Co-located Planar Antenna Array for Wide Scan Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antenna arrays have limited beam forming scan ranges and require large physical footprints, leading to scanning loss and unwanted side lobes at lower frequencies, making them inefficient for extended scan angles.
Innovation Solution
A planar antenna array structure with co-located central and wide beam forming antenna arrays, where the central array covers a +/−40° range and the wide array extends to +/−70°, using dual-polarity dipole elements and monopole elements respectively, allowing for adjustable beam peaks and reduced size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional antenna arrays are used to achieve beam forming, then the scanning range is limited to approximately +/−40°, but the scanning loss in gain degrades propagation and unwanted side lobes create interference beyond this range
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into two distinct sub-arrays: a central scan angle sub-array with elements polarized parallel to the reflector for +/−40° scanning, and a wide scan angle sub-array with elements polarized normal to the reflector for +/−70° scanning. This segmentation allows each sub-array to be optimized for its specific scanning range, eliminating the gain degradation and side lobe issues that occur when a single array operates beyond its optimal range.
2Power
If a high number of antenna elements are arranged in a planar array at lower frequencies (3.5 GHz or 2.4 GHz), then beam forming capability is achieved, but the physical footprint becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the polarization dimension to differentiate between central and wide scan angle functions. By arranging antenna elements with different polarizations (parallel vs. normal to the reflector) in a planar configuration, the system achieves enhanced beam forming capability without increasing the physical footprint. This dimensional approach allows multiple functions to coexist in the same spatial plane.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the scan angle range is extended beyond +/−40°, then wider coverage is achieved, but scanning loss and side lobe interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the antenna array are assigned different polarizations and functions: the central scan angle sub-array (elements polarized parallel to the reflector) handles +/−40° scanning with optimized gain, while the wide scan angle sub-array (elements polarized normal to the reflector) handles +/−70° scanning. This local differentiation ensures that each region operates within its optimal performance characteristics, eliminating scanning loss and side lobe interference even at extended scan angles.
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
The solution provides improved gain and wider scan angle coverage, reducing scanning loss and side lobes, while maintaining a smaller antenna array size, effectively addressing the limitations of conventional arrays.
Implementation Method 1
a planar array reflector, a central beam forming antenna array located on the planar array reflector and configured to form radio frequency (RF) signals having a beam peak that is adjustable within a central scan angle range relative to a propagation axis that is normal to the array reflector
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna array structure is described that includes at least two antenna arrays co-located on a common planar array reflector. One of the antenna arrays has a first, central scan range. The other antenna array includes antenna elements that can be controlled to scan regions outside of the first, central scan range.