Spherical Dielectric Lens Plug for Side-Lobe Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RF antennas with spherical lenses suffer from significant side-lobe energy wastage due to spherical aberration, which is difficult and costly to mitigate using current methods that either require increased physical space, complex geometric patterns, or reduce antenna aperture efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a plug with optically active materials or a single unitary material in the optical path of the RF antenna, designed to refract and reflect RF energy towards the center of the spherical lens, reducing spherical aberration and side-lobe energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a spherical lens is used to focus RF energy, then antenna gain is improved, but side-lobe energy increases due to spherical aberration
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical lens is divided into multiple zones with different refractive indices. The lens comprises a central region and an outer region, where each region has a specifically designed refractive index to control RF energy distribution. This segmentation allows the central region to focus energy for high gain while the outer region suppresses side-lobes by redirecting energy toward the center.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spherical lens are assigned different optical properties (refractive indices) to perform different functions. The central region has a refractive index optimized for focusing energy to achieve high antenna gain, while the outer region has a different refractive index specifically designed to reduce spherical aberration and suppress side-lobe energy.
2Loss of energy
If conventional methods are used to reduce side-lobes, then side-lobe energy is reduced, but device complexity or physical space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side-lobe suppression function is merged into the spherical lens itself by creating a multi-zone lens structure. Instead of adding separate components or complex geometric patterns, the lens integrates both focusing (for gain) and side-lobe suppression functions through its zoned refractive index distribution, simplifying the overall antenna structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The refractive index parameter of the spherical lens is varied across different zones to achieve dual functionality. By changing the refractive index from the central region to the outer region, the lens simultaneously optimizes for high antenna gain in the main beam direction and suppresses side-lobe energy, avoiding the need for complex additional structures.
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 plug effectively minimizes side-lobe energy by focusing RF energy more narrowly, reducing spherical aberration and improving radiation efficiency while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
the plug having three sections of different shapes... the plug including an optically active material with respect to RF energy
Implementation Method 2
designed to refract and reflect RF energy towards the center of the spherical lens
Implementation Method 3
spherical lens, which in turn focuses the RF energy in a specific manner... spherical aberration caused by a spherical lens
Data Source
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AI summary
A method to mitigate an antenna multipath, Rayleigh fading effect. The method includes coupling an antenna on top of a structure, wherein the structure is covered by a radio frequency (RF) radiation absorbing layer, wherein the structure has a shape such that any reflecting surface of the structure is perpendicular to an incoming RF signal. The method also includes directing the incoming RF signal towards the structure, wherein undesired direct or reflected RF signals are either absorbed by the RF radiation absorbing layer or deflected back to a source of the RF signal, thereby avoiding interference of the undesired RF signal with a desired RF signal aimed at the antenna.