Electrically Tunable Metasurface for Dual-Polarized Beam Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current base station antenna systems face high complexity and insertion loss due to the use of phase shifters at the rear end of the antenna array for beam switching, and existing air-interface metasurfaces are inadequate for multi-channel dual-polarized antenna arrays.
Innovation Solution
An air-interface electrically-tunable metasurface is introduced, comprising a dielectric substrate with metal structures and microwave diodes that adjust the phase of electromagnetic waves emitted by dual-polarized antenna units, reducing the need for rear-end phase shifters and simplifying the feeding network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If digital electrical tuning is used for beam switching, then scheduling flexibility and response speed are improved, but overall system cost increases due to digital components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phase shifting function from the traditional rear-end circuit domain and relocates it to the air-interface metasurface. By removing digital components from the signal path and using passive metasurface elements with varactor diodes for phase control, the system achieves digital-like scheduling flexibility while reducing overall system cost through analog electromagnetic field manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical or digital electrical tuning systems with an electromagnetic field-based metasurface approach. The varactor diodes embedded in the metasurface enable electrical control of phase shift through electromagnetic field interaction, eliminating the need for complex digital signal processing components while maintaining fast response and scheduling flexibility.
2Device complexity
If mechanical electrical tuning is used for beam switching, then system cost is reduced, but scheduling flexibility and response speed deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical tuning mechanisms with an electrical control system based on varactor diodes in the metasurface. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts while achieving fast electrical control of beam direction, providing both cost-effectiveness and high scheduling flexibility through voltage-controlled phase shifting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic electrical control capability to the metasurface through varactor diodes whose capacitance can be rapidly adjusted via voltage control. This enables real-time, fast response beam switching without mechanical movement, achieving high scheduling flexibility while maintaining system simplicity and cost-effectiveness.
3Ease of operation
If phase shifters are placed at the rear end of the antenna array, then beam switching is achieved, but feeding network complexity and insertion loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the phase shifting function from the traditional one-dimensional rear-end circuit domain to a two-dimensional air-interface metasurface. By placing controllable elements directly in the electromagnetic wave path above the antenna array, the system achieves beam switching without complex rear-end feeding networks, reducing both circuit complexity and insertion loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate metasurface layer between the antenna array and the radiated electromagnetic waves. This metasurface acts as an intermediary that performs phase shifting in the electromagnetic field domain rather than in the circuit domain, eliminating the need for complex phase shifter networks while maintaining beam switching capability.
4Ease of operation
If phase shifters are placed at the rear end of the antenna array, then beam switching is achieved, but system insertion loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate metasurface layer that performs phase shifting in the electromagnetic field domain. This intermediary approach avoids the multiple signal path connections and circuit components at the rear end that cause insertion loss, thereby reducing energy loss while maintaining beam switching capability through passive electromagnetic field manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces active electronic phase shifters in the circuit domain with passive electromagnetic field manipulation in the metasurface. This substitution eliminates the need for signal routing through multiple circuit components, reducing insertion loss while achieving the same beam switching function through direct electromagnetic field control.
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 solution reduces the complexity of the rear-end feeding network, decreases system insertion loss, and enhances the gain and reliability of multi-channel dual-polarized antenna arrays in base stations.
Implementation Method 1
the metal sheets and the microwave diode cooperate to adjust a phase of a positive 45-degree polarized or negative 45-degree polarized electromagnetic wave signal emitted by the positive/negative 45-degree dual-polarized antenna unit
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in the present application is an air interface electrically tunable metasurface (2), comprising: a dielectric substrate, the dielectric substrate comprising a plurality of dielectric substrate units (200); and a metal structure array, comprising a plurality of metal structures (100) arranged on the dielectric substrate and having one-to-one correspondence to positive and negative 45-degree dual-polarized antenna units (11). Each metal structure (100) comprises two groups of metal units and microwave diodes (120), and each group of metal units comprises two metal sheets (110) axisymmetrically distributed, the two groups of metal units are symmetrically distributed around the center of a positive and negative 45-degree dual-polarized antenna unit (11), and the metal sheets (110) and the microwave diodes (120) cooperate to adjust the phase of a positive 45-degree polarized or negative 45-degree polarized electromagnetic wave signal emitted by the positive and negative 45-degree dual-polarized antenna unit (11).