Meandered Slotted Waveguide for Fixed-Frequency Beam Steering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current waveguides and antennas face challenges in providing cost-effective and complex-free beam steering at a fixed frequency, especially for satellite on-the-move applications, due to the need for numerous phase shifters and limited scanning ranges in existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide design that includes a male and female member arrangement allowing configuration changes to alter effective delay lines, enabling beam steering at a fixed frequency with reduced complexity and cost, using actuators to move the waveguide between configurations and adjusting phase shifters for additional scanning capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If phase shifters are used for beam steering in each radiating element, then beam steering capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple radiating elements into a single waveguide structure where a common delay line controls the phase for all elements. Instead of having independent phase shifters for each element, the invention merges the phase control function into a shared delay line mechanism that affects the entire array uniformly, thereby reducing the number of active components while maintaining beam steering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the transmission medium and the phase control mechanism. The delay line integrated into the waveguide performs the phase shifting function that would otherwise require separate phase shifter components for each radiating element, making the waveguide a multi-functional component that reduces overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ferroelectric or ferromagnetic materials are used with external bias fields, then permittivity or permeability modification is achieved, but reconfiguration rate is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the slow electrical reconfiguration method (using ferroelectric/ferromagnetic materials with external bias fields) with a mechanical adjustment system. The delay line is physically reconfigured using mechanical means such as movable shorts or adjustable transmission line sections, which can be repositioned faster than the time required to apply and stabilize external bias fields on material properties.
Data Source
AI summary
A waveguide 200 for a leaky wave antenna 20 is described. The waveguide 200 comprises a male member 210 (210A-210T) and a corresponding female member 220 (220A-220T) arranged to receive the male member 210 (210A-210T) therein. The waveguide is arrangeable in a first configuration and a second configuration. The male member 210 (210A-210T) is received in the female member 220 (220A-220T) spaced apart therefrom in the first configuration and the second configuration. The first configuration defines a first effective delay line. The second configuration defines a second effective delay line. The first effective delay line is different from the second effective delay line. The leaky wave antenna 20 is also described.