Multi-band massive MIMO antenna array

Abstract

A dual-band, triple-band or higher-order multi-band antenna element array, wherein each element or a group of partial elements is connected to a plurality of radio devices at each antenna port. In one embodiment, an array includes a 128-element massive MIMO array having 64 horizontally polarized (H-polarized) elements and 64 vertically polarized (V-polarized) elements for enabling 4G and 5G operations with high configurability while providing dual-polarization capabilities within multiple frequency bands.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 927,109, filed on October 28, 2019, entitled "Multi-Band Massive MIMO Antenna Array", the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] An exemplary method according to some embodiments may include: a dual-band, triple-band or higher-order multi-band antenna element array, with each element or a group of partial elements connected to a plurality of radio devices at each antenna port. In one embodiment, an array includes a 128-element massive MIMO array having 64 horizontally polarized (H-polarized) elements and 64 vertically polarized (V-polarized) elements for providing dual-polarization capabilities.

[0003] Some embodiments serve two frequency bands. Alternative embodiments serve three frequency bands. In a three-band system, one frequency band includes a frequency-division duplexing scheme, herein referred to as FDD, which operates in the range of 1960 - 2170 MHz, where the radio technology is the fourth generation (4G), and the frequency ranges are: 1960 - 1980 MHz uplink; 2150 - 2170 MHz downlink. The second frequency band is a time-division duplexing channel, herein referred to as TDD, which operates in the frequency range of 3400 - 3600 MHz, where the radio technology is also 4G, and the frequency ranges are: 3400 - 3440 MHz TDD; 3560 - 3600 MHz TDD. The third frequency band is also TDD, but uses the fifth generation (5G) technology operating at 3900 - 4000 MHz.

[0004] In some embodiments, each frequency band uses a separate radio chipset, such that the above array includes three radio chipsets connected to the antenna feed points of a plurality of array antenna elements. Some antenna elements may be connected to two radio chipsets, while other antenna elements may be connected to only one chipset, or to more than two chipsets. In some embodiments, the multiple radio chipsets may be combined into a multi-radio transceiver module.

[0005] In some embodiments, the antenna elements are selectively connected to the transceiver through tuning devices such as RF switches, tunable capacitors, PIN diodes, etc. For adjacent elements selected for 2 GHz operation, an open-circuit condition is achieved through selective and dynamically configurable connections. At other frequencies, such elements may provide an impedance matching function. Such tuning devices may be placed at the feed ports of the antenna. This feature is used to overcome the low isolation problem caused by the small electrical spacing (λ / 4) between array elements at 2 GHz.

[0006] In addition, in some embodiments, tuning devices such as radio frequency switches, tunable capacitors, PIN diodes, etc. are used to connect or disconnect adjacent cells of the cells selected for 2 GHz operation, and are placed at the top of the slot at the transition from one slot to the next, or at other positions along the junction between cells. This feature is used to overcome the low isolation problem that occurs at 2 GHz due to the small electrical spacing (λ / 4) between array cells.

[0007] In some embodiments, a variable impedance is selected to optimize the isolation between adjacent cells. The impedance can be capacitive or inductive impedance, and can be implemented as a physical component or geometric feature of the antenna element or feed point. Within a certain frequency band, the variable impedance results in a short circuit, an open circuit, or an intermediate impedance state.

[0008] In some embodiments, the antenna elements used to fill the array are tapered slot antennas, commonly known as Vivaldi slot antennas. For the feed positions at two frequency bands of 2 GHz and 3.4 - 4.0 GHz, the required performance is provided by a dual-feed method. Other embodiments can support three or more feed points and / or additional frequency bands by extending this method. In some embodiments of the 2 GHz transceiver function, dual-polarization performance is achieved by using non-collocated H-polarized and V-polarized cells in pairs, thereby improving the ability to optimize the isolation between 2 GHz cells and adjacent cells.

[0009] The antenna array elements can be respectively connected to separate transceiver chip sets. Each chip set or transceiver module can be configured with an assigned received signal weighting factor. The transceiver modules are interconnected with a high-speed data communication bus, and each transceiver module is respectively disposed adjacent to the corresponding antenna element in the antenna array. A method can include: configuring a plurality of transceiver modules into a group of modules that communicate with each other by activating the associated high-speed data communication bus; receiving a plurality of wireless data signals by the plurality of transceiver modules, and then generating corresponding received baseband data signals; combining some of the received baseband signals within the group of modules by using the assigned received signal weighting factor by transmitting the received baseband signals between the transceiver modules within each group of modules, thereby generating a plurality of received beamforming signals; and demodulating the received beamforming signals.

[0010] Some embodiments of the exemplary method may further include: obtaining a plurality of transmitted digital baseband signals for transmission by the antenna array by the antenna array; respectively allocating each transmitted digital baseband signal to the corresponding plurality of transceiver modules; and applying the transmitted signal weighting factor of the allocated signal weighting factor to the transmitted digital baseband signal by each corresponding transceiver module.

[0011] Some embodiments of the illustrative method may further include: generating, by each transceiver, a transmitted modulated signal from a transmitted digital baseband signal using a digital modulator and a power amplifier; and combining the transmitted modulated signals.

[0012] Another illustrative method according to some embodiments may include: receiving, by an array of transceiver modules disposed on a planar array, a desired signal, each module being adjacent to one or more antenna elements on the planar array, wherein each transceiver module includes a plurality of digital demodulators and may include a baseband signal combiner; generating, by each transceiver module, a demodulated baseband modulated signal; and combining, by the planar array using the baseband signal combiner, the digital baseband signals. For some embodiments of this another illustrative method, the signal combiner may be configured by a signal weighting factor. For some embodiments of this another illustrative method, the signal weighting factor may include beamforming weights. For some embodiments of this another illustrative method, the beamforming weights may be column weighting factors, row weighting factors, or both.

[0013] An illustrative apparatus according to some embodiments may include: a plurality of transceiver modules within an antenna array, each transceiver having an assigned received signal weighting factor, each transceiver module being adjacent to a corresponding antenna element within the antenna array; a plurality of high-speed data communication buses connected to the plurality of transceiver modules; a controller for dividing the transceiver modules into groups of modules that communicate with each other by sending control signals; a plurality of accumulators associated with the groups of transceiver modules for receiving a plurality of received baseband data signals and forming a received beamformed signal by applying the assigned received signal weighting factors; and a demodulator for demodulating the received beamformed signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The drawings and the following detailed description are incorporated in and form a part of this specification to further illustrate embodiments of the inventive concepts contained herein and to explain the various principles and advantages of these embodiments, wherein like elements or elements with similar functions in the various drawings are denoted by like reference numerals.

[0015] Figure 1 Shown is a broadband antenna element;

[0016] Figure 2 Shown are array configuration manners of three examples of different modes of the array;

[0017] Figure 3 Shown is an array of 64 dual-polarization elements;

[0018] Figure 4 Shown is an embodiment of a dual-band Vivaldi element having two feeding ports.

[0019] Figure 5It is the return loss and isolation diagram of a dual-port Vivaldi unit.

[0020] Figure 6 and Figure 7 is the "egg crate" configuration of Vivaldi units within an array according to one embodiment.

[0021] Figure 8 Shown is an array according to one embodiment, showing a row of high-frequency band units.

[0022] Figure 9 is an array according to one embodiment, showing dual-band units and high-frequency band units in a hybrid setting.

[0023] Figure 10 Shown is the variable tuning applied to high-frequency band units to improve low-frequency band performance.

[0024] Figure 11 Shown is the choke groove contained within the antenna unit.

[0025] Figure 12 Shown is the radiation pattern of a 64-element high-frequency band array. The frequency of this radiation pattern is 3800 MHz.

[0026] Figure 13 Shown is the high-frequency band radiation pattern of a 16-element sub-array located in the middle of the array. The frequency of this radiation pattern is 3400 MHz.

[0027] Figure 14 Shown is the low-frequency band radiation pattern of one of the two 8-element low-frequency band sub-arrays formed by the units within a 64-element dual-band array. The frequency of this radiation pattern is 1950 MHz.

[0028] Those skilled in the art can understand that in the drawings, the illustration of each element is for simplicity and clarity and is not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, to help facilitate the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the dimensions of some elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements.

[0029] In the drawings, conventional symbols are used where appropriate to represent the components of the devices and methods, which only show the specific details relevant to the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, so as to avoid making the present disclosure difficult to understand due to details that are extremely obvious to those skilled in the art who benefit from the description of this specification.

[0030] The physical objects, connections, arrangements, etc. depicted in the various figures and described in connection with the figures herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Accordingly, any and all statements or other indications related to the "depicted" content of a particular figure, any and all statements or other indications related to the "form" or "content" of a particular element or physical object in a particular figure, and any and all similar statements that might be construed in isolation outside of context as having absolute meaning and thus being limiting may need to be understood only in a manner appropriate to follow positive statements such as "in at least one embodiment,...". For the sake of brevity and clarity of the text, this implied introductory statement is not repeated in the detailed description of the figures. Detailed implementation mode

[0031] The present disclosure discloses a large-scale MIMO array design, which is intended for applications providing dual-band or triple-band performance. Each array unit is designed to be arranged in the array in a manner capable of covering multiple frequency bands. In some embodiments, each array unit is a Vivaldi slot unit. For 5G applications at 3.9 GHz, all units in the array can be used. For 4G applications at 2.0 GHz and 3.6 GHz, one or more groups of array units are combined to form one or more fixed or scanning beams. A multi-band array in one embodiment includes 8×8 (64 dual linear polarizations) units, and all units are used for 5G large-scale MIMO applications. Sixteen of these units can be simultaneously used as sub-arrays for the 3.4 - 3.6 GHz frequency band for 4G applications. In addition, in some embodiments, two pairs of units each having a 2×4 configuration are used to provide a fixed beam for 2 GHz.

[0032] The dual-band array can be configured to meet the following requirements:

[0033] Frequency band:

[0034] FDD: 1960 - 2170 MHz 4G (1960 - 1980 MHz uplink, 2150 - 2170 MHz downlink)

[0035] TDD: 3400 - 3600 MHz 4G (3400 - 3440 MHz TDD; 3560 - 3600 MHz TDD)

[0036] TDD: 3900 - 4000 MHz 5G

[0037] Total output power: 10W

[0038] Dual linear

[0039] Figure 1Shown is a dual - band antenna element 102 for each array element of an array 100 that is to be filled with 8×8, a total of 64 positions (128 individual elements in total due to dual - polarization), and this array serves as a dual - band massive MIMO array. Each dual - band element simultaneously covers two frequency bands of 1960 - 2170 and 3400 - 4000 MHz. As Figure 1 shown, the positions of the elements are set such that, for the high - frequency band frequencies (3400 - 4000 MHz, λ HB / 2 = 40.5 mm), adjacent elements are spaced approximately half a wavelength (λ HB / 2) apart, and for the low - frequency band frequencies (1960 - 2170 MHz, λ LB / 2 = 72.5 mm), elements that are one element apart (i.e., alternately spaced elements) are spaced approximately λ LB / 2 apart. In some embodiments, the elements being spaced approximately λ / 2 at one frequency means that the corresponding elements at the other frequency are spaced within about 10 - 15% of λ / 2. That is, when considering the comparison of element spacings between adjacent and alternate elements, when the spacing at one frequency band is exactly λ / 2, the spacing at the other frequency band is λ / 2 ± 10%. In some embodiments, the spacing is between two ideal spacings such that adjacent elements are slightly closer than λ HB / 2 (e.g., 39.5 mm) and alternate elements are slightly farther than λ LB / 2 (e.g., 79.0 mm). In such arrangements, all elements can be used for operation at the high - frequency band, and one or more sets of alternately spaced elements can be used for operation at the low - frequency band. In some embodiments, when the low - frequency and high - frequency bands are separated by approximately an octave (i.e., a double - frequency relationship), the λ / 2 spacings can be most easily satisfied separately.

[0040] Thus, some embodiments are configured to operate in such a way that the center frequency of the first band is approximately twice the center frequency of the second band. As an alternative, some embodiments are configured such that the spacing between adjacent antenna elements is substantially equal to λ F1 / 2, where λ F1 is the wavelength of the center frequency of the first band, and the spacing between alternate antenna elements is substantially equal to λ F2 / 2, where λ F2 is the wavelength of the center frequency of the second band.

[0041] Figure 2Shown are the array configuration methods of three array modes. Among them, the broadband unit covers the frequency bands of 1960 - 2170 and 3400 - 4000 MHz. The configuration method 200 at the top shows the TDD mode: 3900 - 4000 MHz 5G operation. All antenna units can be used for this mode. The configuration method 204 in the middle shows the TDD mode: 3400 - 3600 MHz 4G operation (specifically: 3400 - 3440 MHz TDD; 3560 - 3600 MHz TDD). The 16 - element sub - array 202 formed in the center is used to achieve beam scanning. The configuration method at the bottom shows the FDD mode, which operates at 1960 - 2170 MHz and uses 4G technology (1960 - 1980 MHz uplink, 2150 - 2170 MHz downlink). Two groups of units 206, 208 are used to form two sub - arrays that provide fixed beams or dynamically formed beams.

[0042] Figure 3 Shown are 128 units providing 64 dual - polarized units in a paired configuration. These dual - polarized units are small dual - polarized slotted antenna units, which form a 64 - unit array in an 8×8 configuration. The unit height is 89 mm, and the unit spacing along both axes is 39.5 mm. An implementation of such a configuration is shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7 . To support dual - band operation, the array combines two types of antenna units: single - port units and dual - port units. In the first frequency band (high - frequency band), all units are active and have high - frequency 5G ports. In the second frequency band (low - frequency band, 4G band), some units (such as every other unit, or two or more groups among the alternate units) are still active and have a second port for operation in the 4G low - frequency band. As shown in Figure 1 , in the second frequency band (low - frequency band), the unit spacing of the said partial dual - band units is optimized so that they jointly act as an actively driven multi - antenna array. In the first frequency band (high - frequency band), the spacing between all units (including high - frequency units and dual - band units) is optimized so that they jointly act as an actively driven multi - antenna array. In a preferred operating environment, the high - frequency band and the low - frequency band differ by approximately one octave (i.e., twice the frequency of the latter). The said partial dual - band units are designed to operate in both high - frequency and low - frequency modes, and the remaining array units only operate in the high - frequency mode. Figure 8 Shown is a row of high - frequency band units within the array, Figure 9 shown is the combination of the units 904 that only operate in the high - frequency band and the dual - band units 902, 906 in the same array 900.

[0043] In some embodiments, the dual-band unit is integrated with different feed ports so that it can be connected to different radio transceivers for each operating frequency band or each operating mode. Figure 4 Shown is an embodiment of a Vivaldi antenna unit 410 integrated with different feed lines and connection means for a high-frequency band feed line 420 and a low-frequency band feed line 430, respectively. In this specific embodiment, the main slot or notch 450 of the Vivaldi slot unit is formed by etching or removing a metallization layer provided on one surface of a dielectric substrate (such as glass fiber commonly known as F4, or alternatives such as Teflon-coated glass dielectric) and extends vertically downward, while the side slot 460 is etched in the metallization layer and branches out from the main slot 450 to provide a second port. On the other side of the dielectric, the high-frequency band and low-frequency band feed lines are provided by metal traces or strip lines 420 and 430, respectively. It should be noted that the low-frequency band feed line 430 includes a microstrip line tip 440 to suppress the coupling of unwanted signals at the low-frequency band port 430 during high-frequency band operation. Other embodiments may incorporate other or additional topologies known in the art to further provide filtering or impedance matching capabilities. In some embodiments, the low-frequency band port slot 460 illustrated as including a right-angle bend section may be configured to have an arc section and may branch out from the main slot 450 at an angle. It should also be noted that Figure 9 The tip tuning element in unit 902 is shown as a tip tuning element bent 90 degrees. The total length of this tip tuning element, rather than its orientation, is the main determinant of the frequency characteristics. Therefore, by changing the orientation, space can be provided for additional ports such as a third slot or notch as required. Generally speaking, the operating frequency associated with a given port can be determined according to the electrical length of the corresponding slot. Therefore, some embodiments are configured such that each low-frequency band feed line is separately connected to a corresponding microstrip tip to suppress the coupling of high-frequency band signal energy at the low-frequency band feed line port.

[0044] Figure 5 An S-parameter plot representing the return loss and isolation of a dual-port Vivaldi unit.

[0045] Some embodiments of the tapered slot antenna element array are configured such that each antenna element has a horizontally polarized portion and a vertically polarized portion. Each portion of each antenna element has a first tapered slot formed by a void in a metallization layer provided on a first side of a dielectric substrate and an associated first feed line port formed by a first metallized strip line provided on a second side of the dielectric substrate, the first metallized strip line passing through the first void in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within a first frequency band. At least some of the antenna elements, and in some cases all of the antenna elements, have a second slot formed by a second void in the metallization layer provided on the first side of the dielectric substrate connected to the first slot and an associated second feed line port formed by a second metallized strip line provided on the second side of the dielectric substrate, the second metallized strip line passing through the second void in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within a second frequency band, the second frequency band being lower than the first frequency band.

[0046] The array can be configured with transceivers that operate each antenna element separately. In some embodiments, the first feed lines of each unit in the tapered slot antenna element array are respectively connected to corresponding radio frequency transceivers operating in the 3400 - 4000 MHz frequency band, and the second feed lines of each antenna element in said some of the antenna elements are respectively connected to corresponding radio frequency transceivers operating in the 1960 - 2170 frequency band.

[0047] In addition, each radio frequency transceiver operating in the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band can be connected to a corresponding antenna element through a duplexer to simultaneously achieve signal transmission within a first sub - frequency band in the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band and signal reception within a second sub - frequency band in the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band.

[0048] As Figure 10 Schematically shown, a tunable unit can be associated with some of the antenna elements to achieve impedance adjustment within one or more frequency bands. As an example, a tunable capacitor can be used to deliberately detune specific high - frequency band units of a selected array configuration and operating frequency band. A representative embodiment uses a varactor diode controlled by a DC signal superimposed on the fed radio frequency signal to achieve tunable capacitance. In a non - limiting example, a 3400 - 4000 MHz high - frequency band radio system can be synchronized with a low - frequency band system in time such that the antenna system uses only one frequency band at the same time point and, according to emergency requirements, appropriately drives and tunes specific groups of antenna elements. When the second frequency band is in use, the tunable impedance can be selectively controlled to achieve high impedance, low impedance, or medium impedance. This feature is used to overcome the low isolation problem due to the small electrical spacing (λ / 4) between array elements at 2 GHz.

[0049] Other embodiments may incorporate other active devices within the antenna element. For example, PIN switch diodes may be incorporated to provide additional signal steering and isolation in various operating modes. Switching or tuning control may be achieved by a DC signal superimposed on the RF feed signal or by a control signal independent of the RF feed signal.

[0050] Figure 11 Another embodiment is shown, in which a choke groove structure 1120 is provided at the junction between the first fin of the Vivaldi structure 1110 and an adjacent fin to suppress the current flowing from one Vivaldi antenna element to the next Vivaldi antenna element, thereby improving the performance of the low-frequency band array by electrically disconnecting adjacent elements in the array.

[0051] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above-described connection of the two feed ports to the selected antenna element can be extended to support elements having more than two feed ports. Similarly, using the methods and apparatus described herein, the requirements for operation at more than two frequency bands, additional radiation patterns, and / or connection to other numbers of radio systems can be met.

[0052] As Figure 2 shown, additional antenna array operating modes can be obtained by selectively driving portions of the antenna elements. Different groups of antenna elements can be associated with different groups of feed ports, thereby enabling support for three or more different radiation patterns by appropriate selection of the feed ports. Figure 2 The 16-element central sub-array of the 64-element array shown is a representative embodiment.

[0053] Figure 12 The first operating mode beam pattern is shown, in which all 64 elements are driven at 3800 MHz. Figure 13 The 16-element central sub-array is shown for TDD mode: 3400 - 3600 MHz; 4G technology (3400 - 3440 MHz TDD; 3560 - 3600 MHz TDD). This 16-element sub-array is used to achieve beam scanning.

[0054] Figure 14 Two groups of elements are shown for forming two sub-arrays to provide a fixed beam for FDD operation at frequencies from 1960 to 2170 MHz for 4G technology transmission (1960 - 1980 MHz uplink, 2150 - 2170 MHz downlink).

[0055] In some embodiments, the associated groups of cells of each sub-array share at least one common feed port configuration such that the sub-array can be selected by selecting the common feed port. In an alternative embodiment, the common feed port configuration can physically cover more cells, and then frequency-selective elements such as the above-mentioned frequency-dependent filters (such as stripline tips) and / or active switching elements (such as PIN diodes) within the selected antenna cells define the group of active cells to the desired sub-array within a specific frequency band.

[0056] In some embodiments of a method, one or more transceiver modules can be configured with weighting factors for beamforming.

[0057] Some embodiments of a method can include: receiving a desired signal by an array of transceiver modules disposed on a flat panel array, each module being adjacent to an antenna cell on the flat panel array, wherein each transceiver module can include a plurality of digital demodulators and can include a baseband signal combiner; generating a demodulated baseband modulation signal by each transceiver module; and combining the digital baseband signals by the flat panel array using the baseband signal combiner.

[0058] In some embodiments of a method, the signal combiner can be configured by signal weighting factors. In some embodiments of a method, the signal weighting factors can include beamforming weights. In some embodiments of a method, the beamforming weights can be column weighting factors, row weighting factors, or both.

[0059] Some embodiments of a device can include: a plurality of transceiver modules configured as an antenna array; a synchronization transmission circuit for sending a synchronization signal to the plurality of transceiver modules; a received carrier generation circuit for generating a received carrier reference signal; and a synchronization processing circuit for processing the synchronization signal and aligning the phase of the received carrier reference signal.

[0060] Some embodiments of a device can include: a plurality of transceiver modules arranged in an array and for receiving digital baseband signals; a plurality of digital modulators and power amplifiers, each for generating a transmitted modulation signal from the digital baseband signal; and a combiner for combining the transmitted modulation signals.

[0061] Some embodiments of a device can include: a plurality of antenna cells on a flat panel array; a plurality of transceiver modules disposed adjacent to one of the plurality of antenna cells on the flat panel array and for receiving a desired signal, wherein each transceiver module can include a plurality of digital demodulators and includes a baseband signal combiner; a demodulation circuit for generating a demodulated baseband signal by each transceiver module; and a combiner for combining the digital baseband signals by the flat panel array using the baseband signal combiner.

[0062] In other embodiments, a method includes: providing a plurality of first transmission signals of a first frequency band to an array of conical slot antenna elements, each antenna element having a horizontally polarized portion and a vertically polarized portion. Each of the plurality of first transmission signals is provided between the metallization layer of each antenna element having a first conical slot formed by a void in the metallization layer provided on the first side of the dielectric substrate and an associated first feeder port formed by a first metallized strip line provided on the second side of the dielectric substrate, the first metallized strip line passing through the first void in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within the first frequency band. Additionally, a plurality of second transmission signals of a second frequency band may be provided to at least some of the antenna elements having a second slot connected to the first slot and formed by a second void in the metallization layer provided on the first side of the dielectric substrate and an associated second feeder port formed by a second metallized strip line provided on the second side of the dielectric substrate, the second metallized strip line passing through the second void in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within the second frequency band, the second frequency band being lower than the first frequency band.

[0063] The method may include using antenna elements that at least partially include alternately spaced antenna elements or cells such that the center frequency of the first frequency band is approximately twice the center frequency of the second frequency band.

[0064] The method may include: making the spacing between adjacent antenna elements be substantially equal to λ F1 / 2, where λ F1 is the wavelength of the center frequency of the first frequency band; and making the spacing between alternate antenna elements be substantially equal to λ F2 / 2, where λ F2 is the wavelength of the center frequency of the second frequency band.

[0065] Some methods may generate respective ones of the plurality of first transmission signals by a plurality of first radio frequency transceivers operating in the 3400 - 4000 MHz frequency band, and generate respective ones of the plurality of second transmission signals by a plurality of second transceivers operating in a frequency division duplex mode within the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band.

[0066] Although specific embodiments have been described above in this specification, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, this specification and the drawings are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.

[0067] The foregoing benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element that may produce any benefit, advantage, or solution, or cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to become more pronounced should not be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all claims. The present invention is defined only by the appended claims, and these claims include any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of the claims as issued.

[0068] In addition, in this context, relational terms such as "first" and "second", "top" and "bottom", etc. may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action, and do not necessarily require or imply that there is actually such a relationship or order between these entities or actions. The words "comprising", "having", "including", "containing" or any variation thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains a series of elements does not include only those elements, but may also include other elements not expressly listed in such process, method, article, or apparatus, or elements inherent thereto. Without further limitation, an element following the expressions "comprising...", "having...", "including...", "containing..." does not exclude the presence of other like elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains the element. Unless expressly stated otherwise herein, an article not specifically designated as to quantity means one or more. The words "substantially", "essentially", "about", "approximately" or any other form thereof mean "close to" as understood by those skilled in the art, and in a non-limiting embodiment, it means within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. In this context, the term "connected" means "joined", but not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. An apparatus or structure described as being "configured" in a certain way means that it is at least configured in that way, and may also be configured in other ways not listed.

[0069] It will be appreciated that some embodiments may include one or more general or special-purpose processors (or "processing means"), such as one or more microprocessors, digital signal processors, custom processors, and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and dedicated stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) for controlling the one or more processors to implement some, most, or all of the functions of the methods and / or apparatuses described herein in conjunction with specific non-processor circuits. Alternatively, some or all of the above functions may also be performed by a state machine without stored program instructions, or implemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), where each function or some combination of specific functions may be implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the above two approaches may also be used.

[0070] Accordingly, some embodiments of the present disclosure or portions thereof may combine one or more processing devices with one or more software components (such as program code, firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.) stored in a tangible computer-readable storage device to jointly form a device with a specific configuration for implementing the functions described herein. Herein, the above combination that forms a device with a specific programming manner is generally referred to as a "module". The software components of each module can be written in a computer language and can be part of a monolithic code library, or can be developed as more dispersed code portions in the manner commonly used in object-oriented computer languages. In addition, each module can be distributed over multiple computer platforms, servers, terminals, etc. A given module can even be implemented such that different processing devices and / or computing hardware platforms that are independent of each other execute the above functions.

[0071] In addition, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (such as including a processor) to perform the methods described and claimed in this application. Such computer-readable storage media include, for example, but are not limited to, hard disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, read-only memories (ROMs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), and flash memories. In addition, it is contemplated that, for example, driven by factors such as time availability, prior art, and economic considerations, those skilled in the art can easily generate the above software instructions and programs as well as integrated circuits based on the concepts and principles described herein, although the process may require a great deal of effort and involve numerous design options.

[0072] The abstract part of the present disclosure is used to enable readers to quickly clarify the essence of the technical disclosure of the present application. The submission of this abstract part should be understood that it is not used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the appended claims. In addition, as can be seen from the above detailed description part, various features are combined in various embodiments to facilitate the description of the present disclosure. This manner of disclosure should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than those expressly set forth in each claim. On the contrary, as reflected in the appended claims below, the number of features on which the inventive technical solution depends is less than the total number of features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the appended claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description part, where each claim itself is separately regarded as a claimed technical solution.

Claims

1. A device, characterized in that, Comprising: A conical slot antenna element array, each antenna element having a horizontally polarized slot antenna portion oriented in a first plane and a vertically polarized slot antenna portion oriented in a second plane, the second plane being perpendicular to the first plane; Each slot antenna portion of each antenna element has a first conical slot formed by a first gap in a metallization layer provided on a first side of a dielectric substrate and a corresponding first feeder port formed by a first metallized strip line provided on a second side of the dielectric substrate, the first metallized strip line passing through the first gap in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within a first frequency band; At least one group of antenna elements in the antenna element array has a second slot connected to the first conical slot and formed by a second gap in the metallization layer provided on the first side of the dielectric substrate and a corresponding second feeder port formed by a second metallized strip line provided on the second side of the dielectric substrate, the second metallized strip line passing through the second gap in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within a second frequency band, the second frequency band being lower than the first frequency band; And A plurality of selectable impedance units, each selectable impedance unit being connected to a corresponding antenna element, the corresponding antenna element being disposed between antenna elements in the at least one group of antenna elements, the selectable impedance unit being configured to switch to one of a high impedance, a low impedance, or a medium impedance when operating in the second frequency band.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one group of antenna elements includes alternately spaced antenna elements.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The center frequency of the first frequency band is twice the center frequency of the second frequency band.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacing between adjacent antenna elements is equal to , where is the wavelength of the center frequency of the first frequency band, and the spacing between alternate antenna elements is equal to , where is the wavelength of the center frequency of the second frequency band.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first feeder lines of each antenna element of the conical slot antenna element array are respectively connected to corresponding radio frequency transceivers operating in the 3400 - 4000 MHz frequency band, and each second feeder line of each antenna element in the group of antenna elements is respectively connected to a corresponding radio frequency transceiver operating in the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each radio frequency transceiver operating in the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band is connected to the corresponding antenna element through a duplexer to simultaneously allow signal transmission within a first sub - band of the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band and signal reception within a second sub - band of the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one group of antenna elements is configured into two or more groups of units, wherein each group of units in the two or more groups of units forms a sub - array.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each second feeder line is respectively connected to a corresponding microstrip tip, and the microstrip tip suppresses the coupling of signal energy within the first frequency band to the second feeder port.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The selectable impedance unit is a tunable capacitor.

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Adjacent conical slot antennas include a choke slot between adjacent units.

11. A method, characterized in that, Comprising: A plurality of first transmission signals in a first frequency band are provided to a conical slot antenna element array. Each antenna element has a horizontally polarized slot antenna portion oriented in a first plane and a vertically polarized slot antenna portion oriented in a second plane, the second plane being perpendicular to the first plane. Each of the plurality of first transmission signals is provided between the metallization layers of each antenna element having a first conical slot formed by a first void in a metallization layer provided on a first side of a dielectric substrate and a corresponding first feeder port formed by a first metallized strip line provided on a second side of the dielectric substrate. The first metallized strip line passes through the first void in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within the first frequency band; A plurality of second transmission signals in a second frequency band are provided to at least one set of antenna elements of the antenna elements having a second slot connected to the first conical slot and formed by a second void in the metallization layer provided on the first side of the dielectric substrate and a corresponding second feeder port formed by a second metallized strip line provided on the second side of the dielectric substrate. The second metallized strip line passes through the second void in the metallization layer to couple electromagnetic radiation from the antenna element to free space within the second frequency band, the second frequency band being lower than the first frequency band; and The impedance values of a plurality of impedance units are selectively switchable. Each impedance unit is connected to a corresponding antenna element, and the corresponding antenna element is provided between the antenna elements in the at least one set of antenna elements. When operating in the second frequency band, the impedance value of the impedance unit can be selectively set to one of a high impedance, a low impedance, or a medium impedance.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein The at least one set of antenna elements includes alternately spaced antenna elements, or the center frequency of the first frequency band is twice the center frequency of the second frequency band.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein The spacing between adjacent antenna elements is equal to , where is the wavelength of the center frequency of the first frequency band, and the spacing between alternating antenna elements is equal to , where is the wavelength of the center frequency of the second frequency band.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The plurality of first transmission signals are respectively generated by a corresponding plurality of first radio frequency transceivers operating in the 3400 - 4000 MHz frequency band, and the plurality of second transmission signals are respectively generated by a corresponding plurality of second radio frequency transceivers operating in the frequency division duplex mode within the 1960 - 2170 MHz frequency band.

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