A Mechanical Modelling and Simulation Method for Resolving PIM Problems in Antennas

Abstract

Passive intermodulation (PIM) generated from antennas is a nonlinear distortion phenomenon and causes serious problems to communication quality. Traditional radio frequency (RF) solutions focus on testing the final product to find the PIM source. However, it cannot solve the stability of PIM after the antenna is vibrated. This paper introduces a new method to improve the stability of PIM in the design phase. By studying the mechanism of PIM generation, a simulation method is proposed in this paper by applying mechanical finite element simulation and simulating the structural design of the device under test. Then, the stress at the PIM source is reduced, thereby the PIM stability of the product is improved. This paper adopts this method by studying a typical product, finding the root cause that affects the product PIM magnitude and stability, and optimizing its design. The PIM value of the new scheme is stable by making a prototype and testing. The method provided in this article can effectively improve product development efficiency and assist designers in avoiding the risks of PIM before the product’s manufacturing.