Full analog phase shifter

Abstract

The present invention relates to a full analog phase shifter, and more particularly, to a full analog phase shifter comprising: a variable switch panel including a first energization pattern terminal and a second energization pattern terminal; a pattern PCB on which a plurality of array antenna elements are disposed, and in which a transmission line in which the first energization pattern terminal and the second energization pattern terminal are in contact is patterned and printed; when the two variable switch panels are disposed in the vertical direction, the two variable switch panels are disposed in a sliding manner and slide in the vertical direction so that the two variable switch panels are separated from each other by a phase shift caused by the contact between the first and second current-carrying pattern terminals and the transmission line, and the transmission line is separated from each other by a phase shift caused by the contact between the first and second current-carrying pattern terminals and the transmission line. According to the present invention, the phases for the plurality of array antenna elements are linearly distributed on the same reference phase plane, thereby providing an advantage of easily realizing a mirror image symmetric structure having a linear phase distribution by only phase shift in an RF terminal without phase conversion in a digital terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fully analog phase shifter, and more specifically, to a fully analog phase shifter configured at an RF end without changing the configuration design of an existing RF module. Furthermore, there is no need to design a separate installation space, but rather the length of the overall transmission line is selectively changed to ensure a desired phase shift value. Background Art

[0002] In domestic and foreign mobile communication systems, the user usage density varies according to the region and time. Therefore, in order to provide the best service under such circumstances, the vertical beam angle of the base station antenna is adjusted and the coverage range of the base station is adjusted to perform network management.

[0003] For this reason, a mechanical beam tilting method is used in existing wireless communication systems. This mechanical beam tilting method is a method of directly adjusting the direction of the radiation beam of the antenna by adjusting the angle of the antenna using a mechanical beam tilting device installed on the antenna.

[0004] The mechanical beam tilt method has the advantage of reducing the production cost of the antenna. However, in order to operate the base station, a technician must climb up the base station antenna tower to loosen the multiple bolts that fix the beam tilt structure to change the antenna angle and then retighten the bolts. This poses a risk of falling and takes a long time, which slows down the repair process.

[0005] Recently, in order to improve the shortcomings of the mechanical beam tilting method, a remote adjustment method of the mechanical beam tilting device that can remotely tilt or steer the mechanical beam tilting device has been developed.

[0006] However, the remote adjustment mechanical beam tilt device also adjusts the direction of the antenna radiation beam by mechanically tilting or turning the entire antenna, and is a fundamentally different antenna radiation beam adjustment method from the electrical beam tilt method. The electrical beam tilt antenna has a phase conversion unit (phase shifter) inside for adjusting the beam phase.

[0007] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram for explaining the principle of physical phase conversion using a phase conversion unit; Figure 2 A circuit diagram and phase difference diagram used to illustrate the principle of phase conversion performed at the RF end.

[0008] according to Figure 1 If the physical length of the transmission line through which the feed signal passes is changed, the phase will change by the physical length change △L. When the phase difference is realized at the RF end by using this principle, Figure 2 As shown, this is accompanied by a phase shift in the digital end (offset support operation).

[0009] Specifically, if Figure 2 As shown, if a phase difference of △Φ is given to one of the two output terminals branched from the RF terminal, in order to achieve a uniform phase difference for the desired phase plane, that is, in order to have a linear phase distribution, one of the two input terminals needs to undergo an overall offset support operation of -2△Φ. Summary of the invention

[0010] (Problem to be solved)

[0011] The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and its purpose is to provide a full analog phase shifter that does not require phase conversion at the digital end, but can achieve mirror-symmetrical linear phase distribution only through phase shift at the RF end.

[0012] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the following description.

[0013] (Methods of solving the problem)

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a fully analog phase shifter includes: a variable switch panel, including a first energized pattern terminal and a second energized pattern terminal; a pattern PCB, configured with a plurality of array antenna elements, and pattern-printed with a transmission line connecting the first energized pattern terminal and the second energized pattern terminal; assuming that two of the variable switch panels are configured in an up-and-down direction, the two variable switch panels are configured as a sliding type, sliding in an up-and-down vertical direction, so that the phases of the plurality of array antenna elements are linearly distributed on a reference same phase plane through the phase shift achieved by the connection between the first energized pattern terminal and the second energized pattern terminal and the transmission line.

[0015] Here, the two variable switch panels may be configured to slide vertically up and down by the same distance at the same time.

[0016] In addition, the full analog phase shifter may further include a pattern transmission line, which is connected to the pattern PCB and has a one-side transmission line and another-side transmission line for feeding the multiple array antenna elements.

[0017] In addition, the transmission line on one side and the transmission line on the other side are configured one at the top and one at the bottom based on the pattern PCB, branching from the output ends corresponding to each front end and extending into two; a pair of extension ends branching from the output end and located at the same height can feed and connect a single array antenna element among the multiple array antenna elements.

[0018] In addition, the first power-on pattern terminal and the second power-on pattern terminal of the variable switch panel can be respectively connected to the inner variable circuit before the long side feeding connection terminal and the short side feeding connection terminal connected to one side transmission line and the other side transmission line in the pattern transmission line, and the outer variable circuit after the branching.

[0019] In addition, a length ratio of the long-side feeding connection end and the short-side feeding connection end respectively associated with the two input ends has a predetermined ratio, and the predetermined ratio may be 3:1.

[0020] In addition, the inner variable circuit and the outer variable circuit are patterned and printed to have a first power-off point and a second power-off point that disconnect a portion of the transmission line from each input end to the long side feeding connection end and the other side feeding connection end; the first power-on pattern terminal of the variable switch panel energizes the first power-off point corresponding to the inner variable circuit, and the second power-on pattern terminal of the variable switch panel can energize the second power-off point corresponding to the outer variable circuit.

[0021] In addition, the first output terminal and the third output terminal branched from the first input terminal among the two input terminals can be arranged at intervals in a vertical direction (V-direction) on the left side of the pattern PCB.

[0022] In addition, the second output terminal and the fourth output terminal branched from the second input terminal among the two input terminals can be arranged at intervals in the vertical direction (V-direction) on the right side of the pattern PCB.

[0023] In addition, when the two pattern PCBs are arranged with an interval in the vertical direction, the two variable switch panels are also arranged with an interval in the vertical direction and can be started simultaneously; the vertical phase difference in each output end generated by the simultaneous start of the two variable switch panels can have a distribution inclined in a straight line with respect to the reference same phase plane.

[0024] In addition, the fully analog phase shifter may also include: a phase shift drive motor, which is arranged on the back side of the antenna element mounting panel, and the variable switch panel and the pattern PCB are set on the antenna element mounting panel; a horizontal mounting rod, which receives the driving force of the phase shift drive motor to move in the up and down directions; and a plurality of vertical mounting rods, one end of which is connected to the horizontal mounting rod, and the other end of which extends vertically to the upper side or the lower side to connect to the two variable switch panels arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0025] In addition, the two variable switch panels are arranged in multiple rows at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction (H-direction); the horizontal mounting rod can be configured so that the multiple vertical mounting rods can simultaneously connect all of the two variable switch panels arranged in multiple rows in the horizontal direction.

[0026] In addition, the horizontal mounting rod may include: a rear mounting rod, configured to slide up and down through an up and down moving block connected to a screw connected to the rotating shaft of the phase shift drive motor; and a front mounting rod, configured on the front side of the antenna element mounting panel and linked to the rear mounting rod.

[0027] In addition, a slide guide hole may be formed in the antenna element mounting panel, and the slide guide hole guides the up-and-down movement of the rear mounting rod and the front mounting rod.

[0028] In addition, the antenna element mounting panel includes: a reflective panel; a front mounting panel, arranged in front of the reflective panel; and a rear mounting panel, arranged behind the reflective panel; the sliding guide hole can be formed in the reflective panel corresponding to the outer sides of the left and right ends of the front mounting panel and the rear mounting panel.

[0029] (Effects of the Invention)

[0030] The fully analog phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention has the effect of realizing the phase difference of the mirror structure without requiring support work in the digital end. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 is a graph illustrating the principle of phase conversion;

[0032] Figure 2 is a circuit diagram and a phase difference diagram for explaining the principle of phase conversion performed at the RF end;

[0033] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an antenna device to which a full analog phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied;

[0034] Figure 4a and Figure 4b yes Figure 3 An exploded perspective view of the front and rear parts of the antenna cover panel and the radiation element module in the structure of the antenna device;

[0035] Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown Figure 3 , which is an exploded perspective view of the front and rear parts of the state where the antenna cover panel and the antenna housing are removed;

[0036] Figure 6 It is a front view and a rear view showing the configuration of the phase shifter in the structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 7a and Figure 7b Yes Figure 6 An exploded perspective view of a front portion and a rear portion of a part of the exploded view;

[0038] Figure 8 It is shown in Figure 3 An exploded perspective view and a partially enlarged view of a structure in which a radome panel is separated;

[0039] Figure 9a and Figure 9b It is shown Figure 3 Exploded perspective views of the front and rear parts of the configuration of the switch panel of the phase shifter of the pattern PCB of the radiation element module in the structure;

[0040] Fig.10 yes Figure 9a Floor plan of

[0041] Fig.11 1 is a circuit diagram and a phase difference diagram for explaining the principle of phase transformation performed at the RF end using a phase shifter of an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] (Explanation of Reference Numerals)

[0043] 100: Antenna device 110: Antenna housing

[0044] 200: Radiating element module 210: Antenna element mounting panel

[0045] 210A: Reflective panel 210B: Front mounting panel

[0046] 210C: Rear mounting panel 220: Pattern transmission line

[0047] 222a: Transmission line on one side 222b: Transmission line on the other side

[0048] 226a: first output terminal 226b: second output terminal

[0049] 226c: third output terminal 226d: fourth output terminal

[0050] 230: pattern PCB 234a: first input terminal

[0051] 234b: second input terminal 238a: long side feeding connection terminal

[0052] 237a: first power-off point 237b: second power-off point

[0053] 238b: short side feed connection terminal 250: array antenna element

[0054] 300: Radome panel 400: External mounting parts

[0055] 500: Phase shifter 510: Phase shift drive motor

[0056] 520: Horizontal mounting rod 520A: Rear mounting rod

[0057] 520B: Front mounting bar 530: Vertical mounting bar

[0058] 540: variable switch panel 547a: first energizing pattern terminal

[0059] 547b: Second energizing pattern terminal 550: Sliding cover

[0060] 560: Horizontal bracket DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] Hereinafter, a fully analog phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0062] When assigning reference numerals to components of the various drawings, it should be noted that for identical components, even if shown in different drawings, they should have the same reference numerals as much as possible. In addition, when describing the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that the detailed description of the relevant known structure or function hinders the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0063] When describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used. Such terms are only used to distinguish one component from other components, and the nature or order of the components shall not be limited by the terms. In addition, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by ordinary technicians in the field to which the present invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in dictionaries in common use should be interpreted as consistent with the meaning in the relevant technical articles and shall not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless clearly defined in this application.

[0064] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an antenna device to which a full analog phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied; Figure 4a and Figure 4b yes Figure 3 Exploded three-dimensional diagram of the front and rear parts of the antenna cover panel and the radiation element module in the structure of the antenna device.

[0065] The antenna device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be an antenna device reflecting a massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology.

[0066] Here, MIMO technology is a technology that greatly increases data transmission capacity by using multiple array antenna elements. It is a spatial multiplexing method in which different data is transmitted through each transmitting antenna in the transmitter and the transmitted data is distinguished by appropriate signal processing in the receiver. According to this, as the number of transmitting and receiving antennas increases at the same time, the channel capacity increases, thereby enabling more data to be transmitted. For example, if the number of antennas is increased to 10, the channel capacity can be ensured approximately 10 times that of a single antenna system using the same bandwidth.

[0067] In particular, the antenna device is a TRx module (not shown) that performs transmitter and receiver functions arranged in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction (VH), and a plurality of electrically connected array antenna elements 250 may be arranged for each TRx module.

[0068] Here, in a MIMO antenna device for mobile communication, the plurality of array antenna elements 250 are usually designed as a plurality of dual-polarization antenna module arrays to reduce the drop effect caused by multipath and perform polarization diversity function.

[0069] In more detail, Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 4 , an antenna device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: an antenna housing portion 110, forming the left and right side and rear appearances of the antenna device 100; and a antenna cover panel 300, forming the front appearance of the antenna device 100 and configured to close the front of the opening of the antenna housing portion 110 to protect the radiation element module 200 configured in the internal space 110S of the antenna housing portion 110 from the outside.

[0070] Although not shown, the antenna housing part 110 may be involved in the bonding with a pole prepared for installing the antenna device 100 .

[0071] However, the antenna device 100 implemented by an embodiment of the present invention is a structure in which only slightly less running heat is configured inside the antenna housing 110 when the system is driven, and can be implemented by being set in front of a repeater (RRH) not shown and being set on a pole with the repeater (RRH) as the medium.

[0072] That is, the antenna housing 110 serves as the housing of an antenna unit coupled to a repeater (RRH (remote radio head)) that receives signals from a base station, and may internally house a radiation element module 200 and other components in addition to the RF components coupled to the repeater (RRH).

[0073] Although not shown, handles for grasping may be provided on the left and right sides of the antenna housing 110 to enable workers to transport the antenna device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention on site or to facilitate manual installation on a pole (not shown) or a repeater (RRH).

[0074] At the same time, various external mounting components 400 can be assembled through the outside of the lower end of the antenna housing 110 for connecting with the repeater (RRH) cable not shown and adjusting the internal components. The external mounting component 400 is configured in the form of at least one optical cable connection terminal (socket), and each connection terminal can be connected to the connection terminal of the coaxial cable (not shown).

[0075] On the other hand, the antenna cover panel 300 is combined with the front end portion of the antenna housing part 110, and the hook-shaped combining portion (not shown) formed along the frame of the antenna cover panel 300 can be hooked and combined with the front end snap rib (not shown) side of the antenna housing part 110.

[0076] The radiation element module 200 may be built into the inner space 110S of the antenna housing 110 .

[0077] Here, the radiation element module 200 may be configured to generate at least one polarization of dual polarizations.

[0078] like Figure 4a As shown, the inner space 110S of the antenna housing 110 supports the antenna element mounting panel 210 in the structure of the radiation element module 200 described later, and a plurality of support ribs 115 fastened with bolts may be formed along the inner frame portion.

[0079] By forming the plurality of support ribs 115 , the rigidity of the antenna housing portion 110 molded with the plastic resin may be substantially increased.

[0080] Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown Figure 3 , which is an exploded perspective view of the front and rear parts of the state where the antenna cover panel and the antenna housing are removed; Figure 6 It is a front view and a rear view showing the configuration of the phase shifter in the structure of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7a and Figure 7b Yes Figure 6 An exploded perspective view of a front portion and a rear portion of a part of the exploded view; Figure 8 It is shown in Figure 3 An exploded stereoscopic view and a partially enlarged view of the antenna cover panel in the structure of the separated state.

[0081] like Figure 5a to Figure 5bAs shown, the radiation element module 200 may include: an antenna element mounting panel 210 disposed in the inner space 110S of the antenna housing 110 ; and a plurality of array antenna elements 250 attached to the front of the antenna element mounting panel 210 .

[0082] like Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown, the antenna element mounting panel 210 may include: a reflective panel 210A, arranged in the middle; a front mounting panel 210B, arranged in front of the reflective panel 210A; and a rear mounting panel 210C, arranged behind the reflective panel 210A.

[0083] The front mounting panel 210B is formed with a line installation slot 211 penetrating in the front-to-back direction for inserting and installing a pattern transmission line 220 to be described later. A pattern PCB 230 and a plurality of array antenna elements 250 can be installed on the front.

[0084] The rear mounting panel 210C has an LPF installation slit 215 formed therethrough in the front-to-rear direction for inserting and installing an LPF 216 to be described later, and has a structure in which a part of a full analog phase shifter 500 to be described later can be fixed on the rear side.

[0085] The plurality of array antenna elements 250 are formed in a substantially regular quadrilateral shape and are fixed to a plurality of mounting pins 213 formed to protrude from the front surface of the front mounting panel 210B.

[0086] Here, the plurality of array antenna elements 250 are configured such that each feeding end of the pattern transmission line 220 fixedly provided in the line setting slot 211 of the front mounting panel 210B is extended to be located at a portion facing each side of the array antenna element 250 for feeding connection, thereby causing polarization respectively and realizing dual polarization. Preferably, each feeding end of the pattern transmission line 220 can be respectively fed and connected to the corner portion of each side of the antenna element 250 in the same direction.

[0087] Here, four array antenna elements 250 may be arranged vertically and spaced apart in each TRx module. The four array antenna elements 250 may output two different phase change values ​​through a phase shifter 500 described later. This will be described in more detail later.

[0088] On the other hand, in the antenna device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the description is given that the radiating element module 200 is limited to either a patch type or a dipole type, but it is not necessarily limited thereto.

[0089] In addition, in the implementation method of the antenna element mounting panel 210, as described above, the air belt type feeding method is limited to the application, but it should be noted that the PCB type of the transmission line not shown in the pattern printing is not excluded. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, the pattern PCB 230 for the operative connection with the phase shifter 500 described later is configured separately as an embodiment for description.

[0090] like Figures 3 to 8 As shown, the antenna device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may also include a fully analog phase shifter 500 (hereinafter referred to as "phase shifter"), which has a plurality of variable switch panels 540, and the plurality of variable switch panels 540 are used to change the length of the transmission line by performing up and down linear movements in the spacing space (not marked with reference numerals) defined between the front of the antenna element mounting panel 210 (especially, the front mounting panel 210B) of the radiation element module 200 and the back of the four array antenna elements 250.

[0091] As 5a to Figure 8 As shown, the phase shifter 500 may also include: a phase shift drive motor 510, which is arranged on the rear side of the antenna element mounting panel 210, especially the back side of the rear mounting panel 210C; a horizontal mounting rod 520, which receives the driving force of the phase shift drive motor 510 to move in the up and down directions; and a plurality of vertical mounting rods 530, one end of which is connected to the horizontal mounting rod 520, and the other end of which extends vertically to the upper side or the lower side to be connected to a plurality of variable switch panels 540.

[0092] In more detail, refer to Figure 5a and Figure 5b The phase shift drive motor 510 can be fixed to the back side of the rear mounting panel 210C in the structure of the antenna element mounting panel 210 so as to establish a rotation axis in the up-down direction.

[0093] The rotation shaft 510 c of the phase shift driving motor 510 may be connected to a screw 516 having a male thread (not shown) formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof and extending in a rotation axis direction by a predetermined length.

[0094] Here, the phase shifter 500 may also include an up and down moving block 515, which forms a rod through-portion (not shown) for the screw 516 to pass through in the up and down direction, and a female thread (not shown) fastened to the male thread is formed in the rod through-portion, and moves in the up and down direction along the rotation direction of the screw 515.

[0095] The up-and-down moving block 515 is fixed on the back side of the rear mounting rod 520A in the structure of the horizontal mounting rod 520 described later. When the up-and-down moving block 515 moves in the up-and-down direction, the rear mounting rod 520A moves in conjunction with the movement in the up-and-down direction, and can then move the front mounting rod 520B connected to the rear mounting rod 520A in the up-and-down direction.

[0096] On the other hand, the phase shifter 500 may further include a horizontal bracket 560 which is horizontally fixed to the left and right sides of the antenna housing 110 to guide the up and down movement of the up and down moving block 515 and intervene in the configuration of the above-mentioned phase shift driving motor 510.

[0097] An axial through hole 561 is formed in the horizontal bracket portion 560 to penetrate in the vertical direction. The rotating shaft 510 c of the phase shift driving motor 510 can be coaxially connected to the screw rod 515 after passing through the axial through hole 561 downward.

[0098] On the other hand, the horizontal mounting rod 520 may include: a rear mounting rod 520A, which is configured on the back side of the rear mounting panel 210C in the structure of the antenna element mounting panel 210; and a front mounting rod 520B, which is configured on the front side of the front mounting panel 210B in the structure of the antenna element mounting panel 210.

[0099] like Figure 5a and Figure 5b As shown, the rear mounting rod 520A is fixed to the front end surface of the up-and-down moving block 515 by means of a screw assembly using a plurality of screws, so as to slide in the up-and-down direction in conjunction with the up-and-down moving block 515; the front mounting rod 520B is fixed to the screw fastening holes 522 of the guide rods 521 at both ends of the rear mounting rod 520A by means of a plurality of fastening screws 523, and is able to slide in the up-and-down direction in conjunction with the rear mounting rod 520A, wherein the rear mounting rod 520A is configured to penetrate the reflection panel 210A in the structure of the antenna element mounting panel 210 and be exposed to the front.

[0100] Up and down sliding guide holes 210A-1 may be formed at the left and right ends of the reflective panel 210A for the guide rods 521 at both ends of the rear mounting rod 520A to pass through. The formation position of the up and down sliding guide holes 210A-1 may be set to be located at a position at least more outside than the left and right ends of the front mounting panel 210B and the rear mounting panel 210C.

[0101] That is, Figure 5a and Figure 5bAs shown, the antenna element mounting panel 210 is configured so that the reflective panel 210A has the largest area, and the front mounting panel 210B and the rear mounting panel 210C which are integrally stacked in the front can be formed with smaller dimensions in the width direction so that the left end and the right end are respectively located further inward than the left end and the right end of the reflective panel 210A.

[0102] Here, the distance between the guide rods 521 at both ends of the rear mounting rod 520A in the horizontal direction is at least greater than the width dimension of the front mounting panel 210B and the rear mounting panel 210C, and can be smaller than the width dimension of the reflection panel 210A.

[0103] At this time, the up-and-down slide guide holes 210A-1 are formed in the reflection panel 210A corresponding to the outer sides of the left and right ends of the front mounting panel 210B and the rear mounting panel 210C.

[0104] In the horizontal mounting rod 520, the front mounting rod 520B is combined with one end (in the embodiment of the present invention, regardless of direction, defined as "one end") of multiple vertical mounting rods 530, and the other end (in the embodiment of the present invention, regardless of direction, defined as "the other end") of the multiple vertical mounting rods 530 can be combined with the variable switch panel 540.

[0105] On the other hand, although the variable switch panel 540 will be described in detail later, it is roughly formed into a quadrilateral panel shape and can be guided by the sliding cover 550 to slide up and down. The sliding cover 550 is fixed to the front mounting panel 210B by a plurality of coupling pins 551 to cover the variable switch panel 540 in the front.

[0106] In more detail, a first power-on pattern terminal 547a and a second power-on pattern terminal 547b can be configured on the back side of the variable switch panel 540, and the first power-on pattern terminal 547a and the second power-on pattern terminal 547b can realize the phase difference while energizing the first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b (i.e., 2 variable circuits) of the pattern PCB 230 described later.

[0107] Here, if Figure 7a and Figure 7b As shown, the variable switch panel 540 is made of plastic resin material, and a module setting groove 543 can be formed on the back side, and a plurality of terminal modules 541 with patterned first power pattern terminals 547a and second power pattern terminals 547b are arranged in the module setting groove 543. A plurality of elastic ribs 545 can be arranged inside the module setting groove 543, and the elastic ribs 545 elastically support the plurality of terminal modules 541 toward the front of the pattern PCB 230.

[0108] The first energized pattern terminal 547a and the second energized pattern terminal 547b formed on the variable switch panel 540 are formed in a "C" shape with an upper or lower opening, and thus the first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b in the pattern PCB 230 can be connected to each other.

[0109] Here, as will be described later Fig.10 As shown, in one pattern PCB 230, there are two power-off points each starting from the first input terminal 234a and the second input terminal 234b, namely the first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b. Therefore, the variable switch panel 540 also has four terminal modules 541 that can be fixedly arranged in the module setting slots 543 of the variable switch panel 540.

[0110] Figure 9a and Figure 9b are front and rear exploded perspective views showing the configuration of the switch panel of the phase shifter for the pattern PCB of the radiation element module in the structure of Figure 3 ; Fig.10 is Figure 9a a plan view of Fig.11 is a circuit diagram and a phase difference diagram for explaining the principle of phase transformation performed at the RF end by the phase shifter of the antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0111] Referring to Fig.10 , the first energized pattern terminal 547a functions to connect the first power-off points 237a to each other, and the second energized pattern terminal 547b functions to connect the second power-off points 237b to each other.

[0112] The variable switch panel 540 as described above can be configured as a sliding type, connecting the first power-off point 247a and the second power-off point 247b and linearly moving in the up and down directions within a predetermined range, while changing the length of the transmission line patterned and printed on the pattern PCB 230. That is, if the phase shift driving motor 510 is driven, the two variable switch panels 540 slide the same distance in the up and down vertical directions simultaneously.

[0113] Meanwhile, as Figure 9a and Figure 9b shown, the elastic ribs 545 arranged inside the module setting slots 543 of the variable switch panel 540 function to elastically support the plurality of terminal modules 541 toward the pattern PCB 230 located at the rear, and thus function to strengthen the contact function.

[0114] That is, the elastic rib 545 provides additional elastic force to enable the first power-on pattern terminal 547a and the second power-on pattern terminal 547b of the terminal module 541 respectively set in the module setting groove 543 on the back side of the variable switch panel 540 to be fully and tightly attached to the first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b of the pattern PCB 230, thereby being able to perform the function of maintaining continuous contact.

[0115] In the antenna device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above, the phase shifter 500, in particular the variable switch panel 540, is configured to slide in the gap space between the front of the front mounting panel 210B and the back of the array antenna element 250 in the antenna element mounting panel 210, and the phase shift drive motor 510, the horizontal mounting rod 520 and the vertical mounting rod 530 that occupy a larger space are effectively separated from the various structures (horizontal bracket portion 560, etc.) used to combine them and are arranged on the back side of the rear mounting panel 210C, thereby providing the advantage of improved space utilization.

[0116] On the other hand, refer to Figures 9a to 10 The front mounting panel 210B stacked in front of the antenna element mounting panel 210 may be configured with a pattern PCB 230 and a pattern transmission line 220; the pattern PCB 230 is patterned and printed to have two input terminals (hereinafter referred to as "first input terminal 234a and second input terminal 234b") formed from front and back through each other and a first power-off point 237a and a second power-off point 237b extending from the input terminals and used to form two variable circuits; the pattern transmission line 220 forms a long side feeding connection terminal 238a and a short side feeding connection terminal 238b, and the long side feeding connection terminal 238a and the short side feeding connection terminal 238b are involved in the electrical connection of the one side transmission line 222a and the other side transmission line 222b described later, and the one side transmission line 222a and the other side transmission line 222b respectively have ... first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b extending from the first power-off point 237b and the second power-off point 237b extending from the first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b extending from the first power-off point 237b and the second power-off The two input terminals of 230 (the first input terminal 234a and the second input terminal 234b) are respectively branched into two output terminals (hereinafter, the output terminals branched from the first input terminal 234a are referred to as "first output terminal 226a" and "third output terminal 226c"; the output terminals branched from the second input terminal 234b are referred to as "second output terminal 226b" and "fourth output terminal 226d").

[0117] The first output end 226a and the third output end 226c of the long side feeding connection end 238a and the other side feeding connection end 238b of the pattern transmission line 220 branched from the first input end 234a of the pattern PCB 230 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction (V-direction) of the front mounting panel 210B; the second output end 226b and the fourth output end 226d of the long side feeding connection end 238a and the other side feeding connection end 238b of the pattern transmission line 220 branched from the second input end 234b of the pattern PCB 230 can be arranged symmetrically with respect to the first output end 226a and the third output end 226c.

[0118] That is, the first output terminal 226a and the third output terminal 226c branched from the first input terminal 234a and powered on among the two input terminals are based on the pattern PCB 230 and can be arranged at intervals in the vertical direction (V-direction) on the left side; the second output terminal 226b and the fourth output terminal 226d branched from the second input terminal 234b and powered on among the two input terminals are based on the pattern PCB 230 and can be arranged at intervals in the vertical direction on the right side.

[0119] That is, Figure 9a and Figure 9b As shown, the pattern transmission lines 220 are connected so that one is configured above and below the pattern PCB 230, and two form a group. The pattern transmission line 220 located on the lower side of the pattern PCB 230 is such that the transmission line 222a on one side and the transmission line 222b on the other side are respectively connected to the long side feeding connection end 238a extending downward from the first input end 234a and the second input end 234b only through the first power-off point 237a; the pattern transmission line 220 located on the upper side of the pattern PCB 230 is also such that the transmission line 222a on one side and the transmission line 222b on the other side are respectively connected to the short side feeding connection end 238b extending upward from the first input end 234a and the second input end 234b through the first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b.

[0120] Therefore, a feed signal is input from each TRx module to each input terminal (the first input terminal 234a and the second input terminal 234b), and the feed signal transmitted through each input terminal 234a, 234b can be output to each output terminal (the first output terminal to the fourth output terminal 226a~226d) through each transmission line that is energized by the contact of the movable switch panel 540 with the inner variable circuit and the outer variable circuit described later.

[0121] In addition, each output end (the first output end to the fourth output end 226 a - 226 d ) may be branched and extended into two transmission line lengths of the same length to connect a pair of array antenna elements 250 up and down.

[0122] In more detail, in front of the front mounting panel 210B of the antenna element mounting panel 210, four array antenna elements 250 are arranged in the upper and lower parts, and the four array antenna elements 250 are connected to the one side transmission line 222a and the other side transmission line 222b of each of the pattern transmission lines 220 connected to the upper and lower sides based on a pattern PCB 230, and the extension ends branched from the output ends of each of the one side transmission line 222a and the other side transmission line 222b can be fed and connected to two array antenna elements 250.

[0123] Here, refer to Fig.10 One side transmission line 222a can be defined by a transmission line in the form of a short side feed connection end 238b branching from the first input end 234a connecting the first output end 226a and a transmission line in the form of a long side feed connection end 238a branching from the first input end 234a connecting the third output end 226c; the other side transmission line 222b can be defined by a transmission line in the form of a short side feed connection end 238b branching from the second input end 234b connecting the second output end 226b and a transmission line in the form of a long side feed connection end 238a branching from the second input end 234b connecting the fourth output end 226d.

[0124] As described above, of the first output terminal 226a and the third output terminal 226c branching from the first input terminal 234a, the first output terminal 226a is relatively configured at the upper side in the vertical direction of the left end, and of the first output terminal 226a and the third output terminal 226c, the third output terminal 226c can be relatively configured at the lower side in the vertical direction of the left end.

[0125] In addition, among the second output end 226b and the fourth output end 226d branched from the second input end 234a, the second output end 226b is relatively configured at the upper side in the vertical direction of the right end, and among the second output end 226b and the fourth output end 226d, the fourth output end 226d can be relatively configured at the lower side in the vertical direction of the right end.

[0126] Therefore, the first output end 226a and the second output end 226b are arranged at the same height above the first input end 234a and the second input end 234b, and the third output end 226c and the fourth output end 226d are located at the same height below the second input end 234a and the second input end 234b.

[0127] Here, the first power-off point 237a can be defined by a portion of the transmission line 222a on one side or the transmission line 222b on the other side where power is cut off at a position close to the first input terminal 234a and the second input terminal 234b before branching from the first input terminal 234a or the second input terminal 234b to the long side feed connection terminal 238a and the short side feed connection terminal 238b, respectively, and can be defined by a portion of the transmission line where power is cut off after branching to the long side feed connection terminal 238a and the short side feed connection terminal 238b and before reaching the short side feed connection terminal 238b.

[0128] Refer to this Fig.10 To explain in more detail, an inner variable circuit (not marked with a reference numeral) and an outer variable circuit (not marked with a reference numeral) are pattern-printed on the front of the pattern PCB 230, wherein the inner variable circuit extends from the first input terminal 234a and the second input terminal 234b in a straight line in the vertical direction and has a first power-off point 237a, and the outer variable circuit (not marked with a reference numeral) branches out from the outer side of the inner variable circuit to the long side feeding connection terminal 238a and the short side feeding connection terminal 238b to extend in a straight line in the vertical direction and has a second power-off point 237b; the lower part of the long side feeding connection terminal 238a and the upper part of the short side feeding connection terminal 238b can respectively feed the transmission line 222a on one side and the transmission line 222b on the other side of the pattern transmission line 220.

[0129] Therefore, the feeding signal input from the TRx module is that, through the contact of the first power-on pattern terminal 547a of the variable switch panel 540 described later, only the first power-off point 237a corresponding to the inner variable circuit can be energized, and the inner variable circuit is a transmission line respectively connected from the first input end 234a to the first output end 226a and from the second input end 234b to the second output end 226b; the feeding signal input from the TRx module is that, through the first power-on pattern terminal 547a and the second power-on pattern terminal 547b of the variable switch panel 540 described later, not only the first power-off point 237a corresponding to the inner variable circuit, but also the second power-off point 237b corresponding to the outer variable circuit can be energized by contact, wherein the inner variable circuit is a transmission line respectively connected from the first input end 234a to the third output end 226c and from the second input end 234b to the fourth output end 226d.

[0130] On the other hand, a first power-on pattern terminal 547a and a second power-on pattern terminal 547b may be configured on the back of the variable switch panel 540, and the first power-on pattern terminal 547a and the second power-on pattern terminal 547b are used to realize a phase difference while energizing the above-mentioned first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b (i.e., two variable circuits).

[0131] Therefore, when two pattern PCBs 230 are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, and two variable switch panels 540 are also arranged at intervals in the vertical direction and configured to be started simultaneously, by simultaneously starting the two variable switch panels 540, the vertical phase difference in each output end (226a~226d) can have a distribution inclined in a straight line with respect to the reference same phase plane.

[0132] If, when the first power-on point 247a and the second power-off point 247b are powered through the first power-on pattern terminal 547a and the second power-on pattern terminal 547b, the phase shifter 500 can change the length ratio from the branch point at one input end branch to the short side feeding connection end 238b and the long side feeding connection end 238a to a predetermined ratio.

[0133] Here, the predetermined ratio should make the beam phase value of the radiating elements constituting the antenna array linear, for example, the length ratio of the long side feed connection terminal 238a and the short side feed connection terminal 238b respectively associated with the two input terminals 234a and 234b has a predetermined ratio, and the predetermined ratio at this time is preferably 3:1.

[0134] That is, the variable switch panel 540 can change the total length of the transmission line 222a on one side and the transmission line 222b on the other side while sliding linearly in the up-and-down direction by a predetermined distance, and at the same time, a phase difference can be achieved.

[0135] In other words, the physical length ratio of the transmission line from the first input terminal 234a and the second input terminal 234b to the long side feed connection terminal 238a and the short side feed connection terminal 238b to each long side feed connection terminal 238a and the short side feed connection terminal 238b is preferably 3:1 (conversely, 1:3).

[0136] On the other hand, the pattern shape printed and formed on the front of the pattern PCB 230 may be defined as a concave-convex shape having an inner variable circuit and an outer variable circuit.

[0137] Here, the inner variable circuit refers to the pattern portion before branching from the first input terminal 234a or the second input terminal 234b to the long side feeding connection terminal 238a and the short side feeding connection terminal 238b, and the outer variable circuit may refer to the pattern portion printed to the short side feeding connection terminal 238b after branching to the long side feeding connection terminal 238a and the short side feeding connection terminal 238b.

[0138] Fig.11 1 is a circuit diagram and a phase difference diagram for explaining the principle of phase transformation performed at the RF end using a phase shifter of an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0139] It has been explained in the "Background Technology" section: In order to achieve a mirror-symmetrical structure even when the length of the transmission line is changed at the RF end, the phase of the signal fed to at least two array antenna elements 250 among the four array antenna elements 235 requires support work at the digital end.

[0140] However, according to the fully analog phase shifter 500 of one embodiment of the present invention constructed as described above, for the feeding signal input from a TRx module (referring to the transceiver elements respectively installed on the main board or the amplifying element part not shown), a rotation configuration can be realized to change the length of one side transmission line 222a and the other side transmission line 222b by a predetermined ratio through the first power-on pattern terminal 547a and the second power-on pattern terminal 547b of the variable switch panel 540 at the first power-on point 237a before branching from each input end to the two output ends (or the long side feeding connection terminal 238a and the short side feeding connection terminal 238b) and the second power-on point 237b after the branch, thereby having the advantage of not requiring support work in the digital short.

[0141] That is, Fig.10 As shown, the first power-off point 237a before the first input terminal 234a branches to the long-side feed connection terminal 238a and the short-side feed connection terminal 238b and the first power-off point 237a before the second input terminal 234b branches to the long-side feed connection terminal 238a and the short-side feed connection terminal 238b are changed through the first power-on pattern terminal 547a of the variable switch panel 540 to change the physical length of the transmission line 222a on one side and the transmission line 222b on the other side, so as to adjust the length of the transmission line 222a on the one side and the transmission line 222b on the other side by ΔΦ and -△Φ changes the phase to achieve the desired phase shift value; the second power-off point 237b after branching from the first input terminal 234a to the long side feed connection terminal 238a and the second power-off point 237b after branching from the second input terminal 234b to the long side feed connection terminal 238a are changed through the second power-on pattern terminal 547b of the variable switch panel 540 to change the physical length of the other side transmission line 222b, so that the phase changes with 2△Φ and -2△Φ can achieve the desired phase shift value.

[0142] In this case, based on the same phase plane, the phase shift values ​​for the four array antenna elements 250 can form a linear phase distribution, thereby achieving a mirror-symmetric structure with the most effective beamforming performance.

[0143] In more detail, assuming that the pattern transmission lines 220 based on two pattern PCBs 230 are arranged in parallel in the upper and lower vertical directions, the first output end 226a and the second output end 226b of the pattern transmission line 220 arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction are defined as the first beam output part, and the third output end 226c and the fourth output end 226d are defined as the second beam output part; similarly, the first output end 226a and the second output end 226b of the pattern transmission line 220 arranged on the lower side in the vertical direction can be defined as the third beam output part, and the third output end 226c and the fourth output end 226d can be defined as the fourth beam output part.

[0144] At this time, by simultaneously starting two variable switch panels 540, the second beam output unit and the third beam output unit change the length of the transmission line to a length that is phase shifted by about ±△Φ relative to the reference same phase plane, and the first beam output unit and the fourth beam output unit can change the length of the transmission line to a length that is phase shifted by about ±△3Φ relative to the reference same phase plane.

[0145] As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the fully analog phase shifter 500 and the antenna device 100 including the same do not require offset correction (i.e., support work) for correcting the phase difference at the digital end if a signal is input from the TRx module. By changing the physical length of the transmission line according to the contact points of the first power-on pattern terminal 547a and the second power-on pattern terminal 547b of the variable switch panel 540, the first power-off point 237a and the second power-off point 237b can achieve a linear phase distribution in a straight line shape, which has the advantage of a mirror structure that can achieve the most effective beamforming.

[0146] The antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention is described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but can certainly be implemented in various modifications and equivalent scopes by persons having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. Therefore, the true scope of the rights of the present invention should be defined by the scope of the claims.

[0147] Industrial Applicability

[0148] The present invention provides a full analog phase shifter, which can realize the linear phase distribution of the mirror structure only by phase shift in the RF end without phase conversion in the RF end.

Claims

1. A fully analog phase shifter, comprising: A variable switch panel, comprising a first energized pattern terminal and a second energized pattern terminal; A pattern PCB, configured with a plurality of array antenna elements, and pattern-printed with a transmission line connecting the first power-on pattern terminal and the second power-on pattern terminal; Assuming that two variable switch panels are arranged in the up-down direction, The two variable switch panels are configured as a sliding type and slide in the vertical direction up and down, so as to achieve a phase shift through the connection between the first power-on pattern terminal and the second power-on pattern terminal and the transmission line, so that the phase of the multiple array antenna elements can be linearly distributed on the reference same phase plane.

2. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two variable switch panels are configured to slide the same distance in the vertical direction at the same time.

3. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The pattern transmission line is connected to the pattern PCB and has a transmission line on one side and a transmission line on the other side for feeding the plurality of array antenna elements.

4. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 3, characterized in that: The one side transmission line and the other side transmission line are formed to have the same length ratio.

5. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 3, characterized in that: The transmission line on one side and the transmission line on the other side are configured one at the upper part and one at the lower part based on the pattern PCB, branching from the output end corresponding to each front end and extending into two; A single array antenna element among the plurality of array antenna elements is feed-connected to a pair of extension ends branched from the output end and located at the same height.

6. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first power-on pattern terminal and the second power-on pattern terminal of the variable switch panel are respectively connected to the inner variable circuit before the long side feeding connection terminal and the short side feeding connection terminal connected to one side transmission line and the other side transmission line in the pattern transmission line branching from the two input terminals, and the outer variable circuit after the branching.

7. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 6, characterized in that: The length ratio of the long-side feeding connection end and the short-side feeding connection end respectively associated with the two input ends has a predetermined ratio; The predetermined ratio is 3:

1.

8. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner variable circuit and the outer variable circuit are patterned and printed to have a first disconnection point and a second disconnection point for disconnecting a portion of the transmission line from each input end to the long side feeding connection end and the other side feeding connection end; The first power-on pattern terminal of the variable switch panel is powered on the first power-off point corresponding to the inner variable circuit. The second energizing pattern terminal of the variable switch panel energizes the second power-off point corresponding to the outer variable circuit.

9. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first output terminal and the third output terminal branched from the first input terminal among the two input terminals are arranged at intervals in a vertical direction (V-direction) on the left side of the pattern PCB.

10. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 8, characterized in that: The second output terminal and the fourth output terminal branched from the second input terminal among the two input terminals are arranged at intervals in a vertical direction (V-direction) on the right side of the pattern PCB.

11. The full analog phase shifter according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: On the premise that two of the pattern PCBs are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction, two of the variable switch panels are also arranged at intervals in the vertical direction and are started simultaneously; The vertical phase differences in the output terminals generated by the simultaneous activation of the two variable switch panels have a distribution inclined in a straight line with respect to the reference identical phase plane.

12. The all-analog phase shifter according to claim 11, characterized in that: Also includes: A phase-shift driving motor is arranged on the back side of the antenna element mounting panel, and the variable switch panel and the pattern PCB are arranged on the antenna element mounting panel; A horizontal mounting rod receives the driving force of the phase-shifting driving motor to move in an up-and-down direction; and A plurality of vertical mounting rods have one end connected to the horizontal mounting rod and the other end vertically extending upward or downward to be connected to the two variable switch panels arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

13. The fully analog phase shifter according to claim 12, characterized in that: The two variable switch panels are arranged in a plurality of rows at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction (H-direction); The horizontal mounting rod is configured so that the plurality of vertical mounting rods simultaneously connect all of the two variable switch panels that are arranged in a plurality of rows in the horizontal direction.

14. The all-analog phase shifter according to claim 12, characterized in that: The horizontal mounting rod comprises: a rear mounting rod configured to slide up and down via an up and down moving block screwed to a screw connected to a rotating shaft of the phase shift drive motor; and The front mounting rod is disposed on the front side of the antenna element mounting panel and is linked to the rear mounting rod.

15. The antenna device according to claim 14, characterized in that: A sliding guide hole is formed in the antenna element mounting panel, The sliding guide hole guides the up and down movement of the rear mounting rod and the front mounting rod.

16. The antenna device according to claim 15, characterized in that: The antenna element mounting panel includes: a reflective panel; a front mounting panel, arranged in front of the reflective panel; and a rear mounting panel, arranged behind the reflective panel; The slide guide holes are formed in the reflective panel corresponding to the outer sides of the left and right ends of the front mounting panel and the rear mounting panel.

Images