Sierpinski Antenna Assembly With Capacitive Cell Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Sierpinski antennas have insufficient impedance bandwidths for applications in communication and radar systems, limiting their effectiveness in these frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

The antenna assembly incorporates unit cells with dielectric boards and metallic dipole arms, connected by capacitive coupling devices with spaced conductive segments, which capacitively couple neighboring cells to increase impedance bandwidth and maintain a designated separation gap, along with dielectric standoff devices for mounting to a ground plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If traditional Sierpinski antenna designs are used, then the antenna achieves compact design with fractal patterns, but the impedance bandwidth is insufficient for communication and radar systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna areaVSAvoidimpedance bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna is divided into multiple unit cells arranged in a grid pattern, where each unit cell contains fractal dipole arms. This segmentation allows the antenna to maintain compact size while achieving wider bandwidth through the collective contribution of multiple cells with different resonant frequencies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fractal dipole arms are constructed using nested triangular patterns where smaller triangles are embedded within larger ones. This nesting creates multiple resonant frequencies within a compact structure, enabling the antenna to operate across wide impedance bandwidth while maintaining a small footprint

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If unit cells are placed close together to reduce size, then the antenna assembly becomes more compact, but coupling between adjacent cells causes performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna assembly areaVSAvoidcell coupling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Dielectric standoff devices are introduced as intermediary elements between adjacent unit cells. These standoffs maintain precise separation distances that prevent harmful electromagnetic coupling while allowing the antenna assembly to remain compact. The dielectric material provides both mechanical support and electrical isolation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 achieves a 2:1 to 5:1 impedance bandwidth enhancement, enabling ultra-wideband communication and scanning without mechanical parts, suitable for vehicles and systems like communication and radar.

Implementation Method 1

The coupling devices can connect the unit cells in the neighboring pairs with the conductive segments contacting the unit cells to capacitively couple the unit cells with each other

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP4687219A1Ultra-wideband sierpinski antenna assembly
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 THE BOEING CO
  • EP4687219A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4687219A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4687219A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An antenna assembly can include unit cells having dipole arms for communication of radio frequency (RF) signals. The unit cells include first dielectric boards with metallic layers on the dielectric boards forming the dipole arms. The antenna assembly also can include coupling devices connecting neighboring pairs of the unit cells. The coupling devices can have second dielectric boards with conductive segments spaced apart from each other. Each of the coupling devices can be connected with and extending between the unit cells in each of the neighboring pairs of the unit cells with each of the conductive segments of each of the coupling devices contacting the first dielectric boards in the unit cells in each of the neighboring pairs.