Modular Antenna Element with Segmented Radiators for Diagonal Scan Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vivaldi antenna arrays suffer from significant polarization isolation degradation when scanning in non-principal planes, particularly at diagonal planes, due to their high profile design, which limits their wideband and wide-scan performance, and existing solutions like LUT-based polarization corrections are complex, narrowband, and increase side-lobes.

Innovation Solution

The development of modular wideband antenna elements with arbitrarily-shaped disconnected radiator body components separated by electrically small gap regions, incorporating capacitive enhancing elements and non-conductive materials, which maintain high-profile for wideband matching and control vertical current distribution to achieve high polarization isolation across the entire θ<60° scan volume, including diagonal planes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If Vivaldi antenna arrays use a high profile design to achieve wideband impedance matching, then bandwidth is improved, but polarization isolation deteriorates when scanning in non-principal planes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidpolarization isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna element is divided into multiple disconnected radiator body components separated by gap regions. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's contribution to impedance matching and polarization isolation, resolving the trade-off between bandwidth and polarization purity in scanned planes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Capacitive enhancing elements are introduced as intermediary components between the disconnected radiator body parts. These elements mediate the electromagnetic coupling to achieve wideband impedance matching while the gap regions maintain polarization isolation by controlling vertical current distribution, thus resolving the contradiction between bandwidth and polarization performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If LUT-based polarization correction is applied to improve polarization isolation in diagonal planes, then polarization isolation is improved, but device complexity increases and instantaneous bandwidth is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolarization isolationVSAvoidfeeding circuitry complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna element structure itself provides polarization isolation through its geometry (disconnected components with capacitive enhancement) rather than requiring external correction systems. This self-service approach achieves polarization purity intrinsically, eliminating the need for complex LUT-based correction circuitry and preserving full instantaneous bandwidth

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If LUT-based polarization correction is used to achieve acceptable cross-polarization rejection, then polarization isolation is improved, but manufacturing cost and implementation complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolarization isolationVSAvoidfabrication complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The radiator body is segmented into disconnected components that can be manufactured separately using standard PCB or additive manufacturing processes, then assembled together. This segmentation simplifies fabrication compared to monolithic wideband structures while inherently providing polarization isolation through the gap regions between segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

These antenna elements achieve bandwidths in excess of one decade with high co-polarization and low cross-polarization in the entire scan volume, including diagonal planes, while maintaining excellent impedance matching and reducing fabrication complexity, thus overcoming the limitations of Vivaldi arrays.

Implementation Method 1

incorporating capacitive enhancing elements and non-conductive materials, which maintain high-profile for wideband matching and control vertical current distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3266066B1Low cross-polarization decade-bandwidth ultra-wideband antenna element and array

Publication Date: 2022.06.15 THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Figure 1A
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Figure 1C

AI summary

Various aspect and embodiments of a modular wideband antenna element are disclosed. The antenna element includes a support structure comprising a feed network and first and second arbitrarily- shaped radiator elements extending along a main axis of the antenna elements. Each of the first and second arbitrarily- shaped radiator elements comprises disconnected radiator body components separated by gap regions. Each arbitrarily- shaped radiator elements has a wider end and a tapering free end to provide a tapered slot region. The wider ends of the first and second arbitrarily- shaped radiator elements are located closer to the support structure. The tapering free ends of first and second arbitrarily- shaped radiator elements are located farther from the support structure. The first and second arbitrarily- shaped radiator elements are configured to be electrically coupled to the feed network.