Variable Reflect Array With Adjustable Supercell Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reflector systems with high gain in the millimeter wave band face challenges in adjusting incident direction due to sharp directivity, requiring mechanical adjustments that increase equipment size and complicating installation, especially when a two-layer structure is used to achieve variable reflection angles, which also results in a larger structure.
Innovation Solution
A variable reflect array with a single-layer configuration that adjusts the spacing between supercells to change incidence and reflection angles, allowing flexible directivity adjustment in vertical or horizontal planes while maintaining a thin profile, enabling precise alignment with the incident wave from the base station without the need for mechanical adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a two-layer structure is used to make the reflection angle variable, then the reflection angle becomes variable, but the structure becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The reflector is divided into multiple supercells, each consisting of multiple unit cells with different configurations. By selectively activating different supercells and adjusting their spacing, the reflection angle can be varied without requiring a complex two-layer structure, thus reducing overall structure size while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing between supercells is made variable through a control mechanism that adjusts distances in the direction perpendicular to the reflector surface. This dynamic adjustment of spacing allows the reflection angle to change without mechanical movement of the entire structure, achieving variable reflection with a compact design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical adjustment mechanism is used to change orientation of the entire reflector, then the incident direction can be adjusted, but the equipment becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adjustment mechanism that would physically move the entire reflector with an electromagnetic control system. By adjusting the spacing between supercells and their activation states, the incident direction is changed without mechanical movement, eliminating the need for large mechanical adjustment mechanisms and reducing equipment size.
3Power
If the gain is increased, then the antenna gain increases, but the directivity becomes sharp making installation accuracy critical
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains high antenna gain while reducing installation accuracy requirements by making the directivity dynamically adjustable. After installation, the spacing between supercells can be adjusted to fine-tune the incident direction and broaden the effective coverage area, allowing the system to achieve both high gain and ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spacing parameter between supercells to adjust the directivity characteristics. By varying this spacing, the system can optimize the balance between gain and directivity sharpness, reducing the criticality of installation accuracy while maintaining high performance.
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
Enables flexible and precise adjustment of directivity in both vertical and horizontal planes with a single-layer structure, maintaining a thin profile and facilitating easy installation, even with sharp directivity at high gain, by changing the spacing between supercells to alter incidence and reflection angles.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of supercells, the supercell having different incidence angle and reflection angle with respect to an electromagnetic wave of a predetermined wavelength
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to flexibly adjust the incidence wave directivity in a vertical plane or a horizontal plane by making the incident directivity reconfigurable. Provided is a variable reflect array, having a variable mechanism unit configured to change interval between the plurality of supercells, and, the variable mechanism unit is configured to change one of an incidence angle and a reflection angle with respect to the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined wavelength, and, keep the other of the incidence angle and the reflection angle constant with respect to the electromagnetic wave of the predetermined wavelength, by changing the interval between the plurality of supercells.