Diffractive Dielectric Microwave Deflection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microwave frequency beam deflection systems are bulky, power-intensive, and inefficient, particularly when attempting to achieve high deflection angles with minimal loss of energy, as they rely on mechanical systems or complex electronic scanning methods that require phase shifters and cooling systems, and optical scanning solutions suffer from shadowing effects at larger angles.
Innovation Solution
A configurable deflection system using two diffractive dielectric components with subwavelength microstructures that rotate independently, forming artificial materials with varying effective refractive indices to diffract microwave beams efficiently, minimizing bulk and power consumption while achieving high deflection angles with reduced spurious diffraction losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical systems are used for beam deflection, then deflection capability is achieved, but weight and volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical beam deflection systems with an electronic phase shifter system. Each radiating element has an associated phase shifter that electronically controls the phase of the signal, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts while achieving the same beam steering functionality. This substitution directly reduces weight and removes the need for mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameters by using phase shifters to control the phase of signals at each radiating element. By varying the phase parameter electronically rather than mechanically, the system achieves beam deflection without mechanical movement, thereby reducing weight and improving reliability.
2Ease of operation
If electronic scanning with phase shifters is used, then beam deflection is achieved, but system complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna into multiple independent radiating elements, each with its own phase shifter. This segmentation allows independent control of each element's phase, enabling electronic beam steering. While this adds components, it provides precise control and flexibility in beam formation without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering by allowing real-time adjustment of phase shifters for each radiating element. This dynamic control enables the beam to be steered electronically to different directions without physical movement, providing adaptability and flexibility while maintaining a fixed antenna structure.
3Ease of operation
If phase shifters are used for each radiating element, then beam control is achieved, but cable management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses printed circuit boards as flexible transmission lines to connect the feed network to each radiating element. These thin film circuits integrate the cable management into the antenna structure itself, eliminating the need for separate heavy cables and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining precise beam control capability.
4Ease of operation
If conventional prism-based optical scanning is used, then deflection is achieved, but bulk increases due to prism thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical prism-based optical scanning with an electronic phase shifter system. Instead of using bulky prisms to deflect beams optically, the system uses electronic phase control to achieve the same beam steering effect, eliminating the need for large physical deflectors and reducing overall system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from physical parameter manipulation (prism rotation) to electrical parameter manipulation (phase shifting). By controlling the phase of signals electronically rather than rotating physical prisms, the system achieves deflection capability without the volume penalty associated with mechanical optical scanning components.
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 provides a compact, lightweight solution that maintains a consistent volume, reduces electrical consumption, and optimizes energy distribution, achieving significant deflection angles with minimal energy loss in spurious orders, thereby enhancing the efficiency and flexibility of microwave beam deflection.
Implementation Method 1
The components C1 and C2 are diffracting gratings suitable for diffracting a beam. The component C1 illuminated by the incident beam Finc diffracts a first beam, this beam then itself being diffracted by the second component C2, generating the beam F of the system 1.
Implementation Method 2
The microstructures are arranged in a period P so as to form an artificial material exhibiting a variation of an effective index neff. The beam F is oriented according to an angle which is a function of the angular positioning between the first and second diffractive components.
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable deflection system for an incident microwave frequency beam exhibiting a wavelength contained in a band of wavelengths corresponding to the microwave frequencies, comprising: a first and a second diffractive dielectric component suitable for each performing a rotation about a rotation axis Z, the deflection system being suitable for generating a microwave frequency beam by diffraction of the incident microwave frequency beam on the first and second components, the microwave frequency beam being oriented according to an angle that is a function of the angular positioning between the first and said second diffractive components, the first and second components respectively exhibiting a first and second periodic structure of first and second periods according to a first and second axis, the first and second structures respectively comprising a plurality of first and second primary microstructures formed respectively on a first and second substrate of first and second substrate refractive indices.