Variable-inclination-angle continuous transverse slot antenna and broadband wave beam overhead method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a variable-inclination-angle continuous transverse slot antenna and a broadband wave beam top passing method thereof, and the method comprises the steps: changing the phase of a radiation unit through controlling the distance between a feed layer and a radiation layer for the variable-inclination-angle continuous transverse slot antenna; and when the antenna wave beam is in near-normal radiation, the wave beam direction is adjusted by changing the spacing, so that the normal wave beam coverage of the broadband is realized. According to the invention, by controlling the axial movement of the VICTS antenna structure, the transmission coefficient of the quasi TEM wave in the parallel plate is changed, the radiation phases of different frequency points of the radiation unit can be changed, and the normal beam coverage range of the antenna is further changed, so that the normal beam coverage of the broadband point is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of antenna technology, and in particular to a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna and a broadband beam over-the-top method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Variable Inclination Continuous Transverse Stub (VICTS) antennas have received considerable attention in recent years, and their unique beam-scanning characteristics have led to their increasingly widespread application in satellite communications.

[0003] The VICTS antenna is a multi-layered coaxial disk structure, including a feed layer, a radiating layer, and a polarization layer. The feed layer contains a feed network and a slow-wave structure, primarily responsible for mode conversion of the feed signal. The radiating layer is an array structure composed of continuous transverse slots, primarily responsible for wave radiation. The polarization layer can be a single-layer or multi-layer structure, primarily responsible for polarization conversion of the radiated wave. The antenna beam pointing and polarization can be controlled by rotating each layer via a mechanical structure.

[0004] Since VICTS antennas are traveling wave antennas, their radiated waves have dispersion characteristics, and they cannot achieve wideband beam coverage in the antenna's normal region. When used for low-Earth orbit communication, communication blind spots may occur when the satellite passes overhead, making over-the-head communication impossible.

[0005] Patent document CN118676629A discloses a broadband variable tilt continuous section array antenna with over-the-top beam and its control method. The antenna includes a feed layer and a continuous section array layer, with the continuous section array layer positioned above the feed layer. The feed layer and the continuous section array layer generate linearly polarized excitation waves in the Ku or Ka bands. A phase-shifting layer is positioned above the continuous section array layer to adjust the phase distribution of the Ku and Ka bands, thereby adjusting the direction of the linearly polarized excitation wave. A polarization layer is positioned above the phase-shifting layer and generates a polarized wave based on the linearly polarized excitation wave. This invention proposes adding a phase-shifting layer to solve the problem of over-the-top beam coverage in broadband VICTS antennas; however, the added phase-shifting layer introduces additional losses, reducing antenna efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention proposes a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna and its broadband beam over-the-top method. By controlling the axial movement of the VICTS antenna structure, the transmission coefficient of the quasi-TEM wave within the parallel plate is changed, thereby altering the radiation phase at different frequencies of the radiating element and further changing the antenna's beam coverage in the normal direction, thus achieving broadband normal beam coverage.

[0007] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows: A broadband beam over-the-top method for a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna includes: For a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna, the phase of the radiating element is changed by controlling the spacing between the feed layer and the radiating layer; When the antenna beam radiates near the normal direction, the beam direction is adjusted by changing the spacing to achieve wideband normal beam coverage.

[0008] Furthermore, the method of changing the phase of the radiating element by controlling the spacing between the feed layer and the radiating layer includes: adding a sloping rail layer between the feed layer and the radiating layer, and assembling a roller capable of sliding motion on the sloping rail layer.

[0009] Furthermore, when the feed layer and the radiation layer do not require spacing adjustment, the inclined rail layer remains relatively stationary with the feed layer; when the feed layer and the radiation layer require spacing adjustment, the spacing adjustment is achieved through the roller movement of the inclined rail layer.

[0010] A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna includes: The feed layer is configured to perform mode switching of the feed signal; The inclined rail layer is configured to perform axial movement of the antenna structure; The radiating layer is configured to perform the outward radiation of antenna waves.

[0011] Furthermore, the feeding layer, the slant track layer, and the radiation layer all rotate around the central axis.

[0012] Furthermore, the rotational motion of the feed layer, the inclined rail layer, and the radiation layer can be driven by: a motor, or by gears or belts.

[0013] Furthermore, the inclined rail layer is equipped with rollers capable of sliding motion, and the power supply layer is provided with an inclined rail that matches the rollers.

[0014] Furthermore, when the feed layer and the radiation layer do not require spacing adjustment, the inclined rail layer remains relatively stationary with the feed layer; when the feed layer and the radiation layer require spacing adjustment, the spacing adjustment is achieved by the rollers of the inclined rail layer moving on the inclined rail.

[0015] Furthermore, when the slant track layer rotates counterclockwise relative to the feed layer, the distance between the feed layer and the radiation layer increases; when the slant track layer rotates clockwise relative to the feed layer, the distance between the feed layer and the radiation layer decreases.

[0016] Furthermore, the inclined rail layer is equipped with rollers capable of sliding, and the radial layer is provided with inclined rails that match the rollers.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: (1) This invention solves the problem of scanning blind spots in the normal region of VICTS antennas. In particular, by adding only one layer of structure, broadband coverage of the normal beam can be achieved without introducing losses from other materials, thus ensuring high-efficiency radiation of the antenna.

[0018] (2) When the beam does not need to be scanned to the normal, the added slant rail layer can remain relatively stationary with the feed layer. At this time, the antenna can be regarded as an ordinary VICTS antenna. When the beam needs to be scanned to the normal, the height value of the discrete interlayer can be controlled to achieve broadband normal beam coverage. The control algorithm is simple.

[0019] (3) The slant rail layer can be arranged in the same layer as the feed layer without increasing the antenna height and weight, thus ensuring the technical advantage of the low profile of the VICTS antenna. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the VICTS antenna feed layer and radiating layer.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the antenna structure after adding the slant rail layer.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative rotation of the inclined track layer and the feed layer.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the VICTS antenna simulation model (from bottom to top: feed layer, slant rail layer, radiating layer).

[0024] Figure 5 This is a normal gain curve when the interlayer spacing is fixed.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a normal gain curve when the interlayer spacing is variable.

[0026] Reference numerals: 100-feed layer, 101-sloping track, 102-slow wave structure; 200-sloping track layer, 201-roller; 300-radiating layer, 301-radiating element; 400-central axis; h1 and h2 are spacing, d is antenna element spacing. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments are now described. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention; that is, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the invention, not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] Example 1 This embodiment provides a broadband beam over-the-top method for a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna, including: for the variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna, changing the phase of the radiating element by controlling the spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300; when the antenna beam radiates near the normal direction, adjusting the beam direction by changing the spacing to achieve broadband normal beam coverage.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, the feed layer 100 has a continuous transverse slot structure. By adding transverse slots, the transmission parameters of the quasi-TEM wave can be changed; this structure is commonly referred to as a slow-wave structure. After introducing the slow-wave structure, the equivalent relative permittivity of the parallel plate transmission line is... .

[0030] As the distance between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 increases, the equivalent relative permittivity... Decrease, according to ,in When is the phase shift constant, For frequency, The relative permeability. When the relative permittivity... When the phase shift constant decreases, Decrease.

[0031] When the spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 decreases, the equivalent relative permittivity... Increase, and so on. The phase shift constant increases.

[0032] For a traveling wave antenna, the phase difference between adjacent antenna elements is determined by the following formula.

[0033]

[0034] When the antenna element spacing At a given time, changes in the phase shift constant of the transmission lines between elements will cause changes in the phase difference of the radiating elements. Therefore, this method changes the phase of the radiating elements by controlling the spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300. When the antenna beam radiates near the normal direction, the beam direction can be finely adjusted by changing the spacing, achieving wideband normal beam coverage.

[0035] Preferably, changing the phase of the radiating element by controlling the spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 includes: adding a sloping rail layer 200 between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300, and mounting rollers 201 capable of sliding motion on the sloping rail layer 200. When the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 do not require spacing adjustment, the sloping rail layer 200 remains relatively stationary with respect to the feed layer 100; when the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 require spacing adjustment, the spacing adjustment is achieved by the movement of the rollers 201 on the sloping rail layer 200.

[0036] In summary, this method, based on the azimuth plane control of the VICTS antenna, adds a one-dimensional control variable. It proposes to change the spacing between the feed layer and the radiating layer by axially controlling the VICTS antenna structure. This alters the parameters of the transmission line (parallel plate transmission line) between the two layers, thereby changing the antenna's beam coverage. Specifically, the change in the spacing between the feed layer and the radiating layer changes the phase shift constant of the quasi-TEM wave within the sandwich layer between them.

[0037] Example 2 This embodiment is based on embodiment 1: like Figure 2 As shown, this embodiment provides a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna, including: Feed layer 100 is configured to perform mode switching of the feed signal; The inclined rail layer 200 is configured to perform axial movement of the antenna structure; Radiation layer 300 is configured to perform outward radiation of antenna waves.

[0038] Preferably, the feeding layer 100, the inclined track layer 200, and the radiation layer 300 all rotate around the central axis 400.

[0039] Preferably, the rotational motion of the feed layer 100, the inclined rail layer 200, and the radiation layer 300 is driven by a motor, gears, or belts.

[0040] Preferably, the inclined rail layer 200 is equipped with a roller 201 capable of sliding, and the feed layer 100 is provided with an inclined track 101 that matches the roller 201. When the feed layer 100 and the radiation layer 300 do not require spacing adjustment, the inclined rail layer 200 and the feed layer 100 remain relatively stationary; when the feed layer 100 and the radiation layer 300 require spacing adjustment, the spacing adjustment is achieved by the movement of the roller 201 of the inclined rail layer 200 on the inclined track 101.

[0041] like Figure 3 As shown, when the slant track layer 200 rotates counterclockwise relative to the feed layer 100, the distance between the feed layer 100 and the radiation layer 300 increases; when the slant track layer 200 rotates clockwise relative to the feed layer 100, the distance between the feed layer 100 and the radiation layer 300 decreases.

[0042] It should be noted that the inclined track 101 can be set on the radiation layer 300; the interlayer spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiation layer 300 can be adjusted by other structural forms.

[0043] To fully illustrate the effects of the present invention, this embodiment establishes a VICTS antenna simulation model, such as... Figure 4As shown, the antenna aperture is 600mm. The model can further adjust the spacing between the radiating layer 300 and the feeding layer 100 by controlling the relative angle between the slant rail layer 200 and the feeding layer 100, and simulate and compare the normal radiation gain value of the antenna.

[0044] like Figure 5 The figure shows the gain-frequency curve of the antenna normal when the spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 is not adjustable. This curve indicates that when the spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 is not adjustable, the frequency band of the beam covering the antenna normal (gain higher than 32 dBi) is 20 GHz-20.6 GHz. When the spacing between the feed layer 100 and the radiating layer 300 is adjustable, as... Figure 6 As shown, the frequency band of the beam covering the antenna normal is 18.7GHz-21.1GHz.

[0045] Simulation results show that by adopting an adjustable axial spacing design, the over-the-top bandwidth of the VICTS antenna is increased from 0.6 GHz to 2.4 GHz, and the bandwidth of the over-the-top coverage beam is greatly improved. The simulation results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the present invention.

[0046] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the concept described herein through the above teachings or related technologies or knowledge. Modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A broadband beam over-the-top method for a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna, characterized in that, include: For a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna, the phase of the radiating element is changed by controlling the spacing between the feed layer (100) and the radiating layer (300); When the antenna beam radiates near the normal direction, the beam direction is adjusted by changing the spacing to achieve wideband normal beam coverage.

2. The broadband beam over-the-top method for a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method of changing the phase of the radiating unit by controlling the spacing between the feeding layer (100) and the radiating layer (300) includes: adding a sloping rail layer (200) between the feeding layer (100) and the radiating layer (300), and assembling a roller (201) capable of sliding motion on the sloping rail layer (200).

3. The broadband beam over-the-top method for a variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the feed layer (100) and the radiation layer (300) do not require spacing adjustment, the inclined rail layer (200) remains relatively stationary with the feed layer (100); when the feed layer (100) and the radiation layer (300) require spacing adjustment, the spacing adjustment is achieved by the movement of the roller (201) of the inclined rail layer (200).

4. A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna, characterized in that, include: The feed layer (100) is configured to perform mode switching of the feed signal; The inclined rail layer (200) is configured to perform axial movement of the antenna structure; The radiating layer (300) is configured to perform the outward radiation of antenna waves.

5. A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 4, characterized in that, The feeding layer (100), the slant track layer (200), and the radiation layer (300) all rotate around the central axis (400).

6. A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that, The rotational motion of the feed layer (100), the inclined rail layer (200), and the radiation layer (300) can be driven by a motor, gears, or belts.

7. A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inclined rail layer (200) is equipped with a roller (201) capable of sliding motion, and the power supply layer (100) is provided with an inclined rail (101) matching the roller (201).

8. A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the feed layer (100) and the radiation layer (300) do not require spacing adjustment, the inclined rail layer (200) remains relatively stationary with the feed layer (100); when the feed layer (100) and the radiation layer (300) require spacing adjustment, the spacing adjustment is achieved by the roller (201) of the inclined rail layer (200) moving on the inclined rail (101).

9. A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the slant track layer (200) rotates counterclockwise relative to the feed layer (100), the distance between the feed layer (100) and the radiation layer (300) increases; when the slant track layer (200) rotates clockwise relative to the feed layer (100), the distance between the feed layer (100) and the radiation layer (300) decreases.

10. A variable tilt angle continuous transverse slot antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inclined rail layer (200) is equipped with a roller (201) capable of sliding, and the radiation layer (300) is provided with an inclined rail that matches the roller (201).

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