Planar Antenna Phase Shift Circuit for Fast Beam Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planar antennas for 5G mobile communication face challenges in achieving high-speed phase switching and sufficient bandwidth due to the high cost of digital integrated circuits and the limitations of phase array antennas using liquid crystal, which have slow operation speeds and lower gain.
Innovation Solution
A planar antenna device utilizing a thin-film transistor and micro-LED manufacturing process to integrate a phase shift element with a switch group, enabling high-speed phase switching and sufficient bandwidth through a matrix circuit and phase shift wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a digital integrated circuit is used for phase shift in a general planar antenna, then the antenna can be manufactured, but the cost becomes very expensive when several tens to several thousands of digital integrated circuits are included for 5G mobile communication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive digital integrated circuits with thin-film transistors that can be manufactured using low-cost liquid crystal display manufacturing processes. The TFTs are formed as thin films on substrate surfaces, enabling mass production at reduced cost while maintaining the necessary phase shifting functionality for 5G antennas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes digital integrated circuits with a different technological approach using thin-film transistors and liquid crystal materials. This replacement leverages established liquid crystal display manufacturing infrastructure to produce phase shifting elements without requiring expensive digital IC fabrication processes
2Quantity of substance
If liquid crystal is used to achieve phase shift in a phase array antenna, then the antenna can be manufactured at low cost, but it takes time to switch the beam direction due to the slow operation speed of the liquid crystal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thin-film transistors as intermediary switching elements that control the liquid crystal phase shifting. The TFTs provide fast electrical switching capability to overcome the slow response of liquid crystal, while the liquid crystal material itself remains the phase shifting medium. This intermediary approach combines the speed advantage of TFTs with the phase shifting capability of liquid crystal
3Quantity of substance
If a phase array antenna using liquid crystal is used, then the antenna can be manufactured at low cost, but the gain is smaller than that of a general planar antenna, making it difficult to secure sufficient bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the antenna system by integrating phase shift elements directly into the antenna substrate using thin-film technology. This enables optimization of the antenna configuration to achieve higher gain and sufficient bandwidth while maintaining low manufacturing cost through the use of liquid crystal display manufacturing processes
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 device achieves high-speed phase switching and secures a sufficient bandwidth, addressing the limitations of existing technologies by integrating thin-film transistors and micro-LED processes for efficient phase control.
Implementation Method 1
a switch group including a first switching element having a first end of a channel connected to one end of the plurality of phase shift wires and a control electrode connected to the first thin-film transistor, and a second switching element having a first end of a channel connected to the other end of the plurality of phase shift wires and a control electrode connected to the second thin-film transistor
Implementation Method 2
a phase shift element formed on an upper surface of the second substrate and including a plurality of phase shift wires
Implementation Method 3
a second signal line formed on an upper surface of the second substrate, disposed below the slot, and electromagnetically coupled to the patch antenna via the slot
Data Source
AI summary
A planar antenna device that includes a first substrate having a patch antenna, a dielectric, and a second substrate. The second substrate includes a matrix circuit including a transistor pair including a first thin-film transistor and a second thin-film transistor, a first signal line to which a signal to be transmitted is input, a phase shift element including a plurality of phase shift wires, a second signal line electromagnetically coupled to the patch antenna via the slot, and a switch group configured by a first switching element having a first end of a channel connected to one end of the plurality of phase shift wires and a control electrode connected to the first thin-film transistor, and a second switching element having a first end of the channel connected to the other end of the plurality of phase shift wires and a control electrode connected to the second thin-film transistor.