Phase shifter and antenna

Abstract

The present invention provides a phase shifter and an antenna, belonging to the field of communication technologies. The phase shifter of the present invention is divided into a first signal transmission region, a second signal transmission region, and a phase adjustment region; the phase shifter includes: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other; a signal transmission structure located between the first substrate and the second substrate, corresponding to the first signal transmission region and the second signal transmission region, and a phase shift structure corresponding to the phase adjustment region, wherein the signal transmission structure is used for transmitting microwave signals; the phase shift structure is used for adjusting the phase of the microwave signals; the phase shifter further includes: an isolation barrier located between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein the isolation barrier is used for separating the dielectric layer of the signal transmission structure from the dielectric layer in the phase shift structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of communication technologies, and particularly relates to a phase shifter and an antenna. Background Art

[0002] Current low-loss liquid crystal phase shifters are mainly divided into single-port and dual-port structures. In the dual-port phase shift structure, energy needs to be equally divided by a power divider first, and then transmitted to the subsequent phase shift part through two transmission lines. Since the medium of the power divider part must be air to ensure that the dielectric constant of the medium is the same under different voltages, and the impedance of each part remains unchanged to ensure equal energy division, while the medium of the phase shift part is liquid crystal, whose dielectric constant changes with voltage. Therefore, if no medium isolation is carried out, the medium of the power divider part will become liquid crystal, the dielectric constant will change with voltage, resulting in impedance change and energy unable to be equally divided, and the phase shift degree of the overall device will decrease and the loss will increase. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and provides a phase shifter and an antenna that can reduce losses.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a phase shifter, which is divided into a first signal transmission area, a second signal transmission area, and a phase adjustment area; the phase shifter includes: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite to each other; a signal transmission structure located between the first substrate and the second substrate, corresponding to the first signal transmission area and the second signal transmission area, and a phase shift structure corresponding to the phase adjustment area, wherein the signal transmission structure is used to transmit microwave signals; the phase shift structure is used to adjust the phase of the microwave signals; the phase shifter further includes: an isolation barrier located between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein,

[0005] the isolation barrier is used to separate the dielectric layer of the signal transmission structure from the dielectric layer in the phase shift structure.

[0006] Wherein, the isolation barrier is disposed around the phase adjustment area.

[0007] Wherein, the material of the isolation barrier includes sealant.

[0008] Wherein, both the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure include: a reference electrode, a coupling branch and a time delay branch disposed on the first substrate, and a receiving electrode disposed on the second substrate; wherein,

[0009] both the coupling branch and the time delay branch form current loops with the reference electrode;

[0010] The first end of the coupling branch and the first end of the time delay branch are both connected to the power divider; the second end of the time delay branch is connected to the first transmission line in the phase shifter structure, and the second end of the coupling branch is suspended.

[0011] The positive projections of the coupling branch and the receiving electrode on the second substrate at least partially overlap; the receiving electrode is connected to the second transmission line in the phase shifter structure.

[0012] Wherein, the lengths of the coupling branch and the time delay branch are different.

[0013] Wherein, the length range of the coupling branch is 1 mm - 30 mm.

[0014] Wherein, the minimum distance between the coupling branch and the time delay branch ranges from more than 2 to 3 times the line width of the coupling branch.

[0015] Wherein, the first transmission line in the phase shifter structure is arranged on the first substrate, is arranged on the same layer as the time delay branch and the coupling branch and has the same material; and / or,

[0016] The second transmission line in the phase shifter structure is arranged on the second substrate, is arranged on the same layer as the receiving electrode and has the same material.

[0017] Wherein, the signal transmission structure includes: an impedance matching line arranged on the first substrate; the impedance matching line is connected to the first transmission line in the phase shifter structure.

[0018] Wherein, the line width of the impedance matching line gradually increases along the direction from the signal transmission area to the phase adjustment area.

[0019] Wherein, the first transmission line in the phase shifter structure is arranged on the first substrate, is arranged on the same layer as the impedance matching line and has the same material.

[0020] Wherein, the dielectric layer in the phase adjustment area includes liquid crystal molecules.

[0021] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an antenna, including any one of the above phase shifters. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 It is a top view schematic diagram of a phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is another top view schematic diagram of a phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 It is a top view schematic diagram of a phase shifter with a dual-port signal transmission structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 Side view of the phase shifter as viewed from the left for Figure 3 ;

[0026] Figure 5 Side view of the phase shifting structure of Figure 3 as viewed from the left;

[0027] Figure 6 Top view schematic diagram of another phase shifter with a dual - port signal transmission structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 Side view of the phase shifter of Figure 6 as viewed from the left;

[0029] Figure 8 Top view schematic diagram of a phase shifter with a single - port signal transmission structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 9 Side view of the phase shifter of Figure 8 as viewed from the left. Detailed implementation manners

[0031] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific implementation manners.

[0032] Unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in this disclosure shall have the ordinary meanings understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The "first", "second" and similar terms used in this disclosure do not denote any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. Similarly, the terms such as "a", "an" or "the" do not denote a quantity limitation, but mean that there is at least one. The terms such as "comprising" or "including" mean that the elements or objects appearing before this term cover the elements or objects listed after this term and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. The terms such as "connected" or "coupled" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. The terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right" etc. are only used to represent relative positional relationships, and when the absolute position of the object being described changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0033] It should be noted here that in the embodiments of the present invention, the number of signal transmission regions includes two, and the two signal transmission regions are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the phase adjustment region; specifically, the signal transmission region on the left side of the phase adjustment region is the first signal transmission region, and the signal transmission region on the right side of the phase adjustment region is the second signal transmission region. Signal transmission structures are provided in both the first signal transmission region and the second signal transmission region, which are the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure respectively; among them, one of the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure is used to introduce the microwave signal of the signal, and the other is to output the microwave signal with the phase changed after the microwave signal passes through the phase shifter. In this embodiment, the structures of the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission can be the same or different; in this embodiment, the case where the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure are the same is taken as an example for illustration, that is, the phase shifter provided by the embodiments of the present invention is a reciprocal type phase shifter.

[0034] Among them, if both the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure are dual-port structures; both the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure include a time-delay branch, a coupling branch, a receiving electrode, and a power divider; the first ends of the time-delay branch and the coupling branch of the first signal transmission structure are respectively connected to the two signal output ends of its power divider, and at least part of the projection of the coupling branch overlaps with the receiving electrode; the first ends of the time-delay branch and the coupling branch of the second signal transmission structure are respectively connected to the two signal output ends of its power divider, and at least part of the projection of the coupling branch overlaps with the receiving electrode; the second end of the time-delay branch in the first signal transmission structure is connected to the left end of the first transmission line, and the second end of the time-delay branch of the second signal transmission structure is connected to the right end of the first transmission line; the receiving electrode in the first signal transmission structure is connected to the left end of the second transmission line, and the receiving electrode in the second signal transmission structure is connected to the right end of the second transmission line.

[0035] Among them, for both the first signal transmission structure and the second transmission structure, the reference electrode therein usually adopts a ground electrode. Of course, any reference electrode that can have a certain voltage difference with the coupling branch and the time-delay branch can be used. In this embodiment, the case where the reference electrode is a ground electrode is taken as an example for illustration. In this embodiment, the specific position of the ground electrode depends on the transmission structure formed by the ground electrode, the coupling branch, and the time-delay branch; specifically, in the embodiments of the present invention, the time-delay branch, the coupling branch, and the ground electrode form any one of a microstrip line transmission structure, a strip line transmission structure, a coplanar waveguide transmission structure, and a substrate integrated waveguide transmission structure. In the following embodiments, in order to cooperate with the phase-shifting structure to illustrate the feeding structure in this embodiment, the case where the time-delay branch, the coupling branch, and the ground electrode form a microstrip line transmission structure is also taken as an example for illustration. At this time, the ground electrode in the feeding structure is located on the side of the first substrate away from the dielectric layer and is connected to the ground electrode in the phase-shifting structure. Of course, the ground electrode in the feeding structure and the ground electrode in the phase-shifting structure can also adopt an integrally formed structure.

[0036] If both the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure are single-port structures; both the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure include: an impedance matching line. At this time, the impedance matching line in the first signal transmission structure is connected to the left end of the first transmission line, and the impedance matching line in the second signal transmission structure is connected to the right end of the first transmission line.

[0037] The dielectric layer in the first signal transmission structure and the second transmission structure of the phase shifter includes but is not limited to air, and the dielectric layer in the phase-shifting structure includes but is not limited to liquid crystal; in the following specific implementation manners, the case where the dielectric layer in the first signal transmission structure and the second transmission structure is air and the dielectric layer in the phase-shifting structure is liquid crystal is taken as an example. It should be understood that in the embodiments of the present invention, the dielectric layer in the first signal transmission structure and the second transmission structure of the phase shifter is also the dielectric layer in the first transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure, which is air; the dielectric layer in the phase adjustment area is also the dielectric layer in the phase-shifting structure, which is liquid crystal.

[0038] In the first aspect, in combination with Figure 1 and 2As shown in the figure, an embodiment of the present invention provides a phase shifter, specifically a liquid crystal phase shifter, which is divided into a first signal transmission region Q11, a second signal transmission region Q12, and a signal adjustment region Q2. The phase shifter includes a first substrate 10 and a second substrate 20 disposed opposite to each other; wherein, between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, a first signal transmission structure 11 is disposed at a position corresponding to the first signal transmission region Q11, a second transmission structure 12 is disposed at a position corresponding to the second signal transmission region Q12, and a phase shift structure 2 is disposed at a position corresponding to the phase adjustment region Q2. The first signal transmission structure 11 is used to introduce a microwave signal into the phase shift structure 2 to adjust the phase of the microwave signal through the phase shift structure 2; the second signal transmission structure 12 is used to output the microwave signal whose phase has been adjusted by the phase shift structure 2. The dielectric layer in the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second transmission structure 12 is air, and the dielectric layer in the phase shift structure 2 is liquid crystal. Particularly, an isolation barrier 3 is further disposed between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, and the isolation barrier 3 is used to separate the dielectric layers in the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second transmission structure 12 from the dielectric layer in the phase shift structure 2.

[0039] Since the isolation barrier 3 is provided in the phase shifter of the embodiment of the present invention, and the isolation barrier 3 can separate the dielectric layers in the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12 from the dielectric layer in the phase shift structure 2, in this way, the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 in the phase shift structure 2 can be limited within the phase shift structure to ensure that the dielectric layers in the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12 are still air. Compared with liquid crystal as the dielectric layer, air can effectively reduce the loss of the microwave signal transmitted by the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12, thereby reducing the loss of the entire phase shifter.

[0040] In some embodiments of the present invention, as Figure 1 shown, the isolation barrier 3 is disposed around the phase adjustment region Q2 to separate the phase adjustment region from the first signal transmission region Q11 and the second signal transmission region Q12, and at the same time separate the air dielectric layers and the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 located in these two regions respectively. The reason for disposing the isolation barrier 3 around the phase adjustment region Q2 is that the area of the phase adjustment region Q2 is larger than that of the first signal adjustment region Q11 and the second signal transmission region Q12, so it is easier to form when coating the isolation barrier 3. Of course, it is also feasible to dispose the isolation barrier 3 around the first signal transmission region Q11 and the second signal transmission region Q12, that is, as Figure 2 shown.

[0041] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material of the above isolation barrier 3 includes, but is not limited to, sealant. The reason for using sealant is that it has good sealing performance and can well separate the dielectric layers in the phase adjustment area Q2, the first signal transmission area Q11, and the second signal transmission area Q12.

[0042] Combined with Figures 3 - 5 An embodiment of the present invention further provides a phase shifter. The phase shift structure 2 in the phase shifter generally may include a first transmission line 21 disposed on the side of the first substrate 10 close to the second substrate 20 and a ground electrode on the side of the first substrate 10 facing away from the second substrate 20; a second transmission line 22 disposed on the side of the second substrate 20 close to the first substrate 10, and a liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 disposed between the layers where the first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 are located; wherein, the first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 overlap in space.

[0043] The first signal transmission structure 11 and the second transmission structure 12 of the phase shifter can both be dual-port structures; wherein, the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12 are the same, except that the first signal transmission structure 11 is used for the input of microwave signals, and the second signal transmission structure 12 is used as the output of microwave signals. Therefore, for the convenience of description, the first signal transmission structure 11 is taken as an example for illustration.

[0044] As Figure 3 and 4 shown, the first signal transmission structure 11 may specifically include: a coupling branch 112 and a time delay branch 111 (the coupling branch 112 and the time delay branch 111) disposed on the first substrate 10, a ground electrode 4 disposed on the side of the first substrate 10 away from the coupling branch 112 and the time delay branch 112, and a receiving electrode 113 disposed on the side of the second substrate close to the coupling branch 112 and the time delay branch 111; wherein, the first ends of both the coupling branch 112 and the time delay branch 111 are connected to the power divider 114; the second end of the time delay branch 111 is connected to the first transmission line 21 in the phase shift structure 2, and the second end of the coupling branch 112 is suspended, that is, the second end of the coupling branch 112 is not connected to any component and is in a suspended state; at least part of the orthographic projection of the coupling branch 112 and the receiving electrode 113 on the second substrate 20 overlaps; the receiving electrode 113 is connected to the second transmission line 22 in the phase shift structure 2; the coupling branch 112 and the time delay branch 1 respectively form current loops with the ground electrode 4.

[0045] It should be understood that the microwave signals propagated by the time-delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 are high-frequency signals. In this embodiment, the current loop means that there is a certain voltage difference between the time-delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 and the grounding electrode 4. The time-delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 respectively form capacitors and conductances with the grounding electrode 4. At the same time, the time-delay branch 111 is connected to the first transmission line 4 in the phase-shifting structure, and the receiving electrode 113 is connected to the second transmission line 5 to transmit the microwave signal and finally return to the grounding electrode 4, that is, a current loop is formed.

[0046] Here, it should be noted that taking the power divider with a T-shaped structure as an example, the power divider has a signal input end and two signal output ends (that is, the first signal output end and the second signal output end); the signal input end of the power divider 114 is used to connect to the microwave signal source, the first signal output end is connected to the time-delay branch 111, and the second signal output end is connected to the coupling branch 112. In this way, the microwave signal input by the microwave signal source to the signal input end of the power divider 114 carries a certain power P. After the power is equally divided by the power divider 114, it is transmitted to the time-delay branch 111 through the first signal output end and output to the coupling branch 112 through the second signal output end; at this time, the microwave signals transmitted on the coupling branch 112 and the time-delay branch 111 are both half of the power of the microwave signal at the signal input end, that is, 1 / 2P. Of course, the power divider 114 can also be a four-port power divider, such as a 3DB bridge, and the power divider can be selected according to product requirements.

[0047] In this embodiment, taking the first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 in the phase-shifting structure as microstrip lines as an example, the grounding electrode 5 is arranged on the side of the first substrate 10 away from the first transmission line 21. The first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 can adopt comb-shaped electrodes, and the grounding electrode 5 in the phase-shifting structure can adopt a planar electrode, and the grounding electrode 5 is connected to the grounding electrode 4 in the first transmission structure and the second transmission structure, or these two grounding electrodes adopt an integrally formed structure, that is, the first transmission line 21, the second transmission line 22 and the grounding electrode form a microstrip line transmission structure; of course, the first transmission line 21, the second transmission line 22 and the grounding electrode can also form any one of a strip line transmission structure, a coplanar waveguide transmission structure, and a substrate integrated waveguide transmission structure, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0048] Among them, when the line lengths of the coupling branches 112 of the time-delay branch 111 in the first signal transmission structure 11 are the same, the microwave signal carrying power P is split into two by the power divider 114. At this time, the power carried by the microwave signals received by the time-delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 114 is both 1 / 2P, and the phase delay is also the same. At the same time, a certain voltage is applied to the first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 respectively, and there is a certain voltage difference between the two voltages, so that the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 deflects, thereby changing the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30, so that the phases of the microwave signals transmitted along the first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 in the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 are both changed, that is, the phase shift of the microwave signal is realized.

[0049] The structure of the second signal transmission structure 12 is the same as that of the first signal transmission structure 11, so it will not be described in detail here. The function of the time-delay branch 121 of the second signal transmission structure 12 is to output the microwave signal output by the first transmission line 21 of the phase shift structure 2 to the power divider 124; the function of the receiving electrode 123 of the second signal transmission structure 12 is to couple the microwave signal output by the second transmission line 22 of the phase shift structure 2 to the coupling branch 122 for output to the power divider 124, and then the power divider 124 outputs the microwave signal.

[0050] In summary, for the above-mentioned phase shifter with a two-port signal transmission structure, in this embodiment, the first signal transmission structure 11, the second signal transmission structure 12 and the phase shift structure 2 are separated by the isolation wall 3, that is, the air dielectric layer and the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 are separated, so that the dielectric layers of the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12 are only air. Therefore, it can be ensured that the dielectric constants of the dielectric layers of the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second transmission structure 12 remain unchanged under different voltages, so as to ensure that the impedances of the time-delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 do not change, so that the energy of the microwave signals distributed by the power divider to these two is equal, and further ensure that the phase shift degree of the phase shifter device reaches 360°, and the loss of the microwave signal is low.

[0051] Among them, for the phase shifter of the above signal transmission structure with dual ports, the total length of the first signal transmission structure 11 (the second signal transmission structure 12), that is, the total line length A of the signal input end of the power divider connected to the signal line and the coupling branch (or the time delay branch) can be designed between 1 mm and 30 mm. To prevent the generation of coupling capacitance between the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 (similarly, between the time delay branch 121 and the coupling branch 122) from affecting the transmission of microwave signals on these two branches, the minimum distance B between the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 can be set to 2 - 3 times the line width of the coupling branch 112 (or the time delay branch 111). The line widths of each position of the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 can be equal, or can be designed accordingly according to the impedance for the line widths of each position of the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112.

[0052] Among them, the time delay branches 111, coupling branches 112, time delay branch 121, coupling branches 122 of the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12, and the first transmission line 21 are all arranged on the first substrate 10 and have the same material. The receiving electrodes 113, receiving electrodes 123 and the second transmission line 22 are all arranged on the second substrate 20 and have the same material. In this way, the overall box thickness of the phase shifter can be effectively reduced. At the same time, the time delay branch 111, coupling branch 112, time delay branch 121, coupling branch 122 can be formed by one process, and the receiving electrodes 113, receiving electrodes 123 and the second transmission line 22 can be formed by one process. Therefore, the process cost can be reduced and the production efficiency can be improved. Of course, it is also possible that the time delay branches 111, coupling branches 112, time delay branch 121, coupling branches 122 of the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12, and the first transmission line 21 are all arranged on the first substrate 10 and have the same material; or the receiving electrodes 113, receiving electrodes 123 and the second transmission line 22 are all arranged on the second substrate 20 and have the same material. This can also reduce the process cost and improve the production efficiency.

[0053] As Figure 6 and 7 shown, the embodiment of the present invention also provides a phase shifter. The structure of this phase shifter can be substantially the same as the structure of the above phase shifter. The difference is that the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 of the first signal transmission structure 11 (the time delay branch 121 and the coupling branch 122 of the second signal transmission structure 12) are designed to have unequal line lengths. In this way, the power of the microwave signals distributed by the power divider 114 to the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 is equally divided, but the phases of the microwave signals transmitted by the two are different, that is, the phase of one of the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 with a longer line length is more lagged.

[0054] Among them, it is preferred that the line length of the time delay branch 111 is greater than that of the coupling branch 112. The reason for such a setting is that the longer the line length, the greater the loss of the microwave signal. The microwave signal transmitted by the coupling branch 112 needs to be coupled to the receiving electrode 113 and then transmitted through the second transmission line 21. During this process, the microwave signal will have losses. If the line length of the coupling branch 112 is increased, the loss of the microwave signal it transmits will increase. Therefore, the line length of the time delay branch 111 is designed to be longer than that of the coupling branch 112. Figure 6 As shown in Figure 6 , the line lengths of the coupling branch 112 and the power divider 114 are A; the line length of the time delay branch is A + D + E.

[0055] Furthermore, the time delay branch 111 (time delay branch 121) can be designed as any one of an arch shape, a wavy shape, and a sawtooth wave. Taking the time delay branch 111 designed as an arch shape as an example, at this time, the total line length A of the signal input end of the power divider 114 and the coupling branch 112 can be designed to be between 1 mm and 30 mm. To prevent the generation of coupling capacitance between the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 from affecting the transmission of microwave signals on these two branches, the minimum distance B between the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 can be set to 2 - 3 times the line width of the coupling branch 112 (or the time delay branch 111). The width C of each bending part (similar to a U shape) of the arch-shaped time delay branch 111 is set to 2 - 3 times the line width of the coupling branch 112 (or the time delay branch). The line widths at each position of the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 can be equal, or the line widths at each position of the time delay branch 111 and the coupling branch 112 can be designed accordingly according to the impedance.

[0056] For the remaining components of this phase shifter, they are substantially the same as the structure of the phase shifter with a dual-port signal transmission structure described above, so they will not be elaborated one by one.

[0057] As Figure 8 and 9 shown, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a phase shifter. This phase shifter is substantially the same as the above-mentioned phase shifter structure, except that the first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12 of the phase shifter in this embodiment are both single-port structures. The first signal transmission structure 11 and the second signal transmission structure 12 respectively include impedance matching lines 115 and 125 provided on the first substrate 10; the impedance matching lines 115 and 125 are connected to the first transmission line 21 in the phase shifting structure 2. Specifically, the impedance matching line 115 of the first signal transmission structure 11 is connected to the left end of the first transmission line 21 for introducing microwave signals; the impedance matching line 125 of the second signal transmission structure 12 is connected to the right end of the first transmission line 21 for outputting the microwave signals whose phases have been adjusted by the phase shifting structure 2.

[0058] Since in this embodiment, the isolation barrier 3 separates the air dielectric layer of the signal transmission structure from the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 in the phase shifter structure 3, and at this time, the dielectric layers of the impedance matching lines 115 and 125 are air with lower power consumption, the loss of the overall phase shifter device can be reduced.

[0059] Among them, the lengths A of the impedance matching lines 115 and 125 can both be designed as a quarter wavelength at the operating frequency. The line width of the impedance matching line 115 gradually increases along the direction from the first signal transmission region Q11 to the phase adjustment region Q2; the line width of the impedance matching line 125 gradually increases along the direction from the second signal transmission region Q12 to the phase adjustment region Q2. Of course, the line widths of the impedance matching lines 115 and 125 can be designed accordingly according to different required impedances.

[0060] For the remaining components of this phase shifter, they are substantially the same as the structure of the phase shifter with a dual-port signal transmission structure described above, so they will not be elaborated one by one.

[0061] In some embodiments of the invention, the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 can be made of a glass substrate with a thickness of 100 - 1000 microns, or a sapphire substrate, or a polyethylene terephthalate substrate, a triallyl cyanurate substrate, and a polyimide transparent flexible substrate with a thickness of 10 - 500 microns. Specifically, the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 can be made of high-purity quartz glass with extremely low dielectric loss. Compared with ordinary glass substrates, using quartz glass for the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20 can effectively reduce the loss of microwaves, making the phase shifter have low power consumption and high signal-to-noise ratio.

[0062] In some embodiments of the invention, the materials of the first transmission line 21, the second transmission line 22, and the grounding electrode can all be made of metals such as aluminum, silver, gold, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, or iron. Moreover, the first transmission line 21 and the second transmission line 22 can also be made of transparent conductive oxides.

[0063] Among them, the liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal dielectric layer 30 are positive liquid crystal molecules or negative liquid crystal molecules. It should be noted that when the liquid crystal molecules are positive liquid crystal molecules, the included angle between the long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules and the second electrode in the specific embodiment of the present invention is greater than degrees and less than or equal to 45°. When the liquid crystal molecules are negative liquid crystal molecules, the included angle between the long axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules and the second electrode in the specific embodiment of the present invention is greater than degrees and less than 90°, ensuring that after the liquid crystal molecules are deflected, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal layer is changed to achieve the purpose of phase shift.

[0064] An embodiment of the present invention further provides a liquid crystal antenna, which includes any one of the above phase shifters. Wherein, at least two patch units are further provided on a side of the second substrate facing away from the liquid crystal dielectric layer, and a gap between every two patch units is correspondingly arranged with a gap between the electrode strips. In this way, the microwave signal whose phase is adjusted by any one of the above phase shifters can be radiated out from the gap between the patch units.

[0065] It can be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments adopted to illustrate the principle of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto. For those of ordinary skill in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements are also regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A phase shifter, divided into a first signal transmission region, a second signal transmission region, and a phase adjustment region; the phase shifter includes: A first substrate and a second substrate which are oppositely arranged; A signal transmission structure located between the first substrate and the second substrate, corresponding to the positions of the first signal transmission region and the second signal transmission region, and a phase shifter structure corresponding to the phase adjustment region. Among them, the signal transmission structure is used to transmit microwave signals; the phase shifter structure is used to adjust the phase of the microwave signals. It is characterized in that the phase shifter further includes: an isolation barrier located between the first substrate and the second substrate; among them, The isolation barrier is used to separate the dielectric layer of the signal transmission structure from the dielectric layer in the phase shifter structure; The phase shifter structure includes: a first transmission line provided on the side of the first substrate close to the second substrate, and a second transmission line provided on the side of the second substrate close to the first substrate; Both the first signal transmission structure and the second signal transmission structure include: a reference electrode, a coupling branch and a time delay branch provided on the first substrate, and a receiving electrode provided on the second substrate; among them, Both the coupling branch and the time delay branch form current loops with the reference electrode; The first ends of both the coupling branch and the time delay branch are connected to a power divider; the second end of the time delay branch is connected to the first transmission line in the phase shifter structure, and the second end of the coupling branch is suspended; The positive projections of the coupling branch and the receiving electrode on the second substrate at least partially overlap; the receiving electrode is connected to the second transmission line in the phase shifter structure.

2. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The isolation barrier is arranged around the phase adjustment region.

3. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the isolation barrier includes sealing glue.

4. The phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein The lengths of the coupling branch and the time delay branch are different.

5. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length range of the coupling branch is 1 mm - 30 mm.

6. The phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein The minimum distance range between the coupling branch and the time delay branch is more than 2 - 3 times the line width of the coupling branch.

7. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first transmission line in the phase shifter structure is provided on the first substrate, arranged on the same layer as the time delay branch and the coupling branch and having the same material; and / or, The second transmission line in the phase shifter structure is provided on the second substrate, arranged on the same layer as the receiving electrode and having the same material.

8. The phase shifter according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The signal transmission structure includes: an impedance matching line provided on the first substrate; the impedance matching line is connected to the first transmission line in the phase shifter structure.

9. The phase shifter according to claim 8, characterized in that, The line width of the impedance matching line gradually increases along the direction from the signal transmission region to the phase adjustment region.

10. The phase shifter according to claim 8, characterized in that, The first transmission line in the phase shifter structure is provided on the first substrate, arranged on the same layer as the impedance matching line and having the same material.

11. The phase shifter according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The dielectric layer in the phase adjustment region includes liquid crystal molecules.

12. An antenna, characterized in that, A phase shifter according to any one of claims 1 - 11.

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