A wide coverage electrically-controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna

Abstract

The application discloses a wide-coverage electrically-controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna, which comprises a multi-beam feed network component, a single-bit electrically-controlled phase-shifting component and an antenna radiation unit component. The multi-beam feed network component comprises a primary directional coupler and a secondary directional coupler which are connected by using microwave transmission connecting lines, and the multi-beam feed network component can provide multiple groups of fixed output port phases in two-dimensional directions, thereby realizing multiple sub-beams with different radiation directions. The single-bit electrically-controlled phase-shifting component comprises multiple electrically-controlled open-circuit transmission line branches, and a microwave switch is used to control a loading state, thereby introducing a controllable additional insertion phase shift on the basis of the output port phases of the multi-beam feed network component, expanding a phase distribution combination available for the multi-beam antenna, and realizing more sub-beam radiation directions. The multi-beam antenna of the application can realize more sub-beam radiation directions, and expand the radiation coverage range of the multi-beam antenna.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a wireless communication device, and more particularly to an electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna. Background Technology

[0002] As modern wireless communication systems place increasingly higher demands on communication speed, latency, and coverage, traditional fixed-beam antennas are finding it increasingly difficult to meet these requirements. Multi-beam antennas, with multiple feed ports, can simultaneously radiate multiple sub-beams, effectively extending the antenna's coverage area, improving communication system channel capacity, and enhancing anti-interference capabilities. They are particularly suitable for use in various indoor and outdoor communication devices and mobile communication platforms.

[0003] Most existing multi-beam antennas are based on quasi-optical methods or microwave matrix network designs. Compared to quasi-optical multi-beam antenna designs, multi-beam antennas using microwave matrix networks typically have a low-profile profile, meeting the miniaturization and integration requirements of communication systems. Commonly used microwave matrix networks include Rotman lens networks, Blass matrix networks, and Butler matrix networks. These microwave matrix networks are passive structures, with each feed port typically corresponding to only one sub-beam radiation direction. Increasing the number of feed ports in a multi-beam antenna significantly increases the antenna's structural complexity. Therefore, existing multi-beam antennas usually have only a limited number of sub-beam radiation directions, covering only a small spatial area. Furthermore, the limited half-power beamwidth of each sub-beam results in low beam overlap levels between sub-beams, further limiting the radiation coverage of the multi-beam antenna. Therefore, it is necessary to design a multi-beam antenna array with a simple and compact structure, more sub-beam radiation directions, and the ability to extend the radiation coverage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: In view of the above-mentioned prior art, a wide-coverage electronically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna is proposed, which can simultaneously realize the radiation of multiple sub-beams and switch the radiation direction of each sub-beam through electronic control, thereby solving the problem of small radiation coverage of traditional multi-beam antennas.

[0005] Technical solution: A wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna, comprising a multi-beam feed network assembly, several single-bit electrically controlled phase-shifting assemblies, and several antenna radiating element assemblies;

[0006] The multi-beam feed network assembly includes two primary directional couplers, two secondary directional couplers, and microwave transmission lines. Two ports of each of the two primary directional couplers are connected to two ports of each of the secondary directional couplers via the microwave transmission lines. The other four ports of the two primary directional couplers serve as four feed ports of the multi-beam feed network assembly, and the other four ports of the two secondary directional couplers serve as four output ports of the multi-beam feed network assembly.

[0007] The four output ports are each connected to an antenna radiating element component via a single-bit electronically controlled phase shifting component, and the four antenna radiating element components are arranged in a two-dimensional array.

[0008] Furthermore, the single-bit electrically controlled phase-shifting component includes a microwave transmission line, several open-circuit loaded stubs, a microwave switch, a choke inductor, a choke inductor pad, and a DC bias via. Each open-circuit loaded stub is connected to the microwave transmission line via a microwave switch. A choke inductor is used to connect the open-circuit loaded stub to the choke inductor pad on the side of the open-circuit loaded stub closest to the microwave switch. One or more DC bias vias are provided on the choke inductor pad for connection to a DC power supply. Both ends of the microwave transmission line are connected to an output port of the multi-beam feed network component and an antenna radiating element component, respectively.

[0009] Furthermore, the antenna radiating unit assembly employs two sets of stacked rectangular metal radiating patches, namely four lower metal radiating patches located on the upper surface of the first dielectric substrate and four upper metal radiating patches located on the upper surface of the second dielectric substrate.

[0010] Furthermore, the antenna radiating unit assembly may employ antenna types including microstrip patch antennas, dipole antennas, dielectric resonator antennas, and slot antennas.

[0011] Furthermore, both the primary directional coupler and the secondary directional coupler are microstrip orthogonal hybrid ring directional couplers.

[0012] Furthermore, the open-circuit loading stub is a fan-shaped open-circuit microstrip stub.

[0013] Furthermore, the microwave switch employs a PIN diode.

[0014] Furthermore, the operating frequency band can be adjusted by enlarging or reducing the size of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna, so that it operates in the microwave, millimeter wave, or terahertz frequency band.

[0015] Beneficial effects: 1. Multi-beam antennas introduce additional phase shifts based on the output phase distribution of microwave matrix networks using single-bit electronically controlled phase shift components, which can enable each antenna radiating element to have more combinations of radiation phase states, effectively expanding the radiation coverage of multi-beam antennas.

[0016] 2. Multi-beam antennas can control the radiation phase distribution in two dimensions and can switch the radiation direction in two dimensions.

[0017] 3. The single-bit electronically controlled phase-shifting component used in multi-beam antennas only requires two microwave switches to control the transmission phase, and has the advantages of low cost, low loss, and simple and compact structure.

[0018] 4. By encoding the on / off states of each microwave switch, the radiation direction of the sub-beams of the multi-beam antenna can be controlled electronically, making the control method simple and easy to implement.

[0019] 5. The multi-beam antenna has a low profile, making it easy to integrate with other communication equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a top view of the first dielectric substrate in the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the second dielectric substrate in the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a top view of a single-bit electrically controlled phase-shifting component provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 The switching state combinations of each electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub provided in the embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 Simulated reflection coefficient diagrams of each feed port of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 The simulated radiation pattern of each feed port of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in the embodiment of the present invention under the switch state 1;

[0027] Figure 8 The simulated radiation pattern of each feed port of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in the embodiment of the present invention under the second switching state;

[0028] Figure 9 The simulated radiation pattern of each feed port of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in the embodiments of the present invention under three switching states;

[0029] Figure 10 The simulated radiation pattern of each feed port of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in the embodiments of the present invention under four switching states;

[0030] Figure 11 The simulated radiation pattern of each feed port of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna provided in the embodiments of the present invention under five switching states;

[0031] Figure reference numerals: 100 - Multi-beam feed network assembly; 110 - Primary directional coupler; 120 - Microwave transmission connection line; 130 - Secondary directional coupler; 140 - Microwave transmission line; 111 - Feed port 1; 112 - Feed port 2; 113 - Feed port 3; 114 - Feed port 4; 131 - Output port 1; 132 - Output port 2; 133 - Output port 3; 134 - Output port 4; 200 - Single-bit electrically controlled phase shifter assembly; 210 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 1; 220 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 2; 230 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 3; 240 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 4; 250 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 5; 260 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 6; 270 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 7; 280 - Electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 8; 221 - Sector-shaped microstrip line open-circuit loading stub; 222 - Microwave switch; 223 - Choke inductor; 224 - Choke inductor pad; 225 - DC bias via; 300 - Antenna radiating element assembly; 310 - Lower metal radiating patch; 320 - Upper metal radiating patch; 410 - First dielectric substrate; 420 - Second dielectric substrate. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The invention will now be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] To illustrate the structure and performance of the antenna of the present invention, this embodiment uses a wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna with a center operating frequency of 5 GHz as an example. The operating frequency band of this embodiment should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention.

[0034] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna includes: a multi-beam feed network component 100, a single-bit electrically controlled phase shift component 200, and an antenna radiating element component 300.

[0035] The function of the antenna radiating element assembly 300 is to radiate electromagnetic waves. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the antenna radiating element assembly 300 employs two sets of stacked rectangular metal radiating patches: four lower metal radiating patches 310 located on the upper surface of the first dielectric substrate 410 and four upper metal radiating patches 320 located on the upper surface of the second dielectric substrate 420. The purpose of using stacked radiating patches is to increase the impedance bandwidth of the antenna radiating element.

[0036] A multi-beam feed network assembly 100 and a single-bit electrically controlled phase-shifting assembly 200 are disposed on the upper surface of a first dielectric substrate 410. The multi-beam feed network assembly 100 includes two primary directional couplers 110, two secondary directional couplers 130, and microwave transmission connection lines 120. The two primary directional couplers 110 and the two secondary directional couplers 130 are arranged perpendicularly or approximately perpendicularly to each other. In this embodiment, the two primary directional couplers 110 are positioned opposite each other on the left and right sides of the first dielectric substrate 410, and the two secondary directional couplers 130 are positioned opposite each other on the top and bottom sides of the first dielectric substrate 410. Two ports of one primary directional coupler 110 are connected to one port of each of the two secondary directional couplers 130 via microwave transmission connection lines 120; two ports of the other primary directional coupler 110 are connected to the other ports of each of the two secondary directional couplers 130 via microwave transmission connection lines 120. The other four ports of the two primary directional couplers 110 serve as the four feed ports 111, 112, 113, and 114 of the multi-beam feed network assembly 100; the other four ports of the two secondary directional couplers 130 serve as the four output ports 131, 132, 133, and 134 of the multi-beam feed network assembly 100. When the multi-beam feed network assembly 100 excites different feed ports, four different output phase distributions can be obtained at the output ports, corresponding to four sub-beams with different radiation directions.

[0037] In the above structure, the primary directional coupler 110, the microwave transmission connection line 120, and the secondary directional coupler 130 are all based on microstrip lines. The primary directional coupler 110 and the secondary directional coupler 130 employ microstrip orthogonal hybrid ring directional couplers.

[0038] like Figure 2 As shown, the single-bit electrically controlled phase shifter 200 includes four groups of eight electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stubs 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, and 280. Each group of electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stubs connects to the four output ports 131, 132, 133, and 134 of the multi-beam feed network assembly 100 and the four lower-layer metal radiating patches 310.

[0039] like Figure 4As shown, in each group, two electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stubs 220 are connected to the same microwave transmission line 140. The electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 220 includes a fan-shaped microstrip line open-circuit loaded stub 221, a microwave switch 222, a choke inductor 223, a choke inductor pad 224, and a DC bias via 225. The fan-shaped microstrip line open-circuit loaded stub 221 is connected to the microwave transmission line 140 via the microwave switch 222. A choke inductor 223 is used to connect the fan-shaped microstrip line open-circuit loaded stub 221 to the choke inductor pad 224 on the side of the fan-shaped microstrip line open-circuit loaded stub 221 closest to the microwave switch 222. One or more DC bias vias 225 are provided on the choke inductor pad 224.

[0040] Each channel of the single-bit electrically controlled phase shifter 200 uses one control bit to control two transmission phase states, and the phase difference between the two transmission phase states can be designed according to the desired sub-beam radiation direction. Specifically, the on / off state of the microwave switch 222 can control whether the open-circuit loaded stub 221 of the sector microstrip line is loaded on the microwave transmission line 140, thereby controlling the transmission phase. In some embodiments, the microwave switch 222 can use a PIN diode. The choke inductor 223 isolates the AC and DC paths in the electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 220. The DC bias via 225 is connected to a DC power supply to provide a bias voltage for the microwave switch 222.

[0041] The microwave transmission line 140 is connected to an output port of the multi-beam feed network assembly 100 and a lower metal radiating patch 310 at its two ends, respectively. The electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stub 220 can extend the output phase combination to the antenna radiating element assembly 300 by introducing additional transmission phase based on the output phase distribution of the multi-beam feed network assembly 100, thereby realizing more sub-beam radiation directions.

[0042] The antenna radiating element assembly 300 provided in this embodiment uses only a portion of the antenna radiating element forms. The antenna radiating element forms can be replaced with, but are not limited to, microstrip patch antennas, dipole antennas, dielectric resonator antennas, slot antennas, etc.

[0043] like Figure 5 As shown, the antenna can be preset with a series of combinations to control the on / off states of the electrically controlled open-circuit transmission line stubs 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, and 280. These on / off state combinations are only a part of the total number of on / off state combinations.

[0044] Figure 6 The simulated reflection coefficient curves of the four feed ports 111, 112, 113, and 114 of the antenna were plotted. The -10dB reflection coefficient bandwidth of the multi-beam antenna is 4.32 GHz ~ 5.66 GHz.

[0045] Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 The electrical open-circuit transmission line stubs 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, and 280 are respectively located at... Figure 5 The simulated radiation patterns of the antenna's four feed ports (111, 112, 113, and 114) under five on / off state combinations (State 1, State 2, State 3, State 4, and State 5) are shown. The antenna has at least 20 beam radiation directions in two dimensions, with a maximum 3dB beam coverage angle of ±60 degrees in the elevation direction. Compared to the traditional 4×4 Butler matrix multi-beam antenna with only 4 beam radiation directions, this invention effectively expands the radiation coverage range.

[0046] In the description of this invention, the term "microwave" is used only for ease of explanation, such as microwave transmission connection line, microwave transmission line, microwave switch, etc., and does not limit the operating frequency band of the antenna in this invention. By appropriately enlarging or reducing the size of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna, the antenna can operate in microwave, millimeter wave and terahertz frequency bands.

[0047] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wide coverage electronically steerable two-dimensional multi-beam antenna, characterized by, It includes a multi-beam feed network component, several single-bit electronically controlled phase-shifting components, and several antenna radiating element components; The multi-beam feed network assembly includes two primary directional couplers, two secondary directional couplers, and microwave transmission lines. Two ports of each of the two primary directional couplers are connected to two ports of each of the secondary directional couplers via the microwave transmission lines. The other four ports of the two primary directional couplers serve as four feed ports of the multi-beam feed network assembly, and the other four ports of the two secondary directional couplers serve as four output ports of the multi-beam feed network assembly. The four output ports are each connected to an antenna radiating element component via a single-bit electronically controlled phase shifting component, and the four antenna radiating element components are arranged in a two-dimensional array. The single-bit electrically controlled phase-shifting component includes a microwave transmission line, several open-circuit loaded stubs, a microwave switch, a choke inductor, a choke inductor pad, and a DC bias via. Each open-circuit loaded stub is connected to the microwave transmission line via a microwave switch. A choke inductor is used to connect the open-circuit loaded stub to the choke inductor pad on the side of the open-circuit loaded stub closest to the microwave switch. One or more DC bias vias are provided on the choke inductor pad for connection to a DC power supply. Both ends of the microwave transmission line are connected to an output port of the multi-beam feed network component and an antenna radiating element component, respectively. Both the primary directional coupler and the secondary directional coupler are microstrip orthogonal hybrid ring directional couplers; The open-circuit loading stub is a fan-shaped open-circuit microstrip stub; The microwave switch uses a PIN diode.

2. The wide coverage electronically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The antenna radiating unit assembly employs two sets of stacked rectangular metal radiating patches: four lower metal radiating patches located on the upper surface of the first dielectric substrate and four upper metal radiating patches located on the upper surface of the second dielectric substrate.

3. The wide coverage electronically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The antenna radiating unit assembly employs antenna types including microstrip patch antennas, dipole antennas, dielectric resonator antennas, and slot antennas.

4. The wide coverage electronically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d b y The operating frequency band can be adjusted by enlarging or reducing the size of the wide-coverage electrically controlled two-dimensional multi-beam antenna, so that it can operate in the microwave, millimeter wave or terahertz frequency band.

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