Spatial Power-Combining Antenna Assembly Air Dielectric
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spatial power-combining devices face limitations in efficiency and frequency range due to the use of printed circuit boards, which become lossy at higher frequencies, restricting the combining efficiency, operating frequency range, and achievable output power.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an all-metal antenna assembly with signal and ground conductors entirely separated by air, eliminating the need for printed circuit boards and allowing for ultra-wide bandwidth operation, with amplifiers connected to both input and output antenna structures, forming an integral component with a core section that supports high or low frequency ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If printed circuit boards are used to support antenna conductors, then mechanical support and desired form factor are provided, but losses increase at higher frequencies limiting efficiency and operating frequency range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the printed circuit board substrate from the antenna structure, leaving only the essential metal conductors (signal and ground) that are mechanically supported by the housing. This eliminates the lossy dielectric material while maintaining the antenna's mechanical support and form factor, thereby reducing energy losses at higher frequencies and extending the operating frequency range.
2Reliability
If printed circuit boards are used for antenna support, then mechanical structure is provided, but combining efficiency and output power are limited at higher frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna conductors directly with the housing structure, where the housing serves dual purposes: providing mechanical support and forming part of the antenna structure itself. The metal housing replaces the printed circuit board as the support structure, integrating the housing and antenna functions into a single unified structure that reduces losses and improves combining efficiency without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional antenna structures with substrates are used, then form factor control is achieved, but frequency range and power output are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using metal conductors with specific geometries (such as tapered shapes or varied cross-sections) in different regions of the antenna structure to optimize performance across a wide frequency range. The housing and conductors are designed with locally optimized features that maintain the desired form factor while enabling broad frequency operation, as the metal structure can be precisely shaped in different zones to control impedance and resonance characteristics.
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 solution enhances the efficiency and scalability of spatial power-combining devices, enabling operation across a broad frequency range from 300 MHz to 400 GHz, with improved thermal capabilities and reduced losses, allowing for higher output power and flexibility in antenna design.
Implementation Method 1
The input coaxial waveguide section distributes the electromagnetic signal to be split across the input antipodal antenna array
Implementation Method 2
An antenna for conventional spatial power-combining devices typically includes a metal antenna signal conductor and a metal antenna ground conductor deposited on opposite sides of a substrate
Implementation Method 3
The amplifiers receive the split signals and in turn transmit amplified split signals across the output antipodal antenna array
Data Source
AI summary
Spatial power-combining devices and antenna assemblies for spatial power-combining devices are disclosed. A spatial power-combining device may include an input coaxial waveguide section, an output coaxial waveguide section, and a center waveguide section. The center waveguide section may include an input center waveguide section, an output center waveguide section, and a core section. The core section may form an integral single component with an input inner housing of the input center waveguide section and an output inner housing of the output center waveguide section. Alternatively, the core section may be attached to the input inner housing and the output inner housing. The plurality of amplifiers may be registered with the core section. Antenna assemblies may include antennas with signal and ground conductors that are separated by air. Representative spatial power-combining devices may be designed with high efficiency, high or low frequency ranges, ultra-wide bandwidth operation, and high output power.