Phased Array Beam Steering with FM and Phase Shift for Grating Lobes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Phased array antennas suffer from grating lobes that reduce gain and steer beams in undesired directions, especially with increased beam steering angles and larger antenna elements, limiting their effectiveness in transmitting and receiving signals over longer distances without increasing power.
Innovation Solution
A beam steering method and device using frequency modulation and phase shift to calculate and adjust the rotation angle of antenna element arrays, ensuring grating lobes generated during transmission do not overlap with those during reception by configuring the arrays differently for transmission and reception, and performing phase shifts and frequency modulation to minimize grating lobe effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the spacing between antenna elements is increased to reduce grating lobe effects, then the beam width narrows and gain increases, but grating lobes are generated that steer beams in undesired directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna element array configuration changeable between transmission and reception modes. The control unit dynamically adjusts the array configuration (element positions or active elements) to be different for transmission versus reception, allowing optimization for each mode while preventing grating lobe overlap. This dynamic reconfiguration enables the system to achieve narrow beam width and high gain without suffering from grating lobe interference in either direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by modifying the array configuration parameters (element spacing, positions, or activation patterns) between transmission and reception phases. The control unit changes these parameters dynamically, setting them to values that prevent grating lobe overlap while maintaining optimal beam characteristics. This parameter adjustment allows the system to achieve improved gain and beam width without the harmful grating lobe effects.
2Area of stationary object
If the beam steering angle is increased to expand coverage area, then the coverage area increases, but the gain of the steering beam decreases and beam width widens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to adapt the array configuration based on the beam steering angle requirements. When large coverage area is needed, the control unit adjusts the array configuration to accommodate wider steering angles while compensating for gain loss through optimized element positioning. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain acceptable gain levels even when expanding coverage through increased steering angles.
3Power
If the antenna element size is increased to improve gain and narrow beam width, then the gain increases and beam width narrows, but grating lobes are generated that reduce steering accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the array configuration adaptive between transmission and reception modes. When large antenna elements are used to achieve high gain and narrow beam width, the control unit dynamically adjusts the configuration to position or activate elements in patterns that prevent grating lobe formation. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to maintain both high gain/ narrow beam width and accurate beam direction by eliminating grating lobe interference through mode-specific optimization.
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 effectively prevents grating lobe overlap, maintaining beam direction accuracy and gain, allowing for efficient signal transmission and reception without increasing power, even with larger antenna elements.
Implementation Method 1
a phase shifter 2 that adjusts a phase of a signal input to each of the antenna elements 1
Implementation Method 2
a frequency modulation unit 314 that performs the frequency modulation by combining at least two of the IQ signal, the modulation signal, and the carrier signal
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a beam steering device of a phased array antenna for reducing a grating lobe, and more particularly, to a beam steering device of a phased array antenna for reducing a grating lobe so that grating lobes generated when receiving a signal by rotating an array of a plurality of antenna elements at a predetermined angle during transmission do not overlap each other when receiving the signal through the beam steering device.