Interleaved Antenna Array with High Dynamic Range Amplifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna systems for vehicles, particularly aircraft, face challenges due to the bulkiness and high cost of diplexers and circulators, which introduce signal losses and are not suitable for space and weight-constrained environments.
Innovation Solution
A planar array of interleaved receive and transmit antenna elements with high dynamic range amplifiers (HDRA) that distribute total transmit power leakage among multiple receive elements, eliminating the need for bulky diplexers and circulators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If diplexers or circulators are used to isolate receive and transmit signals, then signal isolation is improved, but device size and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the signal isolation function from bulky passive components (diplexers/circulators) and implements it through active signal processing at the antenna element level. Each antenna element incorporates independent receive and transmit circuits with timing control, eliminating the need for large isolation components while maintaining signal separation through controlled activation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the antenna system into independent antenna elements, where each element has its own receive and transmit circuits. This segmentation allows simultaneous transmission and reception across different elements without requiring system-level isolation components, reducing overall device weight while maintaining signal isolation through spatial and temporal separation.
2Reliability
If diplexers or circulators are used to isolate receive and transmit signals, then signal isolation is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes expensive passive isolation components and replaces them with cost-effective active circuits integrated at each antenna element. The receive and transmit circuits are implemented using standard semiconductor components with timing control, significantly reducing material costs while achieving the required signal isolation through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identical receive and transmit circuit designs replicated across multiple antenna elements, allowing for standardized mass production. This copying approach reduces development and manufacturing costs compared to custom-designed isolation components, while maintaining consistent performance across the antenna array.
3Reliability
If diplexers or circulators are used to isolate receive and transmit signals, then signal isolation is improved, but signal losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the energy losses inherent in passive diplexer and circulator components by using active receive and transmit circuits with electronic switching. The direct connection between antenna elements and processing circuits removes insertion losses, while timing control provides the necessary isolation without energy-dissipating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/passive isolation mechanisms (diplexers/circulators) with electronic control mechanisms. The timing control system electronically switches between transmit and receive modes, providing isolation through control logic rather than physical components, thereby eliminating the energy losses associated with passive signal routing.
4Reliability
If conventional antenna systems are used with diplexers and circulators, then signal isolation is achieved, but space constraints are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna system into compact independent elements, each with integrated receive and transmit circuits. This segmentation eliminates the need for large central isolation components, allowing the antenna array to be distributed across a smaller overall area while maintaining signal isolation through element-level control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the isolation function from large passive components and implements it through compact active circuits at each antenna element. This extraction reduces the overall system footprint significantly, making the antenna system suitable for space-constrained applications while maintaining effective signal isolation.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna system is provided. The antenna system includes a planar array of antenna elements configured to operate as an array having a plurality of receive (Rx) antenna elements for receiving a signal in a first frequency band and a plurality of transmit (Tx) antenna elements for transmitting a signal in a second frequency band. The Rx antenna elements and the Tx antenna elements are interleaved in a pattern such that total Tx power leakage is distributed among the plurality of Rx antenna elements. Furthermore, each Rx antenna element is provided with a high dynamic range amplifier (HDRA) for amplifying a receive signal and filtering any Tx power leakage at each Rx antenna element.