Waveguide Antenna Device Reducing High Frequency Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antenna devices experience increased radiation loss and dielectric loss at high frequency bands, such as the millimeter wave band, due to the design of strip lines and microstrip lines, which affect gain and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The antenna device incorporates a substrate with a waveguide, antenna, and matching portion, featuring patch portions, feeding lines, and short-circuit portions, where the feeding lines extend in the plate thickness direction through openings in the upper wall portion, reducing radiation loss and dielectric loss by minimizing electric field spreading in the substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If strip lines are used to supply power to the array antenna, then the antenna device can be manufactured with conventional techniques, but radiation loss and dielectric loss increase at high frequency bands
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding lines are extended in the plate thickness direction (vertical dimension) rather than only in the horizontal plane. This three-dimensional configuration reduces the horizontal extent of the feeding lines, thereby minimizing electric field spreading in the substrate and reducing both radiation loss and dielectric loss at high frequency bands while maintaining manufacturability
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding lines are arranged within the waveguide structure, with feeding lines individually provided for each patch portion and extending into the waveguide through openings in the upper wall portion. This nested arrangement confines the electric fields within the waveguide boundaries, reducing radiation loss while maintaining conventional manufacturing techniques
2Device complexity
If the array antenna is formed on the same substrate as the waveguide, then device complexity is reduced, but impedance matching between the waveguide and antenna becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Matching portions are individually provided with respect to each patch portion, allowing localized impedance adjustment at each antenna element. This enables precise impedance matching between the waveguide and each patch portion while maintaining the integrated substrate structure, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and matching precision
Solution Approach 2:
Matching portions are introduced as intermediary structures between the waveguide and the patch portions. These matching portions serve as transition elements that facilitate impedance transformation and matching, enabling efficient energy transfer from the waveguide to the antenna elements while maintaining the integrated substrate design
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 gain while reducing radiation and dielectric losses, especially at high frequency bands, by suppressing radiation from the feeding lines and minimizing electric field spreading, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the antenna device.
Implementation Method 1
a waveguide that is arranged in the base material as a part of the conductor, and has an upper wall portion, a lower wall portion facing the upper wall portion in a plate thickness of the base material, and a side wall portion connected to the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of short-circuit portions individually provided for the patch portions and electrically connecting the patch portion and the upper wall portion
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna device includes a substrate having a base material containing a dielectric and a conductor, a waveguide, an antenna, and a matching portion arranged in the base material as a part of the conductor. The antenna faces the upper wall portion, and has a plurality of patch portions arranged in an array, a plurality of feeding lines extending in a direction from the patch portion and individually provided for the patch portions, and a plurality of short-circuit portions individually provided for the patch portions and electrically connecting the patch portion and the upper wall portion. The upper wall portion has a plurality of openings 34 individually formed with respect to the feeding lines. Each of the feeding lines extends into the waveguide through the corresponding opening.