Transmission mechanism and antenna

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transmission mechanism comprising: a drive shaft; and a stopper assembly, the stopper assembly comprising: a base, a surface of the base forming a first thread; and a rotating component, the rotating component being disposed on the drive shaft and capable of rotating therewith, the surface of the rotating component forming a second thread matching the first thread, wherein at least one of the base and the rotating component is provided with a stopper, and when the drive shaft rotates, the rotating component rotates therewith and slides relative to the base via engagement of the first thread and the second thread; when the stopper abuts the base or the rotating component, relative sliding between the base and the rotating component ceases. Because the stopper assembly utilizes fewer parts and the structural clearance is correspondingly reduced, the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter can be calibrated more accurately, thereby improving the accuracy of phase adjustment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of mobile communication antennas, and in particular to a transmission mechanism and an antenna comprising the transmission mechanism. Background Art

[0002] In the field of mobile communications, antenna downtilt is a crucial technical parameter. Parameters such as the angle, strength, and area of ​​mobile signal coverage vary with the antenna downtilt angle. In practical applications, antenna downtilt often needs to be adjusted based on specific circumstances. With technological advancements, electrically adjustable downtilt antennas are becoming increasingly popular. These antennas typically feature multiple small phase shifters, connected to an actuator and connected to multiple radiating elements via a feed network. To adjust the electrical downtilt, a motor operates under the control of a control system, driving the dielectric plates of the phase shifters via the actuator. This drives the phase shifters, thereby achieving differential phase adjustment for each radiating element or combination of radiating elements, thereby changing the antenna's downtilt angle.

[0003] To improve phase adjustment accuracy, the initial phase position of the phase shifter needs to be calibrated. Traditional transmission devices use a screw, base, and nut combination to provide the motor's starting position (corresponding to the initial phase position of the phase shifter). However, since this combination uses three parts, there is a large structural gap, resulting in inaccurate initial phase position of the phase shifter, which in turn causes phase adjustment errors. Summary of the Invention

[0004] As described above, the transmission device in the prior art uses a combination of a screw, a base, and a nut to provide a starting position for the motor to rotate. Since the above combination uses three parts, there is a large structural matching gap, which causes the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter to be inaccurate, thereby causing errors in phase adjustment.

[0005] In response to the above technical problems, the first aspect of the present invention proposes a transmission mechanism, which includes: a drive shaft; and a stop assembly, which includes: a base, a surface of which forms a first thread; and a rotating component, which is arranged on the drive shaft and can rotate with the drive shaft, and a surface of the rotating component forms a second thread matching the first thread, wherein at least one of the base and the rotating component is provided with a stop portion; when the drive shaft rotates, the rotating component rotates with the drive shaft and forms relative sliding with the base through the engagement of the first thread and the second thread; when the stop portion abuts against the base or the rotating component, the base and the rotating component stop sliding relative to each other.

[0006] In the present invention, the stopper assembly comprises two parts: a base and a rotating component. Compared to the prior art, this assembly utilizes fewer parts, resulting in a correspondingly smaller structural clearance. Therefore, this assembly enables more accurate calibration of the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter, thereby improving phase adjustment accuracy. Furthermore, this reduced number of parts simplifies assembly and reduces manufacturing costs, resulting in a highly cost-effective design.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base is slidably mounted, and the rotating component is fixedly mounted on the driving shaft.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base is fixedly installed, and the rotating component is slidably installed on the driving shaft.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the stop portion is provided on the base; when the drive shaft rotates, the rotating component slides in the axial direction of the drive shaft; when the stop portion abuts against the rotating component, the base and the rotating component stop sliding relative to each other.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the stopping portion is any end of the first thread.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base has first matching parts at the two ends of the first thread, and the rotating part has second matching parts at the two ends of the second thread. When the rotating part is stopped by the stopping part, the first matching part and the second matching part contact each other.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission mechanism further includes: at least one driven shaft, respectively arranged alternately with the driving shaft; and at least one reversing assembly, respectively corresponding to one of the at least one driven shaft, and used to drive the corresponding driven shaft to rotate synchronously when the driving shaft rotates, each reversing assembly includes: a worm, the worm being arranged on one of the driving shaft and the driven shaft; a first gear, the first gear being arranged on the other of the driving shaft and the driven shaft; and a reversing mechanism, the reversing mechanism being engaged with the worm and the first gear.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the worm is disposed on the driving shaft, and the first gear is disposed on the driven shaft.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the worm and the first gear are not located on a common perpendicular line between the driving shaft and the driven shaft.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, a distance between the driving shaft and the driven shaft is smaller than a radius of the first gear.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the reversing mechanism includes at least one second gear.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, a lead angle of the worm is smaller than a friction angle between the second gear and the worm.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, both the first gear and the second gear are helical gears.

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention, the diameter of the second gear is smaller than the diameter of the first gear.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the axis of the second gear is parallel to the driven shaft, wherein the distance between the axis of the second gear and the driving shaft is greater than the distance between the driven shaft and the driving shaft.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, each reversing assembly further includes a limiting mechanism, and the limiting mechanism includes: a shell; and a partition, the partition is located in the shell and connected to the shell to form a limiting space together with the shell, and in the assembled state, the worm, the reversing mechanism and the first gear are accommodated in the limiting space.

[0022] A second aspect of the present invention provides an antenna, comprising: a reflector; at least one phase shifter; and a transmission mechanism according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0023] The third aspect of the present invention proposes an antenna, which includes: a reflector provided with a receiving groove; at least one phase shifter; and a transmission mechanism according to any one of the embodiments of the first aspect including a reversing component, wherein the reversing component of the transmission mechanism is at least partially accommodated in the receiving groove. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The embodiments are shown and explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are used to illustrate the basic principles and only show the aspects necessary for understanding the basic principles. These drawings are not to scale. In the drawings, the same reference numerals represent similar features.

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a transmission mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a reversing assembly;

[0026] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the middle limit mechanism from another angle;

[0027] Figure 3 Shows the Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the transmission mechanism being installed on the antenna reflector;

[0028] Figure 4 Shown Figure 3 A partial enlarged view of the middle area B;

[0029] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a stop assembly is shown, which is included in a transmission mechanism according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6A and 6B Shown respectively Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the base and the rotating component in the stop assembly from another angle;

[0031] Figure 7 FIG2 shows an exploded schematic diagram of a transmission mechanism before assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a reversing assembly and a stop assembly; and

[0032] Figure 8 Shown Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the transmission mechanism connected to the motor and phase shifter.

[0033] Other features, characteristics, advantages and benefits of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the present invention. The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, specific embodiments that can implement the present invention. The illustrative embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive of all embodiments according to the present invention. It will be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical modifications may be made, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description is not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0035] The existing technology has the following technical problems: the transmission device of the electrically tilted antenna in the existing technology is often implemented by using large areas of sheet metal or some complex mechanical structures, which makes it difficult to achieve smooth and consistent movement of multiple phase shifters. This affects the operating accuracy of the phase shifters and the adjustment accuracy of the electrical downtilt angle.

[0036] In view of the above technical problems, the present invention proposes a transmission mechanism. Figure 1The transmission mechanism includes a driving shaft 1, a driven shaft 2 arranged alternately with the driving shaft 1, and a reversing assembly 3. It should be understood that for the sake of simplicity, Figure 1 Only one driven shaft 2 and one reversing assembly 3 are shown. However, the transmission mechanism may include multiple driven shafts 2 and multiple reversing assemblies 3, each driven shaft is staggered with the driving shaft 1, and each reversing assembly 3 corresponds to one of the multiple driven shafts 2. The driving shaft 1 rotates under the action of an external driving force, and the external driving force can be a driving force provided directly or indirectly by a motor, or a driving force provided directly or indirectly by humans. In other words, the transmission mechanism can be applied to both electrically adjustable antennas and manually adjustable antennas. When applied to electrically adjustable antennas, the driving shaft 1 can be directly or indirectly connected to the motor. The reversing assembly 3 is used to drive the corresponding driven shaft 2 to rotate synchronously when the driving shaft 1 rotates. The reversing assembly 3 includes a worm 31, a reversing mechanism 32 and a first gear 33. As shown Figure 1 As shown in the figure, the worm 31 and the first gear 33 are not arranged on the common perpendicular line of the driving shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2. In other words, the worm 31 is not arranged directly above the first gear 33. The worm 31 is arranged on the driving shaft 1 and can rotate with the driving shaft 1. Although in the present embodiment, the worm 31 and the first gear 33 are not arranged on the common perpendicular line of the driving shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2, it can be understood that in other embodiments, one of the worm 31 and the first gear 33 can also be arranged on the common perpendicular line of the driving shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2. The reversing mechanism 32 is engaged with the worm 31. The first gear 33 is arranged on the driven shaft 2 and is engaged with the reversing mechanism 32. In some embodiments, the worm 31 can also be arranged on the driven shaft 2 and the first gear 33 can be arranged on the driving shaft 1. Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, the reversing mechanism 32 is a second gear, and both the second gear and the first gear 33 are helical gears. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the reversing mechanism 32 can be a combination of multiple gears. Alternatively, the reversing mechanism 32 can also adopt other structures as long as it can achieve the reversing function. Figure 1 In the embodiment, the axis of the second gear 32 is parallel to the driven shaft 2, and the distance between the axis of the second gear 32 and the driving shaft 1 is greater than the distance between the driven shaft 2 and the driving shaft 1. The driven shaft 2 is connected to at least one phase shifter ( Figure 1 (not shown), thereby driving at least one phase shifter to perform synchronous phase adjustment during rotation.

[0037] exist Figure 1, the worm 31 is shown as having a first center hole 311 that matches the drive shaft 1. The cross-sections of the drive shaft 1 and the first center hole 311 are non-circular, for example, the cross-sections of the drive shaft 1 and the first center hole 311 are both waist-shaped. The worm 31 is sleeved via the first center hole 311 and circumferentially fixed on the drive shaft 1. The first gear 33 is shown as having a second center hole 331 that matches the driven shaft 2, for example, the cross-sections of the driven shaft 2 and the second center hole 331 are both waist-shaped. The first gear 33 is sleeved via the second center hole 331 and circumferentially fixed on the driven shaft 2. In some embodiments, the worm 31 can be provided on the drive shaft 1 in other forms, and the first gear 33 can also be provided on the driven shaft 2 in other forms, for example, neither the worm 31 nor the first gear 33 has a center hole, but is integrally formed with the drive shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2, respectively.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown in FIG, in this embodiment, the reversing assembly 3 further includes a limiting mechanism 34. The limiting mechanism 34 includes a shell 341 and a partition 342. The partition 342 is located in the shell 341, is connected to the shell 341, and forms a limiting space 343 together with the shell 341. The size of the limiting space 343 is designed to match the size of the worm 31, the reversing mechanism 32, and the first gear 33. In the assembled state, the worm 31, the reversing mechanism 32, and the first gear 33 are accommodated in the limiting space 343, thereby preventing the worm 31, the reversing mechanism 32, and the first gear 33 from shifting. As shown in FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in FIG, the housing 341 is provided with first and second through-holes 351, 352, and third and fourth through-holes 353, 354, which are arranged opposite each other. The partition plate 342 includes a first portion and a second portion perpendicular to each other, each of which is provided with a fifth through-hole 355 and a sixth through-hole 356, respectively. The fifth through-hole 355 is aligned with the first and second through-holes 351, 352, and the sixth through-hole 356 is aligned with the third and fourth through-holes 353, 354. In the assembled state, the drive shaft 1 passes through the first, fifth, and second through-holes 351, 355, and 352, respectively, and the driven shaft 2 passes through the third, sixth, and fourth through-holes 353, 356, and 354, respectively.

[0039] Continue to refer Figure 1 and Figure 2 A pair of first positioning parts 361 and 362 are provided on the two side walls of the housing 341, and a pair of second positioning parts 321 and 322 are provided at both ends of the reversing mechanism 32. Figure 1 and Figure 2In the figure, the pair of first positioning portions 361 and 362 are shown as openings, and the pair of second positioning portions 321 and 322 are shown as protrusions. In the assembled state, the pair of protrusions 321 are inserted into the corresponding openings 361 or 362, respectively, to position the reversing mechanism 32. In some embodiments, the first and second positioning portions may have other numbers and forms, as long as they can cooperate to position the reversing mechanism.

[0040] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in FIG, the housing 341 is further provided with three first fixing portions 371-373 for directly or indirectly fixing and connecting with other components of the antenna (such as a reflector). Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment, each first fixing portion extends outward from the outer surface of the housing 341 and has an opening, through which a fixing member such as a fixing pin can pass and be fixed to other components of the antenna. In some embodiments, the first fixing portions may have other numbers and forms, as long as they can directly or indirectly fix the housing 341 to other components of the antenna. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that Figure 1 and Figure 2 The limiting mechanism 34 shown in FIG is merely exemplary and may have other structures. In addition, the reversing assembly 3 may also not include the limiting mechanism 34 and may be limited in other ways.

[0041] In the above-described embodiment, by using a reversing assembly to change the transmission direction of the output power of the drive shaft, the number of phase shifters can be easily increased while ensuring synchronous and consistent movement of the phase shifters. This provides excellent scalability and reduces transmission weight and cost. Furthermore, the use of a worm drive for reversing achieves a large reduction ratio, improving transmission accuracy and enabling the drive of multiple phase shifters with a relatively low driving force. Therefore, when used in electrically adjustable antennas, a low-power motor can drive multiple phase shifters. Furthermore, the inherent rigidity of the shaft further ensures consistent rotation, thereby ensuring smooth movement of the phase shifters.

[0042] In some embodiments, the reversing mechanism 32 is a second gear, and the thread lead angle of the worm 31 is designed to be smaller than the friction angle between the second gear and the worm 31, thereby achieving reverse self-locking and keeping the phase shifter stable during operation.

[0043] Furthermore, conventional transmission devices employ complex mechanical structures, resulting in a large footprint and thickness. As antenna products become thinner and smaller, the available space within the antenna is extremely limited, making it difficult to accommodate conventional transmission devices. The transmission mechanism of the present invention, however, utilizes a reversing mechanism 32 to stagger the drive shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2, thereby enabling the spacing between the drive shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2 to be smaller than the radius of the first gear 33 and the worm 31. This reduces the height of the transmission mechanism, thereby reducing the space occupied and achieving a flatter, thinner, and smaller antenna product.

[0044] Figure 3 Shows the Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the transmission mechanism installed on the antenna reflector, Figure 4 Shown Figure 3 A partial enlarged view of the middle area B. The reflector 5 is provided with a receiving groove ( Figure 3 and Figure 4 (not shown), whose shape matches the shape of the projection of the reversing mechanism 32 on the reflector 5. When the transmission mechanism is installed on the reflector 5, a portion of the reversing mechanism 32 is accommodated in the receiving groove, thereby reducing the thickness of the entire antenna product. In addition, the three first fixing portions 371-373 of the limiting mechanism 34 are respectively matched with the three fixing matching portions ( Figure 5 Only two fixed matching parts 511 and 512 are shown in the perspective of FIG. 5 , and the limiting mechanism 34 is fixed to the reflecting plate 5 by a fixing member such as a fixing pin.

[0045] In conventional transmission devices for electrically tilted antennas, in addition to the aforementioned technical problem of difficulty in achieving smooth and consistent movement of multiple phase shifters, which affects the operating accuracy of the phase shifters and the accuracy of electrical downtilt adjustment, another technical problem is that conventional transmission devices use a combination of a screw, a base, and a nut to provide a starting position for the motor (corresponding to the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter). However, since this combination uses three parts, there is a large structural gap, resulting in inaccurate initial phase shift position of the phase shifter, which in turn causes phase adjustment errors.

[0046] In order to solve the above technical problems, in one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission mechanism further includes a stopper assembly, which is used to accurately calibrate the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter. Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the stop assembly is shown; Figure 6A and 6B Shown respectively Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the base and rotating parts in the stop assembly from another angle. Figure 5 and Figures 6A-6BThe stop assembly 4 includes a base 41 and a rotating part 42. A first thread 412 is formed on the surface 411 of the base 41. The rotating part 42 is arranged on the drive shaft 1 and can rotate with the drive shaft 1, and a second thread 421 matching the first thread 412 is formed on the surface of the rotating part 42. When the drive shaft 1 rotates, the rotating part 42 rotates with the drive shaft 1 and forms relative sliding with the base 41 through the engagement of the first thread 412 and the second thread 421. A stop portion is provided on the base 41 and / or the rotating part 42. When the stop portion abuts against the base 41 or the rotating part 42, the relative sliding between the base 41 and the rotating part 42 stops. In the assembled state, the position of the stop portion corresponds to the initial phase shift position of at least one phase shifter.

[0047] exist Figure 5 In the figure, the rotating component 42 is shown as a screw having a third central hole 422 that matches the drive shaft 1. For example, the cross-sections of the drive shaft 1 and the third central hole 422 are both waist-shaped. The rotating component 42 is sleeved through the third central hole 422 and circumferentially fixed to the drive shaft 1. In some embodiments, the rotating component 42 can be provided on the drive shaft 1 in other forms. For example, the rotating component 42 does not have a central hole and is integrally formed with the drive shaft 1.

[0048] Despite Figure 5 In the embodiment, the surface 411 of the base 41 is recessed inwardly to form a first thread 412, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that the first thread 411 may be provided on the surface 411 of the base 41 in other forms. Figure 5 As shown, the base 41 also has two ends 413 and 414 arranged opposite to each other, and the surface 411 is located between the two ends 413 and 414. The two ends 413 and 414 extend beyond the surface 411 respectively, and are respectively provided with a through hole for the drive shaft 1 to pass through. In addition, six second fixing portions 417 are provided on the base 42, two of which extend outward from the middle part of the base 42, and the other four second fixing portions extend outward from the two ends 413 and 414 of the base 42, respectively, for direct or indirect fixed connection with other components of the antenna (such as a reflector). Each second fixing portion 417 has an opening, and a fixing member such as a fixing pin can be used to pass through it and fixed to other components of the antenna. In some embodiments, the second fixing portion 417 can also have other numbers and forms, as long as the base 42 can be directly or indirectly fixedly connected to other components of the antenna.

[0049] exist Figure 5 In the embodiment of the present invention, the stopper is any one end 415 or 416 of the first thread 412. The drive shaft 1 is directly or indirectly connected to the motor ( Figure 5 and Figures 6A-6BThe drive shaft 412 is connected to the drive shaft 412 (not shown) and rotates under the drive of the motor. When assembling the transmission mechanism and phase shifter, the end 415 or 416 of the first thread 412 is selected as a stop. When fixing the base 41, the position of the stop and the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter are set accordingly. At the same time, corresponding settings are made in the motor control system, such as the motor's rotation direction. In the assembled state, when the initial phase shift position needs to be calibrated, the control system controls the motor to continuously rotate in a preset rotation direction, and the drive shaft 1 rotates under the drive of the motor. The base 41 is fixed to other components of the antenna (such as the reflector) via the second fixing portion 417, so that it remains stationary. The rotating component 42 rotates with the drive shaft 1 and slides along the drive shaft 1 toward the selected end of the first thread 412. When the rotating component 42 reaches this end, the rotating component 42 stops rotating and sliding axially. This provides a rotation starting position for the motor, which indicates that the phase shifter connected to the transmission mechanism has reached the initial phase shift position. At this time, the control system of the motor controls the motor to rotate in the reverse direction. Driven by the motor, the drive shaft 1 also rotates in the reverse direction and starts to shift the phase of the phase shifter.

[0050] Despite Figure 5 The figure shows that the rotating component 42 slides along the drive shaft 1, and the base 41 is in a fixed position. However, in some embodiments, the rotating component 42 can be set to be fixed in the circumferential and axial directions of the drive shaft 1, that is, it cannot slide along the drive shaft 1, while the base 41 can be set to be able to slide along the drive shaft 1. In short, as long as the base 41 and the rotating component 42 are driven by the drive shaft 1, they can slide relative to each other through the engagement of the first thread 412 and the second thread 421.

[0051] also, Figure 5 and Figures 6A-6B Only one example of the stop portion is shown, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that the stop portion may be located at other positions and / or have other forms, as long as it can stop the relative sliding between the base 41 and the rotating component 42 and / or the rotation of the rotating component 42. In some embodiments, the stop portion may be located at other positions of the base 41, such as at any position of the first thread 412, to stop the rotation and / or sliding of the rotating component 42. In some embodiments, the stop portion may also be located on the rotating component 42. In some embodiments, a stop portion may be provided on both the base 41 and the rotating component 42, for example, two stop portions that cooperate with each other may be provided at appropriate positions of the base 41 and the rotating component 42, respectively. It should be understood that when assembling the transmission mechanism and the phase shifter, the position of the stop portion needs to be set to correspond to the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter.

[0052] like Figure 6A and Figure 6BAs shown, the base 41 has a pair of first matching parts 418 and 419 at the two ends 415 and 416 of the first thread 412, and the rotating mechanism 42 has a pair of second matching parts 423 and 424 at the two ends of the second thread 421. Figure 5 and Figures 6A-6B When the rotating member 42 reaches the end 416 of the first thread 412, the first engaging portion 419 contacts the second engaging portion 424. Similarly, if the rotating member 42 slides along the drive shaft 1 toward the other end 415 of the first thread 412 and reaches the other end 415, the other first engaging portion 418 contacts the other second engaging portion 423.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the stopper assembly comprises two parts: a base and a rotating member. Compared to the prior art, this assembly utilizes fewer parts, resulting in a correspondingly smaller structural clearance. Therefore, this stopper assembly enables more accurate calibration of the initial phase shift position of the phase shifter, thereby improving phase adjustment accuracy. Furthermore, this reduced number of parts reduces assembly difficulty and manufacturing costs, resulting in a highly cost-effective design.

[0054] Next reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 . Figure 7 FIG2 shows an exploded schematic diagram of a transmission mechanism before assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the transmission mechanism includes a reversing assembly and a stop assembly; Figure 8 Shown Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the transmission mechanism after being connected to the motor and the phase shifter. In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism includes two driven shafts 2 and 2' and two reversing assemblies 3 and 3'. The driving shaft 1 is connected to the driving shaft of the motor 61 and rotates under the drive of the motor 61. The two driven shafts 2 and 2' are respectively staggered with the driving shaft 1. The two reversing assemblies 3 and 3' convert the rotation of the driving shaft 1 into the rotation of the driven shafts 2 and 2', respectively. It should be understood that the driving shaft 1 does not have to be directly connected to the driving shaft of the motor 61. It can be indirectly driven by the motor 61. For example, the reversing assembly 3 is used to convert the rotation of the driving shaft of the motor 61 into the rotation of the driving shaft 1.

[0055] In this embodiment, the transmission mechanism further includes Figure 5The stop assembly 4 shown in the figure is a commutation assembly. However, those skilled in the art should understand that the purpose of the reversing assembly 3 is to solve the technical problem that conventional transmission structures make it difficult to achieve smooth and consistent movement of the phase shifter, thereby affecting the operating accuracy of the phase shifter and the accuracy of the electrical downtilt adjustment. The purpose of the stop assembly 4 is to solve the technical problem that conventional stop structures have large structural matching clearances, which leads to inaccurate initial phase shift positions of the phase shifter. Therefore, the transmission mechanism does not necessarily need to have both the reversing assembly 3 and the stop assembly 4; they can be used separately in different transmission mechanisms. However, a transmission mechanism having both the reversing assembly 3 and the stop assembly 4 can simultaneously solve the above-mentioned two technical problems.

[0056] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown in , two drive assemblies 62 are symmetrically arranged on each driven shaft relative to the reversing assembly 3, and each drive assembly 62 is used to drive the phase shifter 63 to shift the phase via the rotation of the driven shaft. Specifically, each drive assembly 62 includes a worm circumferentially fixed on the driven shaft and a fixing mechanism for limiting the position of the worm, and the fixing mechanism is fixed to other components of the antenna (such as the reflector) via a fixing member. The worm of the drive assembly 62 is engaged with the external gear of the phase shifter 63. When the driven shaft rotates, the worm of the drive assembly 62 rotates accordingly, thereby driving the external gear of the phase shifter 63 to rotate, thereby performing phase adjustment. Those skilled in the art will understand that the structure of the drive assembly 62 is not limited to Figure 7 and Figure 8 As long as the phase shifter 63 can be driven by the driven shaft 2 or 2' to perform phase shifting, the form shown in FIG.

[0057] In this embodiment, one end of the first thread on the base 41 serves as a stop to stop the rotating assembly 42. This end is pre-arranged to correspond to the initial phase shift position of the multiple phase shifters 63 (i.e., the motor's starting position). When the initial phase shift position of the phase shifters needs to be calibrated, the motor 61, under the control of the control system, drives the drive shaft 1 to rotate continuously, causing the rotating component 42 to rotate with the drive shaft 1 and slide along the drive shaft 1 toward the end of the first thread (i.e., the stop). Simultaneously, the rotation of the drive shaft 1 is transmitted to the driven shafts 2 and 2' via the reversing assemblies 3 and 3'. Driven by the multiple drive assemblies 62, the multiple phase shifters move toward their initial phase shift positions. When the rotating component 42 reaches this end, it cannot rotate or slide further, and its second mating portion abuts against the first mating portion at the end. At this point, the multiple phase shifters 63 are in their initial phase shift positions. The control system controls the motor 61 to reverse, and the multiple phase shifters 63 begin shifting phases. Because the stopper assembly uses fewer parts and the clearance between components is reduced, it can more accurately calibrate the initial phase position of the phase shifter, improving the accuracy of phase adjustment. Furthermore, the fewer parts also reduce assembly difficulty and manufacturing costs, resulting in high cost-effectiveness.

[0058] During the phase shifting process, the motor 61 determines the number of rotations through the control signal sent by the control system, and the number of rotations corresponds to the phase that the phase shifter 63 needs to adjust. The drive shaft 1 rotates under the drive of the motor 61, and the reversing components 3 and 3' convert the rotation of the drive shaft 1 into the rotation of the two driven shafts 2 and 2'. Driven by multiple drive components 62, multiple phase shifters 63 perform synchronous phase adjustment. At the same time, the rotating component 42 rotates with the drive shaft 1 and slides along the drive shaft 1. Since the first thread on the base 41 has a sufficient length, during the phase shifting process, the rotating component 42 will not reach the end of the first thread and be stopped. Reversing with the help of worm gear transmission achieves a large reduction ratio, improves transmission accuracy and can drive multiple phase shifters under the action of a smaller driving force. Moreover, the rigidity of the shaft itself further ensures the consistency of rotation, thereby ensuring the smooth movement of the phase shifter.

[0059] For simplicity, in Figure 7 and Figure 8While only four phase shifters are shown in the embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that an antenna product, particularly a MIMO antenna, typically includes dozens (e.g., 16, 32, 64, etc.) of phase shifters and radiating elements. Therefore, more phase shifters can be provided on the driven shafts 2 and 2' as needed, or several more driven shafts 2 and 2' and corresponding commutation assemblies 3 can be added, with each driven shaft being provided with multiple phase shifters. The specific arrangement of the phase shifters 63 on the driven shafts can also be determined based on needs (e.g., the amount of space within the antenna) (e.g., symmetrical relative to the commutation assembly 3 or located to one side of the commutation assembly 3). It should also be understood that multiple third shafts and corresponding commutation assemblies can be staggered on each driven shaft, with the commutation assemblies converting the rotation of the driven shaft into the rotation of the third shaft, thereby driving multiple phase shifters connected to the driving shaft, driven shaft, and / or third shaft for synchronous phase adjustment. Therefore, utilizing this transmission mechanism allows for convenient expansion of the number of phase shifters, offering good scalability and reducing the weight and cost of the transmission.

[0060] exist Figure 7 and Figure 8 In the embodiment, the stop assembly 4 is arranged at the tail of the drive shaft 1, but those skilled in the art should understand that the position of the stop assembly 4 can be set as needed, for example, the stop assembly 4 can be set at the front of the drive shaft 1 (such as between the driven shaft 2 and the motor 61) or the middle of the drive shaft 1 (such as between the two driven shafts 2 and 2').

[0061] The present invention also provides an antenna comprising: a reflector; at least one phase shifter; and a transmission mechanism according to any of the above-described embodiments. In some embodiments, a receiving groove is provided on the reflector to accommodate a portion of the reversing mechanism 32, thereby reducing the height of the transmission mechanism. The receiving groove can be provided as needed. For example, when the diameter of the reversing mechanism 32 (e.g., the second gear) is greater than or equal to the diameter of the first gear 33, a receiving groove is required to shorten the distance between the driven shaft 2 and the reflector, thereby reducing the thickness of the antenna assembly. However, when the diameter of the reversing mechanism 32 is smaller than the diameter of the first gear 33, a receiving groove is not required. Ideally, the distance between the driving shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2 is close to zero, that is, as long as there is no friction between the driving shaft 1 and the driven shaft 2. In some embodiments, a portion of the reversing mechanism 32 and a portion of the first gear 33 can be accommodated in the receiving groove to further shorten the distance between the driven shaft 2 and the reflector. Ideally, the distance between the driven shaft 2 and the reflector is close to zero.

[0062] Although different exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that different changes and modifications can be made that can achieve one or more of the advantages of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other components that perform the same function can be appropriately replaced. It should be understood that the features explained herein with reference to specific drawings can be combined with features of other drawings, even in those cases where this is not explicitly mentioned. Such modifications to the solutions according to the present invention are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A transmission mechanism, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism comprises: drive shaft; and A stop assembly, comprising: a base, a surface of which is formed with a first thread; and A rotating component is provided on the driving shaft and can rotate with the driving shaft, and a second thread matching the first thread is formed on the surface of the rotating component, wherein: At least one of the base and the rotating component is provided with a stopper; When the drive shaft rotates, the rotating component rotates with the drive shaft and slides relative to the base through the engagement of the first thread and the second thread; when the stop portion abuts against the base or the rotating component, the relative sliding between the base and the rotating component stops; when the drive shaft rotates, the rotating component slides in the axial direction of the drive shaft.

2. The transmission mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base is slidably mounted, and the rotating component is fixedly mounted on the driving shaft.

3. The transmission mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base is fixedly installed, and the rotating component is slidably installed on the driving shaft.

4. The transmission mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stop portion is arranged on the base; when the stop portion abuts against the rotating component, the base and the rotating component stop sliding relative to each other.

5. The transmission mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The stopping portion is any end of the first thread.

6. The transmission mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The base has first matching parts at both ends of the first thread, and the rotating component has second matching parts at both ends of the second thread. When the rotating component is stopped by the stopping part, the first matching part and the second matching part contact each other.

7. The transmission mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism further comprises: at least one driven shaft, arranged alternately with the driving shaft; and At least one reversing assembly, corresponding to each of the at least one driven shaft, and configured to drive the corresponding driven shaft to rotate synchronously when the driving shaft rotates, each reversing assembly comprising: a worm provided on one of the driving shaft and the driven shaft; a first gear provided on the other of the driving shaft and the driven shaft; and A reversing mechanism is engaged with the worm and the first gear.

8. The transmission mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The worm is arranged on the driving shaft, and the first gear is arranged on the driven shaft.

9. The transmission mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The worm and the first gear are not located on a common perpendicular line between the driving shaft and the driven shaft.

10. The transmission mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in that: A distance between the driving shaft and the driven shaft is smaller than a radius of the first gear.

11. The transmission mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The reversing mechanism includes at least one second gear.

12. The transmission mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that: The thread lead angle of the worm is smaller than the friction angle between the second gear and the worm.

13. The transmission mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that: The first gear and the second gear are both helical gears.

14. The transmission mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that: It is characterized by: A diameter of the second gear is smaller than a diameter of the first gear.

15. The transmission mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that: The shaft of the second gear is parallel to the driven shaft, wherein the distance between the shaft of the second gear and the driving shaft is greater than the distance between the driven shaft and the driving shaft.

16. The transmission mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: Each reversing assembly further includes a limiting mechanism, and the limiting mechanism includes: a housing; and A partition is located in the housing and connected to the housing to form a limited space together with the housing. In an assembled state, the worm, the reversing mechanism and the first gear are accommodated in the limited space.

17. An antenna, characterized in that: The antenna comprises: reflective panels; at least one phase shifter; and A transmission mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. An antenna, characterized in that: The antenna comprises: The reflective plate is provided with a receiving groove; at least one phase shifter; and The transmission mechanism according to any one of claims 7 to 16, wherein the reversing assembly of the transmission mechanism is at least partially accommodated in the accommodating groove.

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