Coplanar Waveguide Phased Array Antenna With Integrated Power Division
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid crystal phased array antennas with inverted microstrip line structures face challenges in response speed due to thick liquid crystal layers, and when using a coplanar waveguide transmission line connected in parallel to a variable capacitor, the pitch between antennae is high, leading to a large antenna volume.
Innovation Solution
The antenna design incorporates a power division transmission unit with power dividers that create a phase difference between microwave signals, allowing for reduced liquid crystal layer thickness and compact layout by coupling coplanar waveguide transmission lines and using bending angles in the coplanar waveguide transmission line to optimize phase shifting performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If an inverted microstrip line structure is adopted for a phase shifter, then the liquid crystal layer thickness can be reduced, but the response speed becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the transmission line from an inverted microstrip line to a coplanar waveguide transmission line. This structural parameter change allows for both reduced liquid crystal layer thickness (3-8 μm) and maintained fast response speed, as the coplanar waveguide structure provides better electromagnetic field distribution and coupling characteristics that compensate for the thinner liquid crystal layer.
2Length of stationary object
If a coplanar waveguide transmission line connected in parallel to a variable capacitor is used, then the liquid crystal layer thickness is reduced, but the pitch between antennae increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the phase shifting function and power division function into a single integrated coplanar waveguide transmission line structure. The coplanar waveguide inherently provides both phase control through its geometry and power division through its symmetric configuration, eliminating the need for separate components that would increase the antenna pitch.
Solution Approach 2:
The coplanar waveguide transmission line serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the phase shifter, provides power division between antenna elements, and enables compact antenna spacing. This multi-functionality reduces the overall antenna pitch compared to using separate dedicated components for each function.
3Length of stationary object
If a coplanar waveguide transmission line connected in parallel to a variable capacitor is used, then the liquid crystal layer thickness is reduced, but the antenna volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional elements (phase shifter, power divider, transmission line) into a single integrated coplanar waveguide structure. This merging of functions reduces the overall number of discrete components and their associated spacing requirements, thereby reducing the total antenna volume despite the use of thin liquid crystal layers.
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
This design enhances the response speed of the antenna and reduces its volume by improving phase shifting performance and allowing for more efficient use of space, while maintaining the required phase shift and isolation between adjacent phase shift units.
Implementation Method 1
liquid crystals serve as a dielectric layer, and a dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is changed through controlling a voltage applied to the liquid crystals, so as to change the capacitance and shift the phase
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an antenna, a manufacturing method, a driving method, and an antenna system. The antenna includes: at least one group of antenna units; each group including a first antenna unit and a second antenna unit; at least one group of phase shift units, each group including a first phase shift unit coupled to the first antenna unit and a second phase shift unit coupled to the second antenna unit; and a power division transmission unit including at least one first power divider. Each first power divider includes a first end coupled to a first phase shift unit, a second end coupled to the second phase shift unit, and a third end, and a phase difference between a microwave signal transmitted from the first end to the third end and a microwave signal transmitted from the second end to the third end is a preset value.