Radome and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

This invention discloses an radome and its manufacturing method. The radome includes an radome body, a radiating sheet assembly formed on the surface of the radome body with silver paste, and an isolation assembly. The isolation assembly includes a plurality of horizontal isolation strips and a plurality of vertical isolation strips, which intersect to form a grid structure on the surface of the radome body. The radiating sheet assembly includes several radiating sheets, each radiating sheet being located in a grid of the grid structure. The radome of this invention integrates the radiating sheets and the isolation assembly by forming them on the radome body with silver paste, creating a unified radome. This radome can be applied to 5G base station antennas, simplifying the overall antenna assembly process, reducing the thickness of the base station antenna, improving manufacturing efficiency, and reducing the weight of the base station antenna.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of base station antenna technology, and in particular to an antenna radome and its manufacturing method. Background Technology

[0002] The radome of a base station serves a protective and sealing function. Existing radomes are made of injection-molded or extruded sheet metal combined with CNC machining. Underneath the radome are the antenna vibrator assembly, etc. That is, in the existing radome structure, the radiating plates, isolation strips, and other components of the vibrator assembly are all installed onto the radome through processes such as hot-melt and assembly. The process is cumbersome and also makes the base station antenna have a certain thickness, making it difficult to reduce its thickness. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a simplified assembly process and a method for manufacturing a radome that achieves thinning.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: to provide an antenna radome, including an antenna radome body, a radiating sheet assembly formed by silver paste on the surface of the antenna radome body, and an isolation assembly;

[0005] The isolation assembly includes several horizontal isolation strips and several vertical isolation strips, which intersect to form a grid structure on the surface of the radome body;

[0006] The radiating sheet assembly includes several radiating sheets, each of which is located in a grid of the grid structure.

[0007] Preferably, the thickness of the radiating sheet is 10μm-25μm.

[0008] Preferably, the resistance of the radiating sheet is 10-15 milliohms.

[0009] Preferably, the thickness of the isolation component is 10μm-25μm.

[0010] Preferably, the silver content of the silver paste is 65%-75%.

[0011] Preferably, the radome further includes a frame formed of silver paste on the surface of the radome body; the radiating sheet assembly and the isolation assembly are both located within the frame.

[0012] Preferably, the radome further includes a plurality of fastening holes formed on the radome body; the plurality of fastening holes are distributed at intervals along the periphery of the radome body.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an antenna radome, comprising the following steps:

[0014] S1. Provide the antenna radome body;

[0015] S2. Based on the desired locations of the radiating plates and isolation components, silver paste is printed onto the surface of the radome body using a screen printing process; or,

[0016] According to the desired locations of the radiating sheet and isolation components, a silver paste layer formed by silver paste is transferred onto the surface of the antenna radome body using a transfer printing process;

[0017] S3. After drying at 70℃-95℃, an antenna radome integrating radiating plates and isolation components is obtained.

[0018] Preferably, the silver content of the silver paste is 65%-75%.

[0019] Preferably, the silver paste further includes a high-temperature curing adhesive.

[0020] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By forming the radiating sheet and the isolation component on the antenna radome body with silver paste, an integrated antenna radome is formed, which can be applied to 5G base station antennas. This simplifies the overall antenna assembly process, reduces the thickness of the base station antenna, improves manufacturing efficiency, and reduces the weight of the base station antenna. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. In the accompanying drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an antenna radome according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the radome of the present invention includes a radome body 10, a radiating sheet assembly disposed on the surface of the radome body 10, and an isolation assembly.

[0025] In this invention, both the radiating sheet assembly and the isolation assembly are formed on the surface of the radome body 10 by silver paste through screen printing or transfer printing processes, and are integrated with the radome body 10 as one unit. Therefore, there is no need for the assembly process of the prior art. At the same time, the thickness of the radiating sheet assembly and the isolation assembly can be very thin and uniform, for example, the thickness is 10μm-25μm; the outer peripheral dimensions can be precisely controlled with an accuracy of ±0.1mm.

[0026] The radome body 10 can be manufactured from PC or PP+GF materials through injection molding or extrusion processes, and has the required shape and size. Figure 1In the embodiment shown, the radome body 10 has a rectangular structure.

[0027] The radiating plate assembly includes several radiating plates 20, which can be arranged in multiple rows and columns at intervals on the surface of the radome body 10. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the radiating plates 20 may be, but are not limited to, square.

[0028] An isolation assembly is disposed on the surface of the radome body 10 to further separate the plurality of radiating plates 20. The isolation assembly may further include a plurality of horizontal isolation strips 31 and a plurality of vertical isolation strips 32, the horizontal isolation strips 31 and the vertical isolation strips 32 intersecting (e.g., perpendicularly intersecting) to form a grid structure on the surface of the radome body 10.

[0029] Each radiating plate 20 is located in a grid of the grid structure. Furthermore, each radiating plate 20 is spaced apart from the boundary of its grid (the horizontal isolation strip 31 and the vertical isolation strip 32).

[0030] In this invention, both the radiating plate assembly and the isolation assembly are formed on the surface of the radome body 10 by silver paste through screen printing or transfer printing processes, and the silver paste contains 65%-75% silver. Specifically, the silver paste is prepared by mixing silver powder and high-temperature curing adhesive (as a binder) to form a silver paste with a silver content of 65%-75%; the silver powder preferably has a diameter of less than 10 μm.

[0031] The thickness of the radiating sheet 20, formed by silver paste, can be 10μm-25μm, and its resistance is 10-15 milliohms. Similarly, the thickness of the isolation components (horizontal isolation strip 31 and vertical isolation strip 32) is 10μm-25μm.

[0032] Furthermore, the radome of the present invention also includes a frame 40 formed of silver paste on the surface of the radome body 10, and the radiating sheet assembly and the isolation assembly are both located within the frame 40.

[0033] The frame 40 defines a region within the radiating plate assembly and the isolation assembly on the surface of the radome body 10. A plurality of horizontal isolation strips 31 are parallel and spaced apart, parallel to the long sides of the frame 40 and located between the two long sides of the frame 40. The two ends of each horizontal isolation strip 31 can respectively face the two wide sides of the frame 40, and can further connect to the wide sides. A plurality of vertical isolation strips 32 are parallel and spaced apart, parallel to the wide sides of the frame 40 and located between the two wide sides of the frame 40. The two ends of each horizontal isolation strip 31 can respectively face the two long sides of the frame 40, and can further connect to the long sides.

[0034] The silver paste used for the frame 40 is the same as that used for the radiating sheet assembly and the insulating assembly, i.e., it is a silver paste with a silver content of 65%-75%. The thickness of the frame 40 can also be 10μm-25μm.

[0035] The radome of the present invention may further include a plurality of fastening holes 50 formed on the radome body 10. The plurality of fastening holes 50 are distributed at intervals along the periphery of the radome body 10 and are located on the outer side of the frame 40. The fastening holes 50 are used to cooperate with fasteners to fix the radome to the body of the base station antenna, thereby forming a base station antenna with the body.

[0036] Combination Figure 1 A method for manufacturing an embodiment of the radome of the present invention may include the following steps:

[0037] S1. Provide the antenna radome body 10.

[0038] The radome body 10 is pre-manufactured from PC or PP+GF material through injection molding or extrusion processes, and has the required shape and size. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the radome body 10 has a rectangular structure.

[0039] In addition, several fastening holes 50 are pre-drilled around the periphery of the radome body 10 by punching, drilling, or other methods. The fastening holes 50 penetrate two opposite surfaces of the radome body 10. The fastening holes 50 are used to cooperate with fasteners to fix the radome to the main body of the base station antenna, forming a base station antenna together with the main body.

[0040] S2. Based on the desired positions of the radiating sheet 20 and the isolation component, silver paste is printed onto the surface of the radome body 10 using a screen printing process, thereby forming the radiating sheet assembly and the isolation component on the surface of the radome body 10. A 200-300 mesh polyester screen is preferably used as the screen printing plate.

[0041] Alternatively, depending on the desired locations of the radiating sheet and isolation components, a silver paste layer formed by silver paste can be transferred onto the surface of the radome body 10 using a transfer printing process, thereby forming the radiating sheet assembly and isolation component on the surface of the radome body 10.

[0042] During the transfer process, silver paste is first applied to an etched steel plate with a preset pattern, and then the silver paste layer with the preset pattern is transferred onto the silicone head through a silicone head. Finally, the silver paste layer on the silicone head is transferred onto the surface of the antenna radome body 10 through the silicone head.

[0043] The silver paste mentioned above contains 65%-75% silver and is formulated from silver powder with a diameter of less than 10 μm and high-temperature curing adhesive (as a binder).

[0044] The isolation assembly includes several horizontal isolation strips 31 and several vertical isolation strips 32, which intersect (e.g., intersect perpendicularly) to form a grid structure on the surface of the radome body 10, with each radiating plate 20 located in a grid of the grid structure.

[0045] S3. After drying at 70℃-95℃, an antenna radome integrating radiating plates and isolation components is obtained.

[0046] During the drying process, the device can be placed in an oven at 70℃-95℃ for 20-30 minutes, which can be adjusted according to the actual situation. This process allows the silver paste to solidify and adhere tightly to the surface of the antenna radome body 10, integrating it into one unit.

[0047] When applied, the radome of this invention is used in conjunction with the main body of the base station antenna to form a base station antenna. Since the radiating plates and isolation components on the radome are formed by silver paste printing or transfer, no additional heat-melting or assembly process is required. The thickness is small, reducing the thickness and weight of the radome. Its application in base station antennas also reduces the thickness and weight of the base station antenna.

[0048] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An antenna cover, characterized by, It includes an antenna radome body, a radiating sheet assembly formed on the surface of the antenna radome body by silver paste through screen printing or transfer printing process, and an isolation assembly; The isolation assembly includes several horizontal isolation strips and several vertical isolation strips, which intersect to form a grid structure on the surface of the radome body; The radiating sheet assembly includes several radiating sheets, each of which is located in a grid of the grid structure; The thickness of the radiating sheet is 10μm-25μm, and the thickness of the isolation component is 10μm-25μm; the resistance of the radiating sheet is 10-15 milliohms.

2. The antenna cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, The silver content of the silver paste is 65%-75%.

3. The radome according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The radome also includes a frame formed of silver paste on the surface of the radome body; the radiating sheet assembly and the isolation assembly are both located within the frame.

4. The radome according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein, The radome also includes a plurality of fastening holes formed on the radome body; the plurality of fastening holes are distributed at intervals along the periphery of the radome body.

5. A method of manufacturing the radome according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, Includes the following steps: S1. Provide the antenna radome body; S2. Based on the desired locations of the radiating plates and isolation components, silver paste is printed onto the surface of the radome body using a screen printing process; or, According to the desired locations of the radiating sheet and isolation components, a silver paste layer formed by silver paste is transferred onto the surface of the antenna radome body using a transfer printing process; S3. After drying at 70℃-95℃, an antenna radome integrating radiating plates and isolation components is obtained.

6. The method of manufacturing a radome according to claim 5, wherein The silver content of the silver paste is 65%-75%.

7. The method of manufacturing a radome according to claim 6, wherein The silver paste also includes a high-temperature curing adhesive.

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