Triangular-Lattice Antenna Module Layout for Grating Lobe Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional array antennas with antenna elements arranged on a square lattice suffer from grating lobes and require a large number of elements, increasing complexity, cost, mass, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
Antenna elements are arranged on a triangular lattice with feed points at each location, forming a triangular lattice pattern, which reduces the number of elements required and minimizes grating lobes, simplifying the array antenna architecture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If antenna elements are arranged on a square lattice, then the array antenna can be easily manufactured with regular spacing, but grating lobes appear and the number of elements required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by transitioning from a symmetric square lattice arrangement to a triangular lattice arrangement. This asymmetric change in geometry fundamentally alters the radiation pattern characteristics, eliminating grating lobes while maintaining manufacturability through regular triangular spacing between feed elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent effectively changes the dimensional arrangement by adopting a triangular lattice that optimizes spatial distribution in two dimensions. This dimensional reconfiguration allows for more efficient use of space, reducing the total number of elements needed while maintaining or improving radiation performance.
2Reliability
If a large number of antenna elements are used, then radiation coverage is improved, but cost, mass, and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the lattice arrangement from square to triangular. This parameter change optimizes the spatial distribution of antenna elements, achieving better radiation coverage with fewer elements. The triangular lattice provides more uniform angular distribution, improving performance while reducing element count.
Solution Approach 2:
The triangular lattice arrangement serves multiple functions simultaneously: it eliminates grating lobes, improves radiation pattern uniformity, and reduces the total number of elements required. This multi-functional benefit achieves the same or better performance with a smaller, lighter, and less power-consuming antenna array.
3Device complexity
If antenna elements are arranged on a square lattice, then the structure is simple and regular, but grating lobes appear causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from a symmetric square lattice to an asymmetric triangular lattice arrangement, the patent eliminates the conditions that generate grating lobes. The triangular geometry provides different spacing relationships in different directions, preventing the formation of coherent lobes at specific angles while maintaining overall structural regularity for ease of manufacture.
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies directed to arranging antenna elements in a triangular pattern on an antenna module of a phased array antenna are described. The phased array antenna includes a support structure and a first antenna module coupled to the support structure. The first antenna module element has a rectangular shape and includes a first set of antenna elements arranged as a first row and a second row within the rectangular shape. An antenna element of the first row and two antenna elements of the second row form a triangular pattern. Two adjacent antenna elements of the first set of antenna elements are separated by a first distance. Each antenna element of the first set of antenna elements has a first size that is less than half of the first distance.