Conical RF Launch Structure Surface Wave Antenna
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cell towers face challenges in providing precise, narrow beam coverage for highways at specific frequencies, leading to non-uniform signal strength and limited frequency reuse, especially in unreachable spaces like buildings and tunnels, and lack security and efficiency in wireless communication.
Innovation Solution
A radio frequency (RF) communications system utilizing a conical RF launch structure coupled with an elongate electrical conductor to guide surface waves, creating a precise elongate RF coverage pattern for microcellular communications, enabling bidirectional communication and power delivery, suitable for areas like mines, tunnels, and buildings, using a coaxial cable or metal wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional cell towers use free space radiation and directional antenna sectors, then coverage area is provided, but beamwidth is insufficient to cover narrow highways at 698 to 2700 MHz frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a surface wave transmission line as an intermediary between the signal source and the target area. This transmission line guides electromagnetic surface waves along a conductor to achieve precise directional coverage along highways, solving the beamwidth limitation of conventional antennas while maintaining coverage reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the propagation mode from free space radiation to surface wave propagation along a transmission line. This parameter change enables narrow beamwidth coverage along highways by confining electromagnetic energy to the surface of the conductor, achieving both the required beamwidth and coverage precision
2Area of stationary object
If conventional antennas provide wide coverage, then area coverage is achieved, but signal uniformity and frequency reuse are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coverage area into multiple sections along the highway, each served by surface wave transmission lines positioned at different locations. This segmentation enables precise control of signal distribution in each segment, achieving uniform signal strength along the entire highway while maintaining frequency reuse across different segments
3Device complexity
If surface waves are transmitted along a wire without dielectric coating, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but radiation loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dielectric coating as an intermediary layer around the conductor. This dielectric layer acts as a mediator that confines electromagnetic energy to the surface of the conductor, reducing radiation loss while maintaining the simplicity of the transmission line structure. The dielectric coating enables efficient surface wave propagation by providing the necessary electromagnetic boundary conditions
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 system provides a precise and uniform communications coverage area, enhancing frequency reuse, security, and privacy, suitable for microcellular telephone coverage and RFID tracking, with the ability to follow road turns and cover hard-to-reach spaces efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a conical RF launch structure coupled with an elongate electrical conductor to guide surface waves
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A radio frequency (RF) communications system includes a local RF communications device and an RF antenna including a conical RF launch structure coupled to the local RF communications device, and an elongate electrical conductor having a proximal end coupled to the conical RF launch structure and a distal end spaced apart from the conical RF launch structure to define an elongate RF coverage pattern. The elongate conductor may be a coaxial cable. At least one remote RF communications device, within the elongate RF coverage pattern, wirelessly communicates with the local RF communications device.