Metasurface coating, antenna housing assembly and array antenna

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of terminals, and discloses a metasurface coating, an antenna housing assembly and an array antenna. The array antenna comprises a radiation array and a metasurface coating. The radiation array comprises at least two radiation array elements. The metasurface covering layer comprises a substrate and a resonance unit arranged on the substrate, the metasurface covering layer covers the radiation end of the radiation array element, and the surface of the substrate intersects with the radiation direction of the radiation array. According to the array antenna, the side lobe level of an original array antenna is offset and suppressed through the metasurface coating, the directional diagram of the array antenna is adjusted through the electromagnetism of the substrate and the resonance unit, and low side lobe processing of the array antenna is achieved. The metasurface coating additionally arranged in the array antenna is low in installation difficulty and can be directly applied to an existing array antenna which is already built. The array antenna is high in integration level and compact in structure.

Description

Metasurface coatings, radome assemblies, and array antennas Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of terminal technology, and in particular to a metasurface coating, a radome assembly, and an array antenna. Background Art

[0002] In radio technology equipment, antenna units are devices used to radiate and receive radio waves and convert high-frequency currents or waveguides into radio waves of the same frequency. They are fundamental components of radio systems. For some applications with specific requirements for antenna directivity and gain, a single antenna unit is no longer sufficient to meet the performance requirements of wireless communication systems. Array antennas are widely used in communications due to their high gain, narrow beam, low sidelobes, and beam scanning or control. An array antenna is an antenna system composed of at least two antenna units arranged in a certain pattern and achieving predetermined radiation characteristics through appropriate excitation. A single antenna unit in an array antenna is a radiating element. Sidelobes refer to the radiation beams other than the largest radiation beam (also known as the main lobe) in the antenna pattern.

[0003] With the rapid development of wireless communication technology, spectrum and site resources are becoming increasingly scarce. Spatial division multiplexing (SDM) effectively alleviates this problem by reusing the same frequency band in different locations to form different radiation beams in different directions for different users. To improve the anti-interference performance between different radiation beams of an array antenna, it is necessary to further reduce the sidelobe level of the array antenna.

[0004] Based on this, low-sidelobe array antennas are increasingly being used in communications technology, and research on low sidelobe array antennas has become a growing research topic of increasing interest to experts and scholars. Therefore, how to further reduce electromagnetic radiation outside the main lobe and improve the performance of array antennas has become a pressing technical challenge in the field of wireless communications.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, an embodiment of the present application provides a metasurface coating, a radome assembly, and an array antenna. Among them, the array antenna includes a radiating array and a metasurface coating. Among them, the radiating array includes at least two radiating elements. The metasurface coating includes a substrate and a resonant unit opened on the substrate. The metasurface coating is covered on the radiating end of the radiating element, and the plate surface of the substrate intersects with the radiation direction of the radiating array. The above-mentioned array antenna, firstly, uses the metasurface coating to cancel and suppress the sidelobe level of the original array antenna, and adjusts the directional pattern of the array antenna through the electromagnetic properties of the substrate and the resonant unit to achieve low sidelobe processing of the array antenna. Secondly, the installation difficulty of the metasurface coating added to the array antenna is relatively low, and it can be directly applied to the existing array antenna that has been built. Finally, the array antenna has a high degree of integration and a compact structure.

[0007] A first aspect of the present application provides an array antenna, wherein the array antenna includes a radiating array and a metasurface coating. The radiating array includes at least two radiating elements. The metasurface coating includes a substrate and a resonant unit disposed on the substrate. The metasurface coating is disposed over the radiating ends of the radiating elements, and the substrate surface intersects the radiation direction of the radiating array. The substrate can be considered a two-dimensional structure, with the substrate surface being the larger of the two planes on the substrate.

[0008] The radiation direction is the direction in which the radiating array radiates signals outward, and the radiation direction is the direction in which at least two radiating elements radiate signals outward after integration. The metasurface coating is a metamaterial, which is an artificial layered material with a thickness less than the wavelength. Metamaterials refer to structures with resonant units (subwavelength structures), which are processed to change the dielectric constant and conductivity of the material. Based on this, metasurface coatings can achieve flexible and effective control of electromagnetic wave polarization, amplitude, phase, polarization mode, propagation mode and other characteristics.

[0009] In some implementations of the present application, the metamaterial is a structure with periodically distributed resonant units. For example, the periodic distribution can be arranged in rows, columns, or rows and columns, and the distance between adjacent resonant units is a preset distance. The periodically distributed resonant units on the metamaterial can also be distributed in other forms, which is not specifically limited in this application. In some other alternative implementations of the present application, the metamaterial is a structure with non-periodic resonant units. It can be understood that the non-periodic distribution can be arranged in rows, columns, or rows and columns, and the distances between adjacent resonant units are not the same. The non-periodic distribution can also be that the resonant units are not distributed in a predetermined manner, but are scattered on the structure, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0010] In some implementations of the present application, a hollow-shaped resonance unit may be provided on the substrate, that is, the resonance unit passes through the two surfaces of the substrate. In some other alternative implementations of the present application, a convex resonance unit may be provided on the substrate, that is, the resonance unit is provided on the surface of the substrate. For example, a convex resonance unit is provided on both surfaces of the substrate. For another example, a convex resonance unit is provided on one of the surfaces of the substrate. In some other alternative implementations of the present application, a concave resonance unit may be provided on the substrate, that is, the resonance unit passes through one of the surfaces of the substrate.

[0011] That is, in the implementation of the present application, the metasurface coating includes a substrate and a resonant unit opened on the substrate, the metasurface coating is covered on the radiating end of the radiating array element, and the radiation direction of the radiating array passes through the board surface of the substrate.

[0012] First, the array antenna described above uses a metasurface coating to suppress the sidelobe level of the original array antenna. By adjusting the array antenna's directional pattern through the electromagnetic properties of the substrate and the resonant unit, the array antenna achieves low sidelobe processing. Second, the metasurface coating added to the array antenna is easy to install and can be directly applied to existing array antennas. Finally, the array antenna has a high degree of integration and a compact structure.

[0013] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, in the above-mentioned array antenna, the substrate is used to adjust the transmittance of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiating array, and the resonant unit is used to adjust the transmission phase of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiating array.

[0014] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, in the above-mentioned array antenna, the profile of the resonant unit includes at least one of "H" type, "U" type, "C" type, "O" type, "M" type, "X" type, "Y" type, "Z" type, "T" type, and "L" type.

[0015] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, in the above-mentioned array antenna, in the metasurface covering, the substrate specifically includes at least two substrates, and the at least two substrates are overlapped along the radiation direction.

[0016] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, in the array antenna, the distance between two adjacent substrates ranges from 3 mm to 7.5 mm, wherein the distance between two adjacent substrates is the minimum distance between the two adjacent substrates. The minimum distance between two substrates may be the minimum value of the distance between any point on one substrate and any point on the other substrate.

[0017] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, in the above-mentioned array antenna, the distance between two adjacent substrates is 5 mm.

[0018] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, in the array antenna, the metasurface coating further includes an absorbing component, wherein an orthographic projection of the absorbing component on the substrate is at least partially located within an orthographic projection of the resonant unit on the substrate. For example, the absorbing component may be a resistive component, and the resistive component may be a chip resistor.

[0019] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, in the above-mentioned array antenna, the absorbing component includes at least one of a photoresistor, a piezoresistor and a graphene material.

[0020] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, the array antenna further includes a ground plate (which may also be a reflector), the ground plate having a first surface made of a conductive material, and the radiation array is arranged on the first surface of the ground plate.

[0021] In some possible implementations of the first aspect of the present application, the above-mentioned array antenna also includes a radome, the radome and the ground plate jointly form a accommodating cavity, the radiating array element is located in the accommodating cavity, and the layout position of the metasurface covering relative to the radome includes at least one of the following: the metasurface covering is located in the accommodating cavity; or the metasurface covering is located outside the accommodating cavity; or an installation cavity is formed in the radome, the installation cavity is located on the side of the radiating array element facing away from the ground plate, and the metasurface covering is arranged in the installation cavity.

[0022] A second aspect of the present application provides a metasurface coating, which includes a substrate and a resonance unit opened on the substrate.

[0023] A third aspect of the present application provides a radome assembly, which includes a radome and a metasurface coating, wherein the metasurface coating includes a substrate and a resonant unit opened on the substrate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG1( a ) shows one application scenario of an array antenna 1 a and an array antenna 1 b in some embodiments of the present application;

[0025] FIG1( b ) shows another application scenario of the array antenna 1 c and the array antenna 1 d in some embodiments of the present application;

[0026] FIG2 is a schematic diagram showing an excitation system of an array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0027] FIG3 shows a schematic diagram of connecting the T / R components of the array antenna 1 to the array antenna in some embodiments of the present application;

[0028] FIG4( a ) shows a perspective view of an array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0029] FIG4( b ) shows an exploded view of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0030] FIG4( c ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in FIG4( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0031] FIG4( d ) shows a top view of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0032] FIG5 shows a simulation diagram of the directional pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0033] FIG6( a ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in FIG4( a ) in some embodiments of the present application, which also shows the directional pattern of the array antenna 1 ;

[0034] FIG6( b ) shows a schematic diagram of the directional pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0035] FIG6( c ) shows a perspective view of an array antenna 1 ′ in some embodiments of the present application;

[0036] FIG6( d ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 ′ along the AA section in FIG4( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0037] FIG6( e ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 ′ along the AA section in FIG4( a ) in some embodiments of the present application, which also shows the directional pattern of the array antenna 1 ;

[0038] FIG7( a ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in FIG4( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0039] FIG7( b ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in FIG4( a ) in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the metasurface coating 30 is not shown;

[0040] FIG7( c ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 corresponding to FIG7( b ) along the AA section in FIG4( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0041] FIG8( a ) shows a schematic outline of a resonant unit 2001 on a substrate 100 in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0042] FIG8( b ) shows a schematic outline of a resonant unit 2002 on a substrate 100 in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0043] FIG8( c ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 2003 on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0044] FIG8( d ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 2004 on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0045] FIG8( e ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 2005 on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0046] FIG8( f ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 2006 on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0047] FIG9( a ) shows a top view of a substrate 100 a in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0048] FIG9( b ) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100 a in the metasurface coating 30 along the cross section BB in FIG9( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0049] FIG9( c ) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100 b in the metasurface coating 30 along the BB section in FIG9( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0050] FIG9( d ) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100 c in the metasurface coating 30 along the cross section BB in FIG9( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0051] FIG10( a ) shows a top view of a substrate 100 d in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0052] FIG10( b ) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100 e in the metasurface coating 30 along the cross section BB in FIG9( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0053] FIG10( c ) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100 f in the metasurface coating 30 along the BB section in FIG9( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0054] FIG11( a ) shows a perspective view of an array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0055] FIG11( b ) shows an exploded view of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0056] FIG12( a ) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the CC section in FIG11( a ) in some embodiments of the present application;

[0057] FIG12( b ) shows a partial enlarged view of the S2 region in FIG12( a );

[0058] FIG13( a ) shows a schematic tiling diagram of a combination of a substrate 100 a and a substrate 100 a in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0059] FIG13( b ) shows a cross-sectional view of a combination of the substrate 100 a and the substrate 100 a in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application along the CC section in FIG11( a );

[0060] FIG14( a ) shows a schematic tiling diagram of a combination of a substrate 100 a and a substrate 100 a ′ in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0061] FIG14( b ) shows a tiling schematic diagram of a combination of substrate 100 a and substrate 100 a ″ in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0062] FIG15( a ) shows a design scheme of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0063] FIG15( b ) shows a simulated directional pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application;

[0064] FIG16 shows a simulated directional pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of this application clearer, the implementation methods of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] Space Division Multiplexing (SDM): Space division multiplexing technology refers to a technical solution that allows the same frequency band to be reused in different spaces to form different radiation beams in different user directions.

[0067] Directional pattern: Directional pattern refers to the distribution of the antenna's radiated electromagnetic field along the angular coordinates at a fixed distance.

[0068] Main lobe: The main lobe refers to the largest radiated beam located in the antenna pattern.

[0069] Sidelobe: Sidelobe refers to the radiation beams other than the maximum radiation beam on the antenna pattern.

[0070] Power splitter: A power splitter, also known as a power distributor, is a device that divides one input signal energy into two or more paths and then outputs equal or unequal energy.

[0071] In order to solve the aforementioned problem of increasingly scarce spectrum resources and site resources, the array antennas in some technical solutions of the present application can be applied to space division multiplexing technology, which will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1(a) shows one of the application scenarios applicable to the antenna system S1 in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 1(a), the antenna system S1 may include an array antenna 1a and an array antenna 1b, wherein the array antenna 1a corresponds to the first user direction and the array antenna 1b corresponds to the second user direction, thereby realizing frequency reuse, thereby effectively alleviating the problem of increasingly scarce spectrum resources and site resources. It can be understood that the antenna system S1 may also include other array antennas, for example, the antenna system S1 includes an array antenna. For ease of description, the following will continue to illustrate the example of the antenna system S1 including the array antenna 1a and the array antenna 1b.

[0072] As shown in Figure 1(a), the array antenna 1a corresponds to the first user direction, the main lobe of the first user direction corresponds to the first user U1, and the directional pattern of the array antenna 1a includes the main lobe ML1, the side lobe SL 11 and sidelobe SL 12 ; The array antenna 1b corresponds to the second user direction, the main lobe of the second user direction corresponds to the second user U2, and the directional pattern of the array antenna 1b includes the main lobe ML2 and the side lobe SL 21 and sidelobe SL 22 From Figure 1(a), it is not difficult to find that the main lobe ML1 and the side lobe SL 21 Direction coincidence, side lobe SL 21 Will interfere with the main lobe ML1; the main lobe ML2 and the side lobe SL 12 Direction coincidence, side lobe SL 12 Will interfere with the main lobe ML2. In addition, the side lobe SL 11 and sidelobe SL 21 Mutual interference, side lobe SL 12 and sidelobe SL 22 Therefore, it is necessary to perform low sidelobe processing on the array antenna 1a and the array antenna 1b to strictly constrain their distribution in space and ensure that they do not interfere with each other when working together.

[0073] It is understood that antenna system S1 shown in Figure 1(a) above is only one implementation. In some other application scenarios, antenna system S1 includes an array antenna that can form two beams with different main lobe directions (equivalent to the beam formed by array antenna 1a and the beam formed by array antenna 1b), which will not be described in detail here.

[0074] In some application scenarios, the array antenna 1 needs to adjust the array pattern according to the surrounding environment or when the surrounding environment changes, so as to ensure the normal radiation of the main lobe area and suppress the side lobe area. Figure 1(b) shows another application scenario of the antenna system S2 and the antenna system S3 in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 1(b), the antenna system S2 may include an array antenna 1c, the array antenna 1c corresponds to the direction of the third user, the main lobe of the third user direction corresponds to the third user U3, and the pattern of the array antenna 1c includes the main lobe ML3, the side lobe SL 31 and sidelobe SL 32 .

[0075] However, the surrounding environment of the array antenna 1c changes. For example, a fourth user U4 is added around the array antenna 1c (for example, a new residential building or shopping mall is built around the array antenna 1c). 32 Will interfere with the communication of the fourth user U4. Based on this, it is necessary to perform low sidelobe processing on the array antenna 1c in the target area and adjust the directional pattern of the array antenna accordingly to ensure that the array antenna 1c does not affect the normal communication of the fourth user U4. The antenna system S3 may include an array antenna 1d, which corresponds to the direction of the fourth user. The main lobe of the fourth user direction corresponds to the fourth user U4. The directional pattern of the array antenna 1d includes a main lobe ML4, a side lobe SL 41 and sidelobe SL 42 . Side lobe SL of array antenna 1d 41 It will interfere with the communication of the third user U3.

[0076] Currently, sidelobe suppression of an array antenna is mainly achieved by adjusting the excitation amplitude and phase of each antenna unit in the array antenna or adjusting the spacing between each antenna unit in the array.

[0077] In some implementations of the present application, a specially designed power divider can be used to accurately match the power, thereby achieving excitation amplitude and phase adjustment of each antenna unit in the array antenna. Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the excitation system of the antenna system S in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 2, in some embodiments of the present application, the antenna system S includes an array antenna 1 and a passive power divider 2. The array antenna 1 uses a feeding system in the form of a passive power divider 2 as an excitation system. By designing the specific size and branch parameters of the passive power divider 2, the array antenna 1 can feed the total port energy into each port in a certain proportion, where the total port energy includes parameters such as amplitude and phase.

[0078] In some implementations, the passive power divider 2 may be a microstrip power divider, a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) power divider, etc., which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0079] While the aforementioned antenna system S can achieve sidelobe suppression through multiple iterations of the design of the array antenna 1 and the passive power divider 2, this requires a significant design time. Passive power dividers 2 often suffer from power division errors due to factors such as array coupling and element mismatch, resulting in sidelobe elevation. Furthermore, for some array antennas 1 requiring asymmetric radiation patterns, the amplitude and phase of the excitations for the various radiating elements in the array antenna 1 often differ. Therefore, it is necessary to design multiple passive power dividers 2 with unequal amplitudes and phases to effectively excite each antenna port.

[0080] First, for a multi-port passive power divider 2 with unequal amplitude and phase, its design is relatively difficult, and it is difficult to achieve the amplitude and phase of the output of each port close to the design value. Secondly, due to the coupling between the passive power dividers 2 and the uncontrollable output port structure and other principle limitations, the matching between each output port and the antenna is often poor, resulting in a large deviation between the amplitude and phase of the energy actually input to each radiating element and the ideal value, which in turn causes the final radiation pattern effect to differ greatly from the ideal situation. Then, since the passive power divider 2 is generally integrated below the array antenna 1, the passive power divider 2 will inevitably produce a certain amount of coupling interference to the array antenna 1, causing the performance of the array antenna 1 to deteriorate. Finally, the passive power divider 2 is a static feeding system with no way to adjust it. It does not support array radiation pattern beam scanning, that is, it cannot be phase scanned.

[0081] In some other technical solutions of the present application, a high-precision transceiver T / R component can be used to achieve excitation amplitude and phase adjustment of each antenna unit in the array antenna. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the T / R component of the array antenna 1 connected to the array antenna in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the T / R component can be connected to the array antenna (not shown in Figure 3) by means of a digital control circuit to achieve signal amplitude and phase adjustment, thereby achieving beamforming and scanning of the antenna in the airspace. Among them, the main components of the digital control circuit include: attenuators, phase shifters, power amplifiers and other related devices. The output amplitude and phase of each T / R component can be directly controlled by the digital control circuit to complete the feeding of the array antenna.

[0082] Currently, high-precision T / R components can achieve phase steps of approximately 5°, and their control accuracy is within the range of general engineering applications. Based on this, the current means of achieving low sidelobes mainly involves using T / R components or power dividers to individually excite each radiating element, and then superimposing the radiating element patterns within a spatial region to achieve a low sidelobe effect. If a power divider network is used to achieve this, the difference from the ideal value is often large and the operating bandwidth is narrow. However, in current T / R components, high-phase shifters are expensive and difficult to integrate. Although ultra-low sidelobe requirements can be achieved, the cost is too high. For some already-built array antennas, if sidelobe suppression needs to be achieved in some areas due to changes in the surrounding environment, they need to be disassembled and the power divider network redesigned and installed. This is too expensive in engineering terms and the implementation process is difficult.

[0083] However, in practical applications, high-precision T / R components are expensive due to the difficulty of molding, and their high insertion loss makes them costly to implement. Furthermore, high bit rates place high demands on device material design and a complex control system.

[0084] In other technical solutions of this application, subarray cancellation technology can be used to achieve sidelobe suppression of the array antenna. Specifically, a certain number of auxiliary antennas are added to the main antenna pointing in the direction of signal reception to cancel the sidelobe level in a specified airspace, thereby achieving sidelobe suppression of the array antenna.

[0085] The antenna system S described above achieves low sidelobe processing for the array antenna by adding several additional auxiliary antennas around the target antenna. Based on the path difference and excitation difference between the auxiliary antennas and the target antenna, it suppresses and cancels the sidelobe levels in the sidelobe area, thereby achieving low sidelobe processing for the array antenna. However, firstly, this solution requires the addition of several additional auxiliary antennas around the target antenna, that is, the addition of several additional radiating elements around the target array, which makes the design complex and the cost high. Secondly, the cancellation technology requires the precise placement of each radiating element, which places high demands on installation and processing. Furthermore, the number of canceled sidelobes is related to the number of added radiating elements, and is usually only applicable to sidelobe suppression at a small number of specific angles, with a narrow scope of application.

[0086] In order to achieve low sidelobe processing of an array antenna, the present application provides an array antenna, which adds a metasurface coating on the original array antenna that is tailored to the amplitude and phase distribution characteristics of the low sidelobe array antenna. The metasurface coating includes a substrate and a resonant unit opened on the substrate, wherein the substrate is a layered structure of an artificial electromagnetic structure material. The metasurface coating is coated on the radiating end of the radiating element in the radiating array in the original array antenna, and the surface of the substrate intersects with the radiation direction of the radiating array. The substrate is used to adjust the transmittance of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiating array, and the resonant unit is used to adjust the transmission phase of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiating array.

[0087] In some embodiments of the present application, the metasurface coating is a metamaterial, which is an artificial layered material with a thickness less than the wavelength. A metamaterial is a structure with resonant units (subwavelength structures) that, through these processes, alter the dielectric constant and electrical conductivity of the material. Based on this, the metasurface coating can achieve flexible and effective control of electromagnetic wave polarization, amplitude, phase, polarization mode, propagation mode, and other characteristics.

[0088] In some implementations of the present application, the metamaterial comprises a structure having periodically distributed resonant units. For example, the periodic distribution may be arranged in rows, columns, or both, with adjacent resonant units spaced at a predetermined distance. The periodically distributed resonant units on the metamaterial may also be distributed in other arrangements, which are not specifically limited by the present application.

[0089] In some alternative implementations of the present application, the metamaterial comprises a structure having a non-periodic distribution of resonant units. It is understood that the non-periodic distribution may be arranged in rows, columns, or both, with varying distances between adjacent resonant units. The non-periodic distribution may also be a structure where the resonant units are not distributed in a predetermined pattern but rather are scattered throughout the structure, and this application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0090] It can be understood that the above-mentioned implementation methods are only some of the implementation methods of the distribution method of the resonant unit on the substrate. In this application, the above-mentioned implementation methods can be recombined and adaptively adjusted according to actual needs. The deformed implementation methods are also within the scope of protection of this application, and this application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0091] In some implementations of the present application, a hollow resonance unit may be provided on the substrate, that is, the resonance unit passes through two surfaces of the substrate.

[0092] In some alternative implementations of the present application, a convex resonant unit may be provided on the substrate, that is, the resonant unit is provided on the surface of the substrate. For example, a convex resonant unit is provided on both surfaces of the substrate. For another example, a convex resonant unit is provided on one surface of the substrate.

[0093] In some other alternative implementations of the present application, a concave resonance unit may be provided on the substrate, that is, the resonance unit passes through one of the surfaces of the substrate.

[0094] It can be understood that the above-mentioned implementation methods are only some of the implementation methods of the resonant unit form on the substrate. In this application, the above-mentioned implementation methods can be recombined and adaptively adjusted according to actual needs. The deformed implementation methods are also within the scope of protection of this application, and this application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0095] For ease of description, the following description will be made by taking the periodically distributed hollow resonant units opened on the substrate as an example, that is, the following description will be made by taking the resonant unit 200 as an example of a slot structure opened on the substrate.

[0096] The present application provides a metasurface coating design suitable for array antennas, which can achieve low sidelobe characteristics of array antennas without changing the original array. In array antennas, lower sidelobes can improve the signal-to-noise ratio, reduce the influence of clutter signals outside the main beam, and effectively improve the anti-interference capability of the entire system. The above-mentioned array antenna, first, uses a metasurface coating to cancel and suppress the sidelobe level of the original array antenna, and adjusts the directional pattern of the array antenna through the electromagnetic properties of the substrate and the resonant unit to achieve low sidelobe processing of the array antenna. Secondly, the installation difficulty of the metasurface coating added to the array antenna is relatively low, and it can be directly applied to the existing array antenna that has been built. Finally, the array antenna has a high degree of integration and a compact structure.

[0097] In some embodiments of the present application, by optimizing the metasurface cladding's structural dimensions and adjusting the transmittance and transmission phase of the artificial electromagnetic structure material, the electromagnetic waves emitted by each radiating element produce different transmittance amplitudes and phase differences when passing through the metasurface. This array antenna is equivalent to controlling the excitation amplitude and phase of each radiating element, thereby regulating the directional pattern of each radiating element, thereby achieving a low sidelobe effect for the array antenna.

[0098] In some implementations of the present application, the structural dimensions of the metasurface coating may include the thickness of the substrate, the contour shape of the resonant unit, the contour dimensions of the resonant unit, etc., and the present application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0099] In some embodiments of this application, the metasurface coating can also be applied to array antennas that already have power dividers loaded on them, correcting the sidelobe level increase caused by errors introduced by the power dividers. Compared to traditional power divider designs, the array antennas in this application have advantages such as simple structure, short development cycle, and low cost.

[0100] The technical solution of this application will be described in detail below in conjunction with the specific structure.

[0101] Figure 4(a) shows a perspective view of an array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 4(b) shows an exploded view of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 4(c) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in Figure 4(a) in some embodiments of the present application. As can be seen from Figures 4(a) to 4(c), the present application provides an array antenna 1. In some embodiments of the present application, the array antenna 1 may include a ground plane 10, a radiating array 20, a metasurface coating 30, and a radome 40. The radiating array 20 includes at least two radiating elements, and the ground plane 10 and the radome 40 together form a receiving cavity 50. The radiating array 20 is located within the receiving cavity 50 and is distributed on the ground plane 10, for example, arrayed on the surface of the ground plane 10. The metasurface coating 30 is located on the side of the radiating array 20 facing away from the ground plane 10. Figure 4(d) shows a top view of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 4(d), the metasurface coating 30 includes a substrate 100 and a hollowed-out resonant unit 200 formed on the substrate 100. The resonant unit 200 has a slot structure. The ground plane 10 can be a component capable of grounding, such as a mounting bracket in an antenna system, and this application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0102] In addition, the various directions of the array antenna 1 are defined in combination with Figures 4(a) to 4(c): the board surface of the ground plate 10 is defined as the XOY plane, wherein the extension direction of one pair of sides of the board surface of the ground plate 10 is defined as the X-axis, the extension direction of the other pair of sides is defined as the Y-axis, and the overlapping direction of the radiation array 20 and the ground plate 10 is defined as the Z-axis.

[0103] The array antenna 1 described above incorporates a metasurface coating 30 above the radiating array 20 of the existing array antenna, enabling direct beamforming without changing the antenna feed structure. Consequently, the array antenna 1 of this application offers advantages such as lower cost, reduced engineering complexity, and simpler implementation compared to designing a power splitter feed network or T / R components.

[0104] It is understood that the design scheme in this application is also applicable to other types of array antennas. For other types of array antennas, the metasurface coating 30 is coated on the radiating ends of the radiating elements in the radiating array, and the surface of the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 intersects with the radiation direction of the radiating array.

[0105] It is understood that the relative position of the metasurface coating 30 with respect to the accommodating cavity 50 is not specifically limited in this application. Any metasurface coating 30 located on the side of the radiating array 20 facing away from the ground plane 10 is within the scope of protection of this application. The relative position of the metasurface coating 30 with respect to the accommodating cavity 50 will be described in detail below and will not be repeated here.

[0106] In some implementations of the present application, as shown in FIG4( c ), the radome 40 is a semi-enclosed shell structure. The radome 40 is disposed on the ground plate 10 , and the ground plate 10 and the radome 40 together form a receiving cavity 50 .

[0107] In some alternative implementations of the present application, radome 40 is a closed housing structure comprising a first housing and a second housing, which together form a sealed cavity. Ground plate 10 is located within the sealed cavity and mounted on the second housing. Ground plate 10, the first housing, and the second housing together form a receiving cavity 50.

[0108] In some embodiments of the present application, the number of substrates 100 in the metasurface coating 30 may be one, two, three, or four, etc., which is not specifically limited in this application. In addition, when there are multiple substrates 100, the multiple substrates 100 may be stacked in layers or arranged in parallel, which is not specifically limited.

[0109] FIG5 shows a simulation diagram of the directional pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. In the horizontal direction: u represents the horizontal angle in the spatial angle, for example, u is the ratio of the horizontal angle in the spatial angle to 180°, and v represents the elevation angle in the spatial angle, for example, v is the ratio of the elevation angle in the spatial angle to 180°; the vertical axis direction is the relative amplitude of the radiation beam, and the unit is dB. As shown in FIG5 , the directional pattern of the array antenna 1 includes a main lobe ML (for example, the black radiation beam in FIG5 ) and a side lobe SL (for example, the gray radiation beam in FIG5 ). The difference between the relative amplitude of the main lobe ML and the relative amplitude of the side lobe SL is relatively large, about 10 dB, which means that the low side lobe processing of the array antenna 1 is achieved.

[0110] Figure 6(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in Figure 4(a) in some embodiments of the present application, which also shows the directional pattern of the array antenna 1. Figure 6(b) shows a schematic diagram of the directional pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application.

[0111] The principle of the array antenna 1 in the present application will be described in detail below with reference to FIG6(a) and FIG6(b). In the metasurface coating 30, adjusting the size of the slot of the resonant unit 200 can change the transmission phase. The specific optimization value of the slot is determined by the required sidelobe level. According to the characteristics of the sidelobe level, the phase value of the actual feeding of each radiating element is obtained by array analysis and synthesis methods, and then the phase difference required to pass through the slot of the resonant unit 200 is calculated, and finally the size of the slot of the resonant unit 200 corresponding to the corresponding radiating element is inferred. The metasurface coating 30 can regulate the directional pattern of each radiating element (for example, P2 in FIG6(b)), which is equivalent to changing the amplitude and phase distribution of the array antenna 1, and ultimately achieving the low sidelobe effect of the array antenna 1 (for example, P1 in FIG6(a) and FIG6(b)).

[0112] Figure 6(c) shows an exploded view of the array antenna 1' in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 6(d) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1' along the AA section in Figure 4(a) in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figures 6(c) and 6(d), in some embodiments of the present application, the array antenna 1' may include a ground plane 10, a radiating array 20, and a radome 40. The ground plane 10 and the radome 40 together form a receiving cavity 50. The radiating array 20 is located in the receiving cavity 50, and the radiating array 20 is distributed on the ground plane 10. The radiating array 20 includes at least two radiating elements. It can be understood that the ground plane 10, radiating array 20, and radome 40 in the array antenna 1' are the same as the ground plane 10, radiating array 20, and radome 40 in the aforementioned array antenna 1, and will not be described in detail here.

[0113] Figure 6(e) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1' along the AA section in Figure 4(a) in some embodiments of the present application, and also shows the directional pattern of the array antenna 1' (e.g., P1'), wherein the size of the radiation beam (e.g., the main lobe ML' and side lobe SL' in Figure 6(e)) represents the relative amplitude of the radiation beam. As shown in Figure 6(e), in some embodiments of the present application, each radiating element in the array antenna 1' forms a group of radiation beams, and in the directional pattern formed by the interaction of these groups of radiation beams outside the radome 40, the relative amplitudes of some radiation beams (e.g., the main lobe ML' in Figure 6(e)) are larger, while the relative amplitudes of other radiation beams (e.g., the side lobe SL' in Figure 6(e)) are smaller. It is not difficult to find that the relative amplitudes of the main lobe ML' and the side lobe SL' of the array antenna 1' are similar, that is, the side lobe level of the array antenna 1' is relatively high.

[0114] The layout position of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0115] Continuing to refer to FIG. 6( a ), it can be seen that in some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG. 6( a ), in some embodiments of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 is located within the accommodating cavity 50 and mounted on the radome 40. The array antenna 1 described above, by mounting the metasurface coating 30 within the accommodating cavity 50, protects the metasurface coating 30 from external intrusion, improves the stability of the metasurface coating 30, and thereby extends the service life of the array antenna 1.

[0116] In some implementations of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 can be installed on the radome 40 by means of bonding, welding connection, threaded connection, etc. The metasurface coating 30 can also be installed on the radome 40 by other means, which is not specifically limited.

[0117] In some other alternative implementations of the present application, the array antenna 1 further includes a mounting frame (not shown), and the metasurface coating 30 is mounted on the antenna cover 40 via the mounting frame.

[0118] Figure 7(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in Figure 4(a) in some other embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 7(a), in some embodiments of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 is located outside the accommodating cavity 50. By installing the metasurface coating 30 outside the accommodating cavity 50, the array antenna 1 described above is less difficult to install, making it easier to upgrade existing array antennas to the array antenna of this application.

[0119] Figure 7(b) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the AA section in Figure 4(a) in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the metasurface coating 30 is not shown. Figure 7(c) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 corresponding to Figure 7(b) along the AA section in Figure 4(a) in some embodiments of the present application.

[0120] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG7( b ), a mounting cavity 60 is formed in the radome 40. The mounting cavity 60 is located on the side of the radiating array 20 facing away from the ground plane 10. As shown in FIG7( c ), the metasurface coating 30 is disposed in the mounting cavity 60 to ensure that the metasurface coating 30 is located on the side of the radiating array 20 facing away from the ground plane 10.

[0121] It is understood that the layout position of the metasurface coating 30 relative to the radome 40 can be at least one of the above implementations. For example, the number of metasurface coatings 30 in the array antenna 1 can be at least two, and the layout of the at least two metasurface coatings 30 relative to the radome 40 can be the same or different. In other words, the at least two metasurface coatings 30 can adopt at least one of the above layout positions.

[0122] Based on this, the layout position of the metasurface coating 30 relative to the antenna cover 40 is not specifically limited in this application, and any layout position of the metasurface coating 30 relative to the antenna cover 40 is within the protection scope of this application.

[0123] After describing the overall structure of the array antenna 1, several hollow resonant units 200 provided on the substrate 100 will be described in detail below. The outline of the resonant unit 200 refers to the outline of the resonant unit 200 projected on the surface of the ground plane 100.

[0124] FIG8( a ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 200 (resonant unit 2001 ) on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG8( a ), the outline of the resonant unit 2001 on the substrate 100 may be an “H” shape. Wherein, the dimension d 11 、Dimension d 12 、Dimension d 13 、Dimension d 14 and size d 15 8(a) only shows a portion of the structural dimensions of the H-shaped resonant unit 2001. The structural dimensions of the H-shaped resonant unit 2001 may also be other dimensions, such as the thickness of the resonant unit 2001 (the dimension in the Z-axis direction), which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0125] FIG8( b ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 200 (resonant unit 2002 ) on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG8( b ), the outline of the resonant unit 2002 on the substrate 100 may be a “U” shape. Wherein, the dimension d 21 、Dimension d 22 、Dimension d 23 、Dimension d 24 and size d 25 represents the structural dimensions of the "U"-shaped resonant unit 2002. Similarly, FIG8( b ) only illustrates a portion of the structural dimensions of the "U"-shaped resonant unit 2002, which will not be described in detail here. It is understood that in other embodiments of the present application, the outline of the resonant unit 2002 on the substrate 100 may also be "C"-shaped.

[0126] FIG8(c) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 200 (resonant unit 2003) on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG8(c), the outline of the resonant unit 2003 on the substrate 100 can be an "O" shape. Wherein, the dimension d 31 、Dimension d 32 and size d33 represents the structural dimensions of the "O"-shaped resonant unit 2003. When the resonant unit 2003 on the substrate 100 can have an "O"-shaped profile, a connecting component (not shown) can also be provided in the metasurface coating 30 to connect the inner and outer portions of the "O"-shaped profile. Similarly, Figure 8(c) only illustrates a portion of the structural dimensions of the "O"-shaped resonant unit 2003 and will not be further described here. It is understood that in other embodiments of the present application, the resonant unit 2003 on the substrate 100 can also have a "mouth"-shaped profile.

[0127] FIG8( d ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 200 (resonant unit 2004 ) on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG8( d ), the outline of the resonant unit 2004 on the substrate 100 may be a “+” shape. Wherein, the dimension d 41 、Dimension d 42 、Dimension d 43 、Dimension d 44 、Dimension d 45 and size d 46 represents the structural dimensions of the "+"-shaped resonant unit 2004. Similarly, FIG8(d) only illustrates a portion of the structural dimensions of the "+"-shaped resonant unit 2003, which will not be described in detail here. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments of the present application, the outline of the resonant unit 2004 on the substrate 100 may also be any of the following: a "-", "|", "\", and " / "-shaped outlines.

[0128] FIG8( e ) shows a schematic outline of the resonant unit 200 (resonant unit 2005) on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG8( e ), the outline of the resonant unit 2005 on the substrate 100 can be an “X” shape.

[0129] FIG8( f ) shows a schematic diagram of the outline of the resonant unit 200 (resonant unit 2006) on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG8( f ), the outline of the resonant unit 2004 on the substrate 100 can be a "Y" shape. In some embodiments of the present application, the outline of the resonant unit 2006 on the substrate 100 can also be any one of a "Z" shape, a "T" shape, and an "L" shape.

[0130] It can be understood that the different implementation methods of the profile of the resonance unit 200 on the above-mentioned substrate 100 are only some examples, and the implementation methods of the profile of other resonance units 200 are also within the protection scope of this application, and this application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0131] After introducing the specific structure of the resonant unit 200 on the substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 , a single substrate 100 in the metasurface coating 30 will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0132] The profiles of at least two resonant units 200 on a single substrate 100 may be the same or different, and this application does not impose any specific restrictions thereon. The different profiles of the two resonant units 200 refer to differences in at least one of the thickness of the substrate 100 and the structural dimensions of the resonant units 200 (e.g., the dimensions shown in FIG8( a ), FIG8( b ), and FIG8( c ), which are not further described herein).

[0133] In some embodiments of the present application, a plurality of resonant units are provided on the substrate, and the plurality of resonant units are identical. The plurality of resonant units being identical means that all structural dimensions of the plurality of resonant units are identical. For example, all structural dimensions of the plurality of resonant units specifically include the dimensions shown in FIG8(a), FIG8(b), FIG8(c), and FIG8(d), as well as the dimensions of the plurality of resonant units in the thickness direction of the substrate 100.

[0134] Figure 9(a) shows a top view of the substrate 100a in the metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 9(b) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100a in the metasurface coating 30 along the BB section in Figure 9(a) in some embodiments of the present application.

[0135] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG9(a), a plurality of resonant units 2001 with the same projection profile are provided on the substrate 100a, that is, the projection profiles of the plurality of resonant units 2001 are of the same size. As shown in FIG9(b), the size of the plurality of resonant units 2001 in the Z-axis direction is d 71 .

[0136] In some implementations of the present application, multiple resonant units 2001 can be arrayed on the substrate 100a in a certain arrangement. For example, multiple resonant units 2001 are arranged in sequence in a linear manner, or, for another example, multiple resonant units 2001 are arranged in sequence in multiple rows and columns, or, for another example, multiple resonant units 2001 are randomly arranged. This application does not make any specific limitations on this.

[0137] It can be understood that the above-mentioned resonance unit of the same profile type can not only be the resonance unit 2001, but also any other resonance unit in the present application, and the present application does not make any specific limitation on this.

[0138] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in FIG9( b ), the thickness of the substrate 100a in the Z-axis direction is constant, that is, the thickness of any point on the surface of the substrate 100a in the Z-axis direction is constant. For example, the thickness of any point on the surface of the substrate 100a in the Z-axis direction is d 71 .

[0139] 9( b ), in some embodiments of the present application, the resonant unit 2001 on the substrate 100a extends in a direction parallel to the Z-axis direction. That is, the resonant unit 2001 penetrates both surfaces of the substrate 100a along the Z-axis direction.

[0140] Figure 9(c) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100a in the metasurface coating 30 along the BB section in Figure 9(a) in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in Figure 9(c), on the substrate 100b, the resonant unit 2001' extends in a direction intersecting the Z-axis. In other words, the resonant unit 2001 extends through both surfaces of the substrate 100a in a direction inclined relative to the Z-axis.

[0141] Continuing to refer to FIG. 9( b ), it can be seen that in some embodiments of the present application, the substrate 100 a extends along the same XOY plane.

[0142] Figure 9(d) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100a in the metasurface coating 30 along the BB section in Figure 9(a) in some embodiments of the present application. In some embodiments of the present application, the substrate 100c is distributed in at least two XOY planes. As shown in Figure 9(d), the substrate 100c includes a first part, a second part, a third part, a fourth part, and a fifth part, wherein the first part, the third part, and the fifth part are distributed in one XOY plane, and the second part and the fourth part are distributed in another XOY plane. In some implementations, one XOY plane is parallel to another XOY plane. In some other implementations, the first part, the third part, and the fifth part are distributed on a curved surface, and the second part and the fourth part are distributed on another curved surface, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0143] 9( d ), it can be seen that in some implementations of the present application, the connection position between two adjacent parts is located between the resonant unit 2001 and the substrate 100 c body, and the two adjacent parts can be staggered and connected.

[0144] In some other alternative implementations of the present application, the connecting position between the two adjacent parts is located on the substrate body, and the substrate body at the connecting position can be staggered or smoothly transitioned, and the present application does not make specific restrictions on this.

[0145] In some embodiments of the present application, a plurality of resonant units are provided on the substrate, and at least two of the plurality of resonant units are different. The at least two resonant units being different means that at least one of all structural dimensions of the at least two resonant units is different.

[0146] In some embodiments of the present application, the projection profiles of at least two resonance units are of different types.

[0147] Figure 10(a) shows a top view of a substrate 100d in a metasurface coating 30 in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in Figure 10(a), the plurality of resonance units provided on the substrate 100d include a resonance unit 2001 and a resonance unit 2002.

[0148] Among the multiple resonance units on the substrate 100d, the resonance unit 2001 and the resonance unit 2002 are arranged on the substrate 100d in various ways. For example, the resonance unit 2001 and the resonance unit 2002 are arranged alternately in sequence, or, for another example, the resonance unit 2001 is arranged in a clustered manner, and then the resonance unit 2002 is arranged in a clustered manner. This application does not make any specific limitations on this.

[0149] It can be understood that the resonance units of at least two profile types may not only be the resonance unit 2001 and the resonance unit 2002, but may also be any other combination of at least two resonance units, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0150] In some embodiments of the present application, the projection profiles of at least two resonance units are of the same type, but at least one structural dimension of the projection profiles of the at least two resonance units is different.

[0151] In some embodiments of the present application, at least two resonance units have different thicknesses.

[0152] FIG10( b ) shows a cross-sectional view of the substrate 100 e in the metasurface coating 30 along the BB section in FIG9( a ) in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG10( b ), the substrate 100 e includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion with different thicknesses. The thickness of the first portion and the third portion in the substrate 100 e in the Z-axis direction is d 71 The size of the second portion of the substrate 100a in the Z-axis direction is d 72 Therefore, the size of the resonant unit 2001 on the first and third parts in the Z-axis direction is d 71 The size of the resonant unit 2001" on the second part in the Z-axis direction is d 72 .

[0153] FIG10( c ) shows a cross-sectional view of a substrate 100 f in a metasurface coating 30 along the BB section in FIG9( a ) in some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG10( c ), a resonant unit 2001 ″′- 1 is provided on the substrate 100 f , and the size of the resonant unit 2001 ″′- 1 in the Z-axis direction is non-uniform. For example, the resonant unit 2001 ″′- 1 is provided at the junction of two adjacent portions that are offset from each other.

[0154] In some embodiments of the present application, at least two resonant units have different cross-sectional shapes. Continuing to refer to FIG. 10( c ), it can be seen that a resonant unit 2001 ″′- 2 is provided on the substrate 100 f , and the cross-sectional shape of the resonant unit 2001 ″′- 2 is a parallelogram.

[0155] In some embodiments of the present application, in the metasurface coating 30 , the substrate 100 specifically includes at least two substrates 100 , and the at least two substrates 100 are stacked along a first direction, wherein the first direction is the stacking direction of the radiation array 20 and the ground plate 10 .

[0156] Figure 11(a) shows a perspective view of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 11(b) shows an exploded view of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 12(a) shows a cross-sectional view of the array antenna 1 along the CC section in Figure 11(a) in some embodiments of the present application. Figure 12(b) shows a partial enlarged view of the S2 region in Figure 12(a).

[0157] As shown in Figures 11(b) and 12(a), in some embodiments of the present application, in the metasurface coating 30, the substrate 100 specifically includes a first substrate 100' and a second substrate 100", wherein the first substrate 100' is provided with a hollow first resonance unit 200', and the second substrate 100" is provided with a hollow second resonance unit 200". The first substrate 100' and the second substrate 100" are overlapped along a first direction. The following will further describe the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 by taking the array antenna 1 in Figures 11(b) and 12(a) as an example.

[0158] It can be understood that the profile of the first resonant unit 200' and the profile of the second resonant unit 200" can be at least one of "H" type, "U" type, "C" type, "O" type, "mouth" type, "X" type, "Y" type, "Z" type, "T" type, and "L" type.

[0159] In some embodiments of the present application, the number of the first resonant units 200' is at least two, and the number of the second resonant units 200" is at least two. The profile of each of the at least two first resonant units 200' can be any one of an "H" type, a "U" type, a "C" type, an "O" type, a "mouth" type, an "X" type, a "Y" type, a "Z" type, a "T" type, and an "L" type. The profile of each of the at least two second resonant units 200" can be any one of an "H" type, a "U" type, a "C" type, an "O" type, a "mouth" type, an "X" type, a "Y" type, a "Z" type, a "T" type, and an "L" type. The present application does not make any specific limitations on this.

[0160] In some embodiments of the present application, the first substrate 100 ′ and the second substrate 100 ″ in the metasurface coating 30 are completely identical.

[0161] In some implementations of the present application, the structural dimensions of the first substrate 100' and the second substrate 100" are respectively the same, and the number and positions of the first resonant units 200' on the first substrate 100' and the second resonant units 200" on the second substrate 100" are the same, and the first resonant units 200' and the second resonant units 200" at the same relative positions on the first substrate 100' and the second substrate 100" have the same profile and the same size.

[0162] In some embodiments of the present application, the number of substrates 100 in the metasurface coating 30 is at least two, and at least two substrates 100 are stacked in layers. At least two substrates 100 are identical. As shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b), the metasurface coating 30 includes two substrates 100a.

[0163] In some other embodiments of the present application, the first substrate 100 ′ and the second substrate 100 ″ in the metasurface coating 30 have different structures.

[0164] In some implementations of the present application, at least one structural dimension of the first substrate 100 ′ and the second substrate 100 ″ is different. For example, the thicknesses of the first substrate 100 ′ and the second substrate 100 ″ are different.

[0165] For another example, the first substrate 100 ′ and the second substrate 100 ″ have different lengths. For another example, the first substrate 100 ′ and the second substrate 100 ″ have different widths.

[0166] In some other implementations of the present application, the number and / or positions of the first resonance units 200 ′ on the first substrate 100 ′ and the second resonance units 200 ″ on the second substrate 100 ″ are different.

[0167] In some other implementations of the present application, the first resonance unit 200 ′ and the second resonance unit 200 ″ at corresponding relative positions of the first substrate 100 ′ and the second substrate 100 ″ have different profiles and / or sizes.

[0168] In some other embodiments of the present application, at least two substrates 100 have different structural sizes.

[0169] In some implementations of the present application, at least two substrates 100 have different sizes in the thickness direction, and / or at least two substrates 100 have different sizes in the length direction, and / or at least two substrates 100 have different sizes in the width direction.

[0170] In some implementations of the present application, at least two substrates are different types of substrates. For example, with reference to the aforementioned figures, the metasurface coating 30 includes any one of substrates 100a and 100b, substrates 100a and 100c, substrates 100a and 100d, substrates 100a and 100e, and substrates 100a and 100f, which will not be described in detail herein.

[0171] In some other embodiments of the present application, the layout positions of the resonant units on at least two substrates 100 are different. As shown in Figure 14(a), the metasurface coating 30 includes a substrate 100a and a substrate 100a', and the layout position of the resonant unit 2001 on substrate 100a is different from the layout position of the resonant unit 2001 on substrate 100a' on substrate 100a.

[0172] In some other embodiments of the present application, the number of resonant units on at least two substrates 100 is different. As shown in FIG14( b ), the metasurface coating 30 includes a substrate 100 a and a substrate 100 a ″, and the number of resonant units 2001 on the substrate 100 a is 12, and the number of resonant units 2001 on the substrate 100 a ″ is 13.

[0173] It can be understood that the above-mentioned implementation methods of different structures of the first substrate 100' and the second substrate 100" are only some examples. Other implementation methods that can achieve different structures of the first substrate 100' and the second substrate 100" are also within the scope of protection of this application, and this application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0174] In some embodiments of the present application, the distance between two adjacent substrates 100 ranges from 3 mm to 7.5 mm, wherein the distance between two adjacent substrates 100 is the minimum distance between two adjacent substrates 100, such as d shown in Figure 12(b). Specifically, in some embodiments of the present application, the distance between two adjacent substrates 100 is 5 mm.

[0175] To further achieve low sidelobe processing for the array antenna 1, referring to Figures 4(d) and 8(a) to 8(f), it can be seen that in some embodiments of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 further includes an absorbing component 300. The orthographic projection of the absorbing component 300 on the ground plane 10 is at least partially located within the orthographic projection of the resonant unit 200 on the ground plane 10. For example, the absorbing component 300 can be a chip resistor.

[0176] It can be understood that in Figure 8(a) the dimension d 16 ] are the structural dimensions of the absorbing component 300. It is understood that the dimensions of the absorbing component 300 relative to the resonant unit 200 may also be marked in the figure. Since the absorbing component 300 is arranged in the middle right position of the "H" shape, the relevant dimensions of the absorbing component 300 relative to the resonant unit 2001 will not be described in detail here.

[0177] It can be understood that in Figure 8(b) the dimension d 26 is the structural dimension of the wave absorbing component 300. Dimension d 27 is the relative position of the absorbing component 300 with respect to the resonant unit 200 .

[0178] It can be understood that in Figure 8(c), the dimensions of the relative position of the absorbing component 300 relative to the resonant unit 200 can also be marked in the figure. Since the absorbing component 300 is arranged at the middle right position of the "O" shape, the relevant dimensions of the relative position of the absorbing component 300 relative to the resonant unit 200 will not be described in detail here.

[0179] By adding absorbing material to the metasurface coating 30, the array antenna 1 achieves beam reconfiguration and adjusts the array antenna's directivity pattern. Furthermore, the metasurface coating 30 can also be applied to array antennas already equipped with passive power dividers, correcting for errors introduced by the passive power divider that can cause elevated sidelobe levels in the array antenna 1.

[0180] In some embodiments of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 adjusts the transmittance and transmission phase of the artificial electromagnetic material by optimizing the structural dimensions of the material unit and the loss of lossy components (for example, the resistance of the chip resistor or the absorptivity of the absorbing material), and is used to equivalently control the excitation amplitude and phase of each radiating element, thereby achieving low sidelobe processing of the array antenna 1. The metasurface coating 30 can also be applied to array antennas loaded with existing power dividers to correct the sidelobe level increase caused by the error introduced by the power divider. Compared with the traditional power divider design, the array antenna in the present application has the characteristics of simple structure, short R&D cycle, and low cost.

[0181] In some embodiments of the present application, the array antenna 1 has a specific structure as shown in Figures 11(a) to 12(b). In some implementations of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 includes at least two substrates 100, each of which is periodically etched with H-shaped slots. By optimizing the structural dimensions of each H-shaped slot, the electromagnetic waves emitted by each radiating array 20 in the array antenna 1 have different transmittances and transmission phases after passing through their respective slots. In addition, the directional patterns of each radiating element in the far field are vectorially superimposed to achieve the purpose of reducing the antenna sidelobe level.

[0182] In some embodiments of the present application, the array antenna 1 has a specific structure as shown in Figures 11(a) to 12(b). In some implementations of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 includes at least two substrates 100, each of which is periodically etched with H-shaped slots. An absorbing component 300 is added in the middle of the H-shaped slots of the lower substrate 100. By rationally selecting the resistance value of the absorbing component 300 and optimizing the structural dimensions of each H-shaped slot, the electromagnetic waves emitted by each radiating array 20 in the array antenna 1 have different transmittances and transmission phases after passing through their respective slots. Furthermore, in the far field, the directional patterns of each radiating element are vectorially superimposed to achieve the purpose of reducing the sidelobe level of the array antenna.

[0183] In some embodiments of the present application, the design of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 is related to the method for synthesizing the array antenna pattern. Figure 15(a) illustrates the design of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application. The design of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 will be described below in conjunction with Figure 15(a).

[0184] As shown in FIG15( a ), the design of the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 provided in this application specifically includes the following steps:

[0185] Block S1501 : According to the required pattern characteristics, the amplitude and phase distribution of each radiation array 20 is obtained through pattern synthesis or algorithm optimization.

[0186] For example, to verify the low sidelobe effect of the designed metasurface cladding, according to the requirement of suppressing the sidelobe level of -26dB in the spatial angle range of 20° to 90°, the amplitude and phase distribution of the excitation of a set of 12 radiating arrays 20 are given by algorithm optimization as shown in Table 1:

[0187] Table 1

[0188] Radiation array element number 123456789101112 Amplitude 0.70.70.81111110.710.7 Phase -500000000000050

[0189] Block S1502: Calculate the transmission coefficient and transmission phase distribution of the metasurface coating 30 based on the amplitude and phase distribution of each radiation array 20. The transmission coefficient is equal to the unit amplitude, and the transmission phase is equal to the radiation array element phase.

[0190] Block S1503: Adjust the physical size and loading resistance of the metasurface coating 30 through simulation optimization. It can be understood that the transmission coefficient and phase required by the array antenna are obtained through the physical size and loading resistance of the metasurface coating 30.

[0191] The physical dimensions of the metasurface coating 30 include the structural dimensions of the substrate 100 and the resonant unit 200. The size of the loading resistor is determined by the absorbing component 300.

[0192] In some embodiments of the present application, the amplitude-phase distribution of the excitation is linearly converted into the amplitude ratio of the transmittance of the outgoing electromagnetic wave and the phase difference of the outgoing electromagnetic wave, and then the various structural dimensions and resistance values ​​of the metasurface coating 30 are inferred.

[0193] In order to verify the low sidelobe processing effect of the array antenna 1 of the present application, in some embodiments of the present application, the optimized metasurface coating is placed directly above a simplified symmetrical array, and the radiation pattern is simulated and calculated using the Ansoft High Frequency Structure Simulator (AHFSS) simulation software.

[0194] Figure 15(b) shows the simulated radiation pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the horizontal axis represents the phase of the array antenna 1 in degrees, and the vertical axis represents the amplitude of the array antenna 1 in dB. The simulated radiation pattern is obtained by simulating and calculating the radiation pattern using AHFSS simulation software. The metasurface coating 30 includes at least two substrates 100, and each substrate 100 is periodically etched with H-shaped slots, and the distance between two adjacent substrates 100 in the metasurface coating 30 is 5 mm. In Figure 15(b), curve L1 represents the radiation pattern of the array antenna 1 in the present application, and curve L2 represents the radiation pattern of the original array antenna 1. As shown in Figure 15(b), by comparing curves L1 and L2, it can be seen that the array antenna 1 in the present application with the addition of the metasurface coating 30 has a low sidelobe effect, and compared with the existing uniform linear array, the sidelobe suppression effect of the array antenna in the present application is better in the specified area.

[0195] To achieve tunability in the array antenna 1's pattern, in other applications, the metasurface coating 30 can also be combined with a reconfigurable material to achieve beam reconfiguration or beam scanning. In other words, the absorbing component 300 can have an adjustable resistance. When the resistance of the absorbing component 300 changes, the directional waveform of the array antenna 1 will also change.

[0196] In some embodiments of the present application, the absorbing component 300 includes at least one of a photoresistor, a piezoresistor, and a graphene material. It is understood that the absorbing component 300 may also be made of other materials, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0197] In some implementations of the present application, the absorbing component 300 is a photoresistor, and the resistance of the absorbing component 300 is adjusted by changing the intensity of light. In other implementations of the present application, the absorbing component 300 is a graphene material, and the resistance of the absorbing component 300 is changed by the magnitude of an applied voltage.

[0198] In some embodiments of the present application, array analysis and synthesis methods are used to determine the actual feed amplitude and phase values ​​of each radiating element. By optimizing the slot structure and the initial state of the adjustable lossy material (photoresistor, piezoresistor, or graphene material, etc.), a fixed beam shape at a specific scanning angle is achieved. By changing the external environment (e.g., light intensity, applied voltage, etc.) of each resonant unit 200 on the metasurface coating 30, the impedance value at that location is also changed. Consequently, the transmission coefficient of the radiation field of each radiating array 20 changes as it passes through the metasurface coating 30, allowing the beam shape of the array pattern to be dynamically controlled.

[0199] In some embodiments of the present application, the array antenna 1 has a specific structure as shown in Figures 11(a) to 12(b). In some implementations of the present application, the metasurface coating 30 in the array antenna 1 includes at least two substrates 100, each of which is periodically etched with an H-shaped slot groove. An absorbing component 300 is added in the middle of the H-shaped slot groove of the lower substrate 100, wherein the absorbing component 300 can be an adjustable lossy material. By reasonably selecting the size of each resistor and optimizing the structural dimensions of each H-shaped slot groove, the electromagnetic waves emitted by each radiating array 20 in the array antenna 1 have different transmittances and transmission phases after passing through the respective slot grooves and patch resistors, and then the radiation pattern of each radiating element in the far field is vector superimposed to achieve the purpose of reducing the antenna sidelobe level.

[0200] Figure 16 shows the simulated radiation pattern of the array antenna 1 in some embodiments of the present application, wherein the horizontal axis represents the phase of the array antenna 1 in degrees, and the vertical axis represents the amplitude of the array antenna 1 in dB. Figure 16 shows the effect of realizing the array radiation pattern reconfiguration technology under the dynamic regulation of the resistance of each resonant unit of the metasurface coating by adjustable lossy materials. The L3 curve is the radiation pattern of the dipole array when the resistance of each resonant unit 200 is adjusted to state one after adding the metasurface coating 30. At this time, a sidelobe level of -28dB or less within -20° to -75° can be achieved. The L4 curve is the radiation pattern of the dipole array when the resistance of each resonant unit 200 is adjusted to state two after adding the metasurface coating. At this time, a sidelobe null radiation pattern within -20° to -50° can be achieved. Among them, in order to maximize the amplification of useful signals and suppress interference signals, the most intuitive way of achieving the sidelobe null is to align the main lobe with the incident direction of the useful signal, and to align the lowest gain point (i.e., null) in the radiation pattern.

[0201] In some embodiments of the present application, the specific resistance value of each resonant unit 200 in each state needs to be individually designed and optimized according to the required directional pattern effect, and the present application does not make specific limitations on this.

[0202] The array antenna 1 introduces adjustable lossy materials into the metasurface coating 30, so that the array antenna 1 pattern has a beam reconfigurable characteristic while achieving a low sidelobe function. The array antenna 1 has a simple structure and a large degree of design freedom.

[0203] The present application also provides a metasurface coating 30 , which includes a substrate 100 and a resonance unit 200 opened on the substrate 100 .

[0204] The present application further provides a radome assembly (not shown), which includes a radome 40 and a metasurface coating 30. The metasurface coating 30 includes a substrate 100 and a resonant unit 200 provided on the substrate 100.

[0205] In addition, the technical solution in this application has high integration and great design freedom, and can realize the shaping of arbitrary beams. It can be combined with the popular reconfigurable technology to achieve low-latency switching between multiple beams.

[0206] It should be noted that in this specification, similar numbers and letters represent similar items in the following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent drawings.

[0207] The above describes the implementation methods of the present application by means of specific specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present application from the contents disclosed in this specification. Although the description of the present application will be introduced in conjunction with some embodiments, this does not mean that the features of this application are limited to the implementation methods. On the contrary, the purpose of introducing the application in conjunction with the implementation methods is to cover other options or modifications that may be extended based on the claims of the present application. In order to provide an in-depth understanding of the present application, the following description will contain many specific details. The present application can also be implemented without using these details. In addition, in order to avoid confusion or blurring the focus of the present application, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that the embodiments in the present application and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other unless there is a conflict.

[0208] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "outside", "inside", "circumferential", "radial", "axial", etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limitations on this application.

[0209] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "dispose," "install," "connect," and "fit" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0210] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. An array antenna (1), characterized in that: The array antenna (1) comprises: A radiation array (20), the radiation array (20) comprising at least two radiation elements; A metasurface coating (30) is provided, wherein the metasurface coating (30) comprises a substrate (100) and a resonance unit (200) provided on the substrate (100); the metasurface coating (30) is provided on the radiation end of the radiation array element, and the plate surface of the substrate (100) intersects with the radiation direction of the radiation array (20).

2. The array antenna (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The substrate (100) is used to adjust the transmittance of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation array (20), and the resonance unit (200) is used to adjust the transmission phase of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation array (20).

3. The array antenna (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The profile of the resonance unit (200) includes at least one of an "H" type, a "U" type, a "C" type, an "O" type, a "mouth" type, an "X" type, a "Y" type, a "Z" type, a "T" type, and an "L" type.

4. The array antenna (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that In the supersurface coating (30), the substrate (100) specifically includes at least two substrates (100), and the at least two substrates (100) are superimposed along the radiation direction.

5. The array antenna (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The distance between two adjacent substrates (100) ranges from 3 mm to 7.5 mm, wherein the distance between two adjacent substrates (100) is the minimum distance between two adjacent substrates (100).

6. The array antenna (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The distance between two adjacent substrates (100) is 5 mm.

7. The array antenna (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The super surface coating (30) further comprises: A wave absorbing component (300), wherein an orthographic projection of the wave absorbing component (300) on the substrate (100) is at least partially located within an orthographic projection of the resonance unit (200) on the substrate (100).

8. The array antenna (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The wave absorbing component (300) comprises at least one of a photoresistor, a piezoresistor and a graphene material.

9. The array antenna (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that The array antenna (1) further comprises: A ground plate (10) having a first surface made of a conductive material, wherein the radiation array (20) is arranged on the first surface of the ground plate (10).

10. The array antenna (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The antenna (1) further comprises a radome (40), wherein the radome (40) and the ground plate (10) jointly form a receiving cavity (50), the radiating array (20) is located in the receiving cavity (50), and the layout position of the metasurface coating (30) relative to the radome (40) comprises at least one of the following: The super surface coating (30) is located in the accommodating cavity (50); or The super surface coating (30) is located outside the accommodating cavity (50); or An installation cavity (60) is formed in the radome (40), the installation cavity (60) is located on a side of the radiation array (20) facing away from the ground plate (10), and the metasurface coating (30) is disposed in the installation cavity (60).

11. A supersurface coating (30), characterized in that The supersurface coating (30) comprises a substrate (100) and a resonance unit (200) opened on the substrate (100).

12. A radome assembly, characterized in that: The radome assembly comprises: Radome (40); A supersurface coating (30) includes a substrate (100) and a resonance unit (200) provided on the substrate (100).

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