PCB Antenna Back-Lobe Reduction via Absorbing Material
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing directional antennas, particularly those used in medical devices, suffer from significant back-lobe radiation, which can interfere with the main lobe direction and propagate unwanted energy, limiting their effectiveness and requiring additional structural elements like reflectors that may not be feasible in all designs.
Innovation Solution
A broadband transceiver slot antenna with a printed circuit board (PCB) configuration that incorporates an absorbing material to minimize back-lobe radiation, reducing the antenna's thickness and using a metallic reflector positioned closer than a quarter wavelength to the radiating element, along with a conductive hedge structure and embedded magnetic or ferrite materials to enhance performance and reduce size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a reflector is placed at a distance of λ/4 to reduce back-lobe radiation, then back-lobe radiation is reduced, but the antenna thickness and overall size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an absorbing material as an intermediary substance placed between the radiating element and the reflector. This absorbing material serves as a mediator that absorbs the electromagnetic energy that would otherwise travel to the reflector and create back-lobe radiation, while allowing the reflector to be positioned much closer to the radiating element than the traditional λ/4 distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful back-lobe radiation through the absorbing material, which selectively absorbs the unwanted electromagnetic energy in the backward direction while allowing the main lobe radiation to proceed unaffected. This extraction approach eliminates the need for a distant reflector.
2Length of stationary object
If the antenna thickness is reduced to less than λ/4, then the antenna becomes more compact and suitable for medical devices, but traditional reflector-based back-lobe reduction becomes infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbing material acts as an intermediary that enables the reflector to function effectively at distances much less than λ/4. By placing this absorbing material between the radiating element and reflector, the system achieves back-lobe suppression without requiring the traditional large spacing, thus enabling thin antenna design for medical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the key parameter of reflector distance from the traditional λ/4 to a much smaller value (less than λ/4) by introducing the absorbing material. This parameter change fundamentally alters the antenna structure, enabling thin-profile designs while maintaining back-lobe suppression functionality.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If absorbing material is introduced to eliminate non-in-phase reflection, then back-lobe radiation is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the absorbing material with the existing antenna structure, integrating it into the space between the radiating element and reflector. This merging approach combines multiple functions (back-lobe suppression, space reduction) into a single integrated structure rather than adding separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures, combining the absorbing material with the metallic reflector and radiating element to create an integrated antenna system. This composite approach allows the different materials to work together synergistically to achieve back-lobe suppression and compact size simultaneously.
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
The solution effectively reduces back-lobe radiation, enhances gain performance, and minimizes antenna thickness, achieving improved directional efficiency and reducing unwanted interference, while maintaining operational stability across a wide temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
a PCB based antenna which includes an absorbing material which helps to eliminate non-in phase reflection
Implementation Method 2
a metallic reflector positioned closer than a quarter wavelength to the radiating element
Implementation Method 3
embedded magnetic or ferrite materials to enhance performance
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, devices and systems related to the implementation of a multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) radio-frequency antenna featuring, a printed radiating element coupled to an absorbing element embedded in the PCB. The embedded element is configured within the PCB layers to prevent out-of-phase reflections to the bore-sight direction.