Steerable Phased Array Antenna Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
As electronic devices are miniaturized, integrated antennas within them face interference from nearby objects and varying orientations, leading to signal interference and distortion, which reduces antenna efficiency and performance.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna structure with multiple leaky wave antenna cells and a controller to electronically steer the radiation angle, allowing for rapid changes without mechanical movement, enhancing signal strength and coverage while reducing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If antennas are integrated within electronic devices to enable miniaturization, then device size is reduced, but signal interference and distortion increase due to nearby objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam steering capability that allows the antenna to electronically adjust its radiation pattern and null directions in real-time. By dynamically changing the beamforming weights and phase shifts, the system adapts to varying orientations and nearby objects, maintaining signal quality despite the constrained integrated antenna structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes electromagnetic parameters (phase, amplitude, polarization) of the radiated signal to optimize performance. By adjusting these parameters electronically through phase shifters and amplifiers, the antenna compensates for interference from nearby objects and varying orientations without requiring physical movement or redesign of the integrated structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional integrated antennas are used in electronic devices, then device integration is improved, but antenna efficiency and performance decrease due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple independent radiating elements arranged in an array. Each element can be individually controlled with separate phase and amplitude adjustment, allowing the system to synthesize various beam patterns and null directions. This segmentation enables the integrated antenna to achieve high efficiency by directing energy away from interfering objects while maintaining compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The phased array antenna structure provides multiple functions within a single integrated system: it can transmit and receive signals, steer beams electronically, create nulls in interference directions, and adapt to different frequency bands. This multi-functionality maintains high antenna efficiency across various operating conditions while preserving device integration.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical movement is used to change radiation angle, then beam steering is achieved, but system complexity and response time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical beam steering mechanisms with an electronic phased array system. Instead of physically moving antennas or reflectors, the system uses phase shifters, amplifiers, and signal processors to electronically control the radiation pattern. This substitution eliminates mechanical complexity while enabling rapid, precise beam steering with no moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates multiple virtual antenna patterns through signal processing by combining outputs from multiple physical elements with different phase and amplitude weights. This allows the single integrated antenna array to emulate the behavior of multiple independently steerable antennas, achieving complex radiation patterns without mechanical movement.
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 solution improves signal gain, provides diversity in transmission and reception angles, and minimizes interference, thereby enhancing the performance of electronic devices in various environments.
Implementation Method 1
A phased array antenna structure with multiple leaky wave antenna cells and a controller to electronically steer the radiation angle
Implementation Method 2
electronically steer the radiation angle, allowing for rapid changes without mechanical movement
Data Source
AI summary
Devices or apparatuses for adjusting a radiation angle of an antenna are described. An electronic device may include a strip, a first leaky-wave antenna (LWA) cell, and a second LWA cell. The first LWA cell can include a tunable component. The first LWA cell can also include a first conductive patch coupled to: a radio frequency (RF) feed on a first edge of the first conductive patch; a ground plane through a first via on a second edge of the first conductive patch; and a tunable component at a first corner between a third edge and a fourth edge of the first conductive patch. The second LWA cell can include a second conductive patch coupled to the ground plane through a second via on a second edge of the second conductive patch and coupled to the tunable component at a first corner between a first edge and a third edge of the second conductive patch.