Directive Antenna Network Using Sequentially Rotated Metal Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antenna technologies for global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) are either costly or bulky, limiting their deployment in multi-band applications, as they require ceramic patches or large multi-wire antennas to achieve directive radiation and circular polarization.
Innovation Solution
A compact antenna network with pairs of metal antennas, including planar inverted F-antenna (PIFA) structures, arranged in sequential rotation and coupled with a monopole antenna on a ground plane, utilizing a load circuit to achieve directive and circularly polarized radiation, specifically right-hand circular polarization, at a lower manufacturing cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ceramic patch antennas are used to achieve directive radiation and circular polarization, then the antenna performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive ceramic patch antennas with inexpensive metal antennas (such as aluminum or copper) that can be manufactured using low-cost techniques like printing or forming. The metal antennas achieve the required directive radiation and circular polarization performance without the high material costs associated with ceramic substrates, directly resolving the contradiction between performance and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from ceramic to metal and modifies the antenna geometry to inverted-F planar structures with specific loading circuits. By adjusting parameters such as antenna dimensions, loading impedance, and geometric configuration, the metal antennas achieve the same electromagnetic performance (directive radiation and circular polarization) as ceramic antennas but at lower cost.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-wire antennas with helical geometry are used to operate in several frequency bands, then the adaptability is improved, but the antenna size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple independent inverted-F planar antenna elements, each optimized for specific frequency bands. By segmenting the antenna into separate planar elements rather than using a single tall helical structure, the system achieves multi-frequency operation while maintaining a compact low-profile form factor, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional helical wire antennas to two-dimensional planar inverted-F structures. This dimensional reduction allows the antennas to achieve multi-frequency band operation through planar geometry variations rather than vertical stacking, significantly reducing the antenna height while maintaining versatility.
3Volume of moving object
If compact antenna structures are designed to reduce size, then the volume is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thin planar metal structures (inverted-F antennas) that can be manufactured using printing or thin-film deposition techniques. These thin-film metal antennas achieve compact sizes while being produced through low-cost additive manufacturing processes, resolving the contradiction between reduced volume and manufacturing cost by using cost-effective thin-film metal fabrication methods.
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 solution enables a compact, low-cost antenna network that achieves directive and circularly polarized radiation, suitable for GNSS systems, with improved directivity and reduced size, while maintaining efficiency across multiple frequency bands.
Implementation Method 1
the loading circuit being parameterized to make radiation in which the monopole antenna has a destructive contribution of a magnetic transverse radiation mode
Data Source
AI summary
A directional antenna network adapted to operate in at least one predetermined frequency band, which includes at least one pair of metal antennas formed by a first metal antenna and a second metal antenna, the second metal antenna being sequentially rotated by a predetermined angle of rotation relative to the first metal antenna, a load circuit, with each metal antenna connected to the load circuit, and a monopole antenna, having a central position in the antenna network, connected to the load circuit. The metal antennas and the monopole antenna are arranged on a ground plane and coupled, with the load circuit being parameterized to provide radiation, the monopole antenna having a destructive contribution of a magnetic transverse radiation mode to obtain radiation by the at least one pair of metal antennas of selected circular polarization.