Plasma Switched Array Antenna Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reconfigurable antennas face challenges with high cost, power consumption, and complexity due to the N-factor constraint, particularly in phased array antennas, and mechanical articulatable antennas are slow, large, and expensive, while conventional switches for lens-based antennas suffer from slow speeds, high power requirements, and design complexity.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable antenna system utilizing a spherical dielectric lens with plasma switches composed of inert gases (Neon, Xenon, or Argon) and ring electrodes, where control circuitry independently operates the plasma switches to selectively activate and deactivate antenna feed elements, allowing for dynamic beam steering and aperture modification without the need for multiple RF circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If phased array antennas are used to electronically steer radiation beams, then beam steering capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to N-factor constraint requiring independent RF circuits for each element
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna feed elements into a single integrated lens-based antenna structure, eliminating the need for independent RF circuits for each element. The lens focuses energy from multiple feed elements simultaneously, merging their functions into one unified system that achieves beam steering without the N-factor constraint.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens-based antenna design allows a single antenna structure to perform multiple functions: it can focus energy in different directions by selectively activating different feed elements, providing beam steering capability while using shared RF circuits instead of dedicated circuits for each element.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanically articulatable antennas are used to steer radiation beams, then beam steering range is improved, but speed and reliability worsen due to moving parts and mechanical degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical articulation system with an electronic switching system. Instead of physically moving the antenna to change beam direction, the system electronically switches between multiple feed elements around the lens, achieving beam steering through electromagnetic field control rather than mechanical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering through electronic switching of feed elements rather than static mechanical positioning. The system can rapidly change beam direction by electronically activating different feed elements, providing dynamic adaptability without mechanical moving parts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional switches are used in lens-based antennas to selectively activate feed elements, then beam steering is enabled, but switch speed and power consumption worsen due to slow switching and high power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the switching mechanism by using semiconductor switches operating at radio frequencies instead of conventional mechanical or ferrite switches. This parameter change enables much faster switching speeds and lower power consumption while maintaining the ability to selectively activate feed elements for beam steering.
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
This solution reduces the complexity and cost of reconfigurable antennas by enabling efficient and rapid beam steering and aperture modification, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies while minimizing power consumption and design complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plasma switches comprises a volume of inert gas and a pair of electrodes spanning the respective inert gas volume... supplying a voltage to the pair of electrodes of each of the plasma switches sufficient to ignite the respective inert gas volume into a plasma field
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A reconfigurable antenna comprises a plurality of antenna feed elements, a plurality of plasma switches respectively associated with the antenna feed elements, and control circuitry for independently operating the plasma switches to selectively activate and deactivate the antenna feed elements. Each plasma switch may comprise a volume of inert gas, and a pair of electrodes spanning the respective volume of inert gas. The reconfigurable antenna may comprise a power supply for supplying a voltage to the pair of electrodes of each of plasma switch sufficient to ignite the respective inert gas volume into a plasma field to deactivate the respective antenna feed element. Each plasma switch may optionally be operated to attenuate each antenna feed element.