Perpendicular Antenna Element for Horizon Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air-to-ground communication systems face challenges in providing reliable and cost-effective connectivity for aircraft due to limitations in antenna design, which result in high costs and bandwidth issues, as conventional antennas are optimized for two-dimensional ground-based coverage rather than the three-dimensional aerial environment.
Innovation Solution
The development of an omni-directional antenna configuration with longer antenna elements, such as dipoles of 1.25 wavelengths, positioned perpendicularly away from a conductive groundplane, to increase gain towards the horizon, allowing for more efficient communication with distant base stations and potentially reducing the number of required base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional above-surface antennas (monopole or dipole) are used to reduce mechanical form factor and drag, then the antenna structure is compact and aerodynamic, but the gain toward the horizon is relatively low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional ground-based antenna coverage to three-dimensional air-to-ground coverage by positioning the antenna element perpendicular to the aircraft skin and optimizing its length and spacing to achieve omnidirectional radiation pattern with enhanced gain toward the horizon, effectively adding a vertical dimension to the coverage paradigm
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key antenna parameters including element length (0.5λ to 1.5λ), spacing from groundplane (0.25λ to 1.0λ), and orientation (perpendicular to skin) to optimize the radiation pattern for horizonward gain while maintaining compact form factor suitable for aircraft integration
2Device complexity
If conventional antennas optimized for two-dimensional ground-based coverage are used, then the antenna design is simple and cost-effective, but the performance is insufficient for three-dimensional air-to-ground communication
Solution Approach 1:
The invention addresses the three-dimensional nature of air-to-ground communication by designing an antenna system that provides omnidirectional coverage in the horizontal plane while maintaining enhanced gain toward the horizon, transitioning from 2D ground-based coverage paradigm to 3D aerial communication requirements
3Power
If longer antenna elements (1λ to 1.5λ) are used to increase gain toward the horizon, then the directivity and coverage are improved, but the mechanical form factor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the antenna element length within the range of 0.5λ to 1.5λ and adjusts the spacing from the groundplane (0.25λ to 1.0λ) to achieve the desired balance between horizonward gain and compact form factor, allowing customization based on specific application requirements
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 solution enhances network performance by achieving higher directivity and gain towards the horizon, enabling better coverage and bandwidth while maintaining a low mechanical form factor, thus addressing the limitations of conventional antennas in aerial communication.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna element that extends substantially perpendicularly away from the groundplane and has an effective length between about 1λ to about 1.5λ
Data Source
AI summary
An air-to-ground network communication device may include a conductive groundplane and an antenna element. The conductive groundplane may be disposed to be substantially parallel to a surface of the earth. The antenna element may extend substantially perpendicularly away from the groundplane and may have an effective length between about 1λ, to about 1.5λ. The antenna element may be disposed at a distance of about 0.5λ to about 1π from the groundplane.