Opportunity
This invention introduces an innovative unified aperture antenna design, addressing the critical challenge of seamless integration of sensing and communication in future wireless networks—an essential step toward intelligent communication. While the advantages of integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) have been demonstrated in system layer and coding, the lack of a cost-effective, versatile RF antenna to meet beamforming requirements has hindered practical implementation, especially in the millimeter-wave frequency band. This patent breaks through traditional antenna design concepts by unifying two types of antennas capable of generating distinct beams into a single structure. The resulting hardware platform provides a cost-effective and adaptable solution, paving the way for the development and validation of intelligent, ultra-fast, and high-precision wireless communication networks.
Technology
This invention introduces a novel concept in antenna design by integrating traveling-wave antennas and standing-wave antennas within a unified structure, enabling simultaneous communication and sensing. Unlike traditional shared-aperture antenna designs that lack functional separation, this patent innovatively divides the radiation regions of the two antenna types for better coordination and performance. Unlike conventional metal-based antennas, this design leverages the unique electromagnetic properties of the dielectric antennas. Under different excitation conditions, the dielectric antenna exhibits distinct behaviors, allowing it to generate two types of beams—one for communication and the other for sensing—without mutual interference. This simple single-layer dielectric design provides an efficient, compact, and scalable solution for achieving high-performance dual functionalities, paving the way for the next generation of intelligent communication networks.
Advantages
- Unified-aperture performance, which can provide supply frequency scanning and directional beams at the same time.
- Low cost, simple structure: the main structure only requires a single layer of sheet material.
- High Performance: Wideband, Highly overlapping communication and scanning range.
Applications
- 6G Base Stations: Enables real-time environment sensing alongside high-speed data links.
- Autonomous Vehicles: Supports millimeter-wave radar (sensing) and V2X communication.
- Smart Cities: Facilitates dense IoT deployments with integrated localization and connectivity.
