Fresnel Phase Lens for 5G Antenna Gain
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna designs for 5G networks face challenges in increasing antenna gain without overheating, limiting the distance between antennas and requiring numerous antenna units for efficient signal transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
A glass-ceramic Fresnel phase lens is used to collimate electromagnetic radiation, featuring alternating radial regions of prescribed depths, which can be machined using conventional tooling to enhance antenna gain and increase broadcast distance by focusing transmitted beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If antenna gain is increased to extend broadcast distance, then signal transmission distance is improved, but overheating occurs limiting further gain increases
Solution Approach 1:
A Fresnel phase lens made of glass-ceramic material is introduced as an intermediary component between the antenna array and the propagation medium. The lens collimates the electromagnetic radiation transmitted by the antenna array, focusing the energy in a directional manner to extend broadcast distance without requiring increased antenna gain that would cause overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the transmission system by introducing a lens with specific optical properties (refractive index, focal length) that modify the propagation characteristics of electromagnetic waves. The glass-ceramic material parameters are selected to be transparent to 5G frequency ranges (20-100 GHz), enabling effective collimation without thermal issues.
2Reliability
If numerous antenna units are deployed to improve signal coverage, then network coverage is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The Fresnel phase lens serves as a mediating optical element that enhances the performance of each individual antenna unit. By collimating the transmitted beams, each antenna unit achieves extended effective coverage distance, thereby reducing the total number of antenna units required to achieve a given network coverage target.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional antenna designs are used to simplify system structure, then ease of manufacture is improved, but overheating limits performance enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
The glass-ceramic Fresnel phase lens is introduced as an additional optical component that works passively with conventional antenna designs. The lens collimates the electromagnetic radiation without requiring modifications to the antenna structure itself, maintaining ease of manufacture while preventing overheating by extending effective broadcast distance.
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 Fresnel phase lens effectively reduces the number of antenna units needed in a network by increasing broadcast distance while minimizing overheating issues, allowing for more efficient 5G signal transmission and reception.
Implementation Method 1
A glass-ceramic Fresnel phase lens is used to collimate electromagnetic radiation, featuring alternating radial regions of prescribed depths
Implementation Method 2
The Fresnel phase lens effectively reduces the number of antenna units needed in a network by increasing broadcast distance while minimizing overheating issues, allowing for more efficient 5G signal transmission and reception
Data Source
AI summary
A Fresnel phase lens for a 5G antenna is described herein. The Fresnel phase lens includes a glass-ceramic material having a first major surface and a second major surface. The first major surface and the second major surface define a thickness therebetween, and the first major surface defines a plane. The glass-ceramic material includes a first plurality rings having first ring surfaces in the plane and a second plurality of rings having second ring surfaces at a first depth into the thickness and below the plane. The glass ceramic material is transparent to electromagnetic radiation having a frequency of from 20 GHz to 100 GHz.