Deployable Wrapped Antenna Beacon for Compact Long-Life Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal location beacons face challenges in size, weight, autonomy, and ergonomics, with traditional antennas requiring partial disassembly and significant energy consumption from GNSS data recovery reducing their operational duration.
Innovation Solution
A compact, ergonomic design featuring a flexible metal antenna wrapped around the protective housing that deploys by spring effect, allowing one-handed operation and improved autonomy through the use of supercapacitors to supplement battery power, enabling secure and non-secure transmission modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the antenna is permanently inside the protective housing, then the beacon structure is compact and protected, but the transmission frequency is restricted due to small antenna size
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna transitions from a static internal position to a dynamic deployable structure, allowing it to extend outward when needed for transmission and retract into the housing when not in use, thus achieving both compact storage and adequate transmission capability
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is designed to nest within the protective housing when not in use, similar to a nested doll structure, allowing the larger antenna to be contained within the smaller housing volume while maintaining full functionality when deployed
2Speed
If the antenna is made deployable outside the housing, then the transmission frequency is improved, but the operation becomes less ergonomic requiring partial dismantling
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna incorporates a spring mechanism that automatically propels it outward when released from its locked position, eliminating the need for manual extraction or disassembly operations by the user
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded during manufacturing to store mechanical energy, which is then released automatically when the antenna needs to be deployed, performing the deployment action before the user even intends to use the beacon
3Measurement precision
If GNSS data retrieval is implemented, then the location accuracy is improved, but the energy consumption increases reducing battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The GNSS receiver operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when needed for location determination and remaining dormant otherwise, thus achieving accurate location tracking while minimizing energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The supercapacitor maintains continuous power supply to the beacon system, ensuring that the GNSS receiver can operate periodically without interruption while the main battery is recharging or during transitions, thereby sustaining location accuracy without proportionally increasing overall energy consumption
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
The solution enhances the beacon's compactness, ease of use, and extended operational duration while minimizing accidental activation and energy consumption, making it suitable for both civil and military applications.
Implementation Method 1
A compact, ergonomic design featuring a flexible metal antenna wrapped around the protective housing that deploys by spring effect
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
Figure 3~4
Figure 5A~6
AI summary
The invention relates to an autonomous localization beacon (1) comprising a protective casing (10) comprising power supply means and a radio signal generator (202) connected to a transmit antenna (13) transmitting the generated signals, said transmit antenna being able to be in a deployed position and a folded position. According to the invention, in the folded position of the localization beacon (1), the transmit antenna (13) is wound about the protective casing (10).