Resonant Conductive Plate for Collocated Antenna Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio frequency interference occurs between collocated antennas operating in the same frequency band, even when positioned outside of each other's main lobes, due to stray or side lobe radiation, which can degrade the performance of sensitive radar/IFF systems.
Innovation Solution
A plate with multiple conductive layers and a dielectric layer is used to create a resonant cavity that blocks energy from reaching the second antenna, minimizing radio frequency interference by forcing energy to radiate broadside and reducing diffraction spillover, with the layers spaced at a quarter wavelength to optimize energy blocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple antennas are collocated to operate in the same frequency band, then space utilization is improved, but radio frequency interference occurs between antennas due to stray or side lobe radiation
Solution Approach 1:
A conductive plate structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the communications antenna and radar/IFF antenna. The plate serves as a mediator that blocks stray and side lobe radiation from the communications antenna from reaching the radar antenna, while allowing the main beam radiation pattern to remain intact. This resolves the interference issue without requiring the antennas to be separated into different locations.
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 effectively reduces radio frequency interference between collocated antennas, maintaining the main beam radiation pattern while minimizing interference, thereby enhancing the performance of sensitive radar/IFF systems by ensuring that energy from one antenna does not interfere with the other.
Implementation Method 1
a resonant quarter wavelength spacing of the plate layers forces energy broadside to minimize layer spillover caused by diffraction
Implementation Method 2
Multiple conductive layers having increasing radii can block diffracted energy from spilling over and around the plate
Implementation Method 3
A resonant quarter wavelength spacing of the plate layers forces energy broadside to minimize layer spillover caused by diffraction
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for a plate to prevent energy from a first antenna from interfering with a collocated second antenna. In one embodiment, the plate includes first and second conductive layers to shadow the second antenna and thereby block energy from reaching the second antenna. A resonant quarter wavelength spacing of the plates forces energy broadside minimizing the spillover the edge caused by diffraction. Multiple conductive layers having increasing radii can block diffracted energy from spilling over and around the plate. The multiple plates of increasing radii affect a waterfall-like spill wherein energy is lost in each level.