Integrated Antenna Feed Network Reducing Cascading Mismatch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna feed networks experience cascading mismatch issues due to independently designed power splitters, phase shifters, and filters, leading to increased insertion loss, performance degradation, and larger circuit volume, while requiring adjustments for optimal phase distribution during beamforming.
Innovation Solution
An integrated feed network for an antenna array that combines filtering, power splitting, and phase shifting using upper and lower metal floors, metal connecting posts, coaxial feed terminals, suspended dielectric substrates, and strip lines, allowing for adjustable phase differences by positioning the phase-adjusting dielectric substrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If power splitters, phase shifters, and filters are independently designed and cascaded to form a feed network, then each component can be optimized individually, but cascading mismatch problems occur resulting in increased insertion loss and larger circuit volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power splitting, phase shifting, and filtering functions into a single integrated feed network structure. The power splitter, phase shifters, and filter are designed as one unified circuit rather than separate cascaded components, eliminating interface mismatches between stages and reducing overall insertion loss while maintaining individual function optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated feed network performs multiple functions simultaneously: power division, phase adjustment, and signal filtering. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate cascaded components, reducing both insertion loss and circuit volume while achieving the required performance for each function.
2Manufacturing precision
If power splitters, phase shifters, and filters are independently designed and cascaded, then each component can be optimized individually, but the overall circuit volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power splitting, phase shifting, and filtering circuits into a single integrated structure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate physical components and their interconnections, significantly reducing the overall circuit volume while maintaining individual component optimization through careful design of each functional section within the integrated architecture.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional cascaded feed networks are used, then the structure is simple to implement, but phase distribution adjustment flexibility is limited for optimal beamforming
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated feed network incorporates adjustable phase shifters that can dynamically adjust phase distribution across different output channels. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt phase patterns for different beamforming requirements while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure that is easier to manufacture than multiple separate components.
4Manufacturing precision
If independently designed components are cascaded, then each component can be optimized, but cascading mismatch causes performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges power splitting, phase shifting, and filtering into a unified integrated design. This eliminates the cascading interfaces between separately optimized components that cause mismatch and performance degradation. The integrated design ensures proper impedance matching and signal integrity throughout the entire feed network while maintaining the ability to optimize each functional section.
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 integrated design reduces cascading mismatch, minimizes circuit insertion loss, and enhances overall performance by conveniently controlling phase differences for antenna beamforming, while reducing circuit volume and improving signal matching.
Implementation Method 1
two phase-adjusting dielectric substrates cover the one-to-three filtering power splitting unit, part of the two first phase-shifting lines and the two second phase-shifting lines
Implementation Method 2
the suspended dielectric substrate is positioned horizontally between the two phase-adjusting dielectric substrates
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a feed network for an antenna array with integrated filtering, power splitting and phase shifting, comprising upper and lower metal floors, metal connecting posts, coaxial feed terminals, a suspended dielectric substrate, suspended strip lines and two phase-adjusting dielectric substrates; the upper and lower metal floors share a common ground through the metal connecting posts, the suspended strip lines are provided on the suspended dielectric substrate, the suspended dielectric substrate is positioned horizontally between the two phase-adjusting dielectric substrates, the two phase-adjusting dielectric substrates are positioned horizontally between the upper and lower metal floors; the suspended strip lines comprise a one-to-three filtering power splitting unit, two one-to-two unequal filtering power splitting units, two first phase-shifting lines and two second phase-shifting lines, the two phase-adjusting dielectric substrates cover the one-to-three filtering power splitting unit, part of the two first phase-shifting lines and the two second phase-shifting lines. The invention provides integrated design of the three functional circuits with filtering, power splitting and phase shifting to avoid cascading mismatch between different functional circuits in conventional designs.