Patch Antenna Element Zenith Directivity via Isolated Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing two-frequency sharing antennas suffer from weakened directivity in the zenith direction due to the grounding of the second radiation conductor, which affects the electric length and current direction, leading to radiation towards lower elevation angles and downward directions.
Innovation Solution
An antenna element configuration featuring a dielectric substrate with a planar first power feeding conductor pattern, a planar second power feeding conductor pattern isolated from the first, and a ground conductor pattern, where the second power feeding conductor pattern is not grounded, ensuring directivity in the zenith direction by electromagnetic coupling and using impedance elements to control resonant frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the second radiation conductor is connected to the grounding conductor with short pins, then the antenna can operate at multiple frequency bands, but the directivity in the zenith direction is weakened due to current flowing through the short pins and grounding conductor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the short pins that connected the second radiation conductor to the grounding conductor. This eliminates the harmful current path through the short pins and grounding conductor that was causing weakened zenith directivity, while maintaining the multi-frequency operation capability through electromagnetic coupling between the first and second radiation conductors
Solution Approach 2:
The second radiation conductor is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as a radiating element for lower frequency operation and simultaneously provides electromagnetic coupling to enable higher frequency operation through the first radiation conductor, without requiring connection to the grounding conductor
2Ease of manufacture
If the second radiation conductor is connected to the grounding conductor, then the antenna structure is completed for multi-band operation, but the electric length and current direction become unfixed, causing radiation toward lower elevation angles and downward directions
Solution Approach 1:
The short pins connecting the second radiation conductor to the grounding conductor are removed, eliminating the unintended current paths that caused unfixed electric length and current direction. The second radiation conductor now operates with fixed current distribution determined by its own geometry and electromagnetic coupling, rather than being shorted to ground
Solution Approach 2:
Electromagnetic coupling serves as an intermediary mechanism between the first and second radiation conductors, enabling energy transfer and multi-frequency operation without direct electrical connection. This coupling maintains fixed current directions and electric lengths while achieving the desired multi-band functionality
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 configuration enables the excitation of radio frequency signals across multiple frequency bands with enhanced directivity in the zenith direction, providing wide bandwidth radiation characteristics and improved resonance balance.
Implementation Method 1
a planar second power feeding conductor pattern that is formed on the dielectric substrate and is arranged to be isolated from the first power feeding conductor pattern so as to interpose the first power feeding conductor pattern in a polarization direction
Implementation Method 2
a planar ground conductor pattern that is formed on the dielectric substrate so as to face the first power feeding conductor pattern and the second power feeding conductor pattern and is set to have a ground potential
Data Source
AI summary
A patch antenna (10) includes a planar first power feeding conductor pattern (11) that is formed on a dielectric substrate (20) and to which a radio frequency signal is fed, a planar second power feeding conductor pattern (12) that is formed on the dielectric substrate (20) and is arranged to be isolated from the first power feeding conductor pattern (11) so as to interpose the first power feeding conductor pattern (11) in the polarization direction when the dielectric substrate (20) is seen in a plan view, and a planar ground conductor pattern (13) that is formed on the dielectric substrate (20) so as to face the first power feeding conductor pattern (11) and the second power feeding conductor pattern (12) and is set to have a ground potential, wherein the second power feeding conductor pattern (12) is not set to have the ground potential.