Cosecant Squared Antenna for Obstructed GPS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional GPS systems fail to determine location when satellite access is limited, such as in heavily wooded or mountainous areas with dense foliage, leading to communication disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile, dual-band emulated GPS constellation antenna with a cosecant-squared radiation pattern is designed, featuring a cube structure with square spirals and trap circuits to resonate signals at different frequency bands, allowing for consistent signal reception and transmission even in areas with limited skyward communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional GPS systems are used in areas with limited skyward communication, then satellite access is blocked by dense foliage or terrain, but location determination cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a ground-based emulation of the GPS satellite constellation that transmits simulated satellite signals. Instead of relying on actual satellite signals that are blocked by terrain and foliage, the system copies the essential characteristics of GPS signals and transmits them from ground level, allowing receivers to perform trilateration and determine location without line-of-sight to actual satellites
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces ground-based antenna systems as intermediaries between the user and satellite-based navigation. These intermediate systems receive or generate navigation signals and re-transmit them to receivers in areas where direct satellite access is blocked, effectively mediating the communication path between satellites and end users in obstructed environments
2Ease of operation
If antenna radiation pattern is omnidirectional, then signal coverage is uniform in all directions, but signal levels vary excessively at different angles causing receiver saturation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a cosecant-squared radiation pattern that provides non-uniform signal distribution tailored to the specific requirements of GPS reception. The antenna radiates signals with varying intensity at different angles, with higher elevation angles receiving stronger signals and lower elevation angles receiving weaker signals, matching the geometric requirements for accurate trilateration while preventing receiver saturation from low-angle signals
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 antenna ensures constant signal levels and prevents receiver saturation, enabling GPS location determination in environments with obstructed satellite views by simulating a satellite constellation, allowing for triangulation and position sharing among GPS-capable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a spiral trap circuit, physically coupled to the spiral, configured to cause the spiral to resonate the signal at a higher frequency band when open and configured to cause the spiral to resonate the signal at a lower frequency band when closed
Implementation Method 2
a radiation component configured to cause the antenna to radiate a signal with a cosecant-squared antenna radiation pattern in response to the antenna being excited by the energy
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments are described that relate to an antenna. In one embodiment, the antenna can be a low profile, multi-band (e.g., dual band), emulated GPS constellation antenna. In one embodiment, the antenna can form a cube with two open sides and four circuit board sides. The four circuit boards can include a first hardware portion that allows functioning in a higher frequency band and a second hardware portion that allows functioning in a lower frequency band.