Broadband Panel Array Antenna Polarization Layer Side Lobe Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadband panel array antennas face challenges in achieving low side lobes, high gain, and efficiency while maintaining a low profile and reducing machining costs.
Innovation Solution
A broadband panel array antenna design featuring a polarization layer, a radiating layer, and a feed layer, where the polarization layer rotates the electric field's polarization direction to reduce side lobes, and the radiating layer uses a multi-stage structure to enhance gain and efficiency, while the feed layer converts single-path signals into multiple in-phase paths for efficient radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional panel array antennas adjust energy distribution by controlling power distribution of the feed layer, then the side lobe is decreased, but the main lobe widens and gain is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A polarization layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the feed layer and radiating layer. This polarization layer includes polarization elements that can rotate the polarization direction of electromagnetic waves, providing an additional degree of freedom for controlling radiation patterns. By manipulating polarization states rather than just power distribution, the antenna achieves side lobe suppression without compromising main lobe gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the control parameter from power distribution alone to a combination of power distribution and polarization orientation. By adjusting the polarization angles of elements in the polarization layer, the antenna can independently control side lobe levels while maintaining main lobe characteristics, effectively decoupling the trade-off between side lobe reduction and gain preservation.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If traditional panel array antennas use multiple radiating layers with welding connections, then the side lobe is decreased, but the machining cost increases due to high welding precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of multiple radiating layers into a single integrated radiating layer structure. The polarization layer is positioned adjacent to the feed layer without requiring intermediate welding connections, simplifying the manufacturing process. This integration maintains the ability to control side lobes through polarization manipulation while eliminating the need for precise welding between multiple layers, significantly reducing machining costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the polarization control function from the traditional multi-layer radiating structure and implements it through a separate polarization layer with polarization elements. This separation allows for independent optimization of the radiating elements and polarization control, simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of precision welding joints required while maintaining side lobe suppression capability.
3Loss of energy
If feed antennas are designed to improve overall efficiency, then the focal-diameter ratio must be considered, but the overall size becomes large and low profile is difficult to guarantee
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical focal-point-based efficiency optimization of traditional feed antennas with an electromagnetic field-based approach using polarization control. Instead of requiring a specific focal-diameter ratio that increases physical size, the patent uses polarization manipulation in the polarization layer to achieve high efficiency with a compact, low-profile structure. This substitution of the optimization mechanism allows maintaining efficiency without increasing overall dimensions.
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 design achieves low side lobes, high gain, and efficiency with a reduced profile, lowering machining costs and improving aperture efficiency, thus addressing the limitations of traditional panel array antennas.
Implementation Method 1
the polarization layer is used for rotating the polarization direction of an electric field generated by the radiating layer to reduce the side lobe in an E-plane direction diagram and an H-plane direction diagram
Data Source
AI summary
A broadband panel array antenna includes a polarization layer, a radiating layer and a feed layer which are sequentially stacked from top to bottom. The feed layer is used for converting a single path of TE10 mode signals into a plurality of paths of same-power in-phase TE10 mode signals and transmitting the plurality of paths of TE10 mode signals to the radiating layer. The radiating layer is used for radiating the plurality of paths of TE10 mode signals from the feed layer to a free space. The polarization layer is used for rotating the polarization direction of an electric field generated by the radiating layer to reduce the side lobe in an E-plane direction diagram and an H-plane direction diagram. The broadband panel array antenna has the advantages of being low in side lobe, high in gain and efficiency, and low in machining cost.