Leaky-Wave Antenna With Dispersive Lens for mm-Wave Beam Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Leaky-wave antennas face challenges with dispersion behavior and limited scanning capabilities, which affect their bandwidth and suitability for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radio communications, especially at mm-wave frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A leaky-wave antenna design incorporating a dispersive lens structure, such as a 2D prism, allows for multi-beam capability without a feed network, enabling beam steering through a switching arrangement and integrated filter solutions, making it suitable for 5G applications with reduced complexity and losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional leaky-wave antenna is used, then the structure is simple and can be made all-metallic, but the dispersion behavior causes frequency scanning and limited bandwidth operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a leaky-wave antenna with a dispersive lens structure into a single integrated device. The lens structure is formed as an extension of the waveguide structure itself, merging the antenna function with the beam-steering function. This integration allows the antenna to achieve multi-beam capability and improved bandwidth without adding separate feed networks or complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispersive lens structure enables dynamic beam steering by exploiting frequency-dependent phase delays. Different frequency components of the signal are steered at different angles, allowing the antenna to dynamically adjust beam direction based on the operating frequency. This dynamic behavior compensates for the inherent frequency scanning of leaky-wave antennas and enables adaptive beamforming.
2Ease of operation
If an antenna array with feed network is used, then beam-forming capabilities with narrow beam and high gain are achieved, but the feed network is complex to realize at mm-waves due to size constraints and dielectric losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the feed network from the antenna system by using a single feed point for the leaky-wave antenna. The beam-forming capability is achieved not through multiple fed elements but through the inherent directional radiation pattern of the leaky-wave structure combined with the dispersive lens, which steers the beam based on frequency rather than requiring complex phase control networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical feed network system with a dispersive optical-like system. Instead of using electrical phase shifters and multiple feed points, the antenna uses frequency-dependent phase delays created by the dispersive lens structure to achieve beam steering, substituting a simpler electromagnetic mechanism for the complex feed network.
3Power
If reflectors or lenses are used to achieve high gain, then the antenna gain is improved, but the structure becomes bulky and unsuitable for mobile communications
Solution Approach 1:
The dispersive lens structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a beam-steering element, a frequency-selective component, and a gain-enhancing structure. By integrating these functions into a single compact component that is co-planar with the waveguide, the antenna achieves high gain without requiring separate bulky reflectors or lens assemblies.
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 design addresses dispersion issues and provides beam-scanning capabilities, enhancing bandwidth and efficiency by allowing multi-beam operation and integrated filter solutions, making it suitable for mm-wave frequencies without the need for complex feed networks.
Implementation Method 1
LWAs are classified as traveling wave antennas and consists of a guiding structure in which discontinuities are introduced, resulting in a leakage of energy that is radiating out of the structure
Implementation Method 2
The dispersion behaviour of leaky-wave antennas causes the main beam to be frequency-scanned
Implementation Method 3
a dispersive lens structure, such as a 2D prism, allows for multi-beam capability
Data Source
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AI summary
An antenna device (1) and an antenna stack (20) comprising at least two antenna devices are disclosed. The antenna device comprises a leaky wave antenna structure comprising a waveguide structure (2) extending in a first plane along a first axis (101), wherein the waveguide structure comprises two opposite end portions (3) along the first axis, and a first feed point and a second feed point arranged at opposite end portions of the waveguide structure. The antenna device further comprises a dispersive lens structure (6) having an edge extending along the waveguide structure in the first plane, the dispersive lens structure having an extension along a second axis (102) extending in the first plane in a second direction perpendicular to the first axis. The waveguide structure further comprises a plurality of discontinuities along an interface between the waveguide structure and the dispersive lens structure for leaking electromagnetic energy into dispersive lens structure.