A continuously scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky-wave antenna

Abstract

The application discloses a continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky-wave antenna, which comprises a feeding structure, a dielectric plate, a metal upper surface and a metal ground plate. The application is a three-layer structure, the upper layer is a top metal layer in which a gap is etched, the lower layer is a metal ground plate, and the middle layer is a dielectric plate which is combined with the top metal layer and the metal ground plate respectively. The top metal layer is electrically connected with the bottom metal layer through two rows of metallized vias. The radiator structure is a Z-shaped gap etched on the surface of the top metal layer. Two inclined Z-shaped gaps are arranged in an upper and lower staggered mode in one period, and a metal short-circuit via is arranged at an opposite position for impedance matching. The length of two horizontal lines of the Z-shaped gap is less than the length of the middle inclined line, and the Z-shaped gap needs to be rotated by a certain angle. The length of the middle long groove of the Z-shaped gap and the rotation angle are adjusted to realize the function of continuous wide-angle scanning of the beam from the rear space to the front space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to a continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky wave antenna. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the continuous development of science and technology, wireless communication technology has also flourished. Mobile communication has always strived to transmit more stable and accurate data in a shorter time. Antennas play a crucial role in wireless communication devices, bearing the responsibility of both transmitting and receiving signals. Improving antenna performance makes data transmission more secure. With the advent of 5G and the application of millimeter waves, antenna designs are becoming increasingly sophisticated, enabling more and more powerful functions.

[0003] Leaky wave antennas are a type of traveling wave antenna. By controlling the energy leakage rate of a leaky wave antenna, it is possible to design leaky wave antennas with high gain, high scan rate, circular polarization, and frequency scanning capabilities. Substrate-integrated waveguide leaky wave antennas have attracted widespread attention due to their good planarity, low cost, ease of component integration, simple feeding, and high gain, coupled with their inherent frequency scanning characteristics. However, existing waveguide leaky wave antennas suffer from poor planarity, high cost, difficulty in component integration, low gain, and small scanning angle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned wide-angle scanning problem of antennas, and considering the shortcomings and difficulties in existing technologies, this invention aims to provide a continuously scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky wave antenna.

[0005] The technical solution adopted by this invention to solve its problem is:

[0006] A continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna includes a dielectric substrate (3), a top metal layer (4), a Z-shaped slot (5), a metal short-circuit via (6), a metal ground plane (7), a metallized via (8), a metal probe (2), and an outer conductor (1). The upper and lower layers of the dielectric substrate (3) are tightly bonded to the top metal layer (4) and the metal ground plane (7), respectively. A Z-shaped slot (5) is etched on the top metal layer (4) to disturb the surface current, and works together with the metal short-circuit via (6) to suppress the open band. The radiator structure consists of the Z-shaped slot (5) and the metal short-circuit via (6). 6) Composition: There are two Z-shaped slots (5) and two metal short-circuit vias (6) in one cycle. The antenna has a total of six cycles. The top metal layer consists of six horizontally arranged cycles, a microstrip converter with gradually changing width, and a 50-ohm microstrip line. The microstrip converter connects the 50-ohm microstrip line and the radiator structure to achieve impedance matching and form a continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky wave antenna. The feeding structure consists of a metal probe (2) and an outer conductor (1). The metal probe (2) is connected to the antenna radiator, and the outer conductor (1) is connected to the metal ground plane (7). The antenna is fed in a side-feed manner through the feeding structure.

[0007] Preferably, a metal short-circuit via (6) is fabricated at the position corresponding to each Z-shaped slot (5) for impedance matching. Within a single cycle, the Z-shaped slot (5) and the metal short-circuit via (6) are mirrored and flipped around the midline of the unit cycle to achieve an antenna structure in which the slots and the metal short-circuit via (6) are placed alternately.

[0008] Preferably, the center points of adjacent Z-shaped gaps (5) within a unit period are placed at 1 / 2 wavelength intervals, and the metal short-circuit vias (6) within a unit period are also placed at 1 / 2 wavelength intervals.

[0009] Preferably, the length difference between the two horizontal grooves and one vertical groove of the Z-shaped gap (5) is as follows: the length of the vertical groove of the Z-shaped gap (5) is set to 4.8 mm, and the length of the horizontal groove is 3.6 mm. The vertical groove and the two horizontal grooves overlap with a small square of 1 mm × 1 mm on the graphic to determine the position of the horizontal groove. Finally, the Z-shaped gap (5) needs to be rotated 60° with respect to the vertical groove, that is, the angle between the middle groove and the horizontal direction is 30°.

[0010] Preferably, the Z-shaped slot (5) and the metal short-circuit through hole (6) are positioned such that the two metal short-circuit through holes (6) are each placed 1 / 4 of the cycle length (i.e., 5 mm) away from the center of the unit structure. The two metal short-circuit through holes (6) are 10 mm apart horizontally. The center point of the groove in the middle of the rotated Z-shaped slot (5) is also 5 mm away from the center line of the cycle. That is, the line connecting the center point of the Z-shaped slot (5) and the center of the short-circuit metal through hole (6) on the other side is perpendicular to the horizontal line, and the center points of the two Z-shaped slots are 10 mm apart within the unit cycle.

[0011] Preferably, the difference between the metal short-circuit via 6 and the metallized via 8 is that the metal short-circuit via 6 is used for impedance matching within the period, and its radius is 0.5mm. The metallized via 8 is a row of regularly spaced metal vias fabricated on both sides of the substrate integrated waveguide, used as the side metal wall of the equivalent rectangular waveguide, with a radius of 0.3mm and a center distance of 1.5mm from the edge of the substrate integrated waveguide, that is, the center distance between the two rows of metallized via 8 is 13mm.

[0012] Preferably, the microstrip converter and the 50-ohm microstrip line are designed with the 50-ohm microstrip line having a width of 2mm and a length of 4.5mm. One end of the microstrip converter is 2mm wide and the other end is 3.2mm wide, with a gradually changing width design to achieve impedance matching.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0014] The continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna provided by this invention has good broadband planarity, low cost, easy component integration, high gain, and large scanning angle. This invention realizes the continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna by rotating the Z-shape by 60 degrees and adding short-circuit vias. By setting and adjusting the length of the middle long slot of the Z-shape and the rotation angle, the beam can be continuously scanned from the rear space to the front space with a large scanning angle. Under the same conditions, a larger space can be detected, enabling the leaky antenna to achieve high gain performance. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a front structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the rear structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 This is the S-parameter curve of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5This is a graph showing the change of the main beam pointing angle with frequency within the working range of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure reference numerals: 1. Outer conductor; 2. Metal probe; 3. Dielectric plate; 4. Top metal layer; 5. Z-shaped slot; 6. Metal short-circuit via; 7. Metallized ground plane; 8. Metallized via. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art. The terms "comprising" and similar expressions used herein mean that the element or object preceding the word covers the element or object listed after the word and its equivalents, but does not exclude other elements or objects.

[0022] Example 1, as Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna provided by the present invention. The leaky antenna includes a dielectric substrate 3, a top metal layer 4, a Z-shaped slot 5, a metal short-circuit via 6, a metallized via 8, a metal probe 2, and an outer conductor 1.

[0023] The top metal layer 4 is a rectangular planar structure, connected to 50-ohm microstrip lines on both sides via microstrip transducers with gradually varying widths, forming the radiator structure of the antenna. The 50-ohm microstrip lines are fed through metal probes 2. To better disturb the current in the top metal layer 4 and radiate energy, Z-shaped metal slots 5 are etched on it, and metal short-circuit vias 6 are added. The metal radiator and the metal ground plane 7 are tightly attached to both sides of the dielectric substrate 3. The feed connector includes an outer conductor 1 and a center feed probe 2. The outer conductor 1 is connected to the metal ground plane 7, and the center feed probe 2 is connected to the metal radiator.

[0024] In this embodiment, the dielectric substrate 3 is rectangular in shape, and the dielectric inside the dielectric substrate 3 is a solid dielectric. This embodiment uses Taconia TLE dielectric substrate material, and the metal radiator is made of copper, which can be printed using circuit board printing.

[0025] like Figures 1-3 As shown, the present invention provides a continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky wave antenna, the specific implementation of which is as follows:

[0026] A top metal layer is laid along the dielectric substrate. Z-shaped grooves are etched onto the top metal layer, with the center of the Z-shaped groove and the center of the metal short-circuit via located at 1 / 4 of the cell cycle, i.e., 5mm from the centerline of the cell cycle. The line connecting the center of the Z-shaped groove and the center of the metal short-circuit via is perpendicular to the horizontal direction. Then, a Z-shaped slot and a short-circuit metal via are mirror-etched on the right side of the cell cycle. This means that if the center points of the Z-shaped slots on both sides are horizontally moved to the centerline of the cell, they are symmetrical about the horizontal line.

[0027] Each period consists of two Z-shaped slots and two short-circuit metal vias. The entire antenna comprises six period units, requiring the etching of 12 Z-shaped slots, 12 short-circuit metal vias, and 120 metallized vias. Including the length of the microstrip converter and the 50-ohm microstrip line, the total length is 139 mm. Six periods form a leaky-wave antenna, fed by a 50-ohm microstrip line connected to a feeding structure.

[0028] The dielectric substrate 1 used in this embodiment is Taconia TLE, with a dielectric constant ε. r =2.95, dielectric substrate 1 thickness h = 0.762mm, width W = 16mm, loss tangent is 0.0009.

[0029] S-parameter curves as follows Figure 4 As shown. By Figure 4 As can be seen, within the frequency range of 8.5GHz to 15GHz, the S11 value remains stable below -10dB, meeting the standards required for industrial production and demonstrating good performance.

[0030] Figure 5 This is a graph showing the change of the main beam pointing angle with frequency within the working range of this embodiment, with the horizontal axis representing the main beam pointing angle. Figure 5 The frequencies corresponding to the mid-wave beam increase sequentially from left to right, demonstrating the variation of the main beam within the operating frequency range of 8.5 GHz to 15 GHz, reflecting the frequency scanning characteristics of this embodiment. Throughout the entire operating range, it can continuously scan from -52° to +52°, a total scanning range of 104°, achieving the large-angle function of the leaky wave antenna; on the other hand, at the position where the main beam pointing angle is 0°, the gain does not attenuate, and the open stopband is successfully eliminated.

[0031] The above description merely illustrates preferred embodiments of the present invention, and while the description is relatively specific and detailed, it should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications, improvements, and substitutions without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent should be determined by the appended claims.

[0032] In the description of this invention, the terms “center,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “indentation,” etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0033] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; or it can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A continuously scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky wave antenna, characterized in that, The antenna includes a dielectric substrate (3), a top metal layer (4), a Z-shaped slot (5), a metal short-circuit via (6), a metal ground plane (7), a metallized via (8), a metal probe (2), and an outer conductor (1). The upper and lower layers of the dielectric substrate (3) are tightly bonded to the top metal layer (4) and the metal ground plane (7), respectively. A Z-shaped slot (5) is etched on the top metal layer (4) to disturb the surface current, and works together with the metal short-circuit via (6) to suppress the open band. The radiator structure is composed of a Z-shaped slot (5) and a metal short-circuit via (6). There are two Z-shaped slots (5) and two metal short-circuit vias (6) in one cycle. The antenna has a total of six cycles. In a single cycle, the Z-shaped slots (5) and the metal short-circuit vias (6) are mirrored and flipped around the midline of the unit cycle to realize an antenna structure in which the slots and metal short-circuit vias (6) are placed alternately. The top metal layer consists of six horizontal The antenna is composed of a microstrip converter with a gradually changing period and width and a 50-ohm microstrip line. The microstrip converter connects the 50-ohm microstrip line and the radiator structure to achieve impedance matching and form a continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky wave antenna. The Z-shaped slot (5) has two horizontal slots and one vertical slot with different lengths. The vertical slot of the Z-shaped slot (5) is set to 4.8 mm and the horizontal slot is 3.6 mm. The vertical slot and the two horizontal slots overlap with a small square of 1 mm × 1 mm in the graphic to determine the position of the horizontal slot. Finally, the Z-shaped slot (5) needs to be rotated 60° with respect to the vertical slot, that is, the angle between the middle slot and the horizontal direction is 30°. The feeding structure consists of a metal probe (2) and an outer conductor (1). The metal probe (2) is connected to the antenna radiator and the outer conductor (1) is connected to the metal ground plane (7). The antenna is fed by the feeding structure in a side-feed manner.

2. The continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, A metal short-circuit via (6) is fabricated at the position corresponding to each Z-shaped gap (5) for impedance matching.

3. The continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, The center points of adjacent Z-shaped gaps (5) within a unit period are placed at 1 / 2 wavelength intervals, and the metal short-circuit vias (6) within a unit period are also placed at 1 / 2 wavelength intervals.

4. The continuous scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The Z-shaped slot (5) and the metal short-circuit through hole (6) are positioned with a period of 20 mm. The two metal short-circuit through holes (6) are each placed 1 / 4 of the period length (i.e., 5 mm) away from the center of the unit structure. The two metal short-circuit through holes are 10 mm apart horizontally. The center point of the groove in the middle of the rotated Z-shaped slot (5) is also 5 mm away from the center line of the period. That is, the line connecting the center point of the Z-shaped slot (5) and the center of the short-circuit metal through hole (6) on the other side is perpendicular to the horizontal line, and the center points of the two Z-shaped slots are 10 mm apart within the unit period.

5. The continuously scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The difference between metal short-circuit via 6 and metallized via 8 is that metal short-circuit via 6 is used for impedance matching within a period, and its radius is 0.5mm. Metallized via 8 is a row of regularly spaced metal vias fabricated on both sides of the substrate integrated waveguide, used as the side metal wall of the equivalent rectangular waveguide, with a radius of 0.3mm and a center distance of 1.5mm from the edge of the substrate integrated waveguide, that is, the center distance between the two rows of metallized via 8 is 13mm.

6. The continuously scanning wide-angle substrate integrated waveguide leaky antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The design of the microstrip converter and the 50-ohm microstrip line, wherein the 50-ohm microstrip line is 2mm wide and 4.5mm long, and the microstrip converter is 2mm at one end and 3.2mm at the other end, with a gradient width design to achieve impedance matching.

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