Low-Profile Scanning Antenna With Dual Phase-Shifting Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing two-dimensional scanning antennas are bulky, complex, energy-intensive, and require a large number of control lines, making them difficult to integrate and costly to manufacture, with limitations in fine angular de-aiming and reliability issues due to mechanical and electronic components.

Innovation Solution

A two-dimensional beam scanning antenna using a waveguide with a first and second electronically reconfigurable phase-shifting surface, comprising elementary phase-shifting cells and bands, controlled by a reduced number of lines to achieve independent beam orientation in two orthogonal planes, utilizing PIN diodes or varactors for phase-shift control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If mechanical scanning is used to achieve two-dimensional beam steering, then the antenna can control beam direction dynamically, but the antenna becomes bulky, heavy, and requires substantial maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam steering reliabilityVSAvoidantenna weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical scanning components with an electronic phased array system that uses phase shifters and signal processing to achieve beam steering. This eliminates heavy mechanical structures, servomotors, and universal joints while maintaining the ability to dynamically control beam direction through electronic means, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Speed

If phased-array antennas are used for electronic scanning, then mechanical inertia is eliminated and fast angular scanning is enabled, but the large number of elementary antennas makes manufacturing complex and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveangular scanning speedVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the phased array into multiple sub-arrays or groups of elementary antennas that can be manufactured and tested independently before final assembly. This segmentation reduces the complexity of manufacturing the complete array by breaking it into manageable modules, while still enabling fast electronic beam scanning through coordinated control of the sub-arrays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the elementary antennas and phase shifters to be multi-functional components that can serve multiple purposes: radiation, phase control, and potentially amplitude control. This universality reduces the total number of discrete components needed, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining fast electronic scanning capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If hybrid mechanical/electronic scanning is used, then some electronic scanning capability is achieved, but mechanical aiming remains slow and bulk is too large

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning capabilityVSAvoidantenna volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent completely replaces the mechanical positioner with an electronic phased array system that achieves two-dimensional scanning through phase control in two orthogonal directions. This eliminates the need for mechanical aiming mechanisms, reducing the antenna volume while maintaining full adaptability for scanning in both azimuth and elevation planes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 provides a compact, energy-efficient, and easily integrable antenna with simplified control electronics, capable of fine angular scanning without mechanical inertia, reducing the number of control lines and manufacturing complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a waveguide intended to be powered by a microwave source and to supply a quasi-planar wave propagating in a first direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWaveguide: Waveguide

Implementation Method 2

a first reflective phase-shifting surface adapted to receive the wave supplied by the microwave source propagating in a direction opposite to the first direction and to reflect it in the first direction after the elementary phase-shifting cells have applied thereto first phase-shift values

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20260018798A1Low-profile antenna with two-dimensional electronic scanning

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES

AI summary

A two-dimensional beam scanning antenna includes a folded parallel-plate waveguide that emits a quasi-planar wave in a first direction; a linear array of stubs extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first; a first and a second phase-shifting surface which have elementary phase-shifting cells and elementary phase-shifting bands, respectively. Each band is associated with a stub; and a first and a second set of control lines, controlling the phase shifts of the elementary phase-shifting cells and bands, respectively, so as to control the orientation of the beam in a plane orthogonal to the first and the second direction, respectively. The first phase-shifting surface is a reflective phase-shifting surface, which receives the planar wave propagating in the first direction and reflects it in the opposite direction after phase-shifting.