Integrated Antenna Unit Layout for Compact Large-Scale MIMO Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional phased-array antennas are complex, bulky, and costly due to the need for multiple sub-arrays, cavity-backed components, and additional connectors, which increase weight, complexity, and feed line dimensions, making them inefficient and costly to develop and implement.
Innovation Solution
An integrated antenna unit is proposed, featuring an integrated radiating element with a compact board, a reflect board without direct contact, and an RF component device placed beneath the radiating element on the reflect board, allowing efficient use of space for RF components and simplifying the antenna structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple sub-arrays are combined in traditional phased-array antennas to boost gain, then antenna gain is improved, but antenna dimension and feed line complexity heavily increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the balun and radiating surface into a single integrated radiating element structure. The balun is directly formed on the radiating surface using conductive patterns on PCB substrates, eliminating the need for separate balun components and their associated feed lines. This integration significantly reduces feed line complexity while maintaining the antenna gain achieved through sub-array combinations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cavity-backed components are used at the back of the antenna, then signal processing capability is improved, but antenna weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the balun function from traditional cavity-backed components and integrates it directly into the radiating surface. By removing the need for separate cavity structures to house baluns and other RF components, the antenna weight is significantly reduced while signal processing capability is maintained through planar integrated circuits and PCB-based implementations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical cavity-backed structures with planar PCB-based implementations. RF components such as baluns, phase shifters, and amplifiers are implemented as integrated circuits or printed circuit patterns on PCB substrates, eliminating heavy metal cavity structures while maintaining signal processing functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional connectors and cavities are added to support multiple sub-arrays, then antenna functionality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (balun, radiating element, feeding network) into a single integrated structure. The balun is formed as conductive patterns on the radiating surface, and feed lines are integrated as PCB traces, eliminating the need for multiple separate components, connectors, and assembly steps, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated radiating element structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the radiating surface, houses the balun, and incorporates feed lines. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the bill of materials and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining full antenna functionality.
4Stability of the object's composition
If balun is supported by a fixture structure, then structural stability is improved, but space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the balun support function into the radiating surface itself. The balun is formed as conductive patterns directly on the PCB substrates that constitute the radiating surface, eliminating the need for separate fixture structures. This integration maintains structural stability while maximizing space utilization, as the support structure is now part of the functional radiating element.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4(a)~4(c)
Figure 5~7
AI summary
An integrated antenna unit is proposed includes an integrated radiating element; a reflect board beneath the integrated radiating element without a direct contact therebetween; and an RF component device for processing signal of interest for a radio unit. The RF component device is placed beneath the integrated radiating element and on the reflecting board, and serves a support of a fixture structure of the radiating element to the reflecting board; whereby a space between the radiating element and the reflecting board can be efficiently used for the RF component device.