Broadband Dual-Frequency Common Aperture Antenna Array

Abstract

The present invention provides a broadband dual-band co-aperture antenna array, comprising: a reflecting floor and a plurality of low-frequency antenna units and a plurality of high-frequency antenna units disposed on the reflecting floor, wherein the plurality of low-frequency antenna units and the plurality of high-frequency antenna units are vertically fixed on the reflecting floor, the plurality of low-frequency antenna units are used for transmitting signals with relatively low center frequencies, and the plurality of high-frequency antenna units are used for transmitting signals with relatively high center frequencies; wherein, one high-frequency antenna unit is arranged on each side of each low-frequency antenna unit, the height of the low-frequency antenna unit is less than the height of the high-frequency antenna unit, and the signal transmission of the low-frequency antenna unit and the signal transmission of the high-frequency antenna unit do not affect each other. It can well meet the requirements of the mobile communication system for the new generation of phased array antennas.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronic communication technologies, and particularly relates to an antenna array composed of a common-aperture antenna. Background Art

[0002] In satellite communication systems such as vehicle-mounted, airborne, and shipborne systems, due to the requirements of mobility and miniaturization, antennas are often required to have good polarization characteristics, high gain, strong directivity, small size, and light weight. Reflector antennas have high gain and strong directivity, but are costly and large in size, and are particularly inconvenient in mobile communication.

[0003] In the information age, humans are not satisfied with obtaining information in fixed locations, but rather with obtaining information while moving in vehicles such as cars, ships, and airplanes. Phased array antennas are developed on the basis of array antennas, and their advantages lie in fast scanning speed, flexible beam control, and the ability to search for and track satellite signals on moving carriers.

[0004] With the rapid development of satellite communication technologies and the reduction in the cost and simplification of the structure of phased array antennas, making them easier to install and durable has become an important topic in satellite communication technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to propose a broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array in view of the above-mentioned defects of the prior art, which can well meet the requirements of mobile communication systems for a new generation of phased array antennas.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problems includes: providing a broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array, comprising: a reflective floor and a plurality of low-frequency antenna units and a plurality of high-frequency antenna units disposed on the reflective floor, the plurality of low-frequency antenna units and the plurality of high-frequency antenna units being vertically fixed on the reflective floor, the plurality of low-frequency antenna units being used for transmitting signals with a relatively low center frequency, and the plurality of high-frequency antenna units being used for transmitting signals with a relatively high center frequency; wherein, one high-frequency antenna unit is arranged on each side of each low-frequency antenna unit, the height of the low-frequency antenna unit is less than the height of the high-frequency antenna unit, and the signal transmission of the low-frequency antenna unit and the signal transmission of the high-frequency antenna unit do not affect each other.

[0007] Compared with the prior art, in the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention, by reducing the height of the low-frequency antenna units and increasing the height of the high-frequency antenna units, the antenna units of the two frequency bands can be installed with a common aperture in a limited space, and both can operate normally, which can well meet the requirements of mobile communication systems for a new generation of phased array antennas. Description of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1It is a schematic three-dimensional structure of the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 It is a schematic side view structure of the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 3 It is the gain curve of the low-frequency antenna element in the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 4 It is the gain curve of the high-frequency antenna element in the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0012] Figure 5 It is a schematic three-dimensional structure of the second embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 6 It is Figure 5 a schematic three-dimensional structure of the local part in

[0014] Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 It is a schematic structure of the three conductive metal layers of the low-frequency antenna element in the second embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 10 , Figure 11 and Figure 12 It is a schematic structure of the three conductive metal layers of the high-frequency antenna element in the second embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 13 It is the standing wave ratio curve of the low-frequency antenna element in the second embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 14 It is the standing wave ratio curve of the high-frequency antenna element in the second embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 15 It is a schematic three-dimensional structure of the third embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention.

[0019] Among them, the reference numerals are explained as follows: 10, 10a, 10b broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna arrays; array 1 low-frequency antenna unit; 2 high-frequency antenna unit; 3 reflecting floor; a low-frequency antenna unit a1 printed radiation sheet; a12 first slot; a13 second slot; a2 coupling sheet; a3 balun; a4 transmission line; a41 strip line in medium; a42 microstrip line; a5 reflecting floor; a51 first reflecting strip; a52 second reflecting strip; a53 first groove; a54 second groove; a6 opening; b high-frequency antenna unit; b1 printed floor; b11 slot; b12 slot; b2 radiation sheet; b21 first arm; b22 second arm; b3 balun; b4 transmission line; b5 reflecting floor; b6 opening; c reflecting floor. Detailed implementation manners

[0020] In order to illustrate in detail the structure and characteristics of the present invention, the following preferred embodiments are given and described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows. [[ID=⑦]]

[0021] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 is a schematic three-dimensional structure of the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention. Figure 2 is a schematic side view structure of the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention. The present invention provides a broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array 10, including: a reflecting floor 3, and four low-frequency antenna units 1 and eight high-frequency antenna units 2 provided on the same reflecting floor 3.

[0022] It can be understood that the frequency bands corresponding to the four low-frequency antenna units 1 are separated from the frequency bands corresponding to the eight high-frequency antenna units 2. In some embodiments, the frequency bands corresponding to the four low-frequency antenna units 1 are the same; the frequency bands corresponding to the eight high-frequency antenna units 2 are the same. That is: the four low-frequency antenna units 1 are the same and correspond to the same low-frequency band, and the eight high-frequency antenna units 2 are the same and correspond to the same high-frequency band.

[0023] In some other embodiments, the frequency bands corresponding to the four low-frequency antenna units 1 may be different, that is: the four low-frequency antenna units 1 do not have to be the same and can correspond to multiple low-frequency bands (up to four); similarly, the frequency bands corresponding to the eight high-frequency antenna units 2 may be different, that is: the eight high-frequency antenna units 2 do not have to be the same and can correspond to multiple high-frequency bands (up to eight). Corresponding to such a situation, the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array 10 of the present invention can be understood as a broadband multi-frequency common-aperture antenna array. These multi-frequency common-aperture antennas are divided into two groups. The group with a lower frequency band is processed by the four low-frequency antenna units 1, and the group with a higher frequency band is processed by the eight high-frequency antenna units 2.

[0024] It is understandable that the low-frequency antenna unit 1 is composed of a dielectric plate and a circuit disposed on the dielectric plate. The high-frequency antenna unit 2 is composed of a dielectric plate and a circuit disposed on the dielectric plate. The reflecting floor 3 is composed of a single large metal plate, or the reflecting floor 3 is composed of a plurality of small metal plates spliced together.

[0025] Four low-frequency antenna units 1 and eight high-frequency antenna units 2 are placed alternately, while ensuring that the array pitch of each is constant, that is: the pitch of the four low-frequency antenna units 1 is constant, and the pitch of the eight high-frequency antenna units 2 is constant. Specifically, the array pitch of the eight high-frequency antenna units 2 is half of the array pitch of the four low-frequency antenna units 1. One low-frequency antenna unit 1 is placed every two high-frequency antenna units 2.

[0026] The height of the high-frequency antenna unit 2 is higher than the height of the low-frequency antenna unit 1, so that the electromagnetic wave of the high-frequency antenna unit 2 can pass through the low-frequency antenna unit 1, and the high-frequency antenna unit 2 is not affected by the frequency band unit 1. It is understandable that the height of the high-frequency antenna unit 2 being higher than the height of the low-frequency antenna unit 1 needs to be appropriate. For example, the range in which the height of the high-frequency antenna unit 2 is higher than the height of the low-frequency antenna unit 1 is about 1 / 4 wavelength of the high frequency.

[0027] The wavelength of the electromagnetic wave of the low-frequency antenna unit 1 is long enough, so that the electromagnetic wave of the low-frequency antenna unit 1 can pass through the high-frequency antenna unit 2, and the low-frequency antenna unit 1 is not affected by the high-frequency antenna unit 2. Thus, multi-frequency radiation can be well realized in a compact space.

[0028] See Figure 3 , Figure 3 is the gain curve of the low-frequency antenna unit in the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention. It can be seen that the antenna gain of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array 10 of the present invention for the low frequency band is 20.3 dB.

[0029] See Figure 4 , Figure 4 is the gain curve of the high-frequency antenna unit in the first embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention. It can be seen that the antenna gain of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array 10 of the present invention for the high frequency band is 26.5 dB.

[0030] Combined with Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the radiation performance of the two frequency bands corresponding to the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array 10 of the present invention is normal, and it can be realized that both the low-frequency band and the high-frequency band antennas can work normally under the common aperture, and the antenna performance indicators are not affected.

[0031] Compared with the prior art, in the broadband dual-band common-aperture antenna array 10 of the present invention, by cleverly making the height of the low-frequency antenna element 1 lower than that of the high-frequency antenna element 2, the high-frequency antenna element 2 can be inserted into the array of the low-frequency antenna element 1, allowing the electromagnetic waves of the high-frequency antenna element 2 to pass through without being affected by the low-frequency antenna element 1. At the same time, the electromagnetic wave wavelength of the low-frequency antenna element 1 is long enough for the electromagnetic waves of the low-frequency antenna element 1 to pass through without being affected by the high-frequency antenna element 2, so that dual-band radiation can be well achieved in a compact space.

[0032] See Figure 5 and Figure 6 , Figure 5 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the broadband dual-band common-aperture antenna array of the present invention. Figure 6 is Figure 5 a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a part in

[0033] Combined with reference to Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 , Figure 7 shows a conductive metal layer (first-side surface layer) provided on the dielectric substrate, Figure 9 shows another conductive metal layer (second-side surface layer) provided on the dielectric substrate, Figure 8 shows yet another conductive metal layer (intermediate sandwich layer) provided on the dielectric substrate. The low-frequency antenna element a includes: a strip-shaped dielectric substrate, a printed radiation sheet a1, a coupling sheet a2, a balun a3, and a transmission line a4 provided on the dielectric substrate, and a reflection floor a5 vertically fixed to the dielectric substrate. The dielectric substrate is rectangular.

[0034] The printed radiation sheet a1 is formed on the copper coating on the first-side surface of the dielectric substrate. Corresponding to each printed radiation sheet a1, an opening a6 is provided on the dielectric substrate.

[0035] It is worth mentioning that multiple printed radiation sheets a1 can be printed on the dielectric substrate to form an N-element linear array, where N is a positive integer, that is, N printed radiation sheets a1 are linearly arranged in an array. In addition, multiple printed radiation sheets a1 can be printed on the dielectric substrate to form an N×M planar array, where N and M are positive integers.

[0036] Specifically, there is a first gap a12 between two linearly arranged printed radiation sheets a1; there is a second gap a13 between the two branches of each printed radiation sheet a1.

[0037] The coupling patch a2 is formed on the copper cladding in the middle interlayer of the dielectric substrate. The coupling patch a2 corresponds to the first gap a12 between the two printed radiation patches a1 to form a coupling. The width of the coupling patch a2 is greater than the width of the first gap a12.

[0038] The balun a3 is formed on the two parts of the copper cladding located in the middle interlayer and the second side surface of the dielectric substrate. The balun a3 is located above the opening a6 and corresponds to the second gap a13 between the two branches of the printed radiation patch a1 to form a coupling.

[0039] The transmission line a4 is formed on the two parts of the copper cladding located in the middle interlayer and the second side surface of the dielectric substrate. Specifically, the transmission line a4 is composed of a strip line a41 in the dielectric of the middle interlayer of the dielectric substrate and a microstrip line a42 on the second side surface of the dielectric substrate.

[0040] The reflection floor a5 is composed of two metal strips a51 and a52, and the two metal strips a51 and a52 are symmetric. A gap a54 is provided in the middle of the metal strip a51, and a gap a53 is provided in the middle of the metal strip a52, and the two gaps a54 and a53 are symmetric. The microstrip line a42 runs between the two gaps a54 and a53.

[0041] Combined with reference to Figure 10 、 Figure 11 and Figure 12 , Figure 10 shows a conductive metal layer (the first side surface layer) provided on the dielectric substrate, Figure 12 shows another conductive metal layer (the second side surface layer) provided on the dielectric substrate, Figure 11 shows yet another conductive metal layer (the middle interlayer) provided on the dielectric substrate. The high-frequency antenna unit b includes: a strip-shaped dielectric substrate, a printed floor b1, a radiation patch b2, a balun b3, and a transmission line b4 provided on the dielectric substrate, and a reflection floor b5 vertically fixed to the dielectric substrate. The dielectric substrate is in a T shape.

[0042] The printed floor b1 is formed on the copper cladding located on the first side surface and the second side surface of the dielectric substrate. Specifically, the printed floor b1 on the first side surface of the dielectric substrate is rectangular and has a gap b11 at the top, and the printed floor b1 on the second side surface of the dielectric substrate is rectangular and has a gap b12 at the top.

[0043] It is worth mentioning that multiple printed floors b1 can be printed on the dielectric substrate to form an N - element linear array, where N is a positive integer, that is, N printed floors b1 are arranged in a straight line to form an array. Additionally, multiple printed floors b1 can be printed on the dielectric substrate to form an N×M planar array, where N and M are positive integers. Between two printed floors b1, an opening b6 is correspondingly provided on the dielectric substrate.

[0044] The radiation patch b2 is formed on the copper - clad layer in the middle interlayer of the dielectric substrate. Specifically, the radiation patch b2 is composed of two branches b21 and b22 that are spaced apart from each other. Among them, the branch b21 is connected to the transmission line b4, and the branch b22 is connected to the printed floor b1. It can be understood that the branch b21 and the branch b22 can be alternated, that is: the branch b22 is connected to the transmission line b4, and the branch b21 is connected to the printed floor b1.

[0045] The balun b3 is composed of a slit b11 on the printed floor b1 on the first side surface of the dielectric substrate and a slit b12 on the printed floor b1 on the second side surface of the dielectric substrate.

[0046] The transmission line b4 is formed on the copper - clad layer in the middle interlayer of the dielectric substrate. Through processing, the transmission line b4 is connected to the printed floors b1 on both the first side surface and the second side surface of the dielectric substrate to form a rigid dielectric transmission line.

[0047] The reflecting floor b5 is composed of two metal strips b51 and b52. The reflecting floor b5 is clamped and fixed with the reflecting floor a5.

[0048] See Figure 5 , in a specific implementation, the broadband dual - frequency common - aperture antenna array 10a of the present invention is a common - aperture array composed of a 4×4 array antenna in the low - frequency band and an 8×8 array antenna in the high - frequency band. Among them, the center frequency f1 of the low - frequency band is 13 GHz, the lower side frequency f0 is 8 GHz, and the upper side frequency f2 is 18 GHz; the center frequency f1 of the high - frequency band is 35 GHz, the lower side frequency f13 is 30 GHz, and the upper side frequency f5 is 40 GHz. The gain curve of the low - frequency - band antenna element a in the broadband dual - frequency common - aperture antenna array 10a of the present invention is shown in Figure 3 and the gain curve of the high - frequency - band antenna element b is shown in Figure 4 .

[0049] Specifically, in the low-frequency antenna element a, the reflection floor a5 has a size of 36.8×36.8 mm. The dielectric substrate is made of FR4350B material with a relative dielectric constant of 3.66 and a thickness of 0.8 mm. The length and width of the dielectric substrate are 36.8×9.2 mm. The radiation patch a1 is composed of copper plating on the upper surface (the first side) of the dielectric substrate. The transmission line a4 on the feeding surface has a width of 1.46 mm. The radiation surface is composed of the radiation patch a1, the coupling patch a2, and the balun a3. The radiation patch a1 has a length of 4.4 mm and a width of 2 mm, and the coupling patch a2 has a length of 1 mm and a width of 2 mm. The spacing between two low-frequency antenna elements a is 9.2 mm.

[0050] In the high-frequency antenna element b, the reflection floor b5 has a size of 36.8×36.8 mm. The dielectric substrate is made of FR4350B material with a relative dielectric constant of 3.66 and a thickness of 0.8 mm. The length and width of the dielectric substrate are 36.8×9.2 mm. The radiation floor b1 is composed of copper plating on the upper surface and the lower surface (the first side and the second side) of the dielectric substrate. The transmission line b4 on the feeding surface has a width of 0.36 mm. The radiation surface is composed of the radiation patch b2 and the balun b3. The radiation patch b2 has a length of 1.5 mm and a width of 0.3 mm.

[0051] See Figure 13 , Figure 13 Figure

[0052] See Figure 14 , Figure 14 is the standing wave ratio curve of the low-frequency antenna element in the second array embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention. It can be seen that the antenna impedance bandwidth of the low-frequency antenna element a is greater than 75%, and the gain within the bandwidth can also meet the needs of practical applications.

[0053] Compared with the prior art, the array structure of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array 10a of the present invention is simple, compact, highly versatile, easy to implement, and at the same time greatly reduces the cost, making it suitable for large phased array antennas.

[0054] See Figure 15 , Figure 15 is the three-dimensional structure schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array of the present invention. The broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array 10b of the present invention is composed of the two aforementioned broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna arrays 10a. It can be understood that depending on the needs of practical applications, several broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna arrays 10a can be expanded into a larger array antenna.

[0055] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, intended to further illustrate the present invention rather than limit it. Any simple substitution based on the content disclosed in the above text and drawings falls within the scope of the patent rights protection of this patent.

Claims

1. A broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array, characterized in that, Including: A reflective floor and a plurality of low-frequency antenna units and a plurality of high-frequency antenna units disposed on the reflective floor. The plurality of low-frequency antenna units and the plurality of high-frequency antenna units are vertically fixed on the reflective floor. The plurality of low-frequency antenna units are used to transmit signals with relatively low center frequencies, and the plurality of high-frequency antenna units are used to transmit signals with relatively high center frequencies. Among them, one high-frequency antenna unit is arranged on each side of each low-frequency antenna unit. The height of the low-frequency antenna unit is less than the height of the high-frequency antenna unit, and the signal transmission of the low-frequency antenna unit and the signal transmission of the high-frequency antenna unit do not affect each other; The low-frequency antenna unit is composed of a first dielectric substrate and a first circuit disposed on the first dielectric substrate; the high-frequency antenna unit is composed of a second dielectric substrate and a second circuit disposed on the second dielectric substrate; The first circuit is formed on three conductive metal layers located on two surface layers and an intermediate interlayer of the first dielectric substrate; the second circuit is formed on three conductive metal layers located on two surface layers and an intermediate interlayer of the second dielectric substrate; The first circuit is composed of a printed radiation sheet, a coupling sheet, a first balun, and a first transmission line; the second circuit is composed of a printed floor, a radiation sheet, a second balun, and a second transmission line; The printed radiation sheet is formed on the copper coating on the first side surface of the first dielectric substrate; there is a first gap between two linearly arranged printed radiation sheets; there is a second gap between two branches of each printed radiation sheet; the coupling sheet is formed on the copper coating on the intermediate interlayer of the first dielectric substrate, and the coupling sheet corresponds to the first gap to form coupling; the first balun is formed on two parts of the copper coating on the intermediate interlayer and the second side surface of the first dielectric substrate, and the first balun corresponds to the second gap to form coupling; the first transmission line is formed on two parts of the copper coating on the intermediate interlayer and the second side surface of the first dielectric substrate, and the first transmission line is composed of a strip line in the dielectric on the intermediate interlayer of the first dielectric substrate and a microstrip line on the second side surface of the first dielectric substrate; The printed floor is formed on the copper coatings on the first side surface and the second side surface of the second dielectric substrate and has a gap at the top; the radiation sheet is formed on the copper coating on the intermediate interlayer of the second dielectric substrate, and the radiation sheet is composed of two spaced branches, one of which is connected to the second transmission line and the other is connected to the printed floor; the second balun is formed on two parts of the copper coating on the intermediate interlayer and the second side surface of the dielectric substrate, and the second balun is composed of a gap on the printed floor on the first side surface of the second dielectric substrate and a gap on the printed floor on the second side surface of the second dielectric substrate; 2. The broadband dual-band common-aperture antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The array pitch of the plurality of low-frequency antenna units is constant; the array pitch of the plurality of high-frequency antenna units is constant.

3. The broadband dual-band common-aperture antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first dielectric substrate is vertically fixed on the reflective floor; the second dielectric substrate is vertically fixed on the reflective floor; the height of the first dielectric substrate is less than the height of the second dielectric substrate.

4. The broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first dielectric substrate is in the shape of a long rectangle, and the second dielectric substrate is in the shape of a long T.

5. The broadband dual-band common-aperture antenna array according to claim 4, wherein: The width of the coupling piece is greater than the width of the first slot.

6. The broadband dual-band common-aperture antenna array according to claim 5, wherein: The reflection floor corresponding to the low-frequency antenna unit is composed of two metal strips, and a slot is formed between the two metal strips for the microstrip line to run through.

7. The broadband dual-band common-aperture antenna array according to claim 4, wherein: The printed floor is rectangular.

8. The broadband dual-frequency common-aperture antenna array according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that: Corresponding to each printed radiation patch, an opening is provided on the first dielectric substrate; between the two printed floors, an opening is correspondingly provided on the second dielectric substrate.

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