Feed network, antenna and base station

Abstract

The invention discloses a feed network, an antenna and a base station, and the feed network comprises a feed input port which is used for receiving a radio frequency signal; the first feed circuit is electrically connected with the feed input port; the first feed circuit is electrically connected with the feed input port, the second feed circuit and the third feed circuit are electrically connected with the feed input port, the second feed circuit and the third feed circuit are located on the two sides of the first feed circuit, and the first feed circuit, the second feed circuit and the third feed circuit are each provided with a feed output port; each feed output port is configured to be connected with an antenna array, the second feed circuit and the third feed circuit are respectively provided with a liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the feed output port and the feed input port, and the liquid crystal phase shifters are configured to control the phase of a radio frequency signal output by the feed output port; and the liquid crystal switch is connected between the feed input port and at least one of the first feed circuit, the second feed circuit and the third feed circuit.

Description

Feeding network, antenna and base station Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of radio frequency antennas, and in particular to a feeding network, an antenna, and a base station. Background Art

[0002] Base stations are a crucial component of 5G mobile communications. In macro-station networks, electrically adjustable antennas are typically used to control the amplitude and phase of each sub-array to achieve beam scanning. The gain and beamwidth of the beams are relatively fixed, allowing for changes in coverage. Macro-station coverage primarily aims for wide-area coverage, but blind spots may occur at sector boundaries or where obstructions occur. To achieve deep coverage, particularly in areas like buildings and streets, different antennas are required for precise coverage. These antennas require different gain and beamwidth specifications.

[0003] To achieve different communication coverage ranges without changing the antenna form, it is necessary to design based on the current conventional implementation method to meet different business needs. Existing beam range switching methods generally use mechanical couplers to achieve phase shifting or signal on / off by moving the coupling segment, or use diodes to change the area of ​​the metal radiating patch to achieve beam range switching. Of these two methods, mechanical couplers have a large number of mechanical moving parts, are bulky, and have long response times for phase shifting and switching functions; while the diode method has limited application scope.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a feed network, antenna, and base station to implement an antenna with switchable wide and narrow beams to meet coverage requirements in different scenarios. The specific solution is as follows:

[0006] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a feeding network, including:

[0007] Feed input port, used for receiving radio frequency signals;

[0008] a first feeding circuit, the first feeding circuit being electrically connected to the feeding input port;

[0009] a second feeding circuit and a third feeding circuit, wherein the second feeding circuit and the third feeding circuit are both electrically connected to the feeding input port and are located on both sides of the first feeding circuit; the first feeding circuit, the second feeding circuit, and the third feeding circuit each have a feeding output port, each of the feeding output ports being configured to be connected to an antenna element; and the second feeding circuit and the third feeding circuit each have a liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the feeding output port and the feeding input port, the liquid crystal phase shifter being configured to control the phase of the radio frequency signal outputted from the feeding output port;

[0010] a liquid crystal switch connected between the feed input port and at least one of the first feed circuit, the second feed circuit, and the third feed circuit; the liquid crystal switch being configured to: in a first state, control only the feed output port of the first feed circuit to output the RF signal; and in a second state, control the feed output ports of the first feed circuit, the second feed circuit, and the third feed circuit to all output the corresponding RF signals.

[0011] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the liquid crystal switch includes:

[0012] A first power divider, wherein the first power divider has an input end and two output ends, and the input end of the first power divider is electrically connected to the feed input port;

[0013] a first liquid crystal phase shifter and a second liquid crystal phase shifter, electrically connected to the two output ends of the first power divider, respectively, the first liquid crystal phase shifter and the second liquid crystal phase shifter being configured to adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal respectively received;

[0014] A 90° coupler having two input ends and two output ends, the two input ends of the 90° coupler being respectively connected to the output ends of the first liquid crystal phase shifter and the second liquid crystal phase shifter, at least one of the two output ends of the 90° coupler being electrically connected to a corresponding feed circuit, and the 90° coupler being configured to control the amplitude of the RF signals outputted from the two output ends of the 90° coupler according to the phase difference between the RF signals on the first liquid crystal phase shifter and the second liquid crystal phase shifter.

[0015] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first feeding circuit is a microstrip line;

[0016] A liquid crystal switch is connected between the second feeding circuit and the feeding input port, an output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to the input end of the second feeding circuit, and another output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to a matching load;

[0017] A third feeding circuit, wherein a liquid crystal switch is connected between the third feeding circuit and the feeding input port, an output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to the input end of the third feeding circuit, and another output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to a matching load.

[0018] In one possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second feeding circuit includes a third liquid crystal phase shifter connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port, and the third feeding circuit includes a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port.

[0019] In one possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second feeding circuit includes a first binary tree structure connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port, a third liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on a main path of the first binary tree structure, and a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the first binary tree structure;

[0020] The third feeding circuit includes a second binary tree structure connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port, a fifth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure, and a sixth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the second binary tree structure.

[0021] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the input end of the first feeding circuit is electrically connected to one output end of the 90° coupler, and the input end of the second feeding circuit and the input end of the third feeding circuit are both electrically connected to the other output end of the 90° coupler.

[0022] In one possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second feeding circuit includes a third liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port, and the third feeding circuit includes a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port.

[0023] In one possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second feeding circuit includes a first binary tree structure connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port, a third liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on a main path of the first binary tree structure, and a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the first binary tree structure;

[0024] The third feeding circuit includes a second binary tree structure connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port, a fifth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure, and a sixth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the second binary tree structure.

[0025] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, the second feeding circuit and the third feeding circuit are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first feeding circuit.

[0026] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the liquid crystal phase shifters includes:

[0027] A first base substrate and a second base substrate arranged opposite to each other;

[0028] a liquid crystal layer, located between the first substrate and the second substrate;

[0029] A second power divider and a combiner are located on a side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, the input end of the second power divider is connected to the corresponding output end, and the two output ends of the second power divider correspond to the two input ends of the combiner;

[0030] a liquid crystal phase shift structure, located on a side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal phase shift structure comprising a first transmission line and a second transmission line arranged in parallel, the first transmission line being electrically connected between an output terminal of the second power divider and an input terminal of the combiner, and the second transmission line being electrically connected between the other output terminal of the second power divider and the other input terminal of the combiner, the liquid crystal phase shift structure being configured to change the phase of a corresponding radio frequency signal under voltage control;

[0031] a first inverting structure and a second inverting structure, located on a side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, the first inverting structure connected between the first transmission line and one output end of the second power divider, and the second inverting structure connected between the second transmission line and the other input end of the combiner, the first inverting structure and the second inverting structure being configured to output a received radio frequency signal in an inverted manner;

[0032] A reference electrode is located on a side of the second base substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, and the reference electrode includes a plurality of strip sub-electrodes arranged in sequence along the extension direction of the first transmission line, each of the strip sub-electrodes at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the first transmission line on the first base substrate, and each of the strip sub-electrodes at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the second transmission line on the first base substrate.

[0033] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first transmission line includes a first main body structure and a plurality of first branches connected to a side of the first main body structure facing the second transmission line and spaced apart; the second transmission line includes a second main body structure and a plurality of second branches connected to a side of the second main body structure facing the first transmission line and spaced apart; the first branches and the second branches correspond one to one, and the orthographic projection of each of the strip-shaped sub-electrodes on the first substrate covers the orthographic projections of a pair of the first branches and the second branches on the first substrate.

[0034] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the areas of the first branch and the second branch covered by each of the strip-shaped sub-electrodes are the same.

[0035] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the arrangement direction of the plurality of strip-shaped sub-electrodes, the reference electrode is divided into a middle region and two edge regions located at both ends of the middle region;

[0036] The first branches corresponding to the middle region have the same area, and the area of ​​the first branch corresponding to the middle region is larger than the area of ​​the first branch corresponding to the edge region; the second branches corresponding to the middle region have the same area, and the area of ​​the second branch corresponding to the middle region is larger than the area of ​​the second branch corresponding to the edge region;

[0037] In a direction from the edge region to the middle region, an area of ​​each of the first branches in the edge region gradually increases, and an area of ​​each of the second branches in the edge region gradually increases.

[0038] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, in a direction from the edge area to the middle area, at least one of the length and width of each of the first branches located in the edge area gradually increases, and at least one of the length and width of each of the second branches located in the edge area gradually increases.

[0039] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first inverting structure and the second inverting structure are microstrip lines with a meandering structure.

[0040] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure, in the extension direction of the microstrip line, the crest of the microstrip line of the meander structure gradually decreases.

[0041] In a possible implementation, the feed network provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure further includes a printed circuit board, and each of the liquid crystal phase shifters is fixed to the printed circuit board via an adhesive layer; wherein,

[0042] The feed input port and the feed output port are arranged on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board also includes a first type of connecting wire, a part of the first type of connecting wire is connected to the input end of the liquid crystal switch, and another part of the first type of connecting wire is connected to the input end and / or output end of the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter.

[0043] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the printed circuit board further includes a second type of connecting line, which directly connects the feeding input port and the feeding output port, and the second type of connecting line and the first type of connecting line are arranged on the same layer.

[0044] In one possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the printed circuit board includes: a substrate layer, a first conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer close to the liquid crystal phase shifter structure, and a second conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer away from the liquid crystal phase shifter;

[0045] The first conductive layer is grounded, and the feed input port, the feed output port, the first type of connection line, and the second type of connection line are located on the second conductive layer;

[0046] At each connection position between the first-type connecting line and the input end of the liquid crystal switch and the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer has a first pad electrically connected to the corresponding first-type connecting line, the base material layer has a first coupling hole, the first conductive layer has a second coupling hole, the second coupling hole has a second pad, and the side of the first base substrate facing the liquid crystal layer has a third pad electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter, the orthographic projections of the first pad, the second pad, and the third pad on the base material layer overlap with each other, and the first pad and the second pad are electrically connected via a connecting portion located in the first coupling hole.

[0047] In one possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the printed circuit board includes: a substrate layer, a first conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer close to the liquid crystal phase shifter structure, and a second conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer away from the liquid crystal phase shifter;

[0048] The first conductive layer is grounded, and the feed input port, the feed output port, the first type of connection line, and the second type of connection line are located on the second conductive layer;

[0049] The area of ​​the second substrate is smaller than that of the first substrate;

[0050] At each connection position between the first-type connection line and the input end of the liquid crystal switch and corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer has a first pad electrically connected to the corresponding first-type connection line, the first pad has a first through-hole, the base material layer has a second through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole, the first conductive layer, the adhesive layer, and the first base substrate have a third through-hole penetrating the first conductive layer, the adhesive layer, and the first base substrate and corresponding to the second through-hole, the first base substrate has a third pad electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter on a side facing the liquid crystal layer, the third pad has a fourth through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole;

[0051] It also includes a metal core welded in the first through hole, the second through hole, the third through hole and the fourth through hole, the inner diameters of the first through hole, the second through hole and the fourth through hole are the same as the inner diameter of the metal core, and the inner diameter of the third through hole is larger than the inner diameter of the metal core.

[0052] In one possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the printed circuit board includes: a substrate layer, a first conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer away from the liquid crystal phase shifter, and a second conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer close to the liquid crystal phase shifter structure;

[0053] The first conductive layer is grounded, and the feed input port, the feed output port, the first type of connection line, and the second type of connection line are located on the second conductive layer;

[0054] The areas of the second base substrate, the first base substrate and the base layer gradually increase, and the second base substrate, the first base substrate and the base layer form a step shape in the thickness direction of the base layer;

[0055] At each connection position between the first type of connecting line and the input end of the liquid crystal switch and the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer has a first pad electrically connected to the corresponding first type of connecting line, and the side of the first base substrate facing the liquid crystal layer has a third pad electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter. The first pad and the third pad are located at the edge of the first base substrate, and the first pad and the third pad are welded by welding metal covering the side of the first base substrate.

[0056] In a possible implementation, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second conductive layer further includes a grounding metal that is insulated from the first type of connecting line and the second type of connecting line, and the grounding metal is electrically connected to the first conductive layer through a via hole penetrating the substrate layer.

[0057] Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an antenna, comprising: a plurality of antenna elements arranged in sequence, and the above-mentioned feeding network provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure; one feeding output port of the feeding network corresponds to one of the antenna elements.

[0058] In a possible implementation, in the antenna provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the multiple antenna elements correspond to two feeding networks.

[0059] Correspondingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a base station, comprising the above-mentioned antenna provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a feeding network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0061] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of another feeding network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0062] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of another feeding network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0063] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of another feeding network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0064] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of the liquid crystal switch in FIG1 to FIG4;

[0065] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of a specific structure corresponding to FIG5;

[0066] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a specific structure of the integration of the liquid crystal switch shown in FIG6 and the third liquid crystal phase shifter or the fifth liquid crystal phase shifter;

[0067] FIG8A is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG2 in a wide beam state;

[0068] FIG8B is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG2 in a narrow beam state;

[0069] FIG9A is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG1 in a wide beam state;

[0070] FIG9B is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG1 in a narrow beam state;

[0071] FIG10A is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG4 in a wide beam state;

[0072] FIG10B is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG4 in a narrow beam state;

[0073] FIG11A is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG3 in a wide beam state;

[0074] FIG11B is a schematic diagram showing the working effect of the feeding network shown in FIG3 in a narrow beam state;

[0075] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the feeding network corresponding to the dual-polarized antenna;

[0076] FIG13A is a schematic structural diagram of each liquid crystal phase shifter;

[0077] FIG13B is a top view of the liquid crystal phase shift structure in FIG13A;

[0078] FIG13C is a cross-sectional view taken along the CC' direction in FIG13B;

[0079] FIG14A is a schematic diagram of a liquid crystal phase shifter coupled to a PCB;

[0080] FIG14B is a schematic diagram of bonding the liquid crystal phase shifter and the PCB in FIG14A ;

[0081] FIG14C is an enlarged schematic diagram of the coupling position between the liquid crystal phase shifter and the PCB in FIG14A ;

[0082] FIG15A is a plan view schematically showing the glass-based liquid crystal phase shifters and liquid crystal switches in the dual-polarization feeding network shown in FIG12 ;

[0083] FIG15B is a plan view of a microstrip power splitter trace provided on a PCB in the dual-polarization feed network shown in FIG12 ;

[0084] FIG15C is a schematic diagram of a planar structure of the integration of FIG15A and FIG15B;

[0085] FIG16 is an equivalent schematic diagram of a single-polarization feeding network using five feeding output ports corresponding to the liquid crystal switch and liquid crystal phase shifter in FIG15C ;

[0086] FIG17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the liquid crystal phase shifter in FIG15C connected to the glass substrate via the first type of connection wires on the PCB;

[0087] FIG18 is a schematic diagram of another cross-sectional structure of the liquid crystal phase shifter in FIG15C connected to the glass substrate via the first type of connecting wires on the PCB;

[0088] 19 and 20 are schematic diagrams of two further cross-sectional structures of the liquid crystal phase shifter in FIG. 15C connected to the glass substrate via the first type of connecting wires on the PCB;

[0089] FIG21 is a schematic diagram of the simulation of frequency (Freq)-port transmission loss (Y1) corresponding to FIG17 and FIG18;

[0090] FIG22A is another schematic plan view of each glass-based liquid crystal phase shifter and liquid crystal switch in the dual-polarization feeding network provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0091] FIG22B is another schematic plan view of a microstrip power splitter trace provided on a PCB in a dual-polarization feed network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0092] FIG22C is a schematic diagram of a planar structure of the integration of FIG22A and FIG22B;

[0093] FIG23 is an equivalent schematic diagram of a single-polarization feeding network with five feeding output ports corresponding to the liquid crystal switch and liquid crystal phase shifter in FIG22C ;

[0094] FIG24A is a simulation result of frequency (Freq)-S(1,1) corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter shown in FIG14A at different dielectric constants;

[0095] FIG24B is a simulation result of the frequency (Freq)-S(2,1) corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter shown in FIG14A at different dielectric constants;

[0096] FIG24C is a simulation result of the frequency (Freq)-phase shift amount corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter shown in FIG14A at different dielectric constants;

[0097] FIG25 is a schematic structural diagram of an antenna provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0098] FIG26 is a schematic structural diagram of another antenna provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0099] FIG27 is a schematic structural diagram of another antenna provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0100] FIG28 is a schematic structural diagram of another antenna provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0101] FIG29 is a schematic structural diagram of another antenna provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0102] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a feeding network, an antenna, and a base station to solve the above-mentioned technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0103] It should be understood that the specific structural and functional details disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure are merely representative and are for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments of the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many alternative forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0104] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "lateral", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more. In addition, the term "including" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0105] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0106] The terms used in this application are intended only to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit exemplary embodiments. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an", "an item" used herein are also intended to include the plural. It should also be understood that the terms "comprise" and / or "include" used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, units and / or components, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, units, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0107] The term "and / or" in the embodiments of the present disclosure is simply a description of the association relationship between associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three situations: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0108] In order to make the above-mentioned purposes, features and advantages of the present disclosure more obvious and easy to understand, the present disclosure will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in various forms and should not be understood as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; on the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concepts of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same figure marks in the figures represent the same or similar structures, and their repeated descriptions will be omitted. The words expressing position and direction described in the present disclosure are all explained using the accompanying drawings as examples, but changes can be made as needed, and all changes are included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure. The drawings of the present disclosure are only used to illustrate relative position relationships and do not represent true proportions.

[0109] It should be noted that specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate a full understanding of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in a variety of ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations without violating the connotation of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below. The subsequent description of the specification is a preferred embodiment for implementing the present application, but the description is for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present application and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. The scope of protection of the present application shall be determined as defined by the appended claims.

[0110] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a feeding network, as shown in FIG1 to FIG4 , including:

[0111] Feed input port IN, used to receive radio frequency signals;

[0112] A first feeding circuit 11, the first feeding circuit 11 is electrically connected to the feeding input port IN;

[0113] a second feeding circuit 12 and a third feeding circuit 13, both of which are electrically connected to the feeding input port IN, and are located on both sides of the first feeding circuit 11; the first feeding circuit 11, the second feeding circuit 12, and the third feeding circuit 13 each have a feeding output port (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, ...), each of which is configured to be connected to an antenna element; and the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13 each have a liquid crystal phase shifter 10 connected between the feeding output port (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, ...) and the feeding input port IN, the liquid crystal phase shifter 10 being configured to control the phase of the radio frequency signal outputted from the feeding output port (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, ...);

[0114] The liquid crystal switch 2 is connected between the feed input port IN and at least one of the first feed circuit 11, the second feed circuit 12, and the third feed circuit 13. The liquid crystal switch 2 is configured to: in a first state, only control the feed output port of the first feed circuit 11 to output a radio frequency signal; in a second state, control the feed output ports of the first feed circuit 11, the second feed circuit 12, and the third feed circuit 13 to all output corresponding radio frequency signals.

[0115] The feeding network provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a liquid crystal switch between the feeding input port and at least one of the first feeding circuit, the second feeding circuit, and the third feeding circuit. In this way, the amplitude (power ratio) of the RF signal output from different feeding output ports can be adjusted by controlling the on and off states of the liquid crystal switch. For example, in the first state, the liquid crystal switch controls only the feeding output port of the first feeding circuit to output the RF signal, and only the middle antenna element is connected to the feeding input port, thereby achieving wide beam coverage of a single antenna element; in the second state, the liquid crystal switch controls the first feeding circuit, the second feeding circuit, and the third feeding circuit. The feed output ports of the second feed circuit and the third feed circuit both output the corresponding radio frequency signals, so that all antenna elements are connected to the feed input port and are in a conductive state, all antenna elements are in an operating state, and the synthesized beam is a narrow beam, thereby enabling switching between wide and narrow beams; and the second feed circuit and the third feed circuit both have a liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the feed output port and the feed input port. In this way, in the narrow beam state, the phase of the output radio frequency signal can be adjusted by the liquid crystal phase shifter to achieve spatial scanning of the narrow beam, thereby achieving adjustable coverage range and adjustable beam pointing functions.

[0116] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG1 to FIG6 , FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of the liquid crystal switch 2 in FIG1 to FIG4 , and FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram corresponding to FIG5 , the liquid crystal switch 2 includes:

[0117] A first power divider 21 has an input terminal Port1 and two output terminals. The input terminal Port1 of the first power divider 21 is electrically connected to the feed input port IN. Specifically, the first power divider 21 is a one-to-two power divider. The input terminal of the first power divider 21 serves as the input terminal of the liquid crystal switch 2.

[0118] The first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 are electrically connected to the two output terminals of the first power divider 21, respectively. The first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 are configured to adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal respectively received, so as to control the phase difference of the radio frequency signal on the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2;

[0119] The 90° coupler 22 has two input terminals and two output terminals (Port 2 and Port 3). The two input terminals of the 90° coupler 22 are respectively connected to the output terminals of the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2. At least one of the two output terminals (Port 2 and Port 3) of the 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the corresponding feed circuit (11, 12 or 13). For example, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , one output terminal (Port 2) of the 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the second feed circuit 12. The 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the first feeding circuit 11, and the other output end (Port3) is electrically connected to the matching load 3; for example, in Figures 3 and 4, one output end (Port2) of the 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the first feeding circuit 11, and the other output end (Port3) is electrically connected to both the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13; the 90° coupler 22 is configured to control the amplitude of the RF signal output from the two output ends (Port2 and Port3) of the 90° coupler 22 according to the phase difference between the RF signals on the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2.

[0120] Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the liquid crystal switch 2 based on the first power divider 21, the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1, the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 and the 90-degree coupler 22 can realize a switching function. For example, after the radio frequency signal is input through the input port Port1, after passing through the first power divider 21, the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1, the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 and the 90-degree coupler 22, the output port Port2 and the output port Port3 will have radio frequency signals of different powers. For example, the radio frequency signal with a power of P input from the input port Port1 is divided into two radio frequency signals with the same power and the same phase (the power is P / 2, assuming that the phase is 0). The first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 can adjust the phase of the received P / 2 radio frequency signal to 90 degrees before outputting it. If the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 does not change the phase of the received P / 2 radio frequency signal, the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 will output P / 2 radio frequency signals with a phase difference of 90 degrees, that is, PS1-PS2=90 degrees, 9 The 0° coupler 22 receives two P / 2 RF signals with a phase difference of 90°, and then controls the output port Port2 to have no RF signal output (denoted as 0), and the output port Port3 to have the RF signal with full power P output (denoted as 1). At this time, the power ratio of Port2 and Port3 is 0:1, that is, the RF signal input from Port1 is fully output by Port3. In this way, the feed input port IN is connected to the empty port (Port3) (the empty port is connected to the matching load, that is, the empty port can be designed as a matching section to achieve matching absorption or reflection). The liquid crystal switch 2 realizes the off state; for example, the radio frequency signal with power P input from the input terminal Port1 is divided into two radio frequency signals with the same power and phase (the power is P / 2, assuming that the phase is 0), and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 can adjust the phase of the received P / 2 radio frequency signal to 90° before outputting it. If the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 does not change the phase of the received P / 2 radio frequency signal, the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 output P / 2 radio frequency signals with a phase difference of -90°, that is, PS1 -PS2 = -90°. The 90° coupler 22 receives two P / 2 RF signals with a phase difference of -90°, and then controls the output port Port2 to output the RF signal with full power P (denoted as 1), and the output port Port3 to output no RF signal (denoted as 0). At this time, the power ratio of Port2 and Port3 is 1:0, that is, the RF signal input from Port1 is fully output by Port2. In this way, the feed input port IN and the feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, etc.) are connected, and the liquid crystal switch 2 is turned on.For example, an RF signal with power P input from input port Port1 is split by the first power divider 21 into two RF signals with equal power and phase (power P / 2, assuming both phases are 0). If the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 do not change the phase of the received RF signal P / 2, the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 output RF signals with a phase difference of 0 (P / 2), i.e., PS1-PS2=0. The 90° coupler 22 receives the two RF signals with a phase difference of 0 (P / 2), and then controls the output ports Port2 and Port3 to output RF signals with a phase difference of P / 2 (represented as 0.5, respectively). At this time, the power ratio of Port2 and Port3 is 1:1, i.e., the RF signal input from Port1 is output by Port2 and Port3 in a 1:1 ratio. The three operating states of the above liquid crystal switch are shown in Table 1 below.

[0121] Table 1: Working status of LCD switch

[0122] If the phase difference between PS1 and PS2 is not 0 or ±90°, both output ports Port2 and Port3 output RF signals, and the power ratio of the output RF signals depends on the magnitude of the PS1-PS2 phase difference. For example, if the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 adjusts the phase of the received P / 2 RF signal to 30°, and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 does not change the phase of the received P / 2 RF signal, then the first and second liquid crystal phase shifters PS1 and PS2 output P / 2 RF signals with a phase difference of 30°. The 90° coupler 22 receives the two P / 2 RF signals with a phase difference of 30°, and then controls Port2 and Port3 to output RF signals at a power ratio of 1:2. That is, the RF signal input from Port1 is output as a P / 3 RF signal from Port2, and a 2P / 3 RF signal from Port3.

[0123] In the disclosed embodiment, when using the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 to control the phase difference of the output radio frequency signal, only the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 or only the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 can be controlled to perform phase adjustment, or both the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 can be controlled to perform phase adjustment. If only the first liquid crystal phase shifter or only the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 is controlled to perform phase adjustment, the control method is described before Table 1. If both the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 are controlled to perform phase adjustment, such as controlling the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 to output radio frequency signals with a phase difference of 90°, for example, the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 can be controlled to adjust the phase of the output radio frequency signal to 120°, and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2 can be controlled to adjust the phase of the output radio frequency signal to 30°.

[0124] In the embodiment provided herein, the RF signal is split into two RF signals of equal power and phase by the first power splitter 21, and the two output terminals of the first power splitter 21 are connected to the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 and the second liquid crystal phase shifter PS2, respectively. Since the first and second liquid crystal phase shifters PS1 and PS2 can adjust the phase of the received RF signal, and thus control the phase difference between the RF signals output by the first and second liquid crystal phase shifters PS1 and PS2, after the RF signal with a certain phase difference passes through the 90° coupler 22, the 90° coupler 22 can control the power ratio outputted from its two output terminals based on the phase difference, thereby enabling the liquid crystal switch 2 to simultaneously perform phase shifting and power distribution functions. Due to the small size of the liquid crystal phase shifter, the size of the feed network can be reduced, and the power of antenna elements connected to different feed output ports can be controlled according to the power ratio, thereby improving antenna efficiency.

[0125] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG1 , FIG2 , FIG5 and FIG6 , the first feeding circuit 11 may be a microstrip line;

[0126] A liquid crystal switch 2 is connected between the second feeding circuit 12 and the feeding input port IN, one output end (Port2) of the 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the input end of the second feeding circuit 12, and the other output end (Port3) of the 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the matching load 3;

[0127] A third feeding circuit 13 is provided. A liquid crystal switch 2 is connected between the third feeding circuit 13 and the feeding input port IN. An output end (Port 2) of a 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the input end of the third feeding circuit 13 , and another output end (Port 3) of the 90° coupler 22 is electrically connected to the matching load 3.

[0128] By controlling all liquid crystal switches 2 in Figures 1 and 2 to the first state (off), only the middle feed output port OUT3 (connected to the antenna element) is connected to the feed input port IN, thereby achieving wide beam coverage for a single antenna element. By controlling all liquid crystal switches 2 in Figures 1 and 2 to the second state (on), all feed circuits 1 are in the on state, all antenna elements are in the operating state, and the resultant beam is a narrow beam. Therefore, by controlling the on and off states of the liquid crystal switches 2, the power ratio of the RF signals output by different feed output ports is adjusted, achieving switching between wide and narrow beams.

[0129] In some embodiments, in the feed network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 1, 5, and 6, the second feed circuit 12 includes a third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 connected between an output end (Port2) of the corresponding 90° coupler 22 and the feed output port (OUT1), and the third feed circuit 13 includes a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 connected between an output end (Port2) of the corresponding 90° coupler 22 and the feed output port (OUT3). By providing the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 or the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 at an output end (Port2) of the 90° coupler 22, the phase of the RF signal output from the corresponding feed output port can be changed. The third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 or the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 can be used to impart a phase difference to the RF signal output from the feed output port of the feed network, thereby controlling beam downtilt, adjusting the beam direction, and further controlling the beam to perform spatial scanning and adjust the beam coverage range.

[0130] Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the specific structure of the integration of the liquid crystal switch 2 shown in Figure 6 and the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 or the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 in Figure 1. In the narrow beam state, the output end Port3 can be controlled to have no RF signal output, and the output end Port2 can be controlled to have a RF signal with full power P output. In this way, the RF signal output from the output end Port2 of each 90° coupler 22 enters the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 and the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 respectively, and is output after the phase of the received RF signal is adjusted by the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 and the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 respectively.

[0131] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG2 , FIG5 and FIG6 , the second feeding circuit 12 includes a first binary tree structure connected between an output end (Port2) of the corresponding 90° coupler 22 and the feeding output port (OUT1, OUT2), a third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 is provided on the main path of the first binary tree structure, and a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 is provided on at least some branches of the first binary tree structure;

[0132] The third feeding circuit 13 includes a second binary tree structure connected between an output end (Port2) of the corresponding 90° coupler 22 and the feeding output ports (OUT4, OUT5). A fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5 is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure, and a sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6 is provided on at least some branches of the second binary tree structure.

[0133] It should be noted that a binary tree structure refers to a main path that is divided into two, and then each branch can be further divided into two. FIG2 of the embodiment of the present disclosure takes the first binary tree structure and the second binary tree structure as an example, each of which includes a main path and two branches divided into two by the main path. In this way, the first feed circuit 11 includes two feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2), and the third feed circuit 13 includes two feed output ports (OUT4, OUT5). In addition, FIG2 of the embodiment of the present disclosure takes the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter P4 as an example, which is provided on the outermost branch of the two branches of the first binary tree structure, and the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter P6 as an example, which is provided on the outermost branch of the two branches of the second binary tree structure. Of course, it is also possible that both branches of the first binary tree structure are provided with the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter P4, and both branches of the second binary tree structure are provided with the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter P6.

[0134] As shown in Figure 2, since the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 is provided on the main path of the first binary tree structure and the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 is provided on the outermost branch of the first binary tree structure, the phase of the radio frequency signal output by the output end (Port2) can be adjusted by the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3, and the phase of the radio frequency signal output by the feed output port (OUT1) can be adjusted by the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4, so that the feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2) output radio frequency signals with different phases; since the fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5 is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure and the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6 is provided on the outermost branch of the second binary tree structure, the phase of the radio frequency signal output by the output end (Port2) can be adjusted by the fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5, and the phase of the radio frequency signal output by the feed output port (OUT5) can be adjusted by the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6, so that the feed output ports (OUT4, OUT5) output radio frequency signals with different phases. For example, taking the five antenna elements shown in Figure 2 (each antenna element corresponds to a feed output port) as an example, the phase of each RF signal is adjusted by the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3, the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4, the fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5 and the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6, so that the phase gradient of the five antenna elements can be achieved. For example, the phase gradient between the antenna elements from left to right is 2θ, θ, 0, -θ, -2θ, respectively, thereby achieving beam scanning, wherein the phase gradient is determined by the phase shift amount of each liquid crystal phase shifter, and the phase shift amount of the liquid crystal phase shifter determines the scanning range of the beam. In this state, all antenna elements are in working state, and the synthetic beam is a narrow beam.

[0135] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the first feeding circuit 11 .

[0136] As shown in FIG8A , in the wide beam state, liquid crystal switch 2 is in the off state. Due to the mutual cancellation of energy within the switches, essentially no energy passes through the two switches, and all energy is primarily concentrated on the middle antenna element. That is, only the antenna element connected to the middle feed output port (OUT3) is operational, with both horizontal and vertical beamwidths being approximately 60°. Depending on the antenna type, the horizontal and vertical beamwidths may vary. Taking a PCB-coupled antenna element as an example, the horizontal and vertical beamwidths are both approximately 65°. As shown in FIG8B , in the narrow beam state, liquid crystal switch 2, the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3, the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4, the fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5, and the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6 are all operational, all feed output ports (OUT1-OUT5) output RF signals, and all antenna elements are in a radiating state. The vertical beamwidth formed by the five elements is approximately 12°, while the horizontal beamwidth remains unchanged at approximately 65°. Since the liquid crystal phase shifter can scan continuously, when the beam is narrow, the phase shift amount of each liquid crystal phase shifter can be controlled to adjust the direction of the narrow beam and scan in the vertical direction.

[0137] Specifically, as shown in FIG8B , when the liquid crystal switch 2 is in the open state, the energy borne by the liquid crystal switch 2 is determined by the energy distribution of the one-to-three power division. When the three outputs of the one-to-three are of equal line width (same impedance), the one-to-three power division is equal energy output. The liquid crystal switch 2 part bears 1 / 3 of the total power, the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 and the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6 bear 1 / 6 of the total power, and the energy distribution ratio of the RF signal output by the five feed output ports is 1:1:2:1:1. In addition, by adjusting the line width of one one-to-three power division and two one-to-two power divisions in FIG8B (adjusting the impedance), other energy distribution ratios can be achieved. The default state is normal radiation. If pre-fabricated downtilt radiation is required, different delay lines need to be added to the front end of each feed output port so that each antenna element has a pre-fabricated phase difference, i.e., Δ2θ, Δθ, 0, -Δθ, -Δ2θ, so that the main beam has a certain downtilt angle with the array normal, achieving more accurate range coverage.

[0138] Figures 8A and 8B illustrate the wide- and narrow-beam switching function for the five antenna elements shown in Figure 2. For other numbers of antenna elements, when the number of antenna elements is 2n+1, where n=1, 2, 3, etc., the above scheme can be used to achieve beam switching and beam scanning. Taking the three antenna elements shown in Figure 1 as an example, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B, Figures 9A and 9B illustrate the wide- and narrow-beam switching function for the three antenna elements shown in Figure 1. Two liquid crystal switches 2 and two liquid crystal phase shifters (PS3 and PS4) are required. As shown in Figure 9A, in the wide-beam state, by controlling the liquid crystal switch 2 to be off, only the middle antenna element is operational. In the narrow-beam state, by controlling the liquid crystal switch 2 to be on, all three antenna elements are operational, thereby achieving wide- and narrow-beam switching. When all three antenna elements are operational, beam scanning can also be achieved by controlling the phase shift amount.

[0139] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, the input end of the first feeding circuit 11 is electrically connected to one output end (Port2) of the 90° coupler 22, and the input ends of the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13 are both electrically connected to the other output end (Port3) of the 90° coupler 22.

[0140] By controlling the power ratio of the RF signals output from the two output ports (Port2 and Port3) of the liquid crystal switch 2 in Figures 3-6, wide-beam switching can be achieved. For example, by controlling the liquid crystal switch 2 in Figures 3 and 4 to the first state (open), only the output port Port2 outputs the RF signal, while the output port Port3 does not output the RF signal, so that only the middle feed output port (connected to the antenna element) is connected to the feed input port IN, thereby achieving wide-beam coverage for a single antenna element. By controlling the liquid crystal switch 2 in Figures 3 and 4 to the second state (for example, both Port2 and Port3 output the RF signal), all feed circuits are in the conductive state, all antenna elements are in the operating state, and the resultant beam is a narrow beam. Therefore, by controlling the power ratio of the RF signals output from the two output ports (Port2 and Port3) of the liquid crystal switch 2, wide-beam switching can be achieved.

[0141] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, the second feeding circuit 12 includes a third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 connected between the other output end (Port3) of the 90° coupler 22 and the corresponding feeding output port (OUT1), and the third feeding circuit 13 includes a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 connected between the other output end (Port3) of the 90° coupler 22 and the corresponding feeding output port (OUT3).

[0142] In this way, in the narrow beam state, the phase of the RF signal output from the feed output port (OUT1) of the second feed circuit 12 can be adjusted by the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3, and the phase of the RF signal output from the feed output port (OUT3) of the third feed circuit 13 can be adjusted by the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4, so that the feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3) output RF signals with different phases, realizing spatial scanning of a narrow beam, thereby achieving adjustable coverage range and adjustable beam pointing functions.

[0143] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, the second feeding circuit 12 includes a first binary tree structure connected between the other output end (Port3) of the 90° coupler 22 and the corresponding feeding output port (OUT1, OUT2), a third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 is provided on the main path of the first binary tree structure, and a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 is provided on at least some branches of the first binary tree structure;

[0144] The third feeding circuit 13 includes a second binary tree structure connected between the other output end (Port3) of the 90° coupler 22 and the corresponding feeding output ports (OUT4, OUT5). A fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5 is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure, and a sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6 is provided on at least some branches of the second binary tree structure.

[0145] It should be noted that FIG4 of the embodiment of the present disclosure takes as an example a case where both the first binary tree structure and the second binary tree structure include a main path and two branches bifurcated by the main path. Thus, the second feed circuit 12 includes two feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2), and the third feed circuit 13 includes two feed output ports (OUT4, OUT5). Furthermore, FIG4 of the embodiment of the present disclosure takes as an example a case where the outermost branch of the two branches of the first binary tree structure is provided with the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter P4, and the outermost branch of the two branches of the second binary tree structure is provided with the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter P6. Of course, it is also possible that both branches of the first binary tree structure are provided with the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter P4, and both branches of the second binary tree structure are provided with the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter P6.

[0146] As shown in FIG4 , since the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13 are both connected to the other output port (Port 3 ) of the 90° coupler 22 , the RF signal outputted from Port 3 is effectively split into two and enters the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13 respectively. Since a third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3 is provided on the main path of the first binary tree structure and a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4 is provided on the outermost branch of the first binary tree structure, the phase of the half-power radio frequency signal output by the received output end (Port3) can be adjusted by the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3, and the phase of the radio frequency signal output by the feed output port (OUT1) can be adjusted by the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4, so that the feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2) output radio frequency signals with different phases; since a fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5 is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure and a sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6 is provided on the outermost branch of the second binary tree structure, the phase of the half-power radio frequency signal output by the output end (Port3) can be adjusted by the fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5, and the phase of the radio frequency signal output by the feed output port (OUT5) can be adjusted by the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6, so that the feed output ports (OUT4, OUT5) output radio frequency signals with different phases. For example, taking the five antenna elements shown in Figure 4 (each antenna element corresponds to a feed output port) as an example, the phase of each RF signal is adjusted by the third liquid crystal phase shifter PS3, the fourth liquid crystal phase shifter PS4, the fifth liquid crystal phase shifter PS5 and the sixth liquid crystal phase shifter PS6, so that the phase gradient of the five antenna elements can be achieved. For example, the phase gradient between the antenna elements from left to right is 2θ, θ, 0, -θ, -2θ, respectively, thereby achieving beam scanning, wherein the phase gradient is determined by the phase shift amount of each liquid crystal phase shifter, and the phase shift amount of the liquid crystal phase shifter determines the scanning range of the beam. In this state, all antenna elements are in working state, and the synthetic beam is a narrow beam.

[0147] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 , the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the first feeding circuit 11 .

[0148] As shown in Figure 10A, in the wide-beam state, LCD switch 2 is off (Port 3 has no output), and only the antenna element connected to the middle feed output port (OUT3) is operational. As shown in Figure 10B, in the narrow-beam state, both output ports (Port 2 and Port 3) of LCD switch 2 output RF signals, all feed output ports (OUT1-OUT5) output RF signals, and all antenna elements are radiating. Because the LCD phase shifters can scan continuously, in the narrow-beam state, the phase shift amount of each LCD phase shifter can be controlled to adjust the direction of the narrow beam and scan vertically.

[0149] Figures 10A and 10B illustrate the wide and narrow beam switching function for the five antenna elements shown in Figure 4. For other numbers of antenna elements, when the number of antenna elements is 2n+1, where n=1, 2, 3, etc., the above scheme can be used to achieve beam switching and beam scanning. Taking the three antenna elements shown in Figure 3 as an example, as shown in Figures 11A and 11B, Figures 11A and 11B illustrate the wide and narrow beam switching function for the three antenna elements shown in Figure 3. A liquid crystal switch 2 and two liquid crystal phase shifters (PS3 and PS4) are required. As shown in Figure 11A, in the wide beam state, by controlling the liquid crystal switch 2 to be disconnected, only the middle antenna element is working, the liquid crystal switch is in the upward conduction state, no RF signal flows to the antenna elements on the left and right sides, and the liquid crystal phase shifter has no power; in the narrow beam state, by controlling the two output ends (Port2 and Port3) of the liquid crystal switch 2 to output RF Signal, to achieve RF signal output from the three feed output ports, so that the corresponding three antenna elements are all working, thus realizing the switching of wide and narrow beams; when the three antenna elements are all working, the beam scanning can also be achieved by controlling the phase shift amount. If the output ratio of the liquid crystal phase shifter is controlled (adjusting the phase shift amount of PS3 and PS4 or the line width of the feed network) to 1:2, the energy obtained by the three antenna elements is 1:1:1, and the energy passing through PS3 and PS4 is 1 / 3 of the total power. In this case, the power tolerance requirement for the liquid crystal switch is higher, and it needs to be able to withstand the maximum power of the system. The liquid crystal phase shifter withstands about 1 / 3 of the system power. If the output design is not 1:1:1, the power tolerance on the liquid crystal phase shifter will be slightly different, but the maximum system power that the switch needs to withstand remains unchanged.

[0150] It should be noted that the antenna element array is composed of several antenna elements, which can be a dual-polarized antenna or a single-polarized antenna. Figures 1 to 4 of the embodiments of the present disclosure are structural diagrams of the corresponding feeding network when the antenna is a single-polarized antenna; when the antenna is a dual-polarized antenna, the structural diagram of the corresponding feeding network is shown in Figure 12, and the feeding output ports of the two feeding networks are used to feed the corresponding antenna elements.

[0151] It should be noted that FIG2 and FIG4 are examples in which no liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on the branches corresponding to OUT2 and OUT4. Of course, liquid crystal phase shifters can also be provided on the branches corresponding to OUT2 and OUT4. In this way, liquid crystal phase shifters are added before the two feeding output ports of the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13. Then, the two branch lines of each feeding circuit can be designed to be equal in length, and the output phase consistency is better.

[0152] It should be noted that FIG12 illustrates the feeding network structure of the dual-polarized antenna by taking the single feeding network structure shown in FIG2 as an example. Of course, the feeding network of the dual-polarized antenna may also adopt the single feeding network structure shown in FIG1 , FIG3 and FIG4 .

[0153] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, the structures of the liquid crystal phase shifters (PS1-PS6) shown in Figures 1-7 are shown in Figures 13A-13C. Figure 13A is a schematic structural diagram of each liquid crystal phase shifter (PS1-PS6), Figure 13B is a top view of the liquid crystal phase shifter structure in Figure 13A, and Figure 13C is a cross-sectional view along the CC' direction in Figure 13B. Taking the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS as an example, the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS may include:

[0154] A first base substrate 20 and a second base substrate 30 are arranged opposite to each other, and the first base substrate 20 and the second base substrate 30 are glass substrates;

[0155] The liquid crystal layer 40 is located between the first base substrate 20 and the second base substrate 30;

[0156] The second power divider 50 and the combiner 60 are located on the side of the first base substrate 20 close to the liquid crystal layer 40. The input end of the second power divider 50 is connected to the corresponding output end, and the two output ends of the second power divider 50 correspond to the two input ends of the combiner 60. The second power divider 50 is a one-to-two power divider, and the combiner 60 is a two-in-one combiner.

[0157] A liquid crystal phase shift structure 70 is located on a side of the first base substrate 20 close to the liquid crystal layer 40. The liquid crystal phase shift structure 70 includes a first transmission line 71 and a second transmission line 72 arranged in parallel. The first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72 are arranged in the same layer. The first transmission line 71 is electrically connected between an output terminal of the second power divider 50 and an input terminal of the combiner 60. The second transmission line 72 is electrically connected between the other output terminal of the second power divider 50 and the other input terminal of the combiner 60. The liquid crystal phase shift structure 70 is configured to change the phase of the corresponding radio frequency signal under voltage control.

[0158] The first inverting structure 80 and the second inverting structure 90 are located on a side of the first base substrate 20 close to the liquid crystal layer 40. The first inverting structure 80 is connected between the first transmission line 71 and an output end of the second power divider 50, and the second inverting structure 90 is connected between the second transmission line 72 and the other input end of the combiner 60. The first inverting structure 80 and the second inverting structure 90 are configured to output the received radio frequency signal in an inverted phase. Optionally, the first inverting structure 80 and the second inverting structure 90 can be microstrip lines with a meandering structure. The microstrip line with a meandering structure can be a wavy microstrip line, a meandering microstrip line, or a broken line microstrip line, without specific limitation. By setting the first inverting structure 80 and the second inverting structure 90 as microstrip lines with a meandering structure, the space occupied by the first inverting structure 80 and the second inverting structure 90 can be reduced, thereby facilitating miniaturization of the liquid crystal phase shifter. In some embodiments, the crest of the microstrip line with a meandering structure gradually decreases in the extension direction of the microstrip line.

[0159] The reference electrode 100 is located on a side of the second base substrate 30 close to the liquid crystal layer 40. The reference electrode 100 includes a plurality of strip-shaped sub-electrodes 101 arranged in sequence along the extension direction of the first transmission line 71. Each strip-shaped sub-electrode 101 at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the first transmission line 71 on the first base substrate 20, and each strip-shaped sub-electrode 101 at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the second transmission line 72 on the first base substrate 20.

[0160] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 13A-13C, the first transmission line 71 includes a first main body structure 711 and a plurality of first branches 712 connected to the first main body structure 711 on the side facing the second transmission line 72 and arranged at intervals. The second transmission line 72 includes a second main body structure 721 and a plurality of second branches 722 connected to the second main body structure 721 on the side facing the first transmission line 71 and arranged at intervals. The first branches 712 and the second branches 722 correspond one to one, and the orthographic projection of each strip sub-electrode 101 on the first substrate 20 covers the orthographic projection of a pair of first branches 712 and the second branch 722 on the first substrate 20.

[0161] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the liquid crystal phase shifter and the liquid crystal switch (composed of two liquid crystal phase shifters) are both glass-based devices based on liquid crystal. A liquid crystal phase shifter or a liquid crystal switch can be considered as a glass-based module. The liquid crystal phase shifter of the present disclosure adopts a coplanar differential phase shifter. The first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72 operate in a differential mode. The basic working principle of the coplanar differential phase shifter is to periodically load a capacitor with liquid crystal as the medium on the differential mode microstrip transmission line. According to microwave theory, this periodic structure can provide slow wave propagation. When the liquid crystal is deflected by voltage, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal changes, thereby changing the phase of the radio frequency signal, thus forming a liquid crystal phase shifter.

[0162] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 13A to FIG. 13C , each strip-shaped sub-electrode 101 covers the same area of ​​the first branch 712 and the second branch 722 .

[0163] As shown in Figures 13A to 13C, a strip sub-electrode 101 corresponds to a pair of first branches 712 and second branches 722 arranged opposite to each other, and the orthographic projections of the paired first branches 712 and second branches 722 on the first substrate 20 are located on both sides of the corresponding strip sub-electrode 101. The area where a strip sub-electrode 101 overlaps with the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72 and the liquid crystal layer 40 respectively constitute a capacitor structure on the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72; wherein, the strip sub-electrode 101 and the first branch 712 constitute two electrodes of the capacitor structure on the first transmission line 71, the strip sub-electrode 101 and the second branch 722 constitute two electrodes of the capacitor structure on the second transmission line 72, and the liquid crystal layer 40 constitutes the dielectric layer of the above-mentioned capacitor structure; by applying a DC voltage to the strip sub-electrode 101, the first transmission line 71, and the second transmission line 72, a capacitor is formed between the strip sub-electrode 101 and the first transmission line 71, and between the strip sub-electrode 101 and the second transmission line 72. The (DC) voltage difference can change the deflection direction of the molecules in the liquid crystal layer 40, thereby changing the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal layer 40, and then changing the capacitance of the capacitor structure. The capacitance value of the capacitor structure is changed by periodically loading the above-mentioned (DC) voltage difference or changing the (DC) voltage difference. The capacitor structure is perpendicular to the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72, which is equivalent to the capacitor structure being connected in parallel with the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72. Since the capacitor structure can change the phase shift amount of the radio frequency signal, the phase of the radio frequency signal passing through the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72 can be adjusted by controlling the loading method of the DC voltage between the strip sub-electrode 101 and the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72.

[0164] The strip sub-electrodes 101 can be connected to a constant DC voltage, such as ground, or a constant DC voltage that is different from the potential of the first and second transmission lines 71, 72, without limitation. When the phase of the RF signal needs to be adjusted, the first and second transmission lines 71, 72 can be connected to a constant DC voltage different from that of the corresponding strip sub-electrodes 101.

[0165] In some embodiments, the plurality of strip-shaped sub-electrodes 101 may be connected to the same DC voltage or to different DC voltages, without any specific limitation.

[0166] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG13B , in the arrangement direction of the plurality of strip-shaped sub-electrodes 101 , the reference electrode 100 is divided into a middle area AA and two edge areas BB located at both ends of the middle area AA;

[0167] The first branches 712 corresponding to the middle area AA have the same area, and the area of ​​the first branch 712 corresponding to the middle area AA is larger than the area of ​​the first branch 712 corresponding to the edge area BB. The second branches 722 corresponding to the middle area AA have the same area, and the area of ​​the second branch 722 corresponding to the middle area AA is larger than the area of ​​the second branch 722 corresponding to the edge area BB.

[0168] In the direction from the edge area BB to the middle area AA, the area of ​​each first branch 712 of the edge area BB gradually increases, and the area of ​​each second branch 722 of the edge area BB gradually increases. In this way, the capacitance values ​​of the multiple capacitor structures connected on the same transmission line can gradually increase and the impedance can be reduced in sequence, thereby achieving impedance matching.

[0169] In some embodiments, in the feed network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG13B , in the direction from the edge area BB to the middle area AA, at least one of the length and width of each first branch 712 located in the edge area BB gradually increases, and at least one of the length and width of each second branch 722 located in the edge area BB gradually increases. Optionally, as shown in FIG13B , the width W of the first branch 712 remains constant, and the length L of the first branch 712 gradually increases in the direction from the edge area BB to the middle area AA, such that the area of ​​the first branch 712 in the edge area BB gradually increases in the direction from the edge area BB to the middle area AA; the width W of the second branch 722 remains constant, and the length L of the second branch 722 gradually increases in the direction from the edge area BB to the middle area AA, such that the area of ​​the second branch 722 in the edge area BB gradually increases in the direction from the edge area BB to the middle area AA.

[0170] As shown in FIG13B , the present disclosure achieves impedance matching of the two transmission lines in the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70 by setting the areas of the branches in the middle region AA to be the same, and the edge region BB points in the direction of the middle region AA, and the area of ​​the branches in the edge region BB gradually increases.

[0171] As shown in FIG13B , the present disclosure arranges the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70 to include a first transmission line 71 and a second transmission line 72 arranged in parallel, and arranges the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72 in a comb-tooth shape, with their branches overlapping with the reference electrode 100. In this way, the liquid crystal layer 40 between the first transmission line 71, the second transmission line 72 and the reference electrode 100 and the reference electrode 100 together constitute a capacitor structure connected in parallel with the corresponding transmission line. By controlling the voltage difference between the first transmission line 71 and the reference electrode 100, and between the second transmission line 72 and the reference electrode 100, the capacitance value of the parallel capacitor on the corresponding transmission line is controlled, thereby controlling the phase shift amount of the radio frequency signal passing through the corresponding transmission line, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the phase of the radio frequency signal.

[0172] As shown in FIG13A , the first liquid crystal phase shifter PS1 receives the 1 / 2P power RF signal (assuming the phase is 0°) output by the first power divider 21 through the input end of the second power divider 50. The second power divider 50 divides the half-power RF signal into two 1 / 4P power RF signals with the same phase and power. One of the 1 / 4P power RF signals is inverted by the first inverting structure 80 to a phase of 180°. Then, it is assumed that the 1 / 4P power RF signal with a phase of 180° is phase-shifted by 90° through the first transmission line 71, so that the first transmission line 71 outputs a 1 / 4P power RF signal with a phase of 270° to the first input end of the combiner 60. The other 1 / 4P power RF signal is assumed to be phase-shifted by 90° through the second transmission line 72. The second transmission line 72 outputs a 1 / 4P power RF signal with a phase of 90° to the second inverting structure 90. The second inverting structure 90 outputs a 1 / 4P power RF signal with a phase of 270°. The 1 / 4P power radio frequency signal is sent to the other input end of the combiner 60, and the combiner 60 combines the two 1 / 4P power radio frequency signals with a phase of 270° into a 1 / 2P power radio frequency signal with a phase of 270°.

[0173] It should be understood that the power in the above example is the power ratio under ideal conditions. In actual applications, due to the certain power loss of the RF signal during line transmission, the power of the RF signal received at the input end of the second power divider 50 is not strictly equal to the power of the RF signal output by the combiner 60. Usually, the power of the RF signal output by the combiner 60 is less than the power of the RF signal received at the input end of the second power divider 50, and greater than the power of the RF signal on a single transmission line received by the combiner 60.

[0174] As shown in FIG13A , in the present disclosure, a first inverting structure 80 is provided in front of the first transmission line 71, and no inverting structure is provided in front of the second transmission line 72, so that the phases of the radio frequency signals received by the two transmission lines in the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70 are opposite, so that the electromagnetic waves generated by the first transmission line 71 and the second transmission line 72 can cancel each other out, preventing electromagnetic wave radiation from being generated in the film layer where the reference electrode 100 is located; and a second inverting structure 90 is provided at the output end of the second transmission line 72, and no inverting structure is provided at the output end of the first transmission line 71, so that the phases of the two radio frequency signals received by the combiner 50 remain consistent, thereby being able to combine the two radio frequency signals into a radio frequency signal with higher power.

[0175] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG6 , the 90° coupler 22 in the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first coupling portion 221 and a second coupling portion 222 that cross each other at the center. The first coupling portion 221 and the second coupling portion 222 are arranged on different layers. For example, the first coupling portion 221 can be arranged on the same layer as the first transmission line 71 , and the second coupling portion 222 can be arranged on the same layer as the touch electrode 100 . The cross-sections at the central intersection of the first coupling portion 221 and the second coupling portion 222 completely overlap, and the cross-sections on either side of the central intersection partially overlap. Therefore, when the 90° coupler 22 receives two RF signals with a phase difference of 90°, the RF signal on the second coupling portion 222 is coupled to the first coupling portion 221, causing the output port (Port 3) corresponding to the first coupling portion 221 to output a full-power RF signal. When the 90° coupler 22 receives two RF signals with a phase difference of 0°, the first coupling portion 221 and the second coupling portion 222 respectively output their respective received RF signals. If the phase difference between the two RF signals received by the 90° coupler 22 is within a phase shift range between 0° and 90°, the output ports corresponding to the first coupling portion 221 and the second coupling portion 222 output RF signals in phase with the RF signal received by the first power divider 21 at a certain power ratio.

[0176] If the phase difference between the two RF signals received by the 90° coupler 22 is 270° (i.e., -90°), the RF signal on the first coupling part 221 is coupled to the second coupling part 222, so that the output end (Port2) corresponding to the second coupling part 222 outputs a full-power RF signal; if the phase difference between the two RF signals received by the 90° coupler 22 is 180° (i.e., -0°), the power of the RF signal output by the first coupling part 221 and the second coupling part 222 is approximately half the power of the RF signal received by the first power divider 21, but the phase is opposite; if the phase difference between the two RF signals received by the 90° coupler 22 is within a phase shift range between -90° and 0°, the output ends corresponding to the first coupling part 221 and the second coupling part 222 output a RF signal with a phase opposite to that of the RF signal received by the first power divider 21 according to a certain power ratio.

[0177] In the embodiment provided by the present disclosure, by configuring the 90° coupler 22 to have a first coupling portion 221 and a second coupling portion 222 that are centrally crossed and disposed in different layers, and allowing the first coupling portion 221 and the second coupling portion 222 to partially overlap in their extension direction, it is convenient to control the power ratio of the corresponding output ends of the first coupling portion 221 and the second coupling portion 222 according to the phase difference of the two received RF signals.

[0178] In some embodiments, the feed network provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure further includes a printed circuit board (PCB), to which each liquid crystal phase shifter (PS1-PS6) is affixed via an adhesive layer 200, as shown in Figures 14A-14C. Figure 14A is a schematic diagram of the coupling of the liquid crystal phase shifter to the PCB, Figure 14B is a schematic diagram of the bonding of the liquid crystal phase shifter to the PCB in Figure 14A, and Figure 14C is an enlarged schematic diagram of the coupling position of the liquid crystal phase shifter to the PCB in Figure 14A. The adhesive layer 200 bonds the printed circuit board (PCB) to the first substrate 20 of each liquid crystal phase shifter (PS1-PS6), facilitating the installation of other components and traces connecting the phase shifters in the feed network on the PCB. The PCB primarily includes microstrip power splitter traces (e.g., L1 and L2), and at corresponding locations on the PCB, the liquid crystal phase shifters and liquid crystal switches are electrically connected via L1 and L2.

[0179] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 15A to 15C, Figure 15A is a planar schematic diagram corresponding to each glass-based liquid crystal phase shifter and liquid crystal switch in the dual-polarization feeding network shown in Figure 12, Figure 15B is a planar schematic diagram corresponding to the microstrip power splitter traces provided on the PCB in the dual-polarization feeding network shown in Figure 12, and Figure 15C is a planar structural schematic diagram of Figures 15A and 15B integrated. The feeding input port (IN) and the feeding output ports (OUT1-OUT5) are provided on a printed circuit board PCB. The printed circuit board PCB further includes a first-type connecting line L1, a portion of the first-type connecting line L1 is connected to the input end of the liquid crystal switch 2, and another portion of the first connecting line L1 is connected to the input end and / or output end of the liquid crystal phase shifter corresponding to L1; for example, the input end (i.e., Port1) of the liquid crystal switch 2 is connected to L1 on the PCB, the output ends of PS3 and PS5 are respectively connected to the corresponding L1 on the PCB, and the input ends and output ends of PS4 and PS6 are both connected to the corresponding L1 on the PCB.

[0180] As shown in Figures 15A to 15C, the circular pattern in Figure 15A (i.e., the pads electrically connected to the glass-based liquid crystal phase shifter) and the circular pattern in Figure 15B (i.e., the pads electrically connected to the first type of connection line L1 on the PCB) are electrically connected in a one-to-one correspondence, so as to realize the connection of the feeding network containing the liquid crystal switch 2 and each liquid crystal phase shifter with a phase shifting function through the microstrip power distribution traces on the PCB.

[0181] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 15A-15C, the printed circuit board PCB also includes a second-type connecting line L2, which directly connects the feeding input port IN and the feeding output port (i.e., OUT3). The second-type connecting line L2 and the first-type connecting line L1 are arranged on the same layer. For example, the second-type connecting line L2 and the first-type connecting line L1 can be formed by conductive materials (such as copper).

[0182] As shown in Figures 15A-15C , at the end of the one-to-two power splitter at the second and third feeder circuits 12 and 13, the disclosed embodiment utilizes liquid crystal phase shifters (PS4 and PS6) on only one branch. Delay lines of varying lengths are used on the other branches (corresponding to OUT2 and OUT4) to compensate for the phase difference introduced by the liquid crystal phase shifters. This architecture places high demands on phase consistency, requiring control of the shape and length of each output delay line to maintain phase alignment.

[0183] As shown in Figure 16, Figure 16 is an equivalent schematic diagram of the single-polarization feeding network corresponding to the five feeding output ports using liquid crystal switches and liquid crystal phase shifters in Figure 15C. Under the structure of Figure 16, OUT1 and OUT5 are symmetrical, OUT2 and OUT4 are symmetrical, and the performance of the symmetrical ports is basically the same. The difference between the OUT1 and OUT2 ports is that one uses a liquid crystal phase shifter and the other uses a delay line, and the output amplitude and phase will be slightly different; the OUT3 port requires sufficient delay lines to compensate for the phase difference with the other ports.

[0184] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 14A-14C, Figures 15A-15C, and Figure 17, Figure 17 is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a liquid crystal phase shifter connected to a glass substrate via a first-type connecting line L1 on a PCB in Figure 15C. The printed circuit board PCB includes: a substrate layer P11, a first conductive layer P12 located on a side of the substrate layer P11 close to the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70, and a second conductive layer P13 located on a side of the substrate layer P11 away from the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70;

[0185] The first conductive layer P12 is grounded, and the feed input port (IN), feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, ...), first-type connection lines L1 and second-type connection lines L2 are located on the second conductive layer P13;

[0186] At the connection positions between the first-type connecting line L1 and the input end (Port1) of the liquid crystal switch 2 and the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer P13 has a first pad Pad1 electrically connected to the corresponding first-type connecting line L1 (all circular patterns in Figure 15B are Pad1), the base material layer P11 has a first coupling hole O1, the first conductive layer P12 has a second coupling hole O2, and the second coupling hole O2 has a second pad Pad2. The side of the first base substrate 20 facing the liquid crystal layer 40 has a third pad Pad3 electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter (all circular patterns in Figure 15A are Pad3). The orthographic projections of the first pad Pad1, the second pad Pad2, and the third pad Pad3 on the base material layer P11 overlap with each other, and the first pad Pad1 and the second pad Pad2 are electrically connected via a connecting portion 300 located in the first coupling hole O1. In order to electrically connect each glass-based liquid crystal phase shifter with the microstrip power distribution line on the PCB, the embodiment of the present disclosure adopts a coupled feeding method for electrical connection, so that the radio frequency signal on the PCB can be transmitted through the glass substrate to the surface of the PCB substrate layer P11.

[0187] Specifically, due to differences in manufacturing processes, PCBs and liquid crystal phase shifters or liquid crystal switches cannot be produced on the same production line. The first and second types of connecting wires based on PCBs have slightly lower line width control accuracy, enabling line widths and line spacings of 100 microns or more. Liquid crystal phase shifters based on glass-based production lines can achieve control accuracy of 3 microns or more, enabling the production of high-precision circuits. Because the first and second types of connecting wires are not identical to the substrates of the liquid crystal phase shifter, the liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch can be used as a separate module, fixed in position by lamination or welding to the PCB (similar to soldering surface-mount devices), thereby enabling the conduction of RF signals.

[0188] The conduction path of the RF signal is shown by the dotted arrows in Figure 17. After the signal source located in the PCB board area (usually provided by a coaxial cable) enters the feeding network, it mainly passes through the microstrip power splitter line (first type connecting line and second type connecting line) to excite each antenna element. A liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch is inserted in the middle of the microstrip power splitter line. The RF signal first passes through the liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch, and then returns to the microstrip power splitter line on the PCB. The phase shift or switching function is realized in the liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch, thereby realizing the transmission of RF signals that control the microstrip power splitter feeding.

[0189] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG18 , FIG18 is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of another embodiment of the liquid crystal phase shifter connected to a glass substrate via the first-type connecting line L1 on the PCB in FIG15C . The printed circuit board PCB includes: a substrate layer P11, a first conductive layer P12 located on a side of the substrate layer P11 close to the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70, and a second conductive layer P13 located on a side of the substrate layer P11 away from the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70.

[0190] The first conductive layer P12 is grounded, and the feed input port (IN), feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, ...), first-type connection lines L1 and second-type connection lines L2 are located on the second conductive layer P13;

[0191] The area of ​​the second base substrate 30 is smaller than the area of ​​the first base substrate 20;

[0192] At each connection position between the first-type connection line L1 and the input end (Port1) of the liquid crystal switch 2 and the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer P13 has a first pad Pad1 electrically connected to the corresponding first-type connection line L1, the first pad Pad1 has a first through hole H1, the base material layer P11 has a second through hole H2 corresponding to the first through hole H1, the first conductive layer P12, the adhesive layer 200, and the first base substrate 20 have a third through hole H3 that penetrates the first conductive layer P12, the adhesive layer 200, and the first base substrate 20 and corresponds to the second through hole H2, and the side of the first base substrate 20 facing the liquid crystal layer 40 has a third pad Pad3 electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter, the third pad Pad3 has a fourth through hole H4 corresponding to the first through hole H1;

[0193] It also includes a metal core 400 welded in the first through hole H1, the second through hole H2, the third through hole H3 and the fourth through hole H4. The inner diameters of the first through hole H1, the second through hole H2 and the fourth through hole H4 are the same as the inner diameter of the metal core 400, and the inner diameter of the third through hole H3 is larger than the inner diameter of the metal core 400.

[0194] In order to electrically connect each glass-based liquid crystal phase shifter with the microstrip power distribution line on the PCB, FIG18 uses a via-hole welding method for electrical connection. The first substrate 20 and the second substrate 30 of each liquid crystal phase shifter can be such that the area of ​​the first substrate 20 closer to the PCB is larger than the area of ​​the second substrate 30 farther away from the PCB. A third pad Pad3 electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter is reserved on the first substrate 20 with the larger area. A fourth through hole H4 is drilled in the center of the third pad Pad3 to form a circular third pad Pad3. The position of the through hole on the first substrate 20 corresponds to the first pad Pad1 on the PCB (the first pad Pad1 is also circular). After the liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch is aligned and attached to the PCB, a metal core 400 is inserted into the through hole corresponding to each pad. The metal core 400 is then soldered to the pads on the PCB and the first substrate 20. This not only serves to re-fix the first substrate 20 and prevent separation from the PCB, but also provides a better direct connection conduction effect than the coupled soldering shown in FIG. 17 , and the direct connection loss of the metal core 400 is lower than that of the coupled soldering.

[0195] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG19 and FIG20 , FIG19 and FIG20 are respectively two schematic cross-sectional views of the liquid crystal phase shifter connected to the glass substrate via the first-type connecting line L1 on the PCB in FIG15C . The printed circuit board PCB includes: a substrate layer P11, a first conductive layer P12 located on a side of the substrate layer P11 away from the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70, and a second conductive layer P13 located on a side of the substrate layer P11 close to the liquid crystal phase shift structure 70.

[0196] The first conductive layer P12 is grounded, and the feed input port (IN), feed output ports (OUT1, OUT2, OUT3, ...), first-type connection lines L1 and second-type connection lines L2 are located on the second conductive layer P13;

[0197] The areas of the second base substrate 30 , the first base substrate 20 and the base material layer P11 gradually increase, and the second base substrate 30 , the first base substrate 20 and the base material layer P11 form a step-like shape in the thickness direction of the base material layer P11 ;

[0198] At each connection position between the first type of connecting line L1 and the input end (Port1) of the liquid crystal switch and the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer P13 has a first pad Pad1 electrically connected to the corresponding first type of connecting line L1, and the side of the first base substrate 20 facing the liquid crystal layer 30 has a third pad Pad3 electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter. The first pad Pad1 and the third pad Pad3 are located at the edge of the first base substrate 20, and the first pad Pad1 and the third pad Pad3 are welded by the welding metal 500 covering the side of the first base substrate 20. In addition to using the coupling method shown in Figure 17 and the via-hole welding method shown in Figure 18 to electrically connect the liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch to the PCB board, the embodiment of the present disclosure can also use the welding method at the edge of the first base substrate 20 shown in Figures 19 and 20. When manufacturing the liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch, the upper second base substrate 30 can be cut smaller, and the lower first base substrate 20 can be made larger. A welding area is reserved at the edge of the first base substrate 20, and the signal of the PCB board area is conducted to the first base substrate 20 through the welding metal 500.

[0199] In some embodiments, in the feed network provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG19 , the second conductive layer P13 further includes a grounding metal 600 spaced apart and insulated from the first-type connecting line L1 and the second-type connecting line L2. The grounding metal 600 is electrically connected to the first conductive layer P11 via a via extending through the substrate layer P11. When designing a liquid crystal phase shifter or liquid crystal switch, since the glass substrate is generally thin, resulting in poor RF signal transmission performance, the grounding metal 600 in FIG19 can be removed. As shown in FIG20 , the effective thickness of the substrate can be increased from the original 0.8 mm to approximately 1.5 mm. This is suitable for coplanar differential liquid crystal phase shifters, and the width of the metal lines between the substrates can be redesigned to achieve impedance matching.

[0200] In some embodiments, the structure shown in FIG. 19 is applicable to a coplanar waveguide (CPW) type phase shifter.

[0201] It should be noted that the connection point (circular pattern) of any group of first pads Pad1 and third pads Pad3 in FIG15C can adopt the PCB board and glass substrate integration method shown in any of FIG17 to FIG20.

[0202] As shown in Figure 21, Figure 21 is a simulation diagram of the frequency (Freq)-port transmission loss (Y1) corresponding to Figures 17 and 18. Curve A corresponds to the microstrip line transmission used in the relevant technology, curve B corresponds to the coupling connection method shown in Figure 17, and curve C corresponds to the metal core welding direct connection method shown in Figure 18, as shown in Table 2 below. Table 2 is a loss comparison table corresponding to the coupling connection method shown in Figure 17 and the metal core welding direct connection method shown in Figure 18 at different frequencies. It can be seen that per unit length, the losses corresponding to the RF signal transmission methods shown in Figures 17 and 18 adopted in the embodiments of the present disclosure are both smaller than the losses corresponding to the microstrip line transmission used in the relevant technology, and the direct connection loss of the metal core 400 shown in Figure 18 is about 0.14 to 0.2 dB smaller than the loss of the coupling welding shown in Figure 17. Therefore, the direct connection conduction effect of the metal core 400 shown in Figure 18 is better than the coupling welding conduction effect shown in Figure 17.

[0203] Table 2

[0204] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 22A to 22C, Figure 22A is another planar schematic diagram corresponding to each glass-based liquid crystal phase shifter and liquid crystal switch in the dual-polarization feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, Figure 22B is another planar schematic diagram corresponding to the microstrip power splitter trace provided on the PCB in the dual-polarization feeding network provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure, and Figure 22C is a planar structural schematic diagram of Figures 22A and 22B integrated. The difference between Figure 22C and Figure 15C is that, in order to achieve phase balance at the feed output port, Figure 22C uses liquid crystal phase shifters on both branches at the one-to-two power split at the ends of the second feeding circuit 12 and the third feeding circuit 13. That is, Figure 22C adopts a dual phase shifter solution. The advantage of the dual phase shifter solution is that liquid crystal phase shifters are added to both outputs, so the two branches can be designed to be equal in length, resulting in better output phase consistency. Figure 22A is a device design based on a glass substrate, and Figure 22B is a design based on a PCB. For example, it can be connected to the first type of connecting line L1 and the second type of connecting line L2 on the PCB through coupling. The liquid crystal switch plus the adjacent liquid crystal phase shifter contains 4 coupling holes, two for each polarization direction; the liquid crystal phase shifter at the one-to-two power splitter contains 8 coupling holes, 4 for each polarization direction.

[0205] As shown in FIG23 , FIG23 is an equivalent schematic diagram of a single-polarization feeding network of five feeding output ports corresponding to the liquid crystal switch and liquid crystal phase shifter in FIG22C . In the structure of FIG23 , the OUT4 and OUT5 ports are symmetrical with the OUT1 and OUT2 ports, and the performance of the symmetrical ports is basically the same. After adding the liquid crystal phase shifter and liquid crystal switch, the OUT3 port needs to add an appropriate delay line to compensate for the phase difference caused by the liquid crystal phase shifter and liquid crystal switch.

[0206] As shown in Figures 24A to 24C, Figure 24A is the frequency (Freq)-S(1,1) simulation result corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter shown in Figure 14A under different dielectric constants, Figure 24B is the frequency (Freq)-S(2,1) simulation result corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter shown in Figure 14A under different dielectric constants, and Figure 24C is the frequency (Freq)-phase shift amount simulation result corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter shown in Figure 14A under different dielectric constants, where curve D corresponds to the first dielectric constant (2.44) and curve E corresponds to the second dielectric constant (3.68). The RF signal is coupled to the inner layer of the glass through the metallized via in the PCB board area, and after being transmitted in the inner layer of the glass (phase shifting or switching is achieved through liquid crystal), it is coupled to the microstrip feeding area of ​​the PCB board layer through the metallized via. This liquid crystal phase shifter is mainly aimed at the frequency band of 1710MHz-2170MHz. The phase shift is mainly achieved by adjusting the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal. Under different dielectric constants, there will be a certain degree of frequency offset. After optimization, it can be seen that the in-band port parameters are less than -15dB, the transmission loss of the port is within 1dB, and the phase shift is above 100° (105°@1.7GHz, 133°@1.9GHz, 165°@2.1GHz). The embodiment of this disclosure only takes the 1710MHz-2170MHz frequency band as an example. Other frequency bands can obtain corresponding performance through optimization. The phase shift determines the final beam scanning range. Taking the 1721MHz frequency as an example, the unit spacing is 132mm. In order to achieve a vertical plane beam scanning of -3°-12°, the required phase shift is about 75°. Therefore, the liquid crystal phase shifters provided in the embodiment of this disclosure can meet the needs of use.

[0207] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of the present disclosure also provide an antenna, as shown in Figures 25-29, comprising: a plurality of sequentially arranged antenna elements 700, and any of the aforementioned feed networks provided in embodiments of the present disclosure; one feed output port of the feed network corresponds to one antenna element 700, and each feed output port is used to feed power to the corresponding antenna element 700. Using the aforementioned feed network provided in embodiments of the present disclosure to feed antenna elements 700 enables switching between wide and narrow beams, and spatial scanning of the narrow beam can be achieved by adjusting the phase of the output RF signal through a liquid crystal phase shifter, thereby achieving adjustable coverage and beam pointing.

[0208] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned antenna provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in Figures 25 to 28, multiple antenna elements 700 may correspond to one feeding network, that is, the antenna in this embodiment may be a single-polarization antenna.

[0209] In some embodiments, in the above-mentioned antenna provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 29 , a plurality of antenna elements 700 may correspond to two feeding networks, that is, the antenna in this embodiment may be a ±45° dual-polarization antenna.

[0210] Based on the same inventive concept, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a base station, which includes any of the above-mentioned antennas provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0211] Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, those skilled in the art may make additional changes and modifications to these embodiments once they have learned the basic creative concepts. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to be interpreted as including the preferred embodiments and all changes and modifications that fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0212] Obviously, those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present disclosure fall within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure and their equivalents, the present disclosure is intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A feeding network, wherein: include: Feed input port, used for receiving radio frequency signals; a first feeding circuit, the first feeding circuit being electrically connected to the feeding input port; a second feeding circuit and a third feeding circuit, wherein the second feeding circuit and the third feeding circuit are both electrically connected to the feeding input port and are located on both sides of the first feeding circuit; the first feeding circuit, the second feeding circuit, and the third feeding circuit each have a feeding output port, each of the feeding output ports being configured to be connected to an antenna element; and the second feeding circuit and the third feeding circuit each have a liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the feeding output port and the feeding input port, the liquid crystal phase shifter being configured to control the phase of the radio frequency signal outputted from the feeding output port; a liquid crystal switch connected between the feed input port and at least one of the first feed circuit, the second feed circuit, and the third feed circuit; the liquid crystal switch being configured to: in a first state, control only the feed output port of the first feed circuit to output the RF signal; and in a second state, control the feed output ports of the first feed circuit, the second feed circuit, and the third feed circuit to all output the corresponding RF signals.

2. The feed network according to claim 1, wherein: The liquid crystal switch comprises: A first power divider, wherein the first power divider has an input end and two output ends, and the input end of the first power divider is electrically connected to the feed input port; a first liquid crystal phase shifter and a second liquid crystal phase shifter, electrically connected to the two output ends of the first power divider, respectively, the first liquid crystal phase shifter and the second liquid crystal phase shifter being configured to adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal respectively received; A 90° coupler having two input ends and two output ends, wherein the two input ends of the 90° coupler are respectively connected to the output ends of the first liquid crystal phase shifter and the second liquid crystal phase shifter, and at least one of the two output ends of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to a corresponding feeding circuit. The 90° coupler is configured to The phase difference of the radio frequency signal on the phase shifter is used to control the amplitude of the radio frequency signal output from the two output ends of the 90° coupler.

3. The feed network according to claim 2, wherein: The first feeding circuit is a microstrip line; A liquid crystal switch is connected between the second feeding circuit and the feeding input port, an output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to the input end of the second feeding circuit, and the other output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to a matching load; A third feeding circuit, wherein a liquid crystal switch is connected between the third feeding circuit and the feeding input port, an output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to the input end of the third feeding circuit, and another output end of the 90° coupler is electrically connected to a matching load.

4. The feed network according to claim 3, wherein: The second feeding circuit includes a third liquid crystal phase shifter connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port, and the third feeding circuit includes a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port.

5. The feed network according to claim 3, wherein: The second feeding circuit includes a first binary tree structure connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port, a third liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on a main path of the first binary tree structure, and a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the first binary tree structure; The third feeding circuit includes a second binary tree structure connected between an output end of the corresponding 90° coupler and the feeding output port, a fifth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure, and a sixth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the second binary tree structure.

6. The feed network according to claim 2, wherein: The input end of the first feeding circuit is electrically connected to one output end of the 90° coupler, and the input end of the second feeding circuit and the input end of the third feeding circuit are both electrically connected to the other output end of the 90° coupler.

7. The feed network according to claim 6, wherein: The second feeding circuit includes a third liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port, and the third feeding circuit includes a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port.

8. The feed network according to claim 6, wherein: The second feeding circuit includes a first binary tree structure connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port, a third liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on a main path of the first binary tree structure, and a fourth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the first binary tree structure; The third feeding circuit includes a second binary tree structure connected between the other output end of the 90° coupler and the corresponding feeding output port, a fifth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on the main path of the second binary tree structure, and a sixth liquid crystal phase shifter is provided on at least some branches of the second binary tree structure.

9. The feeding network according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein: The second feeding circuit and the third feeding circuit are symmetrically arranged with respect to the first feeding circuit.

10. The feeding network according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein: Each of the liquid crystal phase shifters comprises: A first base substrate and a second base substrate arranged opposite to each other; a liquid crystal layer, located between the first substrate and the second substrate; A second power divider and a combiner are located on a side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, the input end of the second power divider is connected to the corresponding output end, and the two output ends of the second power divider correspond to the two input ends of the combiner; a liquid crystal phase shift structure, located on a side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal phase shift structure comprising a first transmission line and a second transmission line arranged in parallel, the first transmission line being electrically connected between an output terminal of the second power divider and an input terminal of the combiner, and the second transmission line being electrically connected between the other output terminal of the second power divider and the other input terminal of the combiner, the liquid crystal phase shift structure being configured to change the phase of a corresponding radio frequency signal under voltage control; The first inverting structure and the second inverting structure are located on a side of the first substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, the first inverting structure is connected between the first transmission line and one output end of the second power divider, and the second inverting structure is connected between the second transmission line and the other output end of the combiner. Between the first and second inverting structures, the first inverting structure and the second inverting structure are configured to invert and output the received radio frequency signal; A reference electrode is located on a side of the second base substrate close to the liquid crystal layer, and the reference electrode includes a plurality of strip sub-electrodes arranged in sequence along the extension direction of the first transmission line, each of the strip sub-electrodes at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the first transmission line on the first base substrate, and each of the strip sub-electrodes at least partially overlaps with the orthographic projection of the second transmission line on the first base substrate.

11. The feed network according to claim 10, wherein: The first transmission line includes a first main body structure and a plurality of first branches connected to the side of the first main body structure facing the second transmission line and spaced apart. The second transmission line includes a second main body structure and a plurality of second branches connected to the side of the second main body structure facing the first transmission line and spaced apart. The first branches and the second branches correspond one to one, and the orthographic projection of each of the strip-shaped sub-electrodes on the first substrate covers the orthographic projections of a pair of the first branches and the second branches on the first substrate.

12. The feed network according to claim 11, wherein: The first branch and the second branch covered by each of the strip-shaped sub-electrodes have the same area.

13. The feed network according to claim 12, wherein: In the arrangement direction of the plurality of strip-shaped sub-electrodes, the reference electrode is divided into a middle region and two edge regions located at both ends of the middle region; The first branches corresponding to the middle region have the same area, and the area of ​​the first branch corresponding to the middle region is larger than the area of ​​the first branch corresponding to the edge region; the second branches corresponding to the middle region have the same area, and the area of ​​the second branch corresponding to the middle region is larger than the area of ​​the second branch corresponding to the edge region; In a direction from the edge region to the middle region, an area of ​​each of the first branches in the edge region gradually increases, and an area of ​​each of the second branches in the edge region gradually increases.

14. The feed network according to claim 13, wherein: In the direction from the edge area to the middle area, at least one of the length and width of each first branch located in the edge area gradually increases, and at least one of the length and width of each second branch located in the edge area gradually increases.

15. The feeding network according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein: The first inverting structure and the second inverting structure are microstrip lines with a meandering structure.

16. The feed network according to claim 15, wherein: In the extending direction of the microstrip line, the crest of the microstrip line of the meandering structure gradually decreases.

17. The feeding network according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein: It also includes a printed circuit board, and each of the liquid crystal phase shifters is fixed on the printed circuit board through an adhesive layer; wherein, The feed input port and the feed output port are arranged on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board also includes a first type of connecting wire, a part of the first type of connecting wire is connected to the input end of the liquid crystal switch, and another part of the first type of connecting wire is connected to the input end and / or output end of the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter.

18. The feed network according to claim 17, wherein: The printed circuit board further includes a second type of connecting wire, which directly connects the feed input port and the feed output port, and the second type of connecting wire and the first type of connecting wire are arranged on the same layer.

19. The feed network according to claim 17, wherein: The printed circuit board includes: a substrate layer, a first conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer close to the liquid crystal phase shifter structure, and a second conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer away from the liquid crystal phase shifter; The first conductive layer is grounded, and the feed input port, the feed output port, the first type of connection line, and the second type of connection line are located on the second conductive layer; At each connection position between the first-type connecting line and the input end of the liquid crystal switch and the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer has a first pad electrically connected to the corresponding first-type connecting line, the base material layer has a first coupling hole, the first conductive layer has a second coupling hole, the second coupling hole has a second pad, and the side of the first base substrate facing the liquid crystal layer has a third pad electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter, the orthographic projections of the first pad, the second pad, and the third pad on the base material layer overlap with each other, and the first pad and the second pad are electrically connected via a connecting portion located in the first coupling hole.

20. The feed network of claim 17, wherein: The printed circuit board includes: a substrate layer, a first conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer close to the liquid crystal phase shifter structure, and a second conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer away from the liquid crystal phase shifter; The first conductive layer is grounded, and the feed input port, the feed output port, the first type of connection line, and the second type of connection line are located on the second conductive layer; The area of ​​the second substrate is smaller than that of the first substrate; At each connection position between the first-type connection line and the input end of the liquid crystal switch and corresponding to the liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer has a first pad electrically connected to the corresponding first-type connection line, the first pad has a first through-hole, the base material layer has a second through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole, the first conductive layer, the adhesive layer, and the first base substrate have a third through-hole penetrating the first conductive layer, the adhesive layer, and the first base substrate and corresponding to the second through-hole, the first base substrate has a third pad electrically connected to the liquid crystal phase shifter on a side facing the liquid crystal layer, the third pad has a fourth through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole; It also includes a metal core welded in the first through hole, the second through hole, the third through hole and the fourth through hole, the inner diameters of the first through hole, the second through hole and the fourth through hole are the same as the inner diameter of the metal core, and the inner diameter of the third through hole is larger than the inner diameter of the metal core.

21. The feed network of claim 17, wherein: The printed circuit board includes: a substrate layer, a first conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer away from the liquid crystal phase shift structure, and a second conductive layer located on a side of the substrate layer close to the liquid crystal phase shift structure; The first conductive layer is grounded, and the feed input port, the feed output port, the first type of connection line, and the second type of connection line are located on the second conductive layer; The areas of the second base substrate, the first base substrate and the base layer gradually increase, and the second base substrate, the first base substrate and the base layer form a step shape in the thickness direction of the base layer; At the connection positions between the first type of connection line and the input end of the liquid crystal switch and the corresponding liquid crystal phase shifter, the second conductive layer has a first pad electrically connected to the corresponding first type of connection line, and the side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer has a pad electrically connected to the liquid crystal shifter. The first pad and the third pad are located at the edge of the first substrate, and the first pad and the third pad are welded by welding metal covering the side of the first substrate.

22. The feed network of claim 21, wherein: The second conductive layer further includes a grounding metal that is spaced apart and insulated from the first-type connecting wires and the second-type connecting wires. The grounding metal is electrically connected to the first conductive layer through a via hole penetrating the substrate layer.

23. An antenna, wherein: include: A plurality of antenna elements arranged in sequence, and a feeding network according to any one of claims 1 to 22; One feeding output port of the feeding network corresponds to one antenna element.

24. The antenna according to claim 23, wherein The multiple antenna elements correspond to two feeding networks.

25. A base station, wherein: Comprising the antenna as claimed in claim 23 or 24.

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