UWB Array Antenna Beam Steering via Impulse Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional phase scanning methods for UWB radars are complex and costly due to the need for high-priced phase shifters and a large number of components, making it difficult to control beam direction effectively within a wide frequency band of over 500 MHz.
Innovation Solution
The use of impulse generators connected to each antenna element, where the transmission trigger timing is altered to change the phase of radio waves, allowing for beam direction control through delay lines and pulse position modulation, eliminating the need for phase shifters and reducing component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional phase shifters are used for beam direction control in UWB radar, then beam scanning capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the phase control function from traditional phase shifters and implements it through time-delayed impulse generation at each antenna element. By removing the phase shifter components and using independent impulse generators with controllable timing, the system achieves beam scanning without the complexity of wideband phase shifters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/electrical phase shifting mechanism with a temporal impulse generation approach. Instead of adjusting phase continuously across wide bandwidth, the system uses time-domain impulse sequencing to achieve beam direction control, substituting a complex frequency-domain mechanism with a simpler time-domain approach
2Adaptability or versatility
If wideband phase shifters with occupied band of not less than 500 MHz are used, then UWB radar functionality is achieved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wideband frequency coverage requirement into multiple narrowband impulse generators, each operating at a constant carrier frequency. By dividing the antenna array into elements with independent impulse generators, the system achieves overall wideband UWB functionality through time-sequenced narrowband impulses, avoiding the need to manufacture complex wideband phase shifters
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple, inexpensive impulse generators at each antenna element instead of expensive wideband phase shifters. Each impulse generator is a relatively simple component that generates short-duration impulses, and the collective behavior of multiple such simple components achieves the wideband radar functionality that would otherwise require complex expensive phase shifting hardware
3Ease of operation
If digital phase shifters are used for beam scanning, then phase control is achieved, but cost increases due to high-priced components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses multiple identical or similar impulse generator circuits at each antenna element, copying a simple, low-cost design across the array. Instead of using expensive phase shifters, the system replicates inexpensive impulse generation circuits with controllable timing, achieving phase control functionality through time-synchronized impulse sequences from identical simple components
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an electronic scanning array antenna which can be used as a UWB radar having an occupied band of not less than 500 MHz. An impulse generator is connected to each of a plurality of antenna elements constituting the electronic scanning array antenna, and a transmission trigger time to each of the impulse generators connected to the antenna elements is changed, whereby the phase of radio waves emitted from an antenna is equivalently changed. Moreover, a transmission trigger repletion interval is changed to thereby control a direction of a beam emitted from the array antenna. As means of changing a transmission trigger timing to each of the impulse generators connected to the antenna elements, a method of changing a frequency of a transmission trigger pulse and a method of changing a pulse position are adopted.