Feed and Parasitic Antenna Spacing for Wider 3 dB Beamwidth
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna units do not effectively increase the 3 dB beamwidth, which is the angular range where the gain falls to 3 dB lower than the maximum gain of the main lobe.
Innovation Solution
The proposed antenna unit includes a single feed antenna and a pair of parasitic antennas on a dielectric body, with the pitches between them set within a specific range (0.4λ+{(λ/2)×n} to 0.6λ+{(λ/2)×n) to enhance the 3 dB beamwidth, and optionally incorporates phase adjustment lines to further adjust the directivity of radio waves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional antenna units with only feed antennas are used, then the structure is simple, but the 3 dB beamwidth is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines feed antennas with parasitic antennas into a unified antenna unit. The parasitic antennas are positioned at specific pitches (0.4λ to 0.6λ) from the feed antennas, creating a merged structure that achieves both narrow physical footprint and wide 3 dB beamwidth through electromagnetic coupling between the antenna types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-antenna configuration to a multi-antenna array configuration by adding parasitic antennas in the horizontal plane. This dimensional expansion from one to multiple elements arranged in specific geometric patterns enables beamwidth enhancement while maintaining compact overall structure.
2Area of moving object
If parasitic antennas are added to increase 3 dB beamwidth, then the angular coverage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional roles to different antenna elements. Feed antennas provide primary radiation, while parasitic antennas provide beamwidth enhancement through electromagnetic coupling. The parasitic antennas are positioned at specific pitches (0.4λ to 0.6λ) from the feed antennas, creating localized functional zones that achieve wide beamwidth without requiring complex overall reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by optimizing the pitch between feed and parasitic antennas to specific ranges (0.4λ to 0.6λ). This parameter optimization enables the parasitic antennas to effectively couple with feed antennas, achieving beamwidth enhancement while maintaining a relatively simple structure. The specific pitch range is critical for achieving the desired electromagnetic interaction.
3Area of moving object
If the pitch between feed antenna and parasitic antennas is reduced to increase beamwidth, then the angular coverage is improved, but the radio wave synthesis effect in oblique directions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing the pitch between feed and parasitic antennas to specific ranges (0.4λ to 0.6λ). This parameter optimization enables the parasitic antennas to effectively couple with feed antennas, achieving beamwidth enhancement while maintaining adequate gain in oblique directions. The specific pitch range balances beamwidth expansion with power synthesis effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using parasitic antennas that are substantially the same shape as feed antennas but positioned at specific pitches. Rather than using fully identical antenna configurations, the partial replication of antenna elements at optimized positions achieves the desired beamwidth enhancement while maintaining sufficient gain through selective electromagnetic coupling.
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
This configuration increases the 3 dB beamwidth by up to 52.2% compared to conventional antenna units, allowing for improved angular coverage and directivity adjustment even in constrained spaces.
Implementation Method 1
radio waves radiated from the single feed antenna propagate to the pair of parasitic antennas. The pair of parasitic antennas radiate radio waves with a different phase from those radiated from the single feed antenna
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an antenna unit capable of suitably increasing a 3 dB beamwidth. An antenna unit includes a single feed antenna provided on a dielectric body, and a pair of parasitic antennas provided on one side and another side of the single feed antenna in the dielectric body, and the feed antenna includes a feed line, and a feed body portion including a radiation element supplied with power through the feed line, the pair of parasitic antennas each include a parasitic body portion that has substantially the same shape as the feed body portion, pitches between the feed antenna and the pair of parasitic antennas are substantially equal to each other, and the pitches are each within a range from 0.4λ+{(λ/2)×n} to 0.6λ+{(λ/2)×n} inclusive, where λ denotes a free space wavelength (n is an integer that is 0 or more).