Radiation unit

Abstract

The radiation unit (100) includes a first radiation structure (101) spaced apart from the ground layer (103); a second radiation structure (105) spaced apart from the first radiation structure (101); and a passive structure (107) disposed between the first radiation structure (101) and the second radiation structure (105) for introducing a selected phase delay into the propagation field between the first radiation structure (101) and the second radiation structure (105).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to radiating elements for antenna structures. Various aspects of this disclosure relate to modifications of the phase relationships between layers of the radiating element. Background Technology

[0002] To meet the demands of next-generation mobile communications, networks need to be upgraded. For example, traditional antenna arrays can be upgraded to take advantage of the benefits offered by multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. In fact, massive MIMO (mMIMO), which uses a large number of antennas, provides all the advantages of traditional MIMO on a much larger scale.

[0003] However, upgrades to many antenna sites are hampered by local regulations regarding antenna size and other requirements. This typically necessitates that new antennas be roughly the same size as legacy antennas. Furthermore, to maintain the mechanical support structure, the new antenna must withstand wind loads comparable to the old one. These factors impose strict limitations on aspects such as antenna width.

[0004] An antenna's directivity is limited by its aperture, and therefore by its width. This effect becomes particularly pronounced when multiple arrays are housed in the same enclosure, such as in mMIMO. Consequently, antenna arrays placed within small reflectors typically exhibit a wide horizontal beamwidth. This can lead to bandwidth limitations and directivity issues with the radiated beam.

[0005] To overcome some of these drawbacks, current methods implement the radiating elements of the antenna array in the form of a double-layer dipole, where a pair of radiating elements are positioned relative to the normal direction of the antenna reflector. Typically, this pair of radiating elements is fed to each other at the same frequency. However, the supplied signal is affected by the applied phase shift, thus subjecting each radiating element to a phase difference (α). The amplitude relationship between the radiating elements can be used as a degree of freedom.

[0006] Introducing a phase shift into the signal supplied to the radiating elements can increase the directivity of the combined antenna element, enabling miniaturization of the antenna reflector or increasing the coverage and signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) provided by the antenna system. The associated degrees of freedom (phase and amplitude distribution between radiating elements) can also be used to improve the front-to-back and cross-polarization discrimination of the combined antenna element.

[0007] As the field propagates from the radiating element, the phase of the radiated and incident fields on each layer can be controlled by changing the relative positions of the radiating elements, resulting in constructive and destructive superposition. For fields to be constructively increased, the phase (α) radiated from the first layer (closest to the ground layer) must be carefully chosen and depends on the frequency and distance to the second layer, making it difficult to achieve in practice. Furthermore, the input impedance differences of stacked radiators are large, and it is difficult to match a specific bandwidth and phase difference (α) to the combined radiator resulting from the combination of stacked radiators. This is particularly relevant when a larger phase introduced between radiators is desired to maximize antenna directivity, as the impedance seen from the feed point can become more pronounced. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this disclosure is to increase the impedance bandwidth for a specified directivity of the combination of layers in a multilayer antenna structure.

[0009] The above and other objectives are achieved by the features claimed in the independent claims.

[0010] Other implementations are obvious from the dependent claims, the specification and the drawings.

[0011] A first aspect of the present invention provides a radiating unit, the radiating unit comprising a first radiating structure spaced apart from a ground layer; a second radiating structure spaced apart from the first radiating structure; and a passive structure disposed between the first radiating structure and the second radiating structure for introducing a selected phase delay into the propagation field between the first radiating structure and the second radiating structure.

[0012] For example, the directivity of a specific impedance bandwidth can be increased by increasing the phase difference between the layers of the radiating element. For example, the phase difference between the first and second layers can be increased by the additional phase difference introduced by the passive structure.

[0013] In one implementation of the first aspect, the passive structure may include at least one metasurface. The passive structure may include multiple stacked metasurfaces. The passive structure may include a monolithic material block with a high relative permittivity. The passive structure may include a metamaterial structure.

[0014] In one example, the radiating element further includes at least one port for providing a feed signal to the first radiating structure and / or the second radiating structure. At least one port may be provided for receiving a phase-shifted signal. A phase shifter may be provided for modifying the phase of the feed signal of at least one of the first and second radiating structures. An amplifier may be provided for modifying the amplitude of the signal of at least one of the first and second radiating structures. At least one of the first and second radiating structures may include a dipole. At least one of the first and second radiating structures may be dual-polarized. At least one of the first and second radiating structures may be a planar structure.

[0015] A second aspect of this disclosure provides an antenna array comprising a plurality of radiating elements according to the first aspect. The plurality of radiating elements can form a massively multi-input and multiple-output (mMIMO) antenna array.

[0016] A third aspect of the invention provides a method for introducing a phase delay into a propagation field between a first radiating structure and a second radiating structure of a radiating element, the method comprising providing a passive structure disposed between the first radiating structure and the second radiating structure, wherein the passive structure is selected to introduce a selected first phase delay into the propagation field.

[0017] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from one or more embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram based on an example radiating element;

[0020] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram based on an example of a passive structure;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram based on an example antenna array;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an example method for introducing phase delay into the propagation field between the first and second radiating structures of a radiating element. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The exemplary embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to implement and carry out the systems and processes described herein. It is important to understand that the embodiments may be provided in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples described herein.

[0024] Therefore, while embodiments may be modified in various ways and take various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the accompanying drawings and described in detail below as examples. It is not intended to limit one to the specific forms disclosed. Rather, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Throughout all drawings and appropriate specific embodiments, elements of exemplary embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0025] The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to be limiting. The articles “a” and “described” are in the singular form because they refer to only one object, but their use herein should not preclude the existence of multiple objects referred to. In other words, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, elements mentioned in the singular form may be one or more in number. It should be further understood that the term “comprising” as used herein is used to indicate the presence of the described feature, item, step, operation, element, and / or component, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) shall be interpreted as their customary usage in the field. It should also be understood that, unless explicitly defined herein, terms in common usage shall also be interpreted as their customary usage in the relevant field, and not as having an idealized or overly formal meaning.

[0027] According to one example, a two-layer dipole structure comprising a pair of radiating units is provided. A passive structure positioned between the radiating units introduces an arbitrary phase transition (β) in the propagation field from the bottom to the top layer of the combined dipole. The introduced phase transition (β) can complement a defined phase transition (α) to increase the total phase or decrease the required amount of α. In this way, the impedance bandwidth of the specified directivity of the combined dipole layers is increased by utilizing the change in mutual impedance and the decrease in α. The directivity of the specified impedance bandwidth is increased by increasing the phase difference between the layers, for example, by increasing the phase difference α by an amount of β.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram based on an example radiating element. Figure 1In one example, the radiating element 100 includes a first radiating structure 101 spaced apart from the ground layer 103 and a second radiating structure 105 spaced apart from the first radiating structure 101. A passive structure 107 is disposed between the first radiating structure 101 and the second radiating structure 105. In one example, the passive structure 107 is used to introduce a selected phase delay (β) into the propagation field between the first radiating structure 101 and the second radiating structure 105.

[0029] Feed lines 109 and 111 provide feed signals to the first radiating element 101 and the second radiating element 105, respectively. In one example, the feed signal 109 provided to the first radiating element 101 is an input signal 113 with a given frequency and phase. A phase shifter 115 can modify the phase of the input signal 113 to provide a phase-shifted signal 117 to the second radiating element 105. The phase difference between the phases of the input signal 113 and the signal 117 is α. In other words, the phase shifter 115 can introduce a phase shift α into the feed signal 111.

[0030] According to one example, passive structure 107 introduces a phase delay β into the propagation field between the first radiating element 101 and the second radiating element 105. In the example shown in the figure, the phase transition (β) introduced by passive structure 107 complements the defined phase transition (α) introduced by phase shifter 115. Therefore, the total phase (α+β) increases, and the required phase change α decreases.

[0031] According to one example, the passive structure 107 may include a metasurface. According to one example, the metasurface may include a two-dimensional periodic scattering unit array, for example, in the form of a conductive pattern on a surface such as a dielectric substrate, wherein the size and period of the individual units constituting the conductive pattern are smaller than the operating wavelength of the radiating units. Therefore, the passive structure 107 may include a planar surface comprising subwavelength metallic (or dielectric) units. In one example, structure 107 is passive because its properties cannot be adjusted after fabrication. The passive structure 107 alters the phase of the propagating electromagnetic field between the first radiating unit 101 and the second radiating unit 105.

[0032] According to one example, the passive structure 107 may include one or more metasurfaces. The metasurfaces can be used to control the spatial phase of the electric field passing through them. Therefore, the phase of the propagating field from the first radiating element 101 can be changed as the propagating field passes through the passive structure 107 without reflecting power.

[0033] exist Figure 1In some examples, at least one port 119 is provided for providing the input signal 113 to the first radiating structure 101 in the form of a feed signal 109. In some examples, port 119 may be used to provide the input signal 113 to a second radiating structure 105. A second port 123 may be provided for providing a phase-shift signal 117 to the second radiating structure 105 in the form of a feed signal 111. In some examples, an amplifier 121 may be provided for modifying the amplitude of the input signal 113 of at least one of the first and second radiating structures 101 and 105.

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram based on the example of passive structure 107. In Figure 2 The example describes a two-layer passive structure 107. In Figure 2 In the example, layers 201 and 203 define a metasurface. Layers 201 and 203 include a substrate on which cell 205 is disposed or otherwise provided. For example, cell 205 may be in the form of a metal patch, such as... Figure 2 The regular array is shown in the diagram. Cells 205 can be shaped or outlined in any number of different ways, and Figure 2 The examples provided are not intended to be limiting. Layers 201 and 203 may comprise a monolithic block of material with a high relative permittivity, such as a dielectric material. In one example, layers 201 and 203 will be as thin as possible with the lowest possible losses. For example, layers 201 and 203 may be isolated using a foam material (e.g., a foam material with a very low permittivity) or air isolation may be achieved.

[0035] According to one example, at least one of the first radiating structure 101 and the second radiating structure 105 includes a dipole. At least one of the first radiating structure 101 and the second radiating structure 105 can be bipolarized.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram based on the example antenna array. Figure 2 In the example, antenna array 300 includes multiple radiating elements 100. The radiating elements 100 are arranged in a tiled configuration, for example, as part of an mMIMO antenna array. Although Figure 3 Not described in the text, but each radiating element 100 may be spaced apart from the adjacent radiating elements of the array 300.

[0037] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of a method for introducing a phase delay into a propagation field between a first and a second radiating structure of a radiating element, according to an example. In block 401, a passive structure 107 is disposed between a first radiating structure 101 and a second radiating structure 105. According to an example, the passive structure 107 is selected to introduce a selected first phase delay 401(β) into the propagation field.

[0038] The above description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to any precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive in all respects. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A radiating unit, characterized in that, include: A first radiating structure is provided at a distance from the grounding layer and is positioned above the grounding layer. A second radiating structure is provided at a distance from the first radiating structure, and the second radiating structure is positioned above the first radiating structure. A passive structure is disposed between the first radiating structure and the second radiating structure to introduce a selected phase delay into the propagation field between the first radiating structure and the second radiating structure; Wherein, the feeding signal of the first radiating structure is the input signal; The radiating unit further includes a phase shifter, which is used to modify the phase of the input signal and provide a signal to the second radiating structure.

2. The radiating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The passive structure includes at least one metasurface.

3. The radiating element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The passive structure comprises multiple stacked metasurfaces.

4. The radiating unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The passive structure comprises a monolithic material block with a high relative permittivity.

5. The radiating element according to claim 1, characterized in that, The passive structure includes metamaterial structures.

6. The radiating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It also includes at least one port for providing a power supply signal to the first radiating structure and / or the second radiating structure.

7. The radiating unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It also includes at least one port for receiving phase-shift signals.

8. The radiating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The phase shifter is used to modify the phase of the feed signal of at least one of the first and second radiating structures.

9. The radiating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, It also includes an amplifier for modifying the amplitude of the signal of at least one of the first and second radiating structures.

10. The radiating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, At least one of the first and second radiating structures includes a dipole.

11. The radiating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, At least one of the first and second radiating structures is bipolarized.

12. The radiating element according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, At least one of the first radiating structure and the second radiating structure is a planar structure.

13. An antenna array, characterized in that, It includes a plurality of radiation units according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The antenna array according to claim 13, characterized in that, Multiple radiating elements form a massive multiple-input and multiple-output (mMIMO) antenna array.

15. A method for introducing a phase delay into a propagation field between a first radiating structure and a second radiating structure of a radiating element, characterized in that, The first radiating structure is disposed above the ground layer, and the second radiating structure is disposed above the first radiating structure. The method includes: A passive structure is provided between the first radiating structure and the second radiating structure, wherein the passive structure is selected to introduce a selected first phase delay into the propagation field; Wherein, the feeding signal of the first radiating structure is the input signal; The method further includes: A phase shifter is provided to modify the phase of the input signal and provide the signal to the second radiating structure.

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