Cavity Supported Patch Antenna for Millimeter Wave 5G
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antennas in wireless communication technologies face challenges in achieving compact size while supporting multiple frequencies and polarizations, particularly in the millimeter wavelength range, due to limited bandwidth and signal leakage into substrates.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer circuit board antenna design featuring a cavity with conductive vias and a parasitic patch, which enhances bandwidth and supports multiple polarizations by minimizing signal leakage and introducing additional resonant modes, allowing for compact and efficient transmission of radio signals in the 10 GHz to 300 GHz range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a patch antenna is formed on a substrate, then compact size is achieved, but signal leakage into the substrate material distorts the radiation pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antenna patch from direct contact with the substrate by forming it on a cavity structure. The cavity creates an air gap between the patch antenna and the substrate, eliminating the harmful signal leakage into the substrate material while maintaining compact overall device size.
Solution Approach 2:
The cavity structure acts as an intermediary between the antenna patch and the substrate. This intermediate air gap structure prevents direct interaction between the radiating elements and the substrate, thereby eliminating signal leakage and radiation pattern distortion while allowing both components to coexist in a compact arrangement.
2Volume of moving object
If the antenna size is reduced to match millimeter wavelength, then compact design is achieved, but bandwidth becomes limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional two-dimensional patch antenna design to a three-dimensional cavity-based structure. By utilizing the vertical dimension with the cavity depth and positioning the patch at a specific height above the substrate, the antenna achieves enhanced bandwidth while maintaining compact footprint, effectively adding a dimensional degree of freedom to the design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key geometric parameters by introducing cavity depth (d) and patch-to-substrate spacing (h) as additional design variables. These parameter changes enable the antenna to support multiple resonant modes and achieve broader bandwidth operation while maintaining a compact overall size suitable for millimeter wavelength applications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antennas are needed to support various polarizations, then polarization coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal single antenna structure that can support multiple polarizations through its cavity configuration. The cavity-based design with strategically positioned feed points enables the same physical structure to radiate in different polarization modes, eliminating the need for multiple separate antennas and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple polarization capabilities into a single integrated cavity antenna structure. By combining multiple feed points and utilizing the three-dimensional cavity geometry, the design achieves multi-polarization support that would traditionally require multiple separate antenna elements, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture.
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 improved bandwidth and radiation pattern symmetry, enabling efficient dual-horizontal polarization transmission and supporting multiple frequency bands, making it suitable for 5G technologies while maintaining a compact structure.
Implementation Method 1
a cavity mode may be excited close to a resonant frequency of the antenna patch, which allows for enhancing the bandwidth of the antenna and/or for multi-band operation of the antenna
Implementation Method 2
The cavity allows for avoiding that a radiation pattern of the antenna is distorted by leakage of signals into a substrate material of the circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna (100) comprises a cavity (120) formed by a conductive plate (121) in a first horizontal conductive layer (221) of a multi-layer circuit board and a vertical sidewall formed by conductive vias (222) extending from the conductive plate (121). Further, the antenna (100) comprises an antenna patch (130) arranged in the cavity. The antenna patch (130) is formed in a second conductive layer (223) of the multi-layer circuit board and is peripherally surrounded by the vertical sidewall of the cavity (120).