Compact V/UHF Antenna with Absorbing Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compact broadband antennas for V/UHF bands face challenges such as limited low-frequency performance, significant size protrusion, and variable radio performance depending on the machine they are integrated into, particularly when arranged in metal cavities.

Innovation Solution

The antenna features flat radiating elements, an absorbing structure interposed between the metal plate and radiating elements, and an impedance matching circuit, optimized for minimal size and thickness, allowing for efficient transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves across a wide frequency range with improved radio performance and reduced rear radiation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If curved radiating elements with meanders are used to increase electrical length, then radio performance at low frequencies is improved, but the antenna becomes a significant projecting protuberance increasing size

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradio performance at low frequenciesVSAvoidantenna projection size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature to the radiating elements through meanders and arcs, allowing the electrical length to be increased within a compact planar footprint. The curved paths of the conductive elements create effective electrical length without increasing the physical bounding box of the antenna, resolving the contradiction between low-frequency performance and compact size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Reliability

If the metal plate is arranged at a distance from radiating elements to reflect high-frequency waves, then high-frequency radio performance is improved, but the thickness of the antenna increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-frequency radio performanceVSAvoidantenna thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by creating non-uniform spacing between the radiating elements and the metal plate. The distance varies across different regions of the antenna, allowing optimal reflection characteristics at high frequencies while maintaining minimal overall thickness. This localized variation in spacing enables frequency-selective performance without uniformly increasing thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the antenna is designed for compact size, then it can be integrated directly on machine surfaces, but radio performance varies according to the integration environment particularly in metal cavities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna sizeVSAvoidradio performance stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary absorbing structure positioned between the radiating elements and the metal plate. This absorbing material acts as a mediator that decouples the antenna's performance from the underlying metal surface or cavity environment. By absorbing spurious reflections and electromagnetic energy, it stabilizes the radiation characteristics regardless of the integration environment, whether on a flat surface or within a metal cavity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution enables the antenna to maintain high radio performance across the frequency range, minimize size and thickness, and reduce the influence of the integration environment on performance, resulting in improved impedance matching, gain, and unidirectional coverage.

Implementation Method 1

the absorbing structure is interposed between the metal plate and the dipoles and is arranged in contact with the metal plate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the metal plate comprises a sole, the impedance matching circuit being arranged in said sole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2610966B1Very-thin broadband compact antenna with dual orthogonal linear polarisations operating in the V/UHF bands
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 THALES SA
  • EP2610966B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2610966B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2610966B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The antenna (2) has dipoles (16A, 16B) orthogonal between each other, where each dipole includes radiating elements (4). The radiating elements are planar. The dipoles are included in a same plane. A cylindrical absorbing structure (6) is interposed between a metal plate (8) and one of the dipoles and arranged in contact with the metal plate. Each radiating element presents a general form of disk sector. The plane is at a distance from the structure ranging between 1 mm and 2 mm. The metal plate includes a sole, and an impedance matching circuit is arranged in the sole.