Stepped Reflection Panel Antenna Layout for Reduced Array Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited internal space of radomes in communication devices leads to coupling between array antennas, affecting their performance and preventing miniaturization.
Innovation Solution
The use of stepped reflection panels with mounting plates and connecting pieces to space array antennas at specific distances, allowing for improved directivity patterns and reduced coupling, while accommodating irregular radome shapes and enabling dual or multi-frequency operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If array antennas are disposed in the direction of maximum size of the radome to maximize space utilization, then the antenna size is reduced, but the spacing between adjacent array antennas becomes small causing coupling and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-plane array arrangement to a multi-level stepped structure where array antennas are distributed across multiple height levels. This vertical dimensionality change allows adequate spacing between adjacent antennas while maintaining compact horizontal footprint, resolving the contradiction between miniaturization and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The radome internal space is segmented into multiple levels using stepped reflection panels, creating distinct mounting planes for array antennas. This segmentation allows each antenna to occupy its own spatial zone with proper isolation, preventing coupling while maximizing the use of available radome volume.
2Reliability
If the spacing between adjacent array antennas is increased to reduce coupling and improve performance, then directivity pattern performance is improved, but the antenna size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing the vertical dimension through stepped reflection panels at different heights, the patent achieves increased spacing between antennas without expanding the horizontal footprint. This allows improved directivity performance while maintaining a compact overall antenna size within the radome.
3Volume of moving object
If the internal space of the radome is utilized maximally to reduce antenna size, then miniaturization is achieved, but coupling between array antennas occurs affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped reflection panel structure creates vertical separation between array antennas, introducing a height dimension to the spacing strategy. This allows minimal horizontal spacing (reducing overall size) while maintaining adequate total distance between antennas through vertical offset, thereby eliminating coupling effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal radome space is divided into multiple segregated zones by the stepped reflection panels, with each panel level housing isolated array antennas. This spatial segmentation prevents electromagnetic coupling between antennas while fully utilizing the available three-dimensional space for miniaturization.
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna and a communications device having an antenna, the antenna including a radome and a first stepped reflection panel disposed in the radome. The first stepped reflection panel has n first mounting plates and each first mounting plate of the n first mounting plates has a first surface and a second surface that faces away from the first surface, and further has a first radiating element disposed on the first surface. An (i−1)th first mounting plate of the n first mounting plates is disposed adjacent to a second surface of an ith first mounting plate of the n first mounting plates, and the (i−1)th first mounting plate is connected to the ith first mounting plate by a first connecting piece.