Radio wave control board

Abstract

This radio wave control plate includes a plurality of unit structures arranged in a first surface direction. The unit structure comprises a resonator and an adjustment conductor disposed away from the resonator in a first direction perpendicular to the first surface direction. The unit structure is configured so that a relative positional relationship between the resonator and the adjustment conductor when viewed from the first direction can be changed.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a radio wave control board.

Background Art

[0002] Techniques for controlling electromagnetic waves without using a dielectric lens are known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique for refracting radio waves by changing the parameters of each element in a structure in which resonator elements are arranged.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The radio wave control board of the present disclosure includes a plurality of unit structures arranged in the first surface direction, and the unit structure includes a resonator and an adjustment conductor disposed away from the resonator in a first direction perpendicular to the first surface direction, and the relative positional relationship between the resonator and the adjustment conductor as viewed from the first direction is configured to be changeable.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the radio wave control board according to the first embodiment. <00000​​​​​​​​​Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the layered structure of the second state of the unit structure according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of the configuration of a unit structure located in the corner of a radio wave control board according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by these embodiments, and in the following embodiments, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals to omit redundant explanations.

[0007] In the following explanation, we will establish an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system and describe the positional relationships of each part while referring to this XYZ Cartesian coordinate system. The direction parallel to the X-axis in the horizontal plane will be defined as the X-axis direction, the direction parallel to the Y-axis in the horizontal plane perpendicular to the X-axis will be defined as the Y-axis direction, and the direction parallel to the Z-axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane will be defined as the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, the plane containing the X-axis and Y-axis will be appropriately referred to as the XY plane, the plane containing the X-axis and Z-axis will be appropriately referred to as the XZ plane, and the plane containing the Y-axis and Z-axis will be appropriately referred to as the YZ plane. The XY plane is parallel to the horizontal plane. The XY plane, XZ plane, and YZ plane are orthogonal to each other.

[0008] [First Embodiment] (Radio wave control panel) The outline of the radio wave control board according to the first embodiment will be explained using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the outline of the radio wave control board according to the first embodiment.

[0009] The radio wave control plate 1 is a plate-shaped member configured to reflect or transmit (refract) radio waves transmitted by a base station. For example, when the radio wave control plate 1 receives radio waves transmitted by a base station, it is configured to reflect or refract those radio waves at a predetermined angle. The radio wave control plate 1 may be made of, for example, a metamaterial that changes the phase of the incident wave.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the radio wave control board 1 may include, for example, a substrate 2, and unit structures 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d. When it is not necessary to distinguish between unit structures 10a and 10d, they are collectively referred to as unit structure 10.

[0011] The unit structures 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d can be formed on a substrate 2. The substrate 2 may be, for example, a dielectric substrate formed of a dielectric material. The substrate 2 may, for example, have a rectangular shape, but is not limited thereto. The unit structures 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d can be arranged in two dimensions on the substrate 2.

[0012] Specifically, on substrate 2, multiple unit structures 10a may be installed on the bottom row of substrate 2 as an example. On substrate 2, multiple unit structures 10b may be installed in a row on the row above the row on which unit structures 10a are installed. On substrate 2, multiple unit structures 10c may be installed in a row on the row above the row on which unit structures 10b are installed. On substrate 2, multiple unit structures 10d may be installed in a row on the row above the row on which unit structures 10c are installed. In other words, the radio wave control board 1 may have a structure in which multiple unit structures of different sizes are arranged periodically. Each of the unit structures 10a to 10d may have different changes in the frequency band and phase of the radio waves they change. Each of the unit structures 10a to 10d has a rectangular shape, but is not limited to this. By changing the size and shape of unit structures 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, the frequency band and phase of the radio waves that are reflected or refracted can be adjusted.

[0013] Here, whether the radio wave control plate 1 reflects or refracts the radio waves it receives is determined according to the design of each unit structure 10. In other words, whether the radio wave control plate 1 reflects or refracts the radio waves it receives is determined at the time of design of the radio wave control plate 1, so it was not possible to switch between the functions of reflection and refraction after the radio wave control plate 1 was installed in a predetermined location. Therefore, this disclosure makes it possible to easily switch between the functions of reflection and refraction of the radio wave control plate 1.

[0014] [How to switch] Using Figure 2, the method for switching between the reflection and refraction functions of the radio wave control plate according to the first embodiment will be explained. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the method for switching between the reflection and refraction functions of the radio wave control plate according to the first embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2 schematically shows the unit structure 10 of the radio wave control board 1. As shown in Figure 2, the unit structure 10 has a first layer 11, a second layer 12, a third layer 13, a fourth layer 14, a fifth layer 15, a sixth layer 16, a seventh layer 17, an eighth layer 18, and a ninth layer 19. Hereafter, the unit structure 10 will be described as having nine layers from the first layer 11 to the ninth layer 19, but this disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0016] The ninth layer 19 is the bottom layer of the unit structure 10. The eighth layer 18 is stacked on top of the ninth layer 19. The seventh layer 17 is stacked on top of the eighth layer 18. The sixth layer 16 is stacked on top of the seventh layer 17. The fifth layer 15 is stacked on top of the sixth layer 16. The fourth layer 14 is stacked on top of the fifth layer 15. The third layer 13 is stacked on top of the fourth layer 14. The second layer 12 is stacked on top of the third layer 13. The first layer 11 is formed on top of the second layer 12. The first to ninth layers 19 are stacked along the Z-axis direction. The Z-axis direction is also called the first direction.

[0017] The first layer 11, the second layer 12, and the third layer 13 are resonant layers containing a resonator. The first layer 11, the second layer 12, and the third layer 13 constitute the first substrate 21.

[0018] The fourth layer 14, the fifth layer 15, and the sixth layer 16 are coupling layers for adjusting the coupling coefficient between resonators in the unit structure 10. The fourth layer 14, the fifth layer 15, and the sixth layer 16 constitute the second substrate 22.

[0019] The seventh layer 17, the eighth layer 18, and the ninth layer 19 are resonance layers including resonators. The seventh layer 17, the eighth layer 18, and the ninth layer 19 constitute the third substrate 23. That is, the unit structure 10 is divided into three substrates.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the unit structure 10 is configured such that the relative positions of the first substrate 21, the second substrate 22, and the third substrate 23 when viewed from the Z-axis direction can be changed. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the relative positions of the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 and the second substrate 22 can be changed. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 2, the second substrate 22 is configured to be movable parallel to the XY plane. The XY plane is also referred to as the first plane. In this case, the positions of the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 are fixed. Note that the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 may be configured to be movable parallel to the XY plane. In this case, the position of the second substrate 22 is fixed.

[0021] The unit structure 10 shown in FIG. 2 can achieve desired transmission characteristics or reflection characteristics by being designed as a filter that matches the impedance of free space, which is 120π. Specifically, the transmission characteristics or reflection characteristics of the unit structure 10 are characterized by a coupling matrix. Also, since there is a structure corresponding to the coupling matrix, a unit structure 10 having desired transmission characteristics or reflection characteristics can be realized by designing based on the coupling matrix. Therefore, by changing the structure of the unit structure 10, the coupling matrix also changes, and thus the transmission characteristics or reflection characteristics change. Therefore, in the present embodiment, by changing the relative positions of the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 and the second substrate 22, the coupling matrix is changed, and the reflection function and the transmission function of the radio wave control plate 1 are switched. In other words, in the present embodiment, based on the coupling matrix, the relative positions of the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 and the second substrate 22 are changed so as to switch the reflection function and the transmission function of the radio wave control plate 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of switching the reflection function and the transmission function of the radio wave control plate according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, a moving mechanism 30 is connected to each unit structure 10 included in the radio wave control plate 1. The moving mechanism 30 is configured to be able to move the second substrate 22 parallel to the XY plane, for example. The moving mechanism 30 may be configured to be able to move the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 parallel to the XY plane, for example. The moving mechanism 30 includes at least one of a piezo motor stage, an ultrasonic motor stage, and a linear motor stage.

[0023] [Layer Structure of Unit Structure] The layer structure of the first state of the unit structure according to the first embodiment will be described using FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the layer structure of the first state of the unit structure according to the first embodiment.

[0024] The first layer 11 includes a first resonator 41 formed of a conductive member. The first resonator 41 is formed so as to extend in the XY plane. The first resonator 41 is formed in a rectangular shape, for example. The first resonator 41 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may have an arbitrary shape according to the design.

[0025] The second layer 12 includes a first coupling conductor 42 formed of a conductive material and a first reference conductor 43 formed of a conductive material so as to surround the first coupling conductor 42. The first coupling conductor 42 and the first reference conductor 43 are formed to extend in the XY plane. The first coupling conductor 42 is formed, for example, in a plus shape. The first reference conductor 43 is formed, for example, in a frame-like rectangular shape. Inside the first reference conductor 43, the ends of the first coupling conductor 42 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are connected to the first reference conductor 43. Therefore, the first coupling conductor 42 and the first reference conductor 43 form four holes. The first reference conductor 43 is connected to a reference potential. The reference potential is ground, but is not limited to this.

[0026] The third layer 13 includes a second resonator 44 formed of a conductive material. The second resonator 44 is formed to extend in the XY plane. The second resonator 44 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape. The second resonator 44 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may have any shape depending on the design. The second resonator 44 is, for example, the same shape as the first resonator 41, but is not limited to this.

[0027] The first resonator 41 and the second resonator 44 are connected magnetically or capacitively via the first coupling conductor 42. Specifically, the first resonator 41 and the second resonator 44 are connected magnetically or capacitively via four holes formed between the first coupling conductor 42 and the first reference conductor 43.

[0028] The fourth layer 14 includes a first adjustment conductor 45 made of a conductive material. The first adjustment conductor 45 is formed to extend in the XY plane. The first adjustment conductor 45 is formed in a positive shape, for example. The first adjustment conductor 45 is not limited to a positive shape. The first adjustment conductor 45 may have a rotationally symmetric shape in the XY plane, for example.

[0029] The fifth layer 15 includes a second coupling conductor 46 made of a conductive material and a second reference conductor 47 made of a conductive material surrounding the second coupling conductor 46. The second coupling conductor 46 and the second reference conductor 47 are formed to extend in the XY plane. The second coupling conductor 46 is formed, for example, in a plus shape. The second reference conductor 47 is formed, for example, in a frame-like rectangular shape. Inside the second reference conductor 47, the ends of the second coupling conductor 46 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are connected to the first reference conductor 43. Therefore, the second coupling conductor 46 and the second reference conductor 47 form four holes. The second reference conductor 47 is connected to a reference potential.

[0030] The sixth layer 16 includes a second adjustment conductor 48 formed of a conductive material. The second adjustment conductor 48 is formed to extend in the XY plane. The second adjustment conductor 48 is formed, for example, in a plus shape. The second adjustment conductor 48 is not limited to a plus shape. For example, the second adjustment conductor 48 may have a rotationally symmetric shape in the XY plane.

[0031] The seventh layer 17 includes a third resonator 49 formed of a conductive material. The third resonator 49 is formed to extend in the XY plane. The third resonator 49 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape. The third resonator 49 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may have any shape depending on the design. The third resonator 49 is, for example, the same shape as the first resonator 41, but is not limited to this.

[0032] The eighth layer 18 includes a third coupling conductor 50 made of a conductive material and a third reference conductor 51 made of a conductive material surrounding the third coupling conductor 50. The third coupling conductor 50 and the third reference conductor 51 are formed to extend in the XY plane. The third coupling conductor 50 is formed, for example, in a plus shape. The third reference conductor 51 is formed, for example, in a frame-like rectangular shape. Inside the third reference conductor 51, the ends of the third coupling conductor 50 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are connected to the third reference conductor 51. Therefore, the third coupling conductor 50 and the third reference conductor 51 form four holes. The third reference conductor 51 is connected to a reference potential.

[0033] The ninth layer 19 includes a fourth resonator 52 formed of a conductive material. The fourth resonator 52 is formed to extend in the XY plane. The fourth resonator 52 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape. The fourth resonator 52 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may have any shape depending on the design. The second resonator 44 is, for example, the same shape as the third resonator 49, but is not limited thereto.

[0034] The third resonator 49 and the fourth resonator 52 are connected magnetically or capacitively via the third coupling conductor 50. Specifically, the third resonator 49 and the fourth resonator 52 are connected magnetically or capacitively via four holes formed between the third coupling conductor 50 and the third reference conductor 51.

[0035] In the example shown in Figure 4, the first resonator 41, the second resonator 44, the first regulating conductor 45, the second regulating conductor 48, the third resonator 49, and the fourth resonator 52 are aligned along the Z-axis.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48 are conductive members used to adjust the coupling matrix of the unit structure 10. Specifically, the coupling matrix can be changed by changing the relative positions of the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48 with respect to the first resonator 41, the second resonator 44, the third resonator 49, and the fourth resonator 52. In the first state shown in Figure 4, the unit structure 10 reflects radio waves received from the outside. Therefore, by changing the relative positions of the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48 with respect to the first resonator 41, the second resonator 44, the third resonator 49, and the fourth resonator 52, the coupling matrix is ​​changed to change the unit structure 10 to refract radio waves received by it. Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the relative positions of the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48 and the first resonator 41, the second resonator 44, the third resonator 49, and the fourth resonator 52 are changed by using a moving mechanism to move the second substrate 22 or the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 parallel to the XY plane.

[0037] Figure 5 will be used to illustrate the layer structure of the second state of the unit structure according to the first embodiment. Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the layer structure of the second state of the unit structure according to the first embodiment.

[0038] The example shown in Figure 5 is described as the same as the example shown in Figure 3, but with the moving mechanism 30 moving the second substrate 22 parallel to the XY plane in a 45° direction.

[0039] In the second state of the unit structure 10 shown in Figure 5, the states of the first layer 11, the second layer 12, the third layer 13, the fifth layer 15, the seventh layer 17, the eighth layer 18, and the ninth layer 19 are the same as in the first state of the unit structure 10 shown in Figure 4, so their explanation is omitted.

[0040] In the example shown in Figure 5, the moving mechanism 30 moves the second substrate 22 parallel to the XY plane, so the relative positional relationship between the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48 and the first resonator 41, the second resonator 44, the third resonator 49, and the fourth resonator 52 changes. Specifically, if the length of the unit structure 10 in the X-axis direction is L2 and the length in the Y-axis direction is L3, then for example, the moving mechanism 30 moves the second substrate 22 by half the distance L2 in the X-axis direction and by half the distance L3 in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the first adjustment conductor 45 of the fourth layer 14 and the second adjustment conductor 48 of the sixth layer overlap with the first reference conductor 43, the second reference conductor 47, and the third reference conductor 51 in the Z-axis direction. In other words, in the unit structure 10, the first regulating conductor 45 and the second regulating conductor 48 are no longer located in the region where the first resonator 41, the second resonator 44, the third resonator 49, and the fourth resonator 52 are aligned in the fourth layer 14 and the sixth layer 16. This changes the coupling matrix of the unit structure 10. In the second state shown in Figure 5, the unit structure 10 transmits and refracts radio waves received from the outside. That is, in this embodiment, the reflection function and the transmission function can be switched by the moving mechanism 30 moving the second substrate 22 by half the distance L2 in the X-axis direction and by half the distance L3 in the Y-axis direction. Also, since L2 and L3 are, for example, about 4 mm, the moving mechanism 30 only needs to move the second substrate 22 by a short distance of about 2 mm in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, so in this embodiment, the reflection function and the transmission function of the unit structure 10 can be easily switched. Furthermore, the moving mechanism 30 can easily switch between the reflective and transmissive functions of the unit structure 10 by moving the second substrate 22 in a 45° direction in the XY plane.

[0041] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the moving mechanism 30 can switch between the reflection function and the transmission function of the unit structure 10 by moving the second substrate 22 parallel to the XY plane. At this time, since the unit structures 10 are arranged periodically on the radio wave control board 1, moving the second substrate 22 parallel to the XY plane switches the state of each unit structure 10 to the second state of the first state. However, on the radio wave control board 1, there are no adjacent unit structures 10 to the unit structure 10 located at the very edge, so it may be possible to appropriately switch between the reflection function and the transmission function of the unit structure 10.

[0042] Using Figure 6, an example of the configuration of a unit structure located in the corner of a radio wave control board according to the second embodiment will be explained. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a unit structure located in the corner of a radio wave control board according to the second embodiment.

[0043] Figure 6 shows an example configuration of a unit structure 10 located in the lower left corner of the XY plane. As shown in Figure 6, this unit structure 10 is provided with an additional conductor 60, which includes a first adjustment conductor 45 formed in the fourth layer 14 and a second adjustment conductor 48 formed in the sixth layer 16. In the state shown in Figure 6, the unit structure 10 is such that, for example, the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48 overlap the first reference conductor 43, the second reference conductor 47, and the third reference conductor 51. That is, in the state shown in Figure 6, the unit structure 10 refracts the radio waves it receives. Here, when the moving mechanism 30 moves the second substrate 22 in the direction of 45° in the XY plane, the additional conductor 60 is positioned as the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48 of the unit structure 10. As a result, when the additional conductor 60 is positioned within the unit structure 10, the unit structure 10 reflects the radio waves it receives.

[0044] In other words, in the second embodiment, the unit structure 10 located at the corner of the radio wave control board 1 is provided with additional conductors corresponding to the first adjustment conductor 45 and the second adjustment conductor 48, thereby enabling appropriate switching between the reflection function and the transmission function of the unit structure 10 located at the corner of the radio wave control board 1. When the moving mechanism 30 moves the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 parallel to the XY plane, the additional conductor 60 may also include the configuration of the first resonator 41, the second resonator 44, the third resonator 49, and the fourth resonator 52. This allows for appropriate switching between the reflection function and the transmission function of the unit structure 10 even when the moving mechanism 30 moves the first substrate 21 and the third substrate 23 parallel to the XY plane.

[0045] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited by the content of these embodiments. Furthermore, the aforementioned components include those that are readily conceivable to those skilled in the art, those that are substantially identical, and those that fall within the so-called equivalent range. Moreover, the aforementioned components can be combined as appropriate. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the embodiments described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1. Radio wave control panel 2 circuit boards 10 Unit Structure 11 1st layer 12 2nd layer 13 3rd layer 14 4th layer 15 5th layer 16 Layer 6 17 7th layer 18 8th layer 19 9th layer 21 First board 22 Second board 23 Third board 41 1st resonator 42 First coupled conductor 43. First Reference Conductor 44 Second resonator 45 First Adjusting Conductor 46 Second coupling conductor 47. Second Reference Conductor 48. Second Adjusting Conductor 49 Third resonator 50 Third coupling conductor 51 Third Reference Conductor 52 4th resonator 60 Additional conductors

Claims

1. It includes multiple unit structures arranged in the first plane direction, The aforementioned unit structure is A first substrate including a first resonator and a second resonator, A second substrate is arranged away from the first substrate in a first direction perpendicular to the first plane direction, and includes a first adjustment conductor and a second adjustment conductor, A third substrate is positioned away from the second substrate in the first direction and includes a third resonator and a fourth resonator, Equipped with, The second substrate is placed between the first substrate and the third substrate. The first resonator, the second resonator, the third resonator, and the fourth resonator, and the first and second adjustment conductors are configured to allow the relative positional relationship between them as viewed from the first direction to be changed. Radio wave control panel.

2. The first adjustment conductor and the second adjustment conductor have a shape that is rotationally symmetrical in the first plane direction. The radio wave control board according to claim 1.

3. The first substrate and the third substrate, or the second substrate, are provided with a moving mechanism that moves them parallel to the first plane direction. The radio wave control board according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The moving mechanism moves the first substrate and the third substrate, or the second substrate, parallel to the first plane direction to change the bonding matrix of the unit structure. The radio wave control board according to claim 3.

5. The moving mechanism moves the first substrate and the third substrate, or the second substrate, by a distance equal to half the length of the unit structure in the second and third directions in the first plane direction, respectively. The radio wave control board according to claim 3.

6. The moving mechanism includes at least one of a piezo motor stage, an ultrasonic motor stage, and a linear motor stage. The radio wave control board according to claim 3.

7. The moving mechanism moves the first substrate and the third substrate, or the second substrate, in a direction of 45 degrees in the first plane direction. The radio wave control board according to claim 3.

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