Foldable Reflect Array for Portable Microwave Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable microwave and millimeter wave systems face a compromise between achieving a narrow output beam and portability due to the large surface area required by traditional geometrically curved primary reflectors, which are impractical for compact form factors.
Innovation Solution
A foldable primary reflector composed of multiple sub-arrays joined by hinges or other mechanisms, allowing the system to maintain a large aperture during use while compacting into a smaller form for transport, utilizing a geometrically-flat electrically-parabolic surface reflector antenna with varying dual-polarized dipole elements to control wavefront shaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a large-area primary reflector is used to form a narrow output beam, then beam quality is improved, but portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The primary reflector is divided into multiple flat sub-arrays that can be folded together to form a large aperture when deployed, yet compacted into a small package when not in use. Each sub-array contains multiple dipole elements that collectively create the desired beam pattern while allowing the overall structure to be portable.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector structure transitions from a static large-area design to a dynamic foldable configuration. The sub-arrays can be folded along hinge lines to reduce the overall footprint for transport, then unfolded to restore the large aperture needed for narrow beam formation, enabling the system to adapt its physical dimensions based on operational requirements.
2Speed
If a geometrically curved reflector is used to achieve narrow beam divergence, then beam narrowness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a complex geometrically curved reflector surface, the patent employs an array of flat dipole elements that electronically replicate the phase and amplitude distribution required to produce a narrow collimated beam. The dipole array copies the functional effect of a curved reflector through controlled electromagnetic radiation from multiple discrete elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical complexity of a curved reflector surface is replaced by an array of flat dipole elements with controlled electrical properties. Rather than physically curving the reflector surface, the desired beam shaping is achieved through the electrical characteristics and spatial arrangement of the dipole elements, substituting mechanical geometry with electromagnetic control.
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
Enables a portable system to achieve a narrow output beam while maintaining a compact form factor, enhancing portability without compromising beam quality through the use of a foldable reflector that adapts to different curvature emulations.
Implementation Method 1
a geometrically-flat electrically-parabolic surface reflector antenna composed of a array of dipole elements
Implementation Method 2
The angular size, or divergence, of the output beam may be determined, at least in part, by diffraction from the aperture defined by the final beam forming element
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable reflect array may include a plurality of geometrically-flat reflect antennas. Each of the reflect antennas may include a respective plurality of antenna elements to receive and retransmit an incident wavefront, and each of the plurality of reflect antennas may be foldably coupled to at least one other of the plurality of reflect antennas.