Antenna array device

Abstract

The present invention provides an antenna array device, comprising a substrate, a plurality of antenna units, a metal ground plane, and a first isolation unit group. The substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface; the plurality of antenna units are disposed on the first surface, wherein the plurality of antenna units have a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction opposite to the first polarization direction, and each of the plurality of antenna units has a first through hole; the metal ground plane is disposed on the second surface; and the first isolation unit group is disposed between two adjacent antenna units, wherein the arrangement direction of the first isolation unit group is perpendicular to the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction, wherein the first isolation unit group comprises two adjacent isolation units, each of the two isolation units comprises an outer end and an inner end opposite to the outer end, and the inner end is connected to the metal ground plane via a second through hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to fifth-generation new radio (5G NR) technology, and in particular to an antenna array device. Background Art

[0002] In fifth-generation new radio (5G NR) millimeter wave (mmWave) antenna arrays, the steering angle is a measure of the achievable scanning range of the antenna beam. Currently, patch antennas are widely used in current 5G NR mmWave antenna arrays. However, due to the coupling effect between patch antennas, their steering angle is often affected. Therefore, how to reduce the coupling effect between patch antennas to increase the steering angle is an urgent problem for those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides an antenna array device, comprising a substrate, a plurality of antenna units, a metal ground plane, and a first isolation unit group. The substrate comprises a first surface and a second surface; the plurality of antenna units are disposed on the first surface, wherein the plurality of antenna units have a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction opposite to the first polarization direction, and each of the plurality of antenna units has a first through hole; the metal ground plane is disposed on the second surface; and the first isolation unit group is disposed between two adjacent antenna units, wherein the arrangement direction of the first isolation unit group is perpendicular to the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction, wherein the first isolation unit group comprises two adjacent isolation units, each of the two isolation units comprises an outer end and an inner end opposite to the outer end, and the inner end is connected to the metal ground plane via a second through hole.

[0004] Based on the above, the antenna array device provided by the present invention can increase the isolation between the antenna elements by providing an isolation element between two antenna elements, thereby increasing the scanning angle of the antenna elements. In addition, the scanning angle of the antenna elements can be further significantly increased by increasing the number of isolation elements between two antenna elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Figure 1 A top view of an antenna array device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0006] Figure 2 A top view of a portion of an antenna array device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0007] Figure 3A side view of a portion of an antenna array device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0008] Figure 4 A top view of an antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0009] Figure 5 A top view of a portion of an antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0010] Figure 6 A side view of a portion of an antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0011] Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating the resonance frequency band and isolation of a portion of an antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0012] Description of reference numerals:

[0013] 100, 200: Antenna array device

[0014] 110a, 110b: antenna units

[0015] 120a, 120b: Isolation unit group

[0016] 130a, 130b: another isolation unit group

[0017] P1: First antenna array

[0018] P2: Second antenna array

[0019] M:Substrate

[0020] G: Metal ground plate

[0021] SP, SP': part of the antenna array device

[0022] D1~D3: distance

[0023] L1~L2: length

[0024] via1~via2:first and second through holes

[0025] outer: outer end

[0026] inner: inner end

[0027] E1-E2: Edge

[0028] strip: isolation unit

[0029] SF1: First Surface

[0030] SF2: Second Surface

[0031] op: resonance frequency band

[0032] iso: isolation DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a top view of an antenna array device 100 is shown, wherein Figure 1 It is a top view on the xy plane. Figure 2 According to an embodiment of the present invention, a top view of a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 is shown, wherein Figure 2 It is a top view on the xy plane. Figure 3 A side view of a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein Figure 3 This is a top view on the xz plane. Also refer to Figures 1 to 3 The antenna array device 100 may include a substrate M, a first antenna array P1, a second antenna array P2, and a metal ground plate G.

[0034] Furthermore, the substrate M may include a first surface SF1 and a second surface SF2 corresponding to each other. The first antenna array P1 may include a plurality of antenna units (eg, Figure 1 As shown in the antenna unit 110a), a plurality of antenna units in the first antenna array P1 may be disposed on the first surface SF1, and these antenna units may have a first polarization direction (eg, -x direction).

[0035] In addition, the second antenna array P2 may also include multiple antenna units (eg, Figure 1 As shown in the antenna unit 110b, multiple antenna units in the second antenna array P2 may also be disposed on the first surface SF1, and these antenna units may have a second polarization direction (eg, x direction) opposite to the first polarization direction.

[0036] It is worth noting that Figures 1 to 3 Although the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 in the embodiment have horizontal polarization directions (i.e., -x direction and x direction), the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 may also have vertical polarization directions (e.g., when Figures 1 to 3 When the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 are rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, the polarization directions of the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 are respectively -y direction and y direction).

[0037] Furthermore, the metal ground plate G may be disposed on the second surface SF2. In some embodiments, the plurality of antenna units in the first antenna array P1 and the plurality of antenna units in the second antenna array P2 may be connected to the first antenna array P1 through respective through holes (eg, Figure 2 A first through hole via1 in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 is connected to an antenna feeding point.

[0038] In addition, the first antenna array P1 may also include a plurality of isolation unit groups (eg, Figure 1 The second antenna array P2 may also include a plurality of isolation unit groups (eg, Figure 1 Furthermore, the isolation unit group can be disposed between two adjacent antenna units (i.e., one isolation unit can be disposed between each of the two adjacent antenna units), wherein the arrangement direction of the isolation unit group is perpendicular to the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction (for example, when the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction are the -x direction and the x direction, respectively, the arrangement direction of the isolation unit group is the y direction).

[0039] In this embodiment, the isolation unit group may be two adjacent isolation units (eg, Figure 2 The isolation unit strip in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100, wherein each of the two isolation units may include an outer end (eg, Figure 2 The outer end (outer) of the isolation unit strip in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 and the inner end (for example, Figure 2 The inner end of the isolation unit strip in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 is connected to the inner end via a through hole (eg, Figure 2 The second through hole (via2) on the isolation unit strip in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 can be connected to the metal ground plate G.

[0040] In some embodiments, the substrate M can be a printed circuit board (PCB) made of an insulating material. The substrate M can be made of materials commonly used in PCB manufacturing, such as Teflon (PTFE) or epoxy resin (FR4). Thus, the first antenna array P1, the second antenna array P2, and the isolation unit group can be directly printed on the substrate M (for example, multiple patch antennas can be printed on the substrate M to serve as the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2, and multiple metal strips can be printed on the substrate M to serve as the isolation units in the isolation unit group). Furthermore, the metal ground plane G can be made of a metal material such as copper foil.

[0041] In some embodiments, the length of the isolation cells in the isolation cell group (eg, Figure 2 The length L1 of a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 may be a quarter of the wavelength of the center frequency of the resonance frequency band of the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2.

[0042] In some embodiments, the distance between the isolation cells in the isolation cell group (e.g., Figure 2 The distance D1 in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 may be smaller than one twentieth of the wavelength of the center frequency of the resonance frequency band of the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2.

[0043] In some embodiments, the distance between the first through holes of two adjacent antenna units (ie, all antenna units in the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2) is (for example, Figure 2 The distance D2 in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 is half the wavelength of the center frequency of the resonance frequency band of the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2.

[0044] In some embodiments, the antenna elements in the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 may include two edges (eg, Figure 2 The edges E1 and E2 of a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 are arranged such that the lengths of the two edges (eg, Figure 2 In a further embodiment, the distances between the antenna elements and the adjacent isolation element groups (eg, Figure 2 The distance D3) in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 may be one third of the length of the above-mentioned edge.

[0045] In some embodiments, the isolation unit group can resonate with the antenna units through their respective through-holes to isolate the signals between these antenna units. In other words, a portion of the signal generated by an antenna unit can interfere with adjacent antenna units through the through-holes of the isolation unit group. Therefore, these through-holes can be used to resonate with them, preventing a portion of the signal generated by an antenna unit from interfering with adjacent antenna units. This can significantly increase the isolation between the antenna units, thereby increasing the scanning angle of each antenna unit.

[0046] Based on the above, the antenna array device 100 can utilize an isolation unit group disposed between two adjacent antenna units to increase the isolation between the antenna units, thereby greatly increasing the scanning range of each antenna unit.

[0047] It is worth noting that, in addition to one isolation unit group, a second isolation unit group may be provided between two adjacent antenna units. Therefore, an embodiment of providing two isolation unit groups between two adjacent antenna units is proposed below.

[0048] Figure 4 According to another embodiment of the present invention, a top view of an antenna array device 200 is shown, wherein Figure 4 It is a top view on the xy plane. Figure 5 According to another embodiment of the present invention, a top view of a portion SP' of an antenna array device 200 is shown, wherein Figure 5 It is a top view on the xy plane. Figure 6 According to another embodiment of the present invention, a top view of a portion SP' of the antenna array device 200 is shown, wherein Figure 6 This is a top view on the xz plane. Also refer to Figures 4 to 6 , the antenna array device 200 can be used with Figures 1 to 3 The antenna array apparatus 100 of FIG. 2 is similar in configuration to the antenna array apparatus 200, with the only difference between the two being the number of isolation unit groups provided between two adjacent antenna units (i.e., the antenna array apparatus 200 employs two isolation unit groups, while the antenna array apparatus 100 employs one isolation unit group). Therefore, only the differences will be described here, and the remaining similarities will not be elaborated on.

[0049] Specifically, in the antenna array device 200, an isolation unit group (eg, Figure 4 The isolation unit group 120a and 120b in the figure may further include another isolation unit group (for example, Figure 4 In other words, another isolation unit group is adjacent to each isolation unit group and is disposed between two adjacent antenna units, wherein the arrangement direction of these another isolation units is parallel to the arrangement direction of these isolation unit groups.

[0050] In some embodiments, another isolation unit group and the distance between adjacent isolation units (eg, Figure 5 The distance D1 in a portion SP' of the antenna array device 200 may be smaller than one twentieth of the wavelength of the center frequency of the resonance frequency bands of the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2.

[0051] In some embodiments, the through-holes of the two isolation unit groups disposed between two adjacent antenna units can resonate with the aforementioned antenna units to isolate the signals between these antenna units. In other words, a portion of the signal generated by one antenna unit can interfere with an adjacent antenna unit via the locations of the through-holes of the two isolation unit groups. Therefore, these through-holes can be utilized to resonate with them to prevent a portion of the signal generated by this antenna unit from interfering with the adjacent antenna unit. This can further increase the isolation between the antenna units (this isolation will be better than the isolation provided by only a single isolation unit group between two adjacent antenna units), thereby increasing the scanning range of each antenna unit.

[0052] It should be noted that the other isolation unit group may have the same structure as the isolation unit group, and therefore will not be described in detail herein.

[0053] Figure 7 According to another embodiment of the present invention, a schematic diagram of the resonance frequency band and isolation (coupling coefficient (s-parameter) and frequency) of a portion of SP' in the antenna array device 200 is shown. Figures 4 to 7 The resonant frequency band op of a portion of the SP' in the antenna array apparatus 200 is approximately 27.08 GHz to 29.93 GHz (a frequency band less than -10 dB), with a center frequency of approximately 28 GHz. Consequently, the isolation iso of the portion of the SP' in the antenna array apparatus 200 is approximately -25 dB. In other words, the isolation iso of the portion of the SP' in the antenna array apparatus 200 meets the isolation requirement of the 5G New Radio (5G NR) standard (i.e., less than -20 dB).

[0054] Based on the above, the antenna array device 200 can further increase the isolation between antenna units by using two isolation unit groups disposed between two adjacent antenna units, thereby greatly increasing the scanning angle of each antenna unit.

[0055] In summary, the antenna array device of the present invention can significantly increase the isolation of the antenna units by utilizing the above-mentioned configuration of the isolation units. This significantly increases the isolation of the antenna units, thereby further increasing the scanning angle of the antenna units without causing coupling effects.

[0056] Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to the embodiments, they are not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art may make slight changes and modifications without departing from the concept and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the claims.

Claims

1. An antenna array device, comprising: A substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface; A plurality of antenna units are disposed on the first surface, wherein the plurality of antenna units have a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction opposite to the first polarization direction, and each of the plurality of antenna units has a first through hole; a metal ground plate disposed on the second surface; as well as A first isolation unit group is arranged on the first surface and between two adjacent antenna units, characterized in that the arrangement direction of the first isolation unit group is perpendicular to the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction, wherein the first isolation unit group is two isolation units arranged adjacent to each other along a direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction, each of the two isolation units includes an outer end and an inner end opposite to the outer end, and the inner end of each of the two isolation units is connected to the metal ground plate via a second through hole, wherein the inner end of the first isolation unit of the two isolation units is adjacent to the inner end of the second isolation unit of the two isolation units, the outer end of the first isolation unit of the two isolation units is an end that is not adjacent to the second isolation unit of the two isolation units, and the outer end of the second isolation unit of the two isolation units is an end that is not adjacent to the first isolation unit of the two isolation units, and wherein, Each of the two isolation units is composed of a metal strip, and the length of the metal strip along the direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction is a quarter of the wavelength of the center frequency of the resonance frequency band of the plurality of antenna units.

2. The antenna array device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second isolation unit group, each of the second isolation unit groups being adjacent to the first isolation unit group and disposed between two of the adjacent antenna units.

3. The antenna array device as claimed in claim 2, wherein an arrangement direction of the second isolation unit group is parallel to an arrangement direction of the first isolation unit group, and wherein the plurality of antenna units are connected to antenna feeding points via respective first through holes. 4 . The antenna array device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein a distance between the first through holes of two adjacent antenna units is half a wavelength of a center frequency of a resonance frequency band of the plurality of antenna units. 5 . The antenna array device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first isolation unit group and the second isolation unit group are respectively arranged between every two antenna units of the plurality of antenna units. The antenna array device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a distance between the two isolation units is less than one twentieth of a wavelength of a center frequency of a resonance frequency band of the plurality of antenna units.

7. The antenna array device as described in claim 1, wherein each of the multiple antenna units includes an edge, wherein one antenna unit of two adjacent antenna units of the multiple antenna units is spaced apart from the multiple first isolation unit groups by a distance that is one-third the length of the edge. 8 . The antenna array device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction are both horizontal polarization directions, or both vertical polarization directions.

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