Stacked Waveguide Antenna Structure for Compact Gain Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waveguide antennas face challenges in maintaining a compact size while effectively branching radio waves to multiple radiating elements, leading to increased dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The antenna device comprises a stacked structure of resin members with conductive films, featuring a waveguide that intersects the stack direction, branching radio waves to multiple radiating elements through an intermediate passage, thereby suppressing size increase and enhancing gain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a waveguide antenna branches radio waves to multiple radiating elements, then the antenna gain is enhanced, but the antenna dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar waveguide structure to a three-dimensional stacked configuration. Multiple resin members are stacked in the vertical direction with conductive films forming waveguides and radiating elements at different heights. This vertical stacking enables multiple radiating elements to be arranged in three dimensions rather than spreading them horizontally, thereby enhancing gain through multiple elements while maintaining a compact footprint and suppressing overall antenna dimension increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where conductive films are embedded within resin members, and multiple resin members are stacked together. The waveguides and radiating elements are nested within the stacked resin members, with conductive films forming internal structures. This nesting allows multiple radiating elements to be contained within a compact volume, enabling enhanced gain without proportionally increasing the antenna's external dimensions.
2Power
If the number of radiating elements is increased, then the antenna gain is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna into multiple discrete resin members stacked in sequence, with each member containing specific waveguide or radiating element structures. This segmentation allows the complex multi-element antenna to be constructed from simpler modular units. Each resin member can be manufactured and assembled independently, reducing overall structural complexity while enabling multiple radiating elements for enhanced gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite structures combining resin materials with conductive films. The resin members provide structural support and insulation, while the conductive films form the waveguides and radiating elements. This composite approach simplifies the overall structure by integrating multiple functions (structural support, electromagnetic wave guidance, and radiation) into unified composite components, reducing device complexity while supporting multiple radiating elements for enhanced gain.
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 a compact design that supports a larger number of radiating elements, maintaining a smaller size and increasing the antenna's gain without expanding in the direction perpendicular to the stack.
Implementation Method 1
a first film that covers a surface of the first resin member... a second film that covers a surface of the second resin member... a third film that covers the surface of the third resin member... to cause the radio waves to propagate to the external space
Data Source
AI summary
Each of first, second, and third stacked parts includes a resin member a conductive film that covers the resin member. The first, second, and third stacked parts are stacked on one another. The first stacked part has an external port to propagate radio waves to an external device. The second stacked part has an intermediate passage to propagate the radio waves therethrough. The third stacked part has antenna radiating elements to propagate the radio waves to an external space. The first stacked part and the second stacked part are stacked to form a waveguide that is extended. The waveguide is connected to the external port of the first stacked part and to one end of the intermediate passage to propagate the radio waves therethrough. The antenna radiating elements are coupled to the one end of the intermediate passage.