Compact Array Antenna for Electronic Toll Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RFID antenna technologies for electronic toll collection systems require large, heavy antennas to achieve high gain and directivity, which is impractical for compact and lightweight designs needed for multiple lane coverage, especially in crowded gantry environments, and are costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A compact and lightweight array antenna design featuring multiple radiation elements on a substrate with a ground plane and a feeding network, where each radiation element has multiple feeding ports connected to branch feeding elements, allowing for phased operation to enhance gain in a narrow beamwidth while minimizing size and weight, and utilizing a dielectric substrate and conductive materials for efficient energy transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional high gain antennas are used to achieve directional radiation and high gain, then the antenna gain and directivity are improved, but the antenna size and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple independent radiation elements (at least two) that can be individually fed through separate feeding ports. Each element contributes to the overall radiation pattern, and by segmenting the antenna structure, high gain can be achieved through array synthesis rather than relying on a single large antenna element, thus reducing overall weight while maintaining gain performance.
2Power
If traditional high gain antennas are used to achieve directional radiation and high gain, then the antenna gain and directivity are improved, but the antenna physical dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar antenna elements to a three-dimensional tetrahedral configuration with radiation elements positioned at vertices. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions enables directional radiation and high gain without requiring large planar area, effectively achieving compact high-gain radiation through volumetric rather than planar expansion.
3Reliability
If multiple antennas are deployed for multiple lane coverage, then the system reliability and coverage are improved, but the inventory costs and shipping costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple radiation elements are integrated into a single antenna assembly with a shared ground plane and feeding network. This merging approach allows the antenna to provide multi-directional or multi-lane coverage through coordinated radiation from multiple elements, reducing the need for separate antenna units and thereby lowering inventory and shipping costs while maintaining system reliability.
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 high gain and directivity with a smaller form factor, reducing inventory and shipping costs while maintaining effective radiation performance across the 865-928 MHz frequency band, suitable for multiple lane coverage in electronic toll collection systems.
Implementation Method 1
two or more radiation elements on a side of a substrate... maintaining effective radiation performance across the 865-928 MHz frequency band
Implementation Method 2
a feeding network including a plurality of branch feeding elements; wherein each radiation elements has one or more feeding ports such that each of the plurality of branch feeding element is connected to a feeding port of a respective one of the radiation elements
Implementation Method 3
a ground plane on an opposite side of the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for an antenna including two or more radiation elements on a side of a substrate; a ground plane on an opposite side of the substrate; and a feeding network including a plurality of branch feeding elements. Each of the radiation elements has one or more feeding ports such that each of the plurality of branch feeding element is connected to a feeding port of a respective one of the radiation elements.