Reconfigurable RF Aperture Antenna Array Feed Module Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phased array antennas have limited reconfigurability and require a large number of transmit/receive (TR) modules, which increases cost and complexity, and are not efficient in suppressing grating lobes at large scan angles.
Innovation Solution
A reconfigurable radio frequency aperture with reconfigurable patches and parasitic elements, using phase change material switches to control mutual coupling between patches and parasitic elements, allowing for reduced TR module count and array spacing greater than λ/2, thereby suppressing grating lobes and maintaining impedance match.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the spacing between TR modules is increased to reduce the number of TR modules, then the cost and complexity of the phased array antenna is reduced, but grating lobes appear and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces parasitic elements as intermediary components between the driven elements and the grating lobes. These parasitic elements, when excited through controlled mutual coupling, act as mediators that cancel out the grating lobes through destructive interference, enabling larger element spacing without performance degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the coupling parameters between driven and parasitic elements using reconfigurable components (such as varactors or MEMS switches). By adjusting the coupling strength and phase, the system can adaptively control the excitation of parasitic elements to suppress grating lobes at different scan angles, allowing increased element spacing
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional phased array reconfiguration methods are used to achieve different beam patterns, then beam steering is possible, but the system requires complex RF feed reconfiguration and has limited reconfigurability
Solution Approach 1:
The parasitic elements serve as additional intermediaries that provide new degrees of freedom for beam control. By independently controlling the coupling to different parasitic elements, the system can achieve multiple beam patterns and scanning angles without reconfiguring the main RF feed network, simplifying the overall system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic reconfiguration of the coupling between driven and parasitic elements through electronically controllable components. This allows real-time adjustment of the parasitic element excitation to achieve different beam patterns, providing enhanced adaptability without mechanical or complex RF feed reconfiguration
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 solution reduces the number of TR modules by 50% in linear arrays and 4-fold in two-dimensional arrays, effectively suppressing grating lobes and maintaining low VSWR over scan angles, while allowing for beam steering and reconfiguration without altering RF feed lines.
Implementation Method 1
using phase change material switches to control mutual coupling between patches and parasitic elements
Implementation Method 2
the reconfigurable coupling elements and the reconfigurable parasitic elements affect the mutual coupling between reconfigurable patches
Data Source
AI summary
A reconfigurable radio frequency aperture including a substrate, a plurality of reconfigurable patches on the substrate, and a plurality of reconfigurable coupling elements on the substrate, wherein at least one reconfigurable coupling element is coupled between a reconfigurable patch and another reconfigurable patch, and wherein the reconfigurable coupling elements affect the mutual coupling between reconfigurable patches.