Reconfigurable Antenna Layout for Electronic Beam Steering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reconfigurable antennas face challenges with high cost, complexity, and large size, particularly in high-frequency applications, and require mechanical steering mechanisms, which are not suitable for compact and energy-efficient designs.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable antenna design incorporating an amplifier array positioned near the transmitting array, allowing for electronic beam control and reducing thickness by folding the primary source closer to the array, using planar technology on printed circuit boards with individually controllable phase shifts and amplification circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reflector antennas are used for high-gain applications, then gain performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to precise curvature requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna aperture is divided into multiple independent radiating elements arranged in a grid pattern, where each element can be manufactured separately using standard PCB techniques. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex curved reflector surfaces while maintaining high-gain performance through coherent signal combination from all elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical beam steering (physical movement of antenna elements or reflectors) with electronic phase control. Each radiating element incorporates phase shifters that electronically adjust the phase of transmitted and received signals, enabling beam direction control without mechanical movement, thus reducing complexity and improving reliability.
2Ease of operation
If phased array antennas are used for electronic beam control, then beam steering capability is improved, but cost and complexity increase due to amplification modules
Solution Approach 1:
Each radiating element is designed to perform multiple functions: transmission, reception, phase shifting, and amplification. The dual-polarized elements can operate in both transmit and receive modes, and the phase shifters are configured to work in both directions, eliminating the need for separate amplification modules for each function and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam forming and steering capabilities through electronically controllable phase shifters at each radiating element. The phase shift values can be dynamically adjusted to steer beams in different directions and to adapt to varying operational requirements, providing flexible and reconfigurable antenna performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transmitting array antennas are used for reconfigurable beamforming, then beam shaping capability is improved, but antenna thickness increases due to focal source distance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the focal source functionality directly within the radiating element structure itself. The phase shifters and feeding networks are embedded within or immediately adjacent to the radiating elements, eliminating the need for separate focal sources positioned at a distance. This nested integration dramatically reduces antenna thickness while maintaining beam shaping capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a three-dimensional volumetric structure with separated focal sources to a planar two-dimensional array of integrated radiating elements. This dimensional reduction allows the antenna to achieve thin-profile construction while maintaining full beamforming and shaping capabilities through phase control in the planar element array.
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 compact, cost-effective, and energy-efficient antenna with improved performance, enabling dynamic beam control without mechanical movement, suitable for applications like satellite communications.
Implementation Method 1
a reconfigurable antenna design incorporating an amplifier array positioned near the transmitting array, allowing for electronic beam control and reducing thickness
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
This description relates to an antenna (200) comprising: - an amplifier array (201) comprising a plurality of first elementary cells (203); - a transmitter array (105) comprising a plurality of second elementary cells (107); and - at least one source (101), in which said at least one source (101) is configured to irradiate, or to be irradiated by, the transmitter array (105), and the amplifier array (201), disposed opposite the transmitter array (105), is configured to irradiate and to be irradiated by the transmitter array (105).