Stacked Patch Antenna Array for Millimeter Wave Ranging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic devices with wireless circuitry face insufficient bandwidth for performing satisfactory spatial ranging operations at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies, limiting their ability to accurately determine distances and locations of external objects.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a radio-frequency integrated circuit with phase and magnitude controllers and a phased antenna array, utilizing stacked patch antennas to support wide bandwidths for millimeter and centimeter wave spatial ranging operations, allowing for the use of a MIMO RADAR scheme to transmit and receive signals effectively across a range of frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wireless circuitry is used for spatial ranging operations, then device complexity is kept simple, but bandwidth is insufficient for satisfactory performance at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless circuitry is segmented into distinct functional modules: a radio-frequency integrated circuit for signal generation and processing, phase and magnitude controllers for beamforming control, and a phased antenna array for directional transmission and reception. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system performance at millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional single-antenna or simple diversity antenna configurations to a phased antenna array operating in multiple dimensions. The array enables spatial filtering and beamforming in both elevation and azimuth planes, providing three-dimensional spatial ranging capability that significantly improves performance at high frequencies compared to traditional two-dimensional planar arrays.
2Measurement precision
If bandwidth is increased to support wide frequency ranges for spatial ranging, then ranging accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to need for multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The radio-frequency integrated circuit is designed as a universal platform that can operate across wide frequency ranges (57 GHz to 61 GHz and beyond) by reconfiguring its internal components. The same circuit architecture supports both millimeter wave and centimeter wave frequencies, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits for different frequency bands and thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase and magnitude controllers are designed with dynamic reconfiguration capability, allowing real-time adjustment of beamforming parameters across different frequencies and operating conditions. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to maintain optimal performance across a wide bandwidth without requiring multiple static circuit configurations, thus improving measurement precision while controlling complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If phased antenna array with stacked patch antennas is used, then bandwidth support exceeds 1 GHz, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array employs stacked patch antenna elements where smaller resonant structures are nested within larger ones, allowing multiple resonant frequencies to be achieved within a single compact antenna structure. This nesting approach enables the array to support bandwidths exceeding 1 GHz across millimeter and centimeter wave frequencies while maintaining a compact form factor that simplifies integration and manufacturing compared to using multiple separate antenna structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The stacked patch antenna design allows independent adjustment of geometric parameters (patch dimensions, spacing, substrate properties) to optimize performance across different frequency bands. By changing these physical parameters during the design phase, the antenna array can be manufactured to support wide bandwidths without requiring post-manufacturing tuning or complex adaptive structures, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining high adaptability.
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 enables electronic devices to perform spatial ranging operations with high bandwidth, supporting frequencies from 57 GHz to 61 GHz, thereby enhancing the accuracy and range of distance and location detection of external objects.
Implementation Method 1
The radio-frequency integrated circuit may transmit radio-frequency ranging signals at millimeter wave frequencies using the transmit ports and the first set of stacked patch antennas
Implementation Method 2
The radio-frequency integrated circuit may receive a reflected version of the transmitted radio-frequency ranging signals that has been reflected off of an external object
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device may be provided with control circuitry and wireless circuitry. The wireless circuitry may include a phased antenna array and a radio-frequency integrated circuit having transmit and receive ports. The array may include a first set of stacked patch antennas coupled to the transmit ports and a second set of stacked patch antennas coupled to the receive ports. The integrated circuit may transmit ranging signals at millimeter wave frequencies using the transmit ports and the first set of antennas. The integrated circuit may receive a reflected version of the transmitted ranging signals that has been reflected off of an external object using the receive ports and the second set of antennas. The control circuitry may identify a distance between the electronic device and the external object based on the transmitted and received signals.