Phase-Compensated Radome Antenna for High-Gain Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft antennas face challenges in balancing size, weight, and aerodynamic performance due to the need for robust radomes for satellite communication, which affect fuel efficiency and maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
An improved antenna system with a phase-compensated radome and lightweight feed antenna that supports beam steering, featuring dual-band or quad-band circularly polarized capabilities, and includes a transmission surface to convert spherical waves into plane waves, allowing for reduced size and weight while maintaining high gain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If larger antennas are used to improve satellite communication performance, then communication quality is improved, but weight and size increase affecting fuel efficiency and maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the antenna system by introducing a curved transmission surface with specific radius of curvature (R1) that matches the radome inner surface curvature. This parameter optimization allows the antenna to achieve high gain communication performance while maintaining a compact form factor that reduces weight and fits within aerodynamic constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional planar antenna surface to a three-dimensional curved transmission surface that conforms to the radome's inner geometry. This dimensional change enables the antenna to utilize the radial space within the radome effectively, achieving high gain without increasing the overall footprint or weight of the antenna system.
2Reliability
If larger antennas are used to improve satellite communication performance, then communication quality is improved, but radome size and robustness requirements increase affecting aerodynamic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a curved transmission surface that utilizes the three-dimensional space within the radome by conforming to its inner curvature. This allows the antenna to achieve high gain performance without requiring a larger radome envelope, thus preserving aerodynamic performance while maintaining communication quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is nested within the radome structure with the transmission surface conforming to the radome's inner curvature. This nested configuration allows the antenna to maximize its effective aperture within the constrained radome volume, achieving high gain without increasing radome size.
3Strength
If traditional antenna designs are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but size and weight reduction opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the transmission surface, specifically setting the radius of curvature R1 to match the radome inner surface curvature. This parameter optimization enables the creation of a lightweight curved surface structure that maintains structural integrity while minimizing weight, allowing the antenna to be supported by a lighter framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a curved transmission surface with spherical geometry that conforms to the radome's curvature. This curved surface structure achieves structural efficiency by distributing mechanical loads along the curvature, maintaining integrity while reducing material requirements and overall weight compared to flat or rigid structures.
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 system achieves weight and size reduction, enhancing fuel efficiency and maneuverability by maintaining high gain and steering capabilities, while preserving aerodynamic characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The transmission surface is a phase compensated structure configured to convert spherical waves of the one or more antennas into plane waves
Implementation Method 2
The phase compensated radome, or transmit array, allows the beam to propagate through its structure
Data Source
AI summary
An improved antenna system is provided for controlling satellite communications in a satellite communication network. Antennas are disposed beneath a concave interior of a transmission surface. The transmission surface has a substantially similar shape or curvature of a radome top, and may be affixed to or integrated with the radome top to provide a phase compensated radome. The antennas may be mechanically moved, such as laterally translated, tilted, and/or rotated. The antennas may be electrically actuated via a switch. The transmission surface includes an array or patch of cells such as dual-band dual-polarized cells and/or quad-band dual-polarized cells. The improved antenna system enables high gain beam steering and Ku band, K band, and Ka band transmission and reception.