Perpendicular Microwave Module Layout for Compact Antenna Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional microwave modules face challenges in reducing size in the direction of the antenna surface due to parallel mounting with the antenna elements, leading to increased power loss, noise, and difficulty in scalable design changes.
Innovation Solution
The microwave module is designed with a substrate perpendicular to the antenna surface, allowing for reduced size and efficient heat dissipation through a perpendicular mounting configuration, eliminating the need for wire offsets and enabling scalable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the microwave module is mounted with the substrate parallel to the antenna surface, then the mounting structure is simple, but the size of the microwave module in the direction of the antenna surface becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is mounted perpendicular to the antenna surface instead of parallel, changing the mounting dimension from in-plane to out-of-plane. This dimensional change allows the microwave module to extend in the thickness direction of the antenna rather than the surface plane, thereby reducing the footprint on the antenna surface while maintaining all necessary mounting functions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the microwave modules are offset with respect to the antenna elements to accommodate frequency changes, then the antenna can operate in higher frequency bands, but the wires between microwave modules and antenna elements become long causing power loss and noise
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of offsetting the microwave modules from the antenna elements (conventional approach), the invention inverts the relationship by mounting the substrate perpendicular to the antenna surface with the microwave devices directly facing the antenna elements. This inverted configuration shortens the connection paths, reducing wire length and thereby minimizing power loss and noise while maintaining frequency adaptability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the array size of antenna elements is changed, then the antenna can be scaled, but the offset amount of microwave modules must change requiring large-scale design changes
Solution Approach 1:
The perpendicular mounting configuration creates a universal interface where the substrate can accommodate different array sizes without requiring design changes. The standardized perpendicular mounting structure serves multiple functions: it maintains consistent connection geometry, simplifies thermal management, and allows the same substrate design to be used across different antenna configurations, thereby enabling scalability without design complexity
4Ease of operation
If the microwave module size in the antenna surface direction is reduced, then mountability improves, but the semiconductor chip planar size cannot be reduced unless output power changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention relocates the semiconductor chip from a parallel mounting orientation to a perpendicular mounting orientation relative to the antenna surface. This dimensional change allows the chip to extend in the thickness direction rather than the surface plane, effectively reducing the planar footprint on the antenna surface while maintaining the same chip area and output power capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
A microwave module includes a plurality of microwave devices and a microwave module substrate. Each of the plurality of microwave devices exchanges a signal with a corresponding one of a plurality of antenna elements. The microwave module substrate includes a mounting surface on which the plurality of microwave devices are mounted. The microwave module substrate is electrically connected to each of the plurality of antenna elements. The mounting surface is perpendicular to a plane surface on which the plurality of antenna elements are arrayed.