Antennas, control methods and related equipment

Abstract

An antenna, control method, and related equipment are disclosed. The antenna includes a substrate, a parasitic element, a radiating element, a first switching element, and a second switching element. A feed terminal, a first ground terminal, and a second ground terminal are disposed on the substrate. Both ends of the parasitic element are connected to the first and second ground terminals. One end of the radiating element is connected to the feed terminal. The first and second switching elements are disposed on the parasitic element. By implementing the technical solution provided in this application and controlling the operation of the first and second switching elements, the polarization and radiation pattern of the antenna can be changed, enabling the antenna to have different operating modes. Different operating modes can adapt to different antenna application scenarios.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of antennas, and more particularly to an antenna, a control method, and related equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Antennas are key components for realizing intelligent network functions such as radio communication, wireless networks, and satellite positioning, playing a crucial role in transmitting and receiving signals in communication systems. Antenna polarization refers to the direction of the electric field intensity generated when the antenna radiates. The antenna radiation pattern is the graph showing how the relative field strength of the radiated field changes with direction at a certain distance from the antenna. Furthermore, on-board antennas directly utilize printed circuit boards (PCBs) as the medium, implementing the antenna through PCB technology. These PCB on-board antennas are widely used in wireless modules such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and ZigBee modules.

[0003] With the continuous advancement of vehicle intelligence and connectivity, vehicles are no longer simply mechanical industrial products; they sometimes resemble mobile wireless communication nodes. As the most crucial component of the entire communication system, antennas are essential for positioning and transmitting location and communication data. Therefore, the quality of the antenna directly impacts the performance of the entire intelligent connected vehicle system. Intelligent connectivity encompasses not only the intelligent requirements of autonomous driving and Advanced Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), but also the information networking needs between people, vehicles, and roads, such as unmanned delivery vehicles, self-driving trucks, self-driving buses, self-driving taxis, passenger car ADAS, and Road Side Units (RSUs).

[0004] Intelligent vehicles, new energy vehicles, or vehicle domain control units (DCUs), body control modules (BCMs), in-vehicle infotainment systems, portable devices, smart locks, etc., may have onboard antennas. Onboard antennas are usually fixed on the circuit board, and their polarization and radiation pattern cannot be changed. They are very likely to have poor signal in some areas due to installation location, space limitations, metal obstructions, etc., which can affect antenna performance and lead to poor signal in some areas, affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides an antenna, a control method, and related equipment that can change the polarization and radiation pattern of the antenna to improve its performance.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides an antenna, including a substrate, a parasitic element, a radiating element, a first switching element, and a second switching element.

[0007] The substrate has a power supply terminal, a first ground terminal, and a second ground terminal. The two ends of the parasitic unit are connected to the first and second ground terminals. One end of the radiating unit is connected to the power supply terminal. The aforementioned first and second switching units are disposed on the parasitic unit.

[0008] In this scheme, the first switching unit and the second switching unit can control the on and off of the circuit, and can change the polarization and radiation pattern of the antenna, so that the antenna has different working modes. Different working modes can be adapted to different antenna application scenarios and improve antenna performance.

[0009] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the parasitic unit includes a first sub-parasitic unit, a second sub-parasitic unit, and a third sub-parasitic unit.

[0010] In this configuration, one end of the first sub-parasitic unit is connected to the first ground terminal, and the other end of the first sub-parasitic unit is connected to one end of the second sub-parasitic unit via the first switching unit. The other end of the second sub-parasitic unit is connected to one end of the third sub-parasitic unit via the second switching unit. The other end of the third sub-parasitic unit is connected to the second ground terminal.

[0011] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the difference between the equivalent electrical size of the first sub-parasitic unit and the second sub-parasitic unit and the equivalent electrical size of the radiating unit is within a first range.

[0012] The specific values ​​of the first range can be set according to the actual situation, as long as the equivalent electrical dimensions of the first sub-parasitic unit and the second sub-parasitic unit are comparable to the equivalent electrical dimensions of the radiating unit. In this way, by controlling the operation of the first switching unit and the second switching unit, the antenna can be configured as a horizontally polarized antenna.

[0013] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the equivalent electrical dimensions of the second and third sub-parasitic units are greater than the equivalent electrical dimensions of the first and second sub-parasitic units.

[0014] In this scheme, the equivalent electrical dimensions of the second and third sub-parasitic units are set to be larger than those of the first and second sub-parasitic units to ensure the directional gain of the antenna.

[0015] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the lengths of both the first sub-parasitic unit and the third sub-parasitic unit are within the second range.

[0016] In this scheme, the specific values ​​of the second range can be set according to the actual situation, as long as the grounding of the first sub-parasitic unit and the third sub-parasitic unit does not affect the signal of the radiating unit.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the distance from the first grounding terminal to the feed terminal is within a third range.

[0018] In this scheme, when the first switching unit is turned on and the second switching unit is turned off, the parallel parts of the first sub-parasitic unit and the radiating unit form a balanced feed terminal with equal current amplitude and opposite phase. The spacing of the balanced feed terminal will affect the impedance of the antenna, thus affecting the efficiency of the antenna. Therefore, it needs to be controlled within a certain range, namely the third range.

[0019] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the difference between the distance between the second grounding terminal and the feed terminal and the quarter-wavelength of the dielectric is within a fourth range.

[0020] In this scheme, if the distance between the second grounding terminal and the feed terminal cannot approach one-quarter of the dielectric wavelength, the antenna gain will be affected. The larger the difference between the distance between the second grounding terminal and the feed terminal and one-quarter of the dielectric wavelength, the smaller the antenna gain. Therefore, the difference between the distance between the second grounding terminal and the feed terminal and one-quarter of the dielectric wavelength needs to be within a fourth range. The specific value of the fourth range can be set according to the actual situation.

[0021] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, when both the first and second switching units are disconnected, the antenna constitutes a vertically polarized antenna. At this time, the second sub-parasitic unit is in a suspended state, while the first and third sub-parasitic units, due to size limitations, have no effect on the signal of the radiating unit, and the radiating unit constitutes the vertically polarized antenna.

[0022] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, when the first switching unit is turned on and the second switching unit is turned off, the antenna constitutes a horizontally polarized antenna. At this time, the third sub-parasitic unit is grounded, but due to size limitations, it has no effect on the signal of the radiating unit. Meanwhile, the first sub-parasitic unit and part of the radiating unit are symmetrically designed, which can cancel the radiation field of part of the radiating unit, so that the radiating unit, the first sub-parasitic unit, and the second sub-parasitic unit constitute a horizontally polarized antenna.

[0023] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, when the first switching unit is open and the second switching unit is open, the antenna constitutes a vertically polarized antenna. At this time, the first sub-parasitic unit is grounded, but due to size limitations, it has no effect on the signal of the radiating unit. Meanwhile, the current phase of the entire assembly of the second sub-parasitic unit, the second switching unit, and the third sub-parasitic unit is 90° ahead of the radiating unit. Therefore, this assembly acts as a reflector, reflecting the signal of the radiating unit, thus forming a vertically polarized antenna.

[0024] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the first switching unit and the second switching unit are diodes, transistors, or field-effect transistors, etc.

[0025] This solution allows for the control of the antenna's polarization and radiation pattern when the first and second switching units are diodes, transistors, or field-effect transistors, thus adapting to different antenna application scenarios and offering high flexibility.

[0026] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one embodiment, the first switching unit and / or the second switching unit are zero-ohm resistors.

[0027] In this solution, the first switching unit and / or the second switching unit can be directly set to zero-ohm resistance, and the antenna polarization and radiation pattern can be directly customized as needed, or the dynamic adjustment modes can be reduced. This results in lower antenna costs and allows for direct customization for the required scenario. Secondly, this application also provides a control method for controlling the antenna of the first aspect.

[0028] The control method includes: determining the antenna's operating mode; and controlling a first switching unit and a second switching unit according to the operating mode. Specifically, when the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first and second switching units are controlled to disconnect. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to connect and the second switching unit is controlled to disconnect. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to disconnect and the second switching unit is controlled to connect.

[0029] Thirdly, this application also provides a controller for controlling the antenna of the first aspect.

[0030] The controller includes a determination module and a control module. Specifically:

[0031] The determination module is used to determine the antenna's operating mode.

[0032] The control module is used to control the first switching unit and the second switching unit according to the operating mode. Specifically, when the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first and second switching units are controlled to be disconnected. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to be turned on, and the second switching unit is controlled to be disconnected. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to be disconnected, and the second switching unit is controlled to be turned on.

[0033] Fourthly, this application also provides a controller, which includes one or more processors; wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute one or more computer programs stored in memory, such that the controller implements the control method as described in the second aspect.

[0034] Fifthly, this application also provides a communication device, including the controller described in the third or fourth aspect and the antenna described in the first aspect.

[0035] Sixthly, this application also provides a vehicle including the communication equipment described in the fifth aspect. Attached Figure Description

[0036] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an antenna provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 1B This is a schematic diagram of another antenna structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 1C This is a schematic diagram of another antenna structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 1D This is a schematic diagram of another antenna structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 1E This is a schematic diagram of another antenna structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 2A This is a schematic diagram of the on / off state of an antenna provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0042] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A The corresponding antenna pattern;

[0043] Figure 3A This is a schematic diagram of the on / off state of another antenna provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0044] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A The corresponding antenna pattern;

[0045] Figure 4A This is a schematic diagram of the on / off state of another antenna provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0046] Figure 4B yes Figure 4A The corresponding antenna pattern;

[0047] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a control method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a controller provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another controller provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0050] The terminology used in the following embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this application. As used in the specification and appended claims of this application, the singular expressions “a,” “an,” “the,” “the,” “the,” and “this” are intended to include the plural expressions as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in this application refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the listed items.

[0051] Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature, and in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0052] To facilitate understanding, the relevant terms and concepts involved in the embodiments of this application will be introduced below.

[0053] (1) Antenna polarization

[0054] Antenna polarization refers to the direction of the electric field intensity generated when an antenna radiates. Horizontal polarization means that the instantaneous direction of the electric field vector of an electromagnetic wave is parallel to the ground when it propagates through space. Vertical polarization means that the instantaneous direction of the electric field vector of an electromagnetic wave is perpendicular to the ground when it propagates through space.

[0055] (2) Non-fed oscillator

[0056] A vibrator generally refers to an antenna vibrator, which is a component on an antenna that guides and amplifies electromagnetic waves, making the electromagnetic signals received by the antenna stronger.

[0057] Non-feeded oscillators refer to oscillators whose feed signals are not directly connected through transmission lines.

[0058] (3) Reflector

[0059] A reflector is a non-fed oscillator that reflects beams.

[0060] (4) Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

[0061] Printed circuit boards, also known as rigid boards, are commonly referred to as rigid boards.

[0062] (5) Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPC)

[0063] Flexible printed circuit boards are printed circuits made of flexible insulating substrates (such as polyester film or polyimide). Flexible printed circuit boards are also called flexible boards.

[0064] The above explanation of technical terms can be applied in the following text.

[0065] This application provides an antenna whose polarization and radiation pattern can be varied to adapt to different antenna application scenarios, improve the stability of antenna communication, and enhance the user experience.

[0066] The antenna provided in this application is described in detail below:

[0067] refer to Figure 1A , Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of an antenna structure provided in an embodiment of this application. The antenna includes a substrate 101, a parasitic element, a radiating element 102, a first switching element 103, and a second switching element 104.

[0068] The substrate has a power supply terminal A, a first ground terminal B, and a second ground terminal C. The two ends of the parasitic unit are connected to the first ground terminal B and the second ground terminal C. One end of the radiating unit 102 is connected to the power supply terminal A. The aforementioned first switching unit 103 and second switching unit 104 are disposed on the parasitic unit.

[0069] In this solution, by controlling the on / off state of the first and second switching units, the polarization and radiation pattern of the antenna can be changed, enabling the antenna to have different operating modes. Different operating modes can be adapted to different antenna application scenarios, thereby effectively improving the user experience of communication equipment.

[0070] Taking antenna installation on a vehicle as an example, for different vehicle models and different antenna installation locations, the antenna pattern and polarization can be adjusted by controlling the on / off state of the first and second switching units, thereby achieving high-performance coverage of the antenna signal, effectively reducing the requirements for the antenna installation location, and also facilitating the normalization design of the vehicle and reducing the risk of vehicle modification.

[0071] Optionally, the substrate can be a printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), etc. Further optionally, the outer edge of the substrate can be any shape, such as rectangular, square, parallelogram, or circular. For example, refer to... Figure 1A The outer edge of the substrate 101 is rectangular.

[0072] As one possible implementation, a metal ground plane is provided on the PCB, that is, the PCB has a metal ground layer. The first ground terminal B and the second ground terminal C are connected to the metal ground layer to achieve grounding.

[0073] In one possible implementation, the radiating element 102 is connected to a power supply via a feed terminal. The power supply is a microwave circuit network capable of feeding high-frequency signals to the radiating element 102 with a certain amplitude and / or phase distribution. Optionally, the radiating element 102 can be implemented using a feed element, such as a monopole antenna.

[0074] As one possible implementation, the parasitic unit includes a first sub-parasitic unit, a second sub-parasitic unit, and a third sub-parasitic unit.

[0075] In this configuration, one end of the first sub-parasitic unit is connected to the first ground terminal, and the other end of the first sub-parasitic unit is connected to one end of the second sub-parasitic unit via the first switching unit. The other end of the second sub-parasitic unit is connected to one end of the third sub-parasitic unit via the second switching unit. The other end of the third sub-parasitic unit is connected to the second ground terminal.

[0076] As one possible approach, the parasitic unit could be implemented using metallic branches. (Reference) Figure 1A The metal stub includes a first sub-stub 105 (corresponding to a first sub-parasitic unit), a second sub-stub 106 (corresponding to a second sub-parasitic unit), and a third sub-stub 107 (corresponding to a third sub-parasitic unit). One end of the first sub-stub 105 is connected to a first ground terminal, and the other end of the first sub-stub 105 is connected to one end of the second sub-stub 106 via a first switching unit 103. The other end of the second sub-stub 106 is connected to one end of the third sub-stub 107 via a second switching unit 104. The other end of the third sub-stub 107 is connected to a second ground terminal.

[0077] As one possible embodiment, the radiating element 102 has a long side and a short side. For example, refer to... Figure 1A The radiating element 102 is L-shaped, with one side of the L being the long side and the other side being the short side.

[0078] To save space, the radiating unit 102 can be miniaturized through methods such as wire winding. For example, the long side can be a bent side, see reference... Figure 1B (The longer side is a right-angled bend) and Figure 1C (The longer side is a curved edge). Alternatively, the longer side can also be a curved edge, see reference. Figure 1D .

[0079] Optionally, the orientation of the short and long sides can be varied. As one setting for the orientation of the short side, the short side of the radiating unit 102 is symmetrical with the first sub-branch 105.

[0080] As one possible implementation method, refer to Figure 1A The portion formed by the radiating unit 102, the first sub-branch 105, and the second sub-branch 106 can be symmetrical (e.g., Figure 1A The settings can also be asymmetrical (e.g.) Figure 1B , Figure 1C , Figure 1D ).

[0081] When the radiating element 102 is symmetrical with the part composed of the first sub-stub 105 and the second sub-stub 106, the short side of the radiating element is parallel to the first sub-stub 105, while the long side points in the opposite direction to the second sub-stub 106, so that the part composed of the first sub-stub 105 and the second sub-stub 106 forms a dipole antenna with the radiating element 102.

[0082] As another possible implementation, the difference between the equivalent electrical dimensions of the first and second sub-parasitic units and the equivalent electrical dimension of the radiating unit lies within a first range, where the electrical dimension is the actual size divided by the operating wavelength. In other words, the two equivalent electrical dimensions tend to be consistent, and the error between them is within a tolerable range, which is the first range. That is, the difference between the equivalent electrical dimensions D1 of the first and second sub-parasitic units and the equivalent electrical dimension K of the radiating unit lies within the first range, i.e., |D1-K| lies within the first range, where || represents the absolute value.

[0083] It should be noted that the specific values ​​of the first range can be set according to the actual situation, as long as the equivalent electrical dimensions of the first and second sub-parasitic elements are close to the equivalent electrical dimensions of the radiating element. In this way, by controlling the operation of the first and second switching elements, the antenna can be configured as a horizontally polarized antenna. Further... Figure 1A For example, the difference between the equivalent electrical dimensions of the first sub-stub 105 and the second sub-stub 106 and the equivalent electrical dimension of the radiating element 102 lies within a first range. For instance, the first range is 0 to 0.2λ, including the endpoints 0 and 0.2λ, where λ is the wavelength of the medium. Or, for another example, the first range is 0 to 0.05λ, including the endpoints 0 and 0.05λ; in this case, the differential effect of the differential structure formed by the radiating element 102 and the first sub-stub 105 and the second sub-stub 106 is better.

[0084] Wherein, the dielectric wavelength is the electromagnetic wave wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the operating band of the radiating element in this embodiment. λ is related to the dielectric constant. When the radiating element is printed on the surface of the dielectric, the dielectric constant corresponding to λ is related to both the dielectric constant of the dielectric and the dielectric constant of air. For example, the dielectric constant corresponding to λ is the average of the dielectric constant of the dielectric and the dielectric constant of air.

[0085] In some possible designs, since the operating frequency band of the radiating element is a range and can include multiple channels, while the length of the radiating element is a fixed value, it is difficult to make the radiating element achieve optimal resonance with the electromagnetic waves at the operating frequency. Therefore, the length of the radiating element does not need to be exactly 1 / 4λ. The length of the radiating element only needs to be close to 1 / 4λ, for example, the length of the radiating element is about 0.2λ-0.3λ.

[0086] As another possible implementation, the equivalent electrical dimensions of the second and third sub-parasitic units are larger than those of the first and second sub-parasitic units. Setting the equivalent electrical dimensions of the second and third sub-parasitic units to be larger than those of the first and second sub-parasitic units can ensure the directional gain of the antenna.

[0087] Specifically, the equivalent electrical dimensions D2 of the second and third sub-parasitic elements only need to be slightly larger than the equivalent electrical dimensions D1 of the first and second sub-parasitic elements. That is, the difference between D2 and D1 should be within an acceptable range, which can be 0 to 0.1λ, excluding endpoint 0 but including endpoint 0.1λ. Alternatively, this range can be 0 to 0.05λ, again excluding endpoint 0 but including endpoint 0.05λ; using this range results in greater gain for the directional antenna.

[0088] As another possible implementation, the lengths of both the first and third sub-parasitic units are within the second range.

[0089] It should be noted that the specific values ​​of the second range can be set according to the actual situation, as long as the grounding of the first and third sub-parasitic units does not affect the signal of the radiating unit. For example, the second range can be 0 to 0.1λ, including the two endpoints of 0 and 0.1λ. (Reference) Figure 1E , Figure 1E This is a schematic diagram of another antenna structure provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1E In the middle, the length of the first sub-branch 105 (i.e. the first sub-parasitic unit) is 0. At this time, the first switching unit 103 is connected to the first grounding terminal B.

[0090] As can be seen from the above description, the specific positions of the first switching unit 103 and the second switching unit 104 are not fixed and are not limited to... Figures 1A to 1E The positions shown in any of the diagrams can be adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0091] As a possible example, see reference Figure 1A The distance from the first grounding terminal B to the feed terminal A is within the third range. Specifically, when the first switching unit is turned on and the second switching unit is turned off, the parallel parts of the first sub-parasitic unit and the radiating unit form a balanced feed terminal with equal current amplitude and opposite phase. The spacing of the balanced feed terminals will affect the impedance of the antenna, thereby affecting the efficiency of the antenna. Therefore, controlling the distance from the first grounding terminal B to the feed terminal A within a certain range, i.e., within the third range, can reduce the impact on the antenna impedance and improve the efficiency of the antenna.

[0092] For example, the third range is 0 to 0.1λ. The third range does not include the endpoint 0, but includes the endpoint 0.1λ.

[0093] As another possible example, the distance between the second ground terminal C and the feed terminal A approaches one-quarter of the dielectric wavelength. This can improve the antenna gain. The greater the difference between the distance between the second ground terminal C and the feed terminal A and one-quarter of the dielectric wavelength, the lower the antenna gain. Therefore, referring to... Figure 1A The difference between the distance between the second grounding terminal C and the feed terminal A and a quarter of the dielectric wavelength lies within the fourth range, meaning the error between the distance between the second grounding terminal C and the feed terminal A and a quarter of the dielectric wavelength is within the tolerable range, which is the fourth range. Specifically, the distance between the second grounding terminal C and the feed terminal A is the straight-line distance D between them. AC D AC Approximately 1 / 4λ is sufficient, which is |D| AC -1 / 4λ| lies within the fourth range, and || represents the absolute value.

[0094] For example, the fourth range is 0 to 0.1λ, and the fourth range includes endpoint 0 and endpoint 0.1λ. Another example is that the fourth range is 0 to 0.05λ, and the fourth range includes endpoint 0 and endpoint 0.05λ.

[0095] As a possible design, Figure 1A For example, when both the first switch unit 103 and the second switch unit 104 are open, refer to Figure 2A , Figure 2A The antenna state at this time is shown. The second sub-stub 106 is a suspended metal branch and is not grounded. Since the first sub-stub 105 and the third sub-stub 107 are relatively small (their lengths fall within the aforementioned second range), they have no effect on the antenna pattern. The antenna at this time constitutes a vertically polarized antenna, and the corresponding antenna pattern is shown in the reference diagram. Figure 2B .

[0096] As another possible design, Figure 1A For example, when the first switching unit 103 is turned on and the second switching unit 104 is turned off, refer to Figure 3A , Figure 3A The antenna state at this time is shown. The third sub-stub 107, due to its small size, has no impact on the antenna pattern. The first sub-stub 105 and part of the radiating element 102 are symmetrically designed, which can cancel out the radiation field of part of the radiating element 102. This allows the radiating element 102, the first sub-stub 105, and the second sub-stub 106 to form a horizontally polarized dipole antenna. The corresponding antenna pattern is shown in the reference diagram. Figure 3B .

[0097] Furthermore, the first sub-stub 105 and the second sub-stub 106 can form a symmetrical design with the radiating element 102, which can optimize the polarization performance of the antenna.

[0098] As another possible design, Figure 1A For example, when the first switch unit 103 is open and the second switch unit 104 is open, refer to Figure 4A , Figure 4A The antenna state at this time is shown. The first sub-stub 105, due to its small size, has no effect on the antenna pattern. However, the current phase of the second sub-stub 106, the second switching unit 104, and the third sub-stub 107 as a whole leads the current phase of the radiating unit 102 by 90°. Therefore, this whole acts as a reflector, reflecting the signal from the radiating unit 102. The antenna at this time constitutes a vertically polarized antenna, and the corresponding antenna pattern is shown in the reference diagram. Figure 4B .

[0099] For example, in the embodiments of this application, the first switching unit and the second switching unit are: diodes, transistors, or metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs, also known as field-effect transistors), etc.

[0100] Among them, transistors include NPN transistors or PNP transistors, and metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). The on / off state of controllable switches such as diodes, transistors, and MOSFETs can be controlled by a controller outputting a control signal. For example, for diodes or transistors, the controller outputs a high or low level to control their on / off state. In this case, the antenna has dynamic adjustability and multiple dynamic adjustment modes (such as...). Figure 2B , Figure 3B or Figure 4B It can adapt to different antenna application scenarios and is highly flexible.

[0101] In another implementation, the first switching unit, or the second switching unit, or both the first and second switching units can be directly set to zero-ohm resistance. Zero-ohm resistance is equivalent to a conducting switch. In this case, the polarization and radiation pattern of the antenna can be directly customized as needed, or the dynamic adjustment mode can be reduced. Compared with the above controllable switches, the cost of the antenna is lower and it can be directly customized for the required scenario.

[0102] Specifically, when the first or second switching unit is in the ON state, the first or second switching unit can be a zero-ohm resistor. Taking an antenna mounted on a vehicle as an example, the antenna mode corresponding to different vehicle models and locations can be determined through testing (i.e., Figure 2B , Figure 3B or Figure 4B The on / off states of the first and second switching units are determined, which means the installation positions of the zero-ohm resistors are determined. The switching units in the on state are implemented with zero-ohm resistors, while the positions of the switching units in the off state are left empty. In this way, the antenna has a lower cost and meets the customization requirements.

[0103] In the above exemplary description, the number of sub-nodes is in increments of 2 ( Figure 1E ) or 3 ( Figures 1A to 1D For example, the effect of the embodiments of this application can also be achieved when the number of sub-branches is greater than three, which will not be elaborated further and is also within the protection scope of this application. In addition, in the above exemplary description, the number of switching units is based on two switching units ( Figures 1A to 1E For example, the number of switching units can also be three or more, which can achieve the same effect as the embodiments of this application. It will not be elaborated further and is also within the protection scope of this application.

[0104] The following describes a control method provided by an embodiment of this application.

[0105] refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a control method provided in an embodiment of this application. The control method is used to control the aforementioned antenna, and includes:

[0106] 501. Determine the antenna's operating mode.

[0107] 502. Control the first and second switching units according to the working mode.

[0108] Specifically, when the operating mode is the first vertical polarization mode, the first and second switching units are disconnected. Alternatively, when the operating mode is the horizontal polarization mode, the first switching unit is turned on and the second switching unit is disconnected. Alternatively, when the operating mode is the second vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit is turned off and the second switching unit is turned on.

[0109] This application embodiment also provides a controller 600 for controlling the above-mentioned antenna.

[0110] refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a controller provided in an embodiment of this application. The controller 600 includes a determining module 601 and a controlling module 602. Wherein:

[0111] The determination module 601 is used to determine the operating mode of the antenna.

[0112] The control module 602 is used to control the first switching unit and the second switching unit according to the operating mode. Specifically, when the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first and second switching units are controlled to be disconnected. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to be turned on, and the second switching unit is controlled to be disconnected. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to be disconnected, and the second switching unit is controlled to be turned on.

[0113] This application also provides a controller, as referenced in the embodiments. Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another controller provided in an embodiment of this application. An embodiment of this application also provides a controller 700.

[0114] The controller 700 includes a memory 701, a processor 702, a communication interface 704, and a bus 703. The memory 701, processor 702, and communication interface 704 are interconnected via the bus 703. There can be one or more memories 701, and one or more processors 702.

[0115] For example, the controller 700 can be a chip or a chip system.

[0116] The memory 701 may be a read-only memory (ROM), a static storage device, a dynamic storage device, or a random access memory (RAM). The memory 701 may store a program, and when the program stored in the memory 701 is executed by the processor 702, the processor 702 is used to perform the various steps of the control method described in any of the above embodiments.

[0117] The processor 702 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), graphics processing unit (GPU), or one or more integrated circuits, used to execute relevant programs to implement the control method described in any of the above embodiments.

[0118] The processor 702 can also be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. In implementation, each step of the control method described in any embodiment of this application can be completed by the integrated logic circuitry in the hardware of the processor 702 or by instructions in software form. The processor 702 can also be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the control method described in any embodiment of this application can be directly implemented by a hardware decoding processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software modules can be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. The storage medium is located in memory 701. Processor 702 reads the information in memory 701 and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the control method described in any of the above embodiments.

[0119] The communication interface 704 uses transceiver devices, such as, but not limited to, transceivers, to enable communication between the controller 700 and other devices or communication networks.

[0120] Bus 703 may include a pathway for transmitting information between various components of controller 700 (e.g., memory 701, processor 702, communication interface 704).

[0121] It should be noted that, although Figure 7The controller 700 shown only illustrates the memory, processor, and communication interface. However, those skilled in the art should understand that in specific implementations, the controller 700 may also include other devices necessary for normal operation. Furthermore, depending on specific needs, those skilled in the art should understand that the controller 700 may also include hardware devices for implementing other additional functions. Moreover, those skilled in the art should understand that the controller 700 may only include the devices necessary for implementing the embodiments of this application, and may not necessarily include... Figure 7 All the devices shown.

[0122] This application provides a communication device. The communication device includes the aforementioned controller and the aforementioned antenna.

[0123] This application provides a vehicle. The vehicle includes the aforementioned communication equipment.

[0124] The means of transport in this application can include road vehicles, water vehicles, air vehicles, industrial equipment, agricultural equipment, or recreational equipment. For example, the means of transport can be a vehicle, which is a vehicle in a broad sense, including transportation vehicles (such as commercial vehicles, passenger cars, motorcycles, flying cars, trains, etc.), industrial vehicles (such as forklifts, trailers, tractors, etc.), engineering vehicles (such as excavators, bulldozers, cranes, etc.), agricultural equipment (such as lawnmowers, harvesters, etc.), amusement equipment, toy vehicles, etc. The embodiments of this application do not specifically limit the type of vehicle. Furthermore, the means of transport can be an airplane or a ship.

[0125] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0126] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0127] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0128] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved entirely or partially through software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented entirely or partially in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, all or part of the processes or functions described in the embodiments of this application are generated. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium can be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium (e.g., DVD), or a semiconductor medium (e.g., solid-state drive), etc.

[0129] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An antenna, characterized by include: A substrate, wherein a power supply terminal, a first ground terminal and a second ground terminal are provided on the substrate; First switch unit, second switch unit; The parasitic unit includes a first sub-parasitic unit, a second sub-parasitic unit, and a third sub-parasitic unit. One end of the first sub-parasitic unit is connected to the first ground terminal. The other end of the first sub-parasitic unit is connected to one end of the second sub-parasitic unit via the first switching unit. The other end of the second sub-parasitic unit is connected to one end of the third sub-parasitic unit via the second switching unit. The other end of the third sub-parasitic unit is connected to the second ground terminal. The radiating element includes a long side and a short side. One end of the short side is connected to the feed terminal, and the other end of the short side is connected to one end of the long side. The short side, the first sub-parasitic unit, and the third sub-parasitic unit are arranged in parallel. The long side and the short side are arranged at an angle. The long side and the second sub-parasitic unit point in opposite directions.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The difference between the equivalent electrical dimensions of the first sub-parasitic unit and the second sub-parasitic unit and the equivalent electrical dimension of the radiating unit is within a first range, which is 0~0.2λ, where λ is the dielectric wavelength, and the dielectric wavelength is the electromagnetic wave wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating unit.

3. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The equivalent electrical dimensions of the second sub-parasitic unit and the third sub-parasitic unit are greater than the equivalent electrical dimensions of the first sub-parasitic unit and the second sub-parasitic unit.

4. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The lengths of the first sub-parasitic unit and the third sub-parasitic unit are both within a second range, which is 0~0.1λ, where λ is the wavelength of the medium, and the wavelength of the medium is the electromagnetic wave wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating unit.

5. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The distance from the first grounding terminal to the feed terminal is within a third range, which is 0~0.1λ, where λ is the dielectric wavelength, and the dielectric wavelength is the electromagnetic wave wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the working frequency band of the radiating unit.

6. The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The difference between the distance between the second grounding terminal and the feed terminal and one-quarter of the dielectric wavelength is within a fourth range, where the fourth range is 0~0.1λ, where λ is the dielectric wavelength, and the dielectric wavelength is the electromagnetic wave wavelength corresponding to the center frequency of the working frequency band of the radiating unit.

7. The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, When both the first switching unit and the second switching unit are disconnected, the antenna constitutes a vertically polarized antenna; or, When the first switching unit is turned on and the second switching unit is turned off, the antenna constitutes a horizontally polarized antenna; or, When the first switching unit is open and the second switching unit is open, the antenna constitutes a vertically polarized antenna.

8. The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first switching unit and the second switching unit are diodes, transistors, or field-effect transistors.

9. The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The first switching unit and / or the second switching unit are zero-ohm resistors.

10. A control method, characterized in that, The method for controlling the antenna as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 includes: Determine the operating mode of the antenna; Control the first switching unit and the second switching unit according to the operating mode; When the operating mode is the first vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit and the second switching unit are disconnected. or, When the operating mode is horizontal polarization mode, the first switching unit is turned on and the second switching unit is turned off. or, When the operating mode is the second vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to be disconnected, and the second switching unit is controlled to be turned on.

11. A controller, characterized in that, The controller is used to control the antenna as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, the controller comprising: The determining module is used to determine the operating mode of the antenna; The control module is used to control the first switching unit and the second switching unit according to the operating mode; When the operating mode is the first vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit and the second switching unit are disconnected. or, When the operating mode is horizontal polarization mode, the first switching unit is turned on and the second switching unit is turned off. or, When the operating mode is the second vertical polarization mode, the first switching unit is controlled to be disconnected, and the second switching unit is controlled to be turned on.

12. A controller, characterized in that, The controller includes one or more processors; wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute one or more computer programs stored in memory, such that the controller implements the control method as described in claim 10.

13. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes the controller as described in claim 11 or 12 and the antenna as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

14. A vehicle, characterized in that, include: The communication device as described in claim 13.

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