Clustered-Pillar Phased Array for Wideband Low-Profile Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wideband phased array antennas are large, costly, and heavy, with limited flexibility in achieving wide bandwidth, wide scan volume, and good polarization, often requiring complex mechanical and electrical connections, which complicates manufacturing and increases weight and size.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna design featuring clustered pillars and radiating elements with increased coupling between adjacent elements, allowing for relaxed lattice spacing, reduced mechanical complexity, and simplified connections using coaxial cables or PCB combiners, enabling a low-profile, lightweight, and scalable configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional wideband phased array antennas use electrically large radiating elements and nested multi-band elements, then bandwidth performance is improved, but size, weight, and cost increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional electrically large radiating elements into electrically small elements by changing the operating parameters and using electromagnetic coupling mechanisms. This allows the antenna to achieve wide bandwidth performance without the excessive size and weight associated with traditional electrically large elements, directly resolving the contradiction between bandwidth and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electromagnetic coupling as an intermediary mechanism between adjacent radiating elements. This coupling mechanism enables energy transfer and bandwidth extension without requiring physically large elements or complex nested structures, thereby achieving wide bandwidth while maintaining low weight
2Reliability
If phased array antennas use contiguous electrical and mechanical connections between adjacent elements, then electrical performance is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical and electrical connection systems with a simplified electromagnetic coupling mechanism. Adjacent radiating elements are electrically isolated but magnetically coupled, eliminating the need for contiguous electrical connections while maintaining reliable electromagnetic performance. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity and manufacturing difficulty
3Object-generated harmful factors
If antenna element spacing is increased to reduce coupling, then grating lobe suppression is improved, but bandwidth and scan volume are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spacing parameter from traditional large spacing to electrically small spacing between adjacent radiating elements. This counterintuitive approach, combined with electromagnetic coupling and proper phase compensation, suppresses grating lobes while simultaneously enabling wide bandwidth and large scan volume performance
4Weight of stationary object
If electrically small radiating elements are used, then size and weight are reduced, but bandwidth performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses electromagnetic coupling as an intermediary to extend the bandwidth of electrically small radiating elements. The coupling between adjacent elements creates additional resonant modes and broadens the frequency response, allowing small elements to achieve wide bandwidth performance that would be impossible with isolated small elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the antenna into multiple electrically small radiating elements arranged in an array. By segmenting the overall antenna structure into many small elements with controlled electromagnetic coupling, the system achieves wide bandwidth through collective behavior rather than relying on individual large elements
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 wide bandwidth, wide scan volume, and good polarization with reduced size, weight, and cost, while maintaining performance and manufacturability, and can be scaled for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
A phased array antenna design featuring clustered pillars and radiating elements with increased coupling between adjacent elements
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna element including a base plate, a first ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate, a second ground clustered pillar projecting from the base plate and spaced apart from a first side of the first ground clustered pillar is provided. The ground clustered pillars, the signal ears, and the ground ears can be shapes so that the capacitive coupling between the ears and the pillars is sufficient to allow them to be spaced further apart, thereby reducing the number of elements required in the phased array. In some embodiments, the ground ear can be directly machined with the base plate thereby obviating the need for the ground ear to be overmolded into the base plate with the signal ear. In other embodiments the phased array antenna can utilize elastomeric connectors to further improve the mechanical and electrical reliability of the connections of the phase array antenna.