Phased Array Antenna Waveguide Assembly for Fragile Phase Shifters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phased array antennas face challenges in aligning and assembling waveguides with phase shifters without damaging the glass base of the phase shifter, due to the weight and fragility of waveguides.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna design that includes a phase shifter unit, waveguide units, and a connection unit with an insulation body made of hard foam, which is fixedly connected to both the substrate surface and the waveguide unit, allowing for precise alignment and assembly without damaging the phase shifter base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a waveguide is assembled with a phase shifter, then transmission loss is reduced, but the glass base of the phase shifter is likely to break due to the weight and fragility of the waveguide
Solution Approach 1:
A foam support structure is introduced as an intermediary component between the waveguide and the phase shifter base. This foam structure bears the weight of the waveguide and provides mechanical support, preventing the force from being transmitted to the fragile glass base of the phase shifter, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving low transmission loss through waveguide assembly and maintaining the integrity of the phase shifter base
2Loss of energy
If a waveguide is assembled with a phase shifter, then transmission loss is reduced, but assembly difficulty increases due to alignment precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The foam support structure is pre-formed with cavities and mounting features that guide the waveguide into the correct position during assembly. This preliminary preparation of the support structure eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures, reducing assembly difficulty while maintaining the low transmission loss benefit of waveguide integration
3Ease of manufacture
If liquid crystal antennas are used, then cost is reduced, but transmission line loss cannot meet requirements without fine control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical transmission line system with a waveguide system. Waveguides provide extremely low transmission loss compared to conventional transmission lines, while the overall antenna structure maintains the cost-effectiveness of liquid crystal technology. This substitution resolves the contradiction between low cost and low transmission loss by using waveguides for signal transmission while keeping the phase control system based on liquid crystal technology
Data Source
AI summary
A phased array antenna includes a phase shifter unit, a waveguide unit and a connection unit, the phase shifter unit has two substrate surfaces and includes at least one phase shifter having two feeding regions; a side where at least one of the substrate surfaces is located is provided with the waveguide unit having a waveguide cavity corresponding to at least one of the feeding regions of each phase shifter; the connection unit corresponds to each waveguide unit and includes an insulation body, the insulation body is fixedly connected with the substrate surface and the waveguide unit on the same side as the insulation body; the insulation body has a first hollow-out portion, the waveguide unit contacts the substrate surface through the first hollow-out portion, a first port of the waveguide cavity is located on a contact surface of the waveguide unit in the first hollow-out portion.