Balanced Tightly Coupled Dipole Array With H-Wall Bandwidth Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current tightly coupled dipole arrays (TCDAs) face challenges in scalability, compatibility across platforms, and reduced bandwidth due to common-mode currents, which are not effectively mitigated by existing solutions like baluns and shielding, limiting their ultra-wideband performance.

Innovation Solution

A balanced tightly coupled dipole array design that uses a conductive H-wall orthogonal to the ground plane to disrupt common-mode resonances, allowing differential signal feeding without a balun, thereby enhancing scalability and achieving a bandwidth ratio of 10:1 without additional losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional tightly coupled dipole arrays are used, then the antenna can transmit or receive electromagnetic waves, but common-mode currents reduce bandwidth and limit ultra-wideband performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth ratioVSAvoidcommon-mode currents

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A balun (balanced-to-unbalanced transformer) is introduced as an intermediary component between the feed line and the dipole array to transform unbalanced signals to balanced signals, thereby suppressing common-mode currents and enabling ultra-wideband operation with bandwidth ratios up to 10:1

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If baluns and shielding are added to mitigate common-mode currents, then bandwidth is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth ratioVSAvoidantenna structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The balun and the dipole array are merged into a single integrated structure where the dipole elements themselves serve as part of the balun mechanism, eliminating the need for separate shielding components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining ultra-wideband performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If baluns and shielding are added to mitigate common-mode currents, then bandwidth is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth ratioVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The balun and dipole array are merged into a single integrated structure that can be manufactured as one piece using additive manufacturing processes, eliminating the need for separate shielding components and assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while achieving bandwidth ratios up to 10:1

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If traditional dipole arrays are used, then the antenna structure can be manufactured, but scalability and compatibility across platforms are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovescalabilityVSAvoidarray configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated balun-array design is created as a universal module that can be scaled and deployed across different platforms and applications, with the same fundamental structure adapting to various size requirements and frequency ranges, thereby improving scalability and compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 design achieves efficient radiation with reduced common-mode currents, enabling ultra-wideband operation up to 10:1 bandwidth without the need for baluns, thus improving scanned beam efficiency and reducing manufacturing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

A balanced tightly coupled dipole array design that uses a conductive H-wall orthogonal to the ground plane to disrupt common-mode resonances

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCommon-mode resonance disruption: Resonance

Implementation Method 2

An antenna transduces electromagnetic (EM) waves to radio frequency (RF) electrical signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic transduction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS12394900B2Bandwidth extended balanced tightly coupled dipole array additively manufactured modular aperture

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION ANDELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC

AI summary

An antenna assembly includes a balanced antenna feed configured to receive a differential signal and a ground plane. The assembly further includes a first conductive dipole arm in planar alignment with a surface of the ground plane and a second conductive dipole arm in planar alignment with the surface of the ground plane and adjacent to the first conductive dipole arm. The assembly further includes a first feedline in electrical communication with the first conductive dipole arm and the balanced antenna feed and a second feedline in electrical communication with the second conductive dipole arm and the balanced antenna feed. The assembly further includes a conductive wall (“H-wall”) in electrical communication with the ground plane and having an end adjacent to, and physically separate from, the second conductive dipole arm. The H-wall has an axial length orthogonal to the ground plane.