Non-Planar Doubly Ruled Beam Forming Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beam forming systems for acoustic and electromagnetic waves struggle to produce beams with sharp angular cut-offs, particularly in underwater acoustic devices and radar systems, where minimizing reflections from unintended directions is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A beam forming system utilizing a non-planar doubly ruled radiation surface, such as a hyperbolic paraboloid or hyperboloid of one sheet, composed of straight elongate beam forming elements that can be fixed or movably supported to control beam-width and angular parameters, allowing for the production of acoustic or electromagnetic beams with sharp angular cut-offs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional planar beam forming systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the angular cut-off is not sharp and reflections from unintended directions cannot be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curved surfaces (hyperbolic paraboloid or hyperboloid of one sheet) instead of planar surfaces to achieve sharp angular cut-offs. The curvature of the radiation surface enables precise control of beam directions and minimizes reflections from unintended directions, directly resolving the contradiction between angular precision and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar arrays to three-dimensional curved surfaces. By utilizing the additional spatial dimension provided by curved geometries, the system achieves superior beam forming control and angular selectivity that cannot be obtained with planar configurations.
2Manufacturing precision
If straight elongate beam forming elements are arranged to provide a doubly ruled radiation surface, then sharp angular cut-offs are achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the curved radiation surface into multiple straight elongate beam forming elements arranged in discrete arrays. This segmentation allows the complex curved geometry to be constructed from simpler linear components, facilitating manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the overall doubly ruled surface geometry for sharp angular cut-offs.
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 effectively projects and receives beams with controlled beam-width and angular characteristics, reducing reflections and improving the accuracy and efficiency of applications like sonar and radar systems by producing beams with sharp roll-offs in both horizontal and vertical directions.
Implementation Method 1
a beam forming system comprising one or more beam forming elements that are arranged to provide a non-planar doubly ruled radiation surface
Data Source
AI summary
A beam forming system includes one or more beam forming elements that are arranged to provide a non-planar doubly ruled radiation surface. The surface is defined by two families of rulings such that the length of the rulings within each family are configured to provide a radiation surface with substantially straight boundary edges, and the beam forming system is arranged to form acoustic beams.