Microwave millimeter wave co-aperture patch antenna

Abstract

The microwave millimeter wave co-aperture patch antenna comprises a metal reflecting floor, an upper layer dielectric substrate and a microwave metal patch arranged in a laminated manner, the microwave metal patch has an open slot and a microwave coupling slot, and a millimeter wave metal patch and a microwave feed strip are arranged inside respectively, the outer edge of the open slot is connected to the metal reflecting floor through a grounding rod, a millimeter wave signal excites the TM 01 mode of the millimeter wave metal patch, realizes millimeter wave broadside radiation of the millimeter wave metal patch, part of the energy is coupled to the outer edge of the open slot through the coplanar waveguide, and a vertical current is formed on the grounding rod, thereby generating low elevation angle radiation in the millimeter wave band, the millimeter wave broadside radiation and the low elevation angle radiation interact, and wide beam radiation of the millimeter wave is realized. Through unique structure optimization and technical innovation, the beam width of the millimeter wave is widened, and the miniaturization, low cost and high reliability of the antenna are maintained.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to beamwidth technology for microwave and millimeter-wave common-aperture patch antennas. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of wireless communication technology and the continuous increase in the number of frequency bands, higher demands are placed on the miniaturization and integration of antenna systems. To achieve this goal, common-aperture antenna technology has emerged, which significantly reduces the size and complexity of the system by integrating the antenna functions of multiple frequency bands within the same radiating aperture. Millimeter-wave bands, in particular, have become key to 5G and future communication technologies due to their high resolution and abundant bandwidth. However, the high directivity of millimeter-wave antennas requires flexible beam scanning capabilities to adapt to dynamic communication environments. Therefore, widening the beamwidth of common-aperture antennas in the millimeter-wave band and optimizing their scanning performance has become an important research direction in the field of antenna design. Based on this, this invention innovatively combines the method of beam widening patch antennas with common-aperture antennas, proposing a microwave and millimeter-wave common-aperture patch antenna beam widening technology, aiming to improve the beam scanning capability of common-aperture patch antennas in the millimeter-wave band and increase signal coverage.

[0003] Currently, there are several types of co-aperture fusion for microwave and millimeter-wave antennas. The first type involves connecting a microwave antenna and a millimeter-wave antenna with a single-feed excitation filter. While these can be mounted on the same substrate, the overall aperture utilization is relatively low, and there is an issue of inconsistent low-frequency and high-frequency radiation types. The second type integrates a millimeter-wave frequency-selective surface into a microwave patch and stacks it with a millimeter-wave array, achieving co-aperture fusion of the microwave patch antenna and the millimeter-wave antenna. Compared to the first type, this improves aperture utilization, but the low-frequency antenna's operating mode results in an excessively high overall profile, narrow bandwidth, and complex structure that is difficult to integrate. The third type involves thickening the low-frequency patch to form a substrate-integrated waveguide or resonant cavity, and then slotting its surface to form a millimeter-wave antenna, thus achieving co-aperture fusion of the microwave patch antenna and the millimeter-wave antenna. This method has good aperture utilization, but the limited low-frequency antenna operating mode leads to an excessively high overall profile, narrow bandwidth, and a limitation on the number of elements in the millimeter-wave array. The fourth type is a low-frequency patch antenna unit with an embedded millimeter-wave dielectric resonator antenna array, which realizes the fusion of microwave patch antenna and millimeter-wave antenna with the same aperture. This method also has a good aperture utilization rate and improved operating bandwidth. However, due to the working mode of millimeter-wave antenna, the number of elements in the millimeter-wave array is limited, and the operating bandwidth needs to be further improved.

[0004] Currently, the main methods for widening the beam of patch antennas fall into the following categories. The first category is antenna shape optimization: by designing patches of different shapes (such as elliptical or circular), different resonant frequencies are achieved, thus adjusting the beamwidth. For example, an "elliptical patch antenna" can widen the beam. The second category is antenna structure modification: such as using multilayer structures, compensating slots, or widening the feed line, to change the antenna's radiation characteristics. For example, a "slotted patch antenna" can extend the beamwidth. The third category is introducing antenna arrays: by arranging multiple patch antennas into an array, the beamwidth is extended. For example, linear or two-dimensional array patch antennas widen the main lobe beam through different arrangements. The fourth category is using dielectric materials: by selecting appropriate dielectric materials or adjusting the dielectric thickness, the beamwidth can be affected. For example, using a "high dielectric constant dielectric" as the substrate of the patch can adjust the beamwidth.

[0005] Currently, beamforming technology is relatively scarce in the research field of microwave and millimeter-wave co-aperture antennas. Furthermore, existing designs generally suffer from insufficient aperture utilization, high structural complexity, excessively high overall profile, and difficulty in achieving high integration.

[0006] Although there are various methods to try to widen the beamwidth of patch antennas, such as shape optimization, structural modification, array configuration and dielectric material selection, these methods often come at the cost of increased design complexity, cost or impact on other performance parameters, and often require separate design, making them unsuitable for the fusion requirements of co-aperture antennas. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to address the shortcomings of existing technologies by proposing a microwave / millimeter-wave common-aperture patch antenna. Through unique structural optimization and technological innovation, it achieves effective beamwidth broadening while maintaining miniaturization, low cost, and high reliability. Furthermore, this design specifically considers environmental adaptability to ensure stable performance under various operating conditions, meeting the stringent antenna performance requirements of modern communication systems.

[0008] To achieve the objectives of this invention, the proposed microwave-millimeter-wave co-aperture patch antenna comprises a metal reflector ground plane, an upper dielectric substrate, and a microwave metal patch stacked sequentially from bottom to top. The microwave metal patch features a centrally located open slot and a microwave coupling slot on one side of the open slot. The open slot contains a millimeter-wave metal patch excited by a millimeter-wave signal located on the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate. The microwave coupling slot contains a microwave feed strip excited by a microwave signal located on the upper surface of the upper dielectric substrate. The outer edge of the open slot is connected to the metal reflector ground plane via a grounding rod that penetrates the upper dielectric substrate and is centrally symmetrical about the millimeter-wave metal patch. The millimeter-wave signal excites the TM (microwave transducer) of the millimeter-wave metal patch. 01The model realizes millimeter-wave lateral radiation of millimeter-wave metal patches, and the TM of millimeter-wave metal patches. 01 Part of the mode's energy is coupled to the outer edge of the open slot through coplanar coupling and forms a vertical current on the grounding rod, thereby generating low elevation angle radiation in the millimeter wave band. The millimeter wave side radiation interacts with the low elevation angle radiation in the millimeter wave band to achieve wide beam radiation of the millimeter wave.

[0009] In the antenna of this invention, microwave signals are coplanarly coupled to a microwave metal patch via a microwave feed strip, exciting the TM of the microwave metal patch. 01 The model enables microwave side-radiation of microwave metal patches.

[0010] Furthermore, a lower dielectric substrate is disposed on the lower surface of the metal reflective floor, and a microwave feed line and a millimeter-wave feed line are disposed on the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate. The microwave feed line is connected to the microwave feed strip through a first probe that penetrates the lower dielectric substrate, the metal reflective floor, and the upper dielectric substrate. The millimeter-wave feed line is connected to the millimeter-wave metal patch through a second probe that penetrates the lower dielectric substrate, the metal reflective floor, and the upper dielectric substrate.

[0011] Furthermore, the grounding rod is positioned near a location with a strong electric field on the millimeter-wave metal patch, thereby enhancing the TM of the millimeter-wave metal patch. 01 The mode can couple to the grounding rod and thus perpendicular to the electric field.

[0012] Specifically, the millimeter-wave metal patch is rectangular, and the open slot forms recesses at the four corners of the millimeter-wave metal patch. The grounding rod is positioned near the recesses of the millimeter-wave metal patch. This design makes the open slot "king" shaped.

[0013] In this antenna, the magnitude of the vertical current formed on the grounding rod is adjusted by setting the number of grounding rods and / or the distance between the grounding rods and the outer edge of the millimeter-wave metal patch, thereby adjusting the radiation pattern of the millimeter-wave wide beam.

[0014] This invention has the following characteristics:

[0015] This invention features an open slot at the center of a microwave metal patch and centrally symmetrical metallized vias arranged around the outer edge of the open slot. A millimeter-wave metal patch is embedded within the open slot. The grounding rod and the millimeter-wave metal patch work together to enhance the antenna's radiation performance. This allows the common-aperture patch antenna of this invention to effectively broaden the beamwidth in the millimeter-wave band while maintaining a compact structure and simple design. It provides a high-performance and compact antenna solution for the microwave communication field. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 Exploded view of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 Cross-sectional view of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 Top view of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 Top view of the metal reflection floor of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 Bottom view of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 Simulation results of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention; (a) low frequency band, (b) high frequency band.

[0023] Figure 8 Simulation radiation pattern of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention in the microwave band; (a) E plane, (b) H plane.

[0024] Figure 9 Simulation radiation pattern of the antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention in the millimeter wave band; (a) E plane, (b) H plane.

[0025] Reference numerals in the attached drawings are shown as follows: 1 - upper metal layer; 11 - microwave metal patch; 111 - open slot; 112 - microwave coupling slot; 12 - millimeter wave metal patch; 2 - upper dielectric substrate; 3 - metal reflection floor; 31 - first non-metallized slot; 32 - second non-metallized slot; 4 - lower dielectric substrate; 51 - microwave feeder; 52 - millimeter wave feeder; 61 - first probe; 62 - second probe; 63 - ground rod. Detailed implementation manners

[0026] The following will further explain and illustrate the present invention in detail with reference to the attached drawings, so that those skilled in the art can understand the present invention more deeply and be able to implement it. However, the following is only for explaining the present invention through reference examples and is not a limitation of the present invention.

[0027] As Figures 1 to 6As shown, this embodiment of the invention discloses a microwave and millimeter-wave common-aperture patch antenna, comprising a lower dielectric substrate 4, a metal reflective ground plane 3, an upper dielectric substrate 2, and a top metal layer 1 stacked sequentially from bottom to top. The top metal layer 1 includes a microwave metal patch 11, a millimeter-wave metal patch 12, and a microwave feed strip 13. The microwave metal patch 11 has an open slot 111 located at its center, and the millimeter-wave metal patch 12 is disposed within the open slot 111. A microwave coupling slot 112 is also formed on one side of the open slot 111, and the microwave metal patch 11 is disposed within the microwave coupling slot 112. The lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate 4 is provided with a microwave feed line 51 and a millimeter-wave feed line 52 for signal input. The microwave feed line 51 is connected to the microwave feed strip 13 via a first probe 61 that penetrates the lower dielectric substrate 4, the metal reflective ground plane 3, and the upper dielectric substrate 2. The millimeter-wave feed line 52 is connected to the millimeter-wave metal patch 12 via a second probe 62 that penetrates the lower dielectric substrate 4, the metal reflective ground plane 3, and the upper dielectric substrate 2. Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown, the first probe 61 and the second probe 62 are metallized vias, and the metal reflective floor 3 is provided with a first non-metallized groove 31 and a second non-metallized groove 32 to avoid the first probe 61 and the second probe 62.

[0028] The microwave signal is sequentially fed into the microwave feed strip 13 via the microwave feed line 51 and the first probe 61. The microwave signal is coplanarly coupled to the microwave metal patch 11 through the microwave feed strip 13, exciting the TM of the microwave metal patch 11. 01 The microwave side-emitting radiation of the microwave metal patch 11 is realized. The millimeter-wave signal is fed into the millimeter-wave metal patch 12 sequentially through the millimeter-wave feed line 52 and the second probe 62, exciting the TM of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12. 01 The model enables millimeter-wave side-radiation of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12.

[0029] In this embodiment, the outer edge of the open slot 111 is connected to the metal reflective ground plane 3 via a plurality of grounding rods 63 that penetrate the upper dielectric substrate 2 and are centrally symmetrical about the millimeter-wave metal patch 12. Specifically, the open slot 111 forms concave indentations at the four corners of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12, making the open slot 111 roughly "King" shaped, and the grounding rods 63 are disposed near the concave areas of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12. In this embodiment, five grounding rods 63 are disposed at each concave area. The TM of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12... 01 Part of the mode's energy is coupled coplanarly to the outer edge of the open slot 111 and forms a vertical current on the grounding rod 63, thereby generating low-elevation radiation in the millimeter-wave band. The millimeter-wave side-radiation radiation interacts with the low-elevation radiation in the millimeter-wave band to achieve wide-beam radiation of the millimeter wave. In this embodiment, the grounding rod 63 also uses a metallized via.

[0030] In this embodiment, the grounding rod 63 is set near the area with a strong electric field of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12. The magnitude of the vertical current formed on the grounding rod 63 can be adjusted by setting the number of grounding rods 63 and / or the distance between the grounding rod 63 and the millimeter-wave metal patch 12, thereby adjusting the radiation pattern of the millimeter-wave wide beam.

[0031] In the above structure, the microwave metal patch 11, the microwave feed strip 13, the upper dielectric substrate 2, and the metal reflector 3 constitute the main body of the common aperture patch antenna in the microwave frequency band; the millimeter wave metal patch 12, the upper dielectric substrate 2, the metal reflector 3, and the grounding rod 63 embedded in the open slot 111 of the microwave metal patch 11 constitute the main body of the common aperture patch antenna in the millimeter wave frequency band.

[0032] When a microwave signal is fed in from the microwave feed line 51 at port 1, the microwave signal is transmitted to the microwave feed strip 13 through the metal probe 61. Then, the signal is coplanarly coupled to the microwave metal patch 11 with an open slot 111 in the center, exciting the TM of the microwave metal patch 11. 01 The mode enables microwave side-emitting radiation. When a millimeter-wave signal is fed in from the millimeter-wave feed line 52 at port 2, the signal is transmitted through a metal probe to the millimeter-wave metal patch 12 embedded in the open slot 111 of the microwave metal patch 11, exciting the TM of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12. 01 The signal is generated by side-emitting radiation, and then part of the signal is coupled to the outer edge of the open slot 111 through coplanar coupling, and flows back to the metal reflective ground plate 3 through the grounding rod 63. The vertical current formed on the grounding rod 63 generates low elevation angle radiation in the millimeter wave band, which interacts with the millimeter wave side-emitting radiation of the millimeter wave metal patch 12 to jointly form a wide beam radiation effect.

[0033] The parameters of the antenna in this embodiment of the invention are shown in the table below.

[0034]

[0035] In the table, l g The lengths of media patch 2 and media patch 4, w g The widths of media patch 2 and media patch 4, h 1 represents the thickness of dielectric patch 2. h 2 represents the thickness of the dielectric patch 4. l 1 represents the length of the microwave metal patch 11. w 1 represents the width of the microwave metal patch 11. l s The length of microwave feed strip 13, w s The width of microwave feed strip 13, g sThe width of the gap between the microwave feed strip 13 and the microwave metal patch 11. l 2 represents the length of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12. w 2 represents the width of the millimeter-wave metal patch 12. l p The length of the recess in the open groove 111, w p The width of the recess in the open groove 111, d p The spacing of the recesses on the same side of the open groove 111, g l Let be the side length of open slot 111. r 1 represents the radius of the first probe 61. r 2 represents the radius of the second probe 62. r 3 represents the radius of the grounding rod 63. wf 1 represents the width of the microwave feed line. wf 2 represents the width of the millimeter-wave line.

[0036] The simulation matching and port isolation of the antenna in this embodiment are as follows: Figure 7 As shown, port 1 is the feed port for the antenna in the microwave band, and port 2 is the feed port for the antenna in the millimeter-wave band. From Figure 7 It can be seen that the operating frequency band of this case covers 3.59~3.62 GHz in the microwave band with a relative bandwidth of 0.8%, and the operating frequency band of the millimeter wave band covers 25.9~26.7 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 3%. Figure 8 (a) and Figure 8 (b) The antenna at 3.61 GHz is given respectively. E Face to face H The surface-simulated radiation pattern has 3dB beamwidths of 84.5° and 88.5°, respectively. Figure 9 (a) and Figure 9 (b) The antenna at 26.3 GHz is given respectively. E Face to face H The simulated radiation pattern shows 3dB beamwidths of 130.6° and 102°. In this case, the dielectric substrate used has a relative permittivity of 3.38, and the antenna's electrical dimension is 0.26λ. L ×0.24λ L ×0.011λ L 3 .

[0037] The specific implementation schemes described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific implementation schemes of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and modifications made by those skilled in the art without departing from the concept and principles of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A microwave millimeter wave co-boresight patch antenna, comprising a metal reflecting floor (3), an upper layer dielectric substrate (2) and a microwave metal patch (11) which are sequentially stacked from bottom to top, characterized in that: The microwave metal patch (11) has an open slot (111) in the center and a microwave coupling slot (112) on one side of the open slot (111), the open slot (111) has a millimeter wave metal patch (12) on the upper surface of the upper layer dielectric substrate (2) excited by a millimeter wave signal, the microwave coupling slot (112) has a microwave feed strip (13) on the upper surface of the upper layer dielectric substrate (2) excited by a microwave signal, the outer edge of the open slot (111) is connected to the metal reflection floor (3) through a plurality of ground rods (63) penetrating the upper layer dielectric substrate (2) and being centrally symmetric about the millimeter wave metal patch (12), the millimeter wave signal excites the TM 01 mode of the millimeter wave metal patch (12), realizes millimeter wave edge radiation of the millimeter wave metal patch (12), part of the energy of the TM 01 mode of the millimeter wave metal patch (12) is coupled to the outer edge of the open slot (111) by coplanar coupling and forms a vertical current on the ground rod (63), thereby generating low elevation angle radiation in the millimeter wave band, the millimeter wave edge radiation interacts with the low elevation angle radiation in the millimeter wave band, and wide beam radiation of the millimeter wave is realized.

2. The microwave / millimeter-wave corporate-fed patch antenna of claim 1, wherein: The microwave signal is coupled to the microwave metal patch (11) by the microwave feed strip (13) in the same plane, exciting the TM 01 mode of the microwave metal patch (11), realizing the microwave edge radiation of the microwave metal patch (11).

3. The microwave / millimeter-wave corporate-fed patch antenna of claim 1, wherein: The lower surface of the metal reflective floor (3) is provided with a lower dielectric substrate (4), the lower surface of the lower dielectric substrate (4) is provided with a microwave feed line (51) and a millimeter wave feed line (52), the microwave feed line (51) is connected to the microwave feed strip (13) through the first probe (61) penetrating the lower dielectric substrate (4), the metal reflective floor (3) and the upper dielectric substrate (2), and the millimeter wave feed line (52) is connected to the millimeter wave metal patch (12) through the second probe (62) penetrating the lower dielectric substrate (4), the metal reflective floor (3) and the upper dielectric substrate (2); the microwave signal is fed into the microwave feed strip (13) through the microwave feed line (51) and the first probe (61) in sequence, and the millimeter wave signal is fed into the millimeter wave metal patch (12) through the millimeter wave feed line (52) and the second probe (62) in sequence.

4. The microwave / millimeter-wave corporate-fed patch antenna of claim 3, wherein: The first probe (61) and the second probe (62) are metallized vias, and the metal reflective floor (3) is provided with a first non-metallized groove (31) and a second non-metallized groove (32) avoiding the first probe (61) and the second probe (62).

5. The microwave / millimeter-wave corporate-fed patch antenna of claim 1, wherein: The millimeter wave metal patch (12) is rectangular, the open slot (111) forms a recess at the four corners of the millimeter wave metal patch (12), and the grounding rod (63) is arranged at the recess close to the millimeter wave metal patch (12).

6. The microwave / millimeter-wave corporate-fed patch antenna of claim 5, wherein: Each recess of the open slot (111) is provided with five grounding rods (63), and the distance between the grounding rod (63) and the outer edge of the millimeter wave metal patch (12) is a preset value, so as to realize a specific millimeter wave wide beam pattern.

7. The microwave / millimeter-wave corporate-fed patch antenna of claim 1, wherein: The microwave metal patch (11), the microwave feed strip (13), the upper dielectric substrate (2) and the metal reflective floor (3) form a radiation main body of a co-boresight patch antenna in a microwave frequency band; The millimeter wave metal patch (12), the upper dielectric substrate (2), the metal reflective floor (3) and the grounding rod (63) embedded in the open slot (111) of the microwave metal patch (11) form a wide beam radiation main body of a co-boresight patch antenna in a millimeter wave frequency band.

8. The microwave / millimeter-wave corporate-fed patch antenna of claim 1, wherein: The grounding rod (63) is a metallized via.

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