Phased Array Antenna Relay Adapter Pitch

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing phased array antennas require high mounting accuracy for antenna elements and blocks, leading to increased costs and structural limitations due to the need for equal pitch arrangements, which restricts the flexibility in designing the antenna frame and block configurations.

Innovation Solution

The phased array antenna design incorporates a relay adapter that allows for independent pitch arrangements of antenna elements and blocks, using a front plate with a coolant flow path for heat dissipation and a bus board with a detachable capacitor bank, enabling relaxed mounting accuracy and flexible block configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high mounting accuracy is required for antenna elements and blocks, then the antenna performance is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna system is divided into multiple independent blocks, each containing multiple slices. This segmentation allows each block to be manufactured and assembled separately with relaxed precision requirements, then combined to form the complete antenna array, thereby improving productivity while maintaining overall antenna performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A relay adapter is introduced as an intermediary component between the slice and the block structure. This relay adapter provides mechanical tolerance compensation and electrical connection, allowing the slice pitch to differ from the block pitch without affecting performance, thus reducing mounting accuracy requirements and increasing manufacturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If equal pitch arrangement is required for all antenna elements, then the antenna pattern is optimized, but the structural flexibility is reduced and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna performanceVSAvoidstructural flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent allows different pitch arrangements within slices and between blocks, breaking the traditional symmetric equal-pitch constraint. The relay adapter enables asymmetric positioning while maintaining electrical continuity, providing structural flexibility for optimized antenna patterns without requiring uniform pitch throughout the entire array.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows dynamic configuration where the pitch between slices within a block can differ from the pitch between blocks. This dynamic pitch arrangement capability enables optimization of antenna radiation patterns for different application scenarios while maintaining structural integrity through the relay adapter mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If strict structural limitations are imposed on antenna frame and block, then the mounting accuracy is maintained, but the ease of manufacture is reduced and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna system is divided into modular blocks that can be manufactured independently using standard manufacturing processes. Each block contains multiple slices that are also independently manufacturable, allowing for simplified production without requiring complex integrated structures, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining mounting accuracy through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The relay adapter serves as a standardized intermediary component that simplifies the manufacturing process by providing a universal interface between slices and blocks. This standardized component allows for easier manufacturing and assembly compared to custom-fitted connections, reducing the need for strict structural limitations while maintaining mounting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 design reduces the manufacturing costs and improves yield by allowing non-coincident pitch arrangements between adjacent blocks and blocks within the antenna, while maintaining electrical connections and reducing component complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a flow path through which a coolant flows; heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3573183B1Phased array antenna
Publication Date: 2022.03.23 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3573183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3573183B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3573183B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A phased array antenna (20) includes a front plate (1), a plurality of blocks (6) including a plurality of slices (8) that include a plurality of transmitters (12) and a circuit board (13) that distributes a power supply, a control signal, and a high-frequency signal to the plurality of slices (8), the blocks being held on a first face of the front plate (1), a plurality of power sources that supply power to the blocks (6), which is held on the first face of the front plate (1), an antenna element layer in which a plurality of antenna elements are arrayed, which is held on a second face of the front plate (1), and a high-frequency signal wiring layer including high-frequency signal wiring through which a high-frequency signal to the antenna elements passes, which is held on the second face of the front plate (1), in which the transmitters (12) include a coaxial connector (14) electrically connected to the high-frequency signal wiring via a through hole (1a) formed in the front plate (1).