A base station antenna

Abstract

The present invention provides a base station antenna, which includes a bottom plate, an antenna array and a phase shifter. The antenna array and the phase shifter are arranged on the same side of the bottom plate, the phase shifter is arranged on both sides of the antenna array axis direction, and the radiating unit of the antenna array is limited between the phase shifters on both sides thereof, and the radiating unit of the antenna array is electrically connected to the phase shifter. By arranging the phase shifter and the antenna array on the same side of the bottom plate, and limiting the radiating unit of the antenna array between the phase shifters on both sides thereof, the phase shifter cavity can constitute the radiation boundary of the antenna array, and there is no need to set a cable or other structure passing through the reflector structure to connect the phase shifter and the radiating unit. The structure is simple and the layout on the back of the bottom plate is optimized; the switching circuit is used to realize the electrical connection between the phase shifter and the radiating unit of the antenna array, and there is no need to set up an additional cable connection, which simplifies the assembly process of the antenna, saves assembly steps, has a high degree of integration, effectively improves the antenna gain, and improves the radiation performance of the antenna.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Usually, a base station antenna is composed of three parts: a radiation unit, a reflector and a radiation boundary, and a phase shifter and a transmission system thereof. In a conventional base station antenna, the radiation unit, the reflector and the radiation boundary, and the phase shifter and a transmission system thereof are three independent structures. The radiation unit is arranged on the front side of the reflector, and the side of the reflector is bent into different shapes as a radiation boundary. The phase shifter is located on the back side of the reflector. The phase shifter and the radiation unit need to be electrically connected through a cable or other means through the reflector. At the same time, since other microwave devices, such as combiners, power dividers, filters, etc., are all located on the back side of the reflector, the structure on the back side of the reflector is more complicated, and the cable layout is difficult. At the same time, a large number of cable transfers are required, resulting in a loss of antenna gain. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a base station antenna integrating a phase shifter and a radiation boundary.

[0004] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] A base station antenna comprises a base plate, an antenna array and a phase shifter, wherein the antenna array and the phase shifter are arranged on the same side of the base plate, the phase shifter is arranged on both sides of the axial direction of the antenna array, and the radiating elements of the antenna array are confined between the phase shifters on both sides thereof, and the radiating elements of the antenna array are electrically connected to the phase shifter.

[0006] It is further configured that: the length direction of the phase shifter is parallel to the axial direction of the antenna array, and the width direction of the phase shifter is perpendicular to the bottom plate.

[0007] It is further configured that the phase shifter includes a phase shifter cavity, a phase shifting network and a phase shifting medium, the phase shifter cavity is configured in an inverted U shape with an opening downward, and the bottom plate is provided with a metal welding layer for welding to the side of the phase shifter cavity close to its opening.

[0008] It is further configured that: a plurality of groups of concave-convex matching structures are provided between the phase shifter cavity and the bottom plate.

[0009] It is further configured that: a mounting groove for inserting the top of the phase shifter cavity is provided at the top of the phase shifter cavity, and a plurality of groups of plug-in structures are provided between the bottom of the phase shifter network and the bottom plate.

[0010] It is further configured that: the phase shift network is electrically connected to the radiation unit via a switching circuit.

[0011] It is further configured that: the bottom plate includes an insulating base layer and a metal grounding layer, and the metal grounding layer is arranged on a side of the insulating base layer facing away from the radiation unit.

[0012] It is further configured that: the base plate is a PCB, and the switching circuit is a conductor strip etched on the PCB.

[0013] It is further configured that a window is provided on the metal welding layer near the connection between the phase shift network and the switching circuit, and the window is used to maintain non-contact between the switching circuit, the phase shift network and the metal welding layer.

[0014] It is further configured that: a avoidance hole is provided in the phase shifter cavity near the connection between the phase shift network and the switching circuit.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the solution of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0016] 1. In the base station antenna of the present invention, the phase shifter and the antenna array are arranged on the same side of the bottom plate, and the phase shifter is arranged on both sides of the axial direction of the antenna array, and the radiating unit of the antenna array is limited between the phase shifters on both sides thereof, so that the cavity of the phase shifter can constitute the radiation boundary of the antenna array, and there is no need to set a cable or other structure passing through the reflector structure to connect the phase shifter and the radiating unit, the structure is simple, and the layout on the back of the bottom plate is optimized; in addition, a switching circuit is used to realize the electrical connection between the phase shifter and the radiating unit of the antenna array, and there is no need to set up an additional cable connection, thereby simplifying the assembly process of the antenna, saving assembly steps, and having a high degree of integration, which can effectively improve the antenna gain, improve the radiation performance of the antenna, and can reduce costs and reduce the weight of the antenna.

[0017] 2. In the base station antenna of the present invention, by setting the phase shifter cavity as an inverted U-shaped semi-open structure, the installation of the phase shifter network and the welding between it and the switching circuit can be facilitated, and the phase shifter cavity can be welded with the metal welding layer to form a complete signal transmission space to shield external electromagnetic interference, thereby ensuring the stability of signal transmission; at the same time, a plug-in structure is adopted between the phase shifter cavity and the phase shifter network and the base plate, which can realize the positioning connection between the phase shifter cavity, the phase shifter network and the base plate, and is easy to assemble.

[0018] 3. In the base station antenna of the present invention, a metal grounding layer is provided on the side of the bottom plate facing away from the phase shifter and the radiation unit, so that the switching circuit can form a microstrip line transmission structure with high reliability and wide frequency band. At the same time, the metal grounding layer also serves as a reflector for the radiation unit, thereby ensuring the directivity and gain of the antenna.

[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 schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a base station antenna of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the split structure of an embodiment of a base station antenna of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the split structure of a phase shifter in a base station antenna of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 A diagram showing the connection relationship between a phase shift network and a base plate in a base station antenna of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 The present invention is a schematic structural diagram for illustrating a metal grounding layer in a base station antenna.

[0026] In the figure, 1, bottom plate; 11, metal welding layer; 111, window; 12, jack; 13, positioning hole; 14, insulating base layer; 15, metal grounding layer; 16, mounting hole; 2, antenna array; 3, phase shifter; 31, phase shifter cavity; 311, bump; 312, mounting groove; 313, avoidance hole; 32, phase shifting network; 321, positioning block; 33, phase shifting medium; 4, switching circuit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] 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.

[0028] See also Figures 1 to 5 The present invention relates to a base station antenna, and more specifically to a base station antenna that integrates a phase shifter with a radiation boundary, which solves the problem of difficult cable layout caused by the phase shifter and the radiation unit being arranged on both sides of a reflector. The antenna has a simple structure and a high degree of integration, which simplifies the antenna assembly process. At the same time, no additional cable connection is required, which can effectively improve the antenna gain and then improve the radiation performance of the antenna.

[0029] Please combine Figure 1 and Figure 2 The base station antenna includes a bottom plate 1, an antenna array 2 and a phase shifter 3, wherein the antenna array 2 and the phase shifter 3 are both arranged on one side of the bottom plate 1, and the side of the bottom plate 1 on which the antenna array 2 and the phase shifter 3 are arranged is defined as the front side. At the same time, the phase shifter 3 is arranged on both sides of the axial direction of the antenna array 2, and the radiation unit of the antenna array 2 is confined between the phase shifters 3 on both sides thereof, so that the cavity of the phase shifter 3 can constitute the radiation boundary of the antenna array 2 or a part of the radiation boundary, and the radiation unit of the antenna array 2 is electrically connected to the phase shifter 3, so as to achieve the purpose of integrating the phase shifter 3 with the radiation boundary.

[0030] In addition, it should be noted that the antenna array 2 includes at least one column of radiation units, and each column of radiation units includes at least one radiation unit, and the axial direction of the antenna array 2 is the direction of the center line of each column of radiation units.

[0031] Please combine Figure 3 The phase shifter 3 includes a phase shifter cavity 31, a phase shift network 32 and a phase shift medium 33. The phase shift network 32 and the phase shift medium 33 are both located in the phase shifter cavity 31, and the phase shift medium 33 can slide relative to the phase shift network 32, thereby changing the phase difference of each port of the phase shifter 3 to obtain a gradient phase shift effect.

[0032] Preferably, the length direction of the phase shifter cavity 31 is parallel to the axial direction of the antenna array 2, and the width direction is perpendicular to the base plate 1, so that the phase shifter cavity 31 constitutes the radiation boundary of the antenna array 2, reduces the boundary effect and coupling effect between the antenna arrays 2, improves the convergence of the beam, reduces beam distortion, increases the gain, and thus improves the antenna radiation performance.

[0033] As a preferred embodiment, the phase shifter cavity 31 is set in an inverted U shape with an opening facing downward, and a metal welding layer 11 is provided on the base plate 1. The side of the phase shifter cavity 31 close to its opening is welded to the metal welding layer 11, and together with the metal welding layer 11, a complete phase shifter signal transmission space is formed, shielding external electromagnetic interference, thereby ensuring the stability of signal transmission.

[0034] Furthermore, a concave-convex matching structure is provided between the phase shifter cavity 31 and the base plate 1, and the concave-convex matching structure includes a protrusion 311 provided on the side of the phase shifter cavity 31 close to its opening, and a socket 12 provided on the base plate 1 close to the metal welding layer 11. Through the plug-in matching between the protrusion 311 on the phase shifter cavity 31 and the socket 12 on the base plate 1, the phase shifter cavity 31 and the metal welding layer 11 can be pre-positioned, which is beneficial to improving the welding effect between the phase shifter cavity and the metal welding layer, and is beneficial to improving the stability of the connection between the phase shifter cavity and the base plate.

[0035] In another embodiment, the positions of the protrusion 311 and the insertion hole 12 are interchangeable, that is, the protrusion 311 is arranged on the bottom plate 1 , and the insertion hole 12 is arranged on the phase shifter cavity 31 .

[0036] Furthermore, the concave-convex matching structure is provided in multiple groups along the length direction of the phase shifter cavity 31 , so as to further improve the positioning and connection effect between the phase shifter cavity 31 and the base plate 1 , and facilitate the workers to assemble the phase shifter 3 and the base plate 1 .

[0037] In addition, please combine Figure 3 The phase-shifting network 32 is a PCB structure etched with corresponding circuits. In order to ensure the stability of the phase-shifting network 32 in the phase-shifter cavity 31, a mounting groove 312 is provided at the top of the phase-shifter cavity 31 for inserting the top of the phase-shifting network 32. At the same time, a plug-in structure is provided between the bottom plate 1 and the phase-shifting network 32. Specifically, the plug-in structure includes a positioning block 321 provided at the bottom of the phase-shifting network 32 and a positioning hole 13 provided on the bottom plate 1. The positioning function between the phase-shifting network 32 and the bottom plate 1 can be achieved by plugging and matching the positioning block 321 of the phase-shifting network 32 with the positioning hole 13 on the bottom plate 1. Conversely, the positioning block 321 is provided on the bottom plate 1, and the positioning hole 13 is provided on the phase-shifting network 32, which can also achieve the same positioning effect. By limiting the top and bottom of the phase shift network 32 , the phase shift network 32 can be confined in a signal transmission space defined by the phase shifter cavity 31 and the metal welding layer 11 .

[0038] Furthermore, the plug-in structure is also provided with a plurality of groups and arranged along the length direction of the phase-shifting network 32 , so as to improve the positioning accuracy of the connection between the phase-shifting network 32 and the base plate 1 .

[0039] Since the phase shifter 3 is electrically connected to the radiation unit of the antenna array 2 , the phase shifter 3 and the antenna array 2 are both located on the front side of the base plate 1 , thus optimizing the layout of the back side of the base plate 1 .

[0040] Furthermore, a switching circuit 4 can be set on the front side of the base plate 1 to connect the phase shifting network 32 of the phase shifter 3 and the feeding network of the radiating unit, thereby eliminating the need for additional cable connections, simplifying the antenna assembly process, saving assembly steps, reducing the loss of antenna gain, and reducing costs and weight of the antenna.

[0041] See also Figure 4 and Figure 5 The base plate 1 includes an insulating base layer 14 and a metal grounding layer 15, wherein the insulating base layer 14 serves as the front side of the base plate 1, the metal grounding layer 15 serves as the back side of the base plate 1, and the metal grounding layer 15 serves as a reflector of the radiation unit, thereby ensuring the directional radiation performance and gain effect of the antenna.

[0042] Preferably, the bottom plate 1 adopts a PCB structure, and the switching circuit 4 is a conductor strip etched on the front side of the PCB, which replaces a complex wiring structure, does not require additional cable connections, reduces wiring workload, and simplifies the assembly and welding work between the antenna array 2, the phase shifter 3 and the bottom plate 1. At the same time, since the back side of the bottom plate 1 is a metal grounding layer 15, the switching circuit 4 can form a complete microstrip line transmission structure with high reliability and wide bandwidth.

[0043] Furthermore, a window 111 is provided in the metal welding layer 11 near the connection between the phase shifting network 32 and the switching circuit 4, and the window 111 extends from the edge of the metal welding layer 11 to the positioning hole 13, so that the metal welding layer 11 and the switching circuit 4 and the phase shifting network 32 maintain a non-contact insulation state.

[0044] At the same time, an avoidance hole 313 is opened in the phase shifter cavity 31 near the connection between the phase shift network 32 and the switching circuit 4, so that the switching circuit 4 can extend from the avoidance hole 313 into the phase shifter cavity 31 to be electrically connected to the phase shift network 32, thereby avoiding contact between the switching circuit 4 and the phase shifter cavity 31 and ensuring insulation between the two.

[0045] In addition, the base plate 1 is provided with a mounting hole 16 corresponding to the mounting position of the radiation unit of the antenna array 2. Furthermore, the metal grounding layer 15 is provided with an insulating structure at the mounting hole 16 and the positioning hole 13, thereby ensuring that the feeding circuit and the switching circuit 4 maintain a non-contact state with the metal grounding layer 15, facilitating the installation and welding between the feeding circuit, the switching circuit 4 and the phase shifting network 32.

[0046] In addition, it should be understood that the phase shift network 32 of the phase shifter 3 in this embodiment not only has a single phase shifting function, but also can integrate the functions of combining, power division and / or filtering. And the phase shifter 3 in the present invention is a cavity-type microwave device, so the radiation boundary of the antenna array is not limited to the phase shifter, but can be a filter, a duplexer, a combiner or a power divider, and the implementation method of the above-mentioned cavity-type microwave device is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0047] In summary, the phase shifter 3 and the antenna array 2 of the present invention are located on the front side of the base plate 1 to solve the wiring problem caused by the phase shifter 3 being located on the back side of the base plate 1. There is no need to set cables or other structures through the base plate 1 to transfer the phase shifter 3 and the radiation unit, thereby optimizing the layout on the back side of the base plate 1. At the same time, the phase shift network 32 and the feeding circuit of the radiation unit are connected by the transfer circuit 4, so that an additional cable is set for connection, which simplifies the assembly process of the antenna, saves assembly steps, has a high degree of integration, can effectively improve the antenna gain, and can reduce costs and reduce the weight of the antenna.

[0048] The phase shifter cavity 31 and its phase shift network 32 are first connected to the base plate 1 by plugging, so as to realize the pre-positioning of the phase shifter 3 and the base plate 1 before welding, which is convenient for installation and welding, ensures the quality of welding, and improves the stability between the phase shifter 3 and the base plate 1. In addition, by setting the phase shifter cavity 31 as an inverted U-shaped semi-open structure, it is convenient to install the phase shift network 32 and weld it with the switching circuit 4. At the same time, the phase shifter cavity 31 can be welded with the metal welding layer 11 to form a complete signal transmission space, shielding external electromagnetic interference, thereby ensuring the stability of signal transmission.

[0049] In addition, it should be noted that the base station antenna in which the phase shifter 3 of the present invention is integrated with the radiation boundary can be used as an antenna alone or as part of an antenna, that is, it can be used as an antenna as a whole or as a component of an antenna in combination with other metal radiation boundaries, reflectors and other structures.

[0050] 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 base station antenna, comprising a base plate, an antenna array and a phase shifter, characterized in that: The antenna array and the phase shifter are arranged on the same side of the base plate, the phase shifter is arranged on both sides of the antenna array axis direction, and the radiation unit of the antenna array is confined between the phase shifters on both sides thereof, the radiation unit of the antenna array is electrically connected to the phase shifter, the phase shifter includes a phase shifter cavity, a phase shifting network and a phase shifting medium, the phase shifter cavity is arranged in an inverted U shape with an opening downward, a metal welding layer for welding to the side of the phase shifter cavity close to its opening is provided on the base plate, a plurality of groups of concave-convex matching structures are provided between the phase shifter cavity and the base plate, the concave-convex matching structure includes a protrusion provided on one side of the phase shifter cavity close to its opening, and a jack provided on the base plate close to the metal welding layer.

2. The base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length direction of the phase shifter is parallel to the axial direction of the antenna array, and the width direction of the phase shifter is perpendicular to the bottom plate.

3. The base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the phase shifter cavity is provided with a mounting groove for inserting the top of the phase shift network, and a plurality of groups of plug-in structures are provided between the bottom of the phase shift network and the bottom plate.

4. The base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The phase shift network is electrically connected to the radiation unit through a switching circuit.

5. The base station antenna according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bottom plate includes an insulating base layer and a metal grounding layer, and the metal grounding layer is arranged on a side of the insulating base layer facing away from the radiation unit.

6. The base station antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that: The base plate is a PCB, and the switching circuit is a conductor strip etched on the PCB.

7. The base station antenna according to claim 6, characterized in that: The metal welding layer is provided with a window near the connection between the phase shift network and the switching circuit, and the window is used to keep the switching circuit, the phase shift network and the metal welding layer non-contact.

8. The base station antenna according to claim 4, characterized in that: The phase shifter cavity is provided with an avoidance hole near the connection between the phase shift network and the switching circuit.

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