Shared-Aperture Antenna with Interleaved Arrays for Multi-Band Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna technologies face challenges in sharing an aperture between antenna arrays operating in different frequency bands, which is essential for miniaturization and integration in wireless communication devices, while also reducing costs and improving device performance.
Innovation Solution
A shared-aperture antenna design incorporating a dielectric substrate with a microstrip antenna array and an electrically small antenna array, where the electrically small antenna units are inserted between microstrip patch antenna units, allowing for aperture sharing between different frequency bands, and optionally featuring a metamaterial dielectric layer to maximize gain and reduce the impact of different unit factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple antenna arrays for different frequency bands are designed separately, then each antenna can operate independently with optimal performance, but the device size and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antenna arrays for different frequency bands (e.g., sub-6GHz and mmWave) into a single integrated antenna structure. The antenna array includes both low-frequency antenna elements and high-frequency antenna elements arranged in the same physical aperture, allowing multiple frequency bands to share the same space while maintaining independent operation through frequency-selective surfaces and dedicated feeding networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated antenna array serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports both sub-6GHz and mmWave frequency bands, provides both coverage and capacity functions, and enables independent operation of different frequency bands through a unified structure. The frequency-selective surface allows the same antenna aperture to handle different frequency ranges with appropriate filtering and routing.
2Volume of moving object
If antenna arrays for different frequency bands share the same aperture, then device integration and miniaturization are achieved, but interference and isolation between different frequency bands become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is segmented into distinct low-frequency antenna elements and high-frequency antenna elements within the same aperture. The frequency-selective surface is segmented to provide separate filtering paths for different frequency bands, allowing signals to be routed to appropriate feeding networks while maintaining physical proximity for space efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Frequency-selective surfaces act as intermediaries between the shared antenna aperture and the separate feeding networks for different frequency bands. These surfaces selectively guide signals of different frequencies to their designated processing paths, preventing interference while enabling aperture sharing through electromagnetic field manipulation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the antenna array is designed to support multiple frequency bands, then the communications system can radiate and receive multiple bands, but the design complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna elements are designed with adjustable parameters such as element spacing, dimensions, and orientations that can be optimized for different frequency bands. The frequency-selective surface parameters (mesh size, pattern, spacing) are可调 to support different frequency ranges, allowing the same basic structure to adapt to multiple bands through parameter modification rather than complete redesign.
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
Enables efficient sharing of the antenna aperture between different frequency bands, reducing device size and cost while maintaining radiation efficiency and allowing for the generation of multiple frequency bands without increasing the physical aperture, thus enhancing the integration and performance of wireless communication devices.
Implementation Method 1
a microstrip antenna array and an electrically small antenna array, where the microstrip antenna array includes rows of microstrip patch antenna units uniformly distributed in arrays
Implementation Method 2
a dielectric substrate, a microstrip antenna array, and an electrically small antenna array, where the microstrip antenna array includes rows of microstrip patch antenna units uniformly distributed in arrays
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to the field of antenna technologies, and discloses a shared-aperture antenna and a base station, to resolve a problem of sharing an aperture between antenna arrays working in different frequency bands. The shared-aperture antenna includes a dielectric substrate, a microstrip antenna array, and an electrically small antenna array, where the microstrip antenna array includes rows of microstrip patch antenna units uniformly distributed in arrays, and the microstrip patch antenna units fit a surface of the dielectric substrate; the electrically small antenna array includes electrically small antenna units that are parallel to each other; and the electrically small antenna units are inserted at intervals between the microstrip patch antenna units, and fit the surface of the dielectric substrate.