Parallel Plate Reflector Antenna for Compact Harsh Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna apparatuses struggle to meet electrical specifications while also being resilient and effective in harsh environments, often failing to meet material, form factor, and resiliency requirements.
Innovation Solution
The antenna apparatus features an array of reflector elements with curved surfaces delimited by planar surfaces, forming nonresonant waveguide cavities that guide electromagnetic waves and enhance robustness with dielectric windows in hazardous conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional antenna apparatuses are designed to meet electrical specifications, then gain and beamwidth performance is improved, but material resiliency and environmental robustness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple discrete reflector elements arranged in an array, where each element can be independently constructed from resilient materials. This segmentation allows optimization of individual elements for environmental robustness while maintaining overall electrical performance through proper array configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The reflector elements utilize composite construction combining metallic parallel plates with dielectric windows or aerogel fillers. This composite approach provides both the electrical conductivity needed for gain performance and the mechanical resilience required for harsh environment operation
2Volume of moving object
If antenna apparatus size is reduced to meet form factor requirements, then weight and volume are improved, but electrical performance and radiation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector surfaces are designed with curved geometries rather than flat surfaces. This curvature enables more efficient radiation patterns and better electromagnetic field distribution within a compact volume, maintaining radiation efficiency while reducing overall antenna size
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna employs a three-dimensional array configuration of reflector elements that achieves desired radiation characteristics through spatial distribution rather than increasing individual element size. This allows compact form factor while maintaining electrical performance
3Volume of moving object
If reflector elements are positioned close together to reduce geometric cross-section, then aerodynamic profile and volume are improved, but grating lobe suppression becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The feed waveguides are positioned and configured in advance to illuminate the reflector elements with specific phase and amplitude distributions. This preliminary configuration ensures that even when elements are closely spaced, the radiation pattern maintains proper phase relationships to suppress grating lobes
Solution Approach 2:
Each reflector element is designed with specific local geometric properties and feed positioning that optimize its individual contribution to the overall array pattern. This local optimization ensures proper phase relationships are maintained even in compact configurations
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 achieves improved pattern gain, radiation efficiency, lower geometric cross-section, and better dispersion characteristics compared to conventional antenna apparatuses, while maintaining effectiveness in harsh environments.
Implementation Method 1
The nonresonant waveguide cavity is formed to guide the electromagnetic wave and provide space for wavefront collimation to occur
Implementation Method 2
reflector elements in the array include curved (parabolic) reflector surfaces that are delimited by planar surfaces
Implementation Method 3
The nonresonant waveguide cavity can be partially populated with a dielectric window at the aperture, where the dielectric window is included in the reflector element to enhance robustness of the antenna element in hazardous environmental conditions
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna apparatus described herein includes a first reflector element that comprises a first nonresonant waveguide cavity that is partially bounded by a first parabolic reflector surface. The apparatus optionally includes additional reflector elements arranged in parallel with the first reflector element, where the additional reflector elements include corresponding nonresonant waveguide cavities that are partially bounded by corresponding reflector surfaces. The antenna apparatus is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal based upon electromagnetic signals reflected by the one or more parabolic reflector surfaces and output by the one or more reflector elements. The antenna apparatus may conversely be employed to receive an electromagnetic signal.