A broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna module and array

Abstract

This invention provides a broadband tightly coupled tree-like antenna module and array. By designing a feed structure and a tapered wide-angle matching layer, a wide-bandwidth scanning angle matching structure is formed. Shorting bars are used to suppress the common-mode resonance of the two-dimensional array, thereby enabling broadband antenna array operation. The antenna module of this invention has a high degree of integration and can be printed and processed in an integrated manner, significantly reducing the difficulty of subsequent soldering of the tightly coupled antenna array and increasing the reliability of the antenna array.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of microwave antennas, and in particular to a broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna module and array. Background Art

[0002] To meet the antenna aperture reuse requirements of RF aperture synthesis, the bandwidth requirements of broadband integrated antenna arrays have increased significantly, posing significant challenges to their electrical and structural design. Antenna arrays are the equivalent matching circuits for the transition between electromagnetic waves and space, and their broadband design is a key component of the overall project. Broadband phased arrays offer numerous advantages: multiple functions, high integration, high transmission rates, rapid response times, and strong anti-interference capabilities. They can integrate multiple systems, including wireless communications, electronic countermeasures, communication countermeasures, and target tracking and detection, into a shared aperture antenna system.

[0003] Traditional broadband phased array antenna technology has significant design limitations, including limited bandwidth expansion capabilities. Furthermore, the bandwidth of the antenna elements limits the array's bandwidth, and the array's scanning angle is affected by the mutual coupling between elements.

[0004] Currently, open-ended slot antennas are widely used in broadband phased array systems. Their advantages include wide bandwidth and angle, and direct connection to common RF interfaces. However, slot antennas cannot avoid resonance. Furthermore, as bandwidth increases, the electrical dimensions increase, and the slot radiator height increases. Its high profile leads to poor cross-polarization in the D-plane (diagonal plane) when the antenna array is scanned.

[0005] Broadband phased array antennas based on mutual coupling are not limited by array elements, but can break through the bandwidth of existing antenna arrays and achieve wideband operation through mutual coupling. Research on this novel antenna structure has important engineering significance for achieving high-performance antenna technical indicators. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention provides a broadband tightly coupled tree antenna module and array to solve the technical problems in the prior art that traditional broadband phased array antenna technology has significant limitations in design and limited bandwidth expansion capability.

[0007] The embodiments of this specification provide the following technical solutions: a broadband tightly coupled tree-like antenna module, characterized in that the antenna module includes: a microwave dielectric substrate, the microwave dielectric substrate includes an upper dielectric substrate and a lower dielectric substrate; a first circuit layer, the first circuit layer is located on the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate, and includes a hollow blade-shaped radiation structure and a curved gradient matching layer; a second circuit layer, the second circuit layer is located below the first circuit layer, located in the middle layer between the upper dielectric substrate and the lower dielectric substrate, the second circuit layer includes a microstrip line structure, a blade-shaped radiation structure and a short-circuit bar, and the blade-shaped radiation structure is connected to the metal floor through the short-circuit bar; a third circuit layer, the third circuit layer is located on the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate, and includes a hollow blade-shaped radiation structure and a curved gradient matching layer; a fourth circuit layer, the fourth circuit layer is a hole-type structure that penetrates the microwave dielectric plate along the thickness direction of the microwave dielectric plate, and the hole-type structure connects the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate and the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate.

[0008] Preferably, the upper dielectric substrate and the lower dielectric substrate have the same thickness.

[0009] Preferably, the hollow blade-shaped radiation structure and the shape structure of the hollow blade-shaped radiation structure both include a fan-shaped structure, a triangular structure, and a rectangular structure.

[0010] Preferably, the curve gradient matching layer and the gradient shape of the curve gradient matching layer are curve gradients or straight line gradients.

[0011] Preferably, the microstrip line structure is a multi-branch gradient structure.

[0012] Preferably, the structural shapes of the blade-type radiation structure include fan-shaped structure, triangular structure and rectangular structure.

[0013] Furthermore, the second circuit layer forms a tree-like feeding structure, and the first circuit layer, the second circuit layer and the third circuit layer form a wide-angle matching structure.

[0014] The present invention also provides a broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna array, which includes a broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna module. Each of the antenna modules is arranged in an array to form the antenna array, and the microstrip line structure of each antenna module is connected to a radio frequency connector.

[0015] Compared to existing technologies, the at least one technical solution employed in the embodiments of this specification can achieve at least the following beneficial effects: The present invention provides a broadband tightly coupled tree-like antenna module. This module utilizes the coupling introduced by the close arrangement of elements to offset the low-frequency reactance introduced by the floor. A feed structure and a tapered wide-angle matching layer are used to form a wide-bandwidth scanning angle matching structure. Shorting bars are used to suppress the common-mode resonance of the two-dimensional array, thereby enabling broadband antenna array operation. The antenna module of the present invention has a high degree of integration and can be printed and processed in an integrated manner, significantly reducing the difficulty of subsequent soldering of the tightly coupled antenna array and increasing the reliability of the antenna array. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the structure of a broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 This is an exploded diagram of the structure of a broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 The figure is a schematic diagram of a broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna array structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Reference numerals in the figure: 1, microwave dielectric substrate; X1, upper dielectric substrate; X2, lower dielectric substrate; P1, first circuit layer; F1, second circuit layer; a1, hollow blade-shaped radiation structure; a2, curved gradient matching layer; c1, microstrip line structure; c3, blade-shaped radiation structure; c2, short-circuit bar; P2, third circuit layer; b1, hollow blade-shaped radiation structure; b2, curved gradient matching layer; P3, fourth circuit layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] The following describes the embodiments of the present application through specific examples, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present application from the contents disclosed in this specification. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. The present application can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present application. It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the features in the following embodiments and embodiments can be combined with each other. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a broadband tightly coupled tree-like antenna module, characterized in that the antenna module includes: a microwave dielectric substrate 1, the microwave dielectric substrate 1 includes an upper dielectric substrate X1 and a lower dielectric substrate X2; a first circuit layer P1, the first circuit layer P1 is located on the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate X1, and includes a hollow blade-shaped radiation structure a1 and a curved gradient matching layer a2; a second circuit layer F1, the second circuit layer F1 is located below the first circuit layer P1, and is located in the middle layer between the upper dielectric substrate X1 and the lower dielectric substrate X2. Layer F1 includes a microstrip line structure c1, a blade-shaped radiation structure c3, and a shorting bar c2. The blade-shaped radiation structure c3 is connected to the metal floor through the shorting bar c2. The third circuit layer P2 is located on the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate X2 and includes a hollow blade-shaped radiation structure b1 and a curved gradient matching layer b2. The fourth circuit layer P3 is a hole-type structure that penetrates the microwave dielectric plate 1 along the thickness direction of the microwave dielectric plate 1. The hole-type structure connects the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate X1 and the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate X2.

[0024] Furthermore, the second circuit layer F1 forms a tree-like feeding structure, and the first circuit layer P1, the second circuit layer F1 and the third circuit layer P2 form a wide-angle matching structure.

[0025] Preferably, the upper dielectric substrate X1 and the lower dielectric substrate X2 have the same thickness.

[0026] Preferably, the shapes of the hollow blade-shaped radiation structure a1 and the hollow blade-shaped radiation structure b1 include fan-shaped structure, triangular structure, and rectangular structure.

[0027] Preferably, the gradient shape of the curved gradient matching layer a2 and the curved gradient matching layer b2 is a curved gradient or a straight gradient.

[0028] Preferably, the microstrip line structure c1 is a multi-branch gradient structure.

[0029] Preferably, the structural shapes of the blade-shaped radiation structure c3 include fan-shaped structure, triangular structure and rectangular structure.

[0030] Preferably, the microwave dielectric substrate 1 is made of Arlon DiClad 880(tm) with a thickness of 2.032 mm.

[0031] Specifically, in this embodiment of the present application, the first circuit layer P1 includes a hollow blade-shaped radiating structure a1 and a curved gradient matching layer a2. The second circuit layer includes a feed structure and a radiating structure. The microstrip line structure c1 and a shorting bar c2 constitute the feed structure. The shorting bar c2 connects the blade-shaped radiating structure c3 to the floor, suppressing the array's common-mode resonance and enabling broadband operation. The second circuit layer F1 forms a tree-like feed structure. The first circuit layer P1, the second circuit layer F1, and the third circuit layer P2 form a wide-angle matching structure. The tree-like feed structure and the wide-angle matching layer combine to implement the balun function of the broadband tightly coupled antenna module. The wide-angle matching layer is composed of the circuit layer and the corresponding dielectric substrate.

[0032] Specifically, the upper and lower dielectric substrates X1 and X2 are dielectric plates with printed circuits on top and bottom before processing. Specifically, the circuit layer of the upper dielectric substrate X1 is formed by etching the dielectric surface with metal according to a specific shape, and includes a first circuit layer P1 and a second circuit layer F1. The circuit layer of the lower dielectric substrate X2 is formed by etching the dielectric surface with metal according to a specific shape, and includes a third circuit layer P2.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, embodiments of the present invention also provide a broadband tightly coupled tree-like antenna array. The antenna array comprises at least two broadband tightly coupled tree-like antenna modules arranged in an array. A wide-angle matching structure is formed using a feed structure and a tapered wide-angle matching layer. The coupling introduced by the close arrangement of the elements offsets the low-frequency reactance introduced by the floor, and shorting posts suppress the common-mode resonance of the two-dimensional array. This enables the entire antenna array to operate across a wide frequency and wide scanning angle.

[0034] In summary, the broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna module and array provided in the embodiments of the present application can achieve at least the following technical effects compared with the prior art:

[0035] 1. This invention proposes a broadband tightly coupled tree-like antenna module and array. This module utilizes the coupling introduced by the close arrangement of elements to offset the low-frequency reactance introduced by the floor. A feed structure and a tapered wide-angle matching layer are used to form a broadband scanning angle matching structure. Shorting bars are used to suppress the common-mode resonance of the two-dimensional array, thereby achieving broadband antenna array operation.

[0036] 2. The antenna module of the present invention has a high degree of integration and can be printed and processed in an integrated manner, which greatly reduces the difficulty of welding the tightly coupled antenna array in the later stage and increases the reliability of the antenna array.

[0037] 3. The antenna array of the present invention adopts a microstrip line aperture coupling feeding method, avoiding the design of a broadband balun for a traditional dipole tightly coupled array antenna, and greatly simplifying the design difficulty of a tightly coupled array antenna.

[0038] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A broadband tightly coupled tree antenna module, characterized in that: The antenna module includes: A microwave dielectric substrate (1), the microwave dielectric substrate (1) comprising an upper dielectric substrate (X1) and a lower dielectric substrate (X2); A first circuit layer (P1), the first circuit layer (P1) is located on the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate (X1), and includes a hollow blade-shaped radiation structure (a1) and a curved gradient matching layer (a2); a second circuit layer (F1), the second circuit layer (F1) being located below the first circuit layer (P1) and being located in a middle layer between the upper dielectric substrate (X1) and the lower dielectric substrate (X2); the second circuit layer (F1) comprising a microstrip line structure (c1), a blade-shaped radiation structure (c3) and a shorting bar (c2); the blade-shaped radiation structure (c3) being connected to the metal floor via the shorting bar (c2); A third circuit layer (P2), the third circuit layer (P2) is located on the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate (X2), and includes a hollow blade-shaped radiation structure (b1) and a curved gradient matching layer (b2); a fourth circuit layer (P3), the fourth circuit layer (P3) being a hole-type structure penetrating the microwave dielectric plate (1) along the thickness direction of the microwave dielectric plate (1), the hole-type structure connecting the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate (X1) and the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate (X2); The second circuit layer (F1) forms a tree-shaped feeding structure, and the first circuit layer (P1), the second circuit layer (F1) and the third circuit layer (P2) form a wide-angle matching structure.

2. The broadband tightly coupled tree antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper dielectric substrate (X1) and the lower dielectric substrate (X2) have the same thickness.

3. The broadband tightly coupled tree antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shapes of the hollow blade-shaped radiation structure (a1) and the hollow blade-shaped radiation structure (b1) include fan-shaped structure, triangular structure and rectangular structure.

4. The broadband tightly coupled tree antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gradient shapes of the curved gradient matching layer (a2) and the curved gradient matching layer (b2) are curved gradient or straight gradient.

5. The broadband tightly coupled tree antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The microstrip line structure (c1) is a multi-branch gradient structure.

6. The broadband tightly coupled tree antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The structural shapes of the blade-type radiation structure (c3) include fan-shaped structure, triangular structure and rectangular structure.

7. A broadband tightly coupled tree antenna array, characterized in that: The antenna array comprises a broadband tightly coupled tree-shaped antenna module as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, each of the antenna modules is arranged in an array to form the antenna array, and the microstrip line structure (c1) of each antenna module is connected to a radio frequency connector.

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