Base station antennas and base stations

Abstract

This disclosure provides a base station antenna and base station, relating to the field of communication technology, and solves the problems of complex beamwidth control methods and the inability to achieve only one-dimensional beam pointing switching in existing technologies. In the base station antenna, two first parasitic elements are disposed on the same layer as the ground plane and located on both sides of the ground plane along a first direction, used to tune the boundary characteristics of the ground plane reflector. At least two second parasitic elements are disposed on both sides of the antenna element along a second direction, used to adjust the beamwidth of the antenna element in the horizontal plane. This disclosure achieves independent control of the vertical and horizontal beamwidths through the first and second parasitic elements, and by disposing the two first parasitic elements on the same layer as the ground plane, the first parasitic elements can directly act on the boundary of the ground plane reflector, thereby achieving a stable beamwidth control effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a base station antenna and a base station. Background Technology

[0002] In modern communication systems, antennas are key components for signal transmission, and their performance directly affects the efficiency and coverage of the communication system. Traditional antenna designs typically employ fixed beamwidths and radiation patterns, which to some extent limits the flexibility and adaptability of antennas. With the continuous development of communication technology, the performance requirements for antennas are becoming increasingly stringent, especially in terms of beamwidth modulation and radiation pattern optimization.

[0003] Traditional antenna beamwidth control is usually quite complex, requiring changes to the antenna's physical structure or the use of additional matching elements. Moreover, it can only achieve one-dimensional beam pointing switching, cannot simultaneously control the beamwidth, and has a limited range of control. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides a base station antenna and a base station, which can solve the problems in the prior art where the antenna beamwidth control method is complicated, can only achieve one-dimensional beam pointing switching, cannot simultaneously control the beamwidth, and has a limited control range.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this disclosure provide a base station antenna, including a dielectric substrate, a ground plane disposed on the dielectric substrate, and two first parasitic units, as well as a feed network structure, an antenna unit, and a second parasitic unit disposed on the side of the ground plane away from the dielectric substrate, wherein...

[0006] The two first parasitic units are disposed on the same layer as the floor and located on both sides of the floor along the first direction, for tuning the boundary characteristics of the floor reflective surface;

[0007] At least two second parasitic units are provided on both sides of the antenna unit along the second direction for adjusting the beamwidth of the horizontal plane of the antenna unit; the first direction and the second direction are both parallel to the floor, and are respectively parallel to the vertical plane and the horizontal plane of the antenna unit.

[0008] Secondly, this disclosure also provides a base station, including the base station antenna described above in the disclosed embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0009] In the accompanying drawings of the embodiments disclosed herein:

[0010] Figure 1 A plan perspective view of a base station antenna provided in an embodiment of this disclosure, viewed from above.

[0011] Figure 2A three-dimensional perspective view of a base station antenna provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0012] Figure 3 This is a plan view of the sheet antenna body used in the embodiments of this disclosure from a top view.

[0013] Figure 4 This is a side view of the antenna unit, the second parasitic unit, and the floor used in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0014] Figure 5 This is a plan view of the power supply network structure used in the embodiments of this disclosure from a top view.

[0015] Figure 6 A reflection coefficient curve of the vertical plane wavelength modulation of the base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure;

[0016] Figure 7 The vertical plane waveform of the base station antenna provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 8 The base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure adopts Figure 1 and Figure 2 The horizontal plane waveform modulation pattern corresponding to the second parasitic unit;

[0018] Figure 9 The radiation pattern of the base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure in the vertical plane under the narrow E and narrow H bandwidth conditions;

[0019] Figure 10 The radiation pattern of the base station antenna provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure in the horizontal plane under a narrow E-H bandwidth condition;

[0020] Figure 11 The radiation pattern of the base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure in the vertical plane under a narrow E and wide H wavelength condition;

[0021] Figure 12 The radiation pattern of the base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure in the horizontal plane under a narrow E and wide H wavelength condition;

[0022] Figure 13 The radiation pattern of the base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure in the vertical plane under a wavelength condition of wide E and narrow H;

[0023] Figure 14 The radiation pattern of the base station antenna provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure in the horizontal plane under a wavelength condition of wide E and narrow H;

[0024] Figure 15 The gain simulation results of the base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure under various beam states are shown in the figure.

[0025] Figure 16 The simulation results of the VSWR of the base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure under various beam states are shown in the figure. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this disclosure, the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] The present disclosure will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, the embodiments shown may be embodied in different forms, and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth below. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the scope of the disclosure.

[0028] The accompanying drawings of the embodiments disclosed herein are provided to further illustrate the embodiments of this disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the detailed embodiments to explain this disclosure and do not constitute a limitation thereof. The above and other features and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the detailed embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] This disclosure may be described with reference to plan and / or cross-sectional views using the ideal schematic diagrams of this disclosure. Therefore, the example illustrations may be modified according to manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances.

[0030] Where there is no conflict, the various embodiments of this disclosure and the features thereof in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0031] The terminology used in this disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. The term "and / or" as used in this disclosure includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated enumerated entries. The singular forms "a" and "the" as used in this disclosure are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprising," "made of," etc., as used in this disclosure specify the presence of the stated feature, integral, step, operation, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0032] Unless otherwise specified, all terms used in this disclosure (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will also be understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and this disclosure, and will not be interpreted as having an idealized or overly formal meaning, unless expressly so defined in this disclosure.

[0033] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, but includes modifications to the configuration based on the manufacturing process. Therefore, the areas illustrated in the drawings are schematic, and the shapes of the areas shown illustrate specific shapes of the areas of an element, but are not intended to be limiting.

[0034] In existing technologies, pattern-reconfigurable antennas generally employ mechanical or electronic control methods to achieve beam adjustment, but these methods suffer from problems such as complex structures, high losses, or narrow bandwidth. Furthermore, existing technologies can only achieve one-dimensional beam pointing reconfiguration, or while they can adjust the beamwidth in two dimensions, they require high structural symmetry and have low gain. The base station antenna provided in this invention, however, can achieve dynamic adjustment of the two-dimensional beamwidth while possessing advantages such as high gain, low loss, and high-frequency in-band stability.

[0035] The base station antenna provided in this invention is suitable for wireless communication systems. Specific application scenarios include indoor wireless communication coverage. By flexibly switching coverage modes, it can dynamically adapt to the communication needs per unit area in different regions. Simultaneously, it can reduce co-channel interference between multiple antennas, solving the problem of simultaneously addressing wide-area and hotspot coverage in indoor environments.

[0036] Specifically, please refer to the following: Figure 1 and Figure 2 The base station antenna provided in this embodiment of the invention includes a dielectric substrate 1, a ground plane 2 disposed on the dielectric substrate 1, two first parasitic units 3, and a feed network structure 4, an antenna unit 5, and a second parasitic unit 6 disposed on the side of the ground plane 2 away from the dielectric substrate 1. The dielectric substrate 1 serves as the basic support structure of the antenna, integrating all the aforementioned units, structures, and other components, and providing mechanical support and electrical isolation. The dielectric substrate 1 is typically made of FR4 (epoxy fiberglass) or high-frequency materials. The dielectric substrate 1 can be, for example, a rectangular plate or a plate of any other arbitrary shape, and its thickness can be set according to the actual required antenna impedance matching and radiation efficiency.

[0037] Ground plane 2 serves as the reflector of antenna element 5, enhancing forward radiation and suppressing backward radiation through the mirror principle, thereby improving the antenna's radiation directivity. Furthermore, ground plane 2 also serves as the reference ground plane for the feed network structure 4, reducing feed line radiation loss.

[0038] Two first parasitic units 3 are disposed on the same layer as the ground plane 2 and located on both sides of the ground plane 2 along the first direction, for tuning the reflective surface boundary characteristics of the ground plane 2. Through the physical presence of the two first parasitic units 3 and their arrangement with the ground plane 2 on the dielectric substrate 1, the vertical plane (H-plane, i.e., the vertical plane of the antenna element 5) can be optimized. Figure 1The beamwidth is the angle in the XOZ plane (where the X and Z axes lie). Beamwidth refers to the angle at which the radiation intensity in the antenna radiation pattern drops to a specific proportion of its maximum value. This angle describes the antenna's radiation directivity. The vertical plane (H-plane) is the plane perpendicular to the antenna's main radiation direction (i.e., the H-plane). Figure 1 The XOZ plane contains the X and Z axes. The beamwidth in the vertical plane (H-plane) refers to the beamwidth of the antenna's radiation pattern on the vertical plane (H-plane). A narrower vertical plane beamwidth results in stronger directivity, more concentrated radiated energy, and higher radiation intensity, but a narrower coverage area in the vertical direction. Conversely, a wider vertical plane beamwidth results in a wider coverage area in the vertical direction, but relatively lower radiation intensity, suitable for scenarios requiring coverage of a large vertical area. In practical applications, the electromagnetic field distribution at the edge of the ground plane 2 can be altered by designing parameters such as the size, shape, and distance between the two first parasitic units 3 and the ground plane 2, thereby affecting the reflected wave phase and ultimately controlling the beamwidth.

[0039] At least two second parasitic elements 6 are provided on both sides of the antenna element 5 along the second direction to adjust the beamwidth of the horizontal plane of the antenna element 5; both the first direction and the second direction are parallel to the floor 2 and parallel to the vertical plane (H-plane, i.e., the vertical plane of the antenna element 5). Figure 1 The XOZ plane containing the X and Z axes and the horizontal plane (E plane, i.e., Figure 1 The XOZ plane contains the Y-axis and Z-axis. The second parasitic element 6 interacts with the antenna element 5 through electromagnetic coupling, changing the current distribution of the antenna element 5 and thus affecting its radiation pattern. The horizontal plane (E-plane) refers to the horizontal plane parallel to the main radiation direction of the antenna (i.e., the E-plane). Figure 1 The XOZ plane contains the Y-axis and Z-axis. The horizontal (E-plane) beamwidth refers to the angle at which the antenna radiation pattern drops to a specific percentage of its maximum value on the horizontal plane. A wider horizontal beamwidth results in a wider horizontal coverage area, suitable for scenarios requiring extensive coverage. Conversely, a narrower horizontal beamwidth results in stronger directivity and more concentrated radiated energy, with higher radiation intensity in a specific direction, suitable for scenarios requiring high directivity. In practical applications, the horizontal (E-plane) beamwidth of antenna element 5 can be adjusted by modifying the position, quantity, and electrical characteristics (such as height and shape) of the second parasitic element 6.

[0040] In this embodiment, by placing the two first parasitic units 3 on the same layer as the ground plane 2, the first parasitic units 3 can directly act on the boundary of the reflective surface of the ground plane 2, thereby achieving a stable bandwidth control effect and reducing the size of the ground plane 2 in the vertical plane. Furthermore, by adjusting the electrical characteristics (such as size and shape) of the first parasitic units 3, the reflection characteristics of the ground plane 2 can be effectively changed. Moreover, by designing the structure and layout of the first parasitic units 3, stable bandwidth control in the vertical plane can be achieved. This control method not only improves the flexibility of bandwidth control but also ensures the performance stability of the antenna under different operating conditions.

[0041] By placing two second parasitic elements 6 on both sides of the antenna element 5 along the second direction, the two second parasitic elements 6 can interact with the antenna element 5 through electromagnetic coupling, significantly increasing the radiation coverage range of the antenna in the horizontal direction. Simultaneously, by optimizing the layout and electrical characteristics of the second parasitic elements 6, the horizontal beamwidth can be broadened, thereby improving the coverage efficiency of the wireless communication system. With the help of the first parasitic element 3 and the second parasitic element 6, stable control of the two-dimensional beamwidth can be achieved, enabling the base station antenna to adapt to various application scenarios and requirements, thus improving the versatility and adaptability of the base station antenna.

[0042] In some embodiments, the first parasitic unit 3 includes at least two conductive sheets 31 arranged sequentially along a second direction, with a first switch 32 disposed between each pair of adjacent conductive sheets 31. By arranging the at least two conductive sheets 31 sequentially along the second direction, the overall electrical characteristics can be controlled by changing the connection state between the conductive sheets 31 using the first switch 32. By turning the first switch 32 on and off, the connection state between the conductive sheets 31 can be flexibly changed, thereby achieving dynamic control of the impedance of the first parasitic unit 3, and thus achieving stable dynamic control of the vertical plane bandwidth. This not only improves the flexibility of bandwidth control but also ensures good radiation performance under different operating conditions, enabling the antenna to adapt to different operating conditions and requirements. Furthermore, by setting the first switch 32, the first parasitic unit 3 has flexible impedance control capability, thereby enabling the antenna to maintain stable performance under different operating conditions, reducing signal loss and reflection, and improving the efficiency and reliability of the antenna.

[0043] Specifically, the first parasitic unit 3 may include two conductive plates 31, or three conductive plates 31 or more. In practical applications, the number of conductive plates 31 can be determined according to the desired effect of the antenna. Moreover, the shape and size of the conductive plates 31 can be designed according to the required bandwidth control range. The shape of the conductive plates 31 can be, for example, rectangular, square, or arc-shaped.

[0044] A first switch 32 is provided between each pair of adjacent conductive sheets 31. The number of first switches 32 depends on the number of conductive sheets 31. When there are multiple first switches 32, in order to better achieve the effect of vertical plane waveform width control, multiple first switches 32 can be turned on or off simultaneously to avoid the problem of vertical plane waveform asymmetry and distortion.

[0045] At least two conductive pieces 31 can form a strip structure. By setting the size and layout of the strip structure, high consistency (fluctuation ±2.5°) of beamwidth variation within the frequency band is achieved, ensuring the stability of the antenna at different frequencies and improving the reliability of the communication system. Based on this, the connection state between the strip structure and the ground plane 2 is controlled by the first switch 32, realizing dynamic adjustment of the antenna's vertical plane bandwidth. Specifically, when the first switch 32 is on, the strip structure functions, forming a continuous conductive path with the ground plane 2, equivalent to increasing the size and aperture of the ground reflector. This increase in reflector size narrows the antenna's vertical plane bandwidth, thus synthesizing a narrow beam. A narrow beam has higher directivity and stronger radiated energy concentration, suitable for scenarios requiring high directivity. When the first switch 32 is off, the connection between the strip structure and the ground plane 2 is interrupted, the strip structure fails, equivalent to reducing the size and aperture of the ground reflector. This reduction in reflector size widens the antenna's vertical plane bandwidth, thus synthesizing a wide beam. Wide beamwidth provides a wider coverage area, making it suitable for scenarios requiring extensive coverage. Furthermore, the combination of the strip structure and the first switch 32 simplifies the design of antenna beamwidth control, reducing design and manufacturing complexity.

[0046] In some embodiments, at least two second parasitic units 6 located on the same side of the antenna element 5 are arranged at intervals along a first direction, and each second parasitic unit 6 on one side of the antenna element 5 is arranged opposite to each second parasitic unit 6 on the other side in a one-to-one correspondence along a second direction. This ensures that the radiation characteristics of the antenna are more uniform in the horizontal direction. Moreover, by designing the number, position, and spacing of the second parasitic units 6, the radiation coverage range of the antenna in the horizontal direction can be significantly increased. Furthermore, this symmetrical layout can optimize the horizontal radiation pattern of the antenna, ensuring a uniform distribution of radiation intensity in the horizontal direction. This helps to reduce signal dead zones and improve the overall performance of the communication system.

[0047] In some embodiments, the second parasitic unit 6 includes a conductive post 61, which is vertically disposed relative to the floor 2, and one end of the conductive post 61 is connected to the floor 2 via a second switch 62. The conductive post 61 is made of a conductive material to ensure effective electromagnetic coupling with the floor 2. By making the conductive post 61 vertically disposed relative to the floor 2, the electromagnetic coupling effect between it and the floor 2 can be ensured, thereby effectively influencing the horizontal radiation characteristics of the antenna. By connecting one end of the conductive post 61 to the floor 2 via the second switch 62, a conductive path can be dynamically formed between the conductive post 61 and the floor 2 through the second switch 62, thereby achieving the modulation of the antenna radiation characteristics.

[0048] Specifically, the height of the conductive post 61 can be determined according to the required wavelength range. The height of the conductive post 61 can be 0.15 times the wavelength (the propagation distance of an electromagnetic wave in one complete cycle) to ensure that the conductive post 61 can effectively couple energy from the antenna element 5. Each antenna element 5 has at least two conductive posts 61 on one side. By changing the number and arrangement of the conductive posts 61, the coupling impedance can be changed, thereby stabilizing the horizontal wavelength. For example, four conductive posts 61 can be set on each side of the antenna element 5, for a total of eight on both sides. Furthermore, the four conductive posts 61 on the same side are arranged in pairs, with the spacing between pairs of conductive posts 61 being smaller than the spacing between adjacent pairs of conductive posts 61. By designing the number, position, and spacing of the conductive posts 61, the horizontal radiation pattern of the antenna can be optimized, ensuring a uniform distribution of radiation intensity in the horizontal direction. This helps reduce signal dead zones and improve the overall performance of the communication system.

[0049] By controlling the connection state between the conductive post 61 and the ground plane 2 via the second switch 62, the electrical characteristics of the conductive post 61 can be dynamically adjusted, thereby achieving dynamic control of the coupling strength of the second parasitic unit 6. When the second switch 62 is on, the conductive post 61 and the ground plane 2 form a continuous conductive path, and the conductive post 61, together with the antenna element 5, synthesizes a wide beam with a wider coverage range, suitable for scenarios requiring extensive coverage. When the second switch 62 is off, the conductive post 61 is ineffective, and the horizontal plane maintains a narrow beam state. This narrow beam has higher directivity and stronger radiation energy concentration, suitable for scenarios requiring high directivity. This flexible control method allows the antenna to adjust the horizontal plane beamwidth in real time according to actual communication needs, achieving high consistency (fluctuation ±2.5°) in beamwidth changes within the frequency band. Moreover, by using the combination of the conductive post 61 and the second switch 62, the design of antenna beamwidth control can be simplified, reducing design and manufacturing complexity.

[0050] By using the first parasitic unit 3 and the second parasitic unit 6, independent control of the beamwidth in the vertical and horizontal planes can be achieved, while maintaining the symmetry and stability of the radiation pattern. Moreover, by adopting the above structure and layout, the first parasitic unit 3 and the second parasitic unit 6 achieve high consistency (fluctuation ±2.5°) in the beamwidth variation within the frequency band, ensuring the stability of the antenna at different frequencies. In addition, the beamwidth and radiation pattern can be optimized, significantly improving the coverage efficiency and signal transmission quality of the communication system, making it suitable for various application scenarios in wireless communication systems.

[0051] Specifically, the first parasitic element 3 can effectively control the vertical plane bandwidth by altering the boundary characteristics of the reflective surface of the ground plane 2. By adjusting the position and size of the first parasitic element 3, the reflection characteristics of the ground plane 2 can be optimized, thereby achieving stable control of the vertical plane bandwidth. Simultaneously, by placing the first parasitic element 3 on both sides of the ground plane 2, rather than on the same plane as the antenna element 5, the direct interference of the first parasitic element 3 to the antenna element 5 can be reduced, improving the overall performance of the antenna. By placing the second parasitic element 6 on both sides of the antenna element 5, the direct interference of the second parasitic element 6 to the antenna element 5 can be reduced, making the radiation characteristics of the antenna element 5 more stable, reducing signal loss and reflection, and improving the efficiency and reliability of the antenna.

[0052] In embodiments where a first switch 32 and a second switch 62 are respectively provided in the first parasitic unit 3 and the second parasitic unit 6, flexible control of the antenna radiation characteristics can be achieved by means of the first switch 32 and the second switch 62, thereby not only improving the flexibility of beamwidth control but also optimizing the antenna performance. Specifically, by controlling the on and off states of the first switch 32, the connection state between the conductive sheets 31 can be changed, thereby achieving dynamic control of the impedance of the first parasitic unit 3, effectively changing the boundary characteristics of the reflective surface of the ground plane 2, and thus optimizing the vertical plane beamwidth, as well as dynamically adjusting the vertical plane beamwidth according to different operating states and requirements. By controlling the second switch 62, not only can the horizontal plane beamwidth be significantly broadened, improving the coverage efficiency of the communication system, but the coupling strength of the second parasitic unit 6 can also be precisely controlled, optimizing the horizontal plane radiation pattern of the antenna and ensuring good radiation performance at different frequencies.

[0053] Based on this, the on / off state of the first switch 32 is associated with the on / off state of the second switch 62. Specifically, in Table 1 below, E-narrow H-narrow represents E-plane narrow beam and H-plane narrow beam; E-wide H-narrow represents E-plane wide beam and H-plane narrow beam; E-narrow H-wide represents E-plane narrow beam and H-plane wide beam; E-wide H-wide represents E-plane wide beam and H-plane wide beam. Off indicates the switch is open; on indicates the switch is closed.

[0054] Table 1

[0055]

[0056] As shown in Table 1 above, when the first switch 32 is open and the second switch 62 is closed, the first parasitic unit 3 (the strip-shaped structures located on both sides of the floor 2) is not working, while the second parasitic unit 6 (conductive post 61) is working, and both the vertical (H-plane) and horizontal (E-plane) maintain a narrow beam state. When the first switch 32 is closed and the second switch 62 is closed, both the first and second parasitic units are working, the vertical (H-plane) has a wide beam, while the horizontal (E-plane) maintains a narrow beam state. When the first switch 32 is open and the second switch 62 is closed, neither the first nor the second parasitic unit 6 is working, the vertical (H-plane) maintains a narrow beam state, while the horizontal (E-plane) becomes a wide beam state. When the first switch 32 is closed and the second switch 62 is open, the first parasitic unit 3 is working, the second parasitic unit 6 is not working, and both the vertical (H-plane) and horizontal (E-plane) become wide beam states.

[0057] By controlling the on / off states of the first switch 32 and the second switch 62, independent adjustment of the beamwidth in the vertical and horizontal planes can be achieved, thereby not only improving the flexibility of beamwidth adjustment, but also ensuring the performance stability of the antenna under different operating conditions.

[0058] In some embodiments, please refer to Figures 3 to 5 and combined Figure 1 and Figure 2 The antenna element 5 includes a sheet antenna body 51 and two sheet supports 52. The sheet antenna body 51 is disposed parallel to the side of the ground plane 2 away from the dielectric substrate 1. The two sheet supports 52 are perpendicular to the ground plane 2 and are disposed opposite each other along a second direction. One end of each sheet support 52 is connected to the sheet antenna body 51, and the other end is electrically connected to two first signal transmission terminals 41 of the feed network structure 4, respectively. Specifically, the sheet antenna body 51 is the main radiating element, responsible for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic waves. Its parallel placement on the side of the ground plane 2 away from the dielectric substrate 1 helps to achieve a uniform radiation pattern and ensures sufficient space between the sheet antenna body 51 and the ground plane 2 to reduce the influence of the ground plane 2 on the antenna radiation characteristics. The two sheet supports 52 are perpendicular to the ground plane 2 and are disposed opposite each other along the second direction, which can provide stable support for the sheet antenna body 51 and also reduce interference with the antenna radiation pattern.

[0059] One end of each of the two sheet-like supports 52 is connected to the sheet antenna body 51, and the other end is electrically connected to the two first signal transmission terminals 41 of the feed network structure 4. This connection method ensures that the signal can be transmitted to the antenna body efficiently while maintaining the structural stability of the antenna. The feed network structure 4 transmits the signal to the sheet-like supports 52 through the two first signal transmission terminals 41, and then to the sheet antenna body 51 through the sheet-like supports 52, thereby ensuring low loss and high efficiency in signal transmission. In practical applications, the dimensions of the sheet antenna body 51, such as length, width, and thickness, can be designed according to the required radiation characteristics.

[0060] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the main body 51 of the patch antenna is rectangular or square, and grooves 511 are symmetrically formed on two sides of the main body 51 perpendicular to the second direction. The grooves 511 can change the current distribution of the antenna, thereby optimizing radiation efficiency. Furthermore, the grooves 511 can reduce the effective length of the antenna, thus achieving miniaturization. Without compromising antenna performance, the size of the antenna can be reduced by setting the grooves 511, making it more suitable for compact space applications. In addition, the grooves 511 can reduce sidelobe levels, reducing interference in other directions and improving the antenna's anti-interference capability, making it suitable for scenarios requiring high directivity. In practical applications, by setting the shape and position of the grooves 511, the desired radiation pattern can be achieved, improving the antenna's directivity.

[0061] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the power supply network structure 4 includes a power divider with two first signal transmission terminals 41 and one second signal transmission terminal 42. The power divider is configured to transmit signals from the second signal transmission terminal 42 to the two first signal transmission terminals 41 with a phase difference of 180°. The main function of the power divider is to evenly distribute the input signal power to multiple signal transmission terminals. Furthermore, the power divider can achieve a specific phase difference. In this embodiment, the power divider distributes the input signal from the second signal transmission terminal 42 to the two first signal transmission terminals 41. The power divider is configured to make the signals of the two first signal transmission terminals 41 have a phase difference of 180°. This specific phase difference can be achieved by adjusting the length of the transmission line inside the power divider. Specifically, by increasing the transmission line length of one transmission terminal by half a wavelength, the two output signals can be made 180° out of phase. By setting the signal phase difference of the two first signal transmission terminals 41 to 180°, a symmetrical radiation pattern can be achieved, ensuring a more uniform radiation characteristic of the antenna in the horizontal direction and reducing signal dead zones. Furthermore, a symmetrical radiation pattern can improve antenna gain, especially in scenarios requiring high directivity. Precisely controlling the phase difference using a power divider can reduce signal interference during transmission and improve the antenna's signal transmission efficiency.

[0062] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the base station antenna also includes a matching stub 7, which is connected to the second signal transmission terminal 42 of the power divider via a third switch 71. The matching stub 7 is an impedance matching element used to optimize the antenna's input impedance to match the characteristic impedance of the feed network. By placing the third switch 71 between the matching stub 7 and the power divider, the operating state of the matching stub 7 can be dynamically adjusted, thereby achieving flexible impedance matching.

[0063] Specifically, the main function of the matching stub 7 is to adjust the antenna's input impedance to match the characteristic impedance of the feed network, thereby reducing reflection loss and improving antenna efficiency. Based on this, a third switch 71 is connected between the matching stub 7 and the second signal transmission terminal 42 of the power divider. By controlling the on and off states of the third switch 71, the operating state of the matching stub 7 can be changed, thus achieving flexible impedance matching. This allows the antenna system to adapt to different operating states and requirements, improving the system's versatility and adaptability. When the third switch 71 is on, the matching stub 7 and the power divider form a complete matching network, optimizing the antenna's input impedance. When the third switch 71 is off, the matching stub 7 separates from the matching network, and the antenna's input impedance returns to its original state. In practical applications, the length and position of the matching stub 7 can be designed according to the antenna's operating frequency and the required impedance matching requirements. For example, the length of the matching stub 7 can be a quarter wavelength or a multiple thereof.

[0064] Furthermore, in an embodiment where the second parasitic unit 6 includes a conductive post 61, the third switch 71 is turned on when the second switch 62 is on. This cooperative control method ensures that the matching stub 7 is also active when the conductive post 61 is working, thereby achieving comprehensive optimization of the antenna radiation characteristics. Specifically, when the second switch 62 is on, the coupling between the conductive post 61 and the main antenna is enhanced, resulting in a wider horizontal beamwidth and thus a wide beam. This wide beamwidth is suitable for scenarios requiring extensive coverage. At the same time, by optimizing the impedance matching of the matching stub 7, the antenna's radiation efficiency can be improved, thereby increasing the antenna's gain. Through the cooperative control of the second switch 62 and the third switch 71, dynamic adjustment of the antenna's horizontal beamwidth can be achieved. Dynamic beamwidth adjustment supports multiple operating modes, allowing the antenna to operate at different frequencies and bandwidths, improving the system's flexibility and applicability.

[0065] Figure 6This diagram illustrates the reflection coefficient curve for a base station antenna with adjustable vertical plane bandwidth according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The horizontal axis represents frequency, indicating the frequency range in which the antenna operates, measured in GHz. The vertical axis represents the reflection coefficient, which measures the degree of impedance matching between the antenna's input impedance and the characteristic impedance of the feed network, measured in dB. A smaller reflection coefficient indicates a better impedance matching between the antenna's input impedance and the feed network, resulting in lower reflection loss. Figure 6 Curve 1 corresponds to the state where the first switch 32 is open (wavewidth H-width); curve 2 corresponds to the state where the first switch 32 is on (wavewidth H-narrow). From Figure 6 As shown in the reflection coefficient curves, the reflection coefficient of the antenna does not change significantly under different wavelength conditions (curve 1 for wide beams and curve 2 for narrow beams). This indicates that the wavelength control achieved by adjusting the first parasitic element 3 has little impact on the antenna's impedance matching, and the antenna maintains good impedance matching under different operating conditions. Moreover, since the reflection coefficient curves show that the antenna's impedance matching remains stable under different wavelength conditions, no additional matching stubs are needed to adjust the matching of antenna element 5. This simplifies the antenna design and manufacturing process and improves the system's reliability.

[0066] Figure 7 This is a vertical plane waveform for a base station antenna provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. The horizontal axis represents the radiation angle in the antenna radiation pattern, in degrees; the vertical axis represents the normalized radiation intensity of the antenna at different angles, in dB. Figure 7 Of the six curves, the three narrower curves (4-6) are located inside the three wider curves (1-3). The inner curves (4-6) represent the normalized radiation intensity at the three frequencies (2.5GHz, 2.6GHz, and 2.7GHz) when the switch is on. The outer curves (1-3) represent the normalized radiation intensity at the three frequencies (2.5GHz, 2.6GHz, and 2.7GHz) when the switch is off. Figure 7 As can be seen from the radiation pattern shown, both the wide and narrow beams in the vertical plane are very stable, and a stable switching from 102° to 66° can be achieved before and after the switch is switched from open to closed.

[0067] As can be seen from the above, the embodiments of this application achieve vertical plane bandwidth control through the first parasitic element 3. This control method has minimal impact on the antenna's impedance matching, ensuring good impedance matching under different bandwidth conditions without requiring additional matching stubs. Moreover, the antenna's radiation pattern remains highly stable regardless of whether the beam is wide or narrow, ensuring efficient radiation performance under different operating conditions. By simply adjusting at least one of the size, position, and switching state of the first parasitic element 3, flexible vertical plane bandwidth control can be achieved, making it suitable for applications requiring dynamic beamwidth adjustment. Therefore, this application not only optimizes the antenna's radiation characteristics but also simplifies the antenna's design and manufacturing process, improving system reliability and flexibility.

[0068] Figure 8 The base station antenna provided in the embodiments of this disclosure adopts Figure 1 and Figure 2 The second parasitic element 6 corresponds to a horizontal plane wavelength modulation radiation pattern. Curves 1 to 9 represent the antenna's radiation patterns at specific frequencies (including 2.5 GHz, 2.6 GHz, and 2.7 GHz) and in the E-plane and H-plane, respectively. The E-plane wavelength is 92°-112°, and the H-plane wavelength is 67°-68°. The second parasitic element 6 corresponding to this pattern includes eight conductive pillars 61, with four conductive pillars 61 on each side of the antenna element 5. Figure 8 It is evident that using eight conductive pillars 61 to adjust the horizontal beamwidth exhibits relatively stable performance when widening the horizontal plane (E-plane), while having minimal impact on the vertical plane (H-plane) beamwidth, with variations in the vertical plane beamwidth controlled within 1°. This design significantly reduces the interference of horizontal plane adjustment on the vertical plane beam characteristics, thereby achieving independent control in both dimensions. In practical applications, other arrangements can be considered; the number, position, and height of the conductive pillars 61 can be optimized according to the required beamwidth.

[0069] Figures 9 to 14 These figures show the radiation patterns in the vertical and horizontal planes under different wavelengths. The horizontal axis represents the radiation angle in the antenna radiation pattern, in degrees (deg); the vertical axis represents the radiation intensity, in dB. Curves 1 to 3 represent the variation of the antenna's radiation intensity with angle at different frequencies (2.52 GHz, 2.6 GHz, 2.68 GHz). Figures 9 to 14 The radiation pattern results show that this application achieves two-dimensional high-stability adjustable beamwidth. This means that the antenna can operate in the vertical plane (H-plane, i.e., ...). Figure 1 The XOZ plane containing the X and Z axes and the horizontal plane (E plane, i.e., Figure 1The beamwidth on both the Y-axis and Z-axis (in the XOZ plane) can be independently adjusted and remains stable under different beam states. Furthermore, the beamwidth fluctuation within the frequency band is only ±2.5°, indicating that the antenna exhibits very small beamwidth variations at different frequencies and high stability. Table 2 below shows the beamwidth values ​​for each beam state. Table 3 below shows the beamwidth values ​​for each beam state.

[0070] Table 2

[0071]

[0072] As can be seen from Table 2, the antenna can achieve different beamwidths under different beam conditions, and the fluctuation within the frequency band is very small, indicating that the beamwidth control has high precision and stability.

[0073] Table 3

[0074] As shown in Table 3, the gain varies depending on the beam configuration, which is due to the different beamwidths. A narrower beamwidth results in higher gain, while a wider beamwidth results in lower gain. The change in gain is inversely proportional to the change in beamwidth, which aligns with the fundamental principles of antenna design.

[0075] Figure 15 The graph shows the simulation results of the base station antenna gain under various beam states provided in the embodiments of this disclosure. The horizontal axis represents frequency, indicating the frequency range in which the antenna operates, in GHz; the vertical axis represents gain, in dBi. Curves 1 to 4 represent the antenna gain under different conditions as a function of frequency (within the frequency range of 2.50 GHz to 2.70 GHz). Referring to Tables 2 and 3, when the beam state is E-narrow and H-narrow, the vertical plane wavelength is 63°-68°; the horizontal plane wavelength is 60°-64°; and the gain is 8.92-9.49 dBi. This state is suitable for scenarios requiring high directivity. When the beam state is E-narrow and H-wide, the vertical plane wavelength is 66°-71°; the horizontal plane wavelength is 95°-97°; and the gain is 7.42-7.81 dBi. This state is suitable for scenarios requiring wider horizontal coverage. When the beam configuration is E-wide and H-narrow, the vertical plane wavelength is 86°-87°; the horizontal plane wavelength is 56°-62°; and the gain is 7.81-7.82 dBi. This configuration is suitable for scenarios requiring wider coverage in the vertical direction. When the beam configuration is E-wide and H-wide, the vertical plane wavelength is 95°-100°; the horizontal plane wavelength is 100°-102°; and the gain is 5.80-6.33 dBi. This configuration is suitable for scenarios requiring wider coverage in both directions.

[0076] from Figure 15It can be seen that the antenna gain remains relatively stable under different beam conditions, without significant fluctuations. This indicates that the antenna design maintains good radiation efficiency under various operating conditions.

[0077] Figure 16 The diagram shows the simulation results of the standing wave ratio (VSWR) of the base station antenna provided in this embodiment under various beam conditions. The horizontal axis represents frequency, indicating the frequency range in which the antenna operates (in GHz); the vertical axis represents the VSWR. Curves 1 to 4 represent the simulation results of the VSWR at different frequencies. VSWR is a parameter that measures the impedance matching degree of the antenna input port; a value closer to 1 indicates better matching and lower reflection loss. Figure 16 The results show that all beam configurations can cover the 2515MHz-2675MHz frequency band, achieving good matching. This means that the antenna can maintain good impedance matching under different beam configurations, reducing reflection loss and improving signal transmission efficiency.

[0078] As another technical solution, this application embodiment also provides a base station, including the base station antenna provided in the above-mentioned application embodiment.

[0079] This disclosure has disclosed exemplary embodiments, and although specific terminology has been used, it is for general illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. In some instances, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with particular embodiments may be used alone, or in combination with features, characteristics, and / or elements described in conjunction with other embodiments, unless otherwise expressly indicated. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure as set forth by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A base station antenna, characterized in that, The system includes a dielectric substrate, a ground plane disposed on the dielectric substrate, two first parasitic units, and a feed network structure, an antenna unit, and a second parasitic unit disposed on the side of the ground plane away from the dielectric substrate. The two first parasitic units are disposed on the same layer as the floor and located on both sides of the floor along the first direction, for tuning the boundary characteristics of the floor reflective surface; At least two second parasitic units are provided on both sides of the antenna unit along the second direction for adjusting the beamwidth of the horizontal plane of the antenna unit; the first direction and the second direction are both parallel to the floor and parallel to the vertical plane and horizontal plane of the antenna unit, respectively; the independent adjustment of the beamwidth of the vertical plane and the horizontal plane is realized through the first parasitic unit and the second parasitic unit.

2. The base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first parasitic unit includes at least two conductive sheets, which are arranged sequentially along the second direction, and a first switch is provided between each pair of adjacent conductive sheets.

3. The base station antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, The conductive sheet is rectangular, square, or arc-shaped.

4. The base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least two second parasitic units located on the same side of the antenna unit are arranged at intervals along the first direction, and each second parasitic unit on one side of the antenna unit is arranged opposite to each second parasitic unit on the other side along the second direction in a one-to-one correspondence.

5. The base station antenna according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, The second parasitic unit includes a conductive post, which is arranged perpendicularly to the floor, and one end of the conductive post is connected to the floor via a second switch.

6. The base station antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first parasitic unit includes at least two conductive sheets, which are arranged sequentially along the second direction, and a first switch is provided between each pair of adjacent conductive sheets; The on / off state of the first switch is associated with the on / off state of the second switch.

7. The base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The antenna unit includes a sheet antenna body and two sheet supports, wherein the sheet antenna body is arranged parallel to the ground plane on the side away from the dielectric substrate; Both sheet-like supports are perpendicular to the floor and are arranged opposite each other along the second direction; one end of each sheet-like support is connected to the sheet-like antenna body, and the other end is electrically connected to the two first signal transmission ends of the feed network structure, respectively.

8. The base station antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that, The main body of the sheet antenna is rectangular or square, and grooves are symmetrically formed on two sides of the sheet antenna body perpendicular to the second direction.

9. The base station antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that, The power supply network structure includes a power divider, which has two first signal transmission terminals and one second signal transmission terminal. The power divider is configured such that the signals transmitted from the second signal transmission terminal to the two first signal transmission terminals are 180° out of phase.

10. The base station antenna according to claim 9, characterized in that, The base station antenna also includes a matching stub, which is connected to the second signal transmission terminal of the power divider via a third switch.

11. The base station antenna according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second parasitic unit includes a conductive post, which is vertically arranged relative to the floor, and one end of the conductive post is connected to the floor via a second switch; When the second switch is turned on, the third switch is turned on.

12. A base station, characterized in that, Includes the base station antenna as described in any one of claims 1-11.

Images