Microwave Beam-Forming Antenna With Array Feed Horns for Compact High Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antennas, such as the Cassegrain and horn antennas, face limitations in beam forming at high frequencies, with Cassegrain antennas being large and expensive, and horn antennas having medium gain with narrow beam widths, making them unsuitable for long-distance wireless communication and difficult to synthesize. Additionally, mechanical beam forming methods are slow and increase antenna size.
Innovation Solution
A microwave beam-forming antenna with a reduced-size Cassegrain reflector and multiple feed horn antennas, utilizing waveguides and a beam-forming chip for electric and fixed beam forming, allowing for high gain and wide beam width without increasing overall size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a Cassegrain antenna is used for high gain long-distance transmission, then antenna gain is improved, but antenna size becomes large and manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feed horn antenna is divided into multiple segmented feed horns arranged in an array. Each segmented feed horn is connected to a separate waveguide, allowing independent signal control. This segmentation enables beam forming capability while maintaining a compact overall antenna structure, resolving the contradiction between high gain and large size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-feed configuration to a multi-feed array configuration, adding spatial dimensionality to the feed structure. By arranging multiple feed horns in specific geometric patterns and controlling their individual signals, the system achieves high gain through constructive interference while maintaining compact dimensions through careful spatial arrangement.
2Ease of manufacture
If a horn antenna is used for small size and easy manufacturing, then ease of manufacture is improved, but antenna gain remains medium and beam width is narrow
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple horn antennas are merged into a single array structure, where each horn maintains its simple manufacturing characteristics while the collective array achieves high gain through coordinated operation. The waveguides merge the output signals from multiple horns, combining their individual medium gain contributions into a high gain system while preserving the ease of manufacturing individual components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical beam forming is used by rotating sub-reflector or feed horn, then beam forming capability is achieved, but beam switching speed becomes very slow and additional motors are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation system with an electrical beam forming system. Instead of physically rotating the sub-reflector or feed horn using motors, the system electronically controls the phase and amplitude of signals fed to each horn antenna element. This electronic control achieves beam forming and switching at high speeds without mechanical movement, resolving the contradiction between beam forming capability and switching speed.
4Power
If the beam width is narrow for high gain antenna, then antenna gain is improved, but ability to provide service to numerous users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic beam forming system where the beam direction and width can be electronically adjusted by changing the phase and amplitude distribution across the feed horn array. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain high gain in specific directions while providing service to multiple users by steering beams to different locations, resolving the contradiction between narrow beam width for high gain and wide coverage for numerous users.
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
Enables efficient use of frequency, improves signal quality, and resolves shaded regions by combining electric and fixed beam forming methods, enhancing power consumption efficiency and enabling high-speed communication.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of waveguide feeds respectively connected to a plurality of horn antennas arranged in the array feed horn
Implementation Method 2
a main reflector installed on one surface of an antenna body; a sub-reflector disposed to be spaced apart from the array feed horn on the main reflector
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave beam-forming antenna may include: a main reflector installed on one surface of an antenna body; an array feed horn installed on a center portion of the main reflector; a sub-reflector disposed to be spaced apart from the array feed horn on the main reflector; and a plurality of waveguide feeds respectively connected to a plurality of horn antennas arranged in the array feed horn.