Planar Array Antenna Layout for Broadband Phase Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadband planar array antennas experience significant phase shifts in power feeding due to frequency differences, leading to a decrease in antenna gain, especially at the ends of the frequency band.
Innovation Solution
A broadband planar array antenna design featuring a multi-layer board with dielectric and conductor pattern layers, where patch antenna patterns are configured such that the distance from the transmission line to the end of each patch antenna along the polarization direction is shorter with increasing proximity to the feeding point, thereby correcting phase shifts due to frequency differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the separation distance between ground layers is increased to extend the frequency band, then the bandwidth is improved, but the phase shift due to frequency differences increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patch antennas are designed with non-uniform dimensions where the length and width vary depending on their position in the array. Specifically, patch antennas closer to the feeding point have different dimensions than those farther away, creating local variations in electrical length that compensate for the cumulative phase shifts caused by the increased separation distance between ground layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters (length and width) of the patch antennas systematically across the array. By adjusting these dimensions, the electrical length of each patch antenna is modified to compensate for frequency-dependent phase shifts, thereby maintaining phase consistency across the extended bandwidth.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform patch antennas are used in the array, then the manufacturing is simplified, but the phase shift due to frequency differences decreases gain
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using identical uniform patch antennas throughout the array, the invention implements local quality variations where each patch antenna has specifically tailored dimensions. This approach prioritizes maintaining antenna gain and phase consistency over manufacturing simplicity, as the dimensional variations are systematic and can be incorporated into the design specifications.
3Device complexity
If the distance from the transmission line to the patch antenna end is uniform, then the structure is simplified, but phase shifts at frequency band ends increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces asymmetry in the patch antenna dimensions, specifically making the distance from the transmission line to the patch antenna end non-uniform across the array. This asymmetric configuration is designed to counterbalance the phase shifts that occur at the frequency band ends, thereby improving phase consistency across the entire bandwidth.
Data Source
AI summary
A broadband planar array antenna in one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a multi-layer board; a plurality of patch antenna patterns; and a transmission line that connects the plurality of patch antenna patterns in series. The distance from the transmission line to an end of each of the plurality of patch antenna patterns along the polarization direction of a radiated radio wave is shorter with increasing proximity to a feeding point of the transmission line.