Waveguide Device with Slot Horns for Antenna Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional waveguide devices face challenges in efficiently transmitting high-frequency electromagnetic waves due to dielectric loss in microstrip lines and difficulties in densely packing antenna elements with hollow waveguides, while existing artificial magnetic conductor structures are complex to implement.
Innovation Solution
The proposed waveguide device incorporates an electrically conductive member with slots and horns, where the slots are arranged in a specific configuration to allow for efficient electromagnetic wave propagation, and an artificial magnetic conductor is used to restrict wave propagation, enabling a more compact and efficient antenna array design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If microstrip lines are used to feed antenna elements, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but dielectric loss increases significantly at high frequencies (above GHz)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from microstrip line geometry to hollow waveguide geometry, fundamentally changing the structural parameters to eliminate dielectric loss while maintaining manufacturability through standardized waveguide components and assembly processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the planar microstrip transmission line structure with a three-dimensional hollow waveguide structure, substituting the two-dimensional conductor-on-dielectric configuration with a enclosed metallic conduit system that eliminates dielectric loss at high frequencies
2Loss of energy
If hollow waveguides are used to feed antenna elements, then dielectric loss is reduced, but it becomes difficult to dispose antenna elements with high density due to the required width being equal to or greater than half wavelength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds multiple feed waveguides within a single hollow waveguide structure, allowing multiple antenna elements to be fed through one waveguide conduit. This nesting approach reduces the overall number of waveguides needed and enables higher antenna element density without proportionally increasing waveguide complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the hollow waveguide into multiple sections or segments, each serving different antenna elements. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each feed path while maintaining the overall compact structure and reducing the complexity of the complete antenna feed system
3Reliability
If artificial magnetic conductors are implemented using conventional structures, then wave propagation can be restricted, but the structure becomes complex to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the artificial magnetic conductor function with the existing waveguide structure by strategically placing conductive rods at specific locations within or on the waveguide. This merging integrates the wave propagation control function into the feed structure itself, eliminating the need for separate AMC structures and reducing overall complexity
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 the performance of waveguide devices by allowing for freer positioning of constituent elements, reducing dielectric loss, and improving the efficiency of high-frequency wave transmission, while simplifying the structure of the artificial magnetic conductor implementation.
Implementation Method 1
An artificial magnetic conductor is a structure which artificially realizes the properties of a perfect magnetic conductor (PMC)... An artificial magnetic conductor restrains or prevents an electromagnetic wave of any frequency that is contained in the specific frequency band (propagation-restricted band) from propagating along the surface of the artificial magnetic conductor
Implementation Method 2
In the interior of a hollow waveguide, an electromagnetic field mode which is adapted to the shape and size of the body is created. For this reason, an electromagnetic wave is able to propagate within the body in a certain electromagnetic field mode
Implementation Method 3
Supply of an electromagnetic wave is performed via a waveguide. Conventionally, feed to an antenna element has often been achieved by using a microstrip line(s)
Data Source
AI summary
An antenna array according to an embodiment includes a conductive member having a first and second slots adjacent to each other. The conductive surface on a front side of the conductive member is shaped so as to define a first and second horns respectively communicating with the first and second slots. The respective E planes of slots are on the same plane, or on a plurality of planes which are substantially parallel to each other. In an E-plane cross section of the first horn, a length from one of two intersections between the E plane and an edge of the first slot to one of two intersections between the E plane and an edge of the aperture plane of the first horn is longer than a length from the other intersection between the E plane and the edge of the first slot to the other intersection between the E plane and the edge of the aperture plane of the first horn, the lengths extending along an inner wall surface of the first horn.