Integrated butler matrix

Abstract

The application provides an integrated Butler power divider, comprising a first Butler power divider and a second Butler power divider, wherein the first Butler power divider comprises a first three-branch directional coupler, a first unequal power divider and a second unequal power divider connected with the first three-branch directional coupler, and a plurality of equal power dividers connected with the unequal power dividers; the second Butler power divider comprises a second three-branch directional coupler, a third unequal power divider and a fourth unequal power divider connected with the second three-branch directional coupler, and a plurality of equal power dividers connected with the unequal power dividers. Thus, the application is simple in assembly and can meet the communication requirement of wide frequency band.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mobile communication technology, and more particularly to an integrated Butler power divider. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of mobile communication technology, mobile traffic has experienced explosive growth, leading to a rapid increase in the number of base station antennas. In densely populated areas, traditional base station antennas, due to their wide-beam and single-beam characteristics, struggle to meet actual communication capacity demands. Therefore, base station antennas are gradually evolving from traditional wide-beam and single-beam antennas to narrow-beam, multi-beam antennas, and smart antennas.

[0003] Butler power dividers are the core module of multi-beam antennas, but they still face many challenges. For example, in multi-frequency antenna arrays, the existing Butler matrices are too large, which can cause interference problems in the antenna array layout; the Butler matrices have a narrow operating bandwidth and low beam isolation, making them unsuitable for broadband communication requirements; and in the mass production of multi-beam antennas, the large number of cables and solder joints connecting the Butler matrices leads to difficulties in antenna assembly and low electrical performance and third-order passive intermodulation yield. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned defects, the purpose of this invention is to provide an integrated Butler power divider to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an integrated Butler power divider, comprising a first Butler power divider and a second Butler power divider, wherein:

[0006] The first Butler power divider includes a first three-branch directional coupler, a first unequal-division power divider, a second unequal-division power divider, a second equal-division power divider, a fourth equal-division power divider, a fifth equal-division power divider, and a seventh equal-division power divider; the first output port and the second output port of the first three-branch directional coupler are respectively connected to the first unequal-division power divider and the second unequal-division power divider; the output terminal of the first unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the second equal-division power divider and the fifth equal-division power divider; and the output terminal of the second unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the fourth equal-division power divider and the seventh equal-division power divider.

[0007] The second Butler power divider includes a second three-branch directional coupler, a third unequal-division power divider, a fourth unequal-division power divider, a first equal-division power divider, a third equal-division power divider, a sixth equal-division power divider, and an eighth equal-division power divider; the third and fourth output ports of the second three-branch directional coupler are respectively connected to the third and fourth unequal-division power dividers, the output of the third unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the first and sixth equal-division power dividers, and the output of the fourth unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the third and eighth equal-division power dividers.

[0008] Optionally, the first three-branch directional coupler further includes a first input port and a second input port. The first input port and the first output port are located on the first branch line, and the second input port and the second output port are located on the third branch line. Both the first branch line and the third branch line are composed of four grounding short lines with a length of one-quarter wavelength. The four short lines are parallel to each other and spaced at the same distance, and the four short lines are cross-coupled in pairs. The first branch line and the third branch line are connected by a second branch line. The second branch line includes four U-shaped lines and a narrow line connected in the middle of the four U-shaped lines. The four U-shaped lines are distributed vertically in pairs. The two upper U-shaped lines are connected by a wide line and are respectively connected to the first branch line and the third branch line. The two lower U-shaped lines are connected by a wide line and are respectively connected to the first branch line and the third branch line. The narrow line is connected to the U-shaped lines vertically at both ends.

[0009] The second three-branch directional coupler also includes a third input port and a fourth input port, and the second three-branch directional coupler has the same circuit structure as the first three-branch directional coupler.

[0010] Optionally, both the first input port and the second input port are L-shaped structures with circular pads at the ends, and the middle of the circular pads is used to connect to the coaxial cable core wire of the grounding layer.

[0011] The third input port and the fourth input port have the same structural design as the first input port and the second input port.

[0012] Optionally, the first unequal power divider includes a fifth input port, a fifth output port, and a sixth output port, wherein the power ratio between the fifth output port and the sixth output port is 1:4.4; the fifth input port is connected to the first output port, and the fifth output port and the sixth output port are respectively connected to the second equal power divider and the fifth equal power divider.

[0013] The second unequal power divider includes a sixth input port, a seventh output port, and an eighth output port, with a power ratio of 1:4.4 between the seventh output port and the eighth output port; the sixth input port is connected to the second output port, and the seventh and eighth output ports are respectively connected to the seventh equal power divider and the fourth equal power divider.

[0014] The third unequal power divider includes a seventh input port, a ninth output port, and a tenth output port, with a power ratio of 1:4.4 between the ninth output port and the tenth output port; the seventh input port is connected to the third output port, and the ninth output port and the tenth output port are respectively connected to the first equal power divider and the sixth equal power divider.

[0015] The fourth unequal power divider includes an eighth input port, an eleventh output port, and a twelfth output port. The power ratio between the eleventh output port and the twelfth output port is 1:4.4. The eighth input port is connected to the fourth output port, and the eleventh output port and the twelfth output port are respectively connected to the eighth equal power divider and the third equal power divider.

[0016] Optionally, the first equal-dividing power divider includes a ninth input port, a thirteenth output port, and a fourteenth output port, wherein the power ratio of the thirteenth output port to the fourteenth output port is 1:1; the line of the ninth input port is on the same vertical line as a ground short-circuit line, the lines of the thirteenth output port and the fourteenth output port are on the same vertical line, and the lines containing the ninth input port, the thirteenth output port and the fourteenth output port are connected by a horizontal line;

[0017] The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth power dividers all have the same circuit structure design as the first power divider.

[0018] Optionally, the input ports of the first equal power divider, the third equal power divider, the sixth equal power divider, and the eighth equal power divider have the same orientation, all facing the second and third branch directional coupler;

[0019] The input ports of the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh power dividers have the same orientation, all facing the first three-branch directional coupler.

[0020] The first, third, fifth, and seventh power dividers are respectively distributed to the left of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth power dividers.

[0021] Optionally, the spacing between the first, third, fifth, and seventh power dividers is the same; the spacing between the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth power dividers is the same.

[0022] Optionally, the integrated Butler power divider is a PCB microstrip line structure, consisting of a circuit layer, a dielectric layer, a ground layer, a coaxial cable, and an oscillator, with the first Butler power divider and the second Butler power divider disposed on the circuit layer.

[0023] Optionally, the output ports of each equal power divider are connected to the corresponding vibrator via lines, and the phase of the four vibrators connected to the first, second, third, and fourth equal power dividers is 0 degrees, while the phase of the four vibrators connected to the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth equal power dividers is 180 degrees.

[0024] Optionally, the corresponding ports of the first unequal power divider, the second unequal power divider, the third unequal power divider, and the fourth unequal power divider are connected to the corresponding equal power divider via lines, and the vertically intersecting connection lines are bypassed by metal via jumpers that are routed to the back of the ground plane.

[0025] The integrated Butler power divider of this invention includes a first Butler power divider and a second Butler power divider. The first Butler power divider includes a first three-branch directional coupler, a first unequal power divider and a second unequal power divider connected to the first three-branch directional coupler, and multiple equal power dividers connected to the unequal power dividers. The second Butler power divider includes a second three-branch directional coupler, a third unequal power divider and a fourth unequal power divider connected to the second three-branch directional coupler, and multiple equal power dividers connected to the unequal power dividers. Through the structure and circuit construction of each module, this invention not only widens the operating frequency band and improves isolation to meet the communication requirements of broadband, but also simplifies assembly, significantly improves the pass rate of third-order passive intermodulation of antennas, has low cost, and is applicable to multi-band multi-beam antennas, achieving platform modularization. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the integrated Butler power divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the integrated Butler power divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the three-branch directional coupler of the integrated Butler power divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of each equal power divider of the integrated Butler power divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the integrated Butler power divider provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the invention.

[0032] It should be noted that references to "an embodiment," "embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., in this specification refer to the described embodiment including specific features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment must include these specific features, structures, or characteristics. Furthermore, such expressions do not refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when describing specific features, structures, or characteristics in conjunction with embodiments, whether or not explicitly described, it is indicated that incorporating such features, structures, or characteristics into other embodiments is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0033] Furthermore, certain terms are used in the specification and subsequent claims to refer to specific components or parts. Those skilled in the art will understand that manufacturers may use different names or terms to refer to the same component or part. This specification and subsequent claims do not distinguish components or parts by differences in name, but rather by differences in function. The terms "comprising" and "including" used throughout the specification and subsequent claims are open-ended and should be interpreted as "including but not limited to." Additionally, the term "connection" here includes any direct and indirect electrical connection means. Indirect electrical connection means include connections made through other means.

[0034] Figure 1An integrated Butler power divider according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, comprising a first Butler power divider and a second Butler power divider, wherein:

[0035] The first Butler power divider includes a first three-branch directional coupler 11, a first unequal power divider 21, a second unequal power divider 22, a second equal power divider 42, a fourth equal power divider 44, a fifth equal power divider 45, and a seventh equal power divider 47; see also Figure 2 The first output port 113 and the second output port 114 of the first three-branch directional coupler 11 are respectively connected to the first unequal power divider 21 and the second unequal power divider 22. The output terminal of the first unequal power divider 21 is respectively connected to the second equal power divider 42 and the fifth equal power divider 45. The output terminal of the second unequal power divider 22 is respectively connected to the fourth equal power divider 44 and the seventh equal power divider 47.

[0036] The second Butler power divider includes a second three-branch directional coupler 12, a third unequal power divider 23, a fourth unequal power divider 24, a first equal power divider 41, a third equal power divider 43, a sixth equal power divider 46, and an eighth equal power divider 48. The third output port 123 and the fourth output port 124 of the second three-branch directional coupler 12 are respectively connected to the third unequal power divider 23 and the fourth unequal power divider 24. The output terminal of the third unequal power divider 23 is respectively connected to the first equal power divider 41 and the sixth equal power divider 46. The output terminal of the fourth unequal power divider 24 is respectively connected to the third equal power divider 43 and the eighth equal power divider 48.

[0037] See Figure 5 Preferably, the integrated Butler power divider is a PCB microstrip line structure, operating in the 1695MHz-2690MHz frequency band. It consists of a circuit layer 10, a dielectric layer 20, a ground layer 30, a coaxial cable 40, and an element 50. The first and second Butler power dividers are located on the circuit layer. The element 50, circuit layer 10, dielectric layer 20, ground layer 30, and coaxial cable 40 are assembled from top to bottom. Specifically, the Butler matrix, equal-division power dividers, and element are integrated on the same PCB board, eliminating the circuits connecting the Butler matrix and the equal-division power dividers, and the cables connecting the equal-division power dividers and the element. This simplifies assembly and cable management, reduces material costs, and significantly improves the third-order passive intermodulation yield of the antenna by reducing the number of solder joints. The connection point between the integrated Butler power divider and the element 50 uses wave soldering, saving manual soldering time and costs, and improving the product's VSWR, isolation, and stability of third-order passive intermodulation.

[0038] The first three-branch directional coupler 11 includes a first input port 111, a second input port 112, a first output port 113, and a second output port 114; the second three-branch directional coupler 12 includes a third input port 121, a fourth input port 122, a third output port 123, and a fourth output port 124, that is, the second three-branch directional coupler 12 has the same circuit as the first three-branch directional coupler 11.

[0039] The first three-branch directional coupler 11 in this embodiment has three branch lines, and the length of each branch line is approximately one-quarter of a wavelength; see also Figure 3 The first input port 111 and the first output port 113 are located on the first branch line, and the second input port 112 and the second output port 114 are located on the third branch line. Both the first and third branch lines are composed of four grounding short-circuit lines 1152 with a length of one-quarter wavelength. The four short-circuit lines 1152 are parallel and equally spaced, with a spacing between 0.2 and 1.2 mm. The four short-circuit lines 1152 are cross-coupled in pairs, meaning two grounding short-circuit lines 1152 are cross-coupled with the other two. Specifically, the ports of the connected grounding short-circuit lines 1152 are staggered. Furthermore, the first and third branch lines are connected via a second branch line, which includes four U-shaped lines 1153 and connections to the four... The narrow line 1154 in the middle of the U-shaped line consists of four U-shaped lines 1153 distributed in pairs, with the two upper U-shaped lines 1153 connected by a wide line 1155 and respectively connected to the first branch line and the third branch line. The two lower U-shaped lines 1153 are connected by a wide line 1155 and respectively connected to the first branch line and the third branch line. The narrow line 1154 is connected to the U-shaped lines 1153 at both ends. Specifically, the upper and lower ends of the narrow line 1154 are connected to the wide lines 1155, forming a structure where the middle line 1154 is narrow and the two wide lines 1155 on both sides are wide. This structure can widen the working bandwidth and improve the isolation. The second three-branch directional coupler 12 has the same circuit structure as the first three-branch directional coupler 11, which will not be described again here.

[0040] As shown in the figure, the first input port 111 and the second input port 112 in this embodiment are both L-shaped structures with circular pads at the ends. The middle of the circular pads is used to connect to the coaxial cable core of the grounding layer. The third input port 121 and the fourth input port 122 have the same structural design as the first input port 111 and the second input port 112. This reduces the size of the integrated Butler power divider.

[0041] The first unequal power divider 21 in this embodiment includes a fifth input port 211, a fifth output port 212, and a sixth output port 213. The power ratio between the fifth output port 212 and the sixth output port 213 is 1:4.4. The fifth input port 211 is connected to the first output port 113, and the fifth output port 212 and the sixth output port 213 are respectively connected to the second equal power divider 42 and the fifth equal power divider 45. Specifically, the fifth input port 211 and the first output port 113 are connected through a straight line 309. The lines of the fifth output port 212 and the sixth output port 213 are on the same straight line, and the line of the fifth input port 211 is perpendicular to the lines of the fifth output port 212 and the sixth output port 213. The end of the fifth input port 211 is bent at 90 degrees and connected to the straight line 309. The straight line 309 is parallel to the straight line of the fifth output port 212 and the sixth output port 213. The power ratio of the sixth output port 213 to the fifth output port 212 is 4.4:1, which is relatively large, and the horizontal sidelobe suppression of the multi-beam antenna is good.

[0042] The second unequal power divider 22 includes a sixth input port 221, a seventh output port 222, and an eighth output port 223. The power ratio between the seventh output port 222 and the eighth output port 223 is 1:4.4. The sixth input port 221 is connected to the second output port 114, and the seventh output port 222 and the eighth output port 223 are connected to the seventh equal power divider 47 and the fourth equal power divider 44, respectively. The sixth input port 221 and the second output port 114 are connected by a line 310. The specific structural circuit design of the second unequal power divider 22 in this embodiment is the same as that of the first unequal power divider 21.

[0043] The third unequal power divider 23 includes a seventh input port 231, a ninth output port 232, and a tenth output port 233. The power ratio between the ninth output port 232 and the tenth output port 233 is 1:4.4. The seventh input port 231 is connected to the third output port 123, and the ninth output port 232 and the tenth output port 233 are respectively connected to the first equal power divider 41 and the sixth equal power divider 46. The seventh input port 231 and the third output port 123 are connected by a line 311. The specific structural circuit design of the third unequal power divider 23 in this embodiment is the same as that of the first unequal power divider 21.

[0044] The fourth unequal power divider 24 includes an eighth input port 241, an eleventh output port 242, and a twelfth output port 243. The power ratio between the eleventh output port 242 and the twelfth output port 243 is 1:4.4. The eighth input port 241 is connected to the fourth output port 124, and the eleventh output port 242 and the twelfth output port 243 are connected to the eighth equal power divider 48 and the third equal power divider 43, respectively. The eighth input port 241 and the fourth output port 124 are connected by a line 312. The specific structural circuit design of the fourth unequal power divider 24 in this embodiment is the same as that of the first unequal power divider 21.

[0045] Furthermore, the first equal-dividing power divider 41 in this embodiment includes a ninth input port 4101, a thirteenth output port 4102, and a fourteenth output port 4103. The power ratio of the thirteenth output port 4102 to the fourteenth output port 4103 is 1:1. Preferably, the output ports are preset with a phase difference that meets the requirements. The line of the ninth input port 4101 is on the same vertical line as a ground short-circuit line, and the lines of the thirteenth output port 4102 and the fourteenth output port 4103 are on the same vertical line. The lines of the ninth input port 4101, the thirteenth output port 4102, and the fourteenth output port 4103 are connected by a horizontal line. Figure 4 The line 411 of the ninth input port 4101 is on the same straight line as a grounding short line 413, and the end of the grounding short line 413 is the grounding port 414; the line 415 of the thirteenth output port 4102 and the line 416 of the fourteenth output port 4103 are on the same straight line, and these two straight lines are connected by a horizontal line 412, that is, the ninth input port 4101, the thirteenth output port 4102 and the fourteenth output port 4103 are connected by line 412; among them, the two output ports are used to connect to the oscillator through line 511 or line 611.

[0046] As shown in the figure, the second equal power divider 42 includes a tenth input port 4201, a fifteenth output port 4202, and a sixteenth output port 4203;

[0047] The third equal power divider 43 includes an eleventh input port 4301, a seventeenth output port 4302, and an eighteenth output port 4303;

[0048] The fourth equal power divider 44 includes a twelfth input port 4401, a nineteenth output port 4402, and a twentieth output port 4403;

[0049] The fifth power divider 45 includes a thirteenth input port 4501, a twenty-first output port 4502, and a twenty-second output port 4503;

[0050] The sixth power divider 46 includes a fourteenth input port 4601, a twenty-third output port 4602, and a twenty-fourth output port 4603;

[0051] The seventh power divider includes a fifteenth input port 4701, a twenty-fifth output port 4702, and a twenty-sixth output port 4701;

[0052] The eighth power divider 48 includes a sixteenth input port 4801, a twenty-seventh output port 4802, and a twenty-eighth output port 4803.

[0053] The second equal power divider 42, the third equal power divider 43, the fourth equal power divider 44, the fifth equal power divider 45, the sixth equal power divider 46, the seventh equal power divider 47 and the eighth equal power divider 48 all have the same circuit structure design as the first equal power divider 41.

[0054] Furthermore, the input ports of the first equal power divider 41, the third equal power divider 43, the sixth equal power divider 46, and the eighth equal power divider 48 all face the same direction, namely towards the second three-branch directional coupler 12; the input ports of the second equal power divider 42, the fourth equal power divider 44, the fifth equal power divider 45, and the seventh equal power divider 47 all face the same direction, namely towards the first three-branch directional coupler 11; that is, the input ports of the first equal power divider 41, the third equal power divider 43, the sixth equal power divider 46, and the eighth equal power divider 48 all face downwards; the input ports of the second equal power divider 42, the fourth equal power divider 43, the sixth equal power divider 46, and the eighth equal power divider 48 all face downwards; the input ports of the second equal power divider 42, the fourth equal power divider 43, the sixth equal power divider 46, and the eighth equal power divider 47 all face the same direction, namely towards the first three-branch directional coupler 11. The input ports of the fifth and seventh power dividers 45 and 47 face the same direction, both upwards; the adjacent spacing between the first, third, fifth, and seventh power dividers 41 and 43, and the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth power dividers 48 is the same; the adjacent spacing between the first, third, fifth, and sixth power dividers 42 and 44, and the sixth and eighth power dividers 48 is the same; the first, third, fifth, and seventh power dividers 41, 43, 45, and 47 are respectively distributed to the left of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth power dividers 42 and 44, and the sixth, and the eighth power dividers 48, respectively.

[0055] Furthermore, the output ports of each equal power divider are connected to the corresponding vibrator 50 via lines, and the phase of the four vibrators 50 connected to the first equal power divider 41, the second equal power divider 42, the third equal power divider 43 and the fourth equal power divider 44 is 0 degrees, while the phase of the four vibrators 50 connected to the fifth equal power divider 45, the sixth equal power divider 46, the seventh equal power divider 47 and the eighth equal power divider 48 is 180 degrees.

[0056] The first unequal power divider 21, the second unequal power divider 22, the third unequal power divider 23 and the fourth unequal power divider 24 are connected to the corresponding equal power divider via lines. The vertically intersecting connection lines are bypassed by metal via jumpers that are routed to the back of the ground plane.

[0057] As shown in the figure, the fifth output port 212 of the first unequal power divider 21 is connected to the tenth input port 4201 of the second equal power divider 42 via line 302; the sixth output port 213 of the first unequal power divider 21 is connected to the thirteenth input port 4501 of the fifth equal power divider 45 via line 305. The eighth output port 223 of the second unequal power divider 22 is connected to the twelfth input port 4401 of the fourth equal power divider 44 via line 304; the seventh output port 222 of the second unequal power divider 22 is connected to the fifteenth input port 4701 of the seventh equal power divider 47 via line 307. Lines 304 and 305 intersect perpendicularly, and line 304 passes through a metal via jumper wire, bypassing line 305 from the back of the ground plane. Among them, the parallel part of line 304 and line 305, line 304 is wired in the middle of the first three-branch directional coupler 11 and line 305. The short winding distance of the line can reduce network loss, reduce the size of the integrated Butler power divider, and reduce material costs.

[0058] The ninth output port 232 of the third unequal power divider 23 is connected to the ninth input port 4101 of the first equal power divider 41 via line 301; the tenth output port 233 of the third unequal power divider 23 is connected to the fourteenth input port 4601 of the sixth equal power divider 46 via line 306. The eleventh output port 242 of the fourth unequal power divider 24 is connected to the sixteenth input port 4801 of the eighth equal power divider 48 via line 308; the twelfth output port 243 of the fourth unequal power divider 24 is connected to the eleventh input port 4301 of the third equal power divider 43 via line 303. Lines 303 and 306 intersect perpendicularly, and line 306 passes through a metal via jumper wire, bypassing line 303 from the back of the ground plane. In the parallel section between lines 303 and 306, line 306 is routed between the second and third branch directional coupler 11 and line 303.

[0059] The integrated Butler power divider provided in this embodiment has an empty PCB circuit in the middle, which can be used as a vibrator feed piece, making efficient use of materials and saving product costs. In addition, the empty space in the middle of the integrated Butler power divider can also be used to embed a low-frequency vibrator, which is suitable for multi-band multi-beam antennas and realizes platform modularity.

[0060] The specific working principle of the integrated Butler power divider provided in this embodiment is as follows:

[0061] 1. When the electromagnetic wave signal is input from the first input port 111 of the first three-branch directional coupler 11, the second input port 112 of the first three-branch directional coupler 11 is an isolation port with virtually no signal output. At this time, the power ratios output from the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh power dividers are 1:4.4:4.4:1, and the phase differences are 0°, 90°, 0°, and 90°, respectively. Adding the phase of the corresponding vibrator 50, the phases of the corresponding radiating surface are 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, respectively, which meet the 90° phase difference requirement for multi-beam antenna shaping, forming a beam with a horizontal beam offset of approximately 30°.

[0062] 2. When the electromagnetic wave signal is input from the second input port 112 of the first three-branch directional coupler 11, the first input port 111 of the first three-branch directional coupler 11 is an isolated port with virtually no signal output. At this time, the power ratios output from the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh power dividers are 1:4.4:4.4:1, and the phase differences are 90°, 0°, 90°, and 0°, respectively. Adding the phase of the corresponding vibrator 50, the phases of the corresponding radiating surface are 90°, 0°, -90°, and -180°, respectively, which meet the 90° phase difference requirement for multi-beam antenna shaping, forming a beam with a horizontal beam offset of approximately 30°.

[0063] Third, when the electromagnetic wave signal is input from the third input port 121 of the second and third branch directional coupler 12, the fourth input port 122 of the second and third branch directional coupler 12 is an isolation port with virtually no signal output. At this time, the power ratios output from the first, third, sixth, and eighth power dividers are 1:4.4:4.4:1, and the phase differences are 0°, 90°, 0°, and 90°, respectively. Adding the phase of the corresponding vibrator 50, the phases of the corresponding radiating surface are 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, respectively, which meet the requirement of a 90° phase difference for multi-beam antenna shaping, forming a beam with a horizontal beam offset of about 30°.

[0064] Fourth, when the electromagnetic wave signal is input from the fourth input port 122 of the second and third branch directional coupler 12, the third input port 121 of the second and third branch directional coupler 12 is an isolation port with virtually no signal output. At this time, the power ratios output from the first, third, sixth, and eighth power dividers are 1:4.4:4.4:1, and the phase differences are 90°, 0°, 90°, and 0°, respectively. Adding the phase of the corresponding vibrator, the phases of the corresponding radiating surface are 90°, 0°, -90°, and -180°, respectively, which meets the requirement of a 90° phase difference for multi-beam antenna shaping, forming a beam with a horizontal beam offset of about 30°.

[0065] In summary, the integrated Butler power divider of this invention includes a first Butler power divider and a second Butler power divider. The first Butler power divider includes a first three-branch directional coupler, a first unequal power divider and a second unequal power divider connected to the first three-branch directional coupler, and multiple equal power dividers connected to the unequal power dividers. The second Butler power divider includes a second three-branch directional coupler, a third unequal power divider and a fourth unequal power divider connected to the second three-branch directional coupler, and multiple equal power dividers connected to the unequal power dividers. Through the structure and circuit construction of each module, this invention not only broadens the operating frequency band and improves isolation to meet the communication requirements of broadband applications; it also simplifies assembly, significantly improves the pass rate of third-order passive intermodulation of antennas, has low cost, and is applicable to multi-band multi-beam antennas, achieving platform modularization.

[0066] Of course, the present invention may have other various embodiments. Without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make various corresponding changes and modifications according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and modifications should all fall within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An integrated Butler power divider, characterized in that, It includes a first Butler power divider and a second Butler power divider, wherein: The first Butler power divider includes a first three-branch directional coupler, a first unequal-division power divider, a second unequal-division power divider, a second equal-division power divider, a fourth equal-division power divider, a fifth equal-division power divider, and a seventh equal-division power divider; the first output port and the second output port of the first three-branch directional coupler are respectively connected to the first unequal-division power divider and the second unequal-division power divider; the output terminal of the first unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the second equal-division power divider and the fifth equal-division power divider; and the output terminal of the second unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the fourth equal-division power divider and the seventh equal-division power divider. The second Butler power divider includes a second three-branch directional coupler, a third unequal-division power divider, a fourth unequal-division power divider, a first equal-division power divider, a third equal-division power divider, a sixth equal-division power divider, and an eighth equal-division power divider; the third and fourth output ports of the second three-branch directional coupler are respectively connected to the third and fourth unequal-division power dividers, the output of the third unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the first and sixth equal-division power dividers, and the output of the fourth unequal-division power divider is respectively connected to the third and eighth equal-division power dividers.

2. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first three-branch directional coupler further includes a first input port and a second input port. The first input port and the first output port are located on the first branch line, and the second input port and the second output port are located on the third branch line. Both the first branch line and the third branch line are composed of four grounding short lines with a length of one-quarter wavelength. The four short lines are parallel to each other and spaced at the same distance, and the four short lines are cross-coupled in pairs. The first branch line and the third branch line are connected by a second branch line. The second branch line includes four U-shaped lines and a narrow line connected in the middle of the four U-shaped lines. The four U-shaped lines are distributed vertically in pairs. The two upper U-shaped lines are connected by a wide line and are respectively connected to the first branch line and the third branch line. The two lower U-shaped lines are connected by a wide line and are respectively connected to the first branch line and the third branch line. The narrow line is connected to the U-shaped lines at both ends. The second three-branch directional coupler also includes a third input port and a fourth input port, and the second three-branch directional coupler has the same circuit structure as the first three-branch directional coupler.

3. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 2, characterized in that, Both the first input port and the second input port are L-shaped structures with circular pads at the ends. The middle of the circular pads is used to connect to the coaxial cable core wire of the grounding layer. The third input port and the fourth input port have the same structural design as the first input port and the second input port.

4. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first unequal power divider includes a fifth input port, a fifth output port, and a sixth output port, with a power ratio of 1:4.4 between the fifth output port and the sixth output port; the fifth input port is connected to the first output port, and the fifth output port and the sixth output port are respectively connected to the second equal power divider and the fifth equal power divider. The second unequal power divider includes a sixth input port, a seventh output port, and an eighth output port, with a power ratio of 1:4.4 between the seventh output port and the eighth output port; the sixth input port is connected to the second output port, and the seventh and eighth output ports are respectively connected to the seventh equal power divider and the fourth equal power divider. The third unequal power divider includes a seventh input port, a ninth output port, and a tenth output port, with a power ratio of 1:4.4 between the ninth output port and the tenth output port; the seventh input port is connected to the third output port, and the ninth output port and the tenth output port are respectively connected to the first equal power divider and the sixth equal power divider. The fourth unequal power divider includes an eighth input port, an eleventh output port, and a twelfth output port. The power ratio between the eleventh output port and the twelfth output port is 1:4.

4. The eighth input port is connected to the fourth output port, and the eleventh output port and the twelfth output port are respectively connected to the eighth equal power divider and the third equal power divider.

5. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first equal-dividing power divider includes a ninth input port, a thirteenth output port, and a fourteenth output port. The power ratio of the thirteenth output port to the fourteenth output port is 1:

1. The line of the ninth input port is on the same vertical line as a ground short-circuit line. The lines of the thirteenth output port and the fourteenth output port are on the same vertical line, and the lines of the ninth input port, the thirteenth output port, and the fourteenth output port are connected by a horizontal line. The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth power dividers all have the same circuit structure design as the first power divider.

6. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 5, characterized in that, The input ports of the first equal power divider, the third equal power divider, the sixth equal power divider, and the eighth equal power divider have the same orientation, all facing the second and third branch directional coupler; The input ports of the second, fourth, fifth, and seventh power dividers have the same orientation, all facing the first three-branch directional coupler. The first, third, fifth, and seventh power dividers are respectively distributed to the left of the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth power dividers.

7. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 6, characterized in that, The spacing between the first, third, fifth, and seventh power dividers is the same; the spacing between the second, fourth, sixth, and eighth power dividers is the same.

8. The integrated Butler power divider according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The integrated Butler power divider is a PCB microstrip structure, consisting of a circuit layer, a dielectric layer, a ground layer, a coaxial cable, and an oscillator. The first Butler power divider and the second Butler power divider are located on the circuit layer.

9. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 8, characterized in that, The output ports of each equal power divider are connected to the corresponding vibrators via lines. The phase of the four vibrators connected to the first, second, third, and fourth equal power dividers is 0 degrees, and the phase of the four vibrators connected to the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth equal power dividers is 180 degrees.

10. The integrated Butler power divider according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first unequal power divider, the second unequal power divider, the third unequal power divider, and the fourth unequal power divider are connected to their corresponding equal power dividers via lines. The vertically intersecting lines are bypassed by metal via jumpers that are routed to the back of the ground plane.

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