Dual-Band Phased Array Layout for Low-Lobe High-Gain Beam Steering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional phased array antennas face challenges in achieving efficient operation in dual bands with high antenna gain, minimizing grating/side lobes, and avoiding unbalance loss or phase delay in radiating element excitations, particularly for SATCOM On-The-Move applications requiring lightweight, low-profile, and electronically beam-steerable antennas.

Innovation Solution

A phased array antenna design featuring a receiver antenna array with a uniform diagonal square lattice configuration and equal-length feed lines for both receiver and transmitter subarrays, coupled with core chips and feeding networks to ensure identical amplitude and phase differences across radiating elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional phased array antenna designs are used for dual-band operation, then the antenna can cover both frequency bands, but unbalance loss and phase delay occur in radiating element excitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual-band operation capabilityVSAvoidunbalance loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna array is divided into two separate subarrays, each optimized for a specific frequency band. The first subarray handles the first frequency band while the second subarray handles the second frequency band, allowing each subarray to be independently optimized to minimize unbalance loss within its designated band.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the antenna array are assigned different characteristics - the first subarray region is optimized for first band operation while the second subarray region is optimized for second band operation. This local optimization ensures that each region performs efficiently at its designated frequency without compromising the other band.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional phased array antenna designs are used for dual-band operation, then the antenna can cover both frequency bands, but phase delay occurs in radiating element excitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedual-band operation capabilityVSAvoidphase delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional phased array antenna designs are used, then the antenna can be constructed, but grating lobes and side lobes issues occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna constructionVSAvoidgrating lobes and side lobes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna array is segmented into two distinct subarrays with different element configurations optimized for their respective frequency bands. This segmentation allows each subarray to control its own radiation pattern independently, reducing the formation of grating lobes and side lobes that would occur in a conventional unified array design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If traditional antenna array configurations are used, then the antenna can be designed, but antenna gain is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna configurationVSAvoidantenna gain

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12368248B2Phased array antenna

Publication Date: 2025.07.22 AGENCY FOR SCI TECH & RES

AI summary

A phased array antenna that maximizes antenna gain and minimizes or avoids grating/side lobes issues. The phased array antenna includes a receiver antenna array including one or more groups of receiver radiating elements, where each group of receiver radiating elements includes a first receiver subarray of receiver radiating elements and a second receiver subarray of receiver radiating elements. The phased array antenna further includes receiver core chips, including, for each of the one or more groups of receiver radiating elements, a first receiver core chip associated with the first receiver subarray and a second receiver core chip associated with the second receiver subarray. Additionally, the phased array antenna includes receiver feeding networks, including, for each of the one or more groups of receiver radiating elements, a first receiver feeding network including first feed lines and a second receiver feeding network including second feed lines.