Antenna element

Abstract

The present invention discloses an antenna unit, which includes: a first dielectric layer; a ground plane and a feeding point located on the lower end surface of the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer located above the first dielectric layer, a radiation unit is arranged on the second dielectric layer, the radiation unit is connected to the ground plane through a cross-shaped grounding channel, a gap is provided between the cross-shaped grounding channels, the gap can generate an effective current, and the radiation unit is a dipole; a feeding line located above the radiation unit, and the feeding line and the feeding point excite the radiation unit; the dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are higher than the dielectric constant of air. The radiation unit of the present invention is a composite dipole, and the E-plane and H-plane of the radiation pattern of the composite dipole have good consistency, the energy of the back lobe is very small, it has a good front-to-back ratio, and has a relatively wide bandwidth, low power consumption, and high efficiency; it can also reduce the size of the radiation unit, which not only reduces the overall height of the dipole, but also reduces the coupling between the dipoles to a certain extent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to an antenna unit. Background Art

[0002] With the development of communication technologies, antenna units with different frequencies, different specifications, and different numbers of channels are widely used, which continuously expands and utilizes the spectrum resources. However, the rooftop resources have become very limited. In the case of scarce rooftop resources, it is necessary to miniaturize the antenna unit while ensuring the coverage range and coverage effect of the antenna.

[0003] Conventional antenna units include the following types: The first is a half-wavelength symmetrical dipole, which uses metal die-casting, sheet metal forming, or a double-sided copper clad PCB (Printed Circuit Board) instead of metal materials and is fed through a coaxial cable or a PCB; the second is a patch dipole, which uses metal or microstrip; the third is a half-wavelength microstrip slot dipole, which uses a coaxial cable or coupled feeding.

[0004] The first type of antenna unit belongs to a half-wave symmetrical dipole, which has a relatively wide bandwidth, but the dipole size is large and the profile is high. If the spacing between array elements is reduced to pursue miniaturization, strong coupling will occur between the array elements, thereby affecting the radiation performance and scattering parameters (S parameters) of the antenna; the second type of antenna unit has a relatively narrow bandwidth and a poor front-to-back ratio; the third type of antenna unit has large losses and low efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides an antenna unit, which can solve the deficiencies of the above several types of antenna dipoles and meet the current technical requirements.

[0006] The present invention specifically adopts the following technical solutions to solve the above technical problems:

[0007] An antenna unit, the antenna unit comprising:

[0008] A first dielectric layer;

[0009] A ground plane and a feeding point located on the lower end face of the first dielectric layer;

[0010] A second dielectric layer located above the first dielectric layer, a radiation unit is provided on the second dielectric layer, the radiation unit is connected to the ground plane through a cross-shaped grounding channel, a gap is provided between the cross-shaped grounding channels, the gap can generate an effective current, and the radiation unit is a symmetrical dipole;

[0011] A feeding line located above the radiation unit, and the feeding line and the feeding point excite the radiation unit;

[0012] The dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are higher than the dielectric constant of air.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, the cross-shaped ground channel includes four groups of ground channel groups in a right-angle form, and each group of ground channel groups is composed of a first ground channel arranged horizontally and a second ground channel arranged vertically;

[0014] A gap is provided between the first ground channel in each group of ground channel groups and the first ground channel in an adjacent group of ground channel groups, and a gap is provided between the second ground channel and the second ground channel in another adjacent group of ground channel groups.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, the antenna unit further includes a loading unit, the loading unit is a metal via, the metal via is connected to the radiation unit, and penetrates through the second dielectric layer.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the antenna unit further includes a third dielectric layer above the radiation unit and a fourth dielectric layer above the third dielectric layer, and the feeding points include a first feeding point and a second feeding point, and the dielectric constants of the third dielectric layer and the fourth dielectric layer are higher than the dielectric constant of air;

[0017] The feeding lines on the third dielectric layer and the fourth dielectric layer form a first feeding circuit with the first feeding point, and the first feeding circuit is used to excite one polarization;

[0018] The feeding line on the fourth dielectric layer forms a second feeding circuit with the second feeding point, and the second feeding circuit is used to excite the other polarization.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, a parasitic unit is provided on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer, and the shape of the parasitic unit is centrosymmetric.

[0020] In an alternative embodiment, the first feeding circuit includes a first feeding line and a second feeding line on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer, and a third feeding line on the surface of the third dielectric layer;

[0021] The first end of the first feeding line is connected to the first feeding point through a first feeding channel, the second end of the first feeding line is connected to the first end of the third feeding line through a second feeding channel, the second end of the third feeding line is connected to the first end of the second feeding line through a third feeding channel, and the second end of the second feeding line is connected to a fourth feeding channel, and the fourth feeding channel penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment, the first feed channel, the second feed channel, the third feed channel, and the fourth feed channel are metal vias.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the second feed circuit includes a fourth feed line located on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer;

[0024] The first end of the fourth feed line is connected to the second feed point through a fifth feed channel, the second end of the fourth feed line is connected to a sixth feed channel, and the sixth feed channel penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, and the second dielectric layer.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, the fifth feed channel and the sixth feed channel are metal vias.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, there is no gap in the lamination between the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, and the fourth dielectric layer.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution of the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0028] Since the radiation element is a symmetric dipole, it is connected to the ground plane through a cross-shaped grounding channel, and there is a gap between the cross-shaped grounding channels. This gap can generate an effective current. Therefore, it can be regarded as two slot antennas. An ideal slot antenna is equivalent to a symmetric slot excited by a magnetic current source. Its dual is a plate-shaped symmetric dipole of the same size. Therefore, an ideal slot antenna and a symmetric dipole antenna of the same size have exactly the same directivity. The two can be called complementary antennas, except that the polarization direction of the electromagnetic field is interchanged. The radiation element can be regarded as a composite dipole, and the H-plane and E-plane of the radiation pattern of this composite dipole are very consistent, the energy of the back lobe is very small, it has a good front-to-back ratio, a relatively wide bandwidth, low power consumption, and high efficiency.

[0029] The dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are higher than that of air. Therefore, the size of the radiation element can be reduced, which can not only reduce the overall height of the dipole, but also reduce the coupling between the dipoles to a certain extent. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is an exploded view of the antenna unit provided by the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an ideal slot antenna, an equivalent magnetic current source excitation, and a complementary plate-shaped symmetric dipole provided by the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 is an electromagnetic field distribution diagram of the E-plane and H-plane provided by the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 The radiation patterns of the E-plane and H-plane provided by the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 The bottom view of the first dielectric layer provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 6 The effective current diagram between the cross-shaped grounding channels provided by the present invention;

[0036] Figure 7 The schematic diagram of the three-dimensional antenna element provided by the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8 The side view of the antenna element provided by the present invention;

[0038] Figure 9 The side view of the antenna element provided by the present invention;

[0039] Figure 10 The top view of the antenna element provided by the present invention;

[0040] Figure 11 The simulation diagram of the return loss and isolation of the antenna element provided by the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0041] In view of the problems that when the existing antenna element is a half-wave symmetric dipole, if miniaturization is pursued by reducing the spacing between array elements, strong coupling will occur between the array elements, thus affecting the radiation performance and scattering parameters of the antenna; when the antenna element is a patch dipole, the bandwidth is narrow and the front-to-back ratio is poor; when the antenna element is a half-wavelength microstrip slot dipole, the loss is large and the efficiency is not high, the solution idea of the present invention is to set a slot between the cross-shaped grounding channels connected to the radiation element. The radiation element is a symmetric dipole. Since the slot can generate an effective current, the radiation element can be regarded as a composite dipole of a plate-shaped symmetric dipole and a slot dipole. In this way, the radiation characteristics of the two antenna elements can be combined, which can not only improve the symmetry of the E-plane and H-plane, but also enable the antenna element to have a good front-to-back ratio, increase the bandwidth, reduce power consumption, and improve efficiency. In addition, since the dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, and the fourth dielectric layer are higher than the dielectric constant of air, the size of the antenna element can be reduced. The antenna element of the present invention is introduced below.

[0042] Please refer to Figure 1 , the antenna element in this embodiment includes:

[0043] The first dielectric layer 110;

[0044] Among them, the first dielectric layer 110 can be a single dielectric layer or a dielectric layer formed by laminating multiple dielectric layers, which is not limited in this embodiment. When the first dielectric layer 110 is formed by laminating multiple dielectric layers, the multiple dielectric layers can be laminated through a specific colloid so that there is no gap between the multiple dielectric layers, and the dielectric constant of the specific colloid is equal to the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer.

[0045] A ground plane 111 and a feeding point 112 located on the lower end surface of the first dielectric layer 110;

[0046] Among them, the number of feeding points 112 can correspond to the number of feeding lines 124, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0047] A second dielectric layer 120 located above the first dielectric layer 110. A radiation element 121 is provided on the second dielectric layer 120. The radiation element 121 is connected to the ground plane 111 through a cross-shaped grounding channel 122. A gap 123 is provided between the cross-shaped grounding channels 122. The gap 123 can generate an effective current. The radiation element 121 is a dipole antenna;

[0048] Among them, the second dielectric layer 120 can use a single-sided copper clad laminate, and the radiation element 121 can be etched on the single-sided copper clad laminate.

[0049] The cross-shaped grounding channel 122 is formed by arranging and combining grounding channels, and it is in a "cross" shape after arrangement. There is a gap between the cross-shaped grounding channels 122, and this gap can generate an effective current. In this way, it can be regarded as two slot antennas.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 2 , the ideal slot antenna is equivalent to a symmetric slot excited by a magnetic current source. The dual of it is a plate-shaped symmetric oscillator with the same size. Therefore, the ideal slot antenna and the symmetric oscillator antenna with the same size have exactly the same directivity. The two can be called complementary antennas, except that the polarization direction of the electromagnetic field is interchanged.

[0051] The E-plane pattern of the ideal slot antenna is exactly the same as the H-plane pattern of the symmetric oscillator antenna, and the H-plane pattern of the ideal slot antenna is exactly the same as the E-plane pattern of the symmetric oscillator antenna. Therefore, the radiation element can be regarded as a composite oscillator, and the H-plane and E-plane of the pattern of this composite oscillator have good consistency, which can improve the symmetry of the E-plane and H-plane. Please refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 The left view in shows the electromagnetic field distributions of the E-plane and H-plane of the ideal slot antenna, and the right view shows the electromagnetic field distributions of the E-plane and H-plane of the symmetric oscillator antenna.

[0052] According to Figure 4From the simulation results shown, the energy of the back lobe of the antenna element in the present invention is very small, and it has a good front-to-back ratio.

[0053] It should be noted that the first dielectric layer 110 and the second dielectric layer 120 can be laminated by a specific colloid, so that there is no gap between the first dielectric layer 110 and the second dielectric layer 120, and the dielectric constant of the specific colloid is equal to the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer.

[0054] The feeding line 124 is located above the radiation element 121, and the feeding line 124 and the feeding point 112 excite the radiation element 121;

[0055] The dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer 110 and the second dielectric layer 120 are higher than the dielectric constant of air.

[0056] Since the dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer 110 and the second dielectric layer 120 are higher than the dielectric constant of air, compared with the antenna element with air as the dielectric layer, the size of the radiation element in the present invention can be smaller, so that the overall height of the oscillator can be reduced. That is, the antenna element in the present invention is a low-profile antenna element. In addition, since the size of the antenna element in the present invention is small, on the premise of pursuing a miniaturized antenna, the coupling between the oscillators will be weaker within the same smaller spacing.

[0057] In summary, for the antenna element provided in this embodiment, since the radiation element is connected to the ground plane through a cross-shaped grounding channel, and there are gaps between the cross-shaped grounding channels, and the gaps can generate effective currents, it can be regarded as two slot antennas. An ideal slot antenna is equivalent to a symmetric slot excited by a magnetic current source. Its dual is a plate-shaped symmetric antenna of the same size. Therefore, an ideal slot antenna and a symmetric antenna of the same size have exactly the same directivity, and the two can be called complementary antennas, except that the polarization directions of the electromagnetic fields are interchanged. The radiation element can be regarded as a composite oscillator, and the H-plane and E-plane of the radiation pattern of the composite oscillator are in good agreement, the energy of the back lobe is very small, it has a good front-to-back ratio, a relatively wide bandwidth, low power consumption, and high efficiency.

[0058] The dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are higher than the dielectric constant of air, so the size of the radiation element can be reduced, which can not only reduce the overall height of the oscillator, but also reduce the coupling between the oscillators to a certain extent.

[0059] In an alternative embodiment, the cross-shaped ground channel 122 includes four sets of ground channel groups in a right-angle form, and each set of ground channel groups is composed of a first ground channel 1221 arranged horizontally and a second ground channel 1222 arranged vertically; there is a gap between the first ground channels 1221 in each set of ground channel groups and the first ground channels 1221 in an adjacent set of ground channel groups, and there is a gap between the second ground channels 1222 and the second ground channels 1222 in another adjacent set of ground channel groups.

[0060] In this embodiment, the first ground channel 1221 may include a plurality of ground channels, and each ground channel penetrates through the first dielectric layer 110 and the second dielectric layer 120. The second ground channel 1222 may include a plurality of ground channels, and each ground channel penetrates through the first dielectric layer 110 and the second dielectric layer 120. Among them, the number of ground channels in the first ground channel 1221 may be the same as the number of ground channels in the second ground channel 1222.

[0061] Please refer to Figure 5 the bottom view of the first dielectric layer 110 shown in Figure 5 where the cross-shaped ground channel 122 includes four first ground channels 1221 arranged horizontally and four second ground channels 1222 arranged vertically.

[0062] Please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 the gaps between the cross-shaped ground channels 122 in

[0063] In an alternative embodiment, the antenna unit may further include a loading unit 130, which is a metal via hole, and the metal via hole is connected to the radiation unit 121 and penetrates through the second dielectric layer 120.

[0064] Among them, the loading unit 130 may be arranged at the four corners of the radiation unit 121. Since the loading unit 130 is a metal via hole, the size of the radiation unit 121 can be changed, thereby increasing the bandwidth of the antenna unit and expanding the frequency range.

[0065] In an alternative embodiment, the antenna unit further includes a third dielectric layer 140 above the radiation unit 121 and a fourth dielectric layer 150 above the third dielectric layer 140, and the feeding point 112 includes a first feeding point 1121 and a second feeding point 1122, and the dielectric constants of the third dielectric layer 140 and the fourth dielectric layer 150 are higher than the dielectric constant of air;

[0066] The feeding line 124 on the third dielectric layer 140 and the fourth dielectric layer 150 forms a first feeding circuit 152 with the first feeding point 1121, and the first feeding circuit 152 is used to excite one polarization;

[0067] The feeding line 124 on the fourth dielectric layer 150 forms a second feeding circuit 153 with the second feeding point 1122, and the second feeding circuit 153 is used to excite the other polarization.

[0068] The oscillator in this embodiment is a magnetoelectrically coupled dual-polarized composite oscillator.

[0069] In an alternative embodiment, parasitic elements 151 are arranged on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer 150, and the shape of the parasitic elements 151 is centrosymmetric. For example, the parasitic elements 151 can be in the shape of a square frame, and the radiation element 121 can perform coupled excitation on it, thereby improving the cross polarization of the oscillator.

[0070] Optionally, a square-frame outer frame 154 can also be arranged on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer 150. The outer frame 154 is located outside the parasitic elements 151, which can increase the gain of the antenna element and reduce the coupling degree between the oscillators. Please refer to Figure 7 the schematic diagram of the three-dimensional antenna element shown.

[0071] In an alternative embodiment, the first feeding circuit 152 includes a first feeding line 1241 and a second feeding line 1242 on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer 150, and a third feeding line 1243 on the surface of the third dielectric layer 140; the first end 161 of the first feeding line 1241 is connected to the first feeding point 1121 through a first feeding channel 171, the second end 162 of the first feeding line 1241 is connected to the first end 163 of the third feeding line 1243 through a second feeding channel 172, the second end 164 of the third feeding line 1243 is connected to the first end 165 of the second feeding line 1242 through a third feeding channel 173, and the second end 166 of the second feeding line 1242 is connected to a fourth feeding channel 174. The fourth feeding channel 174 penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer 150, the third dielectric layer 140 and the second dielectric layer 120.

[0072] Among them, the first feeding channel 171 penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer 150, the third dielectric layer 140, the second dielectric layer 120 and the first dielectric layer 110, the second feeding channel 172 and the third feeding channel 173 respectively penetrate through the fourth dielectric layer 150, and the fourth feeding channel 174 penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer 150, the third dielectric layer 140 and the second dielectric layer 120. Please refer to Figure 8 the side view shown.

[0073] Among them, the first feeding channel 171, the second feeding channel 172, the third feeding channel 173, and the fourth feeding channel 174 are metal vias.

[0074] In an alternative embodiment, the second feeding circuit 153 includes a fourth feeding line 1244 located on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer 150; a first end 167 of the fourth feeding line 1244 is connected to the second feeding point 1122 through a fifth feeding channel 175, and a second end 168 of the fourth feeding line 1244 is connected to a sixth feeding channel 176, and the sixth feeding channel 176 penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer 150, the third dielectric layer 140, and the second dielectric layer 120.

[0075] Among them, the fifth feeding channel 175 penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer 150, the third dielectric layer 140, the second dielectric layer 120, and the first dielectric layer 110, and the sixth feeding channel 176 penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer 150, the third dielectric layer 140, and the second dielectric layer 120. Please refer to Figure 9 the side view shown.

[0076] Among them, the fifth feeding channel 175 and the sixth feeding channel 176 are metal vias.

[0077] In an alternative embodiment, the first feeding circuit 152 and the second feeding circuit 153 can be cross-shaped and non-intersecting on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer 150. Please refer to Figure 10 the top view shown.

[0078] It should be noted that the fourth dielectric layer 150 can be a single-sided copper clad laminate, and parasitic elements 151, the first feeding line 1241, the second feeding line 1242, and the fourth feeding line 1244 can be etched on the single-sided copper clad laminate. The third dielectric layer 140 can be a single-sided copper clad laminate, and the third feeding line 1243 can be etched on the single-sided copper clad laminate.

[0079] In this embodiment, there is no gap in the lamination between the second dielectric layer 120, the third dielectric layer 140, and the fourth dielectric layer 150.

[0080] It should be noted that the second dielectric layer 120, the third dielectric layer 140, and the fourth dielectric layer 150 can be laminated through a specific colloid, so that there is no gap between the second dielectric layer 120, the third dielectric layer 140, and the fourth dielectric layer 150, and the dielectric constant of the specific colloid is equal to the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer.

[0081] Please refer to Figure 11 , which shows the return loss and isolation of the antenna element.

[0082] The above are only preferred examples of the present invention and are not limited to the present invention. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An antenna unit, characterized in that, The antenna unit includes: A first dielectric layer; A ground plane and a feeding point located on the lower end surface of the first dielectric layer; A second dielectric layer located above the first dielectric layer, a radiation element is arranged on the second dielectric layer, the radiation element is connected to the ground plane through a cross-shaped grounding channel, a gap is provided between the cross-shaped grounding channels, the gap can generate an effective current, and the radiation element is a dipole; A feeding line located above the radiation element, and the feeding line and the feeding point excite the radiation element; The dielectric constants of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are higher than the dielectric constant of air.

2. The antenna unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-shaped grounding channel includes four groups of right-angle grounding channel groups, and each group of grounding channel groups is composed of a first grounding channel arranged horizontally and a second grounding channel arranged vertically; A gap is provided between the first grounding channel in each group of grounding channel groups and the first grounding channel in an adjacent group of grounding channel groups, and a gap is provided between the second grounding channel and the second grounding channel in another adjacent group of grounding channel groups.

3. The antenna unit according to claim 1, wherein The antenna unit further includes a loading unit, the loading unit is a metal via, the metal via is connected to the radiation element and penetrates through the second dielectric layer.

4. The antenna unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The antenna unit further includes a third dielectric layer located above the radiation element and a fourth dielectric layer located above the third dielectric layer, and the feeding point includes a first feeding point and a second feeding point, and the dielectric constants of the third dielectric layer and the fourth dielectric layer are higher than the dielectric constant of air; The feeding lines on the third dielectric layer and the fourth dielectric layer form a first feeding circuit with the first feeding point, and the first feeding circuit is used to excite one polarization; The feeding line on the fourth dielectric layer forms a second feeding circuit with the second feeding point, and the second feeding circuit is used to excite another polarization.

5. The antenna unit according to claim 4, wherein A parasitic element is arranged on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer, and the shape of the parasitic element is centrosymmetric.

6. The antenna unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first feeding circuit includes a first feeding line and a second feeding line located on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer, and a third feeding line located on the surface of the third dielectric layer; The first end of the first feeding line is connected to the first feeding point through a first feeding channel, the second end of the first feeding line is connected to the first end of the third feeding line through a second feeding channel, the second end of the third feeding line is connected to the first end of the second feeding line through a third feeding channel, the second end of the second feeding line is connected to a fourth feeding channel, and the fourth feeding channel penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer.

7. The antenna unit according to claim 6, wherein The first feeding channel, the second feeding channel, the third feeding channel and the fourth feeding channel are metal vias.

8. The antenna unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The second feeding circuit includes a fourth feeding line located on the surface of the fourth dielectric layer; The first end of the fourth feeding line is connected to the second feeding point through a fifth feeding channel, and the second end of the fourth feeding line is connected to a sixth feeding channel, and the sixth feeding channel penetrates through the fourth dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, and the second dielectric layer.

9. The antenna unit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The fifth feeding channel and the sixth feeding channel are metal vias.

10. The antenna unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, There is no gap in the lamination between the first dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer, the third dielectric layer, and the fourth dielectric layer.

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