Phased Array Antenna Patch Layout for Mutual Coupling Suppression

The patent introduces decoupling metal patches as intermediary elements positioned between adjacent radiators. These patches act as mediators that interact with the electromagnetic fields of neighboring radiators to cancel out mutual coupling effects. The patches are strategically placed and dimensioned to create opposing field patterns that neutralize the harmful coupling between adjacent antenna elements, thereby improving the decoupling effect without requiring complex active cancellation circuits or additional feed networks.

The patent extracts the decoupling function from complex three-dimensional structures and implements it using simple two-dimensional metal patches printed on the same substrate as the radiators. By removing the need for bulky mechanical decoupling structures, additional layers, or complex spatial arrangements, the solution achieves effective mutual coupling suppression while maintaining low weight and a flat profile suitable for modern aerospace and portable applications.

The patent merges the decoupling metal patches with the radiator structure by printing both elements on the same dielectric substrate using the same PCB fabrication process. This integration eliminates the need for separate manufacturing steps, additional assembly operations, or precise mechanical alignment between decoupling structures and radiators. The unified design allows standard manufacturing techniques to produce both functional elements in a single process flow, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving effective decoupling.