Planar Complementary Antenna for Wideband GHz-THz Signal Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cellular antennas, such as dipole and inverted-F antennas, have narrow bandwidth and low gain, which are inadequate for the advanced wireless communication requirements of 5G and future technologies.

Innovation Solution

A planar complementary antenna design featuring a substrate with a planar dipole antenna and a loop antenna, connected via a feed network, forming both electric and magnetic dipoles, which can be fabricated using conductive strips on a PCB substrate, allowing for improved signal transmission and reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If simple antennas such as dipole antenna and inverted-F antenna are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the bandwidth and gain are narrow and low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna structure complexityVSAvoidbandwidth and gain performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines a dipole antenna and an inverted-F antenna into a single integrated antenna structure. The dipole antenna portion provides omnidirectional radiation characteristics while the inverted-F antenna portion contributes to impedance matching and bandwidth enhancement. This merging allows the antenna to achieve wide impedance bandwidth and stable gain across GHz and THz frequencies without requiring multiple separate antenna elements, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and performance reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite antenna structure integrating two different antenna types (dipole and inverted-F) with distinct electromagnetic characteristics. The dipole portion uses conductive elements for omnidirectional radiation, while the inverted-F portion incorporates grounding structures and feeding mechanisms for impedance control. This composite approach enables the antenna to simultaneously achieve wide bandwidth, stable gain, and low back radiation, overcoming the limitations of simple single-type antennas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If advanced antenna designs are implemented to improve bandwidth and gain, then the communication performance is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth and gain performanceVSAvoidfabrication complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the dipole antenna and inverted-F antenna into a single integrated structure that can be fabricated as one unified component. The conductive elements, grounding structures, and feeding networks are designed to be co-integrated on a single substrate, reducing the number of separate fabrication steps and assembly operations required. This merging approach maintains advanced performance characteristics while simplifying the manufacturing process compared to implementing multiple separate antenna elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes planar geometry and two-dimensional layout strategies to accommodate both dipole and inverted-F antenna structures on a single substrate plane. The conductive strips and grounding elements are arranged in optimized two-dimensional patterns that facilitate standard PCB fabrication processes. This dimensional approach allows complex antenna functionality to be achieved without increasing vertical stacking or three-dimensional assembly complexity, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If planar complementary antenna with both electric and magnetic dipoles is used, then the impedance bandwidth is widened, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpedance bandwidthVSAvoidantenna structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines electric dipole and magnetic dipole structures into a unified planar complementary antenna design. The electric dipole portion consists of conductive strips oriented in one direction, while the magnetic dipole portion uses complementary conductive elements oriented perpendicular to the first set. This merging creates a single antenna structure that simultaneously supports both electric and magnetic resonance modes, achieving wide impedance bandwidth without requiring separate electric and magnetic antenna elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs complementary conductive strip configurations that create both electric and magnetic dipole moments within the same planar structure. The first set of conductive strips forms electric dipoles, while the second set of complementary strips forms magnetic dipoles. This composite conductive element design enables the antenna to achieve wide impedance bandwidth across GHz and THz frequencies while maintaining a single integrated structure that does not significantly increase manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 design achieves a wide impedance bandwidth and stable gain across GHz and THz frequencies, with low back radiation and a consistent radiation pattern, making it suitable for high-performance communication devices.

Implementation Method 1

The feed network is operably connected with the planar dipole antenna and the loop antenna for feeding an electrical signal from the feed source to the planar dipole antenna and the loop antenna so as to form an electric dipole at the planar dipole antenna and a magnetic dipole at the loop antenna

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11404786B2Planar complementary antenna and related antenna array
Publication Date: 2022.08.02 CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
  • US11404786B2 patent drawing
  • US11404786B2 patent drawing
  • US11404786B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A planar complementary antenna and an antenna array with multiple planar complementary antennas. The planar complementary antenna has a substrate, a planar dipole antenna arranged on the substrate, a loop antenna arranged on the substrate and operably connected with the planar dipole antenna, and a feed network for connection with a feed source. The feed network is operably connected with the planar dipole antenna and the loop antenna for feeding an electrical signal from the feed source to the planar dipole antenna and the loop antenna so as to form an electric dipole at the planar dipole antenna and a magnetic dipole at the loop antenna.