Stacked Patch Antenna for Wide-Scan Phased Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wideband antenna designs for low-profile phased arrays face challenges in achieving wide-scan capabilities while maintaining a low-profile and low-cost structure, often resulting in larger antenna profiles that compromise on scan volume and bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a wideband antenna unit cell with a stacked conductive radiator layer and a feed layer featuring multiple rectangular slots and feed structures, including open-circuit stubs, to enhance performance and achieve dual orthogonal polarization, allowing for a two-dimensional lattice configuration that reduces grating lobes and increases scan volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional wideband antenna designs are used for low-profile phased arrays, then bandwidth is improved, but scan volume is limited and profile increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional planar antenna elements to a three-dimensional stacked patch configuration with multiple radiating patches arranged vertically. This vertical stacking enables the antenna to achieve wide scan volume coverage while maintaining a compact low-profile form factor, resolving the contradiction between limited scan volume and wideband performance in traditional low-profile designs
2Ease of manufacture
If antenna profile is reduced for low-profile phased arrays, then ease of manufacture is improved, but bandwidth and scan volume are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested stacked patch configuration where multiple radiating patches are vertically integrated within a compact low-profile structure. This nesting approach allows the antenna to achieve wideband performance through multiple resonant modes while maintaining a thin overall profile that is easy to manufacture and integrate into phased array systems
3Area of stationary object
If closer spacing of antenna elements is used, then array density is improved, but bandwidth performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs locally optimized stacked patch designs with specific geometric configurations and feeding structures that enable closely spaced antenna elements to maintain wideband performance. The localized quality enhancement through optimized patch dimensions and feeding networks allows dense array integration without sacrificing individual element bandwidth 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 configuration enables a wide-scan, low-profile, and low-cost phased array system with improved bandwidth, port isolation, and higher gain, suitable for applications requiring extended frequency ranges and reduced manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
an antenna layer including one or more stacked conductive radiators configured to receive electromagnetic waves
Implementation Method 2
stacked conductive radiators configured to receive electromagnetic waves
Implementation Method 3
Each rectangular slot may excite an orthogonal polarization
Implementation Method 4
a feed fork that includes a set of open-circuit stubs and is configured to tune antenna performance
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna cell for a wide-scan low-profile phased array system includes an antenna layer including one or more stacked conductive radiators configured to receive electromagnetic waves. The antenna cell also includes a feed layer that includes multiple rectangular slots and one or more feed structures. Each rectangular slot may excite an orthogonal polarization. The feed structures are positioned perpendicular to one another, and each of the feed structures includes a feed fork that includes a set of open-circuit stubs and is configured to tune antenna performance.