Patent Application
20250174904
This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent Application No. 112145794 filed on Nov. 27, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The invention relates to a communication device, and more particularly, to a communication device with high radiation gain.
In the NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) architecture of 5G and 6G, satellites and high-altitude platform systems are important components that compensate for conventional terrestrial mobile networks. Satellites in GSO (Geosynchronous Orbit) maintain fixed positions above the Earth, and they are mainly used for broadcasting and fixed communications. MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) satellites, such as those used for GPS (Global Positioning System) and Galileo, are located at intermediate orbital altitudes. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites, such as the Starlink system of SpaceX, provide high-speed communications over short distances with shorter delay. In addition, although HAPS (High Altitude Platform Stations) are not satellites, they fill the gap in communication coverage between the ground and satellites, and are used as communication platforms flying in the atmosphere. A common feature, regardless of whether it is GSO, MEO, LEO satellites or HAPS, is the requirement for communication across long distances. Such long-distance communication requires amplifiers with high power and high efficiency, so as to ensure good signal strength and signal quality. SSPA (Solid State Power Amplifier) and TWTA
(Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier) are two types of amplifiers that are commonly used in the applications described above. SSPA is characterized by its solid-state design. TWTA is characterized by its high power output. As more communications are requested, the performance and efficiency of these amplifiers can become important issues of research and development efforts.
In addition, array antennas, also known as phased array antennas, are particularly useful for satellites and HAPS communications because of their ability to electronically scan and form directional beams. The design of these antennas allows users to quickly and flexibly adjust their beam direction in response to dynamic communication environments and other requirements.
Therefore, the further optimization of high-performance SSPA and TWTA, as well as the integration and development of array antennas, will become essential issues of non-terrestrial networks in the future.
In an exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a communication device that includes a first FSS (Frequency Selective Surface) element, a second FSS element, a feeding radiation element, a first electron gun, and a first electron collector. The second FFS element is disposed adjacent to the first FSS element. The feeding radiation element generates an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic signal is propagated by using the first FSS element and the second FSS element. The first electron gun transmits a first electron beam. The first electron collector receives the first electron beam. An antenna structure is formed by the first FSS element, the second FSS element, and the feeding radiation element. A coupling effect is induced between the first electron beam and the electromagnetic signal, such that the radiation energy of the electromagnetic signal is enhanced.
In some embodiments, the first FSS element is configured to partially reflect and partially transmit the electromagnetic signal.
In some embodiments, the second FSS element is configured to completely reflect the electromagnetic signal.
In some embodiments, the second FSS element is made of an AMC (Artificial Magnetic Conductor) material.
In some embodiments, the second FSS element is made of a metal material.
In some embodiments, the feeding radiation element is implemented with a patch antenna.
In some embodiments, the antenna structure covers an operational frequency band from 60 GHz to 500 GHz.
In some embodiments, the specific distance between the first FSS element and the second FSS element is substantially equal to 0.25 wavelength or 0.5 wavelength of the operational frequency band.
In some embodiments, the communication device further includes a first multi-beam aperture board disposed between the first electron gun and the first electron collector. The first multi-beam aperture board is configured to divide the first electron beam into a plurality of first small beams.
In some embodiments, the communication device further includes a second electron gun and a second electron collector. The second electron gun transmits a second electron beam. The second electron collector receives the second electron beam. Another coupling effect is induced between the second electron beam and the electromagnetic signal, such that the radiation energy of the electromagnetic signal is further enhanced.
In some embodiments, the transmission direction of the second electron beam is different from the transmission direction of the first electron beam.
In some embodiments, the communication device further includes a second multi-beam aperture board disposed between the second electron gun and the second electron collector. The second multi-beam aperture board is configured to divide the second electron beam into a plurality of second small beams.
In some embodiments, each of the first multi-beam aperture board and the second multi-beam aperture board is implemented with a silicon photonic substrate.
In another exemplary embodiment, the invention is directed to a communication method that includes the following steps. an electromagnetic signal is generated by a feeding radiation element. A first FSS (Frequency Selective Surface) element and a second FSS element propagate the electromagnetic wave. The second FSS element is disposed adjacent to the first FSS element. The antenna structure is formed by the first FSS element, the second FSS element, and the feeding radiation element. A first electron beam is transmitted by a first electron gun. The first electron beam is received by a first electron collector. A coupling effect is induced between the first electron beam and the electromagnetic signal, which enhances the radiation energy of the electromagnetic signal.
In some embodiments, the communication method further includes using a first multi-beam aperture board to divide the first electron beam into a plurality of first small beams. The first multi-beam aperture board is disposed between the first electron gun and the first electron collector.
In some embodiments, the communication method further includes: transmitting a second electron beam by a second electron gun, and receiving the second electron beam by a second electron collector. Another coupling effect is induced between the second electron beam and the electromagnetic signal, such that the radiation energy of the electromagnetic signal is further enhanced.
In some embodiments, the communication method further includes: dividing the second electron beam into a plurality of second small beams by a second multi-beam aperture board. The second multi-beam aperture board is disposed between the second electron gun and the second electron collector.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In order to illustrate the foregoing and other purposes, features and advantages of the invention, the embodiments and figures of the invention will be described in detail as follows.
Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . “. The term “substantially” means the value is within an acceptable error range. One skilled in the art can solve the technical problem within a predetermined error range and achieve the proposed technical performance. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.
The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the subject matter provided. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.
In the embodiment of
The second FSS element 120 is disposed adjacent to the first FSS element 110. The first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120 may be substantially parallel to each other. For example, the first FSS element 110 may be a PRS (Partially Reflective Surface) element. The second FSS element 120 may be made of an AMC (Artificial Magnetic Conductor) material. Alternative, the second FSS element 120 may be made of a metal material. It should be noted that the term “adjacent” or “close” over the disclosure means that the distance (spacing) between two corresponding elements is shorter than a predetermined distance (e.g., 10 mm or shorter), but often does not mean that the two corresponding elements are touching each other directly (i.e., the aforementioned distance/spacing therebetween is reduced to 0).
The feeding radiation element 130 is configured to generate an electromagnetic signal SE. Also, the feeding radiation element 130 may be coupled to a signal source (not shown). The shapes and types of the feeding radiation element 130 are not limited in the invention. For example, the feeding radiation element 130 may be implemented with a patch antenna, a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, a loop antenna, or a PIFA (Planar Inverted F Antenna).
The electromagnetic signal SE is propagated by using the first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120. For example, the first FSS element 110 may be configured to partially reflect and partially transmit the electromagnetic signal SE, and the second FSS element 120 may be configured to completely reflect the electromagnetic signal SE. In a preferred embodiment, an antenna structure of the communication device 100 is formed by the first FSS element 110, the second FSS element 120, and the feeding radiation element 130. The antenna structure of the communication device 100 can provide relatively high radiation gain because the electromagnetic signal SE results in constructive interference around the first FSS element 110.
In some embodiments, the antenna structure of the communication device 100 covers an operational frequency band from 60 GHz to 500 GHz, so as to support the wideband operations of mmWave (Millimeter Wave). However, the invention is not limited thereto. In alternative embodiments, the antenna structure of the communication device 100 can also support the wideband operations of THz (Terahertz).
In order to enhance the aforementioned constructive interference, the specific distance DS between the first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120 can be appropriately designed. For example, if the second FSS element 120 is made of the AMC material, the specific distance DS may be substantially equal to 0.25 wavelength (λ/4) of the operational frequency band of the antenna structure of the communication device 100. Alternatively, if the second FSS element 120 is made of the metal material, the specific distance DS may be substantially equal to 0.5 wavelength (λ/2) of the operational frequency band of the antenna structure of the communication device 100. In some embodiments, each of the first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120 is implemented with a multi-layer structure. In some embodiments, the length of each of the first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120 is longer than or equal to 10 wavelengths (10λ) of the operational frequency band of the antenna structure of the communication device 100. In some embodiments, the width of each of the first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120 is longer than or equal to 10 wavelengths (10λ) of the operational frequency band of the antenna structure of the communication device 100. In addition, the aforementioned specific distance DS may be substantially equal to 0.1 wavelength (λ/10) of the operational frequency band of the antenna structure of the communication device 100.
The first electron gun 140 is configured to transmit a first electron beam 160. The first electron collector 150 is configured to receive the first electron beam 160. In some embodiments, the transmission direction of the first electron beam 160 is substantially parallel to both of the first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120, but it is not limited thereto. It should be noted that the first electron beam 160 appears between the first FSS element 110 and the second FSS element 120, and the first electron beam 160 interacts with the electromagnetic signal SE. Generally, a coupling effect is induced between the first electron beam 160 and the electromagnetic signal SE, such that the radiation energy of the electromagnetic signal SE is enhanced. With such a design, the radiation gain of the antenna structure of the communication device 100 can be significantly increased since partial energy of the first electron beam 160 is transferred to the electromagnetic signal SE and it is used to compensate for the propagation attenuation of the electromagnetic signal SE.
The following embodiments will introduce different configurations and detail structural features of the communication device 100. It should be understood that these figures and descriptions are merely exemplary, rather than limitations of the invention.
The first small beams 160-1, 160-2, . . . , and 160-N may have different transmission directions. For example, an angle between the transmission directions of any two adjacent beams selected among the first small beams 160-1, 160-2, . . . , and 160-N may be from 0 to 60 degrees, but it is not limited thereto. According to practical measurements, the first small beams 160-1, 160-2, . . . , and 160-N can enhance the radiation energy of the electromagnetic signal SE in a variety of directions. Other features of the communication device 200 of
In some embodiments, each of the first multi-beam aperture board 270 and the second multi-beam aperture board 370 is implemented with a silicon photonic substrate. In alternative embodiments, each of the first multi-beam aperture board 270 and the second multi-beam aperture board 370 is implemented with an electromagnetic lens, a microstructure array, or an electronic grating, but it is not limited thereto.
Furthermore, a second FSS element 420 of the communication device 400 includes a second dielectric substrate 425 and a plurality of metal units 427-1, 427-2, . . . , and 427-R, where “R” is any positive integer greater than or equal to 2. For example, each metal unit may be substantially a square metal piece, but it is not limited thereto. The metal units 427-1, 427-2, . . . , and 427-R may be disposed at intervals on a surface of the second dielectric substrate 425, so as to form another periodical structure. In some embodiments, the aforementioned periodical structure can provide a phase compensation from 30 to 180 degrees (e.g., based its lowest operational frequency). In some embodiments, the second FSS element 420 further includes a ground plane (not shown), which is disposed on the opposite surface of the second dielectric substrate 425. A feeding radiation element 430 of the communication device 400 may be implemented with a patch antenna, which may be surrounded by the metal units 427-1, 427-2, . . . , and 427-R.
In some embodiments, if a high-power operation is considered, a metal element can be replaced with a vacuum area according to Babinet's principle, without using any dielectric substrate. For example, the metal thickness of each of the first FSS element 410 and the second FSS element 420 may be greater than or equal to 1 mm, but it is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the first FSS element 410 and the second FSS element 420 can be stacked in multiple layers (e.g., more than two layers), and thus they can be used as heat sink elements. It should be noted that in a multi-layer stack design, the sizes of the aforementioned metal strips or metal units may be slightly different from those of a single-layer structure, so as to maintain the desired reflectivity or the desired phase compensation amount.
In alternative embodiments, the communication device 400 further includes more feeding radiation elements 430, so as to form an antenna array. In the communication device 400, both the first FSS element 410 and the second FSS element 420 may be substantially disposed perpendicular to the Z-axis. The transmission direction of the first electron beam 160 may be substantially parallel to the X-axis, and the transmission direction of the second electron beam 360 may be substantially parallel to the Y-axis, but they are not limited thereto. As mentioned above, both the first electron beam 160 and the second electron beam 360 are used to enhance the radiation energy of the electromagnetic signal SE (not shown), thereby increasing the radiation gain of the antenna structure of the communication device 400. Other features of the communication device 400 of
In other embodiments, an electron beam of a TWTA (Traveling Wave Tube Power Amplifier) is transmitted to a DLA (Dielectric Laser Accelerator), so as to further reduce the overall weight. The DLA may be integrated on a chip. In addition, the DLA and the aforementioned antenna structure can be disposed on the same carrier board.
The invention proposes a novel communication device and a novel communication method thereof. According to practical measurements, the communication device using the above design can significantly improve its overall antenna radiation gain. Therefore, the invention is suitable for application in a variety of equipment.
Note that the above element parameters are not limitations of the invention. A designer can fine-tune these setting values according to different requirements. It should be understood that the communication device and the communication method of the invention are not limited to the configurations of
The method of the invention, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMS, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine such as a computer, the machine thereby becomes an apparatus for practicing the methods. The methods may also be embodied in the form of program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via any other form of transmission, wherein, when the program code is received and loaded into and executed by a machine such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the disclosed methods. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application-specific logic circuits.
Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the invention. It is intended that the standard and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosed embodiments being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112145794 | Nov 2023 | TW | national |
