Stacked Patch Antenna Layout for Lower-Frequency Compact Operation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current stacked patch antenna designs are limited in achieving lower frequency operation without increasing the antenna size, as the resonant frequency of the lower patch element is constrained by the dimensions of the ground plane metallization on the upper patch element, limiting the independence of resonant frequencies and requiring larger antenna dimensions for lower frequency performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a dielectric spacer with a lower dielectric constant between the upper and lower patch antenna elements, allowing the castellated periphery of the lower patch antenna to extend under the upper patch, decoupling the microwave signals and enabling the lower patch antenna to operate at lower frequencies without increasing the overall antenna size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the ground plane metallization on the upper patch element is reduced in size to allow lower frequency operation of the lower patch, then the resonant frequency of the lower patch can be reduced, but the upper patch's ground plane becomes too small to provide adequate grounding and impedance matching
Solution Approach 1:
A dielectric spacer is introduced as an intermediary element between the upper and lower patch antenna elements. This spacer provides physical separation and electrical isolation, allowing the lower patch to extend its castellated periphery beneath the upper patch without direct electrical contact. The spacer's dielectric properties enable the lower frequency operation while maintaining proper grounding for the upper patch, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving lower resonant frequency and maintaining reliable grounding.
2Measurement precision
If the castellated periphery of the lower patch antenna is extended to achieve lower resonant frequency, then the resonant frequency decreases, but the overall antenna size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric spacer enables the lower patch's castellated periphery to extend in the vertical dimension beneath the upper patch, rather than requiring horizontal expansion. This vertical arrangement allows the resonant frequency to be reduced through increased effective perimeter length without increasing the horizontal footprint of the antenna, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving lower resonant frequency and maintaining compact size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dielectric spacer is introduced to decouple the patches and enable lower frequency operation, then the lower patch can operate independently at lower frequencies, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dielectric spacer changes the electrical parameters of the antenna system by introducing a controlled dielectric medium between the patches. This parameter change provides the necessary electrical isolation to enable independent resonant frequency operation of each patch. The spacer's dielectric constant and thickness are optimized to achieve the desired frequency independence while minimizing the increase in structural complexity, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
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 allows for lower frequency operation of the stacked patch antenna elements while maintaining a compact size, as the resonant frequency of the lower patch antenna is determined by the castellated upper metallization and ground plane, rather than being limited by the upper patch's ground plane metallization, thereby reducing the antenna's footprint.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a dielectric spacer with a lower dielectric constant between the upper and lower patch antenna elements, allowing the castellated periphery of the lower patch antenna to extend under the upper patch, decoupling the microwave signals
Implementation Method 2
Patch antenna elements are typically square or circular blocks of very low loss dielectric material having a first lower surface fully metalized so as to provide a ground plane, and a second upper surface at least partially metalized, so as to provide a resonant cavity within the dielectric block
Data Source
AI summary
A stacked patch antenna comprises two or more patch antennas physically disposed in a stack to provide a multi-frequency or broad band antenna. However, independence of the resonant response frequencies of the lower and upper patches of each stacked patch antenna pair ground requires metallization dimensions for the upper patch's lower surface be contained within the perimeter of the lower patch's resonant metallization. Accordingly, composite stacked patch element dimensions are limited by the desired resonant frequency of the lower patch. The inventors have established an alternate physical structure where the resonant patch geometry of the lower patch element's upper metallization is not limited by the lower surface ground plane metallization of the first upper patch element. The inventors have also established design solutions allowing the lower frequency performance of the first, lower patch within a stacked patch antenna to be lowered without compromising the footprint of the resulting antenna.