Horn Antenna Array Contoured Surface Mutual Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna array systems face performance degradation due to mutual coupling between closely spaced horn elements, which is typically addressed by adding additional components that increase costs and reduce reliability.
Innovation Solution
The antenna array incorporates horns with contoured electrically conductive external surfaces to reduce mutual coupling, featuring an abrupt change in gap dimension at a distance equal to an integer multiple of half the characteristic wavelength, creating an RF choke that minimizes coupling between adjacent horns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If additional components are added between radiating elements to reduce mutual coupling, then mutual coupling suppression is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the mutual coupling suppression function from separate additional components and integrates it into the horn structure itself through the contoured external surface. The contouring creates an RF choke effect that suppresses mutual coupling without requiring separate suppression components between elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the mutual coupling suppression function with the horn structure by incorporating the contoured external surface directly into the horn. This combines the radiating element and the coupling suppression mechanism into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate suppression elements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If additional components are added between radiating elements to reduce mutual coupling, then mutual coupling suppression is improved, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the need for separate mutual coupling suppression components by extracting the suppression function and embedding it within the horn structure through contouring. This eliminates additional failure mechanisms associated with separate suppression components.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the suppression function into the horn structure itself, the invention reduces the total number of components and potential failure points, thereby improving overall system reliability while maintaining coupling suppression performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If horn aperture diameter is increased to improve radiation properties, then peak directivity is improved, but center-to-center spacing must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses the spacing problem by modifying the horn structure in the axial dimension through contouring, rather than increasing aperture diameter. The contoured external surface creates an RF choke effect that suppresses mutual coupling, allowing closer spacing without compromising radiation properties or directivity.
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 approach effectively reduces mutual coupling, enhancing radiation properties and improving peak directivity and cross-polarization performance without the need for additional components, thereby increasing the reliability and efficiency of the antenna system.
Implementation Method 1
the external surface contoured so as to provide an abrupt change in a gap dimension between the first horn and an adjacent horn, the change occurring at a distance behind the aperture approximately equal to an integer multiple of one half the characteristic wavelength of the RF band
Data Source
AI summary
An array of antenna feed elements includes a plurality of horns, each horn having an aperture and configured for transmission of electromagnetic energy therethrough. At least a first horn is configured with an electrically conductive external surface proximate to the aperture, the external surface contoured so as to reduce mutual coupling between the first horn and an adjacent horn. Where the electromagnetic energy is within a radio frequency (RF) band, the external surface is contoured so as to provide an abrupt change in a gap dimension between the first horn and an adjacent horn, the change occurring at a distance behind the aperture of equal to a multiple of one half the characteristic wavelength of the RF band.