Co-located GPS DRA and Proximity Radar Antenna
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuze applications with side-mounted GPS antennas experience performance degradation due to carrier-phase roll-up, and side-mounted proximity radar antennas require complex integration and environmental protection, compromising optimal operation.
Innovation Solution
A proximity radar antenna is co-located with a GPS Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA) fuze, where the radar antenna is nested inside the GPS DRA fuze, utilizing an E-field null to maintain electrical isolation and allow both antennas to be nose-mounted, leveraging the high dielectric constant for efficient operation in L1 frequency and C-Band resonance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If GPS antenna is mounted on the side of the fuze, then space is saved on the nose, but performance degradation occurs due to carrier-phase roll-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines both GPS and proximity radar antennas on the nose of the fuze by nesting the proximity radar antenna inside the GPS DRA fuze structure. This merging of antenna locations on the nose eliminates the need for side mounting while maintaining optimal performance for both systems through the E-field null isolation technique.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity radar antenna is nested inside the GPS DRA fuze structure, with the radar antenna positioned within the E-field null region of the dielectric resonator. This nesting arrangement allows both antennas to coexist on the nose without interfering with each other's performance.
2Reliability
If proximity radar antenna is mounted on the fuse tip, then optimal radar operation is achieved, but GPS antenna location is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Both antennas are merged on the nose of the fuze rather than separating them. The proximity radar antenna is positioned at the tip/optimal location while the GPS DRA fuze occupies the same general nose region, with the radar antenna nested inside the GPS structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximity radar antenna is nested within the GPS DRA fuze structure, allowing the radar antenna to maintain its optimal tip-mounted position while the GPS antenna occupies the same spatial region without interference due to the E-field null isolation.
3Reliability
If both antennas are mounted on the nose, then optimal performance for both GPS and radar is achieved, but space constraints and interference issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The E-field null region of the GPS DRA fuze acts as an intermediary isolation zone that separates the electromagnetic fields of the two antennas. This natural electromagnetic isolation eliminates the need for complex shielding or filtering structures, simplifying the overall integration while maintaining optimal performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention exploits the specific electromagnetic field distribution parameters of the GPS DRA fuze, particularly the E-field null at the center of the dielectric cone. By positioning the radar antenna at this specific location with specific orientation, electromagnetic isolation is achieved without adding complex interference mitigation structures.
4Volume of moving object
If antennas are co-located on the nose, then space is reduced, but electrical interference between antennas increases
Solution Approach 1:
The E-field null region serves as a natural electromagnetic intermediary that isolates the two antennas. The GPS DRA fuze structure with its specific resonant mode creates an electromagnetic environment where the radar antenna operates independently without interfering with GPS signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the local electromagnetic property of the E-field null region within the GPS DRA fuze. By positioning the radar antenna specifically in this region with specific orientation, the local electromagnetic isolation prevents interference while allowing compact co-location of both antennas.
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 enables optimal GPS and proximity radar operations with reduced space usage, maintaining circular polarization for GPS and linear polarization for radar, while ensuring electrical isolation and efficient form factor utilization.
Implementation Method 1
The GPS DRA fuze operates in the L1 frequency and has a HE11δ mode structure resulting in an E-field null at the center of the GPS DRA fuze's DRA dielectric cone
Implementation Method 2
The high dielectric constant of DRA dielectric cone permits the GPS DRA fuze to operate in the L1 frequency and the electrically shortened proximity radar antenna to resonate in the C-Band within a small form factor
Implementation Method 3
The proximity radar antenna is a monopole, located within GPS DRA fuze, resonates in the C-Band
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a fuze application capable of GPS (Global Positioning System) and proximity radar functionality by co-locating a proximity radar antenna with a GPS DRA (Dielectric Resonator Antenna) fuze. The GPS DRA fuze has a HE11δ mode structure resulting in an E-field null at the center. The monopole proximity radar antenna is mounted in the E-field null center and is thus electrically isolated from the GPS DRA fuze. The high dielectric constant permits the GPS DRA fuze to operate in the L1 frequency and the electrically shortened proximity radar antenna to resonate in the C-Band within a small form factor. The GPS DRA fuze maintains a forward-looking CP (circular polarization) pattern while proximity antenna maintains a desirable monopole pattern. Nesting allows mounting of both GPS and proximity radar antennas on the fuze nose while reducing the total space occupied.