Low-Profile Directional Antenna Array Using Delay Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing directional antennas are either too long for stealthy and rapid deployment or lack the necessary directional characteristics for effective signal reception and transmission over a wide range of frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile directional antenna array is designed with a central rod inserted into a lossy medium, featuring radially extending conductors with insulation and a delay network to provide signal time delay, allowing for directional signal attenuation and bi-directional or multi-directional responses by adjusting relay connections and buffer amplifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the antenna uses a traditional directional design (such as right-triangle loops or Beverage antenna), then directional characteristics are achieved, but the antenna length becomes excessively long (exceeding one wavelength for Beverage antenna)
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna divides the traditional long directional antenna into multiple short conductor elements (first conductor and second conductor), each less than one-quarter wavelength long. These segmented elements are arranged radially around a central rod and combined through a delay network and signal combiner to achieve directional characteristics without requiring excessive length.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single linear antenna element to a two-dimensional radial arrangement of multiple conductors around a central rod. This spatial configuration in multiple directions enables directional signal processing through the delay network while keeping each individual conductor short.
2Shape
If the antenna is designed for rapid deployment and stealth installation, then the antenna profile is reduced, but directional characteristics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the antenna into multiple short conductors arranged radially, each element can be kept compact and low-profile while the collective arrangement through the delay network maintains directional characteristics. This segmentation allows ground-level installation without requiring tall vertical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The delay network acts as an intermediary that processes signals from the multiple short conductors, introducing time delays that create constructive interference in the desired direction and destructive interference in other directions. This intermediary component enables directional response without requiring long physical antenna elements.
3Length of moving object
If the conductor length is reduced to less than one-quarter wavelength for compactness, then deployment is simplified, but directional characteristics are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges signals from multiple short conductors (first conductor and second conductor, each less than one-quarter wavelength) through a signal combiner. The delay network introduces appropriate time delays to synchronize these signals, creating a unified directional response that compensates for the short individual element lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from relying on the length of individual conductors to achieving directionality through the spatial arrangement of multiple conductors in different radial directions. The delay network processes these multi-dimensional signals to create the directional pattern, eliminating the need for long individual elements.
4Ease of operation
If the antenna is installed at ground level for frequencies below 30 MHz, then deployment flexibility is improved, but signal reception quality deteriorates due to ground losses
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses multiple short conductor elements that are insulated from the ground, creating virtual images in the ground plane. This copying effect through image theory allows the antenna to achieve ground-level installation while minimizing direct ground losses, as the insulated conductors interact with their image counterparts rather than directly with the lossy ground.
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 solution enables a compact, stealthy, and rapidly deployable antenna array that provides directional signal reception and transmission over a wide frequency range, effectively attenuating signals from undesired directions while favoring specific directions through precise signal delay and relay configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a delay network that is connected to the second coupler in signal transfer relation and is configured to provide signal time delay
Implementation Method 2
the delay is fashioned to determine a directional characteristic of the antenna array... signals traveling from the first direction are attenuated within the combiner by a lesser amount than signals coming from the second direction
Implementation Method 3
a rod that is located at the center of the array and is inserted into a surface of a lossy medium
Implementation Method 4
The first and second conductors are insulated from the lossy medium
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure includes a compact directional antenna array that has a low profile, is easy to deploy and provides a directional response over a wide range of frequencies. The array includes one or more pairs of equal length conductors that are arranged radially about the center of the array. The conductors follow the surface of a lossy medium and are each referenced to a conductive rod that is inserted into the medium. The directional response of the array is selectable by means of a series of configurable relays or switches that route some signals through a delay network to a combiner and other signals directly to the combiner.