Phased Array Antenna Path Verification Before Multilayer Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phased array antennas face challenges in identifying abnormal path outputs during the manufacturing process, which can lead to unexpected changes in radiation characteristics and performance, particularly when active elements like amplifiers are involved, resulting in increased costs and time due to manufacturing on a multilayer substrate.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for verifying abnormal path outputs through simulation by obtaining transmission matrices for 2-port networks, determining amplitude and time delay of signal transmission, and performing simulations to identify abnormal path outputs before manufacturing, using computational electromagnetics (CEM) and transforming scattering matrices into transmission matrices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manufacturing is performed on a multilayer substrate with active elements, then the phased array antenna achieves high gain and beam control capability, but abnormal path outputs may occur leading to performance degradation and increased manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing simulations before manufacturing to identify abnormal path outputs. The method calculates transmission matrices and performs virtual assessments of signal paths through the multilayer substrate structure, allowing potential issues to be detected and corrected in the design phase rather than during actual manufacturing, thus ensuring performance consistency while managing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a virtual model of the phased array antenna structure for simulation purposes. Transmission matrices are calculated for virtual 2-port networks representing different signal paths, allowing the real manufacturing process to be replicated and tested in silico, identifying abnormal paths without physical prototyping
2Loss of time
If simulations are performed to verify abnormal path outputs, then manufacturing costs and time are reduced, but complex calculations involving transmission matrices and scattering matrices are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complex verification process into distinct calculation stages: obtaining scattering matrices for individual components, transforming them to transmission matrices, calculating transmission characteristics for each path, and performing simulations. This segmented approach manages calculation complexity by breaking down the overall complex task into smaller, more manageable computational steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical manufacturing and testing with computational simulations. Instead of physically assembling and testing each phased array antenna to verify performance, the method uses mathematical models and simulations to predict and identify abnormal path outputs, substituting mechanical/physical processes with computational ones to reduce time and cost
Data Source
AI summary
The operating method of an electronic device includes obtaining, by frequencies, N-1 first transmission matrices for N-1 first 2-port networks having, as two ports, i) an input of a reference element antenna, which is any one of N element antennas included in a virtual phased array antenna, and ii) an input of a just before integrated circuit (IC) driving any one of remaining N-1 element antennas, excluding the reference element antenna from the N element antennas, obtaining, by frequencies, N-1 second transmission matrices for N-1 second 2-port networks having, as two ports, an input and output of the just before IC driving each of the remaining N-1 element antennas, and performing a simulation to determine whether there is an abnormal path output based on the N-1 first transmission matrices and the N-1 second transmission matrices.