Collinear Microstrip Patch Antenna With Overlapping Tapered Elements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Collinear microstrip patch antennas face limitations in achieving high fractional bandwidth and low resonant frequency without increasing the antenna's total length, primarily due to the constraints of conductor size and gap interactions across insulating regions.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a substrate with elements of varying widths, featuring tapered regions that overlap, allowing the wider portions to function as both ground planes and patches, and being driven from one end, which increases the effective length and impedance variation, thereby enhancing bandwidth and reducing resonant frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the antenna length is increased to achieve lower resonant frequency and higher bandwidth, then the fractional bandwidth and resonant frequency performance improve, but the physical size and total length of the antenna increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing conductor elements on both faces of the substrate, with portions of wider width on one face overlapping with portions of narrower width on the other face. This nested arrangement allows the antenna to achieve longer electrical length and higher bandwidth without proportionally increasing the physical length of the substrate, as the overlapping portions effectively 'nest' the conductor paths within each other's spatial envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane conductor arrangement to a multi-dimensional configuration by utilizing both faces of the substrate. The conductor elements are arranged in alternating portions of wider and narrower widths across different faces, creating a three-dimensional spatial distribution that increases the effective electrical length without linearly increasing the substrate length.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conductor width is increased to improve signal strength and bandwidth, then the impedance and bandwidth improve, but the gap interactions across insulating regions become more complex and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conductor elements into alternating portions of wider width and narrower width along the axis of the substrate. This segmentation allows for controlled impedance variations and manages gap interactions by breaking down the continuous conductor into discrete, manageable sections with specific functional roles (wider portions for ground plane/patch function, narrower portions for controlled gap interactions).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different widths to different portions of the conductor elements along the axis. The wider portions provide enhanced signal strength and impedance control, while the narrower portions facilitate controlled gap interactions. This local variation in conductor width allows each section to be optimized for its specific function, managing the overall complexity of gap interactions.
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
This configuration results in a radiofrequency antenna with significantly higher fractional bandwidth and improved performance compared to previous designs, as demonstrated by frequency response curves showing stronger signal strength across a wider range of frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
In the tapered (encroaching/overlapping areas) the microstrip impedance varies significantly, thereby changing the velocity factor of these portions
Implementation Method 2
the microstrip impedance varies significantly, thereby changing the velocity factor of these portions
Implementation Method 3
This arrangement increases the effective length of antenna elements, which lowers the resonant frequency of the antenna
Data Source
AI summary
A radiofrequency collinear microstrip patch antenna includes an electrically insulating substrate longer along an axis than its width substantially perpendicular to the axis with two face portions, and an element of electrical conductor on each face portion, each including portions of narrower and wider width, a narrower width portion of one element on one face portion of the substrate substantially corresponding along the axis with a wider width portion of another element on another face portion of the substrate. One element wider width portion includes a zone of conductor across the wider width portion and a tapered region along the axis overlapping along the axis of the substrate with a narrower width portion of another element and forming an approximately concave end to the portion so the wider width portion is longer along the axis towards a side of the substrate than towards the axis, and the antenna can be driven from one end.