Cylindrical Lens Antenna Beam Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna systems struggle to simultaneously achieve mid-range and long-range wireless communications with the same system, as they are either adapted for wide-angle or narrow-angle communications, limiting flexibility in transmission distance.
Innovation Solution
An antenna system comprising a cylindrical electromagnetic lens and a dielectric member with a variable height, which transforms spherical wave signals into narrow beams in the azimuth plane and improves directivity in the elevation plane, allowing for flexible beam control and adjustment of transmission distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cylindrical lens is used for wide-angle communications, then the beam width in elevation is wide, but the transmission distance is limited to mid-range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the elevation beam width adjustable through a variable beam width element. This element can change the beam width in the elevation plane dynamically, allowing the system to switch between wide-angle (mid-range) and narrow-angle (long-range) communication modes. The azimuth beam width remains fixed while the elevation beam width is modifiable, providing adaptive transmission distance control.
2Length of moving object
If a cylindrical lens is used for long-range communications, then the beam width in elevation is narrow, but the system cannot perform mid-range communications
Solution Approach 1:
The variable beam width element enables dynamic adjustment of the elevation beam width, allowing the system to adapt between narrow beams for long-range communication and wide beams for mid-range communication. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by making the beam characteristics changeable rather than fixed.
3Power
If the aperture of the cylindrical lens is increased to achieve long-range communication, then the gain increases, but the elevation beam width becomes too narrow for mid-range communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam control function into two independent parts: azimuth beam width control (fixed by cylindrical lens geometry) and elevation beam width control (variable through the variable beam width element). This segmentation allows the azimuth aperture to be optimized for gain while the elevation beam width is independently adjusted for different communication ranges, resolving the contradiction between gain and beam width adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the aperture of the cylindrical lens is decreased for mid-range communication, then the elevation beam width is wide, but the gain is insufficient for long-range communication
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the beam control into fixed azimuth and variable elevation components, the system can maintain a larger azimuth aperture for high gain while using the variable beam width element to adjust elevation beam width. This allows mid-range communication with wide elevation beams without sacrificing the gain potential available when needed for long-range communication.
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 enables efficient wireless data transmission at 60 GHz, providing focused beams in both azimuth and elevation planes, allowing for communication with devices at various distances without modifying the beam width in the azimuthal plane, thus enhancing flexibility and antenna gain.
Implementation Method 1
a cylindrical electromagnetic lens adapted to guide at least one electromagnetic signal to an emerging area by means of at least a variation in dielectric permittivity, thereby generating a beam output from the emerging area
Implementation Method 2
The rectangular cross section allows internal reflection and recombination of the electromagnetic waves. Thus, a good focusing effect can be obtained in the elevation plane
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system having a cylindrical electromagnetic lens configured to guide at least one electromagnetic signal to an emerging area by means of at least a variation in dielectric permittivity, thereby generating a beam output from the emerging area. The antenna system has a dielectric member configured to receive the beam output from the emerging area and to focus the beam in an elevation plane perpendicular to a planar face of the cylindrical electromagnetic lens. The cylindrical electromagnetic lens is received in a conductive mounting, and the mounting carries the dielectric member.