Electric Cable Antenna Orientation for Signal Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of wireless sensors in electric cables faces challenges due to the uncertainty of correctly positioning a single antenna, leading to potential signal reception issues and unusable sensors.
Innovation Solution
The electric cable incorporates a plurality of antennas oriented differently on an electrically insulating layer, maximizing the chances of proper orientation and signal quality, with the antennas being printed using conductive ink and protected by an insulating layer to prevent abrasion, and strategically positioned to minimize interference with the cable's metal conductors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single antenna is provided in the cable, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of signal transmission and reception deteriorates due to uncertain positioning during installation
Solution Approach 1:
The single antenna is segmented into multiple antennas (at least two) with different orientations. This segmentation allows the system to maintain low overall complexity while improving reliability through diversified signal reception paths, as each antenna can potentially receive signals from different directions or orientations during cable installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the antennas is changed and diversified. By providing antennas with different orientations (e.g., different angles, directions, or polarizations), the system adapts to various installation scenarios and ensures at least one antenna will be properly aligned for optimal signal reception, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple antennas are provided with different orientations, then the reliability of signal transmission and reception is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple antennas serve universal functions of signal transmission and reception, with each antenna capable of performing the same basic function but with different orientation characteristics. This multi-functionality approach allows the system to improve reliability through redundancy and diversity while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, as all antennas perform the same core function rather than requiring different complex subsystems.
3Device complexity
If antennas are placed close to conductors, then the device complexity is reduced, but harmful interference from metal conductors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antennas are extracted from positions close to the metal conductors and placed on the outer surface of the cable insulation. This extraction removes the source of harmful electromagnetic interference from the vicinity of the antennas, improving signal quality. The antennas are positioned on the external surface where they can function without being affected by the conductors inside the cable, thus eliminating interference while maintaining simple positioning.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If antennas are printed using conductive ink on the outer wall, then harmful interference from conductors is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional mechanical antenna construction and positioning system is replaced with a printing process using conductive ink. This substitution allows antennas to be directly formed on the cable insulation surface through printing techniques, eliminating complex mechanical positioning requirements. The printing process inherently provides adequate positioning precision while simplifying manufacturing, as the conductive ink can be deposited in precise patterns directly on the insulation surface without requiring separate positioning mechanisms.
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 multidirectional antenna arrangement enhances the probability of transmitting and receiving signals of good quality, maintaining cable bulk and reducing interference, while providing wide coverage with a small number of antennas.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of transmitting and/or receiving antennae (12) located on a predetermined layer (14) of the cable, which is made of an electrically insulating material
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of antennas 12 can optionally be printed directly on this insulating layer 14 of the cable 10, for example by metallic printing, thanks to a conductive ink
Implementation Method 3
a predetermined layer (14) of the cable, which is made of an electrically insulating material
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
This electrical cable (10) includes at least one wireless transmitting and/or wireless receiving element. It further includes a plurality of transmitting and/or receiving antennas (12) located on a predetermined electrically insulating layer (14) of the cable (10), the wireless transmitting and/or wireless receiving element communicating via at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas (12).