Reconfigurable multi-mode vortex antenna based on liquid crystal materials

Abstract

The present invention relates to a reconfigurable multi-mode vortex antenna based on liquid crystal material, comprising a substrate, a power divider, and an antenna array element; the power divider is placed on a bottom layer, the number of output ports of the power divider is consistent with the number of antenna array elements, and the phase difference between adjacent output ports corresponds to the antenna mode; each output port of the power divider feeds the antenna array element on the upper layer via coaxial feeding; the substrate is crimped between all antenna array elements and the power divider, and liquid crystal material is embedded in the substrate and below each antenna array element; each antenna array element changes the current path length by switching a PIN diode on and off, thereby affecting the frequency band range and radiation pattern of the antenna array element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of information transmission and processing. Background Art

[0002] As the primary weapon for long-range strikes, missiles will play a vital role in future combat. Various intelligent missile technologies with precision guidance capabilities are continuously being developed and applied. However, the complex integration of multiple systems between missiles, the vast communication networks, and the demand for real-time information transmission will pose unprecedented challenges to the communication capacity of existing systems. Therefore, this innovation aims to achieve high-capacity, high-security wireless communication between missile swarms. This innovation addresses the bottlenecks of existing inter-missile swarm communication technology, which suffer from spectrum congestion and limited anti-interference capabilities. By utilizing vortex electromagnetic communication technology, the communication capacity within a given bandwidth is doubled, addressing the challenges of limited spectrum resources and signal interference in inter-missile swarm wireless communication, thus achieving a breakthrough in inter-missile swarm communication technology. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a reconfigurable multi-mode vortex antenna based on liquid crystal materials.

[0004] The solution of the present invention is: a reconfigurable multi-mode vortex antenna based on liquid crystal material, including a substrate, a power divider, and an antenna array element;

[0005] The power divider is placed on the bottom layer, the number of output ports of the power divider is consistent with the number of antenna array elements, and the phase difference between adjacent output ports corresponds to the antenna mode;

[0006] Each output port of the power divider feeds the upper antenna element through coaxial feeding. The substrate is crimped between all antenna elements and the power divider, and liquid crystal material is embedded under the substrate and each antenna element. Each antenna element changes the current path length by switching the PIN diode on and off, thereby affecting the frequency band range and radiation pattern of the antenna element.

[0007] Preferably, the antenna array element includes a parasitic ring, a radiation patch and a PIN diode; the parasitic ring and the radiation patch are connected via a PIN diode, and a liquid crystal material substrate is located below the radiation patch.

[0008] Preferably, the ratio of the area of ​​the liquid crystal material substrate below the radiation patch to the area of ​​the radiation patch is 1 / 4-1 / 2.

[0009] Preferably, the PIN diodes are evenly distributed in the annular region between the parasitic ring and the radiation patch, with a number of 4-8.

[0010] Preferably, the power divider adopts an 8X8 Butler matrix, and the 8 output ports of the 8X8 Butler matrix correspond to 8 antenna elements in a circular layout, feeding the upper antenna elements so that the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is 45°, generating mode 1 vortex waves, and the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is 90°, generating mode 2 vortex waves, and the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is -45°, generating mode-1 vortex waves, and the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is -90°, generating mode-2 vortex waves.

[0011] Preferably, the power divider adopts two 8X8 Butler matrices, and the substrate is pressed between the two 8X8 Butler matrices; the 16 output ports of the power divider correspond to the 16 antenna array elements in a circular ring layout, feeding the upper antenna array elements, so that the 8 antenna array elements in the inner ring and / or the 8 antenna array elements in the outer ring simultaneously or separately generate vortex waves in the following manner:

[0012] The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is 45°, generating mode 1 vortex wave. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is 90°, generating mode 2 vortex wave. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is -45°, generating mode -1 vortex wave. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is -90°, generating mode -2 vortex wave.

[0013] Preferably, the distance between the outermost envelopes of the outer ring and inner ring antenna array elements is greater than 1 / 2 wavelength.

[0014] Preferably, according to the frequency range and directional pattern characteristics required by the current antenna, the PIN diodes at the same position in each array element in the same array are simultaneously turned on and off to change the current path length and perform coarse adjustment on the frequency and directional pattern;

[0015] According to the frequency range and directional pattern characteristics required by the current antenna, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal material is changed by changing the bias voltage between the substrate and the antenna array element, thereby fine-tuning the antenna frequency band range and directional pattern;

[0016] The different phase differences output from the output port of the power divider generate vortex waves of corresponding modes.

[0017] Preferably, the antenna elements of the same array are antenna elements evenly distributed in the same circular layout.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention compared with the prior art are:

[0019] Based on a multi-modal vortex antenna, the present invention uses liquid crystal material as a substrate to achieve reconfigurable antenna pattern and frequency. On the one hand, it takes advantage of the orthogonality of different modes of the vortex antenna. On the other hand, by controlling the bias voltage of the liquid crystal material, the antenna pattern and frequency point are offset to a certain extent, which greatly improves the communication capacity, spectrum utilization and anti-interception capability of the communication system. The reconfigurability of the pattern increases the detectable range of the communication system, and the reconfigurability of the frequency band improves the spectrum utilization. This design concept provides a new solution for the concealment and detection of various types of missile measurement and control communications.

[0020] (1) The present invention realizes modal multiplexing by adopting a multi-modal vortex antenna (±1, ±2), thereby improving spectrum utilization and large-capacity transmission, and the receiving end can extract useful data based on the modal information required by its own node.

[0021] (2) By adding a PIN switch to the antenna feed surface, the current path length is controlled, causing the antenna to have a large degree of frequency and pattern shift.

[0022] (3) By using liquid crystal material as the substrate material and applying different bias voltages to it, its dielectric constant changes, thereby accurately controlling the antenna frequency and radiation pattern to shift to a certain degree. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the antenna feed patch;

[0024] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of antenna array element structure;

[0025] Figure 3 8X8 Butler feed matrix;

[0026] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of array distribution. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following is combined with Figure 1-4 The present invention is further described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0028] The reconfigurable multi-mode vortex antenna communication system based on liquid crystal materials utilizes a liquid crystal substrate structure, shifting the antenna's pattern and frequency band to a certain degree through bias voltage and PIN switches. Multi-mode vortex antennas offer high bandwidth utilization and strong anti-interception capabilities. Furthermore, the dielectric constant of liquid crystal materials changes regularly under different bias voltages. Combined with the PIN switch structure, the current path of the antenna feeder is altered, making the antenna pattern and frequency band reconfigurable.

[0029] This solution uses an 8X8 Butler matrix as a power divider structure. The power divider structure is placed at the bottom layer and is fed to the upper antenna array element through coaxial feeding. For the array element structure, a liquid crystal material substrate is used. By changing the bias voltage, the dielectric constant of the material changes, thereby shifting the directional pattern and frequency band to a certain extent. Secondly, a PIN diode, also known as a PIN switch, is added to change the current path on the surface of the array element, thereby significantly changing the directional pattern and frequency band. Figure 1 As shown in FIG, the antenna array element of the present invention contains a PIN diode, a parasitic ring is set around the radiation patch, and the parasitic ring and the radiation patch are connected through a PIN diode. By controlling the switch of the PIN, the length of the current path is changed, thereby affecting the frequency band range of the antenna array element. The PIN diode is as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown, the PIN diodes are evenly distributed in the annular region between the parasitic ring and the radiation patch. Based on practicality and optimized design, the number of PIN diodes is selected to be 4-8.

[0030] Based on the above antenna, the substrate material under the radiating patch is replaced with a liquid crystal material. By varying the bias voltage between the substrate and the radiating patch, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal material is changed, thereby adjusting the antenna's frequency band and radiation pattern. Research has determined that the optimal ratio of the liquid crystal substrate area under the radiating patch to the radiating patch area is 1 / 4-1 / 2.

[0031] The present invention designs multiple power division feeding methods.

[0032] When designing an 8-element antenna, the 8 output ports of the 8X8 Butler matrix correspond to the 8 antenna elements in a circular layout, feeding the upper antenna elements so that the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is 45°, generating mode 1 vortex waves, the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is 90°, generating mode 2 vortex waves, the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is -45°, generating mode -1 vortex waves, and the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna elements is -90°, generating mode -2 vortex waves.

[0033] When designing a 16-element antenna, the power divider uses two 8x8 Butler matrices with a substrate crimped between them. The 16 output ports of the power divider correspond to the 16 antenna elements in a circular layout, feeding the upper antenna elements. This allows the eight antenna elements in the inner ring and / or the eight antenna elements in the outer ring to simultaneously or separately generate vortex waves in the following manner:

[0034] The phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements of the inner and / or outer rings is 45°, generating mode 1 vortex waves. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements of the inner / outer rings is 90°, generating mode 2 vortex waves. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements of the inner / outer rings is -45°, generating mode-1 vortex waves. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements of the inner / outer rings is -90°, generating mode-2 vortex waves.

[0035] The array antenna designed above is controlled in the following way to realize a reconfigurable multi-mode vortex antenna.

[0036] First, based on the frequency range required by the antenna, the PIN diodes at the same position in each element of the array are simultaneously switched on and off, thereby changing the current path length and coarsely adjusting the frequency.

[0037] Then, based on the frequency range and directional pattern characteristics required by the current antenna, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal material is changed by changing the bias voltage between the substrate and each antenna element by the same amplitude, ensuring the consistency of the electrical performance of the antenna elements, thereby fine-tuning the antenna frequency band and directional pattern.

[0038] Finally, according to the above introduction, the different phase differences output from the output port of the power divider are used to generate vortex waves of corresponding modes.

[0039] The main technical indicators that can be achieved by the present invention are as follows:

[0040] (1) Number of modes: 4;

[0041] (2) The pattern deviation range is greater than 10%;

[0042] (3) The operating frequency tunable range is greater than 5% of the center frequency.

[0043] Parts of the present invention that are not described in detail belong to the common knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0044] Although the present invention has been disclosed above in terms of preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make possible changes and modifications to the technical solutions of the present invention by using the methods and technical contents disclosed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, any simple modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the content of the technical solutions of the present invention shall fall within the scope of protection of the technical solutions of the present invention.

[0045] Parts of the present invention that are not described in detail belong to the common knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable multi-mode vortex antenna based on liquid crystal materials, characterized by: The invention comprises a substrate, a power divider, and an antenna array, wherein the antenna array comprises antenna array elements, and the antenna array elements are antenna array elements uniformly distributed in the same circular layout; The power divider is placed on the bottom layer, the number of output ports of the power divider is consistent with the number of antenna array elements, and the phase difference between adjacent output ports corresponds to the antenna vortex wave mode; The antenna array element includes a parasitic ring, a radiating patch and a PIN diode; the parasitic ring and the radiating patch are connected via a PIN diode, and a liquid crystal material substrate is located below the radiating patch; Each output port of the power divider feeds the upper antenna element via coaxial feeding. The substrate is crimped between all antenna elements and the power divider, and the substrate is embedded with liquid crystal material under each antenna element. Each antenna element changes the current path length by switching the PIN diode on and off, thereby affecting the frequency band and radiation pattern of the antenna element. The PIN diodes are evenly distributed in the annular region between the parasitic ring and the radiation patch, with a number of 4-8.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The ratio of the area of ​​the liquid crystal material substrate below the radiation patch to the area of ​​the radiation patch is 1 / 4-1 / 2.

3. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The power divider adopts an 8X8 Butler matrix, and the 8 output ports of the 8X8 Butler matrix correspond to the 8 antenna array elements in a circular layout, feeding the upper antenna array elements so that the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements is 45°, generating mode 1 vortex waves, the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements is 90°, generating mode 2 vortex waves, the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements is -45°, generating mode -1 vortex waves, and the phase difference between adjacent elements in the 8 antenna array elements is -90°, generating mode -2 vortex waves.

4. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The power divider uses two 8x8 Butler matrices with a substrate pressed between them. The 16 output ports of the power divider correspond to the 16 antenna elements in a circular layout, feeding the upper antenna elements so that the 8 antenna elements in the inner ring and / or the 8 antenna elements in the outer ring simultaneously or separately generate vortex waves in the following manner: The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is 45°, generating mode 1 vortex wave. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is 90°, generating mode 2 vortex wave. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is -45°, generating mode -1 vortex wave. The phase difference between adjacent elements in the inner / outer ring of 8 antenna elements is -90°, generating mode -2 vortex wave.

5. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The spacing between the outermost envelopes of the outer ring and inner ring antenna array elements is greater than 1 / 2 wavelength.

6. The antenna control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Based on the frequency range and radiation pattern characteristics required by the current antenna, the PIN diodes at the same position in each array element in the same array are simultaneously turned on and off to change the current path length and perform coarse adjustments to the frequency and radiation pattern. According to the frequency range and directional pattern characteristics required by the current antenna, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal material is changed by changing the bias voltage between the substrate and the antenna array element, thereby fine-tuning the antenna frequency band range and directional pattern; The different phase differences output from the output port of the power divider generate vortex waves of corresponding modes.

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