Rotating Panel Antenna for Polarization Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile directional antennas for ground-based high-speed communication with satellites face challenges in maintaining accurate tracking and polarization alignment while avoiding interference with adjacent satellites, leading to bulky and costly designs with complex mechanisms for polarization switching.
Innovation Solution
A compact directional antenna with rotating panels that switch polarization by rotating around a common axis, allowing each face to assume the position of the other while orienting radiating elements differently, thus enabling polarization switching without increasing the distance between radiating elements and simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reflector antenna with great freedom of movement is used to cover large angular intervals, then the coverage area is improved, but the antenna becomes bulky and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is divided into multiple independent radiating elements arranged in a planar configuration, each element contributing to the overall radiation pattern. This segmentation allows the antenna to achieve wide coverage without requiring a large movable reflector structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a traditional three-dimensional reflector antenna requiring mechanical movement to a planar two-dimensional array antenna that achieves coverage through electronic beamforming and element activation, eliminating the need for bulky mechanical structures.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the radiating elements are placed far apart to avoid side lobes, then interference with adjacent systems is reduced, but the antenna size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the antenna array are assigned different functions - central elements for main beam radiation and peripheral elements for controlling side lobes. This local differentiation allows compact spacing while maintaining low side lobe levels through selective element activation and amplitude tapering.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs variable amplitude weighting and phase shifting across the radiating elements to control the radiation pattern. By adjusting these parameters, the antenna achieves low side lobe interference without requiring large element spacing, thus maintaining a compact aperture.
3Device complexity
If linear polarization is used with a single signal source, then the system is simpler, but the antenna must be constantly aligned with the polarization direction
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is designed to generate multiple polarization modes (horizontal, vertical, circular) using the same set of radiating elements and signal sources. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different polarization requirements without additional hardware or complex alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system dynamically adjusts the excitation amplitude and phase of individual radiating elements to generate the desired polarization mode. This dynamic control enables rapid polarization switching to track satellites without mechanical realignment of the entire antenna structure.
4Ease of operation
If circular polarization is used instead of linear polarization, then the tracking constraints are reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the generation of both horizontal and vertical linearly polarized fields from the same radiating elements by controlling the relative phases and amplitudes of fed signals. This merging approach produces circular polarization without requiring separate antenna structures for different polarizations, simplifying manufacturing.
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 antenna achieves precise tracking and polarization switching while reducing manufacturing complexity and avoiding the formation of side lobes, resulting in a cost-effective and efficient solution for mobile satellite communication.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of waveguides fed by radiofrequency signals and perforated by openings arranged to illuminate elements radiators placed at a distance from said openings
Implementation Method 2
said support is capable of switching between at least two different configurations, said support being configured to place, in the second configuration, the second face in a position identical to that taken by the first face in the first configuration
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The antenna has a rigid framework comprising faces (202a, 202b, 203a, 203b), where each face supports waveguides fed with radiofrequency signals and being pierced with apertures so as to illuminate dipoles placed at some distance from the apertures. The framework toggles between configurations for antenna pointing. The framework is configured so as to place in one of the configurations and one of the faces in a position identical to a position taken by another face in another configuration. The dipoles of the latter face are oriented differently from dipoles of the former face in the position.