Antenna array and electronic equipment

Abstract

The invention provides an antenna array and electronic equipment, relates to the technical field of antennas, and can improve the consistency of phase directional diagrams of all antenna units in the antenna array. The antenna array comprises a radiation assembly and a bottom plate. The radiation assembly is located on the bottom plate; the radiation assembly comprises at least one radiation body array which is arranged perpendicular to the magnetic field direction. Each radiation body array comprises a first radiation body and a second radiation body which are arranged at intervals in the magnetic field direction. First resonant cavities corresponding to the first radiating body and the second radiating body are arranged in the bottom plate, and the geometric center of the first radiating body deviates towards the direction close to the second radiating body relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity. And the geometric center of the second radiator deviates towards the direction close to the first radiator relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of antenna technology, and in particular to an antenna array and electronic equipment. Background Art

[0002] Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation is a signal processing technology that determines the direction and angle of incoming signals by analyzing the phase difference of signals on antenna arrays. It is mainly used in radar systems, positioning systems and wireless systems to achieve target detection, target positioning or directional communication functions.

[0003] In an antenna array, the phase center of the antenna unit itself is generally the geometric center of the antenna radiator. However, when the antenna array is in operation, adjacent antenna units are affected by electromagnetic coupling to varying degrees, resulting in different degrees of deviation between the phase center under electromagnetic coupling and the phase center of the antenna unit itself on the directional plane parallel to the magnetic field direction. This leads to inconsistent phase radiation patterns of each unit antenna in different directions, large phase errors between antenna units, and large errors in DOA estimation. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present application provides an antenna array and an electronic device, which improve the consistency of the phase pattern of each antenna unit in the antenna array to a certain extent.

[0005] In order to achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides an antenna array, comprising: a radiation component and a base plate; the radiation component is located on the base plate; the radiation component comprises at least one radiator array arranged perpendicular to the direction of a magnetic field, each radiator array comprising a first radiator and a second radiator arranged at intervals along the direction of the magnetic field; a first resonant cavity corresponding to the first radiator and the second radiator respectively is arranged in the base plate, the geometric center of the first radiator is offset in a direction close to the second radiator relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity, and the geometric center of the second radiator is offset in a direction close to the first radiator relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity.

[0007] In the antenna array provided in the present application, the radiator array in the radiating component includes a first radiator and a second radiator arranged at intervals along the direction of the magnetic field. The geometric centers of the first radiator and the second radiator are offset in opposite directions relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity. The offset of the geometric center of the radiator itself will cause the offset of the phase center of the radiator itself, and the offset direction of the geometric center of the first radiator and the second radiator is opposite to the offset direction of the phase center caused by the electromagnetic coupling generated by adjacent antenna units when working. The offset of the phase center of the radiator itself is used to offset the phase center offset caused by the electromagnetic coupling between adjacent antenna units in the radiator array, so that the phase centers of the first radiator and the second radiator after being affected by the electromagnetic coupling of the adjacent antenna units are opposite to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity, thereby improving the consistency of the phase pattern between the antenna units of the antenna array when working and reducing the phase error.

[0008] In a possible design, the first radiator is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the direction of the magnetic field and / or the second radiator is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the direction of the magnetic field.

[0009] Optionally, both the first radiator and the second radiator are concave-shaped structures; the concave opening of the first radiator is arranged to face away from the second radiator, and the concave opening of the second radiator is arranged to face away from the first radiator.

[0010] Optionally, the shape of the groove of the first radiator is rectangular, square or triangular, and / or the shape of the groove of the second radiator is rectangular, square or triangular.

[0011] Optionally, both the first radiator and the second radiator are convex-shaped structures; the convex portion of the first radiator is arranged to face away from the second radiator, and the convex portion of the second radiator is arranged to face away from the first radiator.

[0012] Based on the above optional method, each radiator includes a radiating edge parallel to the direction of the magnetic field and a non-radiating edge perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field. The geometric center of the radiator can be adjusted by trimming the radiating edge of the radiator, and then the phase center of the radiator itself can be adjusted, but at the same time, the resonant frequency of the antenna unit to which the radiator belongs is offset from the preset frequency. Therefore, the non-radiating edge of the radiator can be trimmed, and the resonant frequency of the antenna unit can be made to meet the preset frequency by adjusting the length of the non-radiating edge of the radiator.

[0013] Optionally, the shapes of the two grooves located on both sides of the protrusion in the first radiator are both rectangular or square, and / or the shapes of the two grooves located on both sides of the protrusion in the second radiator are both rectangular or square.

[0014] In another possible design, each radiator array also includes a third radiator, which is arranged between the first radiator and the second radiator; a first resonant cavity corresponding to the third radiator is also arranged in the base plate; and the geometric center of the first radiator is opposite to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity.

[0015] In this optional method, if the number of radiators in each radiator array is greater than or equal to three, the radiator array also includes a third radiator, and the phase center of the third radiator itself is located at the geometric center of the third radiator. When the antenna array is in operation, the third radiator is located in the central area of ​​the radiator array, and the electromagnetic coupling forces of the radiators on both adjacent sides are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. Therefore, the phase center of the radiators on both adjacent sides of the antenna unit to which the third radiator belongs under the electromagnetic coupling action does not deviate from its own phase center or the offset is small.

[0016] Optionally, the third radiator is a square or rectangular structure.

[0017] In one possible design, the base plate includes: a first dielectric substrate, on which the radiation component is located; a first metallized through-hole array corresponding to each radiator in the radiator array is arranged on the first dielectric substrate, and each first metallized through-hole array encloses a first resonant cavity.

[0018] In another possible design, the antenna array also includes: a first metal layer; the first metal layer is stacked on a first dielectric substrate, and a first metallized through-hole array passes through the first metal layer; a radiator array is etched on the first metal layer, and each radiator in the radiator array has a gap with the first metal layer.

[0019] In another possible design, the base plate further includes: a second metal layer, a second dielectric substrate and a third metal layer; the second metal layer, the second dielectric substrate and the third metal layer are stacked in sequence on the side of the first dielectric substrate facing away from the radiation component; a coupling slot corresponding to each first resonant cavity is provided in the second metal layer, and the center of each first resonant cavity is opposite to the center of the corresponding coupling slot; a second metallized through hole array and a feeding port corresponding to each radiator are provided in the second dielectric substrate, and each second metallized through hole array, the feeding port, the second metal layer and the third metal layer together enclose a second resonant cavity, and the orthographic projection of the first resonant cavity on the second dielectric substrate is located in the corresponding second resonant cavity.

[0020] Optionally, a switching structure is provided at each feeding port, and each switching structure is used to feed the corresponding second resonant cavity. The RF signal output device can be connected to each antenna unit in the antenna array through the switching structure, and each antenna unit can be fed through the switching structure. Different switching structures can switch the wave port to microstrip feeding, coaxial feeding or other feeding.

[0021] In a possible design, a load is provided at any one or more feeding ports. The antenna unit provided with the load is a dummy element in the antenna array, which cannot receive the feeding of the radio frequency signal output device, nor can it transmit electromagnetic signals and receive echo signals.

[0022] In a second aspect, the present application provides an electronic device, which includes the antenna array in any possible implementation of the first aspect.

[0023] The technical effects of the second aspect provided in the present application can refer to the technical effects of each possible implementation method of the first aspect mentioned above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of an antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0026] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A top view of the antenna array in Figure 1.

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of another antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A top view of the antenna array in Figure 1.

[0029] Figure 6 A top view of a first comparison antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of another antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A top view of the antenna array in Figure 1.

[0032] Fig. 9 Provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 7 Exploded diagram of the antenna array in Figure 1.

[0033] Fig.10 A top view of another antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Fig.11 A top view of a second comparison antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0035] Fig.12 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of another antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Fig.13 A top view of a third comparison antenna array provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0037] Reference numerals:

[0038] 100, antenna array; 110, bottom plate; 111, first metal layer; 1111, through slot; 112, first dielectric substrate; 113, second metal layer; 1131, coupling slot; 114, second dielectric substrate; 115, third metal layer; 116, first resonant cavity; 1161, first metalized through hole array; 117, second resonant cavity; 1171, second metalized through hole array; 118, feeding port; 120, radiating component; 121, radiator array; 1211, first radiator; 1212, second radiator; 1213, third radiator; 130, load;

[0039] 200, electronic equipment; 210, radio frequency chip; 220, processor;

[0040] 10. First comparison antenna array; 11. First antenna unit; 20. Second comparison antenna array; 21. Second antenna unit; 30. Third comparison antenna array; 31. Third antenna unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Radar, mobile communication equipment, sonar and other detection equipment can realize target position detection, gesture detection, fall detection, security detection, human body detection, target tracking, target recognition and other functions based on DOA (Direction Of Arrival) estimation technology in antenna array signal processing. DOA estimation technology generally determines the direction and angle of the target by analyzing the phase difference between the echo signals received by each antenna unit on the antenna array. Therefore, the phase error in the working state of the antenna unit in the antenna array determines the accuracy of DOA estimation.

[0042] Generally, the phase center of each antenna unit in an antenna array is the geometric center of the antenna radiator in each antenna unit, and the geometric center of the antenna radiator is relative to the center of the resonant cavity in the antenna unit to which it belongs. However, during the operation of the antenna array, some antenna units are affected by the electromagnetic coupling of adjacent antenna units, so that the phase center of some antenna units affected by the electromagnetic coupling is offset relative to the geometric center of the antenna unit in the direction of the magnetic field, resulting in inconsistent phase patterns of the antenna units in the antenna array and large phase errors between the antenna units, which in turn affects the accuracy of DOA estimation.

[0043] In order to solve the technical problems that the phase radiation patterns of antenna units in an antenna array are inconsistent and the phase error is large, the embodiment of the present application provides an antenna array 100 and an electronic device 200, the antenna array 100 includes a base plate 110 and at least one radiator array 121 arranged on the base plate 110, the radiator array 121 includes a first radiator 1211 and a second radiator 1212, and a first resonant cavity 116 corresponding to each radiator is arranged in the base plate 110, the geometric center of the first radiator 1211 and the geometric center of the second radiator 1212 are offset in opposite directions relative to the center of the first resonant cavity 116, and the offset of the geometric center of the radiator is used to offset the phase center offset caused by the electromagnetic coupling between the antenna units, thereby improving the consistency of the phase radiation pattern of each antenna unit in the antenna array 100 and reducing the phase error of each antenna unit in the antenna array 100.

[0044] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application are described below in conjunction with the drawings and related embodiments in the embodiments of the present application. Among them, in the description of the embodiments of the present application, the terms used in the following embodiments are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to be used as limitations on the present application. As used in the specification and the appended claims of the present application, the singular expressions "a", "said", "above", "the" and "this" are intended to also include expressions such as "one or more", unless there is a clear indication to the contrary in the context. It should also be understood that in the following embodiments of the present application, "at least one", "one or more" refer to one or more (including two). The term "and / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist; for example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the associated objects before and after are in a "or" relationship.

[0045] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" etc. described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of the present application include specific features, structures or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment. Thus, the statements "in one embodiment", "in some embodiments", "in some other embodiments", "in some other embodiments", etc. that appear in different places in this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but mean "one or more but not all embodiments", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways. The terms "including", "comprising", "having" and their variations all mean "including but not limited to", unless otherwise specifically emphasized in other ways. The term "connection" includes direct connection and indirect connection, unless otherwise specified. "First" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated.

[0046] In the embodiments of the present application, the words "exemplarily" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations or explanations. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplarily" or "for example" in the embodiments of the present application should not be interpreted as being more preferred or more advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of words such as "exemplarily" or "for example" is intended to present related concepts in a specific way.

[0047] The antenna array 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application can be applied to an electronic device 200 with a wireless communication function. The electronic device 200 can be a radar, a base station, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a vehicle-mounted device, etc. Figure 1 The structural diagram of the electronic device 200 includes an antenna array 100, a radio frequency chip 210 and a processor 220 connected in sequence.

[0048] The processor 220 is used to generate a modulated signal and send the modulated signal to the RF chip 210. The RF chip 210 can convert the modulated signal into an RF signal of a preset frequency and send the RF signal to the antenna array 100. The antenna array 100 can convert the RF signal into an electromagnetic signal and radiate the electromagnetic signal into the target area, while receiving the echo signal scattered by the target in the target area. The antenna array 100 can also send the received echo signal to the processor 220 through the RF chip 210. The processor 220 can process the echo signal based on the DOA estimation method to determine the position, speed, distance and other information of the target.

[0049] The processor 220 may include one or more processing units, for example, the processor 220 may include an application processor (AP), a modem processor, a graphics processor (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a controller, a memory, a digital signal processor (DSP), a baseband processor, and / or a neural-network processing unit (NPU), etc. Different processing units may be independent devices or integrated into one or more processors 220.

[0050] See also Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of an antenna array 100 is shown and Figure 3 shown Figure 2 In a top view of the antenna array 100, in a possible implementation, the antenna array 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes a base plate 110 and a radiation component 120 located on the base plate 110. The radiation component 120 includes at least one radiator array 121 arranged perpendicular to the magnetic field direction, and each radiator array 121 includes a first radiator 1211 and a second radiator 1212 arranged at intervals along the magnetic field direction, such as Figure 2 As shown, the direction of the magnetic field generated by each radiator in the radiator array 121 is parallel to the y-axis direction. Figure 3 As shown in , the base plate 110 is provided with first resonant cavities 116 corresponding to each radiator in the radiator array 121, respectively. The orthographic projection of each radiator on the base plate 110 is located in the corresponding first resonant cavity 116. The geometric center of the first radiator 1211 in the radiator array 121 is offset in a direction close to the second radiator 1212 relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity 116, and the geometric center of the second radiator 1212 is offset in a direction close to the first radiator 1211 relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity 116.

[0051] In one embodiment, Figure 2 As shown, each radiator in the radiation component 120 can be a metal patch arranged on the top of the bottom plate 110. Exemplarily, the material of the radiator can be copper.

[0052] In other embodiments, see Figure 4 The schematic diagram of another antenna array 100 is shown in FIG. Figure 5 shown Figure 4In the top view of the antenna array 100, the top of the bottom plate 110 is the first metal layer 111, and each radiator in each radiator array 121 can be etched out in the first metal layer 111 by an etching process. A through slot 1111 corresponding to each radiator is also provided on the first metal layer 111, and the center of the through slot 1111 of each radiator corresponds to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity 116. Each radiator in the radiator array 121 is located in the corresponding through slot 1111, and there is a certain gap between the edge of each radiator and the first metal layer 111, the distance between the side of the first radiator 1211 in the radiator array 121 away from the second radiator 1212 and the edge of the through slot 1111 is greater than the distance between the side of the first radiator 1211 close to the second radiator 1212 and the edge of the through slot 1111, and the distance between the side of the second radiator 1212 away from the first radiator 1211 and the edge of the through slot 1111 is greater than the distance between the side of the second radiator 1212 close to the first radiator 1211 and the edge of the through slot 1111.

[0053] Exemplarily, the material of the first metal layer 111 may be copper.

[0054] In one embodiment, the bottom plate 110 includes a first dielectric substrate 112, the radiation assembly 120 is located on the top of the first dielectric substrate 112, and a first metallized through hole array 1161 corresponding to each radiator in the radiator array 121 is provided in the first dielectric substrate 112. The first metallized through hole array 1161 is a closed array with a preset shape composed of a plurality of first metallized through holes penetrating the first dielectric substrate 112, and each first metallized through hole array 1161 encloses a closed first resonant cavity 116, and the orthographic projection of each radiator on the first dielectric substrate 112 is located in the corresponding first resonant cavity 116. Exemplarily, the shape of the first resonant cavity 116 enclosed by the first metallized through hole array 1161 can be rectangular, square, or any other shape.

[0055] Optional, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the first metallized through hole in the first metallized through hole array 1161 can also pass through the first metal layer 111, and each radiator in the first metal layer 111 and the through slot 1111 corresponding to each radiator are located in the corresponding first resonant cavity 116, which can further reduce the phase error of the radiator.

[0056] Furthermore, the base plate 110 may further include a second metal layer 113 , a second dielectric substrate 114 and a third metal layer 115 , which are sequentially stacked on a side of the first dielectric substrate 112 facing away from the radiation component 120 .

[0057] See also Fig. 9 An exploded schematic diagram of an antenna array 100 is shown, wherein a rectangular coupling slot 1131 corresponding to each first resonant cavity 116 is opened in the second metal layer 113, and the coupling slot 1131 runs through the second metal layer 113, and the long side of the coupling slot 1131 is parallel to the direction of the magnetic field, and the short side of the coupling slot 1131 is perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field, and the center of each first resonant cavity 116 is opposite to the center of the corresponding coupling slot 1131 in the height direction of the antenna array 100.

[0058] The second dielectric substrate 114 is provided with a second metallized through hole array 1171 corresponding to each radiator, and the second metallized through hole array 1171 is a U-shaped non-enclosed array composed of a plurality of second metallized through holes penetrating the second dielectric substrate 114. The second dielectric substrate 114 is also provided with a feeding port 118 corresponding to each second metallized through hole, and each feeding port 118 is opposite to the U-shaped opening of the corresponding second metallized through hole array 1171. Each second metallized through hole array 1171, the feeding port 118, the second metal layer 113 and the third metal layer 115 can enclose a second resonant cavity 117, and the orthographic projection of the first resonant cavity 116 corresponding to each radiator on the second dielectric substrate 114 is located in the corresponding second resonant cavity 117.

[0059] It should be noted that each feeding port 118 on the second dielectric substrate 114 is used to connect to the RF chip 210 in the electronic device 200. The RF chip 210 can feed power into the second dielectric substrate 114 through the feeding port 118. The RF signal is converted into electromagnetic wave energy through the second resonant cavity 117, the coupling slot 1131 and the first resonant cavity 116, and then radiated to the target area by the radiator. The radiator can also transmit the received echo signal to the RF chip 210 through the first resonant cavity 116, the coupling slot 1131, the second resonant cavity 117 and the feeding port 118, and the RF chip 210 transmits it to the processor 220 for processing.

[0060] Furthermore, a switching structure may be provided at the feeding port 118, and the RF chip 210 may be fed by microstrip, coaxial or other methods to the second dielectric substrate 114 through the switching structure. As an example but not limitation, the switching structure may be a microstrip line or a coaxial line.

[0061] Optionally, the first metallized through holes in each first metallized through hole array 1161 may also penetrate the second metal layer 113, so that each coupling slot 1131 is located in the corresponding first resonant cavity 116. The second metallized through holes in each second metallized through hole array 1171 may also penetrate the third metal layer 115.

[0062] As an example but not limitation, the first dielectric substrate 112 and the second dielectric substrate 114 are both substrate integrated waveguides (SIW). For example, the first dielectric substrate 112 and the second dielectric substrate 114 can both be TLY-5 materials with a relative dielectric constant of 2.2. The second metal layer 113 and the third metal layer 115 can both be made of copper.

[0063] It should be noted that see Figure 3 In the top view shown, the distance between the centers of two adjacent first resonant cavities 116 along the magnetic field direction is equal. In the process of receiving and sending signals by the antenna array 100, electromagnetic coupling is generally generated between two adjacent radiators in each radiator array 121, so that the phase center of the radiator is offset to the left or right relative to the center of the first resonant cavity 116 along the magnetic field direction. If the offset direction of the geometric center of the radiator relative to the center of the first resonant cavity 116 is set opposite to the offset direction of the phase center under the electromagnetic coupling, the influence of the electromagnetic coupling on the phase center can be offset, so that the phase center of the radiator after the geometric center is offset under the influence of electromagnetic coupling is close to the center of the first resonant cavity 116, thereby improving the phase consistency of each radiator in the radiation component 120. In the embodiment of the present application, the so-called close means that the phase center of the radiator is opposite to the center of the first resonant cavity 116 in the height direction of the antenna array 100, or the deviation between the phase center of the radiator and the center of the first resonant cavity 116 along the magnetic field direction is small.

[0064] In the embodiment of the present application, the type of radiator in the antenna array 100 is related to the number of rows and columns of antenna units in the antenna array 100. In one example, assuming that the antenna array 100 is a symmetrical array of M rows × 2 columns, and M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, the type of radiator in the antenna array 100 only includes the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212. For example, see Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the 2-row×2-column antenna array 100 shown in the figure, the radiation component 120 disposed on the bottom plate 110 includes two radiator arrays 121 spaced apart along the x-axis direction, each radiator array 121 includes two radiators spaced apart along the y-axis direction, namely, a first radiator 1211 and a second radiator 1212, respectively, and the x-axis and the y-axis are perpendicular to each other. Figure 5As shown, the geometric center of the first radiator 1211 is located on the right side of the corresponding first resonant cavity 116, and the phase center of the antenna unit to which the first radiator 1211 belongs is close to the center of the first resonant cavity 116 located at the bottom of the first radiator 1211; the geometric center of the second radiator 1212 is located on the left side of the corresponding second resonant cavity 117, and the phase center of the antenna unit to which the second radiator 1212 belongs is close to the center of the first resonant cavity 116 located at the bottom of the second radiator 1212.

[0065] Figure 6 is a top view of an existing first comparison antenna array 10. According to experimental tests and calculation results, the antenna array 10 provided in the embodiment of the present application can be Figure 4 The antenna array 100 of 2 rows×2 columns including only the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 is Figure 6 The performance of the first control antenna array 10 shown in FIG. 1 is compared, wherein the first control antenna array 10 includes 2 rows×2 columns of first antenna units 11, and the distribution positions of the first antenna units 11a to 11d in the first control antenna array 10 are the same as those in FIG. 1 . Figure 4 The distribution positions of antenna units 1 to 4 in the antenna array shown in the figure correspond to each other, but the four radiators in the first comparison antenna array 10 are all square radiators commonly used in the prior art, and the geometric center of each square radiator is opposite to the center of the first resonant cavity. The other structures in the first comparison antenna array 10 are the same as those in the first comparison antenna array 10. Figure 4 The structure of the antenna array 100 shown is exactly the same.

[0066] Assume that the embodiment of this application Figure 4 The resonant frequencies of the antenna array 100 and the first comparison antenna array 10 shown in the figure are both 24.25 GHz. Taking the antenna unit 2 in the antenna array 100 and the first antenna unit 11b in the first comparison antenna array 10 as references, it can be known through testing and calculation that the maximum phase error between the first antenna unit 11a and the first antenna unit 11b in the first comparison antenna array 10 is 22.1 degrees, the maximum phase error between the first antenna unit 11c and the first antenna unit 11b is 24.9 degrees, and the maximum phase error between the first antenna unit 11d and the first antenna unit 11b is 10.6 degrees. Figure 4The maximum phase error between antenna unit 1 and antenna unit 2 is 10 degrees, the maximum phase error between antenna unit 3 and antenna unit 2 is 11.5 degrees, and the maximum phase error between antenna unit 4 and antenna unit 2 is 8.7 degrees. The phase difference between the antenna units in the antenna array 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application is smaller than the phase difference between the first antenna units 11 in the first comparison antenna array 10. The embodiment of the present application utilizes the offset of the phase center generated by the geometric center of the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 in the antenna array 100 to offset the offset of the phase center generated by electromagnetic coupling, thereby improving the consistency of the antenna phase pattern in the antenna array 100 to a certain extent.

[0067] In another possible implementation, if the antenna array 100 is a symmetrical array of M rows × N columns, and M is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, and N is a positive integer greater than 2, then each radiator array 121 in the radiation component 120 also includes a third radiator 1213, and the third radiator 1213 is arranged between the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212. A first resonant cavity 116 corresponding to the third radiator 1213 is also arranged in the base plate 110. In the thickness direction of the antenna array 100, the geometric center of the third radiator 1213 is opposite to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity 116, and the phase center of the antenna unit to which the third radiator 1213 belongs is close to the phase center of the first resonant cavity 116 located at the bottom of the third radiator 1213.

[0068] It can be understood that if any radiator located in the central area of ​​each radiator array 121 is subjected to the same magnitude or difference of electromagnetic coupling force of the radiators on the left and right adjacent sides, and the direction is opposite, then the phase center of the radiator located in the central area will not be offset or the offset is small. If any radiator located at the edge of each radiator array 121 is only subjected to electromagnetic coupling of the radiator on the adjacent side, the phase center of the radiator located in the edge area will produce a large offset. Each radiator has a non-radiating edge and a radiating edge, wherein the radiating edge is parallel to the y-axis direction (i.e., the magnetic field direction), and the non-radiating edge is parallel to the x-axis direction. The geometric center of the radiator can be adjusted by cutting the radiating edge of the radiator facing away from the adjacent radiator, and the phase center offset caused by the electromagnetic coupling is offset by the offset of the radiator's own phase center, thereby improving the consistency of the phase pattern of each antenna unit in the antenna array 100 and reducing the phase error.

[0069] In the embodiment of the present application, the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 are both symmetrical structures with respect to the y-axis direction, and the third radiator 1213 is a symmetrical structure that is symmetrical with respect to both the y-axis direction and the x-axis direction.

[0070] By way of example and not limitation, see Figure 7 The schematic diagram of another antenna array 100 is shown in FIG. Figure 8 shown Figure 7 The top view of the antenna array 100 in FIG. 1 is a symmetrical array of 2 rows×3 columns. The radiation assembly 120 disposed on the bottom plate 110 includes two radiator arrays 121 spaced apart along the x-axis direction. Each radiator array 121 includes a first radiator 1211, a third radiator 1213, and a second radiator 1212 spaced apart from left to right along the y-axis direction. Figure 8 As shown, the lengths of the radiation edges of the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 are both smaller than the length of the radiation edge of the third radiator 1213, and the region of the radiation edge of the first radiator 1211 facing away from the third radiator 1213 is cropped relative to the radiation edge of the third radiator 1213, and the region of the radiation edge of the second radiator 1212 facing away from the third radiator 1213 is cropped relative to the radiation edge of the third radiator 1213, so that the geometric center of the first radiator 1211 is offset in a direction close to the third radiator 1213, and the geometric center of the second radiator 1212 is offset in a direction close to the third radiator 1213. If the shape of the third radiator 1213 can be square, the shapes of the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 obtained after only cropping the radiation edges can both be rectangular.

[0071] Furthermore, although the phase center of the antenna unit to which the radiator belongs can be adjusted during operation after the radiating edge of the radiator is trimmed, the resonant frequency of the antenna unit will be affected, causing the resonant frequency of the antenna unit to deviate from the preset frequency. In order to make the resonant frequency of the antenna unit meet the preset frequency, the non-radiating edge of the radiator can also be trimmed.

[0072] In one example, if Figure 8As shown, both the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 can be concave structures. Specifically, a groove is provided on the side of the rectangular or square first radiator 1211 facing away from the second radiator 1212, and a groove is provided on the side of the rectangular or square second radiator 1212 facing away from the first radiator 1211. Both the groove of the first radiator 1211 and the groove of the second radiator 1212 are located in the central area of ​​the non-radiating side, the groove of the first radiator 1211 is arranged to face away from the second radiator 1212 and the third radiator 1213, and the groove of the second radiator 1212 is arranged to face away from the first radiator 1211 and the third radiator 1213. Furthermore, in this example, the shape of the groove in the first radiator 1211 is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the direction of the magnetic field, and the shape of the groove in the second radiator 1212 is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the direction of the magnetic field. Exemplarily, the shapes of the groove in the first radiator 1211 and the groove in the second radiator 1212 can be rectangular, square, triangular, arc-shaped or other shapes. The embodiments of the present application have no particular regard to the shapes of the grooves in the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212.

[0073] In another example, Fig.10 As shown, both the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 can be convex-shaped structures. Specifically, a groove is respectively provided at both ends of the non-radiating edge of the first radiator 1211 of a rectangle or square shape facing away from the second radiator 1212, so that a convex portion is formed on the side of the first radiator 1211 facing away from the second radiator 1212, and the convex portion is located in the central area of ​​the non-radiating edge, and the two grooves are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the convex portion. Correspondingly, a groove is respectively symmetrically provided at both ends of the non-radiating edge of the second radiator 1212 of a rectangle or square shape facing away from the first radiator 1211, so that a convex portion is formed on the side of the second radiator 1212 facing away from the first radiator 1211, and the convex portion is located in the central area of ​​the non-radiating edge, and the two grooves are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the convex portion. Furthermore, in this example, the shape of the groove in the first radiator 1211 and the shape of the groove in the second radiator 1212 are mirror-symmetric relative to the direction of the magnetic field. For example, the shapes of the two grooves on both sides of the protrusion in the first radiator 1211 can be rectangular, square, arc-shaped or other shapes, and the shapes of the two grooves on both sides of the protrusion in the second radiator 1212 can be rectangular, square, arc-shaped or other shapes. The shape of the protrusion in the first radiator 1211 and the protrusion in the second radiator 1212 can be rectangular, square or other shapes.

[0074] Fig.11 is a top view of an existing second comparison antenna array 20. According to experimental tests and calculation results, the embodiment of the present application can be Figure 7The antenna array 100 including 2 rows×3 columns of the first radiator 1211, the second radiator 1212 and the third radiator 1213 and Fig.11 The performance of the second control antenna array 20 shown in FIG. 2 is compared, wherein the second control antenna array 20 includes 2 rows×3 columns of second antenna units 21, and the distribution of the radiators in the second control antenna array 20 is the same as that in FIG. Figure 7 The distribution of the radiators in the antenna array 100 is the same as shown, but the six radiators in the second comparison antenna array 20 are all square radiators commonly used in the prior art, and the geometric center of each square radiator is opposite to the center of the first resonant cavity correspondingly arranged in the bottom plate of the second comparison antenna array 20. Figure 7 The structure of the antenna array 100 shown is exactly the same.

[0075] Assume that the embodiment of this application Figure 7 The antenna array 100 and the second comparison antenna array 20 shown in the figure both have a resonant frequency of 24.25 GHz when in operation. Figure 7 The distribution positions of antenna units 1 to 6 in the second reference antenna array 20 correspond one to one with the distribution positions of the second antenna units 21a to 21f in the second reference antenna array 20. Taking the antenna unit 2 in the antenna array 100 and the second antenna unit 21b in the second reference antenna array 20 as references, it can be known through experimental tests and calculations that the maximum phase error between the second antenna unit 21a and the second antenna unit 21b in the second reference antenna array 20 is 14.4 degrees, the maximum phase error between the second antenna unit 21c and the second antenna unit 21b is 15.3 degrees, the maximum phase error between the second antenna unit 21d and the second antenna unit 21b is 20.5 degrees, the maximum phase error between the second antenna unit 21e and the second antenna unit 21b is 10.6 degrees, and the maximum phase error between the second antenna unit 21f and the second antenna unit 21b is 20.1 degrees. In the embodiments of the present application Figure 7 In the antenna array 100 shown, the maximum phase error between antenna unit 1 and antenna unit 2 is 9.1 degrees, the maximum phase error between antenna unit 3 and antenna unit 2 is 8.6 degrees, the maximum phase error between antenna unit 4 and antenna unit 2 is 13.6 degrees, the maximum phase error between antenna unit 5 and antenna unit 2 is 11.5 degrees, and the maximum phase error between antenna unit 6 and antenna unit 2 is 12.5 degrees. By comparison, it can be seen that except for antenna unit 5, the present application Figure 7 The phase difference values ​​between other antenna units in the provided antenna array 100 are all smaller than the phase difference values ​​between the second antenna units 21 in the second comparison antenna array 20, but the phase difference improvement of the antenna unit 5 is smaller.

[0076] In other possible implementations, a load 130 may be provided at a feeding port 118 corresponding to any one or more radiators in the radiation component 120, or the feeding port 118 of any one or more radiators may be replaced with the load 130, so that the antenna unit to which the radiator corresponding to the load 130 belongs becomes a dummy element, and the dummy element in the antenna array 100 cannot receive the RF signal sent by the RF chip 210 through the feeding port 118 on which the load 130 is provided, nor can it send electromagnetic signals to the target area and cannot receive the echo signal scattered by the target.

[0077] For example, see Fig.10 The antenna array 100 shown is a symmetrical array of 2 rows × 3 columns. The radiation component 120 arranged on the base plate 110 includes two radiator arrays 121 spaced apart along the x-axis direction, and each radiator array 121 includes a first radiator 1211, a third radiator 1213 and a second radiator 1212 spaced apart from left to right along the y-axis direction. Among them, the U-shaped mouth of the second resonant cavity 117 corresponding to the first radiator 1211, the third radiator 1213 and the second radiator 1212 in the first row of the radiator array 121 and the first radiator 1211 in the second row of the radiator array 121 is provided with a feeding port 118, and the antenna units belonging to these radiators can receive the radio frequency signal sent by the radio frequency chip 210 through the feeding port 118, and send electromagnetic signals to the target area and receive echo signals scattered by the target; the U-shaped mouth of the second resonant cavity 117 corresponding to the third radiator 1213 and the second radiator 1212 in the second row of the radiator array 121 is provided with a load 130, so that the two antenna units belonging to the third radiator 1213 and the second radiator 1212 in the second row of the radiator array 121 are dummy elements.

[0078] By way of example and not limitation, load 130 may be a resistor.

[0079] Fig.13 is a top view of an existing third comparison antenna array 30. According to the test and calculation results, the antenna array 30 provided in the embodiment of the present application can be Fig.12 The 2-row×3-column antenna array 100 including dummy elements and Fig.13 The performance of the third control antenna array 30 shown in is compared. The third control antenna array 30 is an asymmetric array, having four third antenna units 31, and the radiator in each third antenna unit 31 is a square radiator commonly used in the prior art, and the geometric center of the square radiator is opposite to the center of the first resonant cavity, and the geometric center of the square radiator is Fig.13 The intersection of the x-axis and the y-axis. Fig.12In the antenna array 100, the radiator corresponding to antenna unit 1 and antenna unit 4 is a concave first radiator 1211, the radiator corresponding to antenna unit 2 is a square third radiator 1213, and the radiator corresponding to antenna unit 3 is a concave second radiator 1212. Fig.12 The distribution positions of antenna unit 1, antenna unit 2, antenna unit 3 and antenna unit 4 correspond one to one with the distribution positions of the third antenna unit 31a, third antenna unit 31b, third antenna unit 31c and third antenna unit 31d in the third control antenna array 30.

[0080] Assume that the embodiment of this application Fig.12 The resonant frequencies of the antenna array 100 and the third control antenna array 30 shown in the figure are both 24.25 GHz when in operation. Taking the antenna unit 2 in the antenna array 100 and the third antenna unit 31b in the third control antenna array 30 as references, it is known through experimental tests and calculations that the maximum phase error between the third antenna unit 31a and the third antenna unit 31b in the third control antenna array 30 is 26.6 degrees, the maximum phase error between the third antenna unit 31c and the third antenna unit 31b is 15.4 degrees, and the maximum phase error between the third antenna unit 31d and the third antenna unit 31b is 19.4 degrees. In the embodiments of the present application Fig.12 In the antenna array 100 shown, the maximum phase error between antenna unit 1 and antenna unit 2 is 9.1 degrees, the maximum phase error between antenna unit 3 and antenna unit 2 is 8.6 degrees, and the maximum phase error between antenna unit 4 and antenna unit 2 is 13.6 degrees. Fig.12 Compared with the existing asymmetric antenna array, the antenna array 100 shown can effectively improve the consistency of the phase pattern and reduce the phase error.

[0081] In the antenna array 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application, the position, offset direction and offset amount of the phase center of each antenna unit in the antenna array 100 after the offset under the electromagnetic coupling of adjacent antenna units when the radiating components 120 are all third radiators 1213 can be determined by a pre-measurement method or a least squares estimation method, and then the cutting position and cutting length of the radiating edges of the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 relative to the radiating edges of the third radiator 1213 can be determined according to the offset direction and the offset amount.

[0082] In one example, see Fig.11The method for determining the position, offset direction and offset amount of the phase center of each antenna unit in the antenna array 100 after being offset under the electromagnetic coupling of adjacent antenna units by a pre-measurement method when the radiation components 120 are all third radiators 1213 includes: first, for each antenna unit, determining the position of the antenna unit at each azimuth angle [θ i ,φ i ] corresponds to the directional pattern phase ψ i , where 1≤i≤n, θ is the angle between the radiation direction of the antenna unit and the z-axis direction, and φ is the angle between the radiation direction of the antenna unit and the x-axis direction, through the following formula (1):

[0083]

[0084] The actual phase center position of each antenna unit under the electromagnetic coupling of adjacent antenna units can be calculated. Fig.11 As shown in , for each radiator, the origin where the x-axis intersects the y-axis is the geometric center of each radiator itself. Therefore, the y value in the actual phase center position calculated based on the above formula (1) is the offset of the phase center of the antenna unit under electromagnetic coupling.

[0085] in,

[0086] In another example, the actual phase center position of each antenna unit under the electromagnetic coupling of adjacent antenna units can be estimated by the least square method when all the radiation components 120 are the third radiator 1213. Fig.11 As shown, assuming that the distance between the centers of the two third radiators 1213 of two adjacent antenna units is d, the radiation intensity of the antenna unit on the left is 1, the radiation intensity of the antenna unit on the right under electromagnetic coupling is m, and the phase is α, then the antenna unit on the left of the two adjacent antenna units at each azimuth angle [θ i ,φ i ] The corresponding directional pattern phase The antenna unit located on the right side of the two adjacent antenna units is located at each azimuth angle [θ i ,φ i ] The corresponding directional pattern phase

[0087] According to the above formula (1), the position of the phase center of two adjacent antenna units after being offset under the action of electromagnetic coupling can be estimated, and the radiator of the antenna unit is determined to be the first radiator 1211 or the second radiator 1212 according to the offset direction of the phase center. According to the offset amount of the phase center, the clipping amount of the radiating edge of the first radiator 1211 relative to the radiating edge of the third radiator 1213 and the clipping amount of the radiating edge of the second radiator 1212 relative to the radiating edge of the third radiator 1213 are determined, and then the clipping amount of the non-radiating edge of the first radiator 1211 relative to the non-radiating edge of the third radiator 1213 and the clipping amount of the non-radiating edge of the second radiator 1212 relative to the non-radiating edge of the third radiator 1213 are determined by testing, simulation and / or calculation. It should be noted that the greater the electromagnetic coupling force exerted on the antenna unit to which the first radiator 1211 and the antenna unit to which the second radiator 1212 belong is, the smaller the length of the radiating edge of the first radiator 1211 and the radiating edge of the second radiator 1212 relative to the radiating edge of the third radiator 1213.

[0088] As an example but not limitation, if the antenna array 100 is a symmetrical array of 2 rows × 2 columns, the first dielectric substrate 112 and the second dielectric substrate 114 in the antenna array 100 are both made of TLY-5 material with a relative dielectric constant of 2.2, and the distance between the centers of two adjacent third radiators 1213 of any radiator array 121 in the antenna array 100 is d=λ / 2, λ is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave when it is transmitted in the first dielectric substrate 112, and the phase centers of the two adjacent antenna units along the y-axis direction under the action of electromagnetic coupling are both offset in the direction away from the adjacent antenna units, and the offset is 0.6 mm, then the left area of ​​the radiation edge of the third radiator 1213 located on the left side of the two adjacent antenna units along the y-axis direction can be trimmed by etching technology (0.2±0.05)λ to adjust the geometric center, and the central area of ​​the non-radiation edge is trimmed to adjust the resonant frequency to obtain a concave-shaped first radiator 1211, and the trimming amount of the radiation edge is equal to the length L of the radiation edge of the third radiator 1213 3 The length L of the radiation side of the first radiator 1211 1 The right area of ​​the radiation side of the third radiator 1213 located on the right side of the two adjacent antenna units along the y-axis direction is cut by etching technology to (0.2±0.05)λ to adjust the geometric center, and the non-radiation side is cut to adjust the resonant frequency to obtain the concave-shaped second radiator 1212, and the cutting amount of the radiation side is equal to the length L of the radiation side of the third radiator 1213 3 The length L of the radiation side of the second radiator 1212 2 The difference between the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 obtained after cutting can be composed of Figure 4The radiation component 120 in the antenna array 100 shown in the figure uses the offset of the geometric centers of the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 to offset the offset of the phase center caused by electromagnetic coupling, thereby improving the phase consistency of the antenna units in the antenna array 100 and reducing the phase error.

[0089] In the antenna array 100 of the present application, according to the number of rows and columns of each antenna unit in the antenna array 100, each radiator array 121 can be composed of a first radiator 1211 and a second radiator 1212 arranged at intervals, or can be composed of a first radiator 1211, a second radiator 1212, and a third radiator 1213 arranged at intervals between the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212, and the radiation edges of the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 are smaller than the radiation edges of the third radiator 1213. Without considering the electromagnetic coupling between adjacent antenna units, the phase centers of the antenna units to which the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 belong are shifted as the geometric centers of the radiators are shifted, thereby offsetting the shifts in the phase centers of the antenna units to which the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 belong under the electromagnetic coupling of the adjacent radiators, so that the shifted phase centers of the antenna units to which the first radiator 1211 and the second radiator 1212 belong under the electromagnetic coupling are respectively opposite to the centers of the corresponding first resonant cavities 116. The antenna array 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application has a simple structure, and can effectively improve the consistency of the phase pattern of each antenna unit in the antenna array 100 without increasing the height and area of ​​the antenna array 100, reduce the phase error, and improve the accuracy of DOA estimation.

[0090] Finally, it should be noted that the above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An antenna array, characterized in that: include: A radiation component (120) and a base plate (110); The radiation component (120) is located on the bottom plate (110); The radiation component (120) comprises at least one radiator array (121) arranged perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field, and each of the radiator arrays (121) comprises a first radiator (1211) and a second radiator (1212) arranged at intervals along the direction of the magnetic field; The bottom plate (110) is provided with first resonant cavities (116) corresponding to the first radiator (1211) and the second radiator (1212), respectively; the geometric center of the first radiator (1211) is offset in a direction close to the second radiator (1212) relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity (116); and the geometric center of the second radiator (1212) is offset in a direction close to the first radiator (1211) relative to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity (116).

2. The antenna array according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first radiator (1211) is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the direction of the magnetic field and / or the second radiator (1212) is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the direction of the magnetic field.

3. The antenna array according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first radiator (1211) and the second radiator (1212) are both concave-shaped structures; The notch opening of the first radiator (1211) is arranged to face away from the second radiator, and the notch opening of the second radiator (1212) is arranged to face away from the first radiator (1211).

4. The antenna array according to claim 3, characterized in that: The shape of the groove of the first radiator (1211) is rectangular, square or triangular, and / or the shape of the groove of the second radiator (1212) is rectangular, square or triangular.

5. The antenna array according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first radiator (1211) and the second radiator (1212) are both convex-shaped structures; The raised portion of the first radiator (1211) is arranged to face away from the second radiator (1212), and the raised portion of the second radiator (1212) is arranged to face away from the first radiator (1211).

6. The antenna array according to claim 5, characterized in that: The shapes of the two grooves located on both sides of the protrusion in the first radiator (1211) are both rectangular or square, and / or the shapes of the two grooves located on both sides of the protrusion in the second radiator (1212) are both rectangular or square.

7. The antenna array according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: Each of the radiator arrays (121) further comprises a third radiator (1213), wherein the third radiator (1213) is arranged at intervals between the first radiator (1211) and the second radiator (1212); The bottom plate (110) is also provided with the first resonant cavity (116) corresponding to the third radiator (1213); The geometric center of the first radiator (1211) is opposite to the center of the corresponding first resonant cavity (116).

8. The antenna array according to claim 7, characterized in that: The third radiator (1213) is a rectangular or square structure.

9. The antenna array according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The bottom plate (110) comprises: a first dielectric substrate (112), and the radiator array (121) is located on the first dielectric substrate (112); A first metallized through hole array (1161) corresponding to each radiator in the radiator array (121) is provided on the first dielectric substrate (112), and each of the first metallized through hole arrays (1161) encloses a first resonant cavity (116).

10. The antenna array according to claim 9, characterized in that: The antenna array (100) further comprises: a first metal layer (111); The first metal layer (111) is stacked on the first dielectric substrate (112), and the first metallized through-hole array (1161) penetrates the first metal layer (111); The radiator array (121) is etched on the first metal layer (111), and a gap exists between each radiator in the radiator array (121) and the first metal layer (111).

11. The antenna array according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that: The bottom plate (110) further comprises: a second metal layer (113), a second dielectric substrate (114) and a third metal layer (115); The second metal layer (113), the second dielectric substrate (114) and the third metal layer (115) are stacked in sequence on a side of the first dielectric substrate (112) facing away from the radiation component (120); The second metal layer (113) is provided with a coupling slot (1131) corresponding to each of the first resonant cavities (116), and the center of each of the first resonant cavities (116) is opposite to the center of the corresponding coupling slot (1131); The second dielectric substrate (114) is provided with a second metallized through hole array (1171) and a feeding port (118) corresponding to each of the radiators; each of the second metallized through hole array (1171), the feeding port (118), the second metal layer (113) and the third metal layer (115) together form a second resonant cavity (117); and an orthographic projection of the first resonant cavity (116) on the second dielectric substrate (114) is located in the corresponding second resonant cavity (117).

12. The antenna array according to claim 11, characterized in that: A switching structure is provided at each of the feeding ports (118), and each of the switching structures is used to feed power to the corresponding second resonant cavity (117).

13. The antenna array according to claim 11, characterized in that: A load (130) is provided at any one or more of the feeding ports (118).

14. An electronic device, characterized in that: include: The antenna array (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13.

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