Series-Fed Planar Antenna Layout for Horizontal Polarization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Series-Fed Patch Antenna (SFPA) technology does not support operation under horizontal polarization, which is necessary for polarimetric radar applications requiring orthogonal polarizations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed SFPA antenna operates under horizontal polarization by electrically connecting two successive planar radiating elements along the vertical axis with a pair of differential lines, each line having a length equal to an integer multiple of the guided wavelength, and providing a single planar radiating element with a horizontal excitation point outside the vertical axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single microstrip feed line is used to connect successive planar radiating elements, then the antenna operates under vertical polarization, but it cannot operate under horizontal polarization
Solution Approach 1:
The single feed line is segmented into two separate differential feed lines, each responsible for different polarization components. This segmentation allows independent control of vertical and horizontal polarization, enabling the antenna to operate in both modes while maintaining manageable complexity through modular feed structure
Solution Approach 2:
The feed line system is designed to perform multiple functions: it can excite both vertical and horizontal polarization modes using the same physical antenna structure. The differential feed lines are configured to provide both single-polarization and dual-polarization operation, making the system universal across different radar application requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If the feed point is located on the vertical axis, then vertical polarization is achieved, but horizontal polarization cannot be excited
Solution Approach 1:
The excitation point is deliberately positioned asymmetrically relative to the vertical axis, specifically at a horizontal offset distance. This asymmetric positioning enables coupling to horizontal polarization modes while maintaining the ability to excite vertical modes through the differential feed structure, thus achieving dual-polarization capability from a single feed configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The excitation point configuration transitions from a one-dimensional vertical axis positioning to a two-dimensional positioning system with both vertical and horizontal coordinates. By introducing the horizontal dimension (offset distance from vertical axis), the system gains the ability to excite horizontal polarization in addition to vertical polarization
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 configuration allows the SFPA antenna to achieve horizontal polarization operation while maintaining similar radiation patterns and cross-polarization efficiency as existing vertically polarized SFPA antennas, thus enabling efficient polarimetric radar applications.
Implementation Method 1
two successive planar radiating elements along the vertical axis are electrically connected to each other by a pair of differential lines, each line of the pair of differential lines having a length equal to an integer of wavelength guided along the line
Implementation Method 2
the guided wavelength corresponding to the resonance frequency of the array antenna
Data Source
AI summary
An array antenna including a plurality of radiating elements fed in series and arranged along a vertical axis, operates under horizontal polarization, by connecting two successive radiating elements along the vertical axis by a pair of differential lines, each line having a length equal to the wavelength guided in the line, one end of a line being connected to a horizontal edge of a radiating element and the other end of the line being connected to the horizontal edge facing the other radiating element, a single radiating element being provided with at least one horizontal excitation point, positioned outside the vertical axis, preferably in proximity to a vertical edge of the single radiating element.