1-bit electric control two-dimensional beam scanning antenna

Abstract

The invention discloses a 1-bit electric control two-dimensional beam scanning antenna, which relates to the technical field of antennae, and is characterized in that a stacked power division network, a coupled cavity and a 1-bit transmission surface are constructed, a horn space irradiation mode required by a traditional reflective array / transmission array is abandoned, the coupled cavity is used as a middle wave guide layer, efficient conduction and distribution of electromagnetic energy are realized, and the 1-bit electric control two-dimensional beam scanning antenna has a wide application prospect. The overall profile of the antenna is obviously reduced; meanwhile, the electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic wave coupled from the coupling cavity is radiated to the phase delay line, and after the phase delay line carries out phase switching and phase delay on the electromagnetic wave, the electromagnetic energy is radiated to a free space through the radiation patch to form a wave beam. In the process, the two receiving patches in each 1-bit transmission unit directly couple electromagnetic wave energy from the coupling cavity, and through the programmable phase delay line, the phase delay line carries out phase switching and phase delay on electromagnetic waves and then radiates the electromagnetic waves, so that high gain can be kept in a wide-angle scanning range, and the high-gain performance of the antenna is improved. Therefore, low-profile and high-gain beam scanning is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of antenna technology, and in particular to a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of wireless communication, radar detection, satellite communication and other systems, higher requirements have been placed on antennas with beam scanning capabilities, especially in terms of scanning speed, pointing accuracy, system integration, cost and power consumption. At present, the mainstream technologies for achieving beam scanning include mechanically scanned antennas, phased array antennas and reflective / transmittance array antennas.

[0003] Mechanically rotating reflector antennas achieve beam scanning by mechanically rotating the radiating aperture, but the beam scanning speed is slow and the beam pointing angle accuracy is limited by the mechanical control precision. Phased array antennas achieve beam scanning by controlling the phase of the radiating elements in the array antenna, but because phased array antennas integrate a large number of T / R (Transmit / Receive) components, the cost of phased array antennas is high, and they require complex feeding networks, resulting in large antenna profiles, large size and weight, and high power consumption.

[0004] Based on the problems existing in mechanically rotating reflector antennas or array antennas, reflective array antennas and transmission array antennas can avoid such problems. Reflective array antennas and transmission array antennas can achieve beam scanning by designing phase reconfigurable elements. However, reflective array antennas and transmission array antennas need to be fed by using a horn for spatial illumination. This results in reflective array antennas and transmission array antennas having a high profile and low gain, making it difficult to achieve low profile and high gain beam scanning. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna, which can solve the problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] This invention provides a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna, including a power divider network, a coupling cavity, a 1-bit transmission surface, and a beam control module; The power divider network is a two-dimensional planar power divider network composed of cascaded power divider structures, and includes multiple output terminals for receiving electromagnetic waves and distributing the electromagnetic waves into multiple outputs from the multiple output terminals. The plurality of coupling cavities are disposed on the top surface of the power divider network. Each output terminal of the power divider network is connected to the two input terminals of a coupling cavity, and each output terminal of the power divider network is uniformly fed through the two input terminals of a coupling cavity. The 1-bit transmission surface includes multiple arrayed dual 1-bit transmission units located on the surfaces of multiple coupling cavities. Each 1-bit transmission unit includes two receiving patches, a phase delay line, a radiating patch, and a bias circuit. One output terminal of the coupling cavity couples electromagnetic wave energy to the two receiving patches in one 1-bit transmission unit, and the other output terminal of the coupling cavity couples electromagnetic wave energy to the two receiving patches in another 1-bit transmission unit, so that the electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic wave coupled from the two output terminals of the coupling cavity is radiated to the phase delay line. The bias state of the bias circuit is controlled by the beam control module to switch the phase state of the phase delay line, so that after the phase delay line performs phase switching and phase delay on the electromagnetic wave, it radiates into free space through the radiating patch to form a beam.

[0007] Preferably, the power divider network is any number of cascaded 1-power dividers or 2-power dividers; The power divider structure of the power divider network includes substrate integrated coaxial line, rectangular waveguide, ridge waveguide, circular waveguide, parallel plate waveguide, gap waveguide, substrate integrated waveguide, dielectric waveguide, microstrip transmission line, stripline, coplanar waveguide and slot line structure; The power divider network is fed in the form of parallel feeding, series feeding, reflector feeding, lens feeding, or multi-channel independent signal feeding structure.

[0008] Preferably, each output of the power divider network can also be configured with two or more coupling cavities; The coupling cavity structure types include rectangular waveguides, ridge waveguides, circular waveguides, parallel plate waveguides, gap waveguides, substrate integrated waveguides, dielectric waveguides, microstrip transmission lines, striplines, coplanar waveguides, and slotted line structures.

[0009] Preferably, the 1-bit transmission surface further includes a single 1-bit transmission unit structure with multiple arrays arranged on the surfaces of multiple coupled cavities, and a quad 1-bit transmission unit structure with multiple arrays arranged on the surfaces of multiple coupled cavities. In a single 1-bit transmission unit structure, the two output terminals of the coupling cavity simultaneously couple electromagnetic wave energy to the two receiving patches in the 1-bit transmission unit. In the four 1-bit transmission unit structure, one output terminal of the coupling cavity simultaneously couples electromagnetic wave energy to two receiving patches in two of the two 1-bit transmission units, and the other output terminal of the coupling cavity simultaneously couples electromagnetic wave energy to two receiving patches in the other two 1-bit transmission units.

[0010] Preferably, the receiving patch in the 1-bit transmission unit is a trapezoidal patch for coupling out the electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic wave; and the receiving patch can also be a rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular patch with etched gaps, or a rectangular patch with loaded parasitic structures. The phase delay line in the 1-bit transmission unit adopts a substrate integrated coaxial line for phase switching and phase delay of electromagnetic waves; and the phase delay line can also be a printed ridge gap waveguide, a substrate integrated waveguide, a dielectric waveguide, a microstrip transmission line, a stripline, a coplanar waveguide, or a slot line. The radiating patch in the 1-bit transmission unit is an etched slotted patch used to radiate electromagnetic power into free space to form a beam; and the radiating patch can also be a rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular or a rectangular patch with a parasitic structure loaded.

[0011] Preferably, the bias circuit in the 1-bit transmission unit includes active electronic components, metal patches, and metal vias; The active electronic component is fixed on a metal patch, which is connected to the beam control module via a DC bias line to provide bias voltage to the active electronic component.

[0012] Preferably, the 1-bit transmission unit adopts a receive-phase delay-radiation structure or a coupling-phase delay-radiation structure; In the first form of the receiver-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the upper surface of the intersection of the two receiver patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through the first metal via and the bias voltage is introduced from the two receiver patches through the second metal via and the third metal via. In the second form of the receiver-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the upper surface of the intersection of the two receiver patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through the first metal via and the bias voltage is introduced from one of the receiver patches through the second metal via. In the first form of the coupling-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the lower surface of the intersection of the two receiving patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through the first metal via and the bias voltage is introduced from the two receiving patches through the second metal via and the third metal via. In the second form of the coupling-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the lower surface of the intersection of the two receiving patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through a first metal via, and a bias voltage is introduced from one of the receiving patches through a second metal via.

[0013] Preferably, the active electronic component is a PIN diode, a varactor diode, or a MEMS switch.

[0014] Preferably, the beam control module controls the bias state of the bias circuit in the 1-bit transmission unit through programming to switch the phase state of the phase delay line, so that the phase delay line can perform phase switching and phase delay on the electromagnetic wave.

[0015] This invention provides a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna, which has the following advantages compared with the prior art: This invention constructs a stacked power divider network, coupling cavity, and 1-bit transmission surface. This stacked architecture eliminates the need for the horn space illumination method required by traditional reflective / transmittive arrays. The coupling cavity acts as an intermediate waveguide layer, achieving efficient conduction and distribution of electromagnetic energy, resulting in a significant reduction in the overall antenna profile. Simultaneously, the multiple outputs of the power divider network distribute the electromagnetic wave into multiple outputs. Each output is uniformly fed to the two inputs of the coupling cavity. The two outputs of the coupling cavity couple electromagnetic wave energy to the two receiving patches in the corresponding 1-bit transmission unit, thereby coupling the energy out of the coupling cavity. The electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic wave is radiated to the phase delay line, and the bias state of the control bias circuit is used to switch the phase state of the phase delay line. This allows the phase delay line to switch and delay the phase of the electromagnetic wave before radiating it into free space through the radiating patch to form a beam. In this process, the two receiving patches in each 1-bit transmission unit directly couple the electromagnetic wave energy from the coupling cavity. Through the programmable phase delay line, the phase delay line can switch and delay the phase of the electromagnetic wave before radiating it. This can maintain high gain in a wide-angle scanning range, thus achieving low-profile, high-gain beam scanning. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A side view schematic diagram of the principle architecture of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 A top view schematic diagram of the principle architecture of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3A schematic diagram of a uniformly arranged 1-bit transmission surface feeding a 1-bit transmission element through a single coupling cavity of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna, provided for an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a non-uniformly arranged 1-bit transmission surface that feeds four 1-bit transmission elements through a single coupling cavity of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a 1-bit transmission unit structure of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This invention provides a schematic diagram of a 1-bit transmission unit selection receiving patch structure and typical shapes that the receiving patch can select, for an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating the phase delay line selection structure and selectable types of phase delay lines for a 1-bit electronically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 This invention provides a schematic diagram of a 1-bit transmission element selection radiating patch structure and typical shapes that can be selected for the radiating patch in a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna. Figure 9 A schematic diagram of a 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 A schematic diagram of another configuration of the 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 Schematic diagrams of two other configurations of a 1-bit electronically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna's 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 Schematic diagrams of three other configurations of a 1-bit electronically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna's 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the power divider network and coupling cavity of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 14 A schematic diagram of a power divider network in parallel feeding configuration for a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15A schematic diagram of a power divider network in the series feeding form of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 16 A schematic diagram of a power divider network for the reflector feeding form of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 17 A schematic diagram of a lens-fed power divider network for a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 18 A schematic diagram of a power divider network for a multi-channel independent signal feeding configuration of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the beam scanning result of a 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] The components are: 1. Power divider network, 2. Coupled cavity, 3. 1-bit transmission surface, and 4. Beam control module. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0019] Currently, phased array antennas achieve beam scanning by controlling the phase of the radiating elements within the array. However, due to the integration of numerous T / R (Transmit / Receive) components, phased array antennas are expensive, require complex feeding networks, have large antenna profiles, and are bulky, heavy, and consume significant power. Reflective and transmission array antennas can achieve beam scanning by designing phase-reconfigurable elements; however, they require horn-based spatial illumination for feeding, resulting in relatively large antenna profiles. Furthermore, transmission and reflective arrays suffer from edge spillover loss, leading to higher losses.

[0020] To address the problems existing in the aforementioned antennas, this invention presents a 1-bit electrically controlled beam scanning antenna. A power divider network transmits electromagnetic power to a coupling cavity, and a 1-bit transmission surface receives electromagnetic power from the coupling cavity, performs 1-bit phase switching and phase delay, and then radiates it into free space to form a beam. Each 1-bit transmission unit in the 1-bit transmission surface is loaded with an electronic switching element, whose bias state is controlled by a bias voltage signal provided by a beam control module, thereby realizing electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning of the antenna. Simultaneously, electrically controlled beam scanning is achieved by loading tunable electronic components (such as PIN diodes, varactor diodes, MEMS switches, etc.) or tunable materials (ferroelectric material barium strontium titanate, optoelectronic material graphene, thermochromic materials vanadium dioxide and water, liquid crystal, etc.). This design offers advantages such as simple structure, low cost, fast beam response speed, and large beam scanning range.

[0021] like Figure 1 The diagram shows a side view of the principle architecture of the present invention, including a power divider network 1, a coupling cavity 2, a 1-bit transmission surface 3, and a beam control module 4. The power divider network 1 distributes one electromagnetic power into multiple electromagnetic power streams 5, which then enter the coupling cavity 2 at the end of the power divider network. The coupling cavity is located above the power divider network. The 1-bit transmission surface 3 is located above the coupling cavity 2 and can radiate the electromagnetic waves 5 in the coupling cavity 2 into free space through 1-bit phase switching and phase delay to form a beam. The 1-bit transmission surface 3 is connected to the beam control module 4. Each 1-bit transmission unit in the 1-bit transmission surface 3 includes a receiving patch, a phase delay line, a radiating patch, and a bias circuit. The bias state of the bias circuit is controlled by the beam control module 4. The bias state of the bias circuit can change the working state of the radiating unit, thereby realizing the electronically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning characteristics of the antenna.

[0022] like Figure 2 This is a top view of the principle architecture of the present invention. The power divider network 1 can be formed by cascading any number of 1-to-2 power divider structures to form a two-dimensional planar power divider network. The coupling cavity 2 can simultaneously feed electromagnetic waves 5 into one or more 1-bit transmission units.

[0023] The power divider network 1 can be selected from various waveguide structures, such as substrate integrated coaxial line, rectangular waveguide, ridge waveguide, circular waveguide, parallel plate waveguide, gap waveguide, substrate integrated waveguide, dielectric waveguide, microstrip transmission line, stripline, coplanar waveguide, slot line, etc., to improve the distribution performance of electromagnetic waves.

[0024] The coupling cavity 2 can be selected from various waveguide structures, such as rectangular waveguides, substrate-integrated coaxial lines, ridge waveguides, circular waveguides, parallel plate waveguides, gap waveguides, substrate-integrated waveguides, dielectric waveguides, microstrip transmission lines, striplines, coplanar waveguides, and slot lines, to improve the coupling performance of the coupling cavity 2 for electromagnetic waves.

[0025] The 9-bit transmission surface 3 is located above the coupling cavity 2 and can be fabricated using various processes such as PCB (Printed Circuit Board), LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic), and wafer fabrication. This invention employs a single coupling cavity to uniformly feed two units, with a 1-bit transmission surface arranged as follows: Figure 2 As shown; additionally, the present invention can also employ a single coupling cavity to feed a single unit in a uniform arrangement of 1-bit transmission surfaces, such as... Figure 3 As shown, a non-uniform arrangement of four units fed by a single coupling cavity can also be used for a 1-bit transmission surface, such as... Figure 4 As shown, these two arrangement forms can maintain high gain stability under different conditions; one or more coupling cavities 2 can be placed above each output terminal of the power divider network 1, and these coupling cavities can be uniformly or non-uniformly arranged; one or more 1-bit transmission units can be set above the coupling cavities 2, and these 1-bit transmission units can be uniformly ( Figure 2 , Figure 3 ) Arrangement or non-uniformity ( Figure 4 Arrangement.

[0026] like Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a 1-bit transmission unit structure. Each 1-bit transmission unit in the 1-bit transmission surface 3 consists of a receiving patch, a phase delay line, a radiation patch, and a bias circuit. The 1-bit transmission unit is used to couple electromagnetic energy from the coupling cavity 2 and radiate it into free space after 1-bit phase switching and phase delay. The bias circuit is used to control the working state of the radiation unit.

[0027] like Figure 6 This is a side view of the 1-bit transmission unit of the present invention, and a typical shape that can be selected for the receiving patch of the 1-bit transmission unit. In the present invention, the receiving patch of the 1-bit transmission unit is a microstrip patch, and adopts... Figure 6 The trapezoidal patch in the microstrip; in addition, typical shapes that can be selected for the microstrip patch include rectangle, circle, ellipse, triangle, rectangle with etched gaps, rectangle with loaded parasitic structures, etc. The receiving patch can receive electromagnetic power in the coupling cavity and complete 1-bit phase switching.

[0028] Figure 7This is a side view of the 1-bit transmission unit of the present invention, and shows the types of phase delay lines that can be selected in the 1-bit transmission unit. In the present invention, the phase delay line of the 1-bit transmission unit adopts... Figure 7 The substrate-integrated coaxial line is used in the process; in addition, the types of phase delay lines that can be selected include printed ridge gap waveguides, substrate-integrated waveguides, dielectric waveguides, microstrip transmission lines, striplines, coplanar waveguides, and slot lines, etc.; loading phase delay lines can suppress the symmetrical beams generated by the periodicity of phase quantization in a 1-bit array and further reduce the sidelobe level; this invention optimizes the added phase delay value by introducing optimization algorithms, including but not limited to particle swarm optimization, genetic algorithm, progressive hardening algorithm, parasitic weed algorithm, and convex optimization algorithm, etc.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a side view of the 1-bit transmission unit of the present invention, and a typical shape that can be selected for the radiating patch of the 1-bit transmission unit. In the present invention, the radiating patch of the 1-bit transmission unit adopts... Figure 8 The etched gap patch in the middle; in addition, the radiating patch of the 1-bit transmission unit can be a microstrip patch structure, and the typical shapes of the microstrip patch include rectangle, circle, ellipse, triangle, rectangle with parasitic structure loaded, etc. The radiating patch radiates electromagnetic power into free space to form a beam.

[0030] The bias circuit of the 1-bit transmission unit is used to tune the working state of the unit on the 1-bit transmission surface 3. The bias circuit is composed of active electronic components, metal patches, metal vias, etc. The types of active electronic components include PIN diodes, varactor diodes, MEMS switches, etc. The active electronic components are fixed on the metal patches. The DC bias line connects the metal patches and the beam control module 4 to provide bias voltage to the active electronic components. The number of active electronic components in the bias circuit of each 1-bit transmission unit can be one or more, and the component types can be the same or different.

[0031] like Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the composition of the 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure in the 1-bit transmission surface 3 of the present invention. The 1-bit transmission unit adopts a receiver-phase delay-radiation architecture. The bias circuit uses two active electronic components. The bias circuit is located above the receiver patch. The metal patch 1 is connected to the metal layer through a metal via. Bias voltage is introduced onto the metal patch 2 and the metal patch 3.

[0032] like Figure 10 In addition to the 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure in the 1-bit transmission surface 3 of this invention Figure 9The first configuration diagram shows that the 1-bit transmission unit adopts a receive-phase delay-radiation architecture. The bias circuit uses two active electronic components. The bias circuit is located above the receiving patch. The metal patch 1 is connected to the metal layer through the metal via 1, and the bias voltage is introduced onto the metal patch 2.

[0033] like Figure 11 In addition to the 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure in the 1-bit transmission surface 3 of this invention Figure 9 The second configuration diagram shows that the 1-bit transmission unit adopts a coupling-phase delay-radiation architecture. The bias circuit uses two active electronic components. The bias circuit is located below the radiation patch. The metal patch 1 is connected to the metal layer through a metal via. Bias voltage is introduced onto the metal patch 2 and the metal patch 3.

[0034] Figure 12 In addition to the 1-bit transmission unit and bias circuit structure in the 1-bit transmission surface 3 of this invention Figure 9 The third configuration diagram shows that the 1-bit transmission unit adopts a coupling-phase delay-radiation architecture. The bias circuit uses two active electronic components. The bias circuit is located below the radiation patch. The metal patch 1 is connected to the metal layer through the metal via 1, and the bias voltage is introduced onto the metal patch 2.

[0035] Figure 13 These are side and top views of the power splitter network and coupling cavity of the present invention. The power splitter network 1 distributes one electromagnetic power source into multiple power sources fed into the coupling cavity 2. In this invention, the following is employed: Figure 14 The power distribution network 1 can also be configured with parallel power supply, but typical types of power distribution networks include series power supply. Figure 15 ), reflector feeding ( Figure 16 Lens feeding () Figure 17 ) and multiple independent signal feeds ( Figure 18 Various power supply structure types, such as )

[0036] like Figure 19 For the beam scanning results of this invention, the power divider network 1 of the antenna adopts a gap waveguide, and a total of eight T-junctions are cascaded to form a two-dimensional planar power divider network. Each output terminal of the power divider network is uniformly fed by two coupled cavities 2, and then each coupled cavity is fed by two 1-bit transmission units, thereby constructing a two-dimensional antenna; the transmission units are uniformly arranged. Figure 19 The given beam scanning results are normalized radiation patterns, corresponding to a scanning plane with an azimuth angle of 0° and a frequency of 26.5 GHz. Only 13 representative beams are given. In practice, more beam pointing can be generated through the beam control module.

[0037] Compared to mechanically rotating reflector antennas or array antennas, this invention offers advantages such as fast beam response and the elimination of the need for a mechanical servo system. Compared to traditional active phased arrays, this invention avoids the use of T / R components, thereby significantly reducing antenna costs. The waveguide and feed structures of this invention feature low transmission loss, low profile, ease of fabrication, and ease of integration, resulting in antennas with high gain, high efficiency, low profile, and lightweight design. The radiating beam of this invention exhibits wide-angle, high-gain, and electronically controlled two-dimensional scanning characteristics. The radiating elements are densely arranged, ensuring excellent beam continuity. This invention uses a beam control module to provide beam control coded signals to the antenna, controlling the bias state of electronic components, resulting in fast response and high stability. The beam control module is easily integrated with the antenna system.

[0038] The coupling cavity of this invention is located above the power divider network, and electromagnetic waves enter the coupling cavity through the output of the power divider network. A 1-bit transmission surface is located above the coupling cavity, which can receive electromagnetic waves in the coupling cavity and complete 1-bit phase switching and phase delay, and then radiate electromagnetic power into free space to form a beam. Each unit in the 1-bit transmission surface includes a receiving patch, a phase delay line, a radiating patch, and a bias circuit. The beam control module is connected to the 1-bit transmission surface, and the beam control module controls the bias state of the bias circuit. The 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna of this invention can realize high-gain electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning, and has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, low profile, low power consumption, easy processing, lightweight, and easy integration, and can be applied to wireless communication systems.

[0039] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna, characterized in that, include: The power divider network (1), the coupling cavity (2), the 1-bit transmission surface (3), and the beam control module (4) are all included. The power divider network (1) is a two-dimensional planar power divider network composed of cascaded power divider structures, and includes multiple output terminals for receiving electromagnetic waves and distributing the electromagnetic waves into multiple outputs for output from multiple output terminals. The plurality of coupling cavities (2) are disposed on the top surface of the power dividing network (1). Each output terminal of the power dividing network (1) is connected to the two input terminals of a coupling cavity (2), and each output terminal of the power dividing network (1) is uniformly fed through the two input terminals of a coupling cavity (2). The 1-bit transmission surface (3) includes multiple arrays of dual 1-bit transmission units arranged on the surfaces of multiple coupling cavities (2). Each 1-bit transmission unit includes two receiving patches, a phase delay line, a radiation patch, and a bias circuit. One output of the coupling cavity (2) couples electromagnetic wave energy to the two receiving patches in one 1-bit transmission unit, and the other output of the coupling cavity (2) couples electromagnetic wave energy to the two receiving patches in another 1-bit transmission unit, so that the electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic wave is coupled out from the two outputs of the coupling cavity (2) and radiated to the phase delay line. The bias state of the bias circuit is controlled by the beam control module (4) to switch the phase state of the phase delay line, so that after the phase delay line performs phase switching and phase delay on the electromagnetic wave, it radiates into free space through the radiation patch to form a beam.

2. The 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The power splitting network (1) is any number of cascaded 1-power splitting or 2-power splitting structures; The power divider structure of the power divider network (1) includes substrate integrated coaxial line, rectangular waveguide, ridge waveguide, circular waveguide, parallel plate waveguide, gap waveguide, substrate integrated waveguide, dielectric waveguide, microstrip transmission line, stripline, coplanar waveguide and slot line structure; The power distribution network (1) is fed in the form of parallel feeding, series feeding, reflective surface feeding, lens feeding or multi-channel independent signal feeding structure.

3. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each output of the power dividing network (1) can also be configured with two or more coupling cavities (2). The coupling cavity (2) structure types include rectangular waveguides, ridge waveguides, circular waveguides, parallel plate waveguides, gap waveguides, substrate integrated waveguides, dielectric waveguides, microstrip transmission lines, striplines, coplanar waveguides, and slotted line structures.

4. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that, The 1-bit transmission surface (3) further includes a single 1-bit transmission unit structure arranged in multiple arrays and located on the surfaces of multiple coupling cavities (2), and a quad 1-bit transmission unit structure arranged in multiple arrays and located on the surfaces of multiple coupling cavities (2). In a single 1-bit transmission unit structure, the two output terminals of the coupling cavity (2) simultaneously couple electromagnetic wave energy to the two receiving patches in the 1-bit transmission unit. In the four 1-bit transmission unit structure, one output terminal of the coupling cavity (2) simultaneously couples electromagnetic wave energy to two receiving patches in two of the 1-bit transmission units, and the other output terminal of the coupling cavity (2) simultaneously couples electromagnetic wave energy to two receiving patches in the other two 1-bit transmission units.

5. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving patch in the 1-bit transmission unit is a trapezoidal patch used to couple out the electromagnetic energy of the electromagnetic wave; and the receiving patch can also be a rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular, rectangular patch with etched gaps, or a rectangular patch with loaded parasitic structures. The phase delay line in the 1-bit transmission unit adopts a substrate integrated coaxial line for phase switching and phase delay of electromagnetic waves; and the phase delay line can also be a printed ridge gap waveguide, a substrate integrated waveguide, a dielectric waveguide, a microstrip transmission line, a stripline, a coplanar waveguide, or a slot line. The radiating patch in the 1-bit transmission unit is an etched slotted patch used to radiate electromagnetic power into free space to form a beam; and the radiating patch can also be a rectangular, circular, elliptical, triangular or a rectangular patch with a parasitic structure loaded.

6. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bias circuit in the 1-bit transmission unit includes active electronic components, metal patches, and metal vias. The active electronic component is fixed on a metal patch, which is connected to the beam control module (4) via a DC bias line to provide bias voltage to the active electronic component.

7. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 6, characterized in that, The 1-bit transmission unit adopts a receive-phase delay-radiation structure or a coupled-phase delay-radiation structure; In the first form of the receiver-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the upper surface of the intersection of the two receiver patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through the first metal via and the bias voltage is introduced from the two receiver patches through the second metal via and the third metal via. In the second form of the receiver-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the upper surface of the intersection of the two receiver patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through the first metal via and the bias voltage is introduced from one of the receiver patches through the second metal via. In the first form of the coupling-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the lower surface of the intersection of the two receiving patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through the first metal via and the bias voltage is introduced from the two receiving patches through the second metal via and the third metal via. In the second form of the coupling-phase delay-radiation structure, two active electronic components are used in the bias circuit. The two active electronic components are located on the lower surface of the intersection of the two receiving patches and the metal patch, respectively. The metal patch is connected to the metal layer of the 1-bit transmission unit through a first metal via, and a bias voltage is introduced from one of the receiving patches through a second metal via.

8. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that, The active electronic components are PIN diodes, varactor diodes, or MEMS switches.

9. A 1-bit electrically controlled two-dimensional beam scanning antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The beam control module (4) controls the bias state of the bias circuit in the 1-bit transmission unit through programming to switch the phase state of the phase delay line so that the phase delay line can perform phase switching and phase delay on the electromagnetic wave.

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