape with a narrower lower portion and wider upper portion. This asymmetric geometry allows tiles to be arranged on curved surfaces with reduced separation intervals, minimizing structural interference while maintaining adaptability to curved surface shapes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Object-affected harmful factors

If large separation intervals are used between tiles, then structural interference is reduced, but electrical beam steering performance degrades and side-lobes increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural interference between tilesVSAvoidelectrical beam steering performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The asymmetric tile shape with narrower lower portion enables closer tile spacing that reduces structural interference while maintaining electrical performance. The specific geometric configuration allows optimal balancing between mechanical clearance and electrical continuity for beam steering applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of manufacture

If rectangular tile structure is used, then implementation on planar arrays is facilitated, but performance degrades when arranged on curved surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of implementation for planar arraysVSAvoidperformance on curved surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from symmetric rectangular tiles optimized for planar arrays to asymmetric tiles with narrowed lower portions that are specifically designed for curved surface arrangements, improving performance while remaining manufacturable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The tile design applies local quality by having different width dimensions at different portions of the tile structure - the lower portion is narrowed specifically to accommodate curved surface arrangements, while the upper portion maintains sufficient width for electrical element placement and functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10665930B2Tile structure of shape-adaptive phased array antenna

Publication Date: 2020.05.26 AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEV

AI summary

The present invention relates to a tile structure of a shape-adaptive phased array antenna, and more specifically to a tile structure of a shape-adaptive phased array antenna configured to improve drag and low-observable properties of an airplane, and minimize a structural interference between adjacent tiles of the phased array antenna.