A UWB antenna module for AOA positioning

Abstract

The application provides a UWB antenna module for AOA positioning, which realizes high-precision 3D positioning. The module comprises a horizontal PCB board and a vertical PCB board, and the vertical PCB board is arranged on the horizontal PCB board. The first antenna and the second antenna are monopole antennas, which are arranged side by side on the vertical PCB board along the horizontal direction; the third antenna is a dipole antenna, which is arranged on the vertical PCB board and located between the first antenna and the second antenna and staggered with them in the vertical height. The three antennas are all vertical polarization antennas, the angle difference between the phase centers of the first antenna and the second antenna and the phase center of the third antenna is less than 180°, and the phase centers are apart by 1 / 2 wavelength, so as to meet the phase requirement of 3D positioning. Through the structural design, the module realizes the functions of miniaturization, high isolation and high-performance 3D positioning, and is suitable for the fields of vehicle-mounted, consumer electronics and Internet of Things.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to UWB (Ultra-Wideband) positioning technology, and in particular to a UWB antenna module for AOA (Angle of Arrival) positioning. Background Technology

[0002] UWB positioning technology is increasingly widely used in consumer electronics and automotive fields, enabling 3D positioning with a single module through the AOA algorithm. However, integrating antennas onto UWB antenna modules for 3D positioning presents challenges in ensuring phase center consistency, high isolation, and miniaturization. Antenna design must balance ensuring sufficient proximity between antennas to meet phase center requirements with maintaining high isolation to avoid signal interference. These two objectives are often contradictory, making the design of miniaturized, highly isolated MIMO antennas a technical challenge. Existing technologies typically require performance compromises, either sacrificing phase center consistency, reducing isolation, or increasing antenna size to meet requirements, but none of these solutions can simultaneously satisfy the demands for miniaturization and high performance.

[0003] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only for understanding the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to overcome the deficiencies in the aforementioned background technology and provide a UWB antenna module for AOA positioning.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A UWB antenna module for AOA positioning includes:

[0007] Horizontal PCB board;

[0008] A vertical PCB board is mounted on the horizontal PCB board;

[0009] The first and second antennas are monopole antennas, which are arranged side by side on the vertical PCB board in the horizontal direction.

[0010] The third antenna is a dipole antenna, which is set on the vertical PCB board. It is located between the first antenna and the second antenna in the horizontal direction, and is offset from the first antenna and the second antenna in the vertical height.

[0011] The first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are all vertically polarized antennas. The angle difference between the phase center of the first antenna and the phase center of the third antenna is less than 180°, and the phase centers are separated by 1 / 2 wavelength to meet the phase requirements of 3D positioning.

[0012] Furthermore, the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are T-shaped antennas, L-shaped antennas, or linear antennas.

[0013] Furthermore, the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are all disposed on the same side of the vertical PCB board, or the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed on the first side of the vertical PCB board, while the third antenna is disposed on the second side of the vertical PCB board, or one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are located in the inner layer of the vertical PCB board.

[0014] Furthermore, the center distance between the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna is less than 0.5 wavelengths, and the isolation is greater than 15dB.

[0015] Furthermore, the first antenna and the second antenna are symmetrical to achieve the same phase.

[0016] Furthermore, the first antenna and the second antenna are fed on the horizontal PCB board.

[0017] Furthermore, the third antenna includes two elements, an upper and an lower one, and is fed at the connection point between the two elements.

[0018] Furthermore, the two arrays are an upper T-shaped array and a lower inverted T-shaped array.

[0019] Furthermore, the feed positions of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are connected to the control module via coaxial lines or microstrip lines.

[0020] Furthermore, the line lengths from the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna to the control module are kept equal so that the initial phase of each antenna is the same.

[0021] A UWB antenna device includes a UWB antenna module and a control module. The control module is connected to a first antenna, a second antenna, and a third antenna, and is used to control the reception and transmission of signals, as well as to process the AOA algorithm to achieve 3D positioning.

[0022] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] This invention provides a UWB antenna module for AOA positioning. Through a triangular staggered arrangement of a dipole antenna and two monopole antennas, it achieves a high isolation and high cross-polarization ratio omnidirectional antenna design, enabling 3D positioning within a 180-degree space. The miniaturized array design of multiple antennas ensures that the phase center distance between antennas is less than 180° and the phase centers are separated by half a wavelength. Combined with the AOA algorithm, accurate 3D positioning is achieved. The third antenna is vertically staggered from the first and second antennas, creating a height difference that not only achieves UWB positioning in the elevation angle but also ensures high isolation between antennas. The miniaturized design of the three-element MIMO antenna achieves high performance for each individual antenna while maintaining high performance across all three. The advantages of this invention lie in the ingenious combination of the triangular staggered design and miniaturized antennas. The three antennas are vertically positioned, meeting isolation requirements, and are applicable to multiple technical fields such as automotive, consumer electronics, and the Internet of Things.

[0024] Other beneficial effects of the embodiments of the present invention will be further described below. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a UWB antenna module for AOA positioning according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a positioning diagram of a UWB antenna module used for AOA positioning according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 3 These are the S11 parameters for the three antennas in this embodiment of the invention.

[0028] Figure 4 This refers to the isolation between antennas in this embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Figure 5 This is a horizontal radiation pattern of the T-type antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 6 This is a horizontal radiation pattern of the I-shaped antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. It should be emphasized that the following description is merely exemplary and not intended to limit the scope and application of the present invention.

[0032] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component. Furthermore, a connection can be used for fixing, coupling, or communication.

[0033] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0034] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of embodiments of the present invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0035] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides a UWB antenna module for AOA positioning, comprising: a horizontal PCB board 4; a vertical PCB board 5 mounted on the horizontal PCB board 4; a first antenna 1 and a second antenna 2, both monopole antennas, arranged side-by-side horizontally on the vertical PCB board 5; and a third antenna 3, a dipole antenna, mounted on the vertical PCB board 5, positioned horizontally between the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2, and vertically offset from the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2. The first antenna 1, the second antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 are all vertically polarized antennas. The angle difference between the phase centers of the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2 and the phase center of the third antenna 3 is less than 180°, and the phase centers are separated by half a wavelength to meet the phase requirements of 3D positioning. Through this structural design, the module achieves miniaturized, highly isolated, and high-performance 3D positioning functionality.

[0036] In some embodiments, the first antenna 1, the second antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 may be T-type antennas (see...). Figure 1 ), L-shaped antenna or linear antenna, etc.

[0037] See Figure 1In a preferred embodiment, the third antenna 3 includes two elements, an upper and a lower one, and is fed at the connection point between the two elements. In a preferred embodiment, the two elements are an upper T-shaped element and a lower inverted T-shaped element.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first antenna 1, the second antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 are all disposed on the same side of the vertical PCB board 5. In other embodiments, the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2 are disposed on a first side of the vertical PCB board 5, while the third antenna 3 is disposed on a second side of the vertical PCB board 5. In still other embodiments, one or more of the first antenna 1, the second antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 are located in an inner layer of the vertical PCB board 5.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the center distance between the first antenna 1, the second antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 is less than 0.5 wavelengths, and the isolation is greater than 15dB.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2 are symmetrical to achieve the same phase.

[0041] In some embodiments, the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2 are fed on the horizontal PCB board 4.

[0042] In some embodiments, the feed positions of the first antenna 1, the second antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 are connected to a control module (not shown) via coaxial lines or microstrip lines. Preferably, the line lengths from the first antenna 1, the second antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 to the control module are equal, so that the initial phase of each antenna is the same.

[0043] This invention also provides a UWB antenna device, including the UWB antenna module and a control module. The control module (not shown) is connected to the first antenna 1, the second antenna 2 and the third antenna 3, and is used to control the reception and transmission of signals, as well as to process the AOA algorithm to achieve 3D positioning.

[0044] The following describes specific embodiments of the present invention.

[0045] A UWB antenna module for AOA positioning includes two PCB boards and three antennas. The horizontal PCB board 4 serves as the ground for the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2, while the three antennas are mounted on one side of the vertical PCB board 5. The phase centers of the three antennas are spaced 1 / 2 wavelength apart. The first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2 are T-shaped monopole antennas. The third antenna 3 is a dipole antenna, consisting of two T-shaped antenna elements, one above the other. All three antennas are vertically polarized. The third antenna 3 is offset from the first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2, with a certain height difference, enabling UWB positioning in the elevation angle and achieving good isolation. This embodiment uses a T-shaped structure for the three antennas, resulting in a smaller UWB antenna size, especially in height. This allows for better antenna miniaturization. Another advantage of the T-shaped antenna design is its ability to expand bandwidth. T-shaped antennas have both symmetrical and asymmetrical modes, offering a wider bandwidth compared to L-shaped antennas. The first antenna 1 and the second antenna 2 are completely symmetrical and fed on a horizontal floor, allowing both antennas to have the same phase. The third antenna 3 consists of two parts, one above the other, fed between them. The feed points of the three antennas are connected to the control module via coaxial lines or microstrip lines. Maintaining equal line lengths from each antenna to the module ensures that each antenna has the same initial phase. In this preferred embodiment, the design of the T-type dipole antenna and the T-type monopole antenna achieves the goals of reducing antenna height and increasing bandwidth, thereby meeting the requirements for antenna miniaturization and high performance.

[0046] The three antennas are arranged in a staggered pattern, which can be distributed on both sides of the PCB, or some antennas can be embedded in the inner layers of the PCB to achieve a compact layout. All three antennas are vertically polarized antennas, but can adopt different forms, such as T-shaped, L-shaped, or linear, providing design flexibility. In addition to the T-shaped antenna described in the previous embodiment, the first antenna 1, the first antenna 2, and the third antenna 3 can also adopt L-shaped or linear antennas to meet different application scenarios. Furthermore, the antennas can be mounted on the surface of the PCB or embedded in the inner layers of the PCB. The staggered arrangement of the antennas optimizes space utilization and isolation.

[0047] like Figure 2As shown, antenna 1 (A), antenna 2 (B), and antenna 3 (Z) constitute an antenna array. Antenna 1 and antenna 2 are located on the same horizontal plane, while antenna 3 is vertically offset from antenna 1 and antenna 2. Using the base plate as a reference plane, antennas 1 and 2 receive signals from a point signal source D. The position of the signal source on the base plate plane can be calculated using the phase difference. The positioning range is within a 180-degree space in front. Similarly, using the antenna plate as a reference plane, antennas 1 and 3 (or antenna 2 and antenna 3) receive signals. The position of the signal source on the antenna plate plane can be calculated using the phase difference, and the positioning range is also within a 180-degree space in front. Combining these two sets of phase differences, the horizontal and vertical angles of the signal source in front of the antennas can be calculated, thus achieving 3D-180-degree positioning.

[0048] Through a miniaturized array design with multiple antennas, the phase center distance between antennas is less than 180°. Combined with the AOA algorithm, high-precision 3D positioning can be achieved. The miniaturized design of the three-element MIMO antenna not only achieves high performance for individual antennas but also ensures high performance across the three antennas. By combining a dipole antenna with two monopole antennas and using a triangular staggered layout, an omnidirectional antenna design with high isolation and high cross-polarization ratio is achieved, enabling 3D positioning within a 180-degree space.

[0049] Performance testing

[0050] Figure 3 The S11 parameters of the antenna are given by... Figure 3 As can be seen, the S11 parameters at 8GHz are all below -10dB, indicating excellent input impedance. Figure 4 The isolation between antennas is determined by... Figure 4 The isolation between the visible antennas is less than -10dB, and the mutual interference is very small. Figure 5 The horizontal radiation pattern of the T-type antenna (where the horizontal angle is phi and the radius represents the antenna radiation intensity dBi) is given by... Figure 5 It can be seen that the horizontal plane has good omnidirectionality and is dominated by vertical polarization. Figure 6 The horizontal radiation pattern of the I-shaped antenna is given by... Figure 6 It can be seen that the horizontal plane has good omnidirectionality and is dominated by vertical polarization.

[0051] The advantage of this invention lies in the ingenious combination of a triangular misalignment design and a miniaturized antenna. The three antennas are vertically positioned with a center distance of less than 0.5 wavelengths, meeting the isolation requirements. This design is applicable to multiple technical fields such as automotive, consumer electronics, and the Internet of Things, and has broad application prospects.

[0052] The above description provides a further detailed explanation of the present invention in conjunction with specific / preferred embodiments, and it should not be construed that the specific implementation of the present invention is limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various substitutions or modifications can be made to these described embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, and all such substitutions or modifications should be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. In the description of this specification, the reference to terms such as "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "preferred embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicates that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of different embodiments or examples. Although the embodiments of the present invention and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of protection of the patent application.

Claims

1. A UWB antenna module for AOA positioning, characterized in that, include: Horizontal PCB board; A vertical PCB board is mounted on the horizontal PCB board; The first and second antennas are monopole antennas, which are arranged side by side on the vertical PCB board in the horizontal direction. The third antenna is a dipole antenna, which is set on the vertical PCB board. It is located between the first antenna and the second antenna in the horizontal direction, and is offset from the first antenna and the second antenna in the vertical height. The first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are all vertically polarized antennas. The angle difference between the phase center of the first antenna and the second antenna and the phase center of the third antenna is less than 180°, and the phase centers are separated by 1 / 2 wavelength to meet the phase requirements of 3D positioning. The feed positions of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are connected to the control module via coaxial lines or microstrip lines. The line lengths from the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna to the control module are kept equal to ensure that the initial phase of each antenna is the same. The center distance between the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna is less than 0.5 wavelengths, and the isolation is greater than 15dB.

2. The UWB antenna module for AOA positioning as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are T-shaped antennas, L-shaped antennas, or linear antennas.

3. The UWB antenna module for AOA positioning as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are all disposed on the same side of the vertical PCB board, or the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed on the first side of the vertical PCB board, while the third antenna is disposed on the second side of the vertical PCB board, or one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are located in the inner layer of the vertical PCB board.

4. The UWB antenna module for AOA positioning as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first antenna and the second antenna are symmetrical to achieve the same phase.

5. The UWB antenna module for AOA positioning as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first antenna and the second antenna are fed on the horizontal PCB board.

6. The UWB antenna module for AOA positioning as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The third antenna comprises two elements, an upper and a lower one, and is fed at the connection point between the two elements.

7. The UWB antenna module for AOA positioning as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The two arrays are an upper T-shaped array and a lower inverted T-shaped array.

8. A UWB antenna device, characterized in that, Includes the UWB antenna module and control module as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control module is connected to the first antenna, the second antenna and the third antenna, and is used to control the reception and transmission of signals, and to process the AOA algorithm to achieve 3D positioning.

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