Optically Controlled Slit Waveguide for Reconfigurable Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional holographic antennas with fixed structures are difficult to dynamically adjust and control due to their numerous units, limiting reconfigurability and increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A waveguide system incorporating a metallic housing, slow-wave medium, slit plate with diodes and photodetectors, and an optical control device to dynamically adjust slit patterns using optical control, allowing for reconfigurable wave beam direction control without additional wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional holographic antennas use fixed square or circular metallic patch units, then the antenna structure is simple to manufacture, but the antenna cannot be dynamically reconfigured once the structure is fixed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static metallic patch units into dynamic reconfigurable elements by replacing them with waveguides containing controllable slits. The slits can be dynamically opened or closed using PIN diodes controlled by photodetectors and optical signals, enabling the antenna to change its radiation pattern and beam direction after manufacturing, thus achieving reconfigurability while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional electrical wiring control system with an optical control system. Photodetectors receive optical signals and convert them to electrical signals that control the PIN diodes, which in turn control the slit states. This optical-mechanical substitution simplifies the control structure and enables wireless reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and reconfigurability.
2Reliability
If holographic antennas have a large number of units (hundreds or thousands), then the antenna can achieve high gain and low profile, but it becomes very difficult to dynamically adjust and control each unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex electrical wiring network with an optical control system. Each waveguide unit is equipped with photodetectors that receive optical control signals wirelessly, converting them to electrical signals to control the PIN diodes. This eliminates the need for extensive electrical wiring and simplifies the control architecture, making it feasible to control hundreds or thousands of units without proportionally increasing control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal control mechanism where all waveguide units use the same photodetector-PIN diode-slit structure. This standardized design allows a single optical control system to manage all units uniformly, reducing control complexity while maintaining the ability to achieve high gain and low profile through the large number of units.
3Adaptability or versatility
If each unit in the holographic antenna is individually controllable, then the antenna achieves reconfigurability, but the control system becomes more complex and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces individual electrical wiring connections with a unified optical control system. Photodetectors in each waveguide unit receive optical signals and independently convert them to control signals for their respective PIN diodes. This eliminates the need for complex point-to-point electrical wiring while maintaining individual controllability, thereby achieving reconfigurability without proportionally increasing control system complexity and cost.
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 dynamic tuning of slit-radiating energy and wave beam shaping, simplifying structure and control, and achieving reconfigurable characteristics for holographic antennas.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of photodetectors disposed on the slit plate and corresponding to the plurality of diodes in a one-to-one relationship, each of the plurality of photodetectors being electrically connected with an anode of the corresponding diode
Implementation Method 2
each of the plurality of diodes being disposed to cross the corresponding slit, and a cathode of each of the plurality of diodes being electrically connected with the metallic housing
Implementation Method 3
a slow-wave medium having a refractive index that is greater than 1, accommodated in the metallic housing
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a waveguide, including: a metallic housing having the shape of a cuboid and an opening disposed in a side thereof, a slow-wave medium accommodated in the metallic housing, feeding probes respectively located at both ends of the metallic housing and inserted into the slow-wave medium through the metallic housing, a slit plate covering the opening of the metallic housing and comprising a plurality of slits, a plurality of diodes and photodetectors disposed on the slit plate corresponding to the slits in a one-to-one relationship, each diode crossing the corresponding slit. The present disclosure also relates to a wave beam adjusting device comprising the waveguide, a wave beam adjusting method applicable to the wave beam adjusting device, and a method for manufacturing a photodetector applicable to the waveguide.