Communication device, multi-frequency array antenna and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

The application relates to a communication device, a multi-frequency array antenna and a manufacturing method thereof, and the multi-frequency array antenna comprises a reflecting plate, at least one high-frequency subarray and at least one first phase shifter. The high-frequency subarray comprises a plurality of high-frequency radiation units which are connected with the reflecting plate and are arranged in sequence and at intervals. Since one of the main body part and the top panel shares the reflecting plate, the first phase shifter can be assembled simply, the material composition is reduced, the consistency and assembly efficiency of the antenna are improved, and the flexibility of the integrated antenna design is improved. In addition, the other part is integrally extruded and produced separately, the production efficiency is higher, the part can be replaced and maintained flexibly according to actual needs, the cavity design is flexible, the cavity spacing and boundary can be optimized according to the antenna design, and the design popularization and serialization of the antenna are facilitated. In addition, the main body part and the top panel of the cavity constituting the first phase shifter are easy to process and have few post-processes, are not prone to errors, and thus the yield is high and the replacement of the parts is facilitated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of antenna technology, and in particular to a communication device, a multi-frequency array antenna, and a method for manufacturing the same. Background Technology

[0002] The rapid development of mobile communication technology has led to increasingly stringent requirements for antennas in communication base stations. Furthermore, the multi-standard operation of mobile communications and the difficulty of base station site selection have made multi-frequency electrically tunable antennas the preferred choice for base stations. This is especially true in the 5G era, where a single antenna is required to integrate antennas for all 4G network standards, incorporating multiple antenna arrays. Meanwhile, tower companies demand antennas with the smallest possible windward area and lightest possible weight. Therefore, miniaturized antenna cross-section design has become a development trend. Miniaturized cross-section design and compact array layouts across multiple frequency bands, particularly in multi-frequency, multi-port antennas with high- and low-frequency arrays, present significant challenges in process and design due to interference between feed phase-shifting networks, resulting in high- and low-level stacking designs and overlapping feed coaxial cables. The numerous production steps, complex assembly, and susceptibility to assembly errors and low assembly efficiency pose significant challenges to the mass production and widespread adoption of multi-frequency, multi-port antennas that meet the requirements of shared sites.

[0003] In traditional technologies, a method of integrally extruding the reflector and phase shifter cavities is currently employed. This approach allows for the reuse of the reflector and phase shifter cavities, maximizing the simplification of the antenna structure, and single-frequency antennas with individual subarrays exhibit significant advantages. However, designing multi-frequency antennas presents several challenges. Firstly, multi-frequency antennas have wide cross-sections, making integral extrusion difficult and resulting in low yield rates. Secondly, the integrally extruded reflector and phase shifter cavities require numerous and complex post-processing steps. Finally, the integral extrusion process solidifies the critical array spacing and boundaries of the multi-frequency array antenna, making it unsuitable for various model derivatives and serialized applications. Furthermore, if one antenna subarray malfunctions, the entire antenna becomes unusable, making repair and replacement impossible. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide a communication device, a multi-frequency array antenna and its manufacturing method, which can meet the requirements of miniaturization and high performance of broadband multi-frequency antennas, improve the consistency of antenna performance and production efficiency, and realize the simplification, ease of operation and high efficiency of the production and assembly of phase-shifting networks and radiating units under different frequency band arrays of antennas.

[0005] The technical solution is as follows: A multi-frequency array antenna, the multi-frequency array antenna comprising:

[0006] Reflector;

[0007] At least one high-frequency subarray, the high-frequency subarray comprising a plurality of high-frequency radiating elements connected to the reflector and arranged at intervals therebetween; and

[0008] At least one first phase shifter is provided, which is correspondingly disposed with the high-frequency subarray. The first phase shifter includes a cavity and a dielectric plate and a phase shifting network plate disposed inside the cavity. The cavity includes a main body and a top panel. The top surface of the main body is provided with an opening, and the top panel is correspondingly disposed at the opening. One of the main body and the top panel is a shared structure shared with the reflector, and the other is an extruded structure formed by integral extrusion.

[0009] In one embodiment, the extrusion molding structure is provided with an isolation section, which is electrically connected to the common structure. The isolation section is located in the middle of the cavity and is used to divide the cavity into two chambers arranged side by side. The dielectric plate includes a first dielectric plate and a second dielectric plate, and the phase-shifting network plate includes a first phase-shifting network plate and a second phase-shifting network plate. The first dielectric plate and the first phase-shifting network plate are disposed in one of the chambers, and the second dielectric plate and the second phase-shifting network plate are disposed in the other chamber.

[0010] In one embodiment, the isolation portion and the common structure are fastened to each other by at least one conductive connector.

[0011] In one embodiment, there are multiple conductive connectors, which are arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the isolation portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, when the top panel is a shared structure, the opening of the main body is provided on either side with a flange extending away from the center line of the cavity, and the flange is coupled to the reflector.

[0013] Alternatively, when the main body is a shared structure, the distance between any side of the top panel and the center line of the cavity is greater than the distance between the opening wall and the center line of the cavity, and any side of the top panel is coupled to the reflector.

[0014] In one embodiment, the reflector and the shared structure are integrally formed by bending sheet metal.

[0015] In one embodiment, the phase-shifting network board has multiple output terminals, and the multiple output terminals of the phase-shifting network board are electrically connected to the feed components of the multiple high-frequency radiation units one by one.

[0016] In one embodiment, the top panel is provided with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the plurality of power supply components. The power supply components pass through the through holes and extend into the cavity to be connected to the output terminal. The bottom of the main body is provided with an operation hole corresponding to the position of the through holes. The diameter of the operation hole is larger than that of the through holes.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first phase shifter further includes a main feed welding seat connected to the bottom surface of the main body and a main feed input cable; the outer conductor of the main feed input cable is welded to the main feed welding seat, the main body is provided with a wire hole, and the core wire of the main feed input cable extends into the cavity through the wire hole and is electrically connected to the main feed end of the phase shifting network board.

[0018] In one embodiment, the multi-frequency array antenna further includes at least one low-frequency subarray and at least one second phase shifter. The low-frequency subarray includes a plurality of low-frequency radiating elements connected to the reflector and arranged at intervals in sequence. The second phase shifter is arranged correspondingly to the low-frequency subarray.

[0019] A method for manufacturing the multi-frequency array antenna, the method comprising the following steps:

[0020] Provide metal materials and obtain extruded structures by extrusion molding of the metal materials;

[0021] Provide sheet metal parts, and form the reflector by bending the sheet metal parts into one piece;

[0022] The dielectric substrate and the phase-shifting network substrate are assembled into the interior of the main body, and the extruded structure and the common structure are connected together by conductive connectors.

[0023] The bottom of the oscillator of the high-frequency radiation unit is electrically connected to the reflector, and the feed component of the high-frequency radiation unit is inserted into the cavity through the through hole and connected to the output end of the phase-shifting network board. The core wire of the main feed input cable is inserted into the cavity through the wire hole of the main body and electrically connected to the main feed end of the phase-shifting network board.

[0024] A communication device, the communication device comprising the aforementioned multi-frequency array antenna.

[0025] The aforementioned communication device, multi-frequency array antenna, and manufacturing method, since one of the main body and the top panel is shared with the reflector, achieves simplified assembly of the first phase shifter, reduces material composition, improves antenna consistency and assembly efficiency, and enhances the flexibility of integrated antenna design. In addition, the other part is produced separately through integral extrusion molding, resulting in higher production efficiency. It can also be flexibly replaced and maintained according to actual needs. The cavity design is flexible, and the cavity spacing and boundaries can be optimized according to the antenna design, which is conducive to the design promotion and serialization of antennas. Furthermore, the main body and top panel of the cavity that make up the first phase shifter are easy to process and have fewer subsequent processes, making them less prone to errors, resulting in a high yield rate and facilitating the repair and replacement of parts. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the invention.

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a top view of a multi-frequency array antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a side view of a multi-frequency array antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of a multi-frequency array antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a side view of the structure of a multi-frequency array antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 This is an exploded structural diagram of a multi-frequency array antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] 10. Reflector; 20. High-frequency subarray; 21. High-frequency radiation unit; 30. First phase shifter; 31. Dielectric plate; 32. Phase shifting network plate; 33. Main body; 331. Opening; 332. Flanged edge; 34. Top panel; 35. Isolation part; 36. Conductive connector; 37. Main feed welding seat; 38. Chamber; 40. Low-frequency subarray; 41. Low-frequency radiation unit; 50. Second phase shifter. Detailed Implementation

[0034] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0035] See Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 1 This diagram shows a top view of a multi-frequency array antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2This diagram shows a side view of a multi-frequency array antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 An exploded view of a multi-frequency array antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The multi-frequency array antenna provided in this embodiment includes: a reflector 10, at least one high-frequency subarray 20, and at least one first phase shifter 30. The high-frequency subarray 20 includes a plurality of high-frequency radiating elements 21 connected to the reflector 10 and arranged at intervals. The first phase shifter 30 is correspondingly disposed to the high-frequency subarray 20, and includes a cavity, a dielectric substrate 31, and a phase-shifting network substrate 32 disposed inside the cavity. The cavity includes a main body 33 and a top panel 34. The top surface of the main body 33 has an opening 331, and the top panel 34 is correspondingly disposed at the opening 331. One of the main body 33 and the top panel 34 is a shared structure with the reflector 10, and the other is an extruded structure integrally formed by extrusion molding.

[0036] It should be noted that in this embodiment, "shared" refers to the fact that the two are an integrated structure.

[0037] When the dielectric plate 31 moves relative to the phase-shifting network plate 32, it plays a role in adjusting the phase of multiple high-frequency radiation units 21.

[0038] The aforementioned multi-frequency array antenna, since one of the main body 33 and the top panel 34 is shared with the reflector 10, achieves simplified assembly of the first phase shifter 30, reduces material composition, improves antenna consistency and assembly efficiency, and enhances the flexibility of integrated antenna design. In addition, the other part is produced separately through integral extrusion molding, resulting in higher production efficiency. It can also be flexibly replaced and maintained according to actual needs. The cavity design is flexible, and the cavity spacing and boundaries can be optimized according to the antenna design, which is conducive to the design promotion and serialization of antennas. Furthermore, the main body 33 and the top panel 34 of the cavity that make up the first phase shifter 30 are easy to process and have fewer subsequent processes, making them less prone to errors. This results in a high yield rate and facilitates the maintenance and replacement of parts.

[0039] Please see Figures 1 to 3In one embodiment, the extrusion molding structure includes an isolation section 35 electrically connected to a common structure. The isolation section 35 is located in the middle of the cavity and serves to divide the cavity into two parallel chambers 38. Correspondingly, the dielectric plate 31 includes a first dielectric plate 31 and a second dielectric plate 31, and the phase-shifting network plate 32 includes a first phase-shifting network plate 32 and a second phase-shifting network plate 32. The first dielectric plate 31 and the first phase-shifting network plate 32 are disposed in one of the chambers 38, and the second dielectric plate 31 and the second phase-shifting network plate 32 are disposed in the other chamber 38. Thus, one chamber 38, together with the first dielectric plate 31 and the first phase-shifting network plate 32 inside it, is used to phase-shift the phase of one polarization signal of the high-frequency subarray 20, and the other chamber 38, together with the second dielectric plate 31 and the second phase-shifting network plate 32 inside it, is used to phase-shift the phase of another polarization signal of the high-frequency subarray 20.

[0040] Accordingly, the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is a dual-polarized high-frequency radiation unit 21.

[0041] Optionally, two first dielectric plates 31 are movably disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the first phase-shifting network plate 32, respectively. Similarly, two second dielectric plates 31 are movably disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the second phase-shifting network plate 32, respectively. Furthermore, to ensure smooth movement of the first dielectric plate 31 relative to the first phase-shifting network plate 32 within one of the chambers 38, a clearance hole is formed on the first dielectric plate 31. This clearance hole avoids the power supply component, preventing interference with the power supply component during movement. The second dielectric plate 31 is similarly configured and will not be described further here.

[0042] As an alternative, when the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is a single-polarization high-frequency radiation unit 21, the isolation part 35 of the extrusion molding structure is omitted accordingly.

[0043] Please see Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment, the isolation portion 35 and the common structure are fastened together by at least one conductive connector 36. Thus, since both the isolation portion 35 and the common structure are metal components and are electrically connected to each other via the conductive connector 36, both the reflector 10 and the cavity are grounded. Optionally, the conductive connector 36 may include, but is not limited to, various connectors such as metal screws, metal bolts, metal rivets, and metal pins.

[0044] Please see Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment, multiple conductive connectors 36 are arranged sequentially at intervals along the extending direction of the isolation portion 35. In this way, the main body portion 33 and the top panel 34 can be securely connected together.

[0045] Please see Figures 1 to 3In one embodiment, when the top panel 34 is a common structure, the opening 331 of the main body 33 is provided on either side with a flange 332 extending away from the center line of the cavity, and the flange 332 is coupled to the reflector 10.

[0046] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 , Figure 4 A side view of a multi-frequency array antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 5 An exploded structural diagram of a multi-frequency array antenna according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown. When the main body 33 is a shared structure, any side edge of the top panel 34 is aligned with the cavity centerline (e.g., Figure 5 The spacing (as shown in Z) Figure 5 As shown in W1, the distance between the opening 331 wall and the center line of the cavity is greater than that between the opening wall and the cavity centerline. Figure 5 As shown in W2), the position where any side of the top panel 34 overlaps with the reflector 10 is where it is coupled to the reflector 10. Thus, it can be seen that since the distance W1 between any side of the top panel 34 and the center line of the cavity is greater than the distance between the wall of the opening 331 and the center line of the cavity, the overlap between any side of the extruded structure and the reflector 10 achieves coupling and grounding between the cavity and the reflector 10.

[0047] In one embodiment, "coupling" in the context of two conductive elements being coupled together means that the two conductive elements are insulated from each other; in other words, there is no electrical connection between them. Optionally, a gap or insulating material may be provided between the two conductive elements to achieve mutual coupling.

[0048] Optionally, the cross-sectional shape of the main body 33 may include, but is not limited to, a U-shape.

[0049] In one embodiment, the reflector 10 and the common structure are integrally formed by bending sheet metal. This integral bending of sheet metal to form the reflector 10 and the common structure, with the common structure being a part of the reflector 10, ensures high production efficiency while saving materials.

[0050] In one embodiment, the phase-shifting network board 32 is provided with multiple output terminals, and the multiple output terminals of the phase-shifting network board 32 are electrically connected to the feeders of multiple high-frequency radiation units 21 one by one.

[0051] In one embodiment, the top panel 34 has multiple through holes corresponding to multiple power supply components. The power supply components pass through the through holes and extend into the cavity to connect with the output terminal. The bottom of the main body 33 has an operating hole corresponding to the position of the through holes, and the diameter of the operating hole is larger than that of the through holes. Thus, during assembly, after the power supply components pass through the through holes and extend into the cavity, the probe of the welding device extends into the cavity through the operating hole, facilitating the welding connection between the power supply components and the output terminal.

[0052] Specifically, the power supply component and the wall of the through hole are spaced apart to ensure that they do not come into electrical contact and cause a short circuit. In addition, the oscillator of the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is electrically connected to the reflector 10, for example, to achieve common grounding.

[0053] Optionally, the through hole may include, but is not limited to, regular or irregular shapes such as circular, elliptical, or polygonal holes. Specifically, the shape of the through hole is adapted to the shape of the power supply component.

[0054] Optionally, the operating hole may be, but is not limited to, a regular or irregular shape such as a circular hole, an elliptical hole, or a polygonal hole. The diameter of the operating hole should be designed to allow the welding head of the welding device to extend into the cavity to complete the welding operation between the power supply component and the output terminal.

[0055] In one specific embodiment, both the through hole and the operating hole are circular holes, and they are concentrically arranged.

[0056] In one embodiment, when the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is a dual-polarized radiation unit, each dual-polarized radiation unit has two feeders, namely a first feeder and a second feeder. The through holes are correspondingly divided into a first through hole and a second through hole, and the operation holes are correspondingly divided into a first operation hole and a second operation hole. The first feeder, the first through hole, the output terminal of the first phase-shifting network board 32, and the first operation hole correspond to each other. After passing through the first through hole, the first feeder is electrically connected to the output terminal of the first phase-shifting network board 32. Similarly, the second feeder, the second through hole, the output terminal of the second phase-shifting network board 32, and the second operation hole correspond to each other. After passing through the second through hole, the second feeder is electrically connected to the output terminal of the second phase-shifting network board 32.

[0057] Please see Figures 1 to 3In one embodiment, the first phase shifter 30 further includes a main feed welding seat 37 connected to the bottom surface of the main body 33, and a main feed input cable (not shown in the figure). The outer conductor of the main feed input cable is welded to the main feed welding seat 37. The main body 33 is provided with a through hole, and the core wire of the main feed input cable extends into the cavity through the through hole and is electrically connected to the main feed end of the phase shifting network plate 32. Specifically, the core wire of the main feed input cable passes through the through hole, extends into the cavity, and is welded to the main feed end of the phase shifting network plate 32.

[0058] Specifically, when the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is a dual-polarized high-frequency radiation unit 21, there are two main feed welding seats 37, namely a first main feed welding seat 37 and a second main feed welding seat 37; there are correspondingly two main feed input cables, namely a first main feed input cable and a second main feed input cable; there are correspondingly two through holes, namely a first through hole and a second through hole. The core wire of the first main feed input cable passes through the first through hole and extends into the cavity to be welded to the main feed end of the first phase shifting network plate 32. The core wire of the second main feed input cable passes through the second through hole and extends into the cavity to be welded to the main feed end of the second phase shifting network plate 32.

[0059] Please see Figures 1 to 3 In one embodiment, the multi-frequency array antenna further includes at least one low-frequency subarray 40 and at least one second phase shifter 50. The low-frequency subarray 40 includes a plurality of low-frequency radiating elements 41 connected to the reflector 10 and arranged at intervals in sequence. The second phase shifter 50 is correspondingly arranged with respect to the low-frequency subarray 40.

[0060] In one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a multi-frequency array antenna according to any of the above embodiments includes the following steps:

[0061] Provide metal materials and obtain extruded structures by extrusion molding of the metal materials;

[0062] Provide sheet metal parts, and form the reflector 10 by integral bending of the sheet metal parts;

[0063] The dielectric plate 31 and the phase-shifting network plate 32 are assembled into the interior of the main body 33, and the extruded structure and the common structure are connected together by the conductive connector 36.

[0064] The bottom of the oscillator of the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is electrically connected to the reflector 10, and the feed element of the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is inserted into the cavity through the through hole and connected to the output end of the phase-shifting network board 32. The core wire of the main feed input cable is inserted into the cavity through the wire hole of the main body 33 and electrically connected to the main feed end of the phase-shifting network board 32.

[0065] The manufacturing method of the multi-frequency array antenna described above is advantageous because one of the main body 33 and the top panel 34 is shared with the reflector 10. This sharing with the reflector 10 simplifies the assembly of the first phase shifter 30, reduces material composition, improves antenna consistency and assembly efficiency, and enhances the flexibility of integrated antenna design. Furthermore, the other part is produced separately through integral extrusion molding, resulting in higher production efficiency. It can also be flexibly replaced and maintained according to actual needs. The cavity design is flexible, and the cavity spacing and boundaries can be optimized according to the antenna design, which is beneficial for antenna design promotion and serialization. In addition, the main body 33 and the top panel 34 of the cavity that make up the first phase shifter 30 are easy to process and have fewer subsequent processes, making them less prone to errors. This results in a high yield rate and facilitates the repair and replacement of parts.

[0066] The specific method by which the bottom of the oscillator of the high-frequency radiation unit 21 is electrically connected to the reflector 10 is, for example, by using fasteners such as screws, pins, rivets, and snap-fit ​​components to fix them together.

[0067] In one embodiment, a communication device is characterized in that the communication device includes a multi-frequency array antenna of any of the above embodiments.

[0068] The aforementioned communication device, since one of the main body 33 and the top panel 34 is shared with the reflector 10, achieves simplified assembly of the first phase shifter 30, reduces material composition, improves antenna consistency and assembly efficiency, and enhances the flexibility of integrated antenna design by sharing the reflector 10. In addition, the other part is produced separately through integral extrusion molding, resulting in higher production efficiency. It can also be flexibly replaced and maintained according to actual needs. The cavity design is flexible, and the cavity spacing and boundaries can be optimized according to the antenna design, which is conducive to the design promotion and serialization of antennas. Furthermore, the main body 33 and the top panel 34 of the cavity that make up the first phase shifter 30 are easy to process and have fewer subsequent processes, making them less prone to errors. This results in a high yield rate and facilitates the maintenance and replacement of parts.

[0069] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0070] The above embodiments merely illustrate several implementation methods of the present invention, and their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

[0071] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0072] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0073] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0074] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0075] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

Claims

1. A multi-frequency array antenna, characterized by, The multi-frequency array antenna comprises: a reflecting plate; at least one high-frequency subarray comprising a plurality of high-frequency radiating elements connected to the reflecting plate and arranged in sequence; at least one first phase shifter corresponding to the high-frequency subarray, the first phase shifter comprising a cavity and a dielectric plate and a phase-shifting network plate arranged inside the cavity, the cavity comprising a main body and a top panel, the top surface of the main body being provided with an opening, the top panel being arranged at the opening, one of the main body and the top panel being a common structure shared with the reflecting plate, and the other being an extrusion structure formed by one-piece extrusion; the extrusion structure is provided with an isolation portion, the isolation portion being electrically connected to the common structure, and the isolation portion and the common structure being fastened to each other by at least one conductive connecting piece; when the top panel is the common structure, the opening of the main body is provided with a flange extending away from the center line of the cavity on either side, and the flange is coupled to the reflecting plate; or, when the main body is the common structure, the distance between any side edge of the top panel and the center line of the cavity is greater than the distance between the opening wall and the center line of the cavity, and any side of the top panel is coupled to the reflecting plate.

2. The multi-frequency array antenna of claim 1, wherein, The isolation portion is located at the middle part of the cavity and separates the cavity into two chambers arranged side by side; the dielectric plate comprises a first dielectric plate and a second dielectric plate, and the phase-shifting network plate comprises a first phase-shifting network plate and a second phase-shifting network plate, the first dielectric plate and the first phase-shifting network plate being arranged in one of the chambers, and the second dielectric plate and the second phase-shifting network plate being arranged in the other chamber.

3. The multi-frequency array antenna of claim 1, wherein, The conductive connecting pieces are arranged in sequence and at intervals along the extension direction of the isolation portion.

4. The multi-frequency array antenna of claim 1, wherein, The reflecting plate and the common structure are integrally bent and formed by sheet metal parts.

5. The multi-frequency array antenna of claim 1, wherein, The phase-shifting network plate is provided with a plurality of output terminals, and the output terminals of the phase-shifting network plate are electrically connected to the feeders of the high-frequency radiating elements one by one.

6. The multi-frequency array antenna of claim 5, wherein, The top panel is provided with a plurality of through holes corresponding to the plurality of feeders, and the feeders extend into the cavity and are connected to the output terminals through the through holes; the bottom of the main body is provided with an operation hole corresponding to the position of the through hole, and the aperture size of the operation hole is greater than that of the through hole.

7. The multi-frequency array antenna of claim 1, wherein, The first phase shifter further comprises a main feeder welding seat connected to the bottom surface of the main body, and a main feeder input cable; the outer conductor of the main feeder input cable is welded to the main feeder welding seat, the main body is provided with a threading hole, and the core wire of the main feeder input cable extends into the cavity through the threading hole and is electrically connected to the main feeder end of the phase-shifting network plate.

8. The multi-frequency array antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The multi-frequency array antenna further comprises at least one low-frequency subarray and at least one second phase shifter, the low-frequency subarray comprising a plurality of low-frequency radiating elements connected to the reflecting plate and arranged in sequence; the second phase shifter corresponding to the low-frequency subarray.

9. A method of manufacturing a multi-frequency array antenna as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The manufacturing method of the multi-frequency array antenna comprises the following steps: The metal material is provided, and the metal material is formed by extrusion to obtain an extrusion forming structure; The sheet metal part is provided, and the sheet metal part is integrally bent to obtain a reflection plate; The dielectric plate and the phase shift network plate are assembled inside the main body, and the extrusion forming structure and the common structure are connected by the conductive connecting piece; The vibrator bottom of the high-frequency radiation unit is electrically connected with the reflection plate, the feeding piece of the high-frequency radiation unit is inserted into the cavity through the through hole and connected with the output end of the phase shift network plate, and the core wire of the main feeding input cable is inserted into the cavity through the threading hole of the main body and electrically connected with the main feeding end of the phase shift network plate.

10. A communications device, characterized by The communication device comprises the multi-frequency array antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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