VARIABLE Z0 ANTENNA DEVICE DESIGN SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120331436A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MegaWave Corporation
• Original Assignee: Variable Z0, Ltd.
• Inventors: Formato, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 716/132
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/11 for solving equations , e.g. nonlinear equations, general mathematical optimization problems optimization specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/15 Correlation function computation including computation of convolution operations arithmetic circuits for sum of products per se, e.g. multiply-accumulators G06F7/5443; digital filters, e.g. FIR, IIR, adaptive filters H03H17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/39 Circuit design at the physical level physical level design for reconfigurable circuits G06F30/347
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/392 Floor-planning or layout, e.g. partitioning or placement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/398 Design verification or optimisation, e.g. using design rule check [DRC], layout versus schematics [LVS] or finite element methods [FEM] optical proximity correction [OPC] design processes G03F1/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 29/12 characterised by the materials of which they are formed
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/00 Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas arrangements for varying orientation of directional pattern H01Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/36 Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewithH01Q1/08, H01Q1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/92 by the use, as active elements, of superconductive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/14 Relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/185 Space-based or airborne stations; Stations for satellite systemsH04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/916 Antenna

Abstract

A variable Z₀ impedance method (“Variable Z₀”) for designing and/or optimizing antenna systems. The method provides that the value of an antenna'"'"'s feed system characteristic impedance or apparatus internal impedance (Z₀) changes as a true variable quantity during the antenna system design or optimization methodology. The value is allowed to be determined by the methodology, because different values of Z₀ result in different antenna system performance. It is applied to any set of performance objectives on any antenna system wherein apparatus internal or transmission line characteristic impedance is an explicit or implicit parameter. Variable Z₀ is applied to any design or optimization methodology. Structures include Yagi-Uda arrays, Meander Monopoles, and transmission line Multi-Stub Matching Networks, and can incorporate Central Force Optimization or Biogeography Based Optimization or other optimization algorithms.

Claims

1. A variable impedance method and system for designing an antenna system comprising:

varying an input value of said impedance of an antenna feed system of said antenna system to produce a selected value of said impedance;

determining said selected value of said impedance by a methodology;

wherein said input value of said impedance of said antenna system is not specified as a fixed design parameter; and

applying to an antenna system said design of said antenna system that fulfills specified characteristics.

2. The method and system of claim 1 comprising:

defining electromagnetic characteristics of said antenna system other than said impedance;

specifying ranges of said electromagnetic characteristics; and

calculating parameter values of said antenna system from said specified electromagnetic characteristics other than said impedance.

3. The method and system of claim 1, wherein said antenna feed system impedance is an antenna feed system characteristic impedance.

4. The method and system of claim 1, wherein said antenna feed system impedance comprises an antenna feed system internal impedance.

5. The method and system of claim 1, wherein said methodology comprises a design methodology.

6. The method and system of claim 1, wherein said methodology comprises an optimization methodology.

7. The method and system of claim 1 wherein minimum and maximum values are specified for said variable impedance.

8. The method and system of claim 2 wherein minimum and maximum values are specified for said electromagnetic characteristics of said antenna system other than said impedance.

9. The method and system of claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic characteristics comprise design parameters.

10. The method and system of claim 2, wherein said electromagnetic characteristics comprise optimization parameters.

11. The method and system of claim 1, wherein said methodology comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a deterministic algorithm, Central Force Optimization (CFO), Dominating Cone Line Search (DCLS), extended Wu-King impedance loading, seat of the pants design, experience-based design, and best guess.

12. The method and system of claim 1, wherein said methodology comprises at least one of the group consisting of:

a stochastic algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Differential Evolution (DE), and Genetic Algorithm.

13. A variable impedance method for designing antenna systems comprising the steps of:

defining parameters of said antenna system, including a variable antenna feed system impedance;

specifying ranges of said parameters, including a minimum value and a maximum value for said antenna feed system impedance;

iteratively executing a methodology to calculate antenna system characteristics from said parameters including said variable antenna feed system impedance;

selecting values for said antenna system parameters determined from said methodology.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said parameters of said antenna system comprise design parameters.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said parameters of said antenna system comprise optimization parameters.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said methodology includes performance objective iteration, said iteration comprising:

inputting initial performance objectives;

executing a design methodology;

determining if performance objectives have been met;

modifying said initial performance objectives if said performance objectives have not been met, then re-executing said design methodology with said modified performance objectives; and

ending said iteration if performance objectives have been met, selecting antenna system design parameters resulting in meeting said performance objectives.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said methodology includes optimization iteration, said iteration comprising:

defining a fitness function;

executing an optimization methodology;

determining if termination criteria have been met;

re-executing said optimization methodology if said termination criteria have not been met; and

ending said iteration if said termination criteria have been met, selecting antenna system design parameters resulting in meeting said termination criteria.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising an external antenna modeling engine interfacing with said optimization methodology.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

applying to an antenna system said design of said antenna system that fulfills specified characteristics including a determined value of said variable antenna feed system impedance.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions for a variable impedance method for designing antenna systems, said computer-executable instructions directed to steps comprising:

defining parameters of said antenna system, including a variable antenna feed system impedance;

specifying ranges of said parameters, including a minimum value and a maximum value for said antenna feed system impedance;

iteratively executing a methodology to calculate antenna system characteristics from said parameters including said variable antenna feed system impedance; and

selecting values for said antenna system parameters determined from said methodology.