Contoured-Shape Antenna for Wide Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antennas with limited frequency range require multiple scaled units for wide bandwidth applications, resulting in bulk and weight issues, particularly in confined spaces where compactness is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A wideband antenna is designed with a contoured shape to achieve the minimum surface area-to-volume ratio, using voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) as a performance metric, allowing operation over a wide frequency range with a low input reflection coefficient, reducing the need for multiple antennas and associated wiring complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple scaled antennas are used to achieve wide bandwidth coverage, then the frequency range is improved, but the bulk and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna element is divided into multiple segments with different contour shapes, where each segment can be independently adjusted to resonate at different frequency bands. This segmentation allows a single antenna structure to cover wide bandwidth by activating different segments for different frequency ranges, eliminating the need for multiple separate antennas.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that can dynamically change their electrical length and resonance characteristics. This dynamic adaptability allows the same physical antenna to be tuned across multiple frequency bands, providing wide bandwidth coverage without requiring multiple fixed-frequency antennas.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple scaled antennas are used to achieve wide bandwidth coverage, then the frequency range is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple antenna functions are merged into a single integrated antenna structure. The contoured antenna combines multiple resonant elements and frequency coverage capabilities into one unified design, eliminating the need for separate antennas and their associated feeding networks, phase shifters, and switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is designed as a universal structure that can operate across multiple frequency bands and applications. By incorporating adjustable contours and reconfigurable elements, a single antenna design serves multiple functions that would traditionally require different antenna types and configurations.
3Volume of stationary object
If antenna size is reduced to fit confined spaces, then the volume is improved, but the performance is sacrificed
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna employs contoured and curved geometric shapes rather than traditional linear or planar structures. These three-dimensional contoured forms allow the antenna to achieve resonant lengths appropriate for wideband operation while fitting within compact volumetric constraints, maintaining performance in confined spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna design utilizes variable geometric parameters including contour curvature, segment lengths, and spacing that can be optimized to achieve wideband performance in compact configurations. By carefully controlling these parameters, the antenna maintains resonant characteristics and impedance matching despite reduced overall size.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna is provided as a dipole class radiator with a first bell-shaped element and a second bell-shaped element that extend from a feed gap and are mirror images to each other. Each of the elements has a contour with a combination of curvilinear segments sized to an overall impedance for needed radiation beam pattern properties. In detail, the feed gap with a feed port is between small spherical feed hubs with a larger spherical boss for each element extending away from each feed hub and the feed gap. A frusto-conical section and an adjacent cylindrical section extend from the larger spherical boss for each antenna. The antenna is capable of fitting within a cylindrical shell whose surface area-to-volume ratio is a minimum. The radiation field produced by the antenna is omnidirectional in a horizontal plane. The antenna occupies a minimum surface area-to-volume ratio; thereby, requiring less material.