Novel low-profile complete-polarization ultra-wideband array antenna

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of antenna design, and discloses a novel low-profile complete-polarization ultra-wideband array antenna which comprises an array antenna unit, the array antenna unit is formed by a plurality of antenna mechanisms in an array mode, and each antenna mechanism is composed of a radiation unit, a feed network plate, a reflection plate and a radio frequency connecting base. The radiation unit is composed of two groups of orthogonally arranged double-side folding grid slot antennas. The double-side folding grid slot antenna is used as a radiation unit, so that compared with a traditional gradual change slot antenna, the double-side folding grid slot antenna has the advantages that a traditional gradual change part is folded into a transverse structure, the longitudinal size of the antenna is reduced, the profile height of the antenna is reduced, ultra-wideband coverage can be realized, and the antenna has a wide application prospect. And through the design of a bilateral folding structure, the bandwidth of the antenna is effectively optimized, the size is reduced, and meanwhile, the high-efficiency radiation characteristic of the antenna is kept.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of antenna design, and in particular relates to a novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna. Background Art

[0002] Ultra-wideband (UWB) antenna technology originated in the mid-20th century and has been widely used in radar and communications fields in the following decades. With the development of technology, ultra-wideband phased array antennas have become one of the key technologies to improve the performance of radar systems. It not only improves the radar's anti-interference capability, but also can achieve accurate positioning and tracking of targets, expanding the application scope of phased array antennas.

[0003] Existing ultra-wideband antennas mainly include tapered slot antennas, Bowtie antennas, biconical antennas, butterfly antennas, loaded dipoles, and TEM horn antennas. Among them, Bowtie antennas often require the introduction of impedance transformer design and shielding cavity, and their structure is slightly complex. Although the biconical antenna has a simple structure, its gain is low. The butterfly antenna and dipole antenna are characterized by small size and light weight, but the mutual coupling between the units is large when they are formed into an array. Finally, the TEM wave horn antenna has a wide bandwidth and can withstand high power, but it is too large and not easy to integrate and process. Therefore, the traditional tapered slot antenna is chosen to complete the antenna array.

[0004] However, the traditional tapered slot antenna is a traveling-wave antenna with wide bandwidth and high gain. This tapered slot antenna transmits current through a coaxial line through a feed balun to a microstrip line. The coupling between the microstrip line and the slot line transfers energy to the antenna's radiating inner arm, which continuously radiates electromagnetic waves as the opening size of the inner arm changes. In the design of an ultra-wideband tapered slot antenna, in principle, the propagation of surface waves on the antenna's radiating inner arm can be controlled to achieve impedance matching over a wide bandwidth, ultimately achieving the desired standing wave coefficient and directivity. However, the aperture size and longitudinal length of the tapered slot antenna largely determine the overall bandwidth of the antenna. The wider the bandwidth, the larger the radial dimension and the higher the antenna profile. The antenna height is typically 2 to 3 times the wavelength, making the antenna larger. This not only increases the difficulty of installation and the space occupied, but also increases air resistance, affecting the aerodynamic performance of the carrier. It also makes it more easily detected by the enemy, reducing its concealment. Therefore, improvements and optimization are needed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna to solve the problems raised in the above background technology.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions: a novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna, comprising an array antenna unit, wherein the array antenna unit is formed by an array of a plurality of antenna mechanisms, wherein the antenna mechanism is composed of a radiating unit, a feed network board, a reflector, and a radio frequency connector;

[0007] The radiating unit is composed of two groups of orthogonally arranged bilateral folded grid slot antennas, one group of which is arranged horizontally, and the other group of which is arranged vertically. A feed network board is provided at the bottom of the radiating unit, and the feed network board consists of two electronic switches and a phase shifter. A reflector is provided at the bottom of the feed network board, and an RF connection socket is provided at the bottom of the reflector.

[0008] Preferably, two groups of symmetrical folded edges are provided on both the left and right sides of the bilateral folded grid slot antenna, and grid slots are provided on both the left and right sides of the folded grid slot antenna.

[0009] Preferably, the two groups of the bilateral folded grid slot antennas are interconnected with two groups of phase shifters, and the two groups of the phase shifters are interconnected with two groups of electronic switches.

[0010] Preferably, the electronic switch realizes on-off selection, and the phase shifter controls the phase relationship of the bilateral folded grid slot antenna.

[0011] Preferably, the bilateral folded grid slot antenna is improved based on a traditional tapered slot antenna, and the improved process is as follows:

[0012] S1, through derivation, it is concluded that the main disadvantage of the traditional tapered slot antenna is its large size, which clarifies the improvement ideas;

[0013] S2, in order to solve the problem of large aperture and longitudinal dimensions of traditional tapered slot antennas, the idea of converting plane into solid is adopted. The tapered part is folded and the longitudinal dimension is derived into the transverse dimension, thus obtaining a unilaterally folded tapered slot antenna;

[0014] S3, in order to achieve impedance matching, it is necessary to ensure balanced feeding of both arms, so the single-side is changed to a double-side, forming a double-side folded slot antenna;

[0015] In S4, in order to meet the requirements of ultra-wideband use, the bilateral folded slot is trimmed and partially grid-shaped to obtain a bilateral folded grid slot antenna.

[0016] Preferably, the array antenna unit can realize full polarization function, as well as horizontal linear polarization, vertical linear polarization, dual polarization, left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization.

[0017] Preferably, the conventional tapered slot antenna has the disadvantage of being larger in size, and the derivation steps for the disadvantage are:

[0018] A1, suppose the tapered slot antenna is placed horizontally on the horizontal plane xoy, and the main radiation direction of the antenna coincides with the positive direction of the x-axis of the coordinate axis. At this time, the tapered exponential curve of the main radiation direction of the antenna can be expressed by the equation: y(x) = ±y0e qx ;

[0019] A2, according to the proportional transformation principle of non-frequency-variable antenna, the formula is: k*y(x)=y(x+C);

[0020] A3, in A2, x can take any value. Solving the partial differential equations with respect to C and x on both sides of the equation yields:

[0021] A4, further deduction can be made: Summarizing, we can get the equation:

[0022] A5. It can be further concluded that the gradient curve equation of the tapered slot antenna remains consistent. However, in practical engineering applications, the actual bandwidth of the tapered slot antenna is limited by the distance between the starting and ending points of the antenna's radiation port. The distance between the ending points of the tapered curve of the tapered slot antenna corresponds exactly to the lowest frequency point of the antenna's bandwidth. Therefore, the aperture width and longitudinal length of the tapered slot antenna largely determine the bandwidth of the entire antenna.

[0023] A6, through the above derivation, it can be concluded that the main disadvantage of the traditional tapered slot antenna is its large antenna size.

[0024] Preferably, the grid bar grooves can be arranged into different shapes to meet frequency band requirements.

[0025] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0026] 1. The present invention uses a bilaterally folded grid slot antenna as a radiation unit. Compared with a traditional tapered slot antenna, the antenna reduces the longitudinal size of the antenna and the cross-sectional height by folding the traditional tapered part into a horizontal structure. Therefore, the antenna can not only achieve ultra-wideband coverage while reducing the cross-sectional height of the antenna, but also effectively optimize the bandwidth of the antenna through the bilateral folding structure design, reduce the size while maintaining the high-efficiency radiation characteristics of the antenna, and meet the requirements of modern equipment for lightness and miniaturization.

[0027] 2. The present invention uses a combination of electronic switches and phase shifters to enable the antenna to switch between different polarization states according to different application requirements. This makes the antenna more adaptable in different working environments. In particular, in complex electromagnetic environments, the switching of polarization modes can improve the system's anti-interference capability. The two sets of bilateral folded grid slot antennas are orthogonally arranged, which makes it convenient for workers to flexibly switch between different polarization modes through switches and phase shifters, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0028] 3. The present invention forms an antenna array by using multiple small-sized antenna mechanisms, and multiple groups of antenna mechanisms adopt a compact array layout, so that the array antenna not only reduces the volume of the antenna, but also facilitates integration and deployment, and is suitable for applications in vehicle-mounted, fixed installation and portable devices. In addition, the bilateral folded grid slot antenna is made of thin materials, which further reduces the weight and size of the antenna. Finally, through the setting of the reflector, the directivity of the antenna is enhanced, the stability of the antenna radiation pattern is ensured, signal diffusion is avoided, and the gain and efficiency of the antenna are further improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Figure 1 This is an exploded structural diagram of the antenna mechanism of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing two groups of radiation units of the present invention being placed orthogonally;

[0031] Figure 3 This is the feeding network board diagram of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a diagram of the folded grid slot antenna of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing the composition of the feed network of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the array antenna structure of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 7 A top view of the array antenna of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 8 This is a flow chart of the derivation and variation of the radiation unit of the present invention.

[0037] In the figure: 1. Antenna structure; 2. Radiating unit; 3. Feed network board; 4. Reflector; 5. RF connector; 6. Folding edge; 7. Grid groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna, including an array antenna unit, wherein the array antenna unit is formed by an array of a plurality of antenna mechanisms 1, and the antenna mechanism 1 is composed of a radiation unit 2, a feed network board 3, a reflector 4 and a radio frequency connector 5;

[0040] The radiation unit 2 is composed of two groups of orthogonally arranged bilateral folded grid slot antennas, one group of bilateral folded grid slot antennas is arranged horizontally, and the other group of bilateral folded grid slot antennas is arranged vertically. A feed network board 3 is provided at the bottom of the radiation unit 2, and the feed network board 3 is composed of two electronic switches and a phase shifter. A reflector 4 is provided at the bottom of the feed network board 3, and a radio frequency connection socket 5 is provided at the bottom of the reflector 4.

[0041] By using a bilateral folded grid slot antenna as the radiation unit 2, the antenna, compared with the traditional tapered slot antenna, reduces the longitudinal size of the antenna and the cross-sectional height of the antenna by folding the traditional tapered part into a horizontal structure, so that the antenna can not only achieve ultra-wideband coverage while reducing the cross-sectional height of the antenna, but also effectively optimize the bandwidth of the antenna through the bilateral folding structure design, reduce the size while maintaining the high-efficiency radiation characteristics of the antenna, and meet the requirements of modern equipment for lightness and miniaturization.

[0042] Two sets of symmetrical folded edges 6 are provided on both the left and right sides of the bilateral folded grid slot antenna, and grid slots 7 are provided on both the left and right sides of the folded grid slot antenna.

[0043] An antenna array is formed by multiple small-sized antenna mechanisms 1, and multiple groups of antenna mechanisms 1 adopt a compact array layout, so that the array antenna not only reduces the volume of the antenna, but also facilitates integration and deployment, and is suitable for applications in vehicle-mounted, fixed installation and portable devices. In addition, the bilateral folded grid slot antenna is made of thin materials, which further reduces the weight and size of the antenna. Finally, the setting of the reflector enhances the directivity of the antenna, ensures the stability of the antenna radiation pattern, avoids signal diffusion, and further improves the gain and efficiency of the antenna.

[0044] The two groups of bilateral folded grid slot antennas are connected to the two groups of phase shifters, and the two groups of phase shifters are connected to the two groups of electronic switches.

[0045] Among them, the electronic switch realizes the on-off circuit selection, and the phase shifter controls the phase relationship of the bilateral folded grid slot antenna.

[0046] By combining electronic switches and phase shifters, the antenna can switch between different polarization states according to different application requirements. This makes the antenna more adaptable in different working environments. Especially in complex electromagnetic environments, the switching of polarization modes can improve the system's anti-interference ability. The two sets of bilateral folded grid slot antennas are orthogonally arranged, which makes it easier for workers to flexibly switch between different polarization modes through switches and phase shifters, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0047] Among them, the bilateral folded grid slot antenna is improved based on the traditional tapered slot antenna, and the improvement process is as follows:

[0048] S1, through derivation, it is concluded that the main disadvantage of the traditional tapered slot antenna is its large size, which clarifies the improvement ideas;

[0049] See Figure 8 In the figure, the leftmost one is the traditional tapered slot antenna;

[0050] S2, in order to solve the problem of large aperture and longitudinal dimensions of traditional tapered slot antennas, the idea of converting plane into solid is adopted. The tapered part is folded and the longitudinal dimension is derived into the transverse dimension, thus obtaining a unilaterally folded tapered slot antenna;

[0051] See Figure 8 In the middle, the second one on the left is a single-sided folded tapered slot antenna;

[0052] S3, in order to achieve impedance matching, it is necessary to ensure balanced feeding of both arms, so the single-side is changed to a double-side, forming a double-side folded slot antenna;

[0053] See Figure 8 In the middle, the second one on the right is a bilateral folded slot antenna;

[0054] In S4, in order to meet the requirements of ultra-wideband use, the bilateral folded slot is trimmed and partially grid-shaped to obtain a bilateral folded grid slot antenna.

[0055] See Figure 8 In the figure, the rightmost one is a double-sided folded grid slot antenna.

[0056] Among them, the array antenna unit can realize full polarization function, as well as horizontal linear polarization, vertical linear polarization, dual polarization, left circular polarization and right circular polarization.

[0057] like Figure 5As shown, each radiation unit 2 and the bilateral folded grid slot antenna are connected to a phase shifter and an electronic switch control. The electronic switch realizes on-off selection. The phase shifter controls the phase relationship of the radiation unit 2. The realization states of different polarized waves are shown in the following table:

[0058] Serial number Switch 1 Switch 2 Phase Shifter 1 Phaser 2 Polarization state 1 open close Any Any Horizontal polarization 2 close open Any Any Vertical polarization 3 open open θ θ Dual polarization 4 open open 0° 90° Left-hand circular polarization 5 open open 90° 0° Right-hand circular polarization

[0059] Among them, the traditional tapered slot antenna has the disadvantage of being larger in size, and the derivation steps of this disadvantage are:

[0060] A1, suppose the tapered slot antenna is placed horizontally on the horizontal plane xoy, and the main radiation direction of the antenna coincides with the positive direction of the x-axis of the coordinate axis. At this time, the tapered exponential curve of the main radiation direction of the antenna can be expressed by the equation: y(x) = ±y0e qx ;

[0061] A2, according to the proportional transformation principle of non-frequency-variable antenna, the formula is: k*y(x)=y(x+C);

[0062] A3, in A2, x can take any value. Solving the partial differential equations with respect to C and x on both sides of the equation yields:

[0063] A4, further deduction can be made: Summarizing, we can get the equation:

[0064] A5. It can be further concluded that the gradient curve equation of the tapered slot antenna remains consistent. However, in practical engineering applications, the actual bandwidth of the tapered slot antenna is limited by the distance between the starting and ending points of the antenna's radiation ports. The distance between the ending points of the tapered curve of the tapered slot antenna corresponds exactly to the lowest frequency point of the antenna's bandwidth. Therefore, the aperture width (W) and longitudinal length (L) of the tapered slot antenna largely determine the bandwidth of the entire antenna.

[0065] A6, through the above derivation, it can be concluded that the main disadvantage of the traditional tapered slot antenna is its large antenna size.

[0066] Since different wavelengths correspond to operating bandwidths of different frequencies, based on the characteristics of the tapered exponential curve of the tapered slot antenna and the principle of antenna proportional transformation, the tapered slot antenna's theoretical operating bandwidth can be infinite. That is, the antenna's bandwidth is independent of frequency, and this can be proven using the above formula. The general content of the above derivation steps is as follows: When the size of a certain antenna is multiplied by a multiplication factor K, the performance parameters of the antenna remain consistent with the performance of the original antenna. Therefore, we can conclude that the performance characteristics of the antenna at any frequency point f are consistent with the characteristics of K*f. Assuming the value of K is 1, it can be inferred that the performance variation between f and K*f is extremely small, that is, the antenna's performance parameters are independent of frequency. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the main disadvantage of traditional tapered slot antennas is their large antenna size.

[0067] The grid bar grooves 7 can be set into different shapes to meet frequency band requirements.

[0068] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, etc., are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not explicitly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0069] While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A novel low-profile, fully polarized, ultra-wideband array antenna, characterized by: The invention comprises an array antenna unit, wherein the array antenna unit is formed by an array of a plurality of antenna mechanisms (1), and the antenna mechanism (1) is composed of a radiation unit (2), a feed network board (3), a reflector (4) and a radio frequency connection seat (5); The radiation unit (2) is composed of two groups of orthogonally arranged bilateral folded grid slot antennas, wherein one group of the bilateral folded grid slot antennas is horizontally arranged, and the other group of the bilateral folded grid slot antennas is vertically arranged. A feed network board (3) is arranged at the bottom of the radiation unit (2), and the feed network board (3) is composed of two electronic switches and a phase shifter. A reflector (4) is arranged at the bottom of the feed network board (3), and a radio frequency connection seat (5) is arranged at the bottom of the reflector (4).

2. The novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: Two groups of symmetrical folding edges (6) are provided on both the left and right sides of the bilateral folded grid slot antenna, and grid slot grooves (7) are provided on both the left and right sides of the folded grid slot antenna.

3. The novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two groups of the bilateral folded grid slot antennas are connected to the two groups of phase shifters, and the two groups of the phase shifters are connected to the two groups of electronic switches.

4. The novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that: The electronic switch realizes on-off selection, and the phase shifter controls the phase relationship of the bilateral folded grid slot antenna.

5. The novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bilateral folded grid slot antenna is improved based on the traditional tapered slot antenna, and the improved process is as follows: S1, through derivation, it is concluded that the main disadvantage of the traditional tapered slot antenna is its large size, which clarifies the improvement ideas; S2, in order to solve the problem of large aperture and longitudinal dimensions of traditional tapered slot antennas, the idea of converting plane into solid is adopted. The tapered part is folded and the longitudinal dimension is derived into the transverse dimension, thus obtaining a unilaterally folded tapered slot antenna; S3, in order to achieve impedance matching, it is necessary to ensure balanced feeding of both arms, so the single-side is changed to a double-side, forming a double-side folded slot antenna; In S4, in order to meet the requirements of ultra-wideband use, the bilateral folded slot is trimmed and partially grid-shaped to obtain a bilateral folded grid slot antenna.

6. The novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The array antenna unit can realize full polarization function, as well as horizontal linear polarization, vertical linear polarization, dual polarization, left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization.

7. The novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that: The traditional tapered slot antenna has the disadvantage of being large in size, and the derivation steps for this disadvantage are as follows: A1, suppose the tapered slot antenna is placed horizontally on the horizontal plane xoy, and the main radiation direction of the antenna coincides with the positive direction of the x-axis of the coordinate axis. At this time, the gradient exponential curve equation of the main radiation direction of the antenna is: y(x) = ±y0e qx ; A2, according to the proportional transformation principle of non-frequency-variable antenna, the formula is: k*y(x)=y(x+C); A3: In A2, let x take any value and solve the partial differential equations with respect to C and x on both sides of the equation: A4, further deduction can be made: Summarizing and sorting out the equation: A5. It can be further concluded that the gradient curve equation of the tapered slot antenna remains consistent. However, in practical engineering applications, the actual bandwidth of the tapered slot antenna is limited by the distance between the starting and ending points of the antenna's radiation port. The distance between the ending points of the tapered curve of the tapered slot antenna corresponds exactly to the lowest frequency point of the antenna's bandwidth. Therefore, the aperture width and longitudinal length of the tapered slot antenna largely determine the bandwidth of the entire antenna. A6, through the above derivation, it can be concluded that the main disadvantage of the traditional tapered slot antenna is its large antenna size.

8. The novel low-profile fully polarized ultra-wideband array antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that: The grid bar grooves (7) can be arranged in different shapes to meet frequency band requirements.

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