Patch Antenna Comb Substrate for Bandwidth and Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patch antennas face challenges in reducing size and weight while maintaining or increasing their angular response pattern and operating frequency bandwidth, as conventional dielectric substrates often lead to increased weight and limited frequency bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The use of comb structures made of conductive materials attached to the patch and/or ground plane, which act similarly to dielectric materials by reducing the speed of electromagnetic waves, allowing for a higher effective dielectric constant and thus reducing the antenna's size and broadening its angular response pattern without increasing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the thickness of the dielectric substrate is increased to broaden the operating frequency bandwidth, then the bandwidth is improved, but the weight of the antenna increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is segmented into a periodic array of conductive comb structures rather than using a solid dielectric block. This segmentation creates an effective dielectric constant through the geometric arrangement of conductors, achieving the desired bandwidth without the weight of a thick solid substrate.
Solution Approach 2:
The effective dielectric constant is changed by modifying the geometric parameters of the comb structures (tooth width, spacing, height) rather than changing the physical thickness of a dielectric substrate. This allows independent optimization of bandwidth and weight by tuning the comb geometry.
2Length of moving object
If the size of the antenna patch is reduced to achieve smaller antenna dimensions, then the length is improved, but the angular response pattern narrows
Solution Approach 1:
The effective dielectric constant is increased by optimizing the comb structure geometry, which electrically lengthens the patch without physically increasing its dimensions. This allows the patch to be electrically larger while remaining physically compact, thereby maintaining a wider angular response pattern.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional dielectric substrates are used to achieve the desired effective dielectric constant, then the dielectric constant is improved, but the weight of the antenna increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical dielectric substrate is replaced with an electromagnetic structure (conductive comb array) that creates an equivalent effective dielectric constant through its geometric configuration. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy dielectric materials while achieving the same electromagnetic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The substrate is constructed as a composite of conductive elements arranged in a periodic comb pattern, creating an effective medium with desired dielectric properties. This composite structure achieves the target effective dielectric constant without using traditional heavy dielectric materials.
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 approach enables a wider angular response pattern and maintains a constant effective dielectric constant and patch length, thereby increasing operational bandwidth without adding weight, while being suitable for various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the speed of a wave traveling across the structures is significantly reduced. Hence, such combs structures operate similarly to a dielectric
Data Source
AI summary
A patch antenna having a plurality of structures, referred to herein as comb structures, is disclosed that results in an antenna having a reduced overall patch size and weight as well as a broader the angular response pattern of the antenna. In a first embodiment, comb structures are attached to one of the surface of the patch or the surface of the ground plane. In a second embodiment, the comb structures are attached to both the patch and the ground plane in a manner such that the structures interleave with each other. The structures may be pins or ribs that are electrically connected to the ground plane and/or the patch, or may be any other suitable configuration depending upon the polarization of the signal to be transmitted or received.