An antenna device comprising a circuit board and at least one antenna arranged on the circuit board

Abstract

The invention relates to an antenna device for a transceiver, comprising a circuit board, comprising a first antenna arranged on the circuit board, comprising a transmitting and receiving circuit arranged on the circuit board, the first antenna being connected to the transmitting and receiving circuit, comprising a second antenna (1) arranged on the circuit board, comprising a termination impedance (3) arranged on the circuit board, each second antenna (1) being connected to one of the termination impedances (3) by means of a strip line (2), at least one first contact (4) for measuring HF properties of one of the second antennas (1), which is then called a measuring antenna (1), and / or at least one second contact (5) for measuring HF properties of the termination impedance (3) connected to the measuring antenna (1) being arranged on the circuit board and the strip line (2) being detachable at a detachment location between the measuring antenna (1) and the termination impedance (3) and the strip line (2) forming a third contact (7) for measuring HF properties of the measuring antenna (1) on the side of the detachment location facing the measuring antenna and / or a fourth contact (8) for measuring HF properties of the termination impedance (3) on the side of the detachment location facing the termination impedance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an antenna device for a transceiver.

[0002] -Including circuit boards,

[0003] -Including the first antenna set on the circuit board.

[0004] -Includes the transmitting and receiving circuits mounted on the circuit board.

[0005] -The first antenna is connected to the transmitting and receiving circuits.

[0006] -Includes a second antenna mounted on the circuit board.

[0007] -Including the terminating impedance set on the circuit board, and

[0008] -In this case, each second antenna is connected to one of the terminating impedances via a stripline, particularly via a microstrip line. Background Technology

[0009] Antenna devices with antennas mounted on circuit boards are used in many technical fields, such as radar technology and mobile radio technology. Such antenna devices have the advantage of being small and compact in construction. This allows the sensors using the antenna device, or the circuit board on which the antenna device is mounted, to be kept small and compact. The first antenna of the antenna device is used to transmit or receive electromagnetic signals. The second antenna, conversely, is not used for transmission or reception. The second antenna is a so-called analog antenna, used to improve the electromagnetic characteristics of the antenna device.

[0010] The first antenna or first type of antenna connected to the transmitting and receiving circuits is an active antenna (main antenna). The second antenna or second type of antenna is a passive antenna (simulated antenna, auxiliary antenna), which is not used for transmitting and receiving under the specified usage conditions of the antenna device.

[0011] This simulated antenna is used to receive high-frequency radiation generated by the main antenna and also transmitted to the circuit board and within the circuit board in an unfavorable manner, and finally absorb it completely or at least partially through the terminating impedance, in the manner that the HF radiation is converted into heat there.

[0012] As is often the case when manufacturing similar products, at least a sample of the antenna device is removed from production, allowing for a more accurate analysis of the sample and its technical characteristics. Similarly, defective antenna devices are frequently examined more accurately to determine the cause of the defect.

[0013] In analysis, the high-frequency characteristics of antenna devices are often studied. This may require determining not only the high-frequency characteristics of the antenna but also the high-frequency characteristics of the terminating impedance. To determine the high-frequency characteristics of both the antenna and the terminating impedance, it is necessary to separate the antenna and the terminating impedance connected to it from each other; that is, the antenna and the terminating impedance are not interconnected via striplines.

[0014] The separate measurement of the high-frequency characteristics of the antenna and the terminating impedance may thus be possible in the antenna device, i.e., by doubly mounting not only the antenna but also the terminating impedance on the circuit board. More precisely, in the first embodiment, it is used only for measuring the high-frequency characteristics where the antenna and the terminating impedance are not interconnected, and in the second embodiment, it is used for operating the antenna device in which the antenna and the terminating impedance are interconnected. That is, the first embodiment is only used for measurement and has no function during the operation of the antenna device.

[0015] However, this solution is complicated not only by the dual arrangement of the building elements or structures, but also by the complexity of the surface required for the arrangement of the building elements or structures using circuit boards. The antenna device is thus larger than necessary for operation.

[0016] Because in many applications, there is very little space available for the antenna device, a solution with a dual structure is not suitable. Summary of the Invention

[0017] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a more compact antenna device that is manufactured in a large number of parts, wherein it is possible to study the high-frequency characteristics and defective arrangement of the sample in a simple manner.

[0018] This task is thus solved according to the present invention.

[0019] - On the circuit board, at least one first contact is provided for measuring the HF characteristics of a second antenna, referred to as the measuring antenna, and / or at least one second contact is provided for measuring the HF characteristics of the terminating impedance connected to the measuring antenna.

[0020] - The stripline of the microstrip line can be separated between the measuring antenna and the terminating impedance at a separation position, and the stripline forms a third contact on the side of the separation position facing the measuring antenna for measuring the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna and / or forms a fourth contact on the side of the separation position facing the terminating impedance for measuring the HF characteristics of the terminating impedance.

[0021] According to the present invention, one of the simulated antennas is used as the measurement antenna. The HF characteristics of the same or similar first antenna (main antenna) can be measured on these measurement antennas. The HF characteristics of the terminating impedance configured for the measurement antenna can be exemplarily determined for all other terminating impedances. To measure the HF characteristics of the measurement antenna and / or the terminating impedance configured for the measurement antenna, the stripline is separated at a decoupled position. Then, to measure the HF characteristics of the measurement antenna, at least one of the first and third contacts is placed in contact with the measuring head of the measuring instrument. To measure the HF characteristics of the terminating impedance configured for the measurement antenna, one of the second and fourth contacts is in contact with the measuring head of the measuring instrument.

[0022] The indirect measurement of the HF characteristics of the main antenna according to the invention by measuring the same or similar simulated antenna has advantages over the measurement of the main antenna itself, namely, the main antenna does not need to have additional metallization for forming the measurement contacts, which would adversely affect the HF characteristics of the main antenna.

[0023] By manufacturing a simulated antenna using the same manufacturing process and parameters as the main antenna, the HF characteristics of the simulated antenna can be transferred to the HF characteristics of the main antenna and are therefore comparable to them.

[0024] In the context of this invention, terminating impedance (resistance) refers to each type of HF shaft reservoir where HF radiation is converted into heat and thus absorbed through ohmic and / or dielectric losses. Here, terminating impedance can be implemented as a separate component. However, it is also possible that terminating impedance is not implemented as a separate component, for example, formed via the end of a stripline that extends into a lossy circuit board.

[0025] While the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna and the configured measuring impedance can be measured by separating the stripline between the measuring antenna and the configured measuring impedance, this alters the overall characteristics of the antenna assembly, rendering it unusable. However, because the measurement and separation are performed only on a sample or in a defective antenna assembly, the impact of failure of the antenna assembly used for measurement is less than the impact if each antenna assembly had a specific measurement configuration as described at the beginning.

[0026] The at least one first contact and the third contact of the antenna device according to the present invention can form a measurement connector for measuring the HF characteristics of the measurement antenna. The at least one second contact and the fourth contact can form a measurement connector for measuring the HF characteristics of the termination impedance connected to the measurement antenna.

[0027] The antenna device according to the invention, including the test structure, saves space on the circuit board and thereby reduces costs. Another advantage is that a direct measurement method is possible.

[0028] For radar sensors to function correctly, the frequency position of the antenna, such as that of the antenna assembly, is of great significance.

[0029] The characteristic of the circuit board of the antenna device that has the greatest influence on the frequency position of the antenna is:

[0030] -Dimensions of the copper structure

[0031] - Dielectric constant of the substrate

[0032] - Substrate thickness

[0033] - Copper roughness

[0034] - The dimensions of copper structures can usually be determined non-destructively.

[0035] The thickness of the substrate and the roughness of the copper are typically measured in a grinding process. Once the other three parameters are identified, the dielectric constant of the substrate can be determined using a test structure, such as a microstrip line or a ring resonator. Using the antenna device according to the invention and the measurement method according to the invention, the frequency position of the antenna can be directly determined without determining the four parameters mentioned above.

[0036] The antenna can be a patch antenna.

[0037] All first antennas and all second antennas can have the same antenna geometry. The first and second antennas do not need to have the same antenna geometry so that the presence or absence of frequency shift can be observed in the measurement results. However, it is advantageous to construct the first and second antennas identically, because then no conversion is needed, and the measurements from the second antenna can be used for the first antenna.

[0038] In the antenna device according to the invention, the stripline between the measuring antenna and the terminating impedance connected to the measuring antenna can be narrower in the separation position and the region of the first and second contacts than in the region where the stripline is connected to the terminating impedance or the measuring antenna. Due to the narrow configuration of the stripline in the separation position and the region of the first and second contacts, it is possible to mount the measuring head of a known measuring instrument to the first and second contacts and the third and fourth contacts created by the separation via the stripline. Of course, with the narrow configuration of the stripline, the characteristics of the measuring antenna change relative to the other antennas in the antenna device. In particular, the impedance can be changed. These effects of the narrow configuration of the stripline can be suppressed by other variations.

[0039] The stripline can be covered with solder resist in the area between the measuring antenna and the terminating impedance connected to the measuring antenna at the separation point and the first and second contacts. The solder resist between the stripline and the substrate of the circuit board can influence the resistance of the measuring antenna. This can suppress the effect of the narrow stripline. However, the effect on impedance is usually insufficient to compensate for the effect of the narrow stripline. Therefore, other measures can be taken to induce compensation. One of these measures will be explained further.

[0040] In the antenna device according to the invention, a first contact and a second contact can be respectively located on a first side of the stripline and on a second side of the stripline, situated in a region of separation between the measuring antenna and the terminating impedance connected to the measuring antenna. The arrangement of the contacts can thus correspond to the measuring head of a known measuring instrument. By providing a first (measuring) contact and a second (measuring) contact respectively on both sides of the stripline, i.e., symmetrically arranging two first and two second (measuring) contacts with respect to the stripline, the measurement of the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna or terminating impedance is particularly well achieved because HF radiation propagates symmetrically on both sides of the stripline.

[0041] The circuit board of the antenna device according to the present invention can be an HDI circuit board. The first and second contacts can be connected to microvias. Microvias can be provided between the first and second contacts on a first side of the stripline and between the first and second contacts on a second side of the stripline. The impedance can be influenced through these microvias to compensate for the impedance effect of the narrow stripline. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The invention will then be further explained with the aid of the accompanying drawings. Herein:

[0043] Figure 1 The diagram shows the portion including the measurement antenna, the terminating impedance configured for the measurement antenna, and the structure of the stripline between the measurement antenna and the terminating impedance.

[0044] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 The structure, however, includes a separate stripline between the measuring antenna and the terminal impedance. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The antenna device according to the invention is shown in a configuration on a circuit board and includes a measuring antenna 1, wherein only the end including the antenna patch is shown. The remaining portion of the measuring antenna is connected to the shown end. The measuring antenna 1 is connected to a terminating impedance 3 via a stripline 2. The stripline 2 has a constriction portion in which the stripline 2 is narrower than the region on which the guide wires of the stripline 2 are connected to the measuring antenna 1 or the terminating impedance 3.

[0046] Three micro-holes are provided on each side of the contraction section. These opposing micro-holes are interconnected in a layer (not shown) of the circuit board. The two micro-holes closest to the measuring antenna 1 are connected to one or more first contacts 4 and to HF ground on the other. Contacts 4 are configured such that sufficient contact surface is available for connection with the contact of the measuring head of the measuring instrument. The two micro-holes closest to the terminating impedance 3 are connected to one or more second contacts 5 and to HF ground on the other. Contacts 5 are also configured such that sufficient contact surface is available for connection with the contact of the measuring head of the measuring instrument. A centrally located micro-hole 6 is provided for adjusting the impedance of the stripline 2.

[0047] According to the method of the present invention, the stripline 2 is separated for measuring the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna 1 or the terminating impedance 3. A third contact 7 and a fourth contact 8 are formed at the separated ends of the stripline. The third contact 7 is formed at the end of the stripline 2 leading to the measuring antenna 1. The third contact 7 can be connected together with the first contact 4 by the measuring head contact of the measuring instrument to detect the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna. The fourth contact 8 can be connected together with the second contact 5 by the measuring head contact of the measuring instrument to detect the HF characteristics of the terminating impedance 3.

[0048] Although contacts 4 and 5, located on the side of stripline 2, are interconnected with the HF ground plane within the circuit board according to potential, it is advantageous that...

[0049] a) To determine the characteristics of the measuring antenna located near contact 7 on the stripline, contact 4, which is closest to the measuring antenna, is used.

[0050] b) To determine the characteristics of the terminating impedance next to contact 8 on the stripline, use contact 5, which is closest to the terminating impedance.

[0051] The measuring instrument may be a measuring instrument from MPI's TITAN detector series and the measuring head is a "MEMS coplanar contact head", as described and illustrated in the document MPI Detector Selection Guide (https: / / www.mpi-corporation.com / wp-content / uploads / ASTPDF / MPI-Probe-Selection-Guide.pdf).

[0052] List of reference numerals

[0053] 1 Measurement Antenna

[0054] 2 strip lines

[0055] 3. Terminal impedance

[0056] 4 First contact point

[0057] 5 Second contact point

[0058] 6. Microvias for impedance matching

[0059] 7 Third contact point

[0060] 8 Fourth contact point

Claims

1. Antenna device for transceivers -Including circuit boards, -Including the first antenna set on the circuit board. -Includes the transmitting and receiving circuits mounted on the circuit board. - The first antenna is connected to the transmitting and receiving circuitry. -Includes a second antenna mounted on the circuit board. -Including the terminating impedance (3) set on the circuit board, and - Each second antenna is connected to one of the terminating impedances (3) via a stripline (2). Its features are, - Set at least one first contact (4) on the circuit board for measuring the HF characteristics of one of the second antennas, hereinafter referred to as the measuring antenna (1), and / or at least one second contact (5) for measuring the HF characteristics of the terminating impedance (3) connected to the measuring antenna (1). - The stripline (2) can be separated at a separation position between the measuring antenna (1) and the terminal impedance (3) and the stripline (2) forms a third contact (7) for measuring the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna (1) on the side of the separation position facing the measuring antenna and / or forms a fourth contact (8) for measuring the HF characteristics of the terminal impedance (3) on the side of the separation position facing the terminal impedance.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The antenna is a patch antenna.

3. The antenna device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one first contact (4) and the third contact (7) are measurement connectors for measuring the HF characteristics of the measurement antenna (1).

4. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The at least one second contact (5) and the fourth contact (8) are measurement connectors for measuring the HF characteristics of the terminal impedance (3) configured for the measurement antenna (1).

5. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The stripline (2) is narrower in the region between the measuring antenna (1) and the terminal impedance (3) connected to the measuring antenna (1) in the separation position and the region of the first contact (4) and the second contact (5) than in the region connected to the separation position and the region of the first contact and the second contact.

6. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The stripline (2) is covered with solder resist in the area between the measuring antenna (1) and the terminal impedance (3) connected to the measuring antenna (1) in the separation position and the area of ​​the first contact (4) and the second contact (5).

7. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A first contact (4) and a second contact (5) are respectively on the first side of the stripline (2) and a first contact (4) and a second contact (5) are respectively on the second side of the stripline, which are located in the region of the separation position between the measuring antenna (1) and the terminal impedance (3) configured for the measuring antenna (1).

8. The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first contact (4) and the second contact (5) are connected to the micropore.

9. The antenna device according to claim 7, characterized in that, Microholes (6) are provided on the first side of the strip (2) between the first contact (4) and the second contact (5) and on the second side of the strip (2) between the first contact (4) and the second contact (5).

10. A method for measuring the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna (1) and / or the terminating impedance (3) connected to the measuring antenna (1) of the antenna apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Its features are, - In order to measure the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna (1) and / or the terminal impedance (3) configured for the measuring antenna (1), the stripline (2) is separated at the separation position. -Then, in order to measure the HF characteristics of the measuring antenna (1), at least one of the first contact (4) and the third contact (7) is brought into contact with the measuring head of the measuring instrument, and / or -Then, in order to measure the HF characteristics of the terminal impedance (3) configured for the measuring antenna (1), one of the second contact (5) and the fourth contact (8) is brought into contact with the measuring head of the measuring instrument.

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