Antenna

Abstract

An antenna (10), in particular for mobile communication cell sites, has a radiator (12), a reflector (14), a first layer (18), a second layer (20), a third layer (22) and at least one phase shifter (16) with at least one delay line (26) and a shifting device (28). A radiator (12) is mounted at the front side of the first layer (18) and a reflector (14) for the radiator (12) is provided by one of the layers (18, 20, 22). The second layer (20) includes a cutout (52) extending vertically through the second layer (20), the cutout (52) closing a front portion by the first layer (18) and closing a rear portion by the third layer (22), thereby forming a cavity (54). The delay line (26) is arranged within a vertical projection (P) of the cavity (54), and the shift device (28) comprises a shift portion (32) arranged in the cavity (54) and at least partially covering the delay line (26).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an antenna comprising a phase shifter. Background Art

[0002] Antenna arrays for mobile communications use phase shifters to tilt the beam. Some RF applications require analog phase shifters with a shifting device that needs to be mechanically shifted in order to produce the phase shift required to tilt the beam. For array antennas, multiple phase shifters are required to control the phase of different radiators or groups of radiators accordingly.

[0003] Furthermore, phase shifters must be placed close to the radiators, so linear phase shifters on layers have been developed to simplify the placement of phase shifter components between radiator columns.

[0004] Such phase shifter assemblies are known, for example, from CN 113328217 A, US 7 026 889 B2, US 10 062 940, EP 3 879 628 A1 and EP 2 879 235 B1.

[0005] However, in known solutions, the housing and shielding of the phase shifter are realized by one or more separate components. The mechanical tolerances of these components strongly affect the quality of the phase shifter, since the distance to the delay line determines the concentration of the electric field in the dielectric material of the shifting device, resulting in a phase shift. Summary of the invention

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an antenna having a high quality, cost-effective phase shifter.

[0007] To this end, an antenna is provided, specifically an antenna for a mobile communication cell site. The antenna includes a plurality of radiators, a reflector for the radiator, a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and at least one phase shifter, the at least one phase shifter having at least one delay line and a shifting device. The first layer, the second layer, and the third layer extend parallel to each other, and the second layer is located between the first layer and the third layer. The radiator is mounted at the front side of the first layer, and the reflector for the radiator is provided by the first layer, the second layer, and / or the third layer. The second layer includes a cutout extending vertically through the second layer, the front portion of the cutout is closed by the first layer, and the rear portion is closed by the third layer, thereby forming a cavity. The delay line is arranged in the vertical projection of the cavity, and the shifting device includes an actuating portion and a shifting portion, the shifting portion is arranged in the cavity, at least partially covers the delay line, and can be moved relative to the delay line in a direction of movement.

[0008] By providing a cavity surrounded by layers (e.g. a sandwich structure), the electric field is concentrated in the cavity, and the components shielding the cavity are standard components that can be manufactured with high precision. Therefore, cost and complexity are reduced while the quality of the phase shifter is high. At the same time, since the layers also serve to support the radiator and provide a reflector, the phase shifter is integrated into the antenna, further reducing space and cost.

[0009] In particular, the reflector is provided by the first layer only.

[0010] The shifting device may be movable such that the length of the portion of the delay line covered by the shifting portion of the shifting device varies during the movement.The direction of movement may coincide with a longitudinal direction of the phase shifter assembly.

[0011] In an embodiment, the delay line is located in the cavity, in the first layer on a side of the first layer facing the cavity, or in the third layer on a side of the third layer facing the cavity, so that the electric field corresponding to the delay line is specifically concentrated in the cavity.

[0012] To further improve the performance of the phase shifter, the first, second and third layers may electrically shield the cavity.

[0013] In an embodiment, the first layer comprises a first substrate, the third layer comprises a third substrate and / or the second layer comprises a second substrate or a metal sheet. In this way, the antenna is manufactured from cost-effective components without compromising quality.

[0014] For example, the substrate is a PCB.The metal sheet of the second layer may provide a reflector for the radiator.

[0015] In order to further improve the performance, an insulating material, in particular a solder resist mask, may be arranged between the first layer and the second layer and / or between the second layer and the third layer.

[0016] In one aspect, the first layer includes a first substrate and distribution lines on a front surface of the first substrate, the distribution lines connected to the radiators, further reducing costs by using the first layer for multiple functions.

[0017] The distribution lines may form a distribution network for the radiators.

[0018] In order to concentrate the functionality in the first layer, the first layer may comprise a ground plane, in particular on the rear surface of the first substrate, wherein the ground plane provides a reflector for the radiator and / or vertically covers the cutout of the second layer.

[0019] In an embodiment, at least one delay line is located at the third layer, in particular, wherein the third layer comprises a third substrate and the delay line is located on the front side of the third substrate. In this way, the second layer can remain free of signal carrying lines, thereby simplifying the second layer.

[0020] In order to concentrate the functionality in the third layer, the third layer may comprise a third ground plane, in particular at the rear surface of the third substrate, which vertically covers the cutouts and / or the delay lines of the second layer.

[0021] The third ground plane is in particular a ground and / or a reflector for the radiator.The third ground plane and the delay line may form a microstrip transmission line.

[0022] In an embodiment, a slot is provided, which extends in the third layer, in particular in the third substrate, in the direction of movement and vertically backwards from the cavity through the third layer, or the slot extends in the second layer, in particular in the second substrate or the metal sheet, transversely from the cavity, wherein the actuating part of the displacement device extends from the displacement part through the slot. The slot allows the displacement device to be actuated from outside the cavity, so that the cavity can be kept small.

[0023] In order to provide a further substrate for further functionality of the antenna, the second layer may include a second substrate, in particular a PCB, wherein a face of the second substrate defining the cutout is provided with a grounded conductive wall, in particular a metallization, and / or wherein a plurality of ground vias are provided in the second substrate, a plurality of vias being arranged around the cutout, wherein a distance between adjacent vias is less than or equal to one eighth of the wavelength of an average frequency of a design frequency range of the radiator.

[0024] In an embodiment, with respect to the lateral direction, the displaced portion comprises a middle section and two outer sections, wherein the rear ends of the outer sections extend further rearward than the middle section, in particular, wherein the rear ends of the outer sections have a curved profile. Thus, the displaced portion provides a defined contact surface, thereby minimizing passive intermodulation effects.

[0025] For example, the middle section is located in front of the delay line and / or the outer sections contact a third layer or insulating material laterally beside the delay line, resulting in a precisely adjustable phase shifting device.

[0026] On the other hand, the antenna comprises an actuation mechanism, in particular at the rear side of the third layer, wherein the actuation mechanism is mechanically connected to the actuation part of the displacement device and is designed to enable the displacement device to be moved in the direction of movement. In this way, a large component providing mechanical actuation does not have to be arranged at the front surface, resulting in a further reduction in the occupied space on the front surface.

[0027] For simple and robust actuation of the displacement device, the actuation mechanism may comprise an actuator, in particular an electric motor, and a drive structure which can be linearly moved in a movement direction by the actuator, wherein the drive structure is attached to an actuation part of the displacement device.

[0028] In order to further improve the phase shifting accuracy, the shifting portion is made of a dielectric material and / or comprises cutouts.

[0029] For a compact design, the delay line can be located next to the slot with respect to the direction of movement.

[0030] In an embodiment, at least two delay lines are arranged in a vertical projection of the cavity and the shifting device comprises two shifting parts, wherein the slot is located between the two delay lines with respect to the direction of movement.By combining the two delay lines to a common input, a differential phase shifter is provided.

[0031] The displacement portions may merge into each other and / or the actuation portion may be centrally located between the displacement portions.

[0032] To further reduce the size of the antenna, the antenna comprises a plurality of cavities and a plurality of phase shifters, wherein the radiators are arranged in columns parallel to the direction of motion, specifically, wherein the cavities and the shifting portions are located between radiators of adjacent columns of the array antenna.

[0033] In an embodiment, the antenna comprises a plurality of cavities and a plurality of phase shifters, wherein two, more than two or all actuating parts of the displacement device are attached to a single drive structure, in particular at the rear side of the third layer, and the drive structure can be linearly moved in the direction of motion by the actuator. In this way, the number of components can be reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 4 shows a schematic front view of a two-dimensional array antenna with multiple columns according to an embodiment of the present invention,

[0036] Figure 2 Shows something like Figure 1 An exploded view of a radiator array of a column of an array antenna according to the present invention is shown,

[0037] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 The cross section of the antenna,

[0038] Figure 4 , Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 An enlarged detailed cross section of the antenna shown in FIG. 1 at two different positions in the longitudinal direction,

[0039] Figure 6 , Figure 7 The second embodiment and the third embodiment of the antenna according to the present invention are shown. Figure 4 The cross section corresponding to the cross section,

[0040] Figure 8 Shown through the Figure 7 A horizontal cross section of the second layer of the antenna, and

[0041] Fig. 9 The third embodiment of the antenna according to the present invention is shown. Figure 4 The cross section corresponding to the cross section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Figure 1 A front view of an antenna 10 according to the present invention is shown.

[0043] The antenna 10 is, for example, an antenna for mobile communication, and in particular, an antenna for a mobile communication cell site. The antenna 10 may be configured for radio frequency signals, for example, having a frequency between 0.5 GHz and 5 GHz.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the antenna 10 is an array antenna, and includes a plurality of dual-polarization radiators 12 , a common reflector 14 for the radiators 12 , and a plurality of phase shifters 16 .

[0045] Since the array antenna 10 is a linear dual-polarized antenna, separate phase shifter arrangements are required for both orthogonal polarizations.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the radiators 12 are grouped into eight columns, each column forming an antenna array having six radiators 12 .

[0047] Furthermore, each column of the array antenna 10 includes four phase shifters 16 , wherein a group of three radiators 12 is associated with two phase shifters 16 .

[0048] Figure 1 The antenna 10 shown includes eight columns, each column forming a sub-array of six radiators stacked longitudinally and arranged side by side as is known in the art.

[0049] Figure 2 Shows something like Figure 1 The antenna shown is an exploded view of an antenna 10 according to the invention. More precisely, a set of four radiators 12 and two phase shifters 16 are shown. Each phase shifter 16 operates on a signal of one polarization. The two phase shifters are arranged side by side in an isolated manner.

[0050] The antenna 10 also includes a first layer 18 , a second layer 20 , a third layer 22 , and a rivet 24 .

[0051] Any numbers such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are used only for distinction and do not indicate a specific number or order of components.

[0052] The antenna 10 has a vertical direction V, which is a direction perpendicular to the surfaces of the layers 18 , 20 , 22 and substantially corresponds to the radiation direction when all radiators 12 emit electromagnetic radiation having the same phase.

[0053] Furthermore, the antenna 10 has a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T perpendicular to the vertical direction V. The longitudinal direction L corresponds to the direction of the column of the radiators 12 , and the transverse direction T is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0054] The layers 18, 20, 22 extend in different planes spanning the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T. The layers 18, 20, 22 extend parallel to each other.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, the first layer 18 is located at the front of the antenna 10 , the second layer 20 is located in the middle of the antenna 10 , and the third layer 22 is located at the rear of the antenna 10 .

[0056] The rivets 24 extend through all of the three layers 18 , 20 , 22 and attach the layers 18 , 20 , 22 together.

[0057] The phase shifter 16 includes a delay line 26, a shifting device 28, and an actuating mechanism 30 for the shifting device 28 ( Figure 5 ).

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment, the delay lines 26 are located at the third layer 22 and coincide with each other in the longitudinal direction L.

[0059] The delay lines 26 extend in a longitudinal direction L, each delay line being located between two end portions.

[0060] One end of each delay line 26 is associated with a radiator 12 and the other end is associated with a feed.

[0061] In the embodiment shown, the ends associated with the feeds are the ends of the delay lines 26 that face each other, which may be considered the inward ends.

[0062] The ends of the two delay lines 26 associated with the feed are connected to a common input, forming a differential phase shifter.

[0063] The inward ends are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L, specifically by the length of the slots 48 in the third layer 22 .

[0064] The end associated with the radiator 12 is the end of the delay line 26 facing away from one another and can be regarded as the outward end.

[0065] The delay line 26 extends in a straight line between its ends. It is also conceivable that the delay line 26 has a meander between its ends or describes a single turn or U-shape. Any other shape is also conceivable.

[0066] The displacement device 28 comprises a displacement portion 32 and an actuation portion 34 .

[0067] The displacement portion 32 is, for example, a pin extending vertically rearward from at least one displacement portion 32 .

[0068] The displacement portion 32 is made of a dielectric material, and it is contemplated that the displacement portion 32 and the actuation portion 34 are integrally made of a single piece of dielectric material.

[0069] The displacement device 28 is movable in a movement direction M relative to the delay line 26 , in particular relative to the first layer 18 , the second layer 20 and / or the third layer 22 .

[0070] The direction of movement M coincides with the longitudinal direction L and is also parallel to the layers 18 , 20 , 22 .

[0071] In the embodiment shown, the phase shifter 16 is arranged as a differential phase shifter having two delay lines 26 and two shifting sections 32 connected to a common input.

[0072] For example, the two displacement parts 32 are made from a single piece.

[0073] The displacement portions 32 extend in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal direction L. In the middle with respect to the longitudinal direction L, the two displacement portions 32 merge with each other, and the actuation portion 34 extends rearward from the displacement portions 32 .

[0074] Each shift portion 32 is associated with one of the delay lines 26. The shift portion 32 extends above the corresponding delay line 26 (ie in front of the corresponding delay line 26).

[0075] As seen from the front, the shifting portion 32 thus covers at least a portion of the delay line 26. The shifting portion 32 may be composed of a dielectric material which, when moved along the delay line 26, changes the resulting phase in the delay line 26.

[0076] Figure 3 Shown through Figure 2 A cross section of the antenna 10 is shown.

[0077] In the illustrated embodiment, the first layer 18 includes a first substrate 36, distribution lines 38, and a first ground plane 40. The first substrate 36 is, for example, a PCB.

[0078] The radiator 12 is located in front of the first layer 18 and is attached to the front surface of the first substrate 36 .

[0079] Distribution lines 38 are also located at the front surface of the first substrate 36. The distribution lines 38 are metallizations applied to the front surface of the first substrate 36, for example.

[0080] Distribution lines 38 are connected to the radiators 12 and the phase shifters 16, thereby forming a distribution network. Each polarization of the radiators 12 requires a separate distribution network.

[0081] More precisely, the ends of the delay lines 26 associated with the radiators 12 are electrically connected to corresponding distribution lines 38 , in particular by vias extending through the second layer 20 and the first substrate 36 .

[0082] The first ground plane 40 is disposed on the rear surface of the first substrate 36 .

[0083] The first ground plane 40 is grounded and may cover the entire rear surface of the first substrate 36. For example, the first ground plane 40 serves as a common reflector 14 of the radiator 12.

[0084] Furthermore, the ground plane 40 is a ground plane for the distribution line 38 .

[0085] Behind the first layer 18 , the phase shifter 16 is positioned to be partially surrounded by the second layer 20 and the third layer 22 .

[0086] Figure 4 and Figure 5 A detailed cross section through the layers 18, 20, 22 and a portion of one of the phase shifters 16 is shown in an enlarged view.

[0087] The third layer 22 includes a third substrate 42 and two ground planes 44 (hereinafter referred to as third ground planes 44 ).

[0088] The third substrate 42 extends in the transverse direction T and the longitudinal direction L. The third substrate 42 is, for example, a PCB.

[0089] One of the third ground planes 44 is located at the rear surface of the third substrate 42 , and specifically completely covers the rear surface of the third substrate 42 .

[0090] Another third ground plane 44 may be located on a portion of the front surface of the third substrate 42 .

[0091] The third ground planes 44 are grounded and are electrically connected to each other through third vias 46 extending through the third substrate 42 .

[0092] In some embodiments, the third ground plane 44 is made as a reflector 14 for the radiator 12 .

[0093] like Figure 2 As best shown in FIG. 4 , in the third layer 22, in particular in the third substrate 42, a slot 48 is provided for each differential phase shifter 16. To avoid repetition, only the integration of one of the differential phase shifters 16 in the layers 18, 20, 22 is discussed. The other differential phase shifters 16 are integrated similarly.

[0094] The slot 48 extends vertically through the third substrate 42 , and specifically, there is no third ground plane 44 vertically in front of or behind the slot 48 .

[0095] The grooves 48 extend in the longitudinal direction L of the third layer 22 , ie the grooves 48 are much longer in the longitudinal direction L than in the transverse direction T. As shown in FIG.

[0096] In the longitudinal direction L, the slot 48 is located between two delay lines 26 .

[0097] In the illustrated embodiment, the delay line 26 extends at different sides of the slot 48 relative to the longitudinal direction L and away from the slot 48 , for example, the inward end of the delay line 26 is beside the slot 48 .

[0098] In particular, the delay line 26 is located at an imaginary extension of the slot 48 in the longitudinal direction L and beside the slot 48 .

[0099] In the first embodiment, the second layer 20 is made of a metal sheet. Specifically, the metal sheet is grounded and a reflector 14 for the radiator 12 is provided.

[0100] An insulating material 50 , specifically a solder resist mask, may be provided between each of the layers 18 , 20 , 22 , specifically between the first ground plane 40 of the first substrate 36 and the metal sheet of the second layer 20 and between the metal sheet of the second layer 20 and the third ground plane 44 on the front side of the third substrate 42 .

[0101] The second layer 20 comprises a cutout 52 for each differential phase shifter 16, which in the embodiment shown is a cutout in a metal sheet.

[0102] The cutout 52 extends vertically through the entire second layer 20 , ie the entire metal sheet.

[0103] The groove 48 is much larger in the longitudinal direction L than in the transverse direction T.

[0104] In the longitudinal direction L, the cutout 52 extends in front of the groove 48 of the third substrate 42 and in front of the delay line 26 .

[0105] In the transverse direction T, the cutout 52 may be wider than the slot 48 .

[0106] At the front, the cutout 52 is closed by the first layer 18 , in the embodiment shown by the first substrate 36 , more precisely by the first ground plane 40 on the first substrate 36 .

[0107] At the rear, the cutout 52 is closed by the third layer 22, in the embodiment shown by the third substrate 42, more precisely by the third ground plane 44 on the front surface of the third substrate 42. This is valid except in the area of ​​the slot 48, of course.

[0108] Horizontally, ie in the longitudinal direction L and in the transverse direction T, the cutout 52 is completely surrounded by the metal sheet of the second layer 20 .

[0109] Thus, the cutout 52 surrounded by the layers 18, 20, 22 provides a cavity 54. Furthermore, the first layer 18, the second layer 20, and the third layer 22, more precisely, the first ground plane 40 of the first layer 18, the metal sheet of the second layer 20, and the ground plane 44 on the front surface of the third substrate 42 electrically shield the cavity 54.

[0110] The delay line 26 is located at the front surface of the third substrate 42 and may be provided as a metallization applied to the front surface of the third substrate 42. The delay line 26 may be covered by an insulating material 50.

[0111] A third ground plane 44 on the rear surface of the third substrate 42 vertically covers the delay line 26 and forms a microstrip transmission line together with the delay line 26 .

[0112] The delay line 26 may be considered as part of the third layer 22 .

[0113] Therefore, the delay line 26 is located behind the cavity 54 , in other words, within the rearward vertical projection P of the cavity 54 .

[0114] It is also conceivable that the delay line 26 is located within the cavity 54 or as part of the first layer 18 on the side facing the second layer 20 .

[0115] The displacement portion 32 of the displacement device 28 is located within the cavity 54 .

[0116] like Figure 4 As shown, the displacement portion 32 has a middle section 56 and two outer sections 58 relative to the transverse direction T. In the transverse direction T, the middle section 56 is located between the outer sections 58 .

[0117] The middle section 56 is located in front of the corresponding delay line 26 , and the outer section 58 is located laterally of the delay line 26 .

[0118] The outer section 58 has a curved profile at its rear end, ie, its end facing the third layer 22. Specifically, the outer section 58 has a circular profile.

[0119] The rear end of the middle section 56 is flat and deviates forward from the rear end of the outer section 58. Therefore, the rear end of the outer section 58 extends farther rearward than the rear end of the middle section 56.

[0120] Due to the deflection, outer section 58 is in physical contact with insulating material 50 or third layer 22, wherein middle section 56 is vertically spaced apart from insulating material 50, delay line 26 and / or third layer 22. With this arrangement, friction between the cavity wall and the displaced portion may be reduced.

[0121] In addition, the displacement portion 32, in particular the middle section 56, may include a cutout (see Figure 2 ), such as the so-called transform window.

[0122] Figure 5 The position of the slot 48 is shown similar to Figure 4 cross section.

[0123] It can be seen that the slot 48 extends vertically rearwardly from the cavity 54 .

[0124] The actuation portion 34 of the displacement portion 32 extends vertically from the displacement portion 32 in the cavity 54 through the slot 48 to the rear side of the third layer 22 .

[0125] As indicated by dashed lines, the actuation mechanism 30 is located at the rear side of the third layer 22 and is mechanically connected to an actuation portion 34 of the displacement device 28 .

[0126] The actuation mechanism 30 includes an actuator 60 , a transmission 62 , and a drive structure 64 .

[0127] In the illustrated embodiment, the drive structure 64 may be plate-shaped and, therefore, a drive plate.

[0128] The drive structure 64 extends parallel to the rear surface of the third substrate 42 , and the actuation portion 34 is attached to the drive structure 64 (eg, by screws) at its rear end.

[0129] The actuator 60 may be an electric motor and is mechanically connected to the drive structure 64 via a transmission 62 such that the actuator 60 is able to linearly move the drive structure 64 along the direction of motion M.

[0130] Furthermore, the actuation mechanisms 30 of the phase shifters 16 may be combined to reduce the required space despite being located on the rear side of the third layer 22 .

[0131] In the illustrated embodiment, a single drive structure 64 and a single actuator 60 as well as a single transmission 62 are provided for all phase shifters 16. Thus, the drive structure 64 is attached to the actuating portions 34 of all phase shifters 16 so that the displacement devices 28 can be actuated simultaneously.

[0132] It is also conceivable that each phase shifter 16 comprises its own actuation mechanism 30 , or that only two, three or more phase shifters 16 are actuated by the same actuation mechanism 30 .

[0133] Thus, the actuation portion 34 and thus the entire displacement device 28 are actuated back and forth in the movement direction M by means of the actuator 60 and the drive structure 64 .

[0134] The length of the portion of the delay line 26 covered by the respective shifting portion 32 varies depending on the position of the shifting device 28 .

[0135] The radio frequency signal fed to the delay line 26 propagates along the corresponding delay line 26 and then propagates to the corresponding radiator 12 via the front distribution line 38 .

[0136] The time required for a signal to pass through the delay line 26 depends on the length of the delay line 26 covered by the shifting device 28, because the dielectric material of the shifted portion 32 changes the transmission characteristics compared to the portion where the shifted portion 32 is not present.

[0137] Thus, a movement of the displacement device 28 along the movement direction M can induce and change a phase shift.

[0138] Furthermore, since cavity 54 is almost completely electrically shielded, the electric field concentration in cavity 54 is high, which increases the phase shifting effect of shifting portion 32. Thus, high-quality phase shifter 16 can be cost-effectively realized by common manufacturing techniques for manufacturing PCBs and metal sheet layers.

[0139] Furthermore, due to the three layers 18, 20, 22, the phase shifter 16 is highly integrated into the antenna 10, requiring less space.

[0140] Figures 6 to 9 A further embodiment of an antenna 10 according to the invention is shown, which substantially corresponds to the above discussed antenna 10. Therefore, in the following, only the differences are discussed and identical and functionally identical components are marked with the same reference numerals.

[0141] Figure 6 With Figure 4 The views corresponding to the views show a second embodiment of the antenna 10 according to the invention.

[0142] Different from the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the second layer 20 includes a second substrate 66, specifically a PCB.

[0143] The second substrate 66 has second ground planes 68 located at the front and rear surfaces of the second substrate 66. The second ground planes 68 are grounded.

[0144] Furthermore, the conductive wall 70 of the second layer 20 is located on the face of the second substrate 66 facing and adjacent to the cavity 54. The conductive wall 70 completely surrounds the cutout 52 along its periphery.

[0145] The conductive walls 70 are grounded and may be provided as metallizations applied to the face and are in particular electrically connected to each other and to the two second ground planes 68 .

[0146] The conductive wall 70 provides electrical shielding for the cavity 54 in this embodiment.

[0147] Figure 7 With Figure 4 and Figure 6 The cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 shows a third embodiment of the antenna 10 according to the present invention.

[0148] The third embodiment corresponds to the second embodiment, wherein a second via 72 extends through the second substrate 66 to electrically connect the two second ground planes 68 .

[0149] Figure 8 A view in the vertical direction is shown with respect to a horizontal section through the second substrate 66 .

[0150] It can be seen that the vias 72 are arranged around the entire perimeter of the cutout 52. The vias 72 are spaced apart by an eighth of a wavelength less than or equal to the average frequency of the design frequency range of the radiator 12. In this way, the ground vias 72 provide electrical shielding of the cavity 54 horizontally. Therefore, the wall 70 is not provided in the third embodiment shown.

[0151] Fig. 9 Similar to Figure 5 The cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 shows a fourth embodiment of the antenna 10 according to the present invention.

[0152] In the fourth embodiment, the second layer 20 is arranged as discussed in relation to the third embodiment. The second layer 20 may also be arranged as in the second embodiment or the first embodiment.

[0153] Different from the first embodiment, the groove 48 is not provided in the third substrate 42, but is provided in the second layer 20, that is, in the metal sheet, or as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, it is disposed in the second substrate 66 .

[0154] The slot 48 extends in the transverse direction T from the cavity 54 , and thus the actuating portion 34 of the displacement device 28 also extends in the transverse direction T through the slot 48 .

[0155] In this case, the actuation mechanism 30 can be arranged next to the layers 18 to 22 .

Claims

1. An antenna, in particular an antenna for a mobile communication cell site, comprising a plurality of radiators (12), a reflector (14) for the radiators (12), a first layer (18), a second layer (20), a third layer (22), and at least one phase shifter (16), the at least one phase shifter having a shifting device (28) and at least one delay line (26), in, The first layer (18), the second layer (20) and the third layer (22) extend parallel to each other, and the second layer (20) is located between the first layer (18) and the third layer (22). wherein the radiator (12) is mounted at the front side of the first layer (18), and the reflector (14) for the radiator (12) is provided by the first layer (18), the second layer (20) and / or the third layer (22), wherein the second layer (20) comprises a cutout (52) extending vertically through the second layer (20), the cutout (52) being closed at the front by the first layer (18) and at the rear by the third layer (22), thereby forming a cavity (54), wherein the delay line (26) is arranged within a vertical projection (P) of the cavity (54), and The displacement device (28) comprises an actuating part (34) and a displacement part (32), wherein the displacement part (32) is arranged in the cavity (54), at least partially covers the delay line (26), and is movable along a movement direction (M) relative to the delay line (26).

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The delay line (26) is located in the cavity (54), in the first layer (18) on a side of the first layer (18) facing the cavity (54), or in the third layer (22) on a side of the third layer (22) facing the cavity (54).

3. The antenna according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The first layer (18), the second layer (20) and the third layer (22) electrically shield the cavity (54).

4. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The first layer (18) includes a first substrate (36), the third layer (22) includes a third substrate (42), and / or the second layer (20) includes a second substrate (66) or a metal sheet.

5. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: An insulating material (50), in particular a solder resist mask, is arranged between the first layer (18) and the second layer (20) and / or between the second layer (20) and the third layer (22).

6. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first layer (18) includes a first substrate (36) and a distribution line (38) on a front surface of the first substrate (36), the distribution line (38) being connected to the radiator (12).

7. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first layer (18) comprises a first ground plane (40), in particular on the rear surface of the first substrate (36), wherein the first ground plane (40) provides the reflector (14) for the radiator (12) and / or vertically covers the cutout (52) of the second layer (20).

8. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The at least one delay line (26) is located at the third layer (22), specifically, wherein the third layer (22) comprises a third substrate (42), and the delay line (26) is located on the front side of the third substrate (42).

9. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The third layer (22) comprises a third ground plane (44), specifically at the rear surface of the third substrate (42), the third ground plane (44) vertically covering the cutout (52) of the second layer (20) and / or the delay line (26).

10. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein A groove (48) is provided, wherein the groove (48) extends in the movement direction (M) in the third layer (22), in particular in the third substrate (42), and extends vertically backward from the cavity (54) through the third layer (22), or the groove (48) extends laterally from the cavity (54) in the second layer (20), in particular in the second substrate (66) or the metal sheet, wherein the actuating part (34) of the displacement device (28) extends from the displacement part (32) through the groove (48).

11. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The second layer (20) comprises a second substrate (66), in particular a PCB, wherein a surface of the second substrate (66) defining the cutout (52) is provided with a grounded conductive wall (70), in particular a metallized portion, and / or wherein a plurality of grounded vias (72) are provided in the second substrate (66), the plurality of vias (72) being arranged around the cutout (52), wherein a distance between adjacent vias (72) is less than or equal to one eighth of a wavelength of an average frequency of a design frequency range of the radiator (12).

12. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein With respect to the transverse direction (T), the displacement portion (32) comprises a middle section (56) and two outer sections (58), wherein the rear ends of the outer sections (58) extend further rearward than the middle section (56), and specifically, wherein the rear ends of the outer sections (58) have a curved profile.

13. The antenna according to claim 12, wherein: The middle section (56) is located in front of the delay line (26), and / or the outer section (58) contacts the third layer (22) or the insulating material (50) laterally beside the delay line (26).

14. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The antenna (10) comprises an actuation mechanism (30), in particular located at the rear side of the third layer (22), wherein the actuation mechanism (30) is mechanically connected to the actuation part (34) of the displacement device (28) and is designed to enable the displacement device (28) to be moved along the movement direction (M).

15. The antenna according to claim 14, wherein: The actuation mechanism (30) comprises an actuator (60) and a drive structure (64), wherein the actuator (60) is specifically an electric motor, and the drive structure (64) can be linearly moved along the movement direction (M) by the actuator (60), wherein the drive structure (64) is attached to the actuation part (34) of the displacement device (28).

16. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The displacement portion (32) is made of a dielectric material and / or comprises a cutout.

17. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The delay line (26) is located next to the slot (48) with respect to the direction of movement (M).

18. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein At least two delay lines (26) are arranged in the vertical projection (P) of the cavity (54), and the displacement device (28) comprises two displacement parts (32), wherein the slot (48) is located between the two delay lines (26) with respect to the movement direction (M).

19. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The antenna (10) comprises a plurality of cavities (54) and a plurality of phase shifters (16), wherein the radiators (12) are arranged in columns parallel to the direction of movement (M), and specifically, wherein the cavities (54) and the shifting portions (32) are located between radiators (12) of adjacent columns.

20. An antenna according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The antenna (10) comprises a plurality of cavities (54) and a plurality of phase shifters (16), wherein two, more than two or all of the actuating parts (34) of the displacement device (28) are attached to a single drive structure (64), in particular at the rear side of the third layer (22), and the drive structure (64) can be linearly moved along the movement direction (M) by an actuator (60).

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