Ultra-miniature Antennas Using Electrodeformative Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems, such as eLoran, face challenges with large antenna sizes due to low-frequency RF signals, leading to inefficiencies and signal loss at small wavelengths, making them impractical for portable devices.
Innovation Solution
The development of ultra-miniature antennas using electrodeformative materials that vibrate in response to electric fields, producing a net change in electrical charge, which is harvested to provide an efficient receive function, allowing for smaller, more effective antenna designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If traditional copper coil antennas are used for low-frequency RF signals, then the antenna can receive signals, but the antenna size becomes large and impractical for portable devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional electrical resonant system (copper coil antenna relying on electromagnetic resonance) with a mechanical vibrational system (electrodeformative material element relying on acoustic/mechanical resonance). This substitution allows the antenna to operate at low frequencies without requiring a physically large structure, as the mechanical resonance frequency is determined by the physical dimensions and material properties rather than electrical wavelength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter from electrical resonance frequency to mechanical resonance frequency. By using electrodeformative materials that convert electrical energy to mechanical vibration and back, the system can achieve low-frequency operation with a small physical size, as the mechanical resonance condition (f = c/2L, where c is speed of sound in the material) allows for much smaller dimensions compared to electrical wavelength at the same frequency.
2Volume of moving object
If antenna size is reduced for portable devices, then portability is improved, but signal loss increases and reception efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs mechanical vibration of the electrodeformative material element to enhance signal reception efficiency in a compact size. The material element is driven into mechanical resonance by the incident RF signal, creating large amplitude vibrations that maximize the coupling between the electromagnetic field and the antenna element. This mechanical vibration approach allows efficient energy transfer without requiring a large physical aperture, thereby reducing signal loss while maintaining small dimensions suitable for portable devices.
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
These ultra-miniature antennas enable stronger signal reception with reduced size, overcoming the inefficiencies of traditional copper coil antennas and providing improved performance in portable navigation systems.
Implementation Method 1
The electrodeformative element is formed of an electrodeformative material. The electrodeformative material includes, but is not limited to, lead zirconate titanate, barium titanate, metallic oxide-based materials, a quartz material, ceramics, and/or any other material with elongate polarized molecules.
Implementation Method 2
producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of an incident radio wave
Implementation Method 3
The suspension members include, but are not limited to, coil springs, spring wires, wire carriers, compressible pads (e.g., foam pads), and/or elastomeric elements (e.g., rubber pieces).
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for operating a communication device. The methods comprise: immersing an antenna in an electric field of an incident radio wave; producing a net change in electrical charge on a surface of an electrodeformative element that acoustically vibrates when the antenna is immersed in the electric field of the incident radio wave; harvesting the electrical charge produced on the surface of the electrodeformative element to provide an antenna receive function; and providing the harvested electrical charge from the antenna to a receiver circuit of the communication device.