Cavity-Backed Stacked Patch Antenna with Capacitive Tuning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional patch antennas have a relatively narrow bandwidth, which limits their application, especially when dual polarization is introduced, as it reduces the number of tuning parameters, making it harder to meet the bandwidth requirements in the mm-wave range.

Innovation Solution

The enhanced cavity backed stacked patch antenna design incorporates capacitive coupling between the patch and the cavity, using conductive protrusions to increase the capacitive coupling and provide an additional tuning parameter, thereby enhancing the bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If dual polarization is introduced to reduce space requirements, then the antenna occupies less space, but the bandwidth decreases due to loss of tuning parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna areaVSAvoidbandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is divided into two separate patches (first patch and second patch) stacked vertically, each handling different polarizations. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each patch while maintaining compact overall dimensions, resolving the contradiction between reduced area and maintained bandwidth through spatial division of functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a single-plane (2D) patch antenna to a stacked configuration (3D), adding the vertical dimension. By stacking patches at different heights above the ground plane, the design achieves dual polarization functionality without increasing the horizontal footprint, while the vertical separation preserves tuning independence for bandwidth optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If conventional patch antenna design is used, then the structure is simple and compact, but the bandwidth is relatively narrow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna structure complexityVSAvoidbandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple functional elements into a unified stacked structure: multiple patches, multiple ground planes, and dielectric substrates are combined vertically. This integration achieves enhanced bandwidth through multiple resonant modes while maintaining a compact form factor, balancing complexity and performance by combining elements in the vertical dimension rather than expanding horizontally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 achieves a significant increase in bandwidth without compromising radiation efficiency, allowing for better performance in mm-wave applications and maintaining the compact size and weight requirements of telecommunications devices.

Implementation Method 1

The enhanced cavity backed stacked patch antenna design incorporates capacitive coupling between the patch and the cavity, using conductive protrusions to increase the capacitive coupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3859889B1Patch antenna element and method for manufacturing a patch antenna element
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 INTEL CORP
  • EP3859889B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3859889B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3859889B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a patch antenna element comprising a substrate (12; 20), patch (14; 26) disposed on the substrate, a ground plane (22) disposed on the substrate below the patch, wherein the ground plane horizontally extends beyond the patch and a conductive planar arrangement (24; 36; 36') at least partially laterally surrounding the patch.