Broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array antenna with high aperture efficiency

Abstract

The invention provides a broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array antenna with high aperture efficiency, relates to the field of microwave antennas and arrays, meets the requirements of wireless communication and radar detection for high-gain and high-directionality wave beams, and is composed of a core dielectric layer, a gradient impedance matching layer and a connecting layer. A dielectric unit with broadband and polarization conversion characteristics is obtained by adjusting the structures of a core dielectric layer and a gradient impedance matching layer of the unit, on this basis, dielectric units with six different transmission phases are obtained by adjusting geometrical shapes, and a circularly polarized transmission array antenna is formed by using 384 dielectric unit structures. The invention provides a new method for designing the broadband polarizer and improving the aperture efficiency of the array.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of microwave antennas and arrays, and in particular to a broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array antenna with high aperture efficiency. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of wireless communication technology, antennas serve as a bridge for the conversion of electromagnetic waves and electrical signals, and their performance directly affects the efficiency and quality of communication systems. Circularly polarized high aperture efficiency antennas, with their unique advantages and excellent performance, play an important role in satellite communications, radar detection, radio frequency identification and other fields. The electric field vector of circularly polarized waves rotates at a constant angular velocity in the propagation direction, showing significant advantages such as strong anti-multipath interference capability, no need for strict alignment of transceiver antennas, and suitability for mobile communications. As a key indicator to measure the radiation capability of an antenna, high aperture efficiency means that the antenna can more effectively convert input power into radiated power, thereby improving system performance.

[0003] Circularly polarized high aperture efficiency antennas combine the advantages of circular polarization and high aperture efficiency, and can achieve efficient and stable wireless signal transmission, meeting the urgent needs of modern wireless communication systems for high-performance antennas. In recent years, with the emergence of new materials and new processes, the research and application of circularly polarized high aperture efficiency antennas have made significant progress, their performance has been continuously improved, and their application areas have been continuously expanded. Summary of the invention

[0004] Technical problem: The purpose of the present invention is to realize a broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency to meet the urgent demand for high-performance antennas in modern wireless communication systems.

[0005] Technical solution: A broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array antenna with high aperture efficiency of the present invention is composed of 384 dielectric unit structures with six different transmission phases to form a circular aperture transmission array; the six dielectric units with different transmission phases are: a first dielectric unit, a second dielectric unit, a third dielectric unit, a fourth dielectric unit, a fifth dielectric unit, and a sixth dielectric unit, and the corresponding main polarization transmission phases are 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300°, respectively; the six dielectric units with different transmission phases are six polarization conversion phase shift units, which are periodically distributed on the circular aperture of the planar dielectric transmission array to form a phase distribution of a focused beam directed to a target, so that the phase difference between two orthogonal linear polarization waves after incidence is 90°, thereby realizing the conversion of linear polarization waves into circular polarization waves.

[0006] The 384 dielectric units with different transmission phases are arranged on the circular aperture transmission array as follows: two rows of sixth dielectric units arranged in a cross-shaped manner in the horizontal direction and two rows of sixth dielectric units arranged in the vertical direction are located at the center; fifth dielectric units are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the sixth dielectric units arranged in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, fourth dielectric units are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the fifth dielectric units, second dielectric units are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the fourth dielectric units, third dielectric units are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the second dielectric units, first dielectric units are arranged between the fourth dielectric units and the second dielectric units, and sixth dielectric units are arranged in the outermost layer.

[0007] The first dielectric unit, the second dielectric unit, the third dielectric unit, the fourth dielectric unit, the fifth dielectric unit, and the sixth dielectric unit are respectively composed of a 5-layer structure; wherein the middle layer is a connecting layer, the upper and lower surfaces of the connecting layer are core dielectric layers respectively, the outer surfaces of the upper and lower core dielectric layers are gradient impedance matching layers, and the outer surfaces of the core dielectric layer and the gradient impedance matching layer are air media; by adjusting the bottom width of the core dielectric layer and the gradient impedance matching layer to W1, the top width to W2, and the height to h2, dielectric units with six different transmission phases of main polarization transmission phases of 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300° are realized.

[0008] In the first dielectric unit, the connection layer is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers with a square cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer, and terrace-shaped gradient impedance matching layers with a square cross section are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers.

[0009] In the second dielectric unit, the shape of the connecting layer is a platform with a square cross-section, and columnar core dielectric layers with square cross-sections are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connecting layer, and prism-shaped gradient impedance matching layers are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers, and the bottom width of the prism is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2.

[0010] In the third dielectric unit, the shape of the connection layer is a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers with a square cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer, and frustum-shaped gradient impedance matching layers are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers, the bottom width of the frustum is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2. The height of the frustum of the third dielectric unit is greater than the height of the prism of the second dielectric unit.

[0011] In the fourth dielectric unit, the shape of the connection layer is a platform with a square cross section, and a columnar core dielectric layer with a rectangular cross section is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer, and a trapezoidal terrace-shaped gradient impedance matching layer is provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers, respectively. The bottom width of the trapezoidal terrace is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2.

[0012] In the fifth dielectric unit, the shape of the connection layer is a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers with a rectangular cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer, and frustum-shaped gradient impedance matching layers are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers, the bottom width of the frustum is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2. The height of the frustum of the fifth dielectric unit is greater than the height of the trapezoidal platform of the fourth dielectric unit.

[0013] In the sixth dielectric unit, the connection layer is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers with a rectangular cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer (72), and terrace-shaped gradient impedance matching layers with a rectangular cross section are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers.

[0014] The gradient impedance matching layer, the connection layer and the core dielectric layer are all made of polylactic acid material, and are processed and formed by 3D printing technology of fused deposition modeling.

[0015] Beneficial effects: The present invention proposes a broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency. By designing units with low insertion loss and gradient impedance matching structure, the bandwidth and gain of the circularly polarized dielectric transmission array are greatly expanded. Further, by modifying the geometric dimensions of the dielectric unit, polarization conversion and phase control of the circularly polarized transmitted wave can be achieved. Compared with the circularly polarized transmission array manufactured based on the PCB process, this method is more cost-effective and has bandwidth advantages. Compared with the 3D printed transmission array, the present invention only uses an integrated dual-functional layer to achieve phase control and polarization conversion, and has higher aperture efficiency and wider axial ratio bandwidth. The test of the circular aperture transmission array antenna sample composed of 384 units showed that the 3dB gain bandwidth was 29.8%, the 3dB axial ratio bandwidth was 41.9%, and the aperture efficiency was 65.7%. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of the specification. Together with the embodiments of the present invention, they are used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

[0017] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the arrangement order of the six medium units in the specific implementation mode of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of six kinds of medium units in a specific implementation manner of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 It is a graph showing the variation of the amplitude of the main polarization and cross-polarization transmission coefficients of the unit under two orthogonal linear polarization incident waves with frequency;

[0020] Figure 4 The transmission coefficient phase of the right-hand circularly polarized wave of the unit under the incidence of the linearly polarized wave in the present invention varies with the frequency;

[0021] Figure 5 The diagram is a graph showing the simulated and measured array gain and aperture efficiency changing with frequency in the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 is the array axial ratio bandwidth simulated and measured in the present invention;

[0023] Figure 7 It is the directional diagram of the transmission array simulation and actual measurement in the present invention.

[0024] The figure includes: a gradient impedance matching layer 71, a connecting layer 72, a core dielectric layer 73, an air dielectric 74, a dielectric unit with a total height of h1, a bottom width of W1, a top width of W2, and a height of h2; a first dielectric unit 1, a second dielectric unit 2, a third dielectric unit 3, a fourth dielectric unit 4, a fifth dielectric unit 5, and a sixth dielectric unit 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0026] The broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency of the present invention comprises: a core dielectric layer, a gradient impedance matching layer and a connection layer. By adjusting the structure of the unit core dielectric layer and the gradient impedance matching layer, a dielectric unit with broadband and polarization conversion characteristics is obtained. On this basis, six dielectric units with different transmission phases are obtained by adjusting the geometric shape. 384 of the above dielectric unit structures constitute a circular aperture transmission array.

[0027] In order to further explain the technical means and effects adopted by the present invention to achieve the predetermined invention purpose, the specific implementation methods, structures, features and effects of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments.

[0028] As attached Figure 1As shown, the transmission array antenna is composed of 384 dielectric unit structures with six different transmission phases to form a circular aperture transmission array; the six dielectric units with different transmission phases are: a first dielectric unit 1, a second dielectric unit 2, a third dielectric unit 3, a fourth dielectric unit 4, a fifth dielectric unit 5, and a sixth dielectric unit 6, and the corresponding main polarization transmission phases are 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300°, respectively; the six dielectric units with different transmission phases are six polarization conversion phase shift units, which are periodically distributed on the circular aperture of the planar dielectric transmission array to form a phase distribution of a focused beam directed to a target, so that the phase difference between two orthogonal linear polarization waves after incidence is 90°, thereby realizing the conversion of linear polarization waves into circular polarization waves. The 384 dielectric units with different transmission phases are arranged on the circular aperture transmission array as follows: two rows of sixth dielectric units 6 arranged crosswise in the horizontal direction and two rows of sixth dielectric units 6 arranged vertically are located at the center; fifth dielectric units 5 are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the sixth dielectric units 6 arranged horizontally and vertically, fourth dielectric units 4 are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the fifth dielectric units 5, second dielectric units 2 are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the fourth dielectric units 4, third dielectric units 3 are arranged in sequence on the peripheries of the second dielectric units 2, first dielectric units 1 are arranged between the fourth dielectric units 4 and the second dielectric units 2, and sixth dielectric units 6 are arranged in the outermost layer.

[0029] The core dielectric layer is composed of a rectangular block of polylactic acid material with air dielectric filled on both sides. The two layers of gradient impedance matching layers loaded at the end are both composed of a rectangular block of solid polylactic acid material. By adjusting the height and thickness of the core dielectric layer and the gradient impedance matching layer, that is, changing the total height h1 of the dielectric unit, the bottom width W1, the top width W2, and the height h2, six dielectric units with main polarization transmission phases of 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300° can be realized. The specific parameters are shown in Table 1 below.

[0030] Table 1 Variation parameters of six dielectric units

[0031]

[0032] The six dielectric units with different transmission phases can keep the transmission phase of the incident two orthogonal linear polarization waves with a phase difference of about 90° in a wide range, thereby realizing the function of converting linear polarization waves into circular polarization waves. The transmission phase of the main polarization wave of the unit can be adjusted by adjusting the height and thickness of the core dielectric layer and the gradient impedance matching layer.

[0033] The required phase compensation for each unit can be obtained through broadband phase compensation calculation, the required compensated phase is quantized to the specified six transmission phase values, and the circularly polarized phase shift units are periodically arranged in a circular arrangement to form a focused beam pointing to the target.

[0034] As attached Figure 2 As shown: the six dielectric units with different transmission phases provided in this embodiment include a core dielectric layer 73, a gradient impedance matching layer 71 and a connection layer 72. The six different dielectric units include dielectric units with transmission phases of 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240° and 300° respectively.

[0035] Specifically, the first dielectric unit 1, the second dielectric unit 2, the third dielectric unit 3, the fourth dielectric unit 4, the fifth dielectric unit 5, and the sixth dielectric unit 6 are respectively composed of a 5-layer structure; wherein the middle layer is a connecting layer 72, and the upper and lower surfaces of the connecting layer 72 are core dielectric layers 73 respectively, and the outer surfaces of the upper and lower core dielectric layers 73 are the gradient impedance matching layer 1, and the outer surfaces of the core dielectric layer 73 and the gradient impedance matching layer 71 are the air medium 74; by adjusting the bottom width of the core dielectric layer 73 and the gradient impedance matching layer 71 to W1, the top width to W2, and the height to h2, six dielectric units with different transmission phases of the main polarization transmission phase of 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240° and 300° are realized.

[0036] In the first dielectric unit 1, the connection layer 72 is in the shape of a platform with a square cross section, and a columnar core dielectric layer 73 with a square cross section is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer 72, respectively, and a platform-shaped gradient impedance matching layer 71 with a square cross section is provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers 73. In the second dielectric unit 2, the connection layer 72 is in the shape of a platform with a square cross section, and a columnar core dielectric layer 73 with a square cross section is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer 72, respectively, and a prism-shaped gradient impedance matching layer 71 is provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers 73, and the bottom width of the prism is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2. In the third dielectric unit 3, the connection layer 72 is in the shape of a platform with a square cross section, and a columnar core dielectric layer 73 with a square cross section is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer 72, respectively. A truncated cone-shaped gradient impedance matching layer 71 is provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers 73, respectively. The bottom width of the truncated cone is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2. The height of the truncated cone of the third dielectric unit 3 is greater than the height of the truncated cone of the second dielectric unit 2. In the fourth dielectric unit 4, the connection layer 72 is in the shape of a platform with a square cross section, and a columnar core dielectric layer 73 with a rectangular cross section is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer 72, respectively. A trapezoidal terrace-shaped gradient impedance matching layer 71 is provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers 73, respectively. The bottom width of the trapezoidal terrace is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2. In the fifth dielectric unit 5, the connection layer 72 is in the shape of a platform with a square cross section, and a columnar core dielectric layer 73 with a rectangular cross section is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer 72, respectively. A frustum-shaped gradient impedance matching layer 71 is provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers 73, respectively. The bottom width of the frustum is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2. The height of the frustum of the fifth dielectric unit 3 is greater than the height of the trapezoidal platform of the fourth dielectric unit 4. In the sixth dielectric unit 6, the connection layer 72 is in the shape of a platform with a square cross section, and a columnar core dielectric layer 73 with a rectangular cross section is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer 72, respectively. A frustum-shaped gradient impedance matching layer 71 with a rectangular cross section is provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers 73, respectively.

[0037] The gradient impedance matching layer 71, the connection layer 72, and the core dielectric layer 73 are all made of polylactic acid material, and are processed and formed by 3D printing technology of fused deposition modeling.

[0038] As attached Figure 3 As shown, the amplitude of the main polarization transmission wave of the unit under the incidence of two orthogonal linear polarization waves is greater than -0.7dB, and the amplitude of the cross-polarization transmission wave is less than -15dB.

[0039] As attached Figure 4As shown in FIG. 1 , the transmission coefficient of the unit under the incidence of linear polarization wave, the transmission phase curves of the six medium units are parallel to each other, and the transmission phase compensation can be quantified to six specified transmission phase values.

[0040] As attached Figure 5 As shown, the simulated and measured gain and aperture efficiency of the transmission array are given, and the array achieves an aperture efficiency of 65.7% and a peak gain of 26.2dBic.

[0041] As attached Figure 6 As shown, the axial ratios of the transmission array simulation and measurement are given. It can be seen that the array achieves a 3dB axial ratio bandwidth of 41.9%.

[0042] As attached Figure 7 As shown in the figure, the simulated and measured radiation patterns of the transmission array are given. The simulated radiation pattern is very consistent with the measured radiation pattern, and the positions of the main lobe and side lobe can be well predicted. The intermediate frequency cross-polarization level is greater than 15dB, and the side lobe level is less than -25dB.

Claims

1. A broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array antenna with high aperture efficiency, characterized in that: The transmission array antenna is composed of 384 dielectric unit structures with six different transmission phases to form a circular aperture transmission array; the six dielectric units with different transmission phases are: a first dielectric unit (1), a second dielectric unit (2), a third dielectric unit (3), a fourth dielectric unit (4), a fifth dielectric unit (5) and a sixth dielectric unit (6), and the corresponding main polarization transmission phases are 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240° and 300° respectively; the six dielectric units with different transmission phases are six polarization conversion phase shift units, which are periodically distributed on the circular aperture of the planar dielectric transmission array to form a phase distribution of a focused beam directed to a target, so that the phase difference between two orthogonal linear polarization waves after incident is 90°, thereby realizing the conversion of linear polarization waves into circular polarization waves.

2. A broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that: The 384 dielectric units with different transmission phases are arranged on a circular aperture transmission array as follows: two rows of sixth dielectric units (6) arranged in a cross-shaped manner in the horizontal direction and two rows of sixth dielectric units (6) arranged in the vertical direction are located at the center; fifth dielectric units (5) arranged in sequence are arranged on the peripheries of the sixth dielectric units (6) arranged in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction respectively; fourth dielectric units (4) arranged in sequence are arranged on the peripheries of the fifth dielectric units (5); second dielectric units (2) arranged in sequence are arranged on the peripheries of the fourth dielectric units (4); third dielectric units (3) arranged in sequence are arranged on the peripheries of the second dielectric units (2); a first dielectric unit (1) is arranged between the fourth dielectric unit (4) and the second dielectric unit (2); and a sixth dielectric unit (6) is arranged in the outermost layer.

3. A broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first dielectric unit (1), the second dielectric unit (2), the third dielectric unit (3), the fourth dielectric unit (4), the fifth dielectric unit (5) and the sixth dielectric unit (6) are respectively composed of five layers of structures; wherein the middle layer is a connecting layer (72); the upper and lower surfaces of the connecting layer (72) are core dielectric layers (73); the outer surfaces of the upper and lower core dielectric layers (73) are gradient impedance matching layers (1); and the outer surfaces of the core dielectric layer (73) and the gradient impedance matching layer (71) are air dielectrics (74); and by adjusting the bottom width W1, the top width W2 and the height h2 of the core dielectric layer (73) and the gradient impedance matching layer (71), dielectric units with six different transmission phases of main polarization transmission phases of 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240° and 300° are realized.

4. A broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the first dielectric unit (1), the connection layer (72) is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers (73) with a square cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer (72), and terrace-shaped gradient impedance matching layers (71) with a square cross section are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers (73).

5. The broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the second dielectric unit (2), the connection layer (72) is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers (73) with a square cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer (72), and prism-shaped gradient impedance matching layers (71) are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers (73), wherein the bottom width of the prism is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2.

6. The broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the third dielectric unit (3), the connection layer (72) is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers (73) with a square cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer (72), and frustum-shaped gradient impedance matching layers (71) are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers (73), wherein the bottom width of the frustum is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2, and the height of the frustum of the third dielectric unit (3) is greater than the height of the prism of the second dielectric unit (2).

7. The broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the fourth dielectric unit (4), the connection layer (72) is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers (73) with a rectangular cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer (72), and trapezoidal terrace-shaped gradient impedance matching layers (71) are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers (73), wherein the bottom width of the trapezoidal terrace is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2.

8. The broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the fifth dielectric unit (5), the connection layer (72) is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers (73) with a rectangular cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer (72), and frustum-shaped gradient impedance matching layers (71) are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers (73), wherein the bottom width of the frustum is W1, the top width is W2, and the height is h2, and the height of the frustum of the fifth dielectric unit (3) is greater than the height of the trapezoidal platform of the fourth dielectric unit (4).

9. The broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 3, characterized in that: In the sixth dielectric unit (6), the connection layer (72) is shaped like a platform with a square cross section, and columnar core dielectric layers (73) with a rectangular cross section are respectively provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the connection layer (72), and terrace-shaped gradient impedance matching layers (71) with a rectangular cross section are respectively provided at the outer ends of the upper and lower core dielectric layers (73).

10. The broadband circularly polarized dielectric transmission array with high aperture efficiency according to claim 3, characterized in that: The gradient impedance matching layer (71), the connection layer (72), and the core dielectric layer (73) are all made of polylactic acid material, and are processed and formed using 3D printing technology of fused deposition modeling.

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