Spherical Ridge Waveguide Antenna for Wide-FOV UWB Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antennas struggle to provide a wide field of view (FOV) and multi-octave frequency range while maintaining a narrow beamwidth, leading to significant scan loss and high size, weight, power, and cost in array configurations.
Innovation Solution
A multi-octave antenna element with a dual ridge waveguide and spherical elements, combined with a balanced transmission line and cavity-backed balun, which eliminates ground plane multipath interference and maintains wide beamwidth across multiple octaves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If spiral or sinuous antennas are used to provide wide bandwidth over multiple octaves, then frequency range is improved, but beamwidth becomes narrow which prevents wide field of view scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from planar spiral/sinuous antenna geometries to a three-dimensional spherical element structure. This dimensional change enables the antenna to achieve both wide bandwidth and wide beamwidth by utilizing spherical geometry that radiates uniformly in all directions, eliminating the narrow beamwidth constraint of planar designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters from planar curves to spherical surfaces, and modifies the feeding structure from conventional coaxial or microstrip feeds to a unique ridged waveguide configuration. These parameter changes enable simultaneous achievement of multi-octave bandwidth and wide field of view capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Vivaldi antennas are made tall to achieve low frequency operation, then frequency range is improved, but array size and volume increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the tall, narrow Vivaldi antenna profile with a compact spherical element structure. This dimensional change allows the antenna to achieve low frequency operation through the spherical geometry's inherent omnidirectional radiation pattern, eliminating the need for tall structures and significantly reducing array volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs spherical elements as the radiating structure, utilizing the curved geometry to achieve wide bandwidth and omnidirectional radiation. The spherical shape provides efficient low-frequency operation without requiring the tall profiles of conventional Vivaldi antennas, thereby reducing overall array size and volume.
3Volume of moving object
If element density is increased to reduce array size, then array compactness is improved, but scan loss increases due to narrow beamwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses three-dimensional spherical elements instead of planar antenna structures, enabling wide beamwidth radiation patterns. This allows arrays to maintain lower element density while achieving wide field of view coverage, thereby reducing scan loss even when array size is reduced through compact spherical geometries.
4Adaptability or versatility
If monopole antennas are used for wideband operation, then frequency range is improved, but gain pattern develops nulls normal to ground plane
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the linear monopole structure with spherical elements that provide omnidirectional radiation patterns. The spherical geometry eliminates the ground plane nulls inherent in monopole antennas by radiating uniformly in all directions, ensuring reliable gain pattern performance across the entire frequency range without directional nulls.
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 provides a wide FOV and multi-octave frequency range with a compact, low-profile design, reducing scan loss and array size, weight, and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a connector with a distal end protruding out of the apparatus and a proximal end encroaching or extending across at least one pair of ridges, and a ridge waveguide configured to receive a signal from a balun
Implementation Method 2
a ridge waveguide configured to receive a signal from a balun and propagate the signal upward and out of the apparatus
Implementation Method 3
the at least one pair of ridges protruding out of the ridge waveguide and terminating at or merging with a pair of spherical elements
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-octave antenna element with a multi-octave frequency range simultaneously with a wide FOV. The multi-octave antenna element may be used in an array with other antenna elements, and may operate across with a wide element beamwidth in the 3 GHz to 11 GHz Ultra-Wideband (UW) frequency spectra designated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for unlicensed, low power, communication. The antenna is scalable to any other 3:1 frequency band desired.