Uni-dimensional Steering Phased Array Antenna Gain Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phased array antennas face challenges in achieving increased bandwidth with a high main lobe to side lobe power ratio, while also requiring reduced cost and power budgets, and often struggle with aligning their directional radiation patterns with satellite signals due to unknown or impractical reorientation.
Innovation Solution
A phased array antenna system with a gain-enhancement system, comprising a plurality of antenna elements distributed in columns and rows, and fixed phase shifters aligned for phase offsets, along with a controller to adjust individual antenna elements based on their orientation relative to the satellite, allowing for uni-dimensional steering and improved signal gain in a specific direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a phased array antenna uses more antenna elements to increase bandwidth and improve signal gain, then the signal-to-noise ratio and main lobe power increase, but the cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gain-enhancement system that operates in a dimension perpendicular to the satellite's ground track direction. By adding this second dimension of gain enhancement (using reflectors or lenses positioned above or below the antenna plane), the system achieves improved signal-to-noise ratio without proportionally increasing the number of antenna elements in the primary direction, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and quantity of elements.
2Device complexity
If the phased array antenna uses fixed phase shifters for phase offsets, then the manufacturing and operational complexity is reduced, but the ability to dynamically adjust beam steering is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures fixed phase shifters with predetermined phase offsets that are optimized for the specific application scenario (satellite communication with known ground track). This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex real-time phase adjustment mechanisms while maintaining adequate beam steering capability for the intended use case, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and adaptability.
3Power
If the antenna system enhances gain in the direction normal to the satellite's ground track, then the signal reception is improved, but the side lobe power increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gain-enhancement system uses reflectors or lenses that are strategically positioned and shaped to provide localized gain enhancement only in the direction normal to the satellite's ground track. The结构设计 ensures that this localized gain enhancement does not create significant side lobes in other directions, thus resolving the contradiction between power (signal gain) and harmful factors (side lobe power) through spatially selective quality enhancement.
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 configuration enhances signal gain and reduces side lobes, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio, thereby improving communication efficiency and reducing the number of required antenna elements, which in turn decreases the overall cost and power consumption of the system.
Implementation Method 1
a phased array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements distributed in a plurality of M columns oriented in the first direction and a plurality of N rows extending in a second direction normal to the first direction
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of fixed phase shifters aligned for phase offsets between antenna elements in the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A phased array antenna system configured for communication with a satellite that emits or receives radio frequency (RF) signals travels in a first direction, the antenna system includes a phased array antenna including a plurality of antenna elements distributed in a plurality of M columns oriented in the first direction and a plurality of N rows extending in a second direction normal to the first direction, and a plurality of fixed phase shifters aligned for phase offsets between antenna elements in the first direction and a gain-enhancement system configured for gain enhancement in the second direction of radio frequency signals received by and emitted from the phased array antenna.