Folded Rotman Lens for Compact Antenna Arrays

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Rotman lenses are large and bulky, leading to high attenuation and scattering losses, making them unsuitable for portable applications and networks of antennas, which limits their deployment in various systems.

Innovation Solution

A foldable Rotman lens is constructed using a pliable medium with a conductor pattern, allowing for the creation of a compact beamforming apparatus with beam ports and element ports, which can be coupled to antenna elements, reducing size and maintaining operational effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional Rotman lens is used, then beamforming capability is achieved, but the device size becomes large and bulky

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeamforming capabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The Rotman lens is divided into multiple panels that can be folded together, transforming a single large structure into a compact folded configuration while preserving the beamforming functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lens structure is folded along specific axes to reduce its footprint in certain dimensions, utilizing three-dimensional folding to achieve compact deployment while maintaining the operational surface area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a conventional Rotman lens is used, then beamforming function is provided, but attenuation and scattering losses increase due to large size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeamforming functionVSAvoidattenuation and scattering losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the lens into smaller folded panels reduces the total path length through the lens material and structure, thereby reducing cumulative attenuation and scattering losses while maintaining beamforming performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The use of a flexible substrate enables a thinner, folded construction that reduces material thickness and structural complexity, leading to lower attenuation and scattering losses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Volume of moving object

If the size of Rotman lens is reduced, then portability is improved, but deployment in antenna networks becomes limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens sizeVSAvoiddeployability in antenna networks

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The folded panel structure creates a compact, portable form factor that can be easily deployed in various configurations for antenna networks while maintaining full functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible, folded design allows the lens to be dynamically deployed and configured for different antenna network applications, transitioning from a compact stored state to an operational state as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11374336B2Folded Rotman lens and array antenna using same

Publication Date: 2022.06.28 LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP

AI summary

A beamforming apparatus is constructed from a pliable medium and a conductor pattern disposed on the pliable medium to form a foldable Rotman lens.