Brush Phase Shifter Gear Layout for Precise Multiport Antenna Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fan-shaped brush phase shifters have a large longitudinal span due to linear motion of the lead screw, making it difficult to accurately control phase changes and occupy excessive space, which hinders miniaturization and complex antenna layout.

Innovation Solution

A brush phase shifter design that integrates an actuating member, a gear assembly, and main printed circuit boards, utilizing a bevel gear and cylindrical gear configuration to achieve precise phase control through meshing rotation among gears, allowing for synchronous and reversed fan-shaped motion of brush members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a lead screw is used in the transmission module, then linear motion can be achieved, but the longitudinal span becomes large and phase control accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelinear motion capabilityVSAvoidphase control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the lead screw mechanical transmission system with a brushless DC motor directly coupled to a fan-shaped brush member. This substitution eliminates the lead screw's linear motion mechanism and its associated long longitudinal span, while maintaining precise phase control through direct rotational actuation of the brush member along the waveguide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a lead screw is used in the transmission module, then linear motion can be achieved, but the occupied space increases and miniaturization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelinear motion capabilityVSAvoidtransmission module space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the lead screw mechanical transmission system with a brushless DC motor directly coupled to a fan-shaped brush member. This substitution eliminates the lead screw's linear motion mechanism and its associated long longitudinal span, while maintaining precise phase control through direct rotational actuation of the brush member along the waveguide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If a lead screw transmission module is used, then linear motion can be converted to fan-shaped motion, but the structure becomes complicated and antenna layout difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion conversion capabilityVSAvoidtransmission module structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the lead screw transmission module from the phase shifter structure. Instead of converting linear motion to fan-shaped motion through a lead screw, the invention directly actuates the fan-shaped brush member using a brushless DC motor, thereby eliminating the complicated lead screw mechanism and simplifying the overall transmission module structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Volume of moving object

If the longitudinal span is reduced for miniaturization, then space is saved, but phase control accuracy becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission module spaceVSAvoidphase control accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the lead screw mechanical transmission system with a brushless DC motor directly coupled to a fan-shaped brush member. This substitution eliminates the lead screw's linear motion mechanism and its associated long longitudinal span, while maintaining precise phase control through direct rotational actuation of the brush member along the waveguide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design enables precise control of phase changes while minimizing space, facilitating miniaturization and optimizing the overall antenna layout, suitable for multiport applications.

Implementation Method 1

The driving gear meshes with the bevel gear portion of the transmission gear. The cylindrical gear portion of the transmission gear meshes with the linkage gear.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear meshing: Gear

Data Source

PatentUS12288916B2Brush phase shifter adapted for multiport antenna

Publication Date: 2025.04.29 SUZHOU LUXSHARE TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A brush phase shifter includes an actuating member, a gear assembly, a main printed circuit board and a brush member. The gear assembly includes a driving gear, a transmission gear and a linkage gear. The driving gear is a bevel gear. The transmission gear includes a bevel gear portion and a cylindrical gear portion. The bevel gear portion has a large end and a small end. The cylindrical gear portion is integrally formed at the large end of the bevel gear portion. The linkage gear is a cylindrical gear. The driving gear meshes with the bevel gear portion of the transmission gear. The cylindrical gear portion of the transmission gear meshes with the linkage gear. The brush member is fixedly connected with the linkage gear. The brush member is rotatably arranged on the main printed circuit board. The present disclosure precisely controls the phase change and realize miniaturization.