Yagi Antenna Array With Split Driven Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless communication systems using single input, single output antennas are vulnerable to multipath effects, leading to issues like fading and intermittent reception due to scattered electromagnetic waves, and most smart antennas have undesired nulls in their radiation patterns, which can prevent signal reception.
Innovation Solution
An antenna array system with electronically controlled antenna units, including a substrate with conductive material as a reflector and driven elements separated on a non-metal substrate to minimize interactions, allowing for adaptable radiation patterns and reliable links between transceivers, utilizing a Yagi antenna design with a ground plane to eliminate feeding line interactions and optimize RF power delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional single antenna systems are used, then device complexity is low, but reliability deteriorates due to multipath effects causing fading and intermittent reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the antenna system into multiple independent antenna elements (at least two) that can be separately controlled. Each element can be independently activated or deactivated based on the radiation pattern requirements, allowing the system to overcome multipath effects by selecting appropriate radiation patterns without requiring a single complex antenna structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of the radiation pattern by selectively activating different antenna elements based on the desired radiation characteristics. The system can dynamically switch between different radiation patterns (including unidirectional, bidirectional, and omnidirectional patterns) to adapt to changing environmental conditions and maintain reliable communication.
2Reliability
If smart antenna arrays are used to overcome multipath effects, then reliability improves, but undesired nulls appear in radiation patterns preventing signal reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically selects and switches between different radiation patterns based on the operational requirements. By having multiple antenna elements that can be independently controlled, the system can choose patterns that avoid creating nulls in critical directions, thereby maintaining signal reception reliability while adapting to different communication scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the radiation pattern parameters by selectively activating different antenna elements. This allows the system to transform between unidirectional, bidirectional, and omnidirectional patterns, each with different null characteristics, thereby avoiding harmful nulls in the desired signal directions while maintaining the benefits of smart antenna arrays.
3Manufacturing precision
If antenna units are integrated on a substrate with metal feeding lines, then manufacturing precision improves, but interactions among antenna units increase causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ground plane function from the substrate and implements it as a separate dedicated ground structure. This separation removes the substrate's dielectric properties and metal feeding lines from the antenna unit integration, thereby eliminating the harmful interactions among antenna units while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized substrate-based construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated ground plane as an intermediary structure that provides the necessary ground reference for antenna operation without creating harmful interactions. This separate ground plane mediates between the antenna elements and the substrate, allowing precise manufacturing while preventing the unwanted coupling and interference that would occur with integrated metal feeding lines.
4Power
If traditional Yagi antenna design is used, then directional gain is achieved, but feeding lines interact with antenna elements causing performance loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ground plane function from the substrate and implements it as a separate dedicated ground structure. This separation removes the substrate's dielectric properties and metal feeding lines from the antenna unit integration, thereby eliminating the harmful interactions among antenna units while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized substrate-based construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated ground plane as an intermediary structure that provides the necessary ground reference for antenna operation without creating harmful interactions. This separate ground plane mediates between the antenna elements and the substrate, allowing precise manufacturing while preventing the unwanted coupling and interference that would occur with integrated metal feeding lines.
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 provides reliable and efficient links between transceivers by minimizing nulls and optimizing radiation patterns, achieving high power gain with a small footprint, broad operating wavelength range, and easier manufacturing, while maintaining independent RF polarizations for enhanced Wi-Fi coverage.
Implementation Method 1
a substrate with conductive material on its surface provided to support the antenna array is designed to be the reflector
Implementation Method 2
The driven element is separated into two halves with each on one side of a non-metal substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques of designing an antenna array with antenna units controlled electronically are described. Each of the antenna units includes a reflector, a driven element and one or more directors. A substrate with conductive material on its surface provided to support the antenna array is designed to be the reflector. The driven element is separated into two halves with each on one side of a non-metal substrate vertically bonded to the conductive substrate. Two driving lines provided to drive the two halves of the driven element are disposed on both sides of the non-metal substrate to minimize possible interactions with other elements of the antenna unit or the antenna array.