Phase shifter component applied to broadband waveguide phase shifter and broadband waveguide phase shifter

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a phase-shifting component and a broadband waveguide phase shifter applied to a broadband waveguide phase shifter, belonging to the field of communication technologies. The phase-shifting component includes: N screws, a waveguide input end, a waveguide cavity, and a waveguide output end that are connected in sequence, where N is a positive integer; N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity; each screw is used to control the depth of the inner hole of a corresponding circular ring structure, and the depth is used to adjust the phase of the beam. The structure of the phase-shifting component in the embodiment of the present invention is relatively simple, making processing and production relatively easy, and it is also possible to compensate for processing errors through screws and overcome the dispersion phenomenon of the waveguide. In addition, it is possible to avoid adjusting the phase by controlling the short circuit and open circuit of the metal rod, thereby improving the reliability of phase adjustment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a phase shift component applied to a broadband waveguide phase shifter and a broadband waveguide phase shifter. Background Art

[0002] In the millimeter-wave frequency band, especially the E-band frequency band, due to its high operating frequency, very wide frequency band, and rich spectrum resources, it is a research hotspot for 5G (5 th Generation) communication. With the requirements of technologies such as solid-state power amplifiers and millimeter-wave phased arrays, it is necessary to add a step phase shift function in the microwave millimeter-wave system, so that a better amplitude-phase response can be obtained by calibrating the phase.

[0003] Conventional waveguide phase shifters mostly use ferrite phase shifters. However, for duplexers in the millimeter-wave frequency band, especially those in the commonly used E-band frequency band, since their operating frequency is 80 GHz, the frequency is very high and the size is very small, the requirements for the material performance and the processing and assembly dimensions of using ferrite phase shifters are extremely high.

[0004] Adjusting the phase using a metal rod is a good choice, and phase shift can be achieved only by screw tuning. A metal rod is provided in a broadband waveguide phase shifter of an H-plane form provided in the related art. When the metal rod contacts the bottom, it is in a short-circuit state, and when the metal rod does not contact the bottom, it is in an open-circuit state. Phase shift is achieved by controlling the metal rod to be in a short-circuit state or an open-circuit state. Since the metal rod needs to contact the bottom, the requirements for the size and installation position of the metal rod are relatively high, and it is difficult to reliably achieve the short-circuit state of the metal rod, thus affecting the reliability of the broadband waveguide phase shifter. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention provide a phase shift component applied to a broadband waveguide phase shifter and a broadband waveguide phase shifter, which are used to solve the problem of low reliability of the broadband waveguide phase shifter in the prior art. The technical solutions are as follows:

[0006] On the one hand, a phase shift component applied to a broadband waveguide phase shifter is provided. The phase shift component includes: N screws, a waveguide input end, a waveguide cavity, and a waveguide output end connected in sequence, where N is a positive integer;

[0007] N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity;

[0008] Each screw is used to control the depth of the inner hole of a corresponding circular ring structure, and the depth is used to adjust the phase of the beam.

[0009] In one implementation, the screw is used to control the phase of the beam to lead by a predetermined angle when it is fully inserted into the circular ring structure; the screw is used to control the phase of the beam to lag by a predetermined angle when it is fully pulled out from the circular ring structure.

[0010] In one implementation, the phase shift amplitudes of different screws are equal.

[0011] In one implementation, the circular ring structure is provided with threads matching the screws.

[0012] In one implementation, the N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of one side of the waveguide cavity; or, the N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surfaces of the narrow sides of both sides of the waveguide cavity.

[0013] In one implementation, the center distance between two adjacent circular ring structures is half a wavelength or one wavelength.

[0014] In one implementation, the width of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity is increased to a width threshold, and the width threshold is smaller than the width of the wide side of the waveguide cavity.

[0015] On the one hand, a broadband waveguide phase shifter is provided, and the broadband waveguide phase shifter includes an upper cavity, a lower cavity and the phase shift component as described above;

[0016] The upper cavity and the lower cavity form a receiving cavity;

[0017] The phase shift component is located in the receiving cavity.

[0018] In one implementation, N through holes are provided in the upper surface of the upper cavity, and the screws sequentially pass through the nuts on the upper surface and the through holes and are inserted into a corresponding circular ring structure.

[0019] In one implementation, the upper cavity and the lower cavity are fixed by screws.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present invention at least include:

[0021] Since the phase shift component includes N screws, and N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity, in this way, each screw can control the depth of the inner hole of a corresponding circular ring structure, and then use this depth to adjust the phase of the beam, having good phase shift performance. In this way, the structure of the phase shift component is relatively simple, making processing and production relatively easy, and the processing error can be compensated by the screws, and the dispersion phenomenon of the waveguide can also be overcome. In addition, it is also possible to avoid adjusting the phase by controlling the short circuit and open circuit of the metal rod, thereby improving the reliability of phase adjustment.

[0022] Since the phase shift amplitudes of different screws are equal, the number of ring structures can be determined according to the angle to be adjusted. Additionally, when fewer ring structures are needed, the ring structures can be arranged on the upper surface of the narrow side on one side of the waveguide cavity, thereby enhancing the convenience of operation during phase shift; when more ring structures are needed, the ring structures can be arranged on the upper surfaces of the narrow sides on both sides of the waveguide cavity, thereby expanding the phase range of phase shift.

[0023] Since the center distance between two adjacent ring structures is half a wavelength or one wavelength, sufficient space can be reserved for operating the screws even in the E-band frequency range, reducing the operation difficulty.

[0024] By increasing the width of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity to a width threshold, the echo characteristics of the phase shift component can be improved.

[0025] Since the E-plane dissection processing method is adopted to process the broadband waveguide phase shifter, and the upper cavity and the lower cavity are fixed by screws, leakage can be avoided and welding is not required, making the processing and assembly more convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the following-described drawings are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the phase shift component with the screw pulled out in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the phase shift component with the screw inserted in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the broadband waveguide phase shifter in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 is the first external view schematic diagram of the broadband waveguide phase shifter in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 is the second external view schematic diagram of the broadband waveguide phase shifter in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the echo characteristics of the 9-hole broadband waveguide phase shifter shown in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7It is a schematic diagram showing the phase shift characteristics of a screw under different insertion conditions in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0034] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the following will further describe the embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Please refer to Figure 1 , which shows a phase shift component applied to a broadband waveguide phase shifter provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The phase shift component includes: N screws 110, a waveguide input end 120, a waveguide cavity 130, and a waveguide output end 140 that are connected in sequence, where N is a positive integer.

[0036] Among them, the waveguide input end 120 is the input end of a standard rectangular waveguide, and the waveguide output end 140 is the output end of a standard rectangular waveguide. The waveguide cavity 130 is a rectangular cavity, and one end of the waveguide cavity 130 is connected to the waveguide input end 120, and the other end of the waveguide cavity 130 is connected to the waveguide output end 140.

[0037] It should be noted that a transition structure 150 is also provided between the waveguide cavity 130 and the waveguide input end 120 and the waveguide output end 140, and the transition structure 150 can realize the transition between a standard waveguide interface and a wide waveguide.

[0038] The waveguide cavity 130 includes two narrow sides and two wide sides. In this embodiment, N circular ring structures 131 can be provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity 130, and the N circular ring structures 131 respectively correspond to the N screws 110 one by one. That is, one screw 110 can be installed in one circular ring structure 131. Among them, threads matching the screw 110 are provided in the circular ring structure 131, so that the screw 110 can be tightened or pulled out through the threads. In this way, each screw 110 is used to control the depth of the inner hole of the corresponding circular ring structure 131, and this depth is used to adjust the phase of the beam.

[0039] In one implementation manner, a screw 110 can be inserted into the circular ring structure 131 to control the phase lead of the beam, that is, the screw 110 is used to control the phase of the beam to lead a predetermined angle when it is completely inserted into the circular ring structure 131. In another implementation manner, the screw 110 can be pulled out from the circular ring structure 131 to control the phase lag of the beam, that is, the screw 110 is used to control the phase of the beam to lag a predetermined angle when it is completely pulled out from the circular ring structure 131.

[0040] Among them, Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the screw 110 not inserted into the circular ring structure 131, Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the screw 110 inserted into the circular ring structure 131.

[0041] When the circular ring structure 131 is provided on the upper surface of the narrow side and no screw 110 is inserted into the circular ring structure 131, it is equivalent to changing the width of the waveguide locally, thereby changing the phase velocity of the electromagnetic wave in the waveguide, realizing phase shift, and thus being able to well overcome the dispersion phenomenon of the waveguide. When the screw 110 is inserted into the circular ring structure 131, the bottom of the screw 110 is flush with the upper surface of the narrow side, which is equivalent to the screw 110 filling the hole in the circular ring structure 131, making the waveguide cavity 130 an ordinary waveguide cavity 130.

[0042] In this embodiment, the phase shift amplitudes of different screws 110 are within an adjustment range. In one example, when the value in the adjustment range is 0, that is, the phase shift amplitudes of different screws 110 are equal. In this way, within a very wide frequency band range, the phase shift amplitude is a constant. Among them, the phase can be continuously adjusted or stepwise adjusted, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0043] For the sake of easy understanding, assume that the phase shift amplitude of each screw 110 is M degrees. Then, when K screws are inserted, the phase leads by K×M degrees. Among them, the insertion positions of the K screws 110 can be continuous or discontinuous, which is not limited in this embodiment.

[0044] In this embodiment, since phase shift can be performed by inserting and removing the screw 110, in this way, there is no need to perform phase shift by controlling the short circuit of the metal rod, avoiding the occurrence of poor contact phenomenon and improving the reliability of phase shift.

[0045] In this embodiment, the phase shift amplitudes of different screws 110 are equal. Therefore, the number of circular ring structures 131 can be determined according to the required adjustment angle. When fewer circular ring structures 131 are needed, that is, when the phase shift amplitude is smaller, a row of circular ring structures 131 can be provided on the upper surface of the narrow side on one side of the waveguide cavity 130, that is, N circular ring structures 131 are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side on one side of the waveguide cavity 130. In this way, the user only needs to insert and remove the screw 110 on one side to perform phase shift, thereby improving the convenience of operation during phase shift. When more circular ring structures 131 are needed, that is, when the phase shift amplitude is larger, a row of circular ring structures 131 can be provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of each side of the waveguide cavity 130, that is, a total of N circular ring structures 131 are provided on the upper surfaces of the narrow sides on both sides of the waveguide cavity 130, thereby expanding the phase range of phase shift.

[0046] Among them, the center distance between two adjacent circular ring structures 131 is half a wavelength or one wavelength. In this way, even in the E-band frequency band, enough space can be reserved to operate the screw 110, reducing the operation difficulty.

[0047] In this embodiment, when the phase shifter component is applied to a lower frequency band, the width of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity 130 can be kept unchanged, so that a larger step phase shift can be achieved; when the phase shifter component is applied to a higher frequency band, the width of the narrow side can be narrowed to improve the return loss of the phase shifter component. It should be noted that the width of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity 130 is increased to a width threshold, and this width threshold is smaller than the width of the wide side of the waveguide cavity.

[0048] The structure of the phase shifter component shown in this embodiment is simple, with a relatively large size, easy to process and manufacture, and has good return loss characteristics and good phase shift performance within a relatively wide frequency range. In addition, the requirements for the processing dimensions of the phase shifter component are not high, and the machining errors can be compensated by the screws 110.

[0049] In summary, for the phase shifter component provided in this embodiment, since the phase shifter component includes N screws, and N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity, in this way, each screw can control the depth of the inner hole of a corresponding circular ring structure, and then use this depth to adjust the phase of the beam, having good phase shift performance. In this way, the structure of the phase shifter component is relatively simple, making the processing and production relatively easy, and the machining errors can be compensated by the screws, and the dispersion phenomenon of the waveguide can also be overcome. In addition, it is also possible to avoid adjusting the phase by controlling the short circuit and open circuit of the metal rod, thereby improving the reliability of phase adjustment.

[0050] Since the phase shift amplitudes of different screws are equal, the number of circular ring structures can be determined according to the required adjustment angle. In addition, when fewer circular ring structures are needed, the circular ring structures can be provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of one side of the waveguide cavity, thereby improving the convenience of operation during phase shift; when more circular ring structures are needed, the circular ring structures can be provided on the upper surfaces of the narrow sides of both sides of the waveguide cavity, thereby expanding the phase range of phase shift.

[0051] Since the center distance between two adjacent circular ring structures is half a wavelength or one wavelength, in this way, even in the E-band frequency range, enough space can be reserved to operate the screws, reducing the operation difficulty.

[0052] By increasing the width of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity to the width threshold, in this way, the return loss characteristics of the phase shifter component can be improved.

[0053] Please refer to Figure 3 , which shows a broadband waveguide phase shifter provided by an embodiment of the present invention. The broadband waveguide phase shifter includes: an upper cavity 310, a lower cavity 320, and the phase shifter component 330 as shown above; wherein, the upper cavity 310 and the lower cavity 320 form a receiving cavity; the phase shifter component 330 can be located within the receiving cavity.

[0054] In one implementation, N through-holes 311 are provided in the upper surface of the upper cavity 310, and the screw 110 sequentially passes through the nut 312 and the through-hole 311 located on the upper surface and is inserted into a corresponding ring structure 131.

[0055] In this embodiment, the upper cavity 310 and the lower cavity 320 are fixed by screws. In this way, the E-plane dissection processing method can be used to process the broadband waveguide phase shifter, which can avoid leakage and does not require welding, and the processing and assembly are relatively convenient.

[0056] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , which shows a schematic diagram of the appearance of the broadband waveguide phase shifter.

[0057] Please refer to Figure 6 , which shows a schematic diagram of the return loss characteristics of the 9-hole broadband waveguide phase shifter; please refer to Figure 7 , which shows a schematic diagram of the phase shift characteristics in different cases of screw insertion.

[0058] In summary, for the broadband waveguide phase shifter provided in this embodiment, since the E-plane dissection processing method is used to process the broadband waveguide phase shifter, and the upper cavity and the lower cavity are fixed by screws, leakage can be avoided, welding is not required, and the processing and assembly are relatively convenient.

[0059] The above description is not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the embodiments of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A phase shift component applied to a broadband waveguide phase shifter, characterized in that, the phase shift component comprises: N screws, a waveguide input end, a waveguide cavity body and a waveguide output end connected in sequence, where N is a positive integer; N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity body, and threads matching the screws are provided in the circular ring structures; each screw is used to control the depth of the inner hole of a corresponding circular ring structure, and the depth is used to adjust the phase of the beam; wherein, when the screw is not inserted into the circular ring structure, the dispersion phenomenon of the waveguide can be overcome; when K screws are inserted into the circular ring structure, the insertion positions of the K screws are continuous or discontinuous; the screw is used to control the phase of the beam to lead by a predetermined angle when it is fully inserted into the circular ring structure; the screw is used to control the phase of the beam to lag by a predetermined angle when it is fully pulled out of the circular ring structure; the screw is used to make the waveguide cavity body a common waveguide cavity body when it is inserted into the circular ring structure and the bottom of the screw is flush with the upper surface of the narrow side.

2. The phase shift component according to claim 1, characterized in that, the phase shift amplitudes of different screws are equal.

3. The phase shift component according to claim 1, characterized in that, the N circular ring structures are provided on the upper surface of the narrow side of one side of the waveguide cavity body; or, the N circular ring structures are provided in total on the upper surfaces of the narrow sides of both sides of the waveguide cavity body.

4. The phase shift component according to claim 1, characterized in that, the center distance between two adjacent circular ring structures is half a wavelength or one wavelength.

5. The phase shift component according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the width of the narrow side of the waveguide cavity body is increased to a width threshold, and the width threshold is less than the width of the wide side of the waveguide cavity body.

6. A broadband waveguide phase shifter, characterized in that, the broadband waveguide phase shifter comprises an upper cavity body, a lower cavity body and the phase shift component according to any one of claims 1 to 5; the upper cavity body and the lower cavity body form an accommodating cavity; the phase shift component is located in the accommodating cavity.

7. The broadband waveguide phase shifter according to claim 6, characterized in that, N through holes are provided in the upper surface of the upper cavity body, and the screws sequentially pass through the nuts on the upper surface and the through holes and are inserted into corresponding circular ring structures.

8. The broadband waveguide phase shifter according to claim 6, characterized in that, the upper cavity body and the lower cavity body are fixed by screws.

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