Antenna assembly and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antenna assembly and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to an antenna assembly including at least one radiating element formed of a first metal material and a bottom plate formed of the first metal material or a second metal material different from the first metal material and including a fixing member spaced apart from the radiating element from one surface, thereby providing advantages of cost and time saving in manufacturing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an antenna assembly and its manufacturing method, and more specifically, to an antenna assembly that can be automated by eliminating various existing structural forms such as reflectors and dielectric structures. Background Technology

[0002] Base station antennas, including repeaters used in mobile communication systems, have various shapes and structures, and typically have a structure in which multiple radiating elements are appropriately arranged on at least one reflector that is upright in the longitudinal direction.

[0003] Recently, research has been actively conducted on miniaturized, lightweight, and low-cost structures that meet the high performance requirements of multiple-input multiple-output antennas, especially in the case of patch-type radiating elements that can achieve linear or circular polarization. Typically, radiating elements made of plastic or ceramic dielectric substrates are gold-plated and bonded to PCBs (printed circuit boards) by means of soldering or other methods.

[0004] As a representative example of base station antenna-related technology, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2011-0054150 (published on May 25, 2011) filed by the applicant can be cited as an example.

[0005] According to the published patent, a patch-type first radiating element 11 and a dipole-type second radiating element 21 are stacked on one side of the reflector 1. On the other side of the reflector 1, a circuit board 111 and a power supply line (e.g., a power supply wire) for feeding power to the first radiating element 11 should be arranged. The power supply line passes through the circuit board 111 and is used to feed power to the second radiating element 21. From this point of view, there is a problem that a lot of space is required to arrange these on the back side of the reflector 1.

[0006] To address this issue, referring to Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1609665 (published April 6, 2016), the applicant has constructed a plurality of first feed lines 142, which are arranged in an X-shape between the reflector 1 and the first radiating element 14 to provide a feed signal to the patch plate 140. These first feed lines also constitute a second feed line, which serves as a feed cable structure or a signal coupling strip structure extending from the reflector 1 and is connected to the second radiating element 13. However, even with this structure, the following problems exist: the signal coupling strip forming the first feed lines 142 needs to be positioned relatively high on the reflector 1 to provide a feed signal to the patch plate 140 in a coupled manner, so that the coupled signal transmission part is at an appropriate distance from the patch plate 140. Furthermore, to stably support and fix the arrangement of the multiple signal coupling strips, a support of appropriate shape made of a synthetic material such as Teflon is required.

[0007] Furthermore, the following assembly method has been used in the past: a reflector 1 is stacked and attached to one side of an antenna substrate (not shown), then the circuit boards associated with the first feed line 142 are arranged in an X-shape, and then the first radiating element 14, which is manufactured by gold plating on the outside of a patch panel made of plastic material, is manually stacked, and then connected by soldering using solder paste already applied to the feed signal connection points. However, this method not only increases costs and complicates the manufacturing process, but also causes uneven soldering between multiple solder points, which is considered a major cause of antenna defects. This is the current situation. Summary of the Invention

[0008] (The problem to be solved)

[0009] The present invention is proposed to solve the technical problems mentioned above, and aims to provide an antenna assembly and its manufacturing method that can establish an automated assembly process.

[0010] Meanwhile, another objective of the present invention is to provide an antenna assembly and a method thereof, wherein a radiating element and a base plate are manufactured using a first material or a second material by die casting or stamping, and then can be assembled with a signal coupling wire by laser spot welding, without the need for a separate gold plating process, thus making it easy to establish an automated assembly line.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an antenna assembly and a method thereof in which each feed point of the radiating element can be connected to a plurality of signal coupling striplines arranged in series, thereby achieving high gain.

[0012] The subject matter of this invention is not limited to the subject matter mentioned above, and other subject matters not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0013] (Solutions)

[0014] An embodiment of the antenna assembly of the present invention may include: at least one radiating element formed of a first metallic material; a base plate formed of the first metallic material or a second metallic material different from the first metallic material, including a fixing member that spacees the radiating element from one side; and at least one signal coupling strip disposed on the other side of the base plate and passing through the base plate and connected to the radiating element to provide a feed signal to the radiating element.

[0015] In order to power the radiating element, the radiating element and the base plate can be electrically grounded as a whole.

[0016] In addition, the base plate may include at least one partition wall that minimizes signal interference between adjacent radiating elements.

[0017] In addition, the radiating element and the base plate can be manufactured using die casting molds or stamping molds, respectively.

[0018] In addition, the first material of the radiating element may include a metallic material or a plastic with a gold-plated surface.

[0019] In addition, the second material of the base plate may include aluminum or magnesium.

[0020] In addition, the radiating element can be formed in the shape of a disk or a polygon.

[0021] Additionally, the signal coupling strip may include: a strip body formed in a straight line shape, corresponding to a straight line connecting any one of the feed points of the radiating elements arranged in a row; and a plurality of through terminals extending from the strip body to connect to any one of the feed points of the radiating elements.

[0022] In addition, the plurality of through terminals pass through and connect to the radiating element, or may be connected to a plurality of extended connecting legs extending from the radiating element to the bottom surface of the base plate.

[0023] Additionally, the radiating element may have a laser transmission cutout formed by cutting a portion of the frame, so as to be laser spot welded to the plurality of through terminals via the plurality of extended connecting legs.

[0024] Additionally, a power supply connection hole for inserting the plurality of through terminals is formed through the ends of the plurality of extended connecting legs, and the plurality of extended connecting legs can be extended such that the end forming the power supply connection hole is located directly below the laser transmission cut.

[0025] In addition, the fixing component protrudes from the center of the bottom surface formed by the partition wall, and through holes for fixing components can be formed in the radiating element for the upper mounting portion of the fixing component for mounting the radiating element to pass through.

[0026] In addition, the radiating element and the signal coupling line, as well as the radiating element and the fixed component, can be connected by laser spot welding.

[0027] In addition, the radiating element is composed of a dual-polarized patch element that generates either ±45-degree polarization or vertical / horizontal polarization. The signal coupling strip can be configured in a straight line and simultaneously connected to any one of the feed points of the radiating elements arranged in a row.

[0028] In addition, a pair of signal coupling strips arranged adjacent to each other in the signal coupling strips simultaneously provide a feed signal, which is then distributed in parallel to the center point of the radiating elements arranged in a row. The distributed feed signals can be provided in series in a straight line direction on one side and a straight line direction on the other side, respectively.

[0029] Additionally, multiple grounding ribs can be integrally formed on the other side of the base plate to separately delineate and accommodate the multiple signal coupling strips.

[0030] An embodiment of the antenna assembly manufacturing method of the present invention includes: a radiating element manufacturing step, in which a radiating element is molded using a first metal material by die casting or stamping; a base plate manufacturing step, in which a base plate is molded using a material that is the same as or different from the first metal material by die casting or stamping; and a fixing step, in which a signal coupling strip configured to penetrate the base plate and the base plate are respectively joined by laser spot welding using a laser welding device to bond the radiating element.

[0031] Here, the manufacturing step of the radiating element is to form a laser transmission cutout in the radiating element for joining in the laser spot welding manner, provided that the element also has a pair of extended connecting legs extending a predetermined length from one side of the radiating element.

[0032] (The effect of the invention)

[0033] According to an embodiment of the antenna assembly and manufacturing method of the present invention, the following various effects can be achieved:

[0034] First, the radiating element and base plate are molded using metal materials through die casting or stamping, and compared to the previous structure, the printed circuit board (PCB), power supply wires and reflector can be omitted, thus saving costs.

[0035] Secondly, compared with the past use of plastic or ceramic materials to manufacture radiating elements, not only can the soldering process using solder paste be eliminated, but also the separate gold plating process can be eliminated. Therefore, uniform soldering design is not required in the soldering process, which not only saves assembly time, but also significantly reduces the cost required for the gold plating process.

[0036] Third, because the previous manual welding process can be eliminated, automated assembly processes can be easily established, which not only shortens manufacturing time but also ensures assembly accuracy.

[0037] The effects of this invention are not limited to those described above, but should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the structure of the invention as described in the description or claims. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of a suitable implementation example of a circular patch plate in the structure of an antenna assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded 3D diagram;

[0040] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The back of the base plate and the front view with signal coupling lines in the structure;

[0041] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram used to illustrate the state of providing a feed signal using a radiating element with a signal coupling strip and to realize dual polarization;

[0042] Figure 5 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA and an enlarged view of that section;

[0043] Figure 6 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken from the BB line and an enlarged view of that part;

[0044] Figure 7 It is along Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the cut taken from the CC line and an enlarged view of that part;

[0045] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of an applicable implementation example of a deformable patch plate in the structure of an antenna assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Exploded 3D diagram;

[0047] Figure 10 It is along Figure 8 A cross-sectional view taken from the DD line and an enlarged view of that part;

[0048] Figure 11 It is along Figure 8 A cross-sectional view taken from the EE line and an enlarged view of that part;

[0049] Figure 12 It is along Figure 8 A 3D view of the cut taken from the FF line and an enlarged view of that part;

[0050] Figure 13 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the feeding process of an antenna assembly in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] (Explanation of reference numerals in the attached image)

[0052] 100, 200: Antenna assembly; 110: Base plate

[0053] 111: Main body of the base plate 112: Next door

[0054] 113: Zoning space 114: Grounding containment ribs

[0055] 115: Fixing component; 116: Panel through hole

[0056] 120: Radiation element; 121: Through hole for fixed component.

[0057] 123: Power supply connection hole; 130: Signal coupling cable

[0058] 131: Main body with cable 133: Through terminal Detailed Implementation

[0059] Hereinafter, the antenna assembly and its manufacturing method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] When assigning reference numerals to components in the various figures, care should be taken to ensure that identical components, even when shown in different figures, should have the same reference numerals as much as possible. Furthermore, when describing embodiments of the invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known structure or function would hinder understanding of the embodiments, that detailed description will be omitted.

[0061] In describing the components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. These terms are merely used to distinguish one component from others and should not be used to limit the nature or order of the components. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having the same meaning as in relevant technical articles and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0062] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of a suitable implementation example of a circular patch plate in the structure of an antenna assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Exploded 3D diagram; Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The back of the base plate in the structure and the front view of the signal coupling strip.

[0063] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, an antenna assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a radiating element 120 having a patch or dipole type and formed of a first material; a base plate 110 formed of a plate shape using a material the same as the first material or a second material different from the first material; a plurality of signal coupling striplines 130 disposed on the other side of the base plate 110, and a plurality of through terminals 133 passing through the base plate 110 to satisfy the spacing of the radiating element arrangement in a predetermined frequency band, respectively connected to the radiating element 120, and providing a feed signal to the radiating element 120.

[0064] The type of radiating element 120 can be either patch type or dipole type, or both types. It does not mean that the other type is excluded when one type is used.

[0065] For ease of explanation, the description of the radiating element 120 will be limited to a patch-type radiating element 120, and will be divided into one embodiment and another embodiment, wherein the first embodiment is, for example, through... Figures 1 to 7 The diagram group described is implemented using a disk-shaped patch type, and another implementation is, for example, by the method described later. Figures 8 to 12 The diagram group is implemented by a patch-like structure of polygonal shapes that are deformed from a disk-shaped patch type.

[0066] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the patch-type radiating element 120 can be formed in a disk shape (hereinafter referred to as "circular patch plate", indicated by reference numeral 120). The circular patch plate 120 can be formed from a first material. Here, the first material includes a metal material or a gold-plated plastic, and preferably it can be an aluminum material. In particular, various methods such as stamping and die casting can be considered for processing the circular patch plate 120, but the die casting method, which is suitable for mass production, is preferred.

[0067] Accordingly, in the past, patch-type radiating elements 120 were formed using a dielectric substrate such as plastic or ceramic, and then coated with gold using a gold plating process to prevent corrosion and for electrical welding connection with the feed line. Gold was used as the gold plating material, which significantly increased costs. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, patch-type radiating elements 120 can be manufactured by die casting using aluminum molding material, which eliminates the need for a separate gold plating process. It also has the advantages of making the feed structure of the feed line, which will be described later, very simple and easy to implement dual polarization.

[0068] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, two power supply connection holes 123 are formed on the circular patch plate 120 at predetermined intervals in the left and right width direction. The power supply connection holes 123 are for the front end of a plurality of through terminals 133 in the structure of at least one signal coupling strip 130 described later to be inserted and pass through.

[0069] On the other hand, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the base plate 110 is made of metal and functions as a reflector for mounting the patch-type radiating element 120, while also serving as an integral part of the patch-type radiating element 120 for electrical grounding.

[0070] Specifically, the existing technology uses the following method: To power a patch-type radiating element, a ground plane is formed under the radiating element, which is made of a dielectric substrate such as plastic or ceramic. A coaxial feeding structure connects the inner conductor of the coaxial structure to the ground plane, while an outer conductor passes through the dielectric substrate and connects to the patch on the radiating element. However, this structure spatially separates the ground plane and the patch surface of the patch radiating element, thus complicating the feeding structure and requiring the patch radiating element to be bonded to the reflector via welding or other methods.

[0071] In contrast, according to the present invention, the patch-type radiating element 120 and the base plate 110 are both formed of metal material and perform the grounding function for powering the radiating element as a whole, thus eliminating the need to spatially separate the separate ground plane from the patch surface. Therefore, it has the advantage of not only making electrical design for powering, etc., very easy, but also simplifying the process of combining the radiating element 120 and the base plate 110 through the fixing component 115 and welding process described later.

[0072] On the other hand, the base plate 110 may include: a base plate body 111, formed in the shape of a metal plate with a predetermined thickness; at least one partition wall 112, integrally formed on one side of the base plate body 111, and configured to form a predetermined partition space 113 between the partition space 111 and the radiating element 120; and a fixing member 115, which spaced the radiating element 120 from the bottom surface of the partition space 113 (i.e., one side of the base plate body 111).

[0073] Here, as described above, the base plate body 111 may be made of a first metal material or a second metal material, and at least one partition wall 112, the fixing component 115 and the plurality of grounding receiving ribs 114 described later may be easily molded into one piece by die casting.

[0074] On the other hand, the aforementioned zoning space 113, as a cavity (space), can be defined by the space that exists between the circular patch plate 120 spaced at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface (i.e., one side of the base plate body 111) and to one side.

[0075] More specifically, the zoning space 113 can be understood as a zoning space 113 that divides the area occupied by the various radiating elements 120 arranged on one side of the base plate body 111 by at least one partition 112 formed as a quadrilateral.

[0076] Here, the shape formed by at least one partition 112 can be not only a circle corresponding to the shape of the circular patch 120, but also a rectangle or a regular square with a side length at least greater than the diameter of the circular patch 120.

[0077] As described above, the partitioned space 113, defined by at least one partition 112, has the meaning of being a space filled with air of dielectric constant 1, except for the fixed component 115 formed at the center. The partition 112 restricts the entry and exit of external signals or minimizes signal interference between adjacent radiating elements 120. Therefore, the partitioned space 113 can be understood as a space for stabilizing signals.

[0078] Therefore, the height of at least one partition wall 112 (i.e., the length protruding from one side of the base plate body 111) is preferably designed to an optimal value, taking into account the amount of external signal input and output and the amount of signal interference between adjacent radiating elements 120. The optimal value of the height of the partition wall 112 can be set to be the same as or at least less than the spacing distance between the radiating elements 120.

[0079] In the past, power supply lines (e.g., power supply wires or power supply PCBs) were arranged in an "X" shape at positions corresponding to the partition space 113 to provide power supply signals while radiating elements 120 from the reflector. In order to strengthen the structure, a structure of Teflon components with a predetermined dielectric constant was also provided, which resulted in a very complex structure.

[0080] An embodiment of the antenna assembly 100 of the present invention has the advantage that it does not require additional reinforcement structure and can minimize signal interference between external signals and adjacent radiating elements 120 through a partition space 113 formed by at least one partition wall 112, except for the connection part of at least one signal coupling strip 130 and the fixing component 115 described later.

[0081] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the base plate body 111 of the base plate 110 can be formed into a rectangular plate shape that extends in the vertical direction and has a length in the horizontal direction that is relatively smaller than the length in the vertical direction.

[0082] On one side of the base plate 111, multiple rectangular hexahedral spaces 113 with small front-to-back thickness (i.e., the height of the partition wall 112) are arranged in series in the vertical and horizontal directions. The number of the partition spaces 113 formed on one side of the base plate 110 can be set to be the same as the number of circular patch plates 120 that are respectively installed and fixed in the partition space 113.

[0083] At this time, the circular patch plates 120 can be arranged with a spacing that satisfies the predefined frequency band of the radiating elements 120. Typically, the spacing of the arrangement of the radiating elements 120 satisfying the predefined frequency band, as the electrical spacing between adjacent circular patch plates 120, refers to a distance of approximately 1λ.

[0084] Here, the aforementioned fixing member 115 protrudes from the center of each of the partition spaces 113, and can protrude to a size that protrudes outwards at least further than the opposing surface of the circular patch plate 120. The fixing member 115 preferably protrudes from the center of the bottom surface (i.e., one side of the base plate body 111) formed by each partition space 113. At the same time, the fixing member 115 is formed in a circular shape, especially with a relatively small diameter at the front end, so as to be inserted into the fixing member through hole 121 formed in the center of the circular patch plate 120 described later. However, the circular patch plate 120 is mounted on the stepped portion (upper mounting portion) of the fixing member 115 with a relatively large diameter, thereby fixing the circular patch plate 120 at a predetermined distance from the bottom surface of the partition space 113.

[0085] Fixing member through holes 121 are formed at the center of the circular patch plate 120 for the fixing member 115 to be inserted and pass through. The fixing member through holes 121 are formed at the exact center of the circular patch plate 120. In another embodiment described later, the modified patch plate 220 is preferably also located at the center of the symmetrical shape of the modified patch plate 220.

[0086] On the other hand, a pair of panel through holes 116 may be formed in the partition space 113 for insertion and passage of a plurality of through terminals 133 in at least one signal coupling strip 130 described later. The location of the pair of panel through holes 116 is preferably designed to minimize signal interference caused by the plurality of through terminals 133 occupying the partition space 113. More preferably, they may be located in the partition space 113 adjacent to the partition wall 112 (see later description). Figure 7 ).

[0087] like Figure 3 As shown, at least one signal coupling strip 130 may include a plurality of through terminals 133, which are respectively fixed to the other side of the base plate body 111 of the base plate 110 and branch out toward the circular patch plate 120 located on one side of the base plate body 111. The specific feeding structure of the signal coupling strip 130 to the corresponding radiating element 120 will be described in detail later.

[0088] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, on the other side of the base plate body 111 of the base plate 110, a plurality of grounding receiving ribs 114 can be integrated with the base plate body 111, and the grounding receiving ribs 114 respectively delineate and accommodate at least one signal coupling strip 130.

[0089] For the number of at least one signal coupling strip 130, preferably, for example, when the radiating element 120 arranged on one side of the base plate body 111 is composed of a dual-polarized patch element that produces dual polarization such as ±45-degree polarization or vertical / horizontal polarization, two signal coupling strips 130 are formed as a pair for each single radiating element 120. That is, as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, when four radiating elements 120 are arranged at intervals along the width of the base plate body 111, the number of signal coupling strips 130 can be eight.

[0090] Here, regarding the number of multiple grounding ribs 114 formed on the other side of the base plate body 111, when 8 signal coupling strips 130 are configured, the multiple grounding ribs 114 can form a number that can accommodate all of the signal coupling strips 130 respectively.

[0091] In addition, such as Figures 1 to 3 As shown, when 10 radiating elements 120 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the base plate body 111, 10 through terminals 133 are respectively formed in at least one signal coupling strip 130, and can be arranged in a straight line shape to simultaneously provide a feed signal to any one of the feed points respectively arranged in the 10 radiating elements 120.

[0092] Generally, it is well known that for bandwidths greater than or equal to 400 to 500 MHz, parallel connections are more advantageous than series connections for providing power signals. This is because in a series connection, phase (tilt) changes occur at frequencies far from the center frequency, leading to phase deviation. For example, if a series connection is used to provide the power signal in a 400 MHz bandwidth, the phase near the center frequency will not change, but a phase delay of approximately -6 degrees will occur at frequencies farthest from the center, resulting in a decrease in gain. However, parallel power supply requires more wiring than a series connection, increasing losses and reducing gain. Minimizing these losses necessitates complex wiring designs.

[0093] For example, in the recent use of 3.5GHz and 28GHz as 5G frequencies, 300MHz of bandwidth is used in the 3.5GHz band and 1GHz of bandwidth is used in the 28GHz band. Assuming that this bandwidth is allocated to 3 mobile communication companies, then approximately 100MHz of bandwidth is allocated in the 3.5GHz band and approximately 333MHz of bandwidth is allocated in the 28GHz band.

[0094] In the embodiments of the present invention, the method of providing the power supply signal in series can be widely used in environments with bandwidths below 300MHz, thus having the advantage of solving all the loss problems and complex line design drawbacks of the above-mentioned parallel supply method.

[0095] For this purpose, preferably, at least one signal coupling strip 130 is also configured in a straight line shape so that a feed signal can be simultaneously provided to the radiating elements 120 arranged in a row (straight line shape) on one side of the base plate body 111 by means of series supply.

[0096] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram used to illustrate the state of providing a feed signal to a radiating element with a signal coupling line and to achieve dual polarization.

[0097] The through-terminals 133 formed by the signal coupling strip 130 can provide a feed signal to a pair of feed points a and b arranged in the radiating element 120. Assuming that the radiating element 120 is a dual-polarized patch element that generates ±45-degree polarization, the feed signals corresponding to the +45-degree and -45-degree polarizations can be provided to each feed point a and b respectively.

[0098] Here, if a polarization feed signal is provided to the radiating element 120, the signal shifts towards the edge of the radiating element 120 rather than the center in the high-frequency band, causing the radiating element 120 to resonate. In this case, even if different polarization signals overlap, the vector directions of the two polarization signals are orthogonal and they will not affect each other. Assuming, referring to... Figure 4 Compared to feed point a, the transmitted signal at feed point c, located diagonally, experiences a 180-degree phase delay. Similarly, compared to feed point b, the transmitted signal at feed point d, located diagonally, also experiences a 180-degree phase delay. Accordingly, mutually orthogonal dual polarization is generated at feed points a and c, and feed points b and d of the radiating element 120.

[0099] On the other hand, as described above, the base plate 110, including the base plate body 111 and the partition wall 112, is made of a metallic material and can serve as a whole to provide grounding for powering the radiating element 120. Here, to prevent short circuits from occurring when the through terminal 133 of the signal coupling cable 130 is directly energized to the base plate 110, an insulating tip 126 is provided to insulate the inner peripheral end of the panel through hole 116 (described later) from the through terminal 133. The through terminal 133 of the signal coupling cable 130, through the insulating tip 126, is exposed on the space 113 side of the base plate 110.

[0100] Through the following discussion Figure 13 The specific series connection of the signal coupling strip 130 will be described in more detail to provide the power supply signal.

[0101] On the other hand, the base plate 110, which includes the above-described structure, can be formed from a first material (i.e., aluminum), the same material as the circular patch plate 120, or a second material different from the first material. Here, the second material may include magnesium, in addition to aluminum as the first material. Therefore, the base plate 110 can be formed from either aluminum or magnesium. Such a base plate 110, like the aforementioned radiating element 120, can be molded using a die-casting method.

[0102] Here, as described above, the base plate 110 is made of either a first material or a second material that is a metallic material, thus having the advantage of jointly performing the function of a reflector for reflecting frequency signals radiated from the radiating element 120.

[0103] Figure 5 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA and an enlarged view of that section; Figure 6 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken from the BB line and an enlarged view of that part; Figure 7 It is along Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the cut taken from the CC line and an enlarged view of that part.

[0104] like Figures 5 to 7 As shown, the antenna assembly 100 of an embodiment of the present invention, which is constructed as described above, can be automatically assembled using an automated assembly process.

[0105] More specifically, a method for manufacturing an antenna assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a radiating element manufacturing step, in which a radiating element is molded using a first metal material by die casting or stamping; a base plate manufacturing step, in which a base plate is manufactured using a material that is the same as or different from the first metal material by die casting or stamping; and a fixing step, in which a radiating element is attached to a signal coupling strip configured to penetrate the base plate by laser spot welding using a laser welding device.

[0106] In particular, the fixing step includes the following process: fixing the base plate 110 to the fixing part of the automated assembly device (not shown), wherein the base plate 110 performs the grounding function as a whole and forms a partition space 113 through at least one partition wall 112 during die casting.

[0107] The fixing step may then include the following process: using an automated assembly device, multiple signal coupling strips 130 are moved between corresponding grounding receiving ribs 114 on the other side of the base plate body 111, and fixed by passing through multiple through terminals 133 extending from the strip body 131 of the signal coupling strips 130 through the panel through hole 116. At this time, an insulating tip 126 as described above is arranged between the panel through hole 116 and the through terminals 133 of the signal coupling strips 130, so that the through holes 116 and the through terminals 133 of the signal coupling strips 130 are mutually insulated for fixing by passing through the through terminals 133.

[0108] Then, the fixing step may also include a pre-assembly process, in which the circular patch plate 120 is simultaneously moved to one side of the base plate body 111 using the clamping part (not shown) of the automated assembly device, so that the front ends of the fixing components 115 pass through the fixing component through holes 121 formed in the circular patch plate 120 respectively for installation.

[0109] Finally, the fixing step may also include the following process: using a laser welding device (not shown), a laser is used to irradiate the through terminal 133 of the signal coupling wire 130 exposed in the direction of the feed connection hole 123 formed in the circular patch plate 120 toward one side of the base plate body 111, and to spot weld the front end of the fixing member 115 exposed in the fixing member through hole 121 formed in the circular patch plate 120.

[0110] As described above, in one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna assembly 100 is manufactured not only using a metal molding material to produce the base plate 110 by die casting, but also using a metal molding material to produce the radiating element 120 attached to the base plate 110 by die casting. This has the advantage that it does not require a separate solder paste application process for fixing the two components, and that fixing can be performed very simply using a laser welding device.

[0111] For your reference, if through Figures 8 to 12 In another embodiment to be described, when a pair of extended connecting legs 225 extending a predetermined length from one side of the radiating element 220 are configured, in order to perform the above-described fixing step, the radiating element manufacturing step is preferably implemented by forming a laser transmission cutout 227.

[0112] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the appearance of an applicable implementation example of a deformable patch plate in the structure of an antenna assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 yes Figure 8 Exploded 3D diagram; Figure 10 It is along Figure 8 A cross-sectional view taken from the DD line and an enlarged view of that part; Figure 11 It is along Figure 8 A cross-sectional view taken from the EE line and an enlarged view of that part; Figure 12 It is along Figure 8 A three-dimensional view of the cut taken from the FF line and an enlarged view of that part.

[0113] Compared to passing Figures 1 to 7 The figures already illustrate an antenna assembly 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Another embodiment of the present invention, the antenna assembly 200, is an embodiment in which the shape of the radiating element 120 is deformed from a circular patch 120 to a modified patch 220. This deformation of the radiating element shape (120->220) results in a change in the welding position during the laser spot welding process described later.

[0114] Hereinafter, compared with the antenna assembly 100 of an embodiment of the present invention already described, the description of common structures and functions will be omitted, and the description will focus on the related structures of the relatively different or changed parts.

[0115] like Figures 8 to 12 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the antenna assembly 200 is configured such that a plurality of through terminals 233 branching from the main body 231 of the signal coupling strip 230 are connected to a plurality of extended connecting legs 225 extending from the modified patch plate 220 toward the bottom surface of the base plate 210 (i.e., one side of the base plate main body 211).

[0116] As in one embodiment 100 of the present invention, the plurality of through terminals 133 preferably pass through the partition space 113 formed on one side of the base plate body 111 and are directly connected to the feed connection hole 123 formed in the radiating element 120. However, in this case, the dual polarization design may be subject to certain limitations.

[0117] Therefore, in another embodiment 200 of the present invention, a pair of extended connecting legs 225 may also be provided, extending from the opposing surface of the radiating element 220, i.e., the surface facing the base plate body 211. At the ends of the pair of extended connecting legs 225, a feed connection hole 223 identical to the feed connection hole 123 of the above embodiment may be formed.

[0118] Compared to Embodiment 100 of the present invention, the portion of the pair of extended connecting legs 225 connected to the plurality of through terminals 233 is changed. Instead, the end of the extended connecting leg 225 is bent and extended towards the side where the panel through hole 216 is formed, relatively close to one side of the base plate body 211, and can extend downwards to a position adjacent to one side of the space 213 of the base plate 210. Therefore, the length of the plurality of extended connecting legs 225 formed in the cable body 231 of the signal coupling cable 230 can be extended to the length of the panel through hole 216 of the base plate body 211 to be inserted into the respective power supply connection holes 223 of the adjacent pair of extended connecting legs 225.

[0119] In addition, the pair of extended connecting legs 225 preferably extend to a length such that the ends forming the power supply connection holes 223 are located directly below the laser transmission cutout 227 formed in the variant patch plate 220 described later.

[0120] Meanwhile, the modified patch plate 220 may also include a laser transmission cutout 227 formed by cutting a portion, so that the laser irradiated by the laser welding device located on the outer side of one side of the base plate body 211 can be transmitted without interference between the opposing surface of the radiation element 220 and one side of the base plate body 211.

[0121] In terms of the characteristics of the radiating element 220, when a portion is cut as a laser transmission cutout 227, the shape should be symmetrically formed. In this respect, it is preferable to add a portion symmetrical to the cut portion with reference to the center of the radiating element 220.

[0122] Figure 13 This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the feeding process of an antenna assembly in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0123] Refer to the accompanying drawings (especially, refer to...) Figure 12 The following is a brief description of the power feeding process of the antenna assemblies 100 and 200 of the present invention as described above.

[0124] like Figure 13 As shown, after a power supply signal is provided to the center point of the arrangement of the radiating elements through the center of a pair of signal coupling strips 230, the power supply signal is distributed in parallel, that is, the power supply signal is branched to both sides through the center of the strip body 231 of the signal coupling strip 230, and then the power supply can be simultaneously supplied in series through the through terminals 233 extending to the power supply points of each of the radiating elements 220.

[0125] When radiating elements 220 arranged on one side of the base plate 211 are spaced apart by an electrical distance 1λ, a phase delay occurs due to the intervals between the radiating elements 220 and the feed signal provided through the end side of the strip body 231 instead of the center. Therefore, in this invention, the initial feed signal is provided symmetrically to both sides through the center of the strip body 231, thereby preventing the phenomenon of phase delay due to intervals between the radiating elements 220 and the center of the strip body 231.

[0126] The antenna assembly and its manufacturing method according to embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can certainly make various modifications and equivalent implementations. Therefore, the true scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims.

[0127] Industrial applicability

[0128] This invention provides an antenna assembly and its manufacturing method. Using a first material or a second material, the radiating element and base plate are manufactured by die casting or stamping. Then, they can be assembled with signal coupling wires by laser spot welding, without the need for a separate gold plating process.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly, comprising: At least one radiating element is formed of a first metallic material; A base plate, formed of the first metal material or a second metal material different from the first metal material, wherein the base plate comprises: The base plate is formed into a metal plate shape with a predetermined thickness; At least one partition wall is integrally formed on one side of the base plate body and is configured to form a predetermined partitioned space between itself and the radiating element; and A fixed component, spaced from the bottom surface of the zoning space by the radiating element; and At least one signal coupling strip is disposed on the other side of the base plate and extends through the base plate to the radiating element to provide a feed signal to the radiating element; the signal coupling strip includes: The main body with a linear shape corresponds to a straight line connecting any one of the feed points of the radiating elements arranged in a row; and Multiple through terminals extend from the main body of the strip to connect to any one of the feed points of the radiating element; The power supply signal is fed to both sides by branching from the center of the main body of the signal coupling wire, and then fed simultaneously in series through through terminals extending to each power supply point of the radiating element.

2. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, In order to power the radiating element, the radiating element and the base plate are electrically grounded as a whole.

3. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base plate also includes at least one partition wall that minimizes signal interference between adjacent radiating elements.

4. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radiating element and the base plate are manufactured using die casting or stamping molds, respectively.

5. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first material of the radiating element includes a metallic material or a plastic with a gold-plated surface.

6. The antenna assembly according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that, The second material of the base plate includes aluminum or magnesium.

7. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radiating element is formed in the shape of a disk or a polygon.

8. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of through terminals pass through and connect to the radiating element, or are connected to a plurality of extended connecting legs that extend from the radiating element to the bottom surface of the base plate.

9. The antenna assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The radiating element has a laser transmission cutout portion formed by cutting a part of the frame, which is then laser-spot welded to the plurality of through terminals via the plurality of extended connecting legs.

10. The antenna assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, A power supply connection hole is formed at the end of each of the plurality of extended connecting legs for inserting into the plurality of through terminals. The plurality of extended connecting legs extend such that the end forming the power supply connection hole is located directly below the laser transmission cutout.

11. The antenna assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fixing component protrudes from the center of the bottom surface formed by the partition walls. Through holes for fixing components are formed in each of the radiating elements so that the upper mounting portion of the fixing component for assembling the radiating element can pass through.

12. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radiating element is connected to the signal coupling line and the radiating element is connected to the fixed component by laser spot welding.

13. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The radiating element is composed of a dual-polarized patch element that produces either ±45-degree polarization or vertical / horizontal polarization. The signal coupling strip is configured in a straight line and is simultaneously connected to any one of the feed points of the radiating elements arranged in a row.

14. The antenna assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that, The signal coupling striplines are simultaneously supplied with power signals by a pair of adjacent signal coupling striplines. After the feed signal is provided to the center point of the radiating elements arranged in a row, it is distributed in parallel, and the distributed feed signals are provided in series in a straight line direction on one side and a straight line direction on the other side.

15. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple grounding ribs are integrally formed on the other side of the base plate to delineate and accommodate the multiple signal coupling strips.

16. A method for manufacturing an antenna assembly according to claims 1 to 15, comprising: The radiating element manufacturing process involves using a first metallic material as a molding material to mold the radiating element through die casting or stamping. The base plate manufacturing step involves using a molding material that is the same as or different from the first metal material to mold the base plate by die casting or stamping. and In a fixed procedure, the radiating element is joined to the signal coupling strip configured to penetrate the base plate and the base plate by laser spot welding using a laser welding device.

17. The method for manufacturing an antenna assembly according to claim 16, characterized in that, The manufacturing steps for the radiating element are as follows: In the case where a pair of extended connecting legs extending a predetermined length from one side of the radiating element are also provided, a laser transmission cutout is formed on the radiating element for joining in the laser spot welding manner.

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