GRIN Lens Antenna Array With Fewer Feeds for Wide Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phased arrays require a large number of active elements to maintain performance over a wide beam steering range, leading to high power consumption and increased costs due to the need for all elements to be powered continuously, which limits their efficiency and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna system utilizing electrically large GRIN lenses with a reduced number of feed elements, where each lens has multiple feeds in its focal region, allowing for beam steering without moving parts by selecting active feeds or physically moving them, thereby reducing the number of components and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional phased arrays use closely-spaced feeds to preserve performance over wide beam steering range, then beam steering performance is improved, but the number of elements increases leading to high power consumption and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is divided into multiple lens elements instead of using a continuous array of feeds. Each lens element processes a portion of the aperture, reducing the total number of active components while maintaining wide beam steering capability through the gradient index lens design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gradient index lenses where the refractive index varies spatially to achieve beam steering without requiring dense feed arrays. By changing the refractive index parameter distribution within each lens, the system achieves wide-angle beam steering with fewer elements, directly reducing power consumption.
2Reliability
If conventional phased arrays increase the number of elements to maintain aperture efficiency, then aperture efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each gradient index lens element serves multiple functions: it focuses energy, steers beams, and maintains aperture efficiency simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components that would otherwise be required in conventional phased arrays to achieve the same performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple identical or similar lens elements arranged in an array, where each element is a replicated version of the optimized lens design. This copying approach simplifies manufacturing and reduces complexity compared to designing and implementing a unique feed structure for each array element.
3Reliability
If conventional phased arrays use densely packed feeds to eliminate grating lobes, then radiation pattern quality is improved, but the number of active elements increases leading to higher cost
Solution Approach 1:
The gradient index parameter distribution within each lens is specifically designed to control the radiation pattern and eliminate grating lobes. By optimizing the refractive index profile rather than increasing element density, the system achieves high radiation pattern quality with fewer components, reducing manufacturing cost.
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 system achieves efficient beam steering with fewer components and lower power consumption compared to conventional phased arrays, while maintaining comparable performance, and allows for multiple simultaneous beams, enhancing applications such as satellite communications and on-the-move communications.
Implementation Method 1
electrically large GRIN lenses with a reduced number of feed elements, where each lens has multiple feeds in its focal region
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system that includes a plurality of lens sets. Each lens set includes a lens and at least one feed element. At least one feed element is aligned with the lens and configured to direct a signal through the lens at a desired direction.