Beam reconfigurable antenna and electronic equipment

Abstract

The present invention discloses a beam reconfigurable antenna and electronic equipment, comprising a dielectric substrate, a coplanar waveguide, at least two metal units and four radio frequency switches, wherein the dielectric substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the coplanar waveguide comprises a first ground wire, a second ground wire and a signal wire arranged between the first ground wire and the second ground wire; the coplanar waveguide and the four radio frequency switches are arranged on the first surface, and at least two metal units are arranged on the second surface and are periodically distributed; the first radio frequency switch and the second radio frequency switch are close to the input end of the coplanar waveguide, and the third radio frequency switch and the fourth radio frequency switch are close to the output end of the coplanar waveguide; the signal wire is connected to the first ground wire through the first radio frequency switch and the third radio frequency switch respectively, and the signal wire is connected to the second ground wire through the second radio frequency switch and the fourth radio frequency switch respectively. The present invention can realize the switching between single beam and multi-beam without additional compensation technology.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of antenna technology, and in particular to a beam reconfigurable antenna and electronic equipment. Background Art

[0002] Antennas are one of the most important components of communication systems. The current 5G mobile communication standards include sub-6G and millimeter wave frequency bands, which usually use MIMO multi-antenna systems or antenna arrays to achieve high gain, narrow beams and high communication capacity. In order to adapt to the increasing number of users and the requirements of low cost and miniaturization of handheld terminal devices, multi-beam antenna technology provides a solution to achieve high gain and large capacity.

[0003] The proposal of reconfigurable beam antenna is based on the need to optimize the base station coverage pattern. The reconfigurable beam can adjust the base station capacity in real time. Different beam adjustments correspond to different traffic patterns, thereby improving the utilization rate of base station resources.

[0004] Existing beam reconfigurable antennas usually have complex structures and require additional compensation techniques or adjustable impedance matching circuits to correct the instability of frequency characteristics caused by beam switching. Summary of the invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a beam reconfigurable antenna and electronic equipment, which can realize switching between single beam and multi-beam without additional compensation technology.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a beam reconfigurable antenna, comprising a dielectric substrate, a coplanar waveguide, at least two metal units and four radio frequency switches, the dielectric substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the coplanar waveguide comprising a first ground wire, a second ground wire and a signal wire arranged between the first ground wire and the second ground wire, the four radio frequency switches are respectively a first radio frequency switch, a second radio frequency switch, a third radio frequency switch and a fourth radio frequency switch;

[0007] The coplanar waveguide and four RF switches are arranged on the first surface, and the at least two metal units are arranged on the second surface; the at least two metal units are distributed periodically; the first RF switch and the second RF switch are close to the input end of the coplanar waveguide, and the third RF switch and the fourth RF switch are close to the output end of the coplanar waveguide; the signal line is connected to the first ground line through the first RF switch and the third RF switch respectively, and the signal line is connected to the second ground line through the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch respectively.

[0008] The present invention also provides an electronic device, comprising the beam reconfigurable antenna as described above.

[0009] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: by setting periodically distributed metal units, the radiation mode of the planar coplanar waveguide can be excited, so that it periodically radiates energy during the transmission process; by setting an RF switch connecting the signal line and the two ground lines, the excitation mode of the planar coplanar waveguide can be changed by changing the combination state of the RF switch, thereby changing the current distribution of the antenna and achieving the purpose of switching different beam forms. The present invention does not require additional compensation technology, but uses the state switching of the RF switch to excite different modes of the planar coplanar waveguide, thereby realizing real-time conversion between single beam and multi-beam. At the same time, the present invention has a simple structure, low processing difficulty, and is conducive to planar integration with the microwave system, thereby improving system integration. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a beam reconfigurable antenna according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 2 It is a side schematic diagram of the beam reconfigurable antenna according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 3 This is the scanning pattern of the beam reconfigurable antenna according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Description of labels:

[0014] 1. Dielectric substrate; 2. Coplanar waveguide; 3. Metal unit; 4. RF switch;

[0015] 21. First ground line; 22. Second ground line; 23. Signal line;

[0016] 41. A first radio frequency switch; 42. A second radio frequency switch; 43. A third radio frequency switch; 44. A fourth radio frequency switch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In order to explain the technical content, achieved objectives and effects of the present invention in detail, the following is a detailed description in conjunction with the implementation methods and the accompanying drawings.

[0018] See also Figure 1 , a beam reconfigurable antenna, comprising a dielectric substrate, a coplanar waveguide, at least two metal units and four radio frequency switches, wherein the dielectric substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the coplanar waveguide comprises a first ground line, a second ground line and a signal line arranged between the first ground line and the second ground line, and the four radio frequency switches are respectively a first radio frequency switch, a second radio frequency switch, a third radio frequency switch and a fourth radio frequency switch;

[0019] The coplanar waveguide and four RF switches are arranged on the first surface, and the at least two metal units are arranged on the second surface; the at least two metal units are distributed periodically; the first RF switch and the second RF switch are close to the input end of the coplanar waveguide, and the third RF switch and the fourth RF switch are close to the output end of the coplanar waveguide; the signal line is connected to the first ground line through the first RF switch and the third RF switch respectively, and the signal line is connected to the second ground line through the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch respectively.

[0020] From the above description, it can be seen that the beneficial effects of the present invention are: switching between single beam and multi-beam can be achieved without additional compensation technology, and it is conducive to planar integration with microwave systems to improve system integration.

[0021] Further, when the four RF switches are all disconnected, the excitation port includes a first excitation port and a second excitation port, the first excitation port is located between the signal line and the first ground line, and the second excitation port is located between the signal line and the second ground line; when the first RF switch and the third RF switch are closed, and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are disconnected, the excitation port includes the second excitation port located between the signal line and the second ground line; when the first RF switch and the third RF switch are disconnected, and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are closed, the excitation port includes the first excitation port located between the signal line and the first ground line.

[0022] From the above description, it can be seen that when the four RF switches are disconnected, the antenna feed line part is a planar coplanar waveguide, and the number of excitation ports is two; when the two RF switches on one side of the signal line are disconnected and the two RF switches on the other side are closed, that is, a ground wire in the planar coplanar waveguide is connected to the signal line, at this time, the antenna feed line part is equivalent to a single signal line and a single ground wire structure, and the number of excitation ports is only one.

[0023] Further, when the four RF switches are all disconnected, the excitation amplitude of the first excitation port is the same as the excitation amplitude of the second excitation port, and the excitation phase of the first excitation port is 180° different from the excitation phase of the second excitation port.

[0024] From the above description, it can be seen that when the four RF switches are in the off state, differential excitation is introduced at the input port of the coplanar waveguide, so that differential excitation is formed on each metal unit. The periodically distributed metal units are similar to array antennas fed in series, and finally two beams are synthesized, that is, a multi-beam mode is realized.

[0025] Furthermore, projections of the first ground line, the second ground line and the signal line on the dielectric substrate respectively intersect and are perpendicular to projections of each metal unit on the dielectric substrate.

[0026] From the above description, it can be seen that the radiation mode of the planar coplanar waveguide can be fully excited to optimize the antenna performance.

[0027] Furthermore, the length of the coplanar waveguide is 240 mm; the widths of the first ground wire and the second ground wire are both 30 mm, and the width of the signal wire is 12 mm; and the distances between the signal wire and the first ground wire and the second ground wire are both 3 mm.

[0028] Furthermore, the dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate is 3, the loss tangent is 0.001, and the thickness is 1.52 mm.

[0029] Furthermore, the metal unit is a metal grid, and the at least two metal units are both 78 mm in length and 3 mm in width.

[0030] Furthermore, the number of the metal units is 40, and the distance between two adjacent metal units is 3 mm.

[0031] It can be seen from the above description that the operating frequency of the antenna can be adjusted by adjusting the routing parameters of the coplanar waveguide, the electrical parameters of the dielectric substrate and the period of the metal unit.

[0032] The present invention also provides an electronic device, comprising the beam reconfigurable antenna as described above.

[0033] Embodiment 1

[0034] Please refer to Figure 1-3 , Embodiment 1 of the present invention is: a beam reconfigurable antenna, which can be applied to a 5G communication system.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, it includes a dielectric substrate 1, a coplanar waveguide 2, at least two metal units 3 and four radio frequency switches 4, the dielectric substrate 1 includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the coplanar waveguide 2 includes a first ground line 21, a second ground line 22 and a signal line 23 arranged between the first ground line 21 and the second ground line 22, the first ground line 21, the second ground line 22 and the signal line 23 are parallel, and the four radio frequency switches 4 are respectively a first radio frequency switch 41, a second radio frequency switch 42, a third radio frequency switch 43 and a fourth radio frequency switch 44.

[0036] The coplanar waveguide 2 and four radio frequency switches 4 are arranged on the first surface; at least two metal units 3 are arranged on the second surface and are periodically distributed; the projections of the first ground line 21, the second ground line 22 and the signal line 23 on the dielectric substrate 1 intersect and are perpendicular to the projections of each metal unit 3 on the dielectric substrate 1.

[0037] The first RF switch 41 and the second RF switch 42 are close to the input end of the coplanar waveguide 2, the signal line 23 is connected to the first ground line 21 through the first RF switch 41, and the signal line 23 is connected to the second ground line 22 through the second RF switch 42; the third RF switch 43 and the fourth RF switch 44 are close to the output end of the coplanar waveguide 2, the signal line 23 is connected to the first ground line 21 through the third RF switch 43, and the signal line 23 is connected to the second ground line 22 through the fourth RF switch 44.

[0038] The radiation body of the beam reconfigurable antenna of this embodiment is composed of a coplanar waveguide and a metal unit respectively arranged on both sides of a dielectric substrate. The fundamental mode of the planar coplanar waveguide is a slow wave mode, which is a transmission mode rather than a radiation mode. By arranging periodically distributed metal units, the radiation mode of the planar coplanar waveguide can be excited so that it periodically radiates energy during the transmission process.

[0039] The closer the first RF switch and the second RF switch are to the input end of the coplanar waveguide, and the closer the third RF switch and the fourth RF switch are to the output end of the coplanar waveguide, the easier it is to implement and the better the performance.

[0040] The RF switch connecting the signal line and the two ground lines is used to switch the planar coplanar waveguide transmission mode. Different combination states of the switch change the excitation mode of the planar coplanar waveguide, thereby changing the current distribution of the antenna to achieve the purpose of switching different beam shapes.

[0041] Specifically, when all four RF switches 4 are disconnected, the antenna feed line part, that is, the planar coplanar waveguide, has two excitation ports, namely a first excitation port located between the signal line 23 and the first ground line 21 and a second excitation port located between the signal line 23 and the second ground line 22.

[0042] When the two RF switches 4 on one side of the signal line 23 are both disconnected, and the two RF switches 4 on the other side are both closed, that is, a ground line in the planar coplanar waveguide is connected to the signal line, at this time, the antenna feeder part is equivalent to a single signal line and a single ground line structure, and the number of excitation ports is only one, which is the first excitation port between the signal line 23 and the first ground line 21 or the second excitation port between the signal line 23 and the second ground line 22. Specifically, when the first RF switch 41 and the third RF switch 43 are closed, and the second RF switch 42 and the fourth RF switch 44 are disconnected, the excitation port is the second excitation port between the signal line 23 and the second ground line 22; when the first RF switch 41 and the third RF switch 43 are disconnected, and the second RF switch 42 and the fourth RF switch 44 are closed, the excitation port is the first excitation port between the signal line 23 and the first ground line 21.

[0043] Furthermore, when the four RF switches are in the off state (mode 1), the excitation amplitude of the first excitation port is the same as the excitation amplitude of the second excitation port, and the excitation phase of the first excitation port is 180° different from the excitation phase of the second excitation port.

[0044] When the first RF switch and the third RF switch are disconnected and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are closed, or when the first RF switch and the third RF switch are closed and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are disconnected (mode 2), excitation is performed at the second excitation port or the first excitation port. At this time, the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase are not limited.

[0045] That is to say, when all four RF switches are in the off state (mode 1), differential excitation is introduced at the input port of the planar coplanar waveguide, that is, the excitation amplitude between the signal line and the two ground lines is the same but the excitation phase differs by 180°. This setting forms differential excitation on each metal unit, and the periodically distributed metal units are similar to array antennas with series feeding, and finally two beams are synthesized.

[0046] When the two RF switches between the signal line and one of the ground lines are both in the open state, and the two RF switches between the signal line and the other ground line are both in the closed state (mode 2), that is, the first RF switch and the third RF switch are open, and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are closed, or the first RF switch and the third RF switch are closed, and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are open, the antenna feed line part is equivalent to a structure of a single signal line and a single ground, and arbitrary excitation is performed at the only excitation port to form a single beam.

[0047] In this embodiment, the length of the coplanar waveguide 2 is 240 mm, that is, the lengths of the first ground line 21, the second ground line 22 and the signal line 23 are all 240 mm; the widths g of the first ground line 21 and the second ground line 22 are both 30 mm, and the width w of the signal line 23 is 12 mm; the distances s between the signal line 23 and the first ground line 21 and the second ground line 22 are both 3 mm. The metal unit 4 is in a strip shape, that is, the metal unit 4 is a metal grid. The number of metal grids is 40, each of which is 78 mm long and 3 mm wide; the distance between two adjacent metal grids is 3 mm.

[0048] The model of the dielectric substrate 1 selected in this embodiment is Rogers RO3003, with a dielectric constant of 3, a loss tangent of 0.001, and a thickness of 1.52 mm. In other embodiments, the dielectric substrate may also be other dielectric substrates of the same type.

[0049] Furthermore, the coplanar waveguide 2 and the metal unit 3 in this embodiment can be obtained by coating a metal layer on the dielectric substrate 1, such as Figure 2 shown.

[0050] Figure 3 This is the scanning radiation pattern of the beam reconfigurable antenna based on planar coplanar waveguide of this embodiment. It can be seen from the figure that by switching the switch, the antenna can realize single-beam and multi-beam mode switching, where mode 1 represents multi-beam (dual-beam) mode and mode 2 represents single-beam mode.

[0051] This embodiment is based on the structural design of the planar coplanar waveguide, which has a simple structure, low processing difficulty, and is conducive to planar integration with the microwave system, thereby improving the system integration level. No additional compensation technology is required, and different modes of the planar coplanar waveguide are stimulated by switching the switch, thereby realizing real-time conversion between single beam and multi-beam.

[0052] In summary, the beam reconfigurable antenna and electronic device provided by the present invention, by using a planar coplanar waveguide, due to its coplanar structure design, is more conducive to planar integration with a microwave system and improves system integration; by setting periodically distributed metal units, the radiation mode of the planar coplanar waveguide can be excited, so that it periodically radiates energy during the transmission process; by setting an RF switch connecting the signal line and two ground lines, the switching of the planar coplanar waveguide transmission mode is realized, and different combination states of the RF switch can change the excitation mode of the planar coplanar waveguide, thereby changing the current distribution of the antenna, and achieving the purpose of switching different beam forms; by introducing differential excitation at the input port of the planar coplanar waveguide, when all four RF switches are disconnected, differential excitation can be formed on each metal unit, and the periodically distributed metal units are similar to array antennas fed in series, and finally two beams are synthesized, that is, a multi-beam mode is realized; by closing the two RF switches connecting the signal line and one of the ground lines, the antenna feed line part is equivalent to a structure of a single signal line and a single ground, forming a single beam, that is, a single beam mode is realized. The present invention can realize the switching between single beam and multi-beam without additional compensation technology.

[0053] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied in related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A beam reconfigurable antenna, characterized in that: The invention comprises a dielectric substrate, a coplanar waveguide, at least two metal units and four radio frequency switches, wherein the dielectric substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the coplanar waveguide comprises a first ground line, a second ground line and a signal line arranged between the first ground line and the second ground line, and the four radio frequency switches are respectively a first radio frequency switch, a second radio frequency switch, a third radio frequency switch and a fourth radio frequency switch; The coplanar waveguide and four RF switches are arranged on the first surface, and the at least two metal units are arranged on the second surface; the at least two metal units are distributed periodically; the first RF switch and the second RF switch are close to the input end of the coplanar waveguide, and the third RF switch and the fourth RF switch are close to the output end of the coplanar waveguide; the signal line is connected to the first ground line through the first RF switch and the third RF switch, respectively, and the signal line is connected to the second ground line through the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch, respectively; the projections of the first ground line, the second ground line and the signal line on the dielectric substrate intersect and are perpendicular to the projections of each metal unit on the dielectric substrate; When the four RF switches are all disconnected, the excitation port includes a first excitation port and a second excitation port, the first excitation port is located between the signal line and the first ground line, and the second excitation port is located between the signal line and the second ground line; when the four RF switches are all in an off state, differential excitation is introduced at the input port of the coplanar waveguide, so that differential excitation is formed on each metal unit; When the first RF switch and the third RF switch are closed, and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are opened, the excitation port includes a second excitation port located between the signal line and the second ground line; When the first RF switch and the third RF switch are disconnected, and the second RF switch and the fourth RF switch are closed, the excitation port includes a first excitation port located between the signal line and the first ground line.

2. The beam reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the four radio frequency switches are all disconnected, the excitation amplitude of the first excitation port is the same as the excitation amplitude of the second excitation port, and the excitation phase of the first excitation port is 180° different from the excitation phase of the second excitation port.

3. The beam reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the coplanar waveguide is 240 mm; the widths of the first ground line and the second ground line are both 30 mm, and the width of the signal line is 12 mm; the distances between the signal line and the first ground line and the second ground line are both 3 mm.

4. The beam reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate is 3, the loss tangent is 0.001, and the thickness is 1.52 mm.

5. The beam reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal unit is a metal grid bar, and the length of the at least two metal units is 78 mm and the width is 3 mm.

6. The beam reconfigurable antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the metal units is 40, and the distance between two adjacent metal units is 3 mm.

7. An electronic device, characterized in that: It comprises the beam reconfigurable antenna as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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