Gravity-Steered Antenna Structure for Vertical Beam Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antennas face challenges in adjusting their main radiation direction to align with the expected direction due to environmental deviations, leading to compromised communication quality, and existing beam steering technologies involve complex mechanical or electrical components.
Innovation Solution
An antenna structure featuring a printed circuit board with a fluid-filled insulation cavity and a movable metal part that utilizes gravity and buoyancy to automatically adjust the main radiation direction, forming a dielectric resonator for resonance and radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional mechanical or electrical beam steering methods are used, then the main radiation direction can be adjusted to a specific direction, but the device complexity increases due to phase shift circuits and electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex phase shift circuit and electronic control components from the antenna system. Instead, it uses a simple mechanical structure with a movable reflector element that can be positioned by a single actuator, thereby achieving beam steering functionality while eliminating the complex electronic control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical/electronic beam steering mechanism (phase shift circuits) with a mechanical system. A movable reflector element is physically repositioned using a mechanical actuator to change the radiation direction, substituting electronic control with a simpler mechanical adjustment system.
2Reliability
If the antenna structure uses a fixed radiation pattern, then the manufacturing complexity is low, but the communication quality deteriorates when the main radiation direction deviates from the expected direction due to environmental factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the antenna structure by incorporating a movable reflector element that can change its position in response to environmental deviations. This dynamic mechanism allows the antenna to adapt its radiation pattern and main lobe direction, improving communication quality while maintaining relatively simple construction.
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 antenna structure effectively aligns its main radiation direction with the vertical direction, enhancing communication quality by simplifying the adjustment process without complex components.
Implementation Method 1
The metal part is subjected to gravity and buoyancy in the fluid, resulting in a resultant force that always points to a vertical direction
Implementation Method 2
The metal part is subjected to gravity and buoyancy in the fluid, resulting in a resultant force that always points to a vertical direction
Implementation Method 3
the insulation cavity, the fluid, and the metal part form a dielectric resonator that is configured to form a first resonance of the antenna structure
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide an antenna structure and a communication device. The antenna structure includes: a printed circuit board (PCB), which includes a ground plane and a feed part. The feed part is disposed on the PCB. The antenna structure further includes an insulation cavity that is fastened to the ground plane. The insulation cavity includes a fluid and a metal part. The metal part moves along an inner wall of the insulation cavity in the fluid as the antenna structure moves.