Dielectric Lens Magnifies Phased Array Antenna Aperture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phased array antennas face limitations in useful range due to the need for increased size or power, making them unsuitable for applications requiring longer ranges with smaller equipment, such as vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna system combined with a single solid dielectric lens, featuring a convex spherical surface and a concave surface, positioned within the near field of the antenna, which magnifies the effective aperture, allowing for extended range operation without increasing antenna size or power, and enabling electronic beam scanning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antenna size is increased to extend useful range, then range is improved, but equipment size increases making it unsuitable for vehicle applications
Solution Approach 1:
A dielectric lens is introduced as an intermediary component between the phased array antenna and free space. The lens magnifies the effective aperture of the antenna, thereby extending the useful range without increasing the physical size of the antenna itself. This mediator enables the antenna to achieve longer range performance while maintaining a compact form factor suitable for vehicle mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The dielectric lens changes the optical parameters of the electromagnetic waves by refracting them through materials with different dielectric constants. By positioning the lens within the near field of the antenna and using appropriate dielectric materials, the system achieves magnification of the effective aperture, thereby extending range without proportionally increasing antenna dimensions.
2Reliability
If power is increased to extend useful range, then range is improved, but power consumption increases and equipment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric lens serves as a passive optical intermediary that extends range through geometric optics principles rather than active power amplification. The lens magnifies the effective aperture passively, avoiding the need for high-power amplifiers and complex power management systems, thereby extending range without proportionally increasing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional approach of using high power to extend range with an optical/mechanical analog - the dielectric lens system. Instead of increasing electromagnetic power, the system uses dielectric materials and geometric optics to achieve range extension, substituting a passive optical mechanism for active power amplification.
3Volume of moving object
If frequency is increased to reduce antenna size, then antenna size is reduced, but range capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric lens acts as a mediator that compensates for the reduced range capability inherent in high-frequency small antennas. By magnifying the effective aperture through the lens, the system recovers range capability that would otherwise be lost due to the small physical size of the high-frequency antenna, enabling both compact size and extended range to coexist.
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 achieves a significant increase in useful range, approximately doubling the distance capability from 20m to 100m, while maintaining electronic beam scanning capabilities, suitable for vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
a dielectric lens arrangement; wherein the dielectric lens arrangement is arranged to magnify the effective aperture of the phased array antenna
Implementation Method 2
The dielectric lens may be of a material having a dielectric constant greater than or equal to 2
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
An antenna system, comprising: a phased array antenna (4); and a dielectric lens arrangement (6), for example a single solid dielectric lens (6) comprising a substantially spherical convex surface (12) and a concave surface (14); wherein the dielectric lens arrangement (6) is arranged to magnify the effective aperture of the phased array antenna (4). The concave surface (14) is positioned within the near field of the phased array antenna (4). The phased array antenna (4) is operated at a frequency greater than or equal to 50 GHz. The antenna system retains some ability to electronically scan the beam. The antenna system may be for transmission and/or reception. The antenna system may be used for example for communication between two vehicles.