Reflecting Plate Direction Sensing for Fixed Radio Wave Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods face challenges in accurately estimating the arrival direction of low-frequency radio waves due to the large size and weight of antennas, making it difficult to efficiently change their direction.
Innovation Solution
A radio wave measurement device comprising a directional antenna, a variable reflecting plate, an angle meter, a measurement unit, and an output unit, which measures the received power or C/N value of radio waves reflected by the plate and outputs the associated angles, allowing for easy estimation of the arrival direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large antenna is used for low frequency radio waves, then the antenna can receive low frequency radio waves effectively, but it becomes difficult to change the antenna direction due to weight and moment
Solution Approach 1:
A reflecting plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the radio wave source and the directional antenna. The reflecting plate redirects radio waves from different directions toward the fixed directional antenna, enabling the system to measure arrival directions without moving the heavy antenna. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by decoupling the reception function from the direction-changing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the direction measurement function from the antenna itself by using a fixed directional antenna combined with a movable reflecting plate. The reflecting plate handles the direction-changing task while the antenna remains stationary, dividing the original single-function antenna system into two specialized components with distinct roles.
2Device complexity
If the antenna is fixed in one direction, then the antenna structure is simplified and easier to install, but the arrival direction of radio waves cannot be estimated
Solution Approach 1:
The reflecting plate serves as a mediator that enables direction estimation while the antenna remains fixed. By positioning the reflecting plate at different angles, radio waves from different arrival directions are redirected to the fixed antenna, allowing the system to measure arrival directions without requiring the antenna to rotate or change orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
While the antenna remains fixed, the reflecting plate is made dynamic and adjustable. The system measures the angle of the reflecting plate at different positions to determine radio wave arrival directions. This dynamic element compensates for the static antenna, maintaining measurement capability while simplifying the overall structure.
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 efficient and accurate estimation of the arrival direction of radio waves even when it is difficult to change the antenna's direction, by using a reflecting plate to redirect radio waves towards the antenna and measuring the associated angles and signal strengths.
Implementation Method 1
a reflecting plate whose direction of a reflecting surface that reflects radio waves is variable and that reflects radio waves toward the directional antenna
Data Source
AI summary
A radio wave measurement device according to an embodiment includes a directional antenna that receives a radio wave, a reflecting plate whose direction of a reflecting surface that reflects radio waves is variable and that reflects radio waves toward the directional antenna, an angle meter that measures each angle of the reflecting plate in which a direction of the reflecting surface is sequentially changed, measurement circuitry configured to measure a received power or a C/N value of a radio wave reflected by the reflecting plate in which the direction of the reflecting surface is sequentially changed and received by the directional antenna, and output circuitry configured to output each angle measured by the angle meter and each of the received powers or the C/N values measured by the measurement circuitry in association with each other.