Antenna structure and display device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide an antenna structure and a display device. The antenna structure comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate arranged oppositely, a dielectric layer, a first metal layer and a second metal layer; the dielectric layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate; the first metal layer is arranged on a side of the first substrate close to the dielectric layer; the second metal layer is arranged on a side of the second substrate close to the dielectric layer; a normal projection of the first metal layer on the second metal layer falls within a range of the second metal layer; in the radiation area, a first part of the first metal layer, a first part of the dielectric layer and a first part of the second metal layer form at least one modulation unit for forming at least two target direction beams. The antenna structure provided by the embodiments of the present application can increase the radiation range of the antenna structure, increase the scanning range of the antenna structure, and also can increase the gain of the beam.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, in particular, the present application relates to an antenna structure and a display device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Beam scanning antenna is a key technology to achieve efficient large coverage range target detection in wireless communication, and is widely used in radar, satellite navigation and wireless positioning system.

[0003] The beam scanning range of the beam scanning antenna is one of the most concerned problems in the antenna structure design. With the rapid development of the communication industry, the spectrum resources and the information capacity of the base station are very nervous today, and most of the traditional scanning antennas have the disadvantages of small scanning range, difficult integration or low gain, and the application field is very limited. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application aims at the shortcomings of the prior art, and proposes an antenna structure and a display device to solve the technical problems that most of the traditional scanning antennas have the disadvantages of small scanning range, difficult integration or low gain.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an antenna structure having a radiation area, the antenna structure comprising: a first substrate and a second substrate arranged oppositely, a dielectric layer, a first metal layer and a second metal layer;

[0006] The dielectric layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate;

[0007] The first metal layer is arranged on one side of the first substrate close to the dielectric layer;

[0008] The second metal layer is arranged on one side of the second substrate close to the dielectric layer; the orthographic projection of the first metal layer on the second metal layer falls within the range of the second metal layer;

[0009] In the radiation area, the first part of the first metal layer, the first part of the dielectric layer and the first part of the second metal layer form at least one modulation unit for forming beams of at least two target directions.

[0010] Optionally, the antenna structure further has a transition area and a feeding area arranged at least one end of the radiation area, and the transition area is located between the feeding area and the radiation area;

[0011] In the transition area, the unit area of at least one of the second part of the first metal layer and the second part of the second metal layer gradually decreases along the first direction.

[0012] Optionally, in the radiation region, the first part of the first metal layer is in a strip shape, and includes at least one pattern unit arranged periodically along a first direction; along the first direction, the area of each pattern unit changes in turn according to an order of increasing, decreasing, increasing, and decreasing; the first direction is a direction of the transition region towards the radiation region.

[0013] Each pattern unit and a part of the second metal layer opposite to the pattern unit and a part of the dielectric layer corresponding to the pattern unit form each modulation unit.

[0014] Optionally, each pattern unit includes grooves opened on two sides of the first part of the first metal layer in one-to-one correspondence; the openings of the grooves on the two sides of the first part of the first metal layer are respectively towards a second direction and a third direction; the second direction is opposite to the third direction and both are perpendicular to the first direction.

[0015] Along the first direction, the groove depth of the groove on one side of the first part of the first metal layer is arranged periodically according to a first period; within the first period, the groove depth of the groove decreases first and then increases.

[0016] Along the first direction, the groove depth of the groove on the other side of the first part of the first metal layer is arranged periodically according to a second period; within the second period, the groove depth of the groove increases first and then decreases; the second period is greater than the first period.

[0017] Optionally, the connection between the groove wall and the groove bottom of the groove is a right angle or a round angle.

[0018] Optionally, in the transition region, the second part of the first metal layer includes a first sector block, a first transition block, and a second sector block arranged in turn and spaced apart along a direction perpendicular to the first direction; one end of the first sector block is towards the feeding region, and the other end is towards the radiation region.

[0019] Along the first direction, the spacing at the boundary between the first sector block and the first transition block and the spacing at the boundary between the second sector block and the first transition block both increase in turn; the two sides of the first transition block each have grooves recessed in the second direction and the third direction in one-to-one correspondence; the groove depths of the grooves increase in turn.

[0020] Optionally, in the radiation region, the orthographic projection of the first part of the first metal layer on the second metal layer coincides with the first part of the second metal layer.

[0021] In the transition region, along the first direction, the size per unit area of the second part of the first metal layer is constant, and the size of the second part of the second metal layer decreases in turn to be consistent with the size of the first part of the first metal layer.

[0022] Optionally, in the radiation region, the first part of the first metal layer comprises at least one pattern unit arranged periodically along the first direction; each of the pattern units comprises at least one first groove unit and at least one second groove unit, the groove opening of the first groove unit faces the second direction, and the groove opening of the second groove unit faces the third direction.

[0023] Each of the pattern units and the part of the second metal layer opposite to the pattern unit, and the part of the corresponding dielectric layer form each of the modulation units.

[0024] Optionally, in each of the pattern units, the boundaries between the groove units facing the second direction have a step.

[0025] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a display device, comprising the antenna structure provided in the first aspect.

[0026] The technical scheme provided by the embodiments of the present application has the beneficial technical effects including:

[0027] The radiation region of the antenna structure in the embodiments of the present application can be regarded as a waveguide, which can propagate electromagnetic waves in TM mode. The electromagnetic waves in TM mode are slow waves and cannot be radiated into free space. By arranging the modulation units in the radiation region, the electromagnetic waves confined in the waveguide can be radiated into free space. The electromagnetic waves can form at least two wave beams in target directions, which can increase the radiation range of the antenna structure, and further increase the scanning range of the antenna structure. Each of the wave beams in the multiple wave beams is narrower than a single wave beam, which can increase the gain of the wave beam. Further, the wave beams in the multiple wave beams have steep drop between them, the interference between the wave beams is small, the overlapping between the wave beams is narrow, and the base station capacity expansion effect can be achieved.

[0028] Moreover, at the same frequency, by changing the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer, the frequency scanning of the wave beam can be realized, and the control of the wave beam is more flexible. The antenna provided by the present application can be prepared by using a semiconductor conventional process, and the preparation is relatively simple.

[0029] The additional aspects and advantages of the present application will be partially given in the following description, which will become apparent, or will be learned by the following description, or will be understood by the practice of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present application will become apparent and be readily understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 a structural schematic diagram of an antenna structure provided by the embodiments of the present application;

[0032] Figure 2A structural schematic view of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 3 A top view schematic view of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 4 A structural schematic view of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 A local enlarged view of one end;

[0035] Figure 5 A structural schematic view of a pattern unit of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Figure 6 A far field radiation pattern of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application when the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is 2.6;

[0037] Figure 7 A far field radiation pattern of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application when the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is 2.8;

[0038] Figure 8 A far field radiation pattern of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application when the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is 3.0;

[0039] Figure 9 A structural schematic view of a pattern unit of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 10 A far field radiation pattern of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application when the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is 2.6;

[0041] Figure 11 A structural schematic view of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 12 A local enlarged view of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 13 A structural schematic view of a pattern unit of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 14 A three-dimensional structural schematic view of a radiation area of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 15 A far field radiation pattern of another antenna structure provided by an embodiment of the present application when the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is 2.6.

[0046] Reference signs:

[0047] 100-antenna structure; 101-radiation zone; 102-transition zone; 103-feeding zone;

[0048] 110-first substrate;

[0049] 120-second substrate;

[0050] 130-medium layer;

[0051] 140-first metal layer;

[0052] 141-first part of the first metal layer 140; 1410-patterning unit; 1411-groove; 1412-first groove unit; 1413-second groove unit; 1414-first period; 1415-second period;

[0053] 142-second part of the first metal layer 140; 1421-first sector block; 1422-first transition block; 1423-second sector block;

[0054] 143-third part of the first metal layer 140; 1431-first metal block; 1432-second metal block; 1433-third metal block;

[0055] 150-second metal layer; 151-first part of the second metal layer 150; 152-second part of the second metal layer 150; 153-third part of the second metal layer 150;

[0056] A-first direction; B-second direction; C-third direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] Embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings are exemplary descriptions of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

[0058] Those skilled in the art can understand that, unless specifically stated otherwise, the singular form "a", "an", "said" and "the" used herein can also include the plural form. It should be understood that when we say that an element is "connected" or "coupled" to another element, the element can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or it can be connected or coupled to the other element through an intermediate element. The term "and / or" used herein means at least one of the items defined by the term, for example, "A and / or B" can be implemented as "A", or as "B", or as "A and B".

[0059] To make the purposes, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0060] Firstly, several terms related to the embodiments of the present application are explained:

[0061] TEM (Transverse Electric and Magnetic Field) mode electromagnetic wave: there is no electric field and magnetic field component in the propagation direction, which is called transverse electromagnetic wave.

[0062] Quasi-TEM mode electromagnetic wave: allows the existence of electric field and magnetic field components in the propagation direction, but they must be much smaller than the transverse component (i.e. the component perpendicular to the propagation direction).

[0063] TM (Transverse magnetic wave) mode wave: electromagnetic wave with the magnetic field direction perpendicular to the propagation direction.

[0064] Applicants have found that antennas, as an important part of modern communication systems, are mainly used for radiating and receiving electromagnetic energy. With the increasing demand of society for communication systems, the gain and beam scanning capability of the antenna are of great concern. Compared with other types of antennas, leaky-wave antennas have the characteristics of high directivity, low profile, and beam scanning with frequency.

[0065] In addition, leaky-wave antennas have the frequency scanning characteristic that the main lobe beam direction changes with the change of the frequency of the fed electromagnetic wave. However, this frequency scanning characteristic often occupies a relatively wide continuous frequency band resource, and the signal capacity of the base station is limited, which limits the application of leaky-wave antennas.

[0066] The antenna structure and display device provided by the present application aim to solve the above technical problems of the prior art.

[0067] The technical solutions of the present application and how the technical solutions of the present application solve the above technical problems will be described in detail below with specific embodiments. It should be pointed out that the following embodiments can be mutually referenced, borrowed or combined. For the same terms, similar features and similar implementation steps in different embodiments, they will not be described repeatedly.

[0068] The present application provides an antenna structure 100 having a radiation area 101, as shown in Figure 1 The antenna structure 100 includes a first substrate 110 and a second substrate 120 arranged opposite to each other, a dielectric layer 130, a first metal layer 140 and a second metal layer 150.

[0069] The dielectric layer 130 is arranged between the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120.

[0070] The first metal layer 140 is arranged on the side of the first substrate 110 close to the dielectric layer 130.

[0071] The second metal layer 150 is arranged on the side of the second substrate 120 close to the dielectric layer 130. The orthographic projection of the first metal layer 140 on the second metal layer 150 falls within the range of the second metal layer 150.

[0072] In the radiation area 101, the first part 141 of the first metal layer 140, the first part of the dielectric layer 130 and the first part 151 of the second metal layer 150 form at least one modulation unit for forming at least two target direction beams.

[0073] In the embodiment, the radiation area 101 of the antenna structure 100 can be regarded as a waveguide capable of propagating TM mode electromagnetic waves, the TM mode electromagnetic waves are slow waves and cannot be radiated into free space. By arranging the modulation unit in the radiation area 101, the electromagnetic waves confined in the waveguide are radiated into free space, the electromagnetic waves can form at least two target direction beams, the radiation range of the antenna structure 100 can be increased, and the scanning range of the antenna structure 100 can be increased. Each beam in the multi-beam is narrower than the single beam, and the gain of the beam can be increased. Further, the beam steepness between the multiple target direction beams is small, the interference between the beams is small, the overlap is narrow, and the base station expansion effect can be achieved.

[0074] Moreover, at the same frequency, by changing the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 130, the frequency scanning of the beam can be realized, and the control of the beam is more flexible. The antenna provided by the application can be prepared by using a semiconductor conventional process, and the preparation is relatively simple.

[0075] Optionally, in the antenna structure 100 provided by the embodiment of the application, the materials of the first metal layer 140 and the second metal layer 150 are high-conductivity metal materials, such as gold, aluminum, copper and the like. The pattern of the metal layer is realized by using a semiconductor process such as sputtering, evaporation or electroplating. That is, the antenna can be manufactured by using the existing semiconductor manufacturing process, and the manufacturing process is mature and easy to realize.

[0076] Optionally, the antenna in the embodiment of the application is a leaky-wave antenna, and the beam can refer to a shaped elementary beam or a sharp beam.

[0077] It can be understood that the radiation angle θ of the antenna structure 100 can be approximately represented by the phase constant βz and the free space wave number k0 as cos θ = βz / k0, and the main lobe beam direction of the antenna structure 100 is approximately the radiation angle θ, so changing the value of the phase constant can change the radiation direction of the antenna structure 100. Alternatively, the dielectric layer 130 includes liquid crystal molecules or ferroelectric materials, and the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 130 changes with the voltage. By adjusting the voltage between the first metal layer 140 and the second metal layer 150, the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 130 can be changed to achieve the purpose of phase shifting, thereby changing the phase constant and changing the position of the beam to achieve fixed-frequency scanning. Wherein, the fixed frequency refers to the terahertz frequency band.

[0078] Alternatively, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 can be glass substrates, sapphire substrates, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) substrates, TAC (triazine) substrates, or PI (polyimide) transparent flexible substrates, etc. For example, the first substrate 110 and the second substrate 120 use high-purity quartz glass with extremely low dielectric loss, which can effectively reduce the loss of electromagnetic waves.

[0079] In some possible embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The antenna structure 100 also has a transition area 102 and a feeding area 103 arranged at least one end of the radiation area 101, and the transition area 102 is located between the feeding area 103 and the radiation area 101.

[0080] In the transition area 102, the unit area of at least one of the second part 142 of the first metal layer 140 and the second part 152 of the second metal layer 150 gradually decreases along the first direction A.

[0081] In this embodiment, the antenna structure 100 can be divided into a feeding area 103, a transition area 102 and a radiation area 101. In the feeding area 103, the antenna structure 100 propagates electromagnetic waves in quasi-TEM mode, and the unit area of at least one of the second part 142 of the first metal layer 140 and the second part 152 of the second metal layer 150 gradually decreases in the transition area 102, which matches the impedance of the antenna structure 100, reduces the reflection of electromagnetic waves, reduces the loss of electromagnetic waves, and effectively realizes the conversion of electromagnetic wave mode. The quasi-TEM mode electromagnetic wave propagating in the feeding area 103 is converted into a TM mode electromagnetic wave, and is radiated into the free space in the radiation area 101.

[0082] Alternatively, both ends of the radiation area 101 are sequentially provided with the transition area 102 and the feeding area 103, and the antenna structure 100 is symmetrical about the central axis of the radiation area 101 (perpendicular to the central axis of the radiation area 101).

[0083] It can be understood that, referring to Figures 2-3 orFigure 11 The area of the first metal layer 140 is limited, and the part of the dielectric layer 130 not covered by the first metal layer 140 is exposed.

[0084] In some possible implementation manners, referring to Figure 3 In the radiation area 101, the first part 141 of the first metal layer 140 is in a strip shape, and includes at least one pattern unit 1410 arranged periodically along a first direction A. Along the first direction A, the area of each pattern unit 1410 changes in the order of increasing, decreasing, increasing, and decreasing. The first direction A is the direction of the transition area 102 towards the radiation area 101.

[0085] Each pattern unit 1410 and the part of the second metal layer 150 opposite to the pattern unit 1410, and the corresponding part of the dielectric layer 130 form a modulation unit.

[0086] In the embodiment, the unit area of the pattern unit 1410 in each modulation unit gradually changes, the pattern unit 1410 introduces a modulation mechanism to the electromagnetic wave by changing the pattern, the modulation units arranged periodically periodically modulate the electromagnetic wave in the propagation direction, the resonance fast wave is excited by the discontinuity of the structure of the radiation area 101, the electromagnetic wave bound in the radiation area 101 is radiated, and a beam corresponding to at least two target directions is formed. The dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 130 is adjusted to realize the fixed-frequency scanning of the beam. The corresponding part of the dielectric layer 130 is the part of the dielectric layer 130 between each pattern unit 1410 and the part of the second metal layer 150 opposite to the pattern unit 1410.

[0087] In some possible implementation manners, referring to Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 Each pattern unit 1410 includes a groove 1411 opened on both sides of the first part 141 of the first metal layer 140 in one-to-one correspondence. The openings of the grooves 1411 on both sides of the first part of the first metal are respectively towards a second direction B and a third direction C. The second direction B and the third direction C are opposite and both perpendicular to the first direction A.

[0088] On one side of the first part 141 of the first metal layer 140, the groove depth of the groove 1411 is arranged in a first period 1414 along the first direction A. In the first period 1414, the groove depth of the groove 1411 first decreases and then increases.

[0089] On the other side of the first part 141 of the first metal layer 140, the groove depth of the groove 1411 is arranged in a second period 1415 along the first direction A. In the second period 1415, the groove depth of the groove 1411 first increases and then decreases. The second period 1415 is greater than the first period 1414.

[0090] In the embodiment, the first metal layer 140 is designed as a plurality of connected H-shaped grooves, each of which has two opposite and corresponding grooves 1411 with openings facing the second direction B and the third direction C respectively. Each modulation unit includes a plurality of H-shaped grooves, wherein the groove depth of the groove 1411 with the opening facing upward changes in a first period 1414 according to a certain rule, and the groove depth of the groove 1411 with the opening facing downward changes in a second period 1415 according to a certain rule, so that the variation range (such as the increase or decrease) of the width of the H-shaped groove in the middle of each modulation unit (i.e. the size of the un-grooved part of each H-shaped groove perpendicular to the first direction A) changes in a sinusoidal manner, introducing sinusoidal modulation to the electromagnetic wave.

[0091] Optionally, referring to Figure 5 , the first period 1414 is half of the second period 1415. In the first period 1414, the groove 1411 with the opening facing the second direction B has four different groove depths, which decrease in turn from the left end shown in Figure 5 , and start to increase at half of the first period 1414. Similarly, the groove 1411 with the opening facing the third direction C has eight different groove depths, which increase in turn from the left end shown in Figure 5 , and start to decrease in turn at half of the second period 1415. Finally, a pattern unit 1410 similar to a sinusoidal function is formed, which modulates the electromagnetic wave.

[0092] Optionally, the second metal layer 150 is a ground electrode designed as a whole, which is easy to manufacture and only needs to change the pattern of the first metal layer 140. The first part 151 of the second metal layer 150, the second part 152 of the second metal layer 150 and the third part 153 of the second metal layer 150 are a whole structure, which respectively represent the parts of the second metal layer 150 in the radiation area 101, the transition area 102 and the feeding area 103, and are continuous with each other in structure.

[0093] In the case of changing the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer 130, it can be seen from the figure that the antenna structure 100 can radiate double beams, and the radiation direction of the beams changes correspondingly by changing the dielectric constant.

[0094] In some possible embodiments, the connection between the groove wall of the groove 1411 and the groove bottom of the groove 1411 is a right angle or a round angle.

[0095] In the embodiment, the groove wall and the groove bottom of the two grooves 1411 of each H-shaped groove are perpendicular, and the connection therebetween can be a right angle or a round angle, both of which can form similar double beams. Referring to Figure 5 , the bottom of each groove 1411 is a right angle, and referring to Figure 9The bottom of each groove 1411 is rounded, as shown by the dashed box in FIG. 14B. Figure 9 The bottom of each groove 1411 is rounded, as shown by the dashed box in FIG. 14B.

[0096] When the bottom of the groove 1411 is a right angle, as shown in FIG. 14A, it can be seen that, in the terahertz band, the antenna structure 100 can radiate two beams under different dielectric constants of the dielectric layer 130, and the direction of the beam changes with the change of the dielectric constant, realizing fixed-frequency beam scanning. Figures 6-8

[0097] When the bottom of the groove 1411 is a right angle, as shown in FIG. 14A, it can be seen that, in the terahertz band, the antenna structure 100 can radiate two beams under different dielectric constants of the dielectric layer 130, and the direction of the beam changes with the change of the dielectric constant, realizing fixed-frequency beam scanning. Figure 10

[0098] In some possible implementation manners, as shown in FIG. 14C, in the transition region 102, the second part 142 of the first metal layer 140 includes a first sector block 1421, a first transition block 1422 and a second sector block 1423 sequentially and spaced apart along the direction perpendicular to the first direction A, one end of the first sector block 1421 is directed to the feeding region 103, and the other end is directed to the radiation region 101. Figure 4

[0099] Along the first direction A, the spacing at the boundary between the first sector block 1421 and the first transition block 1422, and the spacing at the boundary between the second sector block 1423 and the first transition block 1422 sequentially increase. The first transition block 1422 has two sides each having a corresponding groove 1411 recessed along the second direction B and the third direction C. The groove depth of the groove 1411 sequentially increases.

[0100] In this embodiment, the central angle of the first sector block 1421 is 90 degrees, one side is parallel to the first direction A, and the other side is parallel to the second direction B, and the arc is away from the first transition block 1422. Similarly, the central angle of the second sector block 1423 is 90 degrees, one side is parallel to the first direction A, and the other side is parallel to the third direction C, and the arc is away from the first transition block 1422. Therefore, in the transition region 102, the arcs of the two sector blocks are away from the first transition block 1422, so that the arcs of the two sector blocks present a horn-shaped opening, and the spacing between the boundary of the first transition block 1422 and the first sector block 1421 or the second sector block 1423 sequentially increases along the first direction A.

[0101] ​​​Moreover, the first transition block 1422 also has several H-shaped grooves. In the transition region 102, the groove depth of each H-shaped groove increases sequentially, shrinking the metal microstrip of the first metal layer 140, thereby enhancing the binding ability of the microstrip of the first metal layer 140, gradually binding the electric field direction of the TEM mode to the propagation direction, gradually converting the TEM wave into a TM wave, propagating stably in the radiation region 101, and radiating into free space through the modulation unit.

[0102] Optionally, refer to Figure 4 In the feed region 103, the third part 143 of the first metal layer 140 includes a first metal block 1431, a second metal block 1432 and a third metal block 1433 arranged sequentially at intervals along the first direction A. The second metal block 1432 is a microstrip line structure in the middle. The first metal block 1431 and the third metal block 1433 are located on both sides and have gaps with the second metal block 1432 to form a coplanar waveguide structure to propagate electromagnetic waves in quasi-TEM mode.

[0103] Optionally, refer to Figure 4 The first metal layer 140 can be fabricated through a single patterning process. The first portion 141, the second portion 142, and the third portion 143 of the first metal layer 140 represent portions of the first metal layer 140 in the radiation region 101, the transition region 102, and the feed region 103, respectively. The first metal block 1431 and the first sector block 1421 are integral structures connected to each other. The third metal block 1433 and the second sector block 1423 are integral structures connected to each other. The second metal block 1432, the first transition block 1422, and the first portion 141 of the first metal layer 140 are sequentially connected to form a complete microstrip line structure.

[0104] In some possible implementations, such as Figures 11-12 as well as Figure 14 As shown, in the radiation region 101, the orthographic projection of the first portion 141 of the first metal layer 140 onto the second metal layer 150 coincides with the first portion 151 of the second metal layer 150.

[0105] In the transition region 102, along the first direction A, the size of the unit area of ​​the second portion 142 of the first metal layer 140 remains unchanged, and the size of the second portion 152 of the second metal layer 150 is successively reduced to be consistent with the size of the first portion 141 of the first metal layer 140.

[0106] In the present embodiment, another antenna structure 100 is provided. In the present embodiment, the first portion 141 of the first metal layer 140 and the first portion 151 of the second metal layer 150 in the radiation region 101 are completely corresponding in structure, plus the first portion of the dielectric layer 130 between the first metal layer 140 and the second metal layer 150, which constitutes a waveguide structure, propagating TM wave. In the transition region 102, by shrinking the size of the second portion 152 of the second metal layer 150, the electric field direction of the TEM mode is gradually bound in the propagation direction, gradually converting the TEM wave into the TM wave, stably propagating in the radiation region 101, and radiating to the free space through the modulation unit, realizing double-beam radiation.

[0107] As shown in Figure 14 the first portion 141 of the first metal layer 140 and the first portion 151 of the second metal layer 150 in the radiation region 101 are completely coincident, wherein d represents the thickness of the dielectric layer 130 between the first portion 141 of the first metal layer 140 and the first portion 151 of the second metal layer 150, which is not shown in the figure for convenience of description. Figure 14 Similarly, Figure 12 in the second portion 152 of the second metal layer 150 and the third portion 153 of the second metal layer 150 are both the portions of the second metal layer 150 seen through the dielectric layer 130.

[0108] In some possible embodiments, with reference to Figures 12-13 in the radiation region 101, the first portion 141 of the first metal layer 140 includes at least one pattern unit 1410 arranged periodically along the first direction A. Each pattern unit 1410 includes at least one first groove unit 1412 and at least one second groove unit 1413, the groove 1411 of the first groove unit 1412 opens toward the second direction B, and the groove 1411 of the second groove unit 1413 opens toward the third direction C.

[0109] Each pattern unit 1410 and the corresponding portion of the second metal layer 150, and the corresponding portion of the dielectric layer 130 form each modulation unit.

[0110] Different from the H-shaped slot scheme in the foregoing embodiments, the application embodiment designs the pattern unit 1410 by only opening a U-shaped slot in the second direction B or the third direction C. In the embodiment, each pattern unit 1410 includes at least one first groove unit 1412 and at least one second groove unit 1413, the groove 1411 opening directions of the first groove unit 1412 and the second groove unit 1413 are opposite, and both are perpendicular to the propagation direction (or the first direction A), which is equivalent to introducing a geometric inversion structure in the propagation direction, forming a one-dimensional multi-periodic inversion structure. For example, each pattern unit 1410 includes three groove 1411 units, of which the first groove unit 1412 has one or two, and the second groove unit 1413 has two or one, that is, the inversion of the U-shaped slot opening direction is performed once in each three groove 1411 unit period. Other period inversion structures can also be designed according to actual needs, such as inversion performed once in each four groove 1411 unit period. The inversion structure in the application embodiment can destroy the electric boundary of the constrained surface electric field, cause electromagnetic wave leakage, and then radiate into the free space. The corresponding part of the dielectric layer 130 is the part of the dielectric layer 130 between each pattern unit 1410 and the part of the second metal layer 150.

[0111] In some possible implementation manners, referring to Figure 13 In each pattern unit 1410, the boundaries between the plurality of groove 1411 units toward the second direction B have a step difference.

[0112] The metal microstrip adopted in the embodiment is not in the traditional sense, but a U-shaped slot is opened on the first part 141 of the first metal layer 140 and the second part 152 of the second metal layer 150, and an inversion structure of the U-shaped slot opening is introduced, and the boundaries between each groove 1411 unit have a step difference, which enhances the ability of the inversion structure to destroy the electric boundary of the surface electric field and enhances the radiation ability of the electromagnetic wave.

[0113] Referring to Figure 15 It can be known that, in the terahertz frequency band, when the dielectric layer 130 has a certain dielectric constant, the antenna structure 100 can also radiate two beams to realize fixed-frequency beam scanning.

[0114] Based on the same inventive concept, the application embodiment also provides a display device, which includes the antenna structure 100 provided in the foregoing embodiments.

[0115] The display device provided in the embodiment includes any antenna structure 100 provided in the foregoing embodiments, and the implementation principles are similar, which will not be described here.

[0116] Optionally, the display device can be any product or component with display function such as mobile phone, tablet computer, television, display, notebook computer, digital photo frame, navigator, etc., which can transmit or receive signals through the antenna structure 100.

[0117] In the description of the present application, the directions or positional relationships indicated by the words "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" and the like are based on the exemplary directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are for the convenience of describing or simplifying the description of the embodiments of the present application, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or components indicated thereby must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application.

[0118] The terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are only used for descriptive purpose, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated thereby. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second", etc. can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more, unless otherwise specified.

[0119] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connecting", "connection" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, can be fixed connection, can also be detachable connection, or integrally connected; can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through intermediate medium; can be the communication inside two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0120] In the description of the present application, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable way.

[0121] The above only describes some embodiments of the present application, and it should be pointed out that, for those skilled in the art, without departing from the technical concept of the present application, other similar implementation means based on the technical idea of the present application also belong to the protection scope of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. An antenna structure, characterized in that, The antenna structure, having a radiating region, includes: A first substrate and a second substrate arranged opposite to each other; A dielectric layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; A first metal layer is disposed on the side of the first substrate near the dielectric layer; A second metal layer is disposed on the side of the second substrate near the dielectric layer; the orthographic projection of the first metal layer onto the second metal layer falls within the area of ​​the second metal layer; In the radiation region, a first portion of the first metal layer, a first portion of the dielectric layer, and a first portion of the second metal layer form at least one modulation unit for forming beams in at least two target directions; each modulation unit includes a plurality of H-shaped grooves, the groove depth of the groove with the H-shaped groove opening upward varies with a first period, and the groove depth of the groove with the H-shaped groove opening downward varies with a second period, such that the width of the middle of the H-shaped groove in each modulation unit varies sinusoidally. The dielectric layer comprises liquid crystal molecules or ferroelectric materials, and the dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is changed by adjusting the voltage between the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

2. The antenna structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The antenna structure further includes a transition region and a feed region disposed at at least one end of the radiating region, wherein the transition region is located between the feed region and the radiating region; In the transition region, along a first direction, the unit area of ​​at least one of the second portion of the first metal layer and the second portion of the second metal layer gradually decreases; the first direction is the direction from the transition region toward the radiation region.

3. The antenna structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the radiation region, a first portion of the first metal layer is strip-shaped, including at least one patterned unit arranged periodically along a first direction; along the first direction, the area of ​​each patterned unit changes sequentially in the order of increasing, decreasing, increasing, decreasing. Each of the patterned units, together with the corresponding portion of the second metal layer and the corresponding portion of the dielectric layer, forms each of the modulation units.

4. The antenna structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, Each of the pattern units includes: grooves formed on both sides of the first portion of the first metal layer and corresponding to each other; the openings of the grooves on both sides of the first portion of the first metal layer face a second direction and a third direction, respectively; the second direction and the third direction are opposite in direction and both are perpendicular to the first direction; On one side of the first portion of the first metal layer, the groove depths are arranged in a first period along the first direction; within the first period, the groove depths first decrease and then increase. On the other side of the first portion of the first metal layer, the groove depths are arranged in a second period along the first direction; within the second period, the groove depths first increase and then decrease; the second period is greater than the first period.

5. The antenna structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The connection between the groove wall and the groove bottom is at a right angle or a rounded corner.

6. The antenna structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, In the transition region, the second part of the first metal layer includes a first sector block, a first transition block and a second sector block arranged sequentially at intervals along a direction perpendicular to the first direction, with one end of the first sector block facing the feeding region and the other end facing the radiation region. Along the first direction, the distance between the boundary of the first sector block and the first transition block and the distance between the boundary of the second sector block and the first transition block both increase sequentially; the two sides of the first transition block each have grooves that are recessed along the second direction and the third direction and correspond one-to-one; the groove depth increases sequentially.

7. The antenna structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the radiation region, the orthographic projection of the first portion of the first metal layer onto the second metal layer coincides with the first portion of the second metal layer; In the transition region, along the first direction, the size of the unit area of ​​the second portion of the first metal layer remains unchanged, and the size of the second portion of the second metal layer is successively reduced to be consistent with the size of the first portion of the first metal layer.

8. The antenna structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, In the radiation region, a first portion of the first metal layer includes at least one patterned unit periodically arranged along the first direction; each patterned unit includes at least one first grooved unit and at least one second grooved unit, the groove opening of the first grooved unit facing the second direction, and the groove opening of the second grooved unit facing the third direction. Each of the patterned units, together with the corresponding portion of the second metal layer and the corresponding portion of the dielectric layer, forms each of the modulation units.

9. The antenna structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, In each pattern unit, there are steps between the boundaries of multiple groove units facing the second direction.

10. A display device, characterized in that, include: The antenna structure as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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