Glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit based on liquid crystal and antenna

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit and an antenna. The liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit sequentially comprises a metal patch layer, a dielectric substrate layer and a solar panel from top to bottom, the metal patch layer is subjected to a plurality of slotting and arc-shaped corner cutting treatment, so that surface current and electric field distribution of the metal patch layer is changed, more resonance modes are introduced, different resonance frequencies are triggered by changing the length and width of the slotting and the radius size and the circle center position during arc-shaped corner cutting, and the resonance frequency is increased. The relay metasurface unit can respond to a wider frequency range, and at least two working frequency points are generated in a broadband range; and different slots are mutually coupled to form a composite resonance mode. According to the invention, two working frequency points are provided in the Ku frequency band, and are loaded together with a solar panel for supplying power to devices such as target equipment, so that the problems that the continuous operation of the equipment is influenced due to poor directionality of wave beam pointing in field application and lack of stable power supply are effectively solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of antennas, and in particular to a liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit and antenna. Background Art

[0002] Metasurface is an artificial structure with the surface characteristics of metamaterials. Through precisely designed microstructure units (i.e., metastructure units), the phase, amplitude, and polarization of electromagnetic waves can be precisely controlled. This control capability enables metasurfaces to effectively enhance signal quality and improve system flexibility in beam steering and signal relay applications, and also adapt to the needs of different frequency bands and support more complex wireless communication scenarios. However, it still has some shortcomings. For example, some metasurfaces can only work within a specific frequency range, which will limit the function of applications that need to cover a wide frequency range. On the other hand, some metasurfaces will introduce additional losses when working, resulting in performance degradation. Reducing losses and improving efficiency is one of the challenges facing metasurface technology. Secondly, some metasurfaces loaded onto target devices will result in an overall scale that is too large and cannot meet the modern requirements for miniaturization of such designs. In summary, traditional metasurface designs can no longer meet the requirements of modern communication systems for low loss, miniaturization, and versatility. Research on the application of new materials is the general trend.

[0003] Some metasurface designs currently used for beam steering and signal relay can work effectively at specific frequencies, but the effect at other frequencies may not be ideal and may introduce additional losses. At the same time, due to the uncertainty factors in the wild unmanned environment, the equipment has difficulty in powering, which will limit its practical application in the wild unmanned environment. Secondly, as the size decreases during the miniaturization process, the coupling effect between metasurface units may increase, resulting in undesirable interference and performance degradation. At the same time, because the traditional metasurface design and solar panel integration will increase the size of the array, it is difficult to meet the needs of modern communications. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit and antenna to solve the deficiencies of the prior art.

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions: a liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit, which includes a metal patch layer, a dielectric substrate layer and a solar panel from top to bottom; the metal patch layer is subjected to a plurality of grooves and arc-shaped cutting processes, thereby changing the surface current and electric field distribution of the metal patch layer, thereby introducing more resonance modes, and by changing the length and width of the grooves, as well as the radius size and center position of the arc-shaped cutting, different resonance frequencies are induced, so that the relay metasurface unit can respond to a wider frequency range and generate at least two operating frequency points within a wide frequency band; Different slots are coupled with each other to form a composite resonance mode. At the same time, the slots increase the effective inductance and reduce the resonance frequency, thereby extending the lower limit of the operating frequency band, affecting the resonance frequency and making it have a wider bandwidth.

[0006] The metal patch layer includes a square metal patch located on the periphery and a square metal patch located in the middle; a groove is opened on each side of the square metal patch, a groove is opened in the middle and on each side of the square metal patch, and arc-shaped corner cutting is performed at the four corners of the square metal patch.

[0007] The slots formed on each side of the square frame-shaped metal patch are located in the middle of each side, and the depth of the slots is smaller than the width of each side.

[0008] The slots formed on each side of the square metal patch are located in the middle of each side and are not connected with the slots formed in the middle of the square metal patch.

[0009] The dielectric substrate layer includes a glass substrate and a liquid crystal material arranged inside the glass substrate, the metal patch layer is located on the upper surface of the glass substrate, and the solar panel is located on the lower surface of the glass substrate.

[0010] An antenna of a liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit, the antenna comprising a plurality of liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface units, wherein the plurality of intelligent metasurface units are arranged in the form of an array.

[0011] The present invention has the following advantages: a liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit and antenna, which has two operating frequencies in the Ku band and is loaded together with a solar panel used to power target equipment and the like, effectively solving problems such as poor beam pointing directionality in field applications and lack of stable power supply that affects the continuous operation of equipment, while meeting the development needs for miniaturization and multifunctionality of arrays. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the intelligent metasurface unit of the present invention; Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the top view of the intelligent metasurface unit of the present invention; Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the antenna of the present invention; In the figure: 1-metal patch layer, 2-dielectric substrate layer, 3-solar panel, 4-grooving, 5-arc-cut corners, 6-glass substrate, 7-liquid crystal material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical scheme in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present application described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations. Therefore, the detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided below in conjunction with the drawings is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the application claimed for protection, but merely represents the selected embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without making creative work belong to the scope of protection of the present application. The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the drawings.

[0014] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit structure with dual operating frequencies based on liquid crystal. The structure has two operating frequencies in the Ku band and is loaded together with a solar panel used to power target devices and the like. It effectively solves problems such as poor beam pointing directionality in field applications and lack of stable power supply that affects the continuous operation of equipment, while meeting the development needs for miniaturization and multifunctionality of arrays.

[0015] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, it includes a metal patch layer 1, a dielectric substrate layer 2 and a solar panel 3 from top to bottom; the metal patch layer 1 includes a square metal patch located at the periphery and a square metal patch located in the middle; a groove 4 is opened on each side of the square metal patch, a groove 4 is opened in the middle and on each side of the square metal patch, and arc-shaped corner cutting 5 is performed at the four corners of the square metal patch.

[0016] Furthermore, the slot 4 opened on each side of the frame-shaped metal patch is located in the middle of each side, and the depth of the slot 4 is less than the width of each side; the slot 4 opened on each side of the square metal patch is located in the middle of each side, and is not connected to the slot 4 opened in the middle of the square metal patch.

[0017] Then the surface current and electric field distribution of the metal patch layer 1 are changed, thereby introducing more resonance modes. Figure 2 The length and width of each slot 4 shown in the dotted box in the right figure, as well as the radius and center position of the arc cut corner 5, induce different resonant frequencies. In this way, the overall structure can respond to a wider frequency range and generate two operating frequency points within the wide frequency band. The metal patch layer 1 can achieve a phase difference of 180° in both frequency bands, which can be expressed as two operating frequency points. In the multi-slot structure, different slots 4 are coupled to form a composite resonant mode. Secondly, the existence of the slots 4 increases the effective inductance and reduces the resonant frequency, thereby expanding the lower limit of the operating frequency band, affecting the resonant frequency, and making it have a wider bandwidth. At the same time, it can improve the coupling efficiency of electromagnetic waves, reduce the quality factor of the metal layer, and make it work effectively in a wider frequency range.

[0018] Furthermore, the dielectric constant of the dielectric substrate layer 2 is 3.4, which includes a glass substrate 6 and a liquid crystal material 7 arranged inside the glass substrate 6 , the metal patch layer 1 is located on the upper surface of the glass substrate 6 , and the solar panel is located on the lower surface of the glass substrate 6 .

[0019] like Figure 3 As shown, another embodiment of the present invention relates to an antenna of a glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit based on liquid crystal with dual operating frequencies, wherein the antenna comprises a plurality of intelligent metasurface units, and the plurality of intelligent metasurface units are arranged in the form of a 10×10 array.

[0020] For the array design, the array is arranged in a 10×10 mode, and the electrical tuning characteristics of the liquid crystal material are utilized. By loading different bias voltages on it, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal changes accordingly, so that the electromagnetic wave passing through the metasurface produces a specific reflection phase, and finally the electromagnetic wave is directional deflected at a specific angle. At the same time, since the glass substrate 6 is used as the dielectric material and the solar panel 3 is used as the base material of the metasurface, during the process of beam directing and signal relaying of the metasurface, sunlight can smoothly pass through the glass substrate 6 and be incident on the solar panel 3, and then electrical energy can be stored, so as to solve the problem of power shortage caused by the harsh natural environment when working in an unmanned environment outdoors.

[0021] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the form disclosed herein, and should not be regarded as excluding other embodiments, but can be used for various other combinations, modifications and improvements, and can be modified within the scope of the concept described herein through the above teachings or the technology or knowledge of the relevant field. The changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and should be within the scope of protection of the claims attached to the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid crystal based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit, characterized in that: It comprises, from top to bottom, a metal patch layer (1), a dielectric substrate layer (2) and a solar panel (3); the metal patch layer (1) is processed with a plurality of slots (4) and arc-shaped cut corners (5), thereby changing the surface current and electric field distribution of the metal patch layer (1), thereby introducing more resonance modes, and by changing the length and width of the slots (4), as well as the radius size and center position of the arc-shaped cut corners (5), different resonance frequencies are induced, so that the relay metasurface unit can respond to a wider frequency range and generate at least two operating frequency points within the wide frequency band; Different slots (4) are coupled to each other to form a composite resonance mode. At the same time, the slots (4) increase the effective inductance and reduce the resonance frequency, thereby extending the lower limit of the operating frequency band, affecting the resonance frequency, and having a wider bandwidth.

2. The liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The metal patch layer (1) comprises a square metal patch located at the periphery and a square metal patch located in the middle; a slot (4) is provided on each side of the square metal patch, a slot (4) is provided in the middle and on each side of the square metal patch, and the four corners of the square metal patch are all subjected to arc-shaped corner cutting (5).

3. The liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The slot (4) formed on each side of the square frame-shaped metal patch is located in the middle of each side, and the depth of the slot (4) is smaller than the width of each side.

4. The liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit according to claim 2, characterized in that: The slot (4) provided on each side of the square metal patch is located in the middle of each side and is not connected to the slot (4) provided in the middle of the square metal patch.

5. The liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: The dielectric substrate layer (2) comprises a glass substrate (6) and a liquid crystal material (7) arranged inside the glass substrate (6); the metal patch layer (1) is located on the upper surface of the glass substrate (6); and the solar panel is located on the lower surface of the glass substrate (6).

6. An antenna of a glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface unit based on liquid crystal, characterized in that: The antenna includes a plurality of liquid crystal-based glass-based signal relay intelligent metasurface units as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, and the plurality of intelligent metasurface units are arranged in the form of an array.

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