Staircase PCB Patch Antennas for Tilted Beam Radiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antennas require electronic or mechanical steering to achieve beam tilting, which can be costly and complex, and do not efficiently radiate at an angle without phase shifting.
Innovation Solution
The development of staircase antennas formed on multiple conductive layers of a circuit board with interconnected patch antenna elements via vias, allowing for tilted beam radiation without electronic or mechanical steering, and enabling electronic steering in arrays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electronic or mechanical steering is used to achieve beam tilting, then beam direction control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical or electronic steering mechanisms with a geometrically configured staircase antenna structure. The stepped arrangement of conductive elements on multiple PCB layers creates an inherent tilted beam radiation pattern through its physical geometry, eliminating the need for complex steering hardware while maintaining beam direction control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from planar two-dimensional antenna elements to a three-dimensional staircase structure by stacking conductive patches on multiple PCB layers with vertical spacing. This dimensional expansion creates the tilted beam pattern through the spatial arrangement of elements in the vertical dimension, achieving beam tilting without lateral mechanical movement
2Ease of operation
If traditional planar antennas are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but beam tilting capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna into multiple discrete conductive patch elements arranged in a staircase configuration across separate PCB layers. Each patch is individually fabricated using standard PCB techniques, and the segments are connected via through-hole vias, allowing modular construction that maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving three-dimensional tilted beam radiation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent embeds multiple conductive patches within the thickness of the PCB structure by placing them on different internal and external layers. The patches are nested vertically through the board thickness and interconnected via vias, creating a compact three-dimensional staircase structure that fits within standard PCB form factors while providing beam tilting functionality
3Adaptability or versatility
If phase shifting is used to achieve angled radiation, then beam direction flexibility is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The staircase antenna structure inherently generates tilted beam radiation through its geometric configuration without requiring external phase shifting circuitry. The stepped arrangement of conductive elements creates constructive interference in the tilted direction automatically, allowing the antenna to self-generate the desired radiation pattern without additional active components or power consumption
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 staircase antennas radiate at a tilted angle without phase shifting, are compact, and suitable for surface mount technology, achieving efficient beam tilting and electronic steering, with improved cross-polarization discrimination and radiation patterns across a range of frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
The staircase antenna radiates at an angle, for instance, a diagonal relative to a planar surface of the circuit board
Implementation Method 2
patch antenna elements interconnected by vias to form a staircase-shaped antenna
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for staircase antennas are disclosed. In certain embodiments, patch antenna elements are formed on two or more conductive layers of a circuit board with the patch antenna elements interconnected by vias to form a staircase-shaped antenna. The staircase antenna communicates using a tilted beam during normal operation (for instance, with no phase shift). Thus, the staircase antenna radiates at an angle, for instance, a diagonal relative to a planar surface of the circuit board.