Monolithic Array Antenna Parasitic Capacitance Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steerable dielectric waveguide antennas face challenges in reducing fabrication costs and minimizing parasitic coupling among components, which are not adequately addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
An electronically-controlled monolithic array antenna design featuring a conductive metal ground plate, an array of conductive metal edge elements, and selectively operable switches that connect edge elements to the ground plate, eliminating the need for extra conductors and reducing parasitic capacitance, allowing for a controllable electromagnetic coupling geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If extra conductors are used to deliver current to switches in traditional antenna designs, then electrical connections can be established, but fabrication costs increase and parasitic capacitance is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the extra conductors from the traditional antenna design. By using the ground plate itself as the electrical connection path through switches, the design removes the harmful extra conductors that cause parasitic capacitance, while maintaining reliable electrical connections between edge elements and the ground plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the ground plate with the electrical connection function. Instead of using separate extra conductors to deliver current to switches, the ground plate itself serves as the electrical path, combining the grounding function with the electrical connection function and eliminating parasitic capacitance sources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex conductor geometries are used to achieve controllable beam direction, then beam steering capability is improved, but fabrication complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coupling edge into discrete edge elements that can be independently controlled. By dividing the continuous coupling edge into separate segments connected to individual switches, the design achieves controllable beam steering through simple on/off switching rather than complex continuous geometries, simplifying fabrication while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control through switches that can selectively connect edge elements to the ground plate. This dynamic switching capability allows the antenna to steer beams in different directions without requiring physically complex or reconfigurable geometries, achieving adaptability through temporal switching rather than spatial complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used in the antenna array, then functionality is enhanced, but parasitic coupling among components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functional components into a monolithic integrated structure. By combining the ground plate, edge elements, and switches into a single integrated antenna element, the design reduces parasitic coupling that would occur between separate components while maintaining enhanced functionality through the coordinated operation of integrated elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of parasitic coupling into a benefit by using the ground plate as a common reference that enables controlled coupling. The switches selectively connect edge elements to the ground plate, transforming what could be parasitic coupling into controlled electromagnetic coupling that enhances beam steering capability.
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 design simplifies the antenna geometry, lowers fabrication costs, and enhances the control over the direction and shape of the transmitted or received beam, improving the antenna's performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an evanescent coupling edge having a selectively variable coupling geometry... As a result of evanescent coupling between the transmission line and the antenna elements, electromagnetic radiation is transmitted or received by the antenna
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of switches, each which is selectively operable in response to the control signal to electrically connect selected edge elements to the ground plate across the insulative isolation gap
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~6
AI summary
An electronically controlled monolithic array antenna includes a transmission line through which an electromagnetic signal may be propagated, and a metal antenna element defining an evanescent coupling edge located so as to permit evanescent coupling of the signal between the transmission line and the antenna element. The antenna element includes a conductive ground plate; an array of conductive edge elements defining the coupling edge, each of the edge elements being electrically connected to a control signal source, and each of the edge elements being electrically isolated from the ground plate by an insulative isolation gap; and a plurality of switches, each of which is selectively operable in response to the control signal to electrically connect selected edge elements to the ground plate across the insulative isolation gap so as to provide a selectively variable electromagnetic coupling geometry of the coupling edge.