Phase shifters and base station antennas

Abstract

The present invention provides a phase shifter and a base station antenna, wherein the phase shifter includes a substrate, a fixed circuit and a phase shifting circuit arranged on the substrate, the fixed circuit includes an input end and an output end separated from each other, the two ends of the phase shifting circuit are coupled and connected with the input end and the output end respectively, and the phase shifting circuit can switch the coupling connection position between the input end and the output end by rotating relative to the substrate. The phase shifter provided by the present invention can switch the coupling connection position between the input end and the output end by driving the phase shifting circuit to rotate, thereby adjusting the circuit length between the input end and the output end, and realizing the phase adjustment between the input end and the output end. The overall structure is simple and compact, and other spaces around the phase shifter will not be occupied during the phase shifting adjustment process, realizing a miniaturized design. When applied to a base station antenna, the overall layout of the base station antenna can be simplified, and the antenna design integration can be improved to realize the miniaturization of the antenna.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and in particular to a phase shifter and a base station antenna using the phase shifter. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development and update of 5G communication technology, the application of AFU electrically-tuned antennas (5G base station antennas with electrically-tuned function integrated with dielectric filters) is becoming more and more widespread. In AFU electrically-tuned antennas, since it is necessary to integrate dielectric filters and shielding covers on the back of the antenna, the remaining available space on the back of the antenna is extremely compact, and a complete phase shifting network needs to be laid out in this space. Therefore, in AFU electrically-tuned antennas, the requirements for miniaturization of phase shifters are getting higher and higher.

[0003] At present, due to the high passive intermodulation requirements of traditional base station antennas, the phase shifters they use are usually dielectric sliding phase shifters. The specific principle is to change the dielectric constant of the position where the transmission line is covered by the dielectric block by driving the dielectric block to slide, thereby changing the phase difference from the feeding point to the antenna unit, and then achieving the downtilt angle adjustment of the antenna. However, the structure of this type of phase shifter is generally complex, and a large space needs to be reserved within the adjustment range of the dielectric block for the dielectric block to slide, resulting in the overall occupation of a large space on the back of the antenna, which is not conducive to integration in the AFU electrically adjustable antenna. Summary of the invention

[0004] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a phase shifter with a simple structure and small occupied space.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a base station antenna using the above phase shifter.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0007] As a first aspect, the present invention relates to a phase shifter, comprising a substrate, a fixed circuit and a phase shifting circuit arranged on the substrate, the fixed circuit comprising an input end and an output end separated from each other, the phase shifting circuit comprising a connecting portion, the two ends of the connecting portion being coupled and connected to the input end and the output end respectively, and the phase shifting circuit being able to rotate relative to the substrate to switch the coupling connection position between the connecting portion and the input end and the output end of the fixed circuit.

[0008] Preferably, the phase shift circuit includes a straight line circuit whose length is equal to or greater than the distance between the input end and the output end, and two arc circuits arranged at both ends of the straight line circuit and symmetrically arranged relative to the center of the straight line circuit. The two arc circuits are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction with the straight line circuit as the diameter and are coupled and connected with the input end and the output end in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0009] More preferably, the phase shift circuit also includes a rotating part arranged between the input end and the output end and rotatable relative to the substrate, the length of the rotating part is equal to or greater than the spacing between the input end and the output end, the connecting parts are provided with two and both are arc structures, the two connecting parts are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction with the rotating part as the diameter and are connected to the input end and the output end one by one, the rotating part connects the relatively far ends of the two connecting parts and can drive the two connecting parts to rotate synchronously.

[0010] Preferably, the input end includes an input wiring segment and an input arc segment connected to the input wiring segment, the output end includes an output wiring segment and an output arc segment connected to the output wiring segment, the input arc segment and the output arc segment are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction, and in the two arc circuits, one of the arc circuit connecting parts is covered on the input arc segment and coupled to the input arc segment, and the other arc circuit connecting part is covered on the output arc segment and coupled to the output arc segment.

[0011] Preferably, the phase shifter further comprises a limiting member arranged on the substrate, the limiting member has a limiting groove on one side facing the substrate, the arc circuit of the connecting portion is passed through the limiting groove and can slide along the limiting groove.

[0012] Optionally, the input end includes an input wiring segment and an input arc segment connected to the input wiring segment, the output end includes an output wiring segment and an output arc segment connected to the output wiring segment, the input arc segment and the output arc segment are arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction, the phase shift circuit includes a straight line circuit with a length equal to or greater than the distance between the input end and the output end, and the two ends of the straight line circuit of the connecting part phase shift circuit are coupled and connected to the input arc segment and the output arc segment respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the input wiring segment and the output wiring segment are arranged along the same straight line.

[0014] Preferably, the phase shifter further comprises a phase shifting dielectric block and a connecting pin, the dielectric block is arranged corresponding to the structure of the phase shifting circuit, the phase shifting dielectric block is arranged parallel to the substrate, the phase shifting circuit is covered on a side of the dielectric block, the phase shifting dielectric block facing the substrate, and the connecting pin is sequentially penetrated through the dielectric block, the phase shifting dielectric block and the substrate to pin the dielectric block relative to the substrate.

[0015] More preferably, the phase shifter also includes a driving component arranged on a side of the substrate facing away from the dielectric block phase shifting dielectric block, the connecting pin passes through the substrate and is connected to the driving component, and the driving component is used to drive the dielectric block phase shifting dielectric block phase shifting circuit to rotate through the connecting pin and drive the phase shifting circuit to rotate synchronously.

[0016] Furthermore, the phase shifter further includes a solder resist layer arranged on a side of the phase shifting circuit facing the fixed circuit and / or arranged on a side of the fixed circuit facing the phase shifting circuit.

[0017] As a second aspect, the present invention also relates to a base station antenna, comprising the above-mentioned phase shifter. Compared with the prior art, the solution of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0018] The phase shifter provided by the present invention can switch the connection positions between its two ends and the input end and the output end by driving the phase shifting circuit to rotate, thereby adjusting the circuit length between the input end and the output end to achieve phase adjustment. The overall structure is simple and compact, and other space around the phase shifter will not be occupied during the phase shifting adjustment process, and a miniaturized design can be achieved. When applied to a base station antenna, the overall layout of the base station antenna can be simplified, and the antenna design integration can be improved to achieve antenna miniaturization.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description, which will become obvious from the following description, or may be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the following description of the embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of a phase shifter provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An exploded view of the phase shifter shown;

[0023] Figure 3 An exploded view of a base station antenna provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be interpreted as limiting the present invention.

[0025] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless specifically stated, the term "comprising" used in the specification of the present invention refers to the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, parts / components and / or assemblies, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, parts / components, assemblies and / or their groups. It should be understood that when we say a part / component is "connected" to another part / component, it can be directly connected to the other part / component, or there can be intermediate parts / components. The term "and / or" used herein includes all or any unit and all combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0026] Figures 1 to 3 The phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present invention is collectively shown, which is used to be arranged in the base station antenna to realize phase adjustment of the antenna feed signal, thereby realizing downtilt angle adjustment. Due to its simple and compact structure and small space occupation, it can realize miniaturized design, which can effectively simplify the overall layout of the base station antenna and improve the antenna design integration to realize antenna miniaturization.

[0027] Please combine Figure 1 and Figure 2 The phase shifter 1 includes a substrate 11 and a phase shifting dielectric block 12 arranged above the substrate 11 in parallel with the substrate 11, a fixed circuit 13 arranged on a side of the substrate 11 facing the phase shifting dielectric block 12, and a phase shifting circuit 14 arranged on a side of the phase shifting dielectric block 12 facing the substrate 11. The phase shifting circuit 14 is coupled to the fixed circuit 13. The substrate 11 and the fixed circuit 13 together constitute a fixed circuit module, and the phase shifting dielectric block 12 and the phase shifting circuit 14 together constitute a phase shifting circuit module.

[0028] The fixed circuit 13 includes an input end 131 and an output end 132 separated from each other. The phase shift circuit 14 is arranged between the input end 131 and the output end 132 and is used to adjust the circuit length between the input end 131 and the output end 132, thereby achieving phase adjustment by changing the physical path length from the feeding point to the antenna unit.

[0029] Preferably, the phase shift circuit 14 includes two arc circuits 141 and one straight circuit 142, the length of the straight circuit 142 is equal to or greater than the spacing between the input end 131 and the output end 132, the circumferential direction is set with the straight circuit 142 as the diameter, the diameter length of the two arc circuits 141 is equal to the length of the straight circuit 142, and the two arc circuits 141 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction, the two arc circuits 141 are coupled and connected with the input end 131 and the output end 132 in a one-to-one correspondence, the straight circuit 142 connects the two arc circuits 141 and can drive the two arc circuits 141 to rotate synchronously, and when the phase shift circuit 14 rotates, the connection position between the two arc circuits 141 and the input end 131 and the output end 132 can be switched, thereby synchronously increasing or reducing the circuit length between the straight circuit 142 and the input end 131 and the output end 132, thereby realizing phase adjustment from the input end 131 to the output end 132.

[0030] Therefore, the overall structure of the phase shifter 1 is simple and compact, and it will not occupy other surrounding space during the phase shift adjustment process, so it can achieve miniaturized design. When applied to a base station antenna, it can simplify the overall layout of the base station antenna and improve the antenna design integration to achieve antenna miniaturization.

[0031] Preferably, the input end 131 includes an input wiring segment 1311 and an input arc segment 1312, wherein the input wiring segment 1311 is extended along a straight line and one end is used for wiring, and the input arc segment 1312 is connected to the other end of the input wiring segment 1311. The output end 132 includes an output wiring segment 1321 and an output arc segment 1322, wherein the output wiring segment 1321 is extended along a straight line and one end is used for wiring, and the output arc segment 1322 is connected to the other end of the output wiring segment 1321.

[0032] The input arc segment 1312 and the output arc segment 1322 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction. Among the two arc circuits 141, one of the arc circuits 141 is covered on the input arc segment 1312 and coupled to the input arc segment 1312, and the other arc circuit 141 is covered on the output arc segment 1322 and coupled to the output arc segment 1322. The input arc segment 1312 and the output arc segment 1322 are coupled to the two arc circuits 141 respectively, so that the coupling connection area between the arc circuit 141 and the fixed circuit 13 can be increased, thereby improving the coupling strength between the arc circuit 141 and the fixed circuit 13, and the rotation stroke of the arc circuit 141 is increased by superposition of two arc line structures, so that the arc circuit 141 can still remain coupled to the fixed circuit 13 when rotating to a larger angle along the circumferential direction, and a larger range of phase shift adjustment can be achieved.

[0033] Preferably, the input wiring segment 1311 and the output wiring segment 1321 extend along the same straight line and are arranged at intervals, and the ends of the input wiring segment 1311 and the output wiring segment 1321 used for wiring are both far away from the phase shifting circuit 14, so as to layout the wiring at both ends of the phase shifter 1 and reduce the structural interference and coupling influence between the input end 131 and the output end 132.

[0034] Preferably, the phase shifter 1 also includes a limit member 15 arranged on the substrate 11, and the limit member 15 is provided with a limit groove 151 on a side facing the substrate 11, and the arc circuit 141 and the partial structure of the phase shift medium block 12 corresponding to the arc circuit 141 are jointly arranged in the limit groove 151 and can slide along the limit groove 151, and the rotation stroke of the phase shift circuit 14 is limited by the limit member 15, thereby improving the stability and accuracy of the phase shift adjustment.

[0035] It is worth noting that in other embodiments, the phase shift circuit 14 may only include one straight line circuit 142, and the two ends of the straight line circuit portion 142 are coupled and connected to the input arc segment 1312 and the output arc segment 1322 respectively. When the phase shift circuit 14 is rotated, the connection position between it and the input end 131 and the output end 132 can also be switched, thereby adjusting the circuit length between the input wiring segment 1311 and the output wiring segment 1321 to achieve phase adjustment.

[0036] Optionally, in other embodiments, the input wiring segment 1311 and the output wiring segment 1321 may also be arranged side by side. In this case, the input arc segment 1312 and the output arc segment 1322 are arranged between the input wiring segment 1311 and the output wiring segment 1321, and phase adjustment can also be achieved when the phase shift circuit 14 is driven to rotate.

[0037] Preferably, the phase shifter 1 further comprises a connecting pin 16, wherein the connecting pin 16 is sequentially passed through the phase shifting dielectric block 12 and the substrate 11 to pin the phase shifting dielectric block 12 relative to the substrate 11, so that the phase shifting dielectric block 12 can rotate relative to the substrate 11 along the connecting pin 16, thereby enabling the phase shifting circuit 14 to rotate relative to the fixed circuit 13.

[0038] More preferably, the phase shifter 1 further comprises a driving component 17 disposed on a side of the substrate 11 facing away from the phase shifting medium block 12, the connecting pin 16 passes through the substrate 11 and is connected to the driving component 17, and the driving component 17 is used to drive the phase shifting medium block 12 through the connecting pin 16 to drive the phase shifting circuit 14 to rotate.

[0039] Furthermore, the driving assembly 17 includes a gear 171 and a driving member (not shown in the figure, the same below) for driving the gear 171 to rotate, and the driving member includes accessories such as a rack and a motor. The connecting pin 16 includes a limiting column 161, the phase-shifting medium block 12 is provided with a first limiting hole 121 adapted to the limiting column 161, and the gear 171 is provided with a second limiting hole 1711 adapted to the limiting column 161. The connecting pin 16 is sequentially inserted into the first limiting hole 121 and the second limiting hole 1711 through the limiting column 161 to be circumferentially fixed relative to the phase-shifting medium block 12 and the gear 171, so that the gear 171 can drive the connecting pin 16 and the phase-shifting medium block 12 to rotate synchronously, thereby driving the phase-shifting circuit 14 on the phase-shifting medium block 12 to rotate.

[0040] Furthermore, the phase shifter 1 also includes a solder resist layer 18, and the solder resist layer 18 includes a first solder resist layer 181 arranged on a side of the phase shift circuit 14 facing the fixed circuit 13 and / or a second solder resist layer 182 arranged on a side of the fixed circuit 13 facing the phase shift circuit 14, the structure of the first solder resist layer 181 is arranged corresponding to the structure of the phase shift circuit 14, and the structure of the second solder resist layer 182 is arranged corresponding to the structure of the fixed circuit 13. The fixed circuit 13 and the phase shift circuit 14 are isolated by one or two layers of the solder resist layer 18 to prevent the phase shift circuit 14 from directly contacting the fixed circuit 13, and enable the phase shift circuit 14 to be coupled and connected to the fixed circuit 13.

[0041] Furthermore, the phase shifter 1 further includes a grounding layer 19 disposed on a side of the substrate 11 facing away from the fixed circuit 13 , and the grounding structure of the phase shifter 1 is formed by the grounding layer 19 .

[0042] Correspondingly, the solder resist layer 18, substrate 11 and grounding layer 19 are all provided with through holes (unnumbered, the same below) for the limiting column 161 to pass through, and the connecting pin 16 passes through the through holes on the solder resist layer 18, substrate 11 and grounding layer 19 in turn and can rotate relative to the through holes.

[0043] like Figure 3 As shown, as a second aspect, the present invention also relates to a base station antenna 1000, including the above-mentioned phase shifter 1. Since the phase shifter 1 has a simple and compact structure, it can effectively simplify the overall layout of the base station antenna 1000, improve the antenna design integration to achieve antenna miniaturization.

[0044] Furthermore, the base station antenna 1000 also includes a feeding pin 2, a first power division network 3 and a second power division network 4 which are arranged on both sides of the feeding pin 2 and are both fed by the feeding pin 2, and a first unit array 5 connected to the first power division network 3 and a second unit array 6 connected to the second power division network 4.

[0045] In this embodiment, the path from the feed pin 2 to the first unit array 5 is equal to the path from the feed pin 2 to the second unit array 6, that is, the phase from the feed pin 2 to the first unit array 5 is equal to the phase from the feed pin 2 to the second unit array 6. At this time, the phase shifter 1 is arranged between the first power division network 3 and the feed pin 2, so that the path from the feed pin 2 to the second unit array 6 remains unchanged, and the path from the feed pin 2 to the first unit array 5 can be continuously reduced through the phase shift adjustment of the phase shifter 1, that is, the phase from the feed pin 2 to the second unit array 6 continuously lags behind the phase from the feed pin 2 to the first unit array 5, thereby realizing the beam downtilt adjustment of the base station antenna 1000.

[0046] Preferably, two phase shifters 1 are provided, and the two phase shifters 1 are respectively connected to the positive polarization and the negative polarization of the first power division network 3 to achieve beam downtilt adjustment in two polarization directions.

[0047] More preferably, since the phase adjustment in the two polarization directions needs to be performed synchronously, the gears 171 in the two phase shifters 1 can share a rack, that is, a rack is used to synchronously drive the gears 171 in the two phase shifters 1 to rotate, so that the phase adjustment function of the two phase shifters 1 can be realized at the same time, further simplifying the overall structure, reducing costs and reducing the space occupied by the phase shifter 1.

[0048] The above descriptions are only some embodiments of the present invention. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this technical field, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications should also be regarded as the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A phase shifter, comprising a substrate, a fixed circuit and a phase shifting circuit arranged on the substrate, characterized in that: The fixed circuit includes an input end and an output end separated from each other, two ends of the phase shift circuit are coupled to the input end and the output end respectively, and the phase shift circuit can rotate relative to the substrate to switch the coupling connection position between the input end and the output end; The phase shift circuit comprises a straight line circuit having a length equal to or greater than the distance between the input end and the output end, and two arc circuits arranged at both ends of the straight line circuit and symmetrically arranged relative to the center of the straight line circuit, the two arc circuits are arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction with the straight line circuit as a diameter and are coupled and connected with the input end and the output end in a one-to-one correspondence; or The input end includes an input wiring segment and an input arc segment connected to the input wiring segment, the output end includes an output wiring segment and an output arc segment connected to the output wiring segment, the input arc segment and the output arc segment are arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction, the phase shift circuit includes a straight line circuit with a length equal to or greater than the distance between the input end and the output end, and two ends of the straight line circuit are coupled and connected to the input arc segment and the output arc segment respectively.

2. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two ends of the straight line circuit are coupled to the input arc segment and the output arc segment respectively, including: two arc circuits are symmetrically arranged at the two ends of the straight line circuit and relative to the center of the straight line circuit, one of the two arc circuits is covered on the input arc segment and coupled to the input arc segment, and the other arc circuit is covered on the output arc segment and coupled to the output arc segment.

3. The phase shifter according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a limiting member arranged on the substrate, wherein the limiting member has a limiting groove on one side facing the substrate, and the arc circuit is passed through the limiting groove and can slide along the limiting groove.

4. The phase shifter according to claim 2, characterized in that: The input wiring segment and the output wiring segment are arranged along the same straight line.

5. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a phase-shifting dielectric block and a connecting pin, wherein the phase-shifting dielectric block is arranged in parallel with the substrate, the phase-shifting circuit is covered on a side of the phase-shifting dielectric block facing the substrate, and the connecting pin is sequentially penetrated through the phase-shifting dielectric block and the substrate to pin the phase-shifting dielectric block relative to the substrate.

6. The phase shifter according to claim 5, characterized in that It also includes a driving component arranged on the side of the substrate facing away from the phase-shifting medium block. The connecting pin passes through the substrate and is connected to the driving component. The driving component is used to drive the phase-shifting medium block to rotate through the connecting pin and drive the phase-shifting circuit to rotate synchronously.

7. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that It also includes a solder resist layer arranged on a side of the phase shifting circuit facing the fixed circuit and / or arranged on a side of the fixed circuit facing the phase shifting circuit.

8. A base station antenna, characterized in that: Comprising a phase shifter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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