Reflective Array Antenna Polarization Separation Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beam steering in microwave antennas is limited due to the secondary reflective surface blocking the primary beam, restricting the steering angle.
Innovation Solution
The secondary reflective surface is designed to reflect electromagnetic waves in one polarization direction while allowing waves in a perpendicular direction to penetrate, enabling a larger surface area and adjusting phase and amplitude to steer the beam without blocking, using a phase shifting and gain adjustment apparatus in the feed array and reflective patches that rotate the polarization direction by 90 degrees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the secondary reflective surface is made small to prevent primary beam blocking, then beam blocking is avoided, but the steering angle is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary reflective surface is designed with spatially varying properties: slots with different orientations in different regions reflect waves in specific polarization directions while allowing penetration in perpendicular directions. This local differentiation enables the surface to simultaneously prevent beam blocking and achieve wide steering angles by directing reflected beams appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the polarization parameter of electromagnetic waves through the secondary reflective surface. By orienting slots at different angles and using phase shifting elements, the surface transforms the polarization state of incident waves, enabling beams to pass through or reflect based on their polarization direction, thus avoiding blocking while maintaining steering capability.
2Area of stationary object
If the secondary reflective surface is made large to increase area, then surface area is improved, but the primary beam is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the large secondary reflective surface have slots with different orientations and properties. This allows the surface to be large in area while simultaneously allowing beam penetration in certain directions and reflection in others, preventing blocking despite the increased size.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary reflective surface functions as a composite structure combining reflective elements (slots) with different orientations and properties within a single surface. This composite design enables the surface to exhibit both reflective and penetrative characteristics simultaneously across different spatial regions and polarization directions.
3Ease of operation
If feed steering covers the secondary reflective surface to achieve beam steering, then beam steering capability is improved, but the steering angle is limited by the surface size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses phase shifting elements and polarization transformation to change the parameters of electromagnetic waves reflected from the secondary surface. This enables the system to achieve wide beam steering angles by manipulating wave parameters rather than being constrained by the physical size of the reflective surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary reflective surface performs multiple functions: it reflects beams in certain polarization directions, allows penetration in perpendicular directions, and works with phase shifting elements to enable beam steering. This multi-functionality allows the surface to support wide steering angles while maintaining its structural integrity and size.
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 allows for a wider beam steering range with reduced costs and meets directivity pattern requirements by preventing the primary beam from being blocked, while maintaining effective beam steering capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the secondary reflective surface can reflect the electromagnetic wave in the first polarization direction, and allows the electromagnetic wave in the second polarization direction to penetrate
Implementation Method 2
the secondary reflective surface is configured to reflect the electromagnetic wave in the first polarization direction
Implementation Method 3
The reflective patch can rotate a polarization direction of an incident electromagnetic wave by 90 degrees
Data Source
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AI summary
A reflective array antenna and a communications device are disclosed. The antenna includes: a feed array, a secondary reflective surface, and a primary reflective array. The feed array is capable of emitting an electromagnetic wave in a first polarization direction. The secondary reflective surface is configured to reflect the electromagnetic wave in the first polarization direction emitted by the feed array, and allows an electromagnetic wave in a second polarization direction to penetrate. The primary reflective array is configured to: convert the electromagnetic wave in the first polarization direction reflected by the secondary reflective surface into the electromagnetic wave in the second polarization direction and reflect the electromagnetic wave in the second polarization direction. In the foregoing technical solution, the secondary reflective surface can reflect the electromagnetic wave in the first polarization direction, and allows the electromagnetic wave in the second polarization direction to penetrate, so that the secondary reflective surface can be set to have a relatively large area and the electromagnetic wave emitted by the primary reflective array is not blocked. In this way, a required beam steering range can be achieved with relatively low costs, and a requirement on a directivity pattern during application can be met.