Antenna control device, antenna and base station
By using electrically insulating isolation components and gear components in the RET antenna, the motor signal is isolated and the driving force transmission path is changed, thus solving the motor signal interference problem and achieving the effects of antenna signal stability and miniaturization.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202080106516.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2020-12-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-28
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-12-21
AI Technical Summary
In existing RET antennas, the exposed metal shaft of the motor causes severe signal interference, affecting the stability of the antenna signal.
An isolation component made of electrically insulating material is fitted onto a metal shaft, and the motor and the metal shaft are placed inside a metal housing. The motor is connected to the isolation component through an opening. Most of the motor signal is isolated inside the housing and can only be radiated to the outside through gaps. Combined with a gear assembly, the transmission path of the driving force is changed, reducing space occupation.
It significantly reduces the interference of motor operation on antenna signals, and enables the miniaturization of antenna control devices, adapting to antenna layouts with various structural shapes, thereby improving signal stability and flexibility.
Smart Images

Figure CN116368688B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of antenna technology, specifically to an antenna control device, an antenna, and a base station. Background Technology
[0002] Electrically adjustable antennas are the mainstream antennas for base stations today. They are mobile antennas that electronically adjust their downtilt angle. Currently, these include FET (Fixed Electrical Tilt) antennas, MET (Mechanical Electrical Tilt) antennas, and RET (Remote Electrical Tilt) antennas. Compared to FET antennas, MET and RET antennas are widely used by mainstream operators because they allow for system-controlled beam direction adjustment, facilitating network planning and real-time adjustment. RET antennas commonly use RCU (Remote Control Unit) modules to adjust the beam. Signal control of a motor outputs torque, which in turn drives a transmission mechanism to change the phase of a phase shifter. Current RCU modules mainly consist of a control board, motor, coupling, and housing. The motor and control board are assembled inside the housing and then sealed with screws using a cover plate. In this configuration, the motor's metal shaft is exposed outside the RCU module. The coupling connects to the motor's metal shaft. After receiving signals, the control board controls the motor's output torque. Then, the motor's metal shaft drives a phase shifter through the coupling to change the phase. In this technical solution, because the motor contains magnetic materials, it generates signals during operation. Since the motor shaft, protruding from the housing, is not adequately shielded, the signals from the motor's operation are transmitted to the area around the antenna via the metal shaft, thus affecting the stability of the antenna signal. Summary of the Invention
[0003] This application provides an antenna control device that can reduce the interference of motor signals on antenna signals.
[0004] In a first aspect, this application provides an antenna control device for receiving control signals and controlling the movement of the sliding medium of a phase shifter in an antenna according to the control signals. The antenna control device includes a motor, a housing, an isolation assembly, and a transmission assembly.
[0005] The motor includes a motor body and a metal shaft located at one end of the motor body. One end of the isolation component is sleeved on the end of the metal shaft away from the motor body. The housing has an opening that penetrates the two opposite surfaces of the housing. The motor body and the metal shaft are located inside the housing. The isolation component passes through the opening and the end of the isolation component away from the metal shaft extends out of the housing. The transmission component is connected to the end of the isolation component away from the metal shaft. The transmission component is used to drive the sliding medium to move.
[0006] The isolation component is used to isolate the propagation of electrical signals and can be made of electrically insulating materials, such as plastic. Because the motor contains magnetic materials, it generates signals during operation. The control signals received by the antenna control device can radiate through the motor's metal shaft, affecting the antenna signal reception and transmission. In existing technologies, the metal shaft is inserted through an opening, allowing the motor-generated signals to radiate in all directions, severely interfering with the antenna signal. In this application, the motor body and metal shaft are housed within a housing, and the isolation component is inserted through the opening. Most of the motor signal is isolated within the housing, with only a small portion radiating outside through the gap between the opening and the isolation component, thus significantly reducing interference with the antenna signal. In this application, the housing is generally a metal housing.
[0007] One end of the isolation component is fitted onto the end of the metal shaft away from the motor body, and the two are fixed to each other. The fixing methods include tooth engagement, snap-fit fixing or screw fixing. When the metal shaft rotates, it can drive the isolation component to rotate.
[0008] In this application, when the motor is working, the metal shaft rotates, driving the isolation component to rotate, which in turn drives the transmission component to move, thereby driving the sliding medium to move and thus realizing the change of phase of the phase shifter.
[0009] In some implementations, the smaller the gap between the isolation component and the opening wall, the better, so that the signal generated when the motor is working can be confined within the enclosure, thereby reducing interference with the antenna signal.
[0010] In one possible implementation, the isolation assembly includes an isolation sleeve shaft extending in the same direction as the metal shaft. One end of the isolation sleeve shaft is fitted onto the end of the metal shaft furthest from the motor body, and the other end of the isolation sleeve shaft extends out of the housing through an opening. The isolation sleeve shaft is made of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic.
[0011] In one possible implementation, the isolation component is an isolation gear component. The isolation gear component includes at least one gear sub-assembly. The gear sub-assembly includes at least one of at least a set of bevel gear sub-assemblies, at least one set of worm gear sub-assemblies, and at least one set of cylindrical gear sub-assemblies.
[0012] In one possible implementation, the isolation assembly includes a first isolation sub-component and a second isolation sub-component. One end of the first isolation sub-component is fitted onto the end of the metal shaft furthest from the motor body, and the extension direction of the first isolation sub-component is the same as the extension direction of the metal shaft. The other end of the first isolation sub-component meshes with one end of the second isolation sub-component. The end of the second isolation sub-component furthest from the first isolation sub-component extends out of the housing through an opening, and the extension direction of the second isolation sub-component intersects with the extension direction of the first isolation sub-component. In some embodiments, the extension direction of the second isolation sub-component is perpendicular to the extension direction of the first isolation sub-component, which allows the size of the housing in the motor extension direction to be smaller, thus changing the direction of the driving force of the motor once within the housing. The isolation assembly can be a bevel gear assembly or a worm gear assembly. For example, the end of the first isolation sub-component adjacent to the second isolation sub-component is a bevel gear, and the end of the second isolation sub-component adjacent to the first isolation sub-component is a bevel gear, with the first and second isolation sub-components connected by their respective bevel gears meshing together.
[0013] In one possible implementation, the transmission component is a gear assembly. In some embodiments, the transmission component may not be a gear assembly; for example, it may be a transmission rod, etc.
[0014] In one possible implementation, the gear assembly is made of an electrically insulating material.
[0015] In one possible implementation, the axis of the gear assembly's end away from the isolation component intersects with or does not coincide with the axis of the metal shaft. "Not coincident" means the two axes are parallel but spaced apart. The gear assembly can change the motor's transmission direction. When the motor operates, the metal shaft rotates around its own axis, driving the gear assembly to rotate. The axis of the gear assembly's end away from the isolation component intersects with or does not coincide with the motor's axis, allowing that end of the gear assembly to rotate around its axis. In other words, the gear assembly's extension direction differs from the motor's extension direction, allowing the overall antenna control device to be shorter in length, thus making it suitable for small antennas.
[0016] The gear assembly in this application can change the direction of the motor's driving force transmission path, so that the motor can be parallel, perpendicular or intersecting with the antenna length direction, thereby enabling the driving force transmission path to be set in a small space without occupying a large space. This is beneficial for miniaturizing the antenna control device and making its layout more flexible, with more layout options, and making it easier to adapt to antennas with various structural shapes.
[0017] In one possible implementation, the gear assembly includes multiple gear sub-assemblies, with the axes of adjacent gear sub-assemblies intersecting at the ends furthest from the motor. This means that adjacent gear sub-assemblies can change the direction of the driving force transmission path, thereby shortening the straight-line distance from the motor to the end of the gear assembly furthest from the motor, enabling miniaturization of the antenna control device. In some embodiments, adjacent gear sub-assemblies are connected by a connecting rod.
[0018] In one possible implementation, the gear subassembly includes a first gear subassembly adjacent to the motor and a second gear subassembly adjacent to the sliding medium. The end of the first gear subassembly adjacent to the motor is connected to an isolation component, and the end of the second gear subassembly adjacent to the sliding medium is connected to the sliding medium. The end of the first gear subassembly away from the motor is connected to the end of the second gear subassembly away from the sliding medium, or the end of the first gear subassembly away from the motor and the end of the second bevel gear subassembly away from the sliding medium are respectively connected to other gear subassemblies located between the first gear subassembly and the second gear subassembly.
[0019] In some embodiments, the gear sub-assemblies within the gear assembly can also change the driving force transmission path in a direction perpendicular to the reflector, allowing the gear assembly to be distributed along the antenna's height. In this application, the gear assembly can be matched according to the antenna shape and the structural arrangement of other internal components. The positions of the antenna control device and its components are no longer fixed in a specific area, which can greatly save antenna space and help reduce antenna size and dimensions.
[0020] In one possible implementation, the gear subassembly includes at least one of at least a set of bevel gear subassemblies, at least a set of worm gear subassemblies, and at least a set of cylindrical gear subassemblies.
[0021] In one possible implementation, the sliding medium has teeth, and the end of the gear assembly away from the motor meshes with the teeth of the sliding medium. The teeth are arranged along the length of the sliding medium.
[0022] In one possible implementation, the enclosure includes a shell and a cover plate, the shell having an opening, the cover plate sealing the opening to close the enclosure, and the opening being provided on the shell or the cover plate.
[0023] Secondly, this application provides an antenna, which includes a phase shifter and an antenna control device as described in any of the above.
[0024] Thirdly, this application provides a base station, which includes the antenna described above. Attached Figure Description
[0025] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0026] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0027] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0028] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the housing portion of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the housing portion of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0031] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an antenna control device in the prior art;
[0032] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0033] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the antenna control device provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0034] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the antenna structure provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0035] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a base station provided in one embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation
[0036] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments.
[0037] In this document, the terms "first," "second," etc., 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. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.
[0038] Furthermore, in this article, directional terms such as "upper" and "lower" are defined relative to the orientation of the structure as shown in the attached drawings. It should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts, used for relative description and clarification, and can change accordingly depending on the orientation of the structure.
[0039] Please see Figures 1 to 4 One embodiment of this application provides an antenna control device 10 for receiving control signals and controlling the movement of the sliding medium 21 of the phase shifter 20 in the antenna 1 according to the control signals (e.g., ...). Figure 10 As shown, the antenna control device 10 includes a motor 100, a housing 200, an isolation assembly 300, and a transmission assembly. In this embodiment, the transmission assembly is a gear assembly 400. In some embodiments, the transmission assembly may not be a gear assembly 400, but may be a transmission rod, etc.
[0040] The motor 100 includes a motor body 110 and a metal shaft 120 located at one end of the motor body 110 (e.g., Figure 5 (As shown). One end of the metal shaft 120 is located inside the motor body 110, and the metal shaft 120 rotates when the motor 100 is working. One end of the isolation assembly 300 is sleeved on the end of the metal shaft 120 away from the motor body 110, and the housing 200 is provided with openings 210 penetrating the two opposing surfaces of the housing 200 (as shown). Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the motor body 110 and the metal shaft 120 are located inside the housing 200. The isolation component 300 passes through the opening 210 and the end of the isolation component 300 away from the metal shaft 120 extends out of the housing 200. The transmission component is connected to the end of the isolation component 300 away from the metal shaft 120. The transmission component is used to drive the sliding medium 21 to move.
[0041] The isolation component 300 is used to isolate the propagation of electrical signals and can be made of electrically insulating materials, such as plastic. Because the motor 100 contains magnetic materials, it generates signals during operation. The control signals received by the antenna control device 10 will radiate through the motor's metal shaft 120, affecting the antenna signal reception and transmission. In the prior art, the metal shaft 120 is inserted through the opening 210, allowing the signals generated by the motor 100 to radiate in all directions, severely interfering with the antenna 1's signal. In this application, the motor body 110 and the metal shaft 120 are housed within the housing 200, and the isolation component 300 is inserted through the opening 210. Most of the motor 100's signal is isolated within the housing 200, with only a small portion radiating outside the housing 200 through the gap between the opening 210 and the isolation component 300, thus significantly reducing interference with the antenna signal. In this application, the housing 200 is generally a metal housing.
[0042] One end of the isolation component 300 is sleeved on the end of the metal shaft 120 away from the motor body 110, and the two are fixed to each other. The fixing methods include tooth engagement, snap-fit fixing or screw fixing. When the metal shaft 120 rotates, it can drive the isolation component 300 to rotate.
[0043] In this application, when the motor 100 is working, the metal shaft 120 rotates, driving the isolation component 300 to rotate, which in turn drives the gear assembly 400 to move, thereby driving the sliding medium 21 to move and thus realizing the phase change of the phase shifter 20.
[0044] In some implementations, the smaller the gap between the isolation component 300 and the wall of the opening 210, the better, so that the signal generated when the motor 100 is working can be confined within the housing 200, thereby reducing interference with the antenna signal.
[0045] Please see Figure 5 In one possible implementation, the isolation assembly 300 includes an isolation sleeve 310. The extension direction of the isolation sleeve 310 is the same as that of the metal shaft 120. One end of the isolation sleeve 310 is sleeved on the end of the metal shaft 120 away from the motor body 110, and the other end of the isolation sleeve 310 extends out of the housing 200 through the opening 210. The isolation sleeve 310 is made of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic. In this embodiment, the extension directions of the isolation sleeve 310, the metal shaft 120, and the motor body 110 are the same. The length of the isolation sleeve 310 can be set according to actual needs. When the motor 10 is far from the opening 210, a longer isolation sleeve 310 can be selected; when the motor 10 is close to the opening 210, a shorter isolation sleeve 310 can be selected.
[0046] In one possible implementation, the isolation component 300 is an isolation gear component. The isolation gear component includes at least one gear sub-assembly. The gear sub-assembly includes at least one set of bevel gear sub-assemblies, at least one set of worm gear sub-assemblies, and at least one set of cylindrical gear sub-assemblies. That is, in this embodiment, the isolation gear component is equivalent to a transmission component located within the housing 200, and the isolation gear component can change the transmission direction of the driving force of the motor 10 within the housing 200. In this embodiment, the transmission component outside the housing 200 can be a transmission rod, etc. In other embodiments, the transmission component outside the housing 200 can also be a gear assembly 400.
[0047] Please see Figure 6In one possible implementation, the isolation component 300 includes a first isolation sub-component 320 and a second isolation sub-component 330, wherein one end of the first isolation sub-component 320 is sleeved on the end of the metal shaft 120 away from the motor body 110, the extending direction of the first isolation sub-component 320 is the same as the extending direction of the metal shaft 120, and the other end of the first isolation sub-component 320 engages with one end of the second isolation sub-component 330 (e.g., Figure 2 As shown, the end of the second isolation component 330 away from the first isolation component 320 extends out of the housing 200 through the opening 210. The extending direction of the second isolation component 330 intersects the extending direction of the first isolation component 320. In this embodiment, the extending direction of the second isolation component 330 is perpendicular to the extending direction of the first isolation component 320. This embodiment allows for a smaller dimension of the housing 200 in the extending direction of the motor 100, enabling a change in the driving force direction of the motor 100 within the housing 200. In this embodiment, the isolation assembly 300 can be a bevel gear assembly or a worm gear assembly. For example, the end of the first isolation component 320 adjacent to the second isolation component 330 is a bevel gear, and the end of the second isolation component 330 adjacent to the first isolation component 320 is a bevel gear, with the first and second isolation components 320 connected by meshing bevel gears.
[0048] In one possible implementation, the gear assembly 400 is made of an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material can be plastic.
[0049] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 In one possible implementation, the axis A of the gear assembly 400 away from the isolation assembly 300 intersects the axis B of the metal shaft 120 (e.g., Figure 8 (as shown) or not overlapping (e.g.) Figure 9 (As shown). Here, "not coincident" means that axes A and B are parallel but spaced apart. In this embodiment, the gear assembly 400 can change the transmission direction of the motor 10. When the motor 10 is working, the metal shaft 120 rotates around its own axis B. The rotating metal shaft 120 drives the gear assembly 400 to rotate. The axis A of the end of the gear assembly 400 away from the isolation component 300 intersects with or does not coincide with the axis B of the motor 100, causing the end of the gear assembly 400 away from the isolation component 300 to rotate around axis A. That is, in this embodiment, the extension direction of the gear assembly 400 is different from the extension direction of the motor 100, which allows the antenna control device 10 to be set shorter in length, thus making it suitable for small antennas 1.
[0050] Please see Figure 7In existing control devices, the axis A of the drive component 400a used to drive the sliding medium is the same as the axis B of the motor 100. The two coincide, which makes the overall length of the drive component 400a and the motor 100 relatively long. When it is set in the antenna 1, it can only be set in the length direction of the antenna 1. Therefore, it cannot be used for small antennas 1. In other words, in order to adapt to the long drive component 400a, the antenna 1 can only be made longer, which cannot be used in narrower installation positions.
[0051] The gear assembly 400 in this application can change the driving force transmission path between the motor 100 and the sliding medium 21, and the driving force transmission path can change direction multiple times. For example... Figure 8 As shown, the driving force transmission path changes direction once, causing the axis A at the end furthest from the isolation component 300 to intersect with the axis B of the motor 100, thereby saving length in the axial direction B. Figure 9 As shown, the driving force transmission path changes direction twice, causing the axis A at the end furthest from the isolation component 300 to intersect the axis B of the motor 100. The angle of each direction change can be set according to actual needs.
[0052] In other words, the gear assembly 400 in this application can change the direction of the driving force transmission path of the motor 10, so that the motor 100 can be parallel, perpendicular or intersecting with the length direction of the antenna 1, thereby enabling the driving force transmission path to be set in a small space without occupying a large space. This is beneficial for miniaturizing the antenna control device 10 and making its layout more flexible, with more layout options, and making it easier to adapt to various antennas 10 with different structural shapes.
[0053] In one possible implementation, the gear assembly 400 includes a plurality of gear sub-assemblies 410, with the axes of two adjacent gear sub-assemblies 410 intersecting at the ends away from the motor 10. That is, two adjacent gear sub-assemblies 410 can change the direction of the driving force transmission path, thereby shortening the straight-line distance from the motor 10 to the end of the gear assembly 400 away from the motor 10, which can miniaturize the antenna control device 10.
[0054] Please refer to it again. Figures 1 to 4 In one possible implementation, the gear subassembly 410 includes at least one of at least a set of bevel gear subassemblies 410a, at least one set of worm gear subassemblies 410b, and at least one set of cylindrical gear subassemblies 410c. That is, the gear subassembly 410 can be composed of bevel gear subassemblies 410a, worm gear subassemblies 410b, or a combination of bevel gear subassemblies 410a and worm gear subassemblies 410b to change the driving force transmission path. It can also be composed of bevel gear subassemblies 410a, worm gear subassemblies 410b, and cylindrical gear subassemblies 410c (e.g.,...). Figure 1(As shown). A bevel gear is a gear whose diameter at one end of the tooth is smaller than the diameter at the other end; a cylindrical gear is a gear whose diameter at one end of the tooth is equal to the diameter at the other end; a worm gear consists of a worm wheel and a worm, the worm being similar in shape to a screw, and the worm wheel being similar to a gear.
[0055] In this application, gear subassembly 410 refers to a gear subassembly comprising a pair of corresponding gears, for example, a bevel gear and a bevel gear constituting a gear subassembly 410, such as... Figure 1 In the bevel gear sub-assembly 410a, for example, a worm gear and a worm constitute a gear sub-assembly 410, such as... Figure 1 The worm gear assembly 410b in the middle. Figure 1 The gear assembly 400 in the motor 100 has a cylindrical gear sub-assembly 410c at one end. Since this end of the cylindrical gear sub-assembly 410c meshes with the teeth in the sliding medium 21, it is a single cylindrical gear. When the cylindrical gear sub-assembly 410c needs to drive multiple sliding media 21, it can include multiple cylindrical gears, such as in... Figure 1 Six cylindrical gears are set in the middle.
[0056] In some embodiments, two adjacent gear subassemblies 410 can be connected by a connecting rod 420 (e.g., Figure 1 (As shown). The two ends of the connecting rod 420 are respectively connected to one of the gears in two adjacent gear sub-assemblies 410, as shown. Figure 1 As shown, the bevel gear subassembly 410a includes bevel gears 411 and 412, and the worm gear subassembly 410b includes a worm 413 and a worm wheel 414, wherein the worm 413 has threads that match the worm wheel 414, and the two ends of the connecting rod 420 are connected to the bevel gear 412 and the worm 413, respectively. A connecting rod is also provided between the worm wheel 414 and the cylindrical gear.
[0057] Please see Figure 8 In one possible implementation, the gear subassembly 410 includes a first gear subassembly 401 adjacent to the motor 10 and a second gear subassembly 402 adjacent to the sliding medium 21. One end of the first gear subassembly 401 adjacent to the motor 10 is connected to the isolation component 300, and one end of the second gear subassembly 402 adjacent to the sliding medium 21 is connected to the sliding medium 21. The end of the first gear subassembly 401 away from the motor 10 is connected to the end of the second gear subassembly 402 away from the sliding medium 21. Figure 8As shown, the gear assembly 400 includes a first gear subassembly 401 and a second gear subassembly 402. The first gear subassembly 401 is connected to the metal shaft 120 and shares the same axis B as the metal shaft 120. The second gear subassembly 402 has a different axis from the first gear subassembly 401, changing the driving force transmission path so that the axis A at the end away from the isolation component 300 intersects the axis B of the motor 100. The first gear subassembly 401 and the second gear subassembly 402 can be at least one of a bevel gear subassembly 410a, a worm gear subassembly 410b, and a cylindrical gear subassembly 410c.
[0058] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the end of the first gear subassembly 401 away from the motor 10 and the end of the second bevel gear subassembly 402 away from the sliding medium 21 are respectively connected to other gear assemblies 410 located between the first gear subassembly 401 and the second gear subassembly 402. For example... Figure 9 As shown, in this embodiment, the driving force transmission path changes direction twice. The gear assembly 400 includes a first gear subassembly 401, a second gear subassembly 402, and a third gear subassembly 403. The third gear subassembly 403 is disposed between the first gear subassembly 401 and the second gear subassembly 402. The first gear subassembly 401 is connected to the metal shaft 120 and is on the same axis B as the metal shaft 120. The third gear subassembly 403 is on a different axis than the first gear subassembly 401. By changing the direction of the driving force transmission path, the axis C of the end of the third gear subassembly 403 away from the isolation component 300 intersects the axis B of the motor 100. The second gear assembly 402 is connected to the third gear assembly 403, and the axis A of the second gear assembly 402 intersects the axis C of the third gear assembly 403. By changing the direction of the driving force transmission path again, the axis A of the end of the gear assembly 400 away from the isolation component 300 intersects the axis B of the motor 100.
[0059] In some embodiments, the gear sub-assembly 410 in the gear assembly 400 can also change the driving force transmission path in the direction perpendicular to the reflector, so that the gear assembly 400 can be distributed in the height direction of the antenna 1. In this application, the gear assembly 400 can be matched according to the shape of the antenna 1 and the structural arrangement of other devices inside the antenna 1. The positions of the antenna control device 10 and its components are no longer fixed in a certain area, which can greatly save the space of the antenna 1 and help reduce the space and size of the antenna 1.
[0060] In one possible implementation, the sliding medium 21 is provided with teeth 22 (e.g., Figures 1 to 4As shown, the end of the gear assembly 400 away from the motor 10 meshes with the teeth 22 of the sliding medium 21. When the motor 10 is working, it drives the gear assembly 400 to rotate, which in turn moves the sliding medium 21 through the teeth 22. The teeth 21 are arranged along the length of the sliding medium 21. For example, when the end of the gear assembly 400 away from the motor 10 is a cylindrical gear sub-assembly 410c, the cylindrical gear sub-assembly 410c rotates along the length of the sliding medium 21, which in turn moves the sliding medium 21 through the teeth 22.
[0061] Please see Figure 6 and Figure 1 In one possible implementation, the housing 200 includes a shell 220 and a cover 230, the shell 220 having an opening 221 (e.g., Figure 1 As shown), the cover plate 230 seals the opening 221 to close the housing 200. The opening 210 is provided on the housing 220 or the cover plate 230. In this embodiment, the opening 210 is provided on one side wall of the housing 220. During installation, the motor 100 is placed in the housing 220 through the opening 221, then the isolation assembly 300 is connected to the metal shaft 120 through the opening 210, and then the cover plate 230 is closed to enclose the motor 100 in the housing 200. In some embodiments, one motor 100 or two or more motors 100 can be placed in one housing 200. Correspondingly, multiple isolation assemblies 300 and multiple gear assemblies 400 can be provided to drive their respective sliding media 21. In this embodiment, the housing 200 can accommodate two motors 100. Figure 1 Only one is shown in the image.
[0062] In some embodiments, the housing 220 is further provided with a mounting part, and the housing 200 can be fixedly connected to the reflector 30 in the antenna 1 through the mounting part (e.g., Figure 10 As shown in the figure, the mounting part can be a screw hole, and the housing 200 and the reflector 30 can be connected by screws.
[0063] Please refer to it again. Figure 6In some embodiments, the antenna control device 10 further includes a circuit board 500 and a first connecting line 600, both located within the housing 200. The first connecting line 600 connects the circuit board 500 and the motor 100. The circuit board 500 contains program instructions for driving the motor 100, including the motor's rotational speed, rotational speed, and execution time period. When the circuit board 500 operates, it outputs a control signal, which controls the motor 100 to operate according to the program instructions stored in the circuit board 500, thereby controlling the precise adjustment of the phase of the phase shifter 20 via the gear assembly 400. The antenna control device 10 also includes a second connecting line 700, one end of which is electrically connected to the circuit board 500, and the other end is connected to other electronic components outside the housing 200, such as a switching unit. When the switching unit is turned on, it triggers the circuit board 500 to output a control signal.
[0064] In one possible implementation, the housing 220 includes a first sub-housing 240 and a second sub-housing 250 disposed adjacent to each other. The motor body 110 is disposed in the first sub-housing 240. A through hole 260 is provided between the first sub-housing 240 and the second sub-housing 250. A metal shaft 120 passes through this through hole 260. One end of the metal shaft 120 is located in the first sub-housing 240 and connected to the motor body 110, while the other end of the metal shaft 120 is located in the second sub-housing 250. One end of the isolation assembly 300 is located in the second sub-housing 250 and connected to the other end of the metal shaft 120. An opening 210 is provided on the second sub-housing 250. In this embodiment, the second sub-housing 250 includes a side cover 251 (e.g., ...). Figure 1 As shown, the side cover 251 is located on the opposite side of the perforation 260. The side cover 251 can be removed from the second sub-housing 250. When installing the isolation assembly 300 and the metal shaft 120, the side cover 251 can be removed, and the isolation assembly 300 can be inserted into the second sub-housing 250 from the position corresponding to the side cover 251 and connected and fixed to the metal shaft 120. After fixing, the side cover 251 is fixed onto the second sub-housing 250. At this time, the cover plate 230 is then placed on the first sub-housing 240 and the second sub-housing 250 to close the entire housing 200.
[0065] Please see Figure 10This application provides an antenna 1, including a phase shifter 20 and an antenna control device 10 as described in any of the above embodiments. The phase shifter 20 includes a sliding medium 21. The gear assembly 400 in the antenna control device 10, at one end away from the motor 10, is connected to the sliding medium 21 to drive the sliding medium 21 to move and achieve a phase change in the phase shifter 20. The antenna control device 10 in this application, on the one hand, reduces interference from the motor 100's operating signal to the antenna signal by mounting the isolation component 300 on the metal shaft 120 and passing through the opening 210 of the housing 200; on the other hand, the gear assembly 400 enables the antenna control device 10 to be miniaturized and its layout more flexible, making it easier to adapt to various antennas 10 with different structures.
[0066] In one possible implementation, antenna 1 further includes a reflector 30 and an radome 40, which together form a housing space 50. A phase shifter 20 and a gear assembly 400 are located on one side of the reflector 30 and within the housing space 50. A housing 200 is located on the side of the reflector 30 away from the phase shifter 20. The reflector 30 has connecting holes 31 penetrating its two opposing surfaces. The end of the isolation assembly 300 away from the motor 10 passes through the connecting holes 31 and connects to the gear assembly 400. The reflector 30 reflects signals, improving the sensitivity of antenna 1 in receiving or transmitting signals. By reflecting and focusing the signal onto the receiving point of antenna 1, it not only greatly enhances the receiving or transmitting capability of antenna 1 but also blocks or shields the signal from interference from other electromagnetic waves originating from the back side of the reflector 30. The reflector 30 can be made of metal. In this embodiment, placing the housing 200 on the back side of the reflector 30 saves housing space 50 inside antenna 1, thus making antenna 1 smaller. The radome 40 has good electromagnetic wave penetration characteristics and can withstand harsh external environments, protecting the antenna 1 from external environmental influences.
[0067] In some embodiments, antenna 1 further includes a feed network board located on the side of reflector 30 away from housing 200 and within housing space 50. The feed network board is used to feed signals to radiating units with a certain amplitude and phase, or to transmit received wireless signals to the radio frequency module of base station 2 with a certain amplitude and phase. The circuitry in the feed network board can be configured with functional units such as power divider / combiner, filter, phase shifter (or phase-shifting power divider), or radiating units as needed. Since a large number of radiating units are distributed within housing space 50, there is no additional space within housing space 50 to place housing 200 and the components inside housing 200. In this case, housing 200 and the components inside housing 200 can be placed on the back of reflector 30. In this case, housing 200 does not occupy any space inside antenna 1, greatly saving the thickness of antenna 1. At the same time, the antenna control device 10 of this application has virtually no impact on antenna signal transmission and reception.
[0068] In some embodiments, the antenna control device 10 may be entirely housed within the receiving space 50 of the antenna 1. In some embodiments, the housing 200 and the components inside the housing 200 may be housed within the receiving space 50 of the antenna 1, and the gear assembly 400 may be placed on the back of the reflector 30.
[0069] In some embodiments, when antenna 1 is an active antenna, i.e., when antenna 1 includes a radio frequency (RF) module, the RF module is used to process the transmitted signal and then transmit the processed transmitted signal to antenna 1, or to process the received signal from antenna 1 and then transmit it to an electronic device at the far end of antenna 1. In this embodiment, the RF module is disposed on the back of reflector 30, and the gear assembly 400 can be disposed in the RF module.
[0070] Please see Figure 11 This application also provides a base station 2 in one embodiment, which includes the antenna 1 as described in any of the above embodiments. The base station 2 also includes a mast 3, an antenna adjustment bracket 4, and a cable 5. The antenna 1 is fixed to the mast 3 by the antenna adjustment bracket 4. The antenna adjustment bracket 4 can be used to adjust the height of the antenna 1 above the ground so that the antenna 1 can effectively receive or radiate signals. The height of the mast 3 can be set according to actual needs.
[0071] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An antenna control device for receiving a control signal and controlling the movement of the sliding medium of a phase shifter in an antenna according to the control signal, characterized in that, The antenna control device includes a motor, a housing, an isolation component, and a transmission component; The motor includes a motor body and a metal shaft located at one end of the motor body. The housing has an opening penetrating two opposite surfaces of the housing. The motor body and the metal shaft are located inside the housing. One end of the isolation component extends into the housing through the opening and is sleeved on the end of the metal shaft away from the motor body. The other end of the isolation component extends out of the housing. The isolation component is used to isolate electrical signals from propagating from the metal shaft to the outside of the housing. The transmission component is connected to the end of the isolation component away from the metal shaft. The transmission component is used to drive the sliding medium to move.
2. The antenna control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission component is a gear assembly.
3. The antenna control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The gear assembly is made of an electrically insulating material.
4. The antenna control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The axis of the gear assembly at the end away from the isolation assembly intersects with or does not coincide with the axis of the metal shaft.
5. The antenna control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The gear assembly includes multiple gear sub-assemblies, and the axes of two adjacent gear sub-assemblies at the ends away from the motor intersect.
6. The antenna control device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The gear subassembly includes a first gear subassembly adjacent to the motor and a second gear subassembly adjacent to the sliding medium. The end of the first gear subassembly adjacent to the motor is connected to the isolation component, and the end of the second gear subassembly adjacent to the sliding medium is connected to the sliding medium. The end of the first gear sub-assembly away from the motor is connected to the end of the second gear sub-assembly away from the sliding medium, or the end of the first gear sub-assembly away from the motor and the end of the second gear sub-assembly away from the sliding medium are respectively connected to other gear sub-assemblies located between the first gear sub-assembly and the second gear sub-assembly.
7. The antenna control device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The gear subassembly includes at least one of at least a set of bevel gear subassemblies, at least one set of worm gear subassemblies, and at least one set of cylindrical gear subassemblies.
8. The antenna control device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The isolation component is an isolation sleeve or an isolation gear component.
9. The antenna control device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The sliding medium has teeth, and the end of the gear assembly away from the motor meshes with the teeth of the sliding medium.
10. The antenna control device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The enclosure includes a shell and a cover plate. The shell has an opening, and the cover plate seals the opening to close the enclosure. The opening is provided on the shell or the cover plate.
11. An antenna, characterized in that, The antenna includes a phase shifter and an antenna control device as described in any one of claims 1-10.
12. A base station, characterized in that, The base station includes the antenna as described in claim 11.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Methods and Devices for Reducing Passive Intermodulation in RF Antennas
US20160020514A1