Metasurface-loaded phased array antenna elements and antenna arrays

Abstract

The metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit and the antenna array provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure comprise: a driving layer, a radiation layer and a cover layer which are sequentially stacked; the driving layer comprises a first dielectric layer and a driving patch, and the driving patch is printed on the first dielectric layer; the radiation layer comprises a second dielectric layer and a radiation patch, and the radiation patch is printed on the second dielectric layer; the cover layer comprises a third dielectric layer and a plurality of array-arranged cover patches, and the cover patch is printed on the third dielectric layer, and the cover patch comprises an opening structure, and the third dielectric layer is exposed at the position of the opening structure of the cover patch. The efficiency of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the cover layer is improved, and the mutual coupling between two adjacent antenna units is reduced, which improves the high-gain radiation of the antenna unit on the one hand and reduces the mutual coupling between two adjacent antenna units on the other hand.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of wireless communication and related technical fields, in particular, to a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit and an antenna array. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of wireless communication technology, there is an increasing demand for antennas with a large scanning angle range, high gain, small size and light weight.

[0003] In the prior art, the scanning angle range of an antenna determines the application field of the antenna, and the scanning angle is mainly affected by three factors, i.e., the spacing between antenna units, the beam width of the unit pattern and active impedance matching. Currently, the scanning angle range does not exceed 60° off-axis angle when the gain in the scanning range is reduced by 3dB. In order to realize large-angle scanning, small unit spacing and wide beam width antenna units can achieve a certain degree of improvement in scanning angle, and the scanning angle is also about 65° off-axis angle. However, the design of the existing antenna will cause the mutual coupling between the antenna units to be strong, which affects the active standing wave of the antenna unit pattern during scanning, resulting in a decline in scanning performance. SUMMARY

[0004] The embodiments described herein provide a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit and an antenna array, which reduce the mutual coupling between two adjacent antenna units on the basis of improving the gain of the antenna unit.

[0005] In a first aspect, according to the present disclosure, a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit is provided, comprising: a driving layer, a radiating layer and a covering layer which are sequentially stacked;

[0006] The driving layer comprises a first dielectric layer and a driving patch, and the driving patch is printed on the first dielectric layer.

[0007] The radiating layer comprises a second dielectric layer and a radiating patch, and the radiating patch is printed on the second dielectric layer.

[0008] The covering layer comprises a third dielectric layer and a plurality of arrayed covering patches, and the covering patches are printed on the third dielectric layer. The covering patch comprises an opening structure, and the third dielectric layer is exposed at the position of the opening structure of the covering patch.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the radiating patch comprises a slit structure, and the slit structure is symmetrically distributed along the central axis of the radiating patch.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the slit structure comprises four sub-slit structures.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sub-slit structure is an L-shaped structure, and the opening of the sub-slit structure faces the center point of the radiation patch.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shape of the cover patch includes a circle and a regular polygon.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the shape of the opening structure is the same as the shape of the cover patch.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the vertical projection of the radiation patch on the first dielectric layer overlaps the vertical projection of the driven patch on the first dielectric layer.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the frequency of the electromagnetic wave signal radiated by the antenna unit is related to the radius of the driven patch, the radiation patch and the cover patch.

[0016] In a second aspect, according to the present disclosure, an antenna array is provided, which includes a plurality of antenna units according to any one of the first aspect.

[0017] The plurality of antenna units are arranged in a predetermined manner to form an antenna array.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the phase difference of the feeding signals received by any two adjacent antenna units in the antenna array is 180 degrees.

[0019] The metasurface-loaded phased array antenna unit and the antenna array provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure include a driving layer, a radiation layer and a cover layer arranged in sequence; the driving layer includes a first dielectric layer and a driven patch, and the driven patch is printed on the first dielectric layer; the radiation layer includes a second dielectric layer and a radiation patch, and the radiation patch is printed on the second dielectric layer; the cover layer includes a third dielectric layer and a plurality of array-arranged cover patches, and the cover patch is printed on the third dielectric layer, and the cover patch includes an opening structure, and the third dielectric layer is exposed at the position of the opening structure of the cover patch. By arranging the antenna unit to include the driving layer, the radiation layer and the cover layer, wherein the cover layer includes the third dielectric layer and the plurality of array-arranged cover patches, the cover patch is printed on the third dielectric layer, and the cover patch includes the opening structure, and the third dielectric layer is exposed at the position of the opening structure of the cover patch, the cover patch including the opening structure can improve the transmittance of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the radiation layer through the cover layer, and further improve the efficiency of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the cover layer. In addition, the cover patch is arranged to have the opening structure, and the electromagnetic wave radiated by the radiation layer will change the radiation direction after passing through the cover layer, so that the electromagnetic wave radiated by the radiation layer has a certain gathering effect after passing through the cover layer, thereby reducing the mutual coupling between the two adjacent antenna units, on the one hand, improving the high-gain radiation of the antenna unit, and on the other hand, reducing the mutual coupling between the two adjacent antenna units.

[0020] The above description is only a summary of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application. In order to make the technical means of the embodiments of the present application more clearly understood, and to be implemented according to the content of the specification, and in order to make the above and other purposes, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present application more obvious and easy to understand, the specific implementation manner of the present application will be described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be noted that the drawings described below only relate to some embodiments of the present disclosure, but not limit the present disclosure. Among them:

[0022] Figure 1 is a top view structural schematic diagram of a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 2 is a top view structural schematic diagram of different layers in a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 3 is a top view structural schematic diagram of different layers in another metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 4 is a top view structural schematic diagram of an antenna array provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] In the drawings, the marks with the same last two digits correspond to the same elements. It should be noted that the elements in the drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to make the purposes, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure more clear, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the described embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor also belong to the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this subject matter belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. As used herein, the statement that two or more parts or components are "connected" or "coupled" together shall mean that the parts are joined or operate together either directly or through one or more intermediate parts or components.

[0029] Reference herein to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearances of the phrase "in an embodiment" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are they necessarily all directed to the same embodiment, or to a single alternative embodiment.

[0030] The term "and / or", merely describes association between associated objects, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B, which can represent: A exists, A and B exist, and B exists. In addition, the character " / " herein generally represents an "or" relationship between the front and rear associated objects.

[0031] In addition, in all embodiments of the present disclosure, terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish one component (or part of a component) from another component (or another part of a component).

[0032] In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more (including two), and similarly, "a plurality of groups" means two or more groups (including two groups).

[0033] In order for those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Based on the problems existing in the prior art antenna unit, the present disclosure provides a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit, Figure 1 is a top view structural schematic diagram of a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit provided by the present disclosure, Figure 2 is a top view structural schematic diagram of different layers in a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit provided by the present disclosure, in combination with Figure 1 and Figure 2The metasurface-loaded phased array antenna unit comprises: a driving layer M1, a radiation layer M2 and a cover layer M3 which are sequentially stacked; the driving layer M1 comprises a first dielectric layer 10 and a driving patch 11, and the driving patch 11 is printed on the first dielectric layer 10; the radiation layer M2 comprises a second dielectric layer 20 and a radiation patch 21, and the radiation patch 21 is printed on the second dielectric layer 20; and the cover layer M3 comprises a third dielectric layer 30 and a plurality of cover patches 31 arranged in an array, the cover patches 31 are printed on the third dielectric layer 30, and the cover patches 31 comprise an opening structure 32, and the third dielectric layer 30 is exposed at the position of the opening structure 32 of the cover patches 31.

[0035] Specifically, the metasurface-loaded phased array antenna unit comprises the driving layer M1, the radiation layer M2 and the cover layer M3 which are sequentially stacked, wherein the driving layer M1 is an important component of the antenna unit, is used for generating high-frequency current and transmitting the high-frequency current to the radiation layer M2. The driving layer M1 is equivalent to an oscillator and a filter. The shape and size of the driving patch 11 in the driving layer M1 can be designed according to the specific frequency and wavelength of the antenna unit. The radiation layer M2 is a core component of the antenna unit, is used for receiving the high-frequency current generated by the driving layer M1 and radiating electromagnetic waves, and the shape and size of the radiation patch 21 in the radiation layer M2 can be designed according to the specific frequency and wavelength of the antenna unit.

[0036] Specifically, the driving layer M1 comprises the first dielectric layer 10 and the driving patch 11, the driving patch 11 is printed on the first dielectric layer 10, the first dielectric layer 10 separates the driving patch 11 from a ground layer, and the high-frequency current generated by the driving layer M1 is transmitted to the radiation layer M2 through the driving patch 11. The radiation layer M2 comprises the second dielectric layer 20 and the radiation patch 21, and the radiation patch 21 forms a radiation array in a predetermined manner, couples the received high-frequency current into electromagnetic waves and radiates the electromagnetic waves to the cover layer M3 through the radiation array.

[0037] The metasurface-loaded phased array antenna unit provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure changes the direction of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation layer M2 through the cover layer M3, reduces the mutual coupling between the adjacent two antenna units, and realizes the high-gain radiation of the antenna unit.

[0038] In a specific embodiment, as shown in Figure 2 the cover layer M3 comprises the third dielectric layer 30 and the plurality of cover patches 31 arranged in an array, the cover patches 31 are printed on the third dielectric layer 30, and the cover patches 31 comprise the opening structure 32, and the third dielectric layer 30 is exposed at the position of the opening structure 32 of the cover patches 31.

[0039] By setting the cover layer M3 to include the array-arranged cover patches 31, the opening structures 32 included in the cover patches 31 can improve the transmittance of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation layer M2 through the cover layer M3, and further improve the efficiency of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the cover layer M3. In addition, the opening structures 32 provided on the cover patches 31 cause the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation layer M2 to change the radiation direction after passing through the cover layer M3, so that the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation layer M2 have a certain convergence effect after passing through the cover layer M3, reducing the mutual coupling between the two adjacent antenna units, that is, the cover layer provided in the antenna unit improves the gain of the antenna unit on the one hand, and reduces the mutual coupling between the two adjacent antenna units on the other hand.

[0040] Specifically, the cover patches 31 are arranged on the third dielectric layer 30, and the cover patches 31 are designed in an array arrangement, and the array-arranged cover patches 31 form a high-efficiency and high-transmittance metasurface unit. In addition, the high-efficiency and high-transmittance metasurface unit formed by the array-arranged cover patches 31 has frequency selectivity and can perform certain filtering operations.

[0041] It should be noted that in the above embodiments, the first dielectric layer 10, the second dielectric layer 20, and the third dielectric layer 30 are composed of dielectric materials, and the thickness of each dielectric layer can also be set according to actual use, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0042] Further, in the above embodiments, the first dielectric layer 10, the second dielectric layer 20, and the third dielectric layer 30 are usually arranged to have the same size, and the first dielectric layer 10, the second dielectric layer 20, and the third dielectric layer 30 having the same size can reduce the overall size of the antenna unit. In other implementable manners, the first dielectric layer 10, the second dielectric layer 20, and the third dielectric layer 30 can also be arranged to have different sizes, which is not specifically limited in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] The metasurface-loaded phased array antenna unit provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a driving layer, a radiation layer, and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer includes a third dielectric layer and a plurality of array-arranged cover patches, the cover patches are printed on the third dielectric layer, the cover patches include opening structures, and the third dielectric layer is exposed at the positions of the opening structures of the cover patches. The cover patches including the opening structures can improve the transmittance of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation layer through the cover layer, and further improve the efficiency of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the cover layer. In addition, the opening structures provided on the cover patches cause the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation layer to change the radiation direction after passing through the cover layer, so that the electromagnetic waves radiated by the radiation layer have a certain convergence effect after passing through the cover layer, reducing the mutual coupling between the two adjacent antenna units, improving the high-gain radiation of the antenna unit on the one hand, and reducing the mutual coupling between the two adjacent antenna units on the other hand.

[0044] As an implementation manner, Figure 3 is another top view structure schematic diagram of different layers in a metasurface loaded phased array antenna unit provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Figure 3 As shown, the radiation patch M2 includes a slit structure 22, and the slit structure 22 is symmetrically distributed along the central axis of the radiation patch M2.

[0045] In a specific implementation, by setting that the radiation patch M2 includes the slit structure 22, and the slit structure 22 is symmetrically distributed along the central axis of the radiation patch M2, the slit structure 22 set increases the path length of the high-frequency current on the radiation patch M2. The increase of the path length of the high-frequency current on the radiation patch makes the frequency of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the radiation layer increase. Therefore, when the electromagnetic wave in a fixed frequency range is needed, the slit structure is set on the radiation patch, and the miniaturization of the antenna can be realized.

[0046] In addition, the slit structure set on the radiation patch will introduce a new frequency, and further introduce a new resonance frequency point. When the introduced new frequency and the original frequency of the radiation patch are two adjacent frequency bands, the introduced new resonance frequency point will be a continuous resonance frequency point with the original resonance frequency point of the radiation patch, thereby widening the bandwidth of the antenna unit.

[0047] Continuing to refer to Figure 3 As a specific implementation, the slit structure 22 includes four sub-slit structures.

[0048] Specifically, the sub-slit structure is an L-shaped structure, and the opening of the sub-slit structure faces the center point of the radiation patch.

[0049] As a specific implementation, as shown in Figure 3 The slit structure includes four sub-slit structures, and the sub-slit structure is an L-shaped structure, and the sub-slit structure is symmetrically distributed along the central axis of the radiation patch.

[0050] The central axis of the radiation patch includes a central axis along the X direction and a central axis along the Y direction, and the central axis of the radiation patch passes through the center point of the radiation patch.

[0051] By adopting four L-shaped slits to increase the path of the surface current of the radiation patch, the miniaturization of the antenna unit is realized. In addition, the slit structure on the radiation patch will introduce a new resonance frequency point, thereby widening the bandwidth of the antenna unit.

[0052] In a specific implementation process, the second dielectric layer 20 is exposed at the position of the slit structure 22 of the radiation patch M2.

[0053] It should be noted that in the above embodiment, the slot structure 22 is exemplarily represented as including four sub-slot structures, and the sub-slot structure is an L-shaped structure. In other implementable manners, the number of slot structures included in the radiating patch can be multiple, and the shape of the sub-slot structure can be other structures, as long as the slot structures on the radiating patch are symmetrically distributed along the central axis of the radiating patch, and the embodiment of the present disclosure does not make a specific limitation in this regard.

[0054] On the basis of the above embodiment, it is continued to refer to Figure 2 The shape of the covering patch 31 includes a circle or a regular polygon.

[0055] The shape of the opening structure 32 is the same as that of the covering patch 31.

[0056] As a specific implementation, the array arrangement of the covering patch formed on the third dielectric layer is the top layer of the antenna unit, and the array arrangement of the covering patch can be understood as a super surface covering layer. Exemplarily, the super surface covering layer is composed of 4*4 circular rings, which can realize high-efficiency radiation in the frequency band required by the antenna unit, and can reduce the mutual coupling between the two antenna units.

[0057] It should be noted that in the above embodiment, the covering patch is exemplarily represented as a circle, and the opening structure formed on the covering patch is also a circle. In other implementable manners, the covering patch can be a square, and the opening structure formed on the covering patch is also a square, or the covering patch is a rectangle, and the opening structure formed on the covering patch is a rectangle. The specific shape of the array-arranged covering patch is not limited in the functional embodiment, as long as the shape of the opening structure formed on the covering patch is the same as that of the covering patch.

[0058] In addition, Figure 2 In the above embodiment, the covering patch formed on the third dielectric layer is array-arranged in a 4*4 arrangement manner. The covering patch can also be in other arrangement manners. The arrangement manner of the covering patch is related to the shape of the third dielectric layer, and the embodiment of the present disclosure does not make a specific limitation in this regard.

[0059] On the basis of the above embodiment, the frequency of the electromagnetic wave signal radiated by the antenna unit is related to the radius of the driving patch, the radiating patch, and the covering patch.

[0060] By changing the radius of the driving patch, the radiating patch, and the covering patch, the frequency of the electromagnetic wave signal radiated by the antenna unit can be changed.

[0061] In addition, in the above embodiment, the shapes of the driving patch and the radiating patch are exemplarily represented as circles. In other implementable manners, the shapes of the driving patch and the radiating patch can also be other shapes, and the embodiment of the present disclosure does not make a specific limitation in this regard.

[0062] On the basis of the above-mentioned embodiments, the disclosure embodiments further provide an antenna array, Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the antenna array provided by the disclosure embodiments, as Figure 4 shown, the antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna units according to any one of the above-mentioned embodiments; the plurality of antenna units are arranged in a preset manner to form the antenna array.

[0063] Among them, the phase difference of the feeding signals received by any two adjacent antenna units in the antenna array is 180 degrees.

[0064] When the design of the phased array arrangement is completed, a cross-mirror arrangement is adopted, as Figure 4 shown, the phases of the feeding signals received by the antenna unit 1 and the antenna unit 2 are mirror-processed in the Y direction, and the phases of the feeding signals received by the antenna unit 3 and the antenna unit 4 are mirror-processed in the Y direction, wherein the phases of the feeding signals provided by the two adjacent antenna units are provided in a manner of 0° and 180° arrangement, that is, the feeding phase of the antenna unit 1 is 0°, and the feeding phase of the antenna unit 2 is 180°.

[0065] When the phase difference of the feeding signals received by the two adjacent antenna units is 180 degrees, the directions of the high-frequency currents generated by the driving layers of the two adjacent antenna units are opposite, thereby weakening the coupling of the electromagnetic waves generated by the two connected antenna units in the radiation layer, and reducing the mutual coupling effect between the antenna units.

[0066] The antenna array provided by the embodiments of the present application can be applied to a wireless communication device.

[0067] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, device and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are only schematic, for example, the division of the modules or units is only a logical function division, and actual implementation can have another division manner, for example, a plurality of units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed each other can be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms.

[0068] The function units or modules in each embodiment of the present application can be integrated in one processing unit, or each unit can be physically present separately, or two or more units can be integrated in one unit. The above-mentioned integrated unit can be realized in the form of hardware or in the form of software function unit.

[0069] If the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software function unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer readable storage medium. Based on such understanding, the technical solutions of the present application essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or the whole or part of the technical solutions can be embodied in the form of a software product. The computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes a number of instructions for causing a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) or a processor to execute all or part of the steps of the embodiments of the method of the present application. The aforementioned storage medium includes: a U disk, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk, and various media that can store program codes.

[0070] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular form "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Accordingly, the use of "a" or "an" herein and in the following claims is intended to be interpreted to include the plural, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the words "comprise," "comprises," and "comprising" are to be interpreted inclusively rather than exclusively. Likewise, the terms "include," "including," and "includes" should be construed to be inclusive, unless otherwise indicated herein. Where the term "example" is used occurring in this document, particularly with respect to a term or phrase, the "example" is merely an example and is not to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other examples.

[0071] Further aspects and scope of adaptation become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be appreciated that individual aspects of the present application can be implemented alone or in combination with one or more other aspects. It should also be appreciated that the description and specific examples herein are intended to be for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

[0072] The above detailed description of several embodiments of the present disclosure has been described, but it is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The protection scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An antenna array, characterized by The antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna units, and each of the antenna units comprises a driving layer, a radiating layer and a covering layer which are sequentially stacked; The driving layer comprises a first dielectric layer and a driving patch, and the driving patch is printed on the first dielectric layer; The radiating layer comprises a second dielectric layer and a radiating patch, and the radiating patch is printed on the second dielectric layer; The covering layer comprises a third dielectric layer and a plurality of covering patches which are arranged in an array, and the covering patches are printed on the third dielectric layer, and the covering patches comprise an opening structure, and the third dielectric layer is exposed at the position of the opening structure of the covering patches; The radiating patch comprises a slit structure, and the slit structure is symmetrically distributed along a central axis of the radiating patch; The slit structure comprises four sub-slit structures, and each of the sub-slit structures is an L-shaped structure, and the opening of each of the sub-slit structures faces a central point of the radiating patch; The plurality of antenna units are arranged in a preset manner to form an antenna array, and the phase difference of the feeding signals received by any two adjacent antenna units in the antenna array is 180 degrees.

2. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein, The shape of the covering patch comprises a circle and a regular polygon.

3. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein, The shape of the opening structure is the same as the shape of the covering patch.

4. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein, The vertical projection of the radiating patch on the first dielectric layer overlaps the vertical projection of the driving patch on the first dielectric layer.

5. The antenna array of claim 1, wherein, The frequency of the electromagnetic wave signal radiated by the antenna unit is related to the radius of the driving patch, the radiating patch and the covering patch.

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