Rollable Antenna Mat Structure for Durable Sports Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rollable antenna mats for sports timing are not robust enough to withstand repeated rolling and unrolling, deformation from heavy objects, and interference from athletes, leading to reliability issues in harsh conditions.
Innovation Solution
A rollable antenna mat with planar UHF patch antennas embedded in a flexible elongated sheet structure, featuring a spacer element for out-of-plane compression and bending stiffness, allowing the mat to bend without damage and maintain original shape, and a honeycomb structure for reduced weight and enhanced durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the antenna mat is made rigid to maintain shape and resist deformation, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in rolling and unrolling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible sheet structure as the base material for the antenna mat, allowing it to be easily rolled and unrolled. The antenna elements are embedded within this flexible sheet, which provides the necessary flexibility for handling while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna mat is designed to be curved when rolled up for storage and transport, and flattened when deployed for use. This curvature transformation enables easy storage and deployment while maintaining antenna performance in the flattened state.
2Ease of operation
If the antenna mat is made flexible to enable rolling and unrolling, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to deformation and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining flexible sheet material with embedded antenna elements. This composite design allows the mat to be flexible enough for rolling while the embedded antenna structure maintains its geometric integrity and electromagnetic performance during flexing and deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sheet structure acts as a protective cushion for the embedded antenna elements during rolling, unrolling, and handling operations, preventing damage while maintaining the necessary flexibility for easy operation.
3Reliability
If the antenna mat uses traditional rigid structures to maintain shape, then reliability is improved, but weight increases making handling difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy rigid structures with thin flexible sheet materials that have sufficient mechanical strength for handling and deployment. The flexibility of these thin films reduces weight while the embedded antenna elements provide the necessary structural stability for reliable operation.
4Productivity
If the antenna mat is designed for quick installation and removal, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to repeated handling and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna mat is designed as a dynamic system that can be quickly transformed between rolled and unrolled states. The flexible sheet structure with embedded antennas allows rapid deployment and removal while the composite construction withstands repeated handling cycles without degradation.
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 provides a robust, lightweight antenna mat that can be easily installed and removed without lifting or dragging, maintaining performance even under heavy loads and repeated use, ensuring reliable sports timing in harsh conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible elongated sheet structure which can be rolled-up and unrolled across a race track
Implementation Method 2
featuring a spacer element for out-of-plane compression and bending stiffness
Implementation Method 3
featuring a spacer element for out-of-plane compression and bending stiffness
Data Source
AI summary
A rollable antenna mat for sports timing comprises one or more planar antenna structures connected to one or more transmission lines for conveying signals to and/or from the one or more planar antenna structures. Each of the one or more planar antenna structures comprises a conductive plate positioned above a conductive ground plane. A spacer element is positioned between the conductive ground plane and the conductive plate. The planar antenna structure is configured to generate a radiation field having a main axis that is substantially perpendicular to the conductive plate. The planar antenna structure and a transmission line is embedded in a flexible elongated sheet structure of one or more elastomeric materials, and comprises the embedded one or more planar antenna structures being suitable to be rolled up in a roll, the axis of the roll being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible elongated sheet structure.