Impedance modulation antenna and antenna beam control method and device

Abstract

The invention discloses an impedance modulation antenna and an antenna beam control method and device, relates to the technical field of communication, and is used for realizing the reconfigurability of the impedance modulation antenna. The impedance modulation antenna comprises an antenna array, and each antenna unit in the antenna array comprises a transistor and metal patches arranged on the two sides of the transistor; and the feed source is arranged on the antenna array. Therefore, the impedance of the antenna can be modulated by regulating and controlling the impedance of the transistors in the different antenna units of the antenna array, so that the reconfigurability of the antenna is realized.

Description

Impedance modulation antenna, antenna beam control method and device Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an impedance modulation antenna, an antenna beam control method and a device. Background Art

[0002] Metasurface antennas, capable of flexibly controlling electromagnetic waves, have seen significant development and widespread application in modern mobile communications, satellite communications, and other fields. Compared to traditional phased array antennas, metasurface antennas offer numerous advantages, including low profile, light weight, low cost, and ease of integration with electronic devices. Impedance-modulated antennas, a key type of metasurface antenna, not only share these advantages but also offer a simpler structure and fabrication.

[0003] Impedance-modulated antennas operate by controlling surface impedance at different locations, converting surface waves into controllable leaky waves and achieving a steerable antenna beam. However, once designed, impedance-modulated antennas are fixed and cannot switch their beams in different scenarios, resulting in a single function. With the advancement of modern mobile communication technology, antennas must become more intelligent to enable various beam switching options. When antenna beam switching is required, impedance-modulated antennas are often unable to cope. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a reconfigurable impedance-modulated antenna.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] The embodiments of the present application provide an impedance modulation antenna, an antenna beam control method, and an apparatus for realizing the reconfiguration of the impedance modulation antenna.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solutions:

[0007] In a first aspect, an impedance modulated antenna is provided, comprising: an antenna array, wherein each antenna unit in the antenna array comprises a transistor and metal patches arranged on both sides of the transistor, the impedance of the transistor can be continuously modulated, for example, the transistor can be a thin film transistor TFT; and a feed source, which is arranged on the antenna array.

[0008] In the above technical solution, by regulating the impedance of the transistors in different antenna units of the antenna array, the impedance of the antenna can be modulated, thereby achieving the reconfiguration of the antenna; in addition, the impedance of the transistors in each antenna unit can be continuously modulated, so that the impedance-modulated antenna has a stronger control capability, thereby improving the applicability of the impedance-modulated antenna.

[0009] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the impedance modulated antenna further includes a control circuit, wherein an output of the control circuit is coupled to the gate of a transistor in each antenna element in the antenna array, and the source and drain of the transistor in each antenna element are respectively coupled to metal patches on either side thereof. Optionally, the control circuit is configured to control the impedance of each antenna element in the antenna array. In this possible implementation, the control circuit can control the impedance of the transistors in the antenna elements of the antenna array, thereby modulating the impedance of the antenna and thereby achieving reconfiguration of the antenna.

[0010] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the antenna array and the control circuit are provided in the same wafer. In the above possible implementation, the transistors, metal patches, and the control circuit are integrated on the same wafer, which can be implemented using a liquid crystal display (LCD) compatible process.

[0011] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the impedance modulated antenna further includes: a plurality of shift registers corresponding one-to-one to a plurality of rows in the antenna array; wherein the first input of each of the plurality of shift registers is coupled to the output of the control circuit, the output of each shift register is coupled to the gate of the transistor of the plurality of antenna elements in the same row, and the second input of each shift register is used to receive a synchronization signal. Optionally, the control circuit is further used to output clock signals to the plurality of shift registers respectively; each shift register is used to adjust the impedance of the plurality of antenna elements in the same row to which the shift register is coupled based on the received clock signal and synchronization signal. In the above possible implementation, the control circuit can modulate the impedance of the antenna elements corresponding to the plurality of rows in the antenna array row by row through the plurality of shift registers. In this way, the impedance modulation of different antenna elements can be achieved through a single control circuit, thereby reducing the complexity of the impedance modulated antenna and also reducing the size of the impedance modulated antenna.

[0012] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the multiple shift registers are located on the same layer as the antenna array; or, the multiple shift registers are located on a side of the antenna array away from the feed source. The above possible implementation can improve the flexibility and diversity of the impedance modulated antenna design.

[0013] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the transistor includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the metal patch includes a first metal patch and a second metal patch disposed on either side of the first transistor, and a third metal patch and a fourth metal patch disposed on either side of the second transistor. This possible implementation can increase the flexibility and diversity of antenna unit design in the impedance modulated antenna.

[0014] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the transistor includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor, the metal patch includes a fifth metal patch, a sixth metal patch, and a seventh metal patch, the fifth metal patch and the sixth metal patch are disposed on either side of the third transistor, and the sixth metal patch and the seventh metal patch are disposed on either side of the fourth transistor. This possible implementation can increase the flexibility and diversity of antenna unit design in the impedance modulated antenna while also reducing the size of the impedance modulated antenna.

[0015] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the impedance modulated antenna further comprises a metal floor located on a side of the antenna array away from the feed source. In this possible implementation, by providing the metal floor at the bottom layer of the impedance modulated antenna, the impedance modulated antenna can radiate toward one side of the metal floor, i.e., toward a side of the metal floor closer to the antenna array, rather than toward a side of the metal floor farther from the antenna array, thereby improving the directivity of the impedance modulated antenna.

[0016] In one possible implementation of the first aspect, the impedance modulated antenna further includes a dielectric substrate positioned between the antenna array and the metal floor. In this possible implementation, since the impedance modulated antenna relies on surface waves, and the design freedom of surface waves is related to the thickness and dielectric constant of the dielectric, providing the dielectric substrate in the impedance modulated antenna can increase the design freedom of surface waves, thereby enhancing the capabilities of the impedance modulated antenna.

[0017] In a possible implementation of the first aspect, the feed source is a surface wave generator. Optionally, the surface wave generator is a monopole antenna or a dipole antenna.

[0018] In a second aspect, an antenna unit is provided, which includes a transistor and metal patches arranged on both sides of the transistor.

[0019] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the source and drain of the transistor are respectively coupled to the metal patches on two corresponding sides, and the gate of the transistor is used to receive a clock signal.

[0020] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the transistor includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the metal patch includes a first metal patch and a second metal patch arranged on both sides of the first transistor, and a third metal patch and a fourth metal patch arranged on both sides of the second transistor.

[0021] In a possible implementation of the second aspect, the transistor includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor, the metal patch includes a fifth metal patch, a sixth metal patch, and a seventh metal patch, the fifth metal patch and the sixth metal patch are arranged on both sides of the third transistor, and the sixth metal patch and the seventh metal patch are arranged on both sides of the fourth transistor.

[0022] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the transistor is a thin film transistor.

[0023] According to a third aspect, an antenna array is provided, comprising a plurality of antenna units distributed in an array, wherein the antenna units are the antenna units provided by the second aspect or any possible implementation of the second aspect.

[0024] In a fourth aspect, a method for controlling an antenna beam is provided for controlling the beam of an impedance-modulated antenna as provided in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, the method comprising: determining the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array based on target beam information; determining a control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit based on the impedance value of each antenna unit; and outputting a control voltage to the impedance-modulated antenna, wherein the control voltage is used to modulate the impedance of each antenna unit in the antenna array, so as to achieve modulation of the beam of the impedance-modulated antenna through impedance modulation.

[0025] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array is determined based on the target beam information, including: determining the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array by inversion using a full-wave method based on the target beam information.

[0026] In a possible implementation of the fourth aspect, the control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit is determined based on the impedance value of each antenna unit, including: obtaining the control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit from a preset correspondence relationship based on the impedance value of each antenna unit, and the preset correspondence relationship is used to indicate the control voltages corresponding to different impedance values.

[0027] In a fifth aspect, a communication device is provided, which includes a signal processing circuit and an impedance modulation antenna provided by the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, wherein the signal processing circuit is used to process the transmit and receive signals of the impedance modulation antenna.

[0028] Optionally, the above-mentioned communication device is a network device or a terminal device.

[0029] In a sixth aspect, a device for controlling an antenna beam is provided for controlling an impedance modulated antenna as provided in the first aspect or any possible implementation of the first aspect, the device including a processor for controlling the device to perform a method (or operation, step or action) as provided in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0030] Optionally, the device further includes a memory storing instructions, and when the processor executes the instructions, the device executes the method provided in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0031] In the seventh aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores instructions. When the instructions are executed on a device, the device executes the method provided in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0032] In an eighth aspect, a computer program product is provided, which includes instructions. When the instructions are executed on a device, the device executes the method provided in the fourth aspect or any possible implementation of the fourth aspect.

[0033] In the ninth aspect, a chip system is provided, which includes at least one processor for supporting the implementation of the functions involved in the above-mentioned second aspect and any possible implementation method of the second aspect, such as receiving or processing the data involved in the above-mentioned method.

[0034] In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, which is used to store program instructions and data, and the memory is located inside or outside the processor.

[0035] The chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0036] It can be understood that the beneficial effects that can be achieved by any of the antenna units, antenna arrays, antenna beam control methods, communication devices, antenna beam control devices, computer-readable storage media and computer program products provided above can correspond to the beneficial effects of the impedance modulation antenna provided above, and will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a reconfigurable impedance modulation antenna;

[0038] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of another reconfigurable impedance modulation antenna;

[0039] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of an impedance modulation antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0041] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of an antenna unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0042] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of another antenna unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] FIG7 is a schematic structural diagram of another impedance modulation antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] FIG8 is a schematic structural diagram of another antenna unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] FIG9 is a schematic flow chart of a method for controlling an antenna beam according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0046] FIG10 is a schematic structural diagram of an antenna beam control device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0047] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of another antenna beam control device provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments.

[0049] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. In the present application, "at least one" refers to one or more, and "plurality" refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: the existence of A alone, the existence of A and B at the same time, and the existence of B alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can represent: a, b, c, a and b, a and c, b and c or a, b and c, where a, b and c can be single or multiple.

[0050] The embodiments of this application use terms such as "first" and "second" to distinguish objects with similar names, functions, or effects. Those skilled in the art will understand that terms such as "first" and "second" do not limit the quantity or order of execution. The term "coupled" is used to indicate an electrical connection, including direct connection via wires or connectors or indirect connection via other devices. Therefore, "coupling" should be considered a broadly defined electronic communication connection.

[0051] It should be noted that, in this application, words such as "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described in this application as "exemplary" or "for example" should not be construed as being preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of words such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a concrete manner.

[0052] Before introducing the embodiments of the present application, the relevant background technology involved in the present application is first introduced and explained.

[0053] 1. Metasurface Antennas: These antennas enable flexible control of electromagnetic waves and have seen significant development and widespread application in modern mobile communications, satellite communications, and other fields. Compared to traditional phased array antennas, metasurface antennas offer numerous advantages, including low profile, light weight, low cost, and ease of integration with electronic devices. Impedance-modulated antennas, a key type of metasurface antenna, not only share these advantages but also offer a simpler structure and fabrication.

[0054] 2. Impedance-modulated antennas: These are also called impedance-modulated surface antennas or impedance-modulated metasurface antennas. These antennas typically consist of numerous subwavelength patch elements placed on a dielectric substrate with a metal floor, with the feed embedded within the antenna. Consequently, impedance-modulated antennas do not require a complex feed network, offering advantages over traditional phased arrays. Furthermore, compared to other air-fed antenna types, such as reflectarray antennas, impedance-modulated antennas are more compact.

[0055] Impedance-modulated antennas operate by controlling the surface impedance at different locations, converting surface waves into controllable leaky waves and achieving a controllable antenna beam. However, impedance-modulated antennas are fixed after design and cannot switch beams in different scenarios, resulting in a single function. With the development of modern mobile communication technology, antennas also need to be more intelligent to achieve various beam switching. When antenna beam switching is required, impedance-modulated antennas are often powerless and do not exhibit the same beam steering capabilities as phased array antennas, which combine a phased array with a phase shifter to achieve beam steering capabilities.

[0056] 3. Reconfigurable: In the field of antennas, reconfigurability generally refers to switching the antenna's operating state by controlling devices with variable parameters. Reconfigurable antennas are categorized by function, typically including frequency reconfiguration, beam reconfiguration, and polarization reconfiguration. In the embodiments of this application, reconfigurability may refer to beam reconfiguration.

[0057] In existing antenna technology, the most commonly used device for beam steerability is a phase shifter. However, phase shifters have numerous drawbacks, such as heavy weight, high loss, and the need for a complex feed network, making them difficult to apply to metasurface antennas. However, the development of tunable materials and electronic devices has significantly advanced the reconfigurability of impedance-modulated antennas. This is typically achieved by controlling the propagation constant or period of an impedance-modulated antenna using tunable materials or electronic devices. Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a reconfigurable impedance-modulated antenna using liquid crystal control. As shown in Figure 1, the impedance-modulated antenna comprises a metal floor, liquid crystal, a dielectric substrate, and a metal patch, stacked in ascending order. The liquid crystal is used to achieve antenna steerability. The principle behind this is that the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal changes with the voltage applied to it. This dielectric constant is a factor that influences the antenna's propagation constant, enabling antenna steerability. Specifically, when the voltage applied to the liquid crystal via a bias circuit changes, the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal changes accordingly, and the propagation constant of the impedance-modulated antenna also changes, resulting in a beam shift and antenna reconfigurability. The impedance modulated antenna further includes a bias circuit connected to the metal patch and the liquid crystal.

[0058] However, this solution has the following problems: it can only achieve one-dimensional reconfiguration of the beam, but not two-dimensional reconfiguration; the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal has a limited range of variation, which leads to a limited range of beam scanning and cannot achieve large-scale scanning; the liquid crystal has a slow control speed, which will be limited in application.

[0059] It is understood that the far field of an antenna includes two azimuth angles: the horizontal azimuth angle and the elevation azimuth angle. The aforementioned one-dimensional reconfigurability may mean that only one of the horizontal and elevation azimuth angles is reconfigurable. The aforementioned two-dimensional reconfigurability may mean that both the horizontal and elevation azimuth angles are reconfigurable.

[0060] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a reconfigurable impedance-modulated antenna using diodes. As shown in Figure 2, the impedance-modulated antenna includes a metal floor, a dielectric substrate, and metal patches stacked in ascending order. Each metal patch has a gap in the middle, and a diode is disposed in the gap. The impedance-modulated antenna also includes a bias circuit connected to the diode, which is not shown in the figure. The diode is used to control the antenna. Specifically, when the bias voltage of the diode changes, the diode is turned on or off. The switching state of the diode changes the period of the antenna, thereby achieving antenna reconfiguration.

[0061] However, this solution has the following problems: the diode has only two states (on and off), which can only be controlled discretely. This discrete control may result in weak control capabilities and is difficult to meet practical requirements. Each diode requires a bias voltage to control, which increases the difficulty of bias circuit design and hinders the integration of large-scale arrays. Therefore, a reconfigurable impedance modulation antenna is urgently needed.

[0062] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides an impedance modulated antenna, which can be applied to a variety of wireless communication systems. The various wireless communication systems may include but are not limited to: global system for mobile communication (GSM) system, code division multiple access (CDMA) system, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, general packet radio service (GPRS) system, long term evolution (LTE) system, LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, LTE time division duplex (TDD) system, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), world-wide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, fifth generation (5G) system or new radio (NR) system, future sixth generation (6G) system, intersatellite communication and satellite communication and other communication systems.

[0063] The wireless communication system may include a communication device, which may be a network device or a device configured in a network device (such as a chip or a chip system), including various base stations, such as a node B (Node B), an evolved node B (eNodeB or eNB), a next-generation node B (gNB), a next-generation base station in a sixth-generation (6G) mobile communication system, or a base station in a future mobile communication system; it may also be a transmission reception point (TRP), an access network device in an open radio access network (O-RAN or open RAN), or an access node in a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) system. The network device may also be a micro base station or an indoor station, or a relay node.

[0064] The communication device provided in the embodiments of the present application may be a terminal device or configured in a terminal device (such as a chip or chip system). The terminal device may also be referred to as a terminal, including but not limited to user equipment (UE), mobile station, or mobile terminal. The terminal device can be widely used in various scenarios for communication. Such scenarios include, but are not limited to, at least one of the following: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), massive machine-type communications (mMTC), device-to-device (D2D), vehicle-to-everything (V2X), machine-type communication (MTC), Internet of Things (IoT), virtual reality, augmented reality, industrial control, autonomous driving, telemedicine, smart grid, smart furniture, smart office, smart wearable, smart transportation, or smart city. The terminal device may be a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer with wireless transceiver capabilities, wearable device, vehicle, drone, helicopter, airplane, ship, robot, robotic arm, or smart home device.

[0065] The communication device provided in the embodiment of the present application may also be a radar or other equipment. The present application does not limit the specific implementation form of the communication device provided in the present application.

[0066] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of the present application. The communication device may include components such as a radio frequency (RF) circuit 110, a memory 120, an input unit 130, a display unit 140, a sensor 150, an audio circuit 160, a processor 170, and a power supply 180. The following describes the various components of the communication device in detail with reference to Figure 3:

[0067] RF circuitry 110 can be used to send and receive information, or receive or send signals during a call. Specifically, it receives downlink information from the base station and passes it to processor 170 for processing; it also sends uplink data to the base station. Typically, RF circuitry 110 includes, but is not limited to, an antenna, at least one amplifier, a transceiver, a coupler, a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a duplexer, and more. RF circuitry 110 can also communicate with the network and other devices via wireless communication.

[0068] The memory 120 can be used to store data, software programs, and modules. It primarily includes a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area can store an operating system and at least one application required for a function, such as sound playback or image playback. The data storage area can store data generated based on the use of the communication device, such as audio data, image data, and a phone book. Furthermore, the communication device may include high-speed random access memory and non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state memory device.

[0069] The input unit 130 can be used to receive input digital or character information, and to generate key signal input related to the user settings and function control of the communication device. Specifically, the input unit 130 may include a touch screen 131 and other input devices 132. The touch screen 131 can collect user touch operations on or near it (such as operations performed by the user using any suitable object or accessory such as a finger, stylus, etc. on or near the touch screen) and drive the corresponding connection device according to a pre-set program. Optionally, the other input devices 132 may include but are not limited to one or more of a physical keyboard, function keys (such as a volume control button, a power switch button, etc.), a mouse, a joystick, etc.

[0070] The display unit 140 can be used to display information input by the user or information provided to the user, as well as various menus of the communication device. In one example, the display unit 140 may include a display screen 141, which may be configured in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), or the like. Furthermore, the touch screen 131 may cover the display screen 141. When the touch screen 131 detects a touch operation on or near it, the touch screen 131 transmits the information to the processor 170 to determine the type of touch event. The processor 170 then provides a corresponding visual output on the display screen 141 based on the type of touch event. Although the touch screen 131 and the display screen 141 are shown as two separate components to implement the input and output functions of the communication device, in some embodiments, the touch screen 131 and the display screen 141 may be integrated to implement the input and output functions of the communication device.

[0071] Sensor 150 may include one or more sensors for providing various status assessments of the communication device. Specifically, sensor 150 may include a light sensor, which can be used in imaging applications, i.e., as a component of a camera or video camera. Sensor 150 may also include an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor. Sensor 150 can detect acceleration / deceleration, orientation, open / closed status of the communication device, relative positioning of components, or temperature changes of the communication device.

[0072] The audio circuit 160, speaker, and microphone provide an audio interface between the user and the communication device. The audio circuit 160 converts received audio data into electrical signals and transmits them to the speaker, which then converts them into sound signals for output. The microphone, on the other hand, converts collected sound signals into electrical signals, which are then received by the audio circuit 160 and converted into audio data. The audio data is then output to the RF circuit 110 for transmission to, for example, another mobile phone, or to the memory 120 for further processing.

[0073] The processor 170 is the control center of the communication device. It uses various interfaces and lines to connect the various parts of the entire communication device. By running or executing software programs and / or modules stored in the memory 120 and calling data stored in the memory 120, it performs various functions of the communication device and processes data, thereby monitoring the communication device as a whole. Optionally, the processor 170 may include one or more processing units, which may include but are not limited to: a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor (NPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an image signal processor (ISP), a microcontroller or a microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor 170 may also include other hardware circuits or accelerators, such as application-specific integrated circuits, field-programmable gate arrays or other programmable logic devices, transistor logic devices, hardware components, or any combination thereof. Optionally, the processor 170 may also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, etc.

[0074] The communication device may also include a power supply 180 (e.g., a battery) for powering each component. The power supply 180 may be logically connected to the processor 170 through a power management system, thereby implementing functions such as managing charging, discharging, and power consumption management through the power management system. In an embodiment of the present application, the power supply 180 may include multiple batteries, and the power management system may support both fast charging technology and non-fast charging technology, so that the power management system may charge the multiple batteries through fast charging technology, or may charge the multiple batteries through non-fast charging technology.

[0075] Although not shown, the communication device may also include a wireless fidelity (WiFi) module, a Bluetooth module, etc., which will not be described in detail in the embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art will understand that the communication device structure shown in the figure does not constitute a limitation on the communication device, and may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or arrange the components differently.

[0076] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an impedance-modulated antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application. This impedance-modulated antenna can be used in the electronic devices provided above. The impedance-modulated antenna includes: an antenna array 4, each antenna unit in the antenna array including a transistor 41 and metal patches 42 disposed on either side of the transistor 41; and a feed source 5 disposed on the antenna array 4. Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of the transistor 41 in an antenna unit and the metal patches 42 disposed on either side of the transistor 41.

[0077] The antenna array may include multiple antenna units distributed in an array, each antenna unit including a transistor 41 and metal patches 42 disposed on both sides of the transistor 41. The structure of each antenna unit may be as shown in FIG5 . The transistor 41 has a source (source, s), a drain (drain, d), and a gate (gate, g). The metal patches 42 on both sides of the transistor 41 may be coupled to the source and drain of the transistor 41, respectively, that is, one metal patch 42 is coupled to the source of the transistor 41, and the other metal patch 42 is coupled to the drain of the transistor 41.

[0078] Optionally, the transistor 41 may be a transistor with a continuous impedance adjustment function. In a possible example, the transistor 41 may be a thin film transistor (TFT).

[0079] Optionally, the size of the metal patch 42 can range from λ / 5 to λ / 10, where λ is the free space wavelength of the antenna signal corresponding to the impedance modulated antenna. The sizes of different metal patches 42 in the antenna array can be the same or different, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose specific restrictions on this. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the metal patch 42 can be circular, elliptical, or polygonal. For example, the polygon can include a triangle, a rectangle, a hexagon, etc. In addition, the placement direction of the metal patch 42 in different antenna units of the antenna array 4 can be arbitrary, and there is no need to rotate it to a specific angle.

[0080] As shown in FIG6 , each antenna unit in the antenna array 4 may further include a substrate 3, which may be used to provide or deploy a transistor 41. In one possible embodiment, the substrate 3 may further include multiple insulating layers and an active region disposed between the multiple insulating layers. For example, the multiple insulating layers may include a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer. The active region may be disposed between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, and the active region is specifically used to provide the transistor 41. Exemplarily, the insulating layer may be made of glass or resin.

[0081] Continuing with reference to FIG4 , a feed source 5 is provided on the antenna array 4. The feed source 5 can be used to generate surface waves on the antenna aperture. For example, the feed source 5 can be a surface wave generator. The shape of the antenna aperture can be circular, elliptical, or polygonal. For example, the polygon can include a triangle, a rectangle, a hexagon, or the like. Optionally, the feed source 5 can be in the form of a monopole antenna or a dipole antenna. The feed source can be specifically provided at any position on the antenna array 4. In one possible embodiment, the feed source 5 is a surface wave generator, which is provided at the center of the antenna array on a side away from the substrate.

[0082] Optionally, as shown in FIG4 , the impedance modulated antenna further includes a metal floor 1, which can be located on a side of the antenna array 4 away from the feed source 5. The metal floor 1, which can also be referred to as a metal base plate, is located at the bottom layer of the impedance modulated antenna. The metal floor 1 is made of a metal material, such as aluminum. By providing the metal floor 1 at the bottom layer of the impedance modulated antenna, the impedance modulated antenna can radiate toward the side of the metal floor 1, i.e., toward the side of the metal floor 1 closer to the antenna array, rather than toward the side of the metal floor 1 farther from the antenna array, thereby improving the directivity of the impedance modulated antenna.

[0083] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4 , the impedance modulated antenna may also include a dielectric substrate 2 positioned between the antenna array 4 and the metal floor 1. Specifically, the metal floor 1, dielectric substrate 2, and antenna array 4 are stacked. The dielectric substrate 2, also referred to as a dielectric layer or dielectric layer, can be made of materials such as RF board or foam. Because the impedance modulated antenna relies on surface waves, and the design freedom of surface waves is related to the thickness and dielectric constant of the dielectric, the inclusion of the dielectric substrate 2 in the impedance modulated antenna enhances the design freedom of surface waves, thereby improving the capabilities of the impedance modulated antenna.

[0084] In the above-mentioned impedance-modulated antenna, the impedance of the transistor 41 of each antenna unit in the antenna array 4 is adjustable. By adjusting the impedance of the transistor 41 in different antenna units, the impedance of the antenna can be modulated, thereby realizing the reconfiguration of the antenna, which can be two-dimensionally reconfigurable. In addition, the impedance of the transistor 41 in each antenna unit can be continuously modulated, so that the impedance-modulated antenna has a strong control capability.

[0085] Furthermore, as shown in FIG6 , the impedance-modulated antenna further includes a control circuit 6 , the output of which is coupled to the gate of a transistor 41 of each antenna element in the antenna array 4 . The control circuit 6 can be used to control the impedance of the transistor 41 of each antenna element in the antenna array 4 , thereby controlling the impedance of the antenna element. FIG6 illustrates one antenna element in the antenna array 4 as an example.

[0086] Optionally, the antenna array 4 and the control circuit 6 can be independently provided or integrated together. In one possible example, the antenna array 4 and the control circuit 6 are located on the same wafer, that is, the transistor 41, the metal patch 42, and the control circuit 6 are integrated on the same wafer, which can be implemented using a liquid crystal display (LCD) compatible process.

[0087] In a possible embodiment, the control circuit 6 may include multiple first control sub-circuits, which correspond one-to-one to different antenna units in the antenna array 4, so that each first control sub-circuit can be used to adjust the impedance of the transistor 41 in the corresponding antenna unit.

[0088] In another possible embodiment, as shown in FIG7 , the impedance modulated antenna further includes a plurality of shift registers 7, each corresponding one-to-one to a plurality of rows in the antenna array 4. The first inputs of the plurality of shift registers 7 are coupled to the output of the control circuit 6, and the output of any shift register 7 is coupled to the gates of the transistors 41 of the plurality of antenna elements in the same row and is coupled to the second input of the shift register 7 corresponding to the plurality of antenna elements in the next row. The second input of each shift register 7 can be used to receive a synchronization signal.

[0089] In this impedance modulated antenna, the control circuit 6 can be configured to output clock signals to the first input terminals of each of the multiple shift registers 7. Each shift register 7 can be configured to adjust the impedance of the multiple antenna elements in the same row to which it is coupled based on the received clock signal and synchronization signal. The synchronization signal received by the first shift register 7 among the multiple shift registers 7 can be provided externally, while the synchronization signals received by the shift registers 7 other than the first shift register 7 can be provided by the shift registers 7 in the previous row. In FIG7 , the clock signal is represented as CLK, and the synchronization signal is represented as STV.

[0090] Exemplarily, the multiple shift registers 7 include a first shift register and a second shift register, and the first shift register is coupled to the multiple antenna units in the first row of the antenna array 4, and the second shift register is coupled to the multiple antenna units in the second row of the antenna array 4. Specifically, when the synchronization signal received by the first shift register is valid, the first shift register can shift the received clock signal and output it to the gates of the transistors in the multiple antenna units in the first row, so as to modulate the impedance of the multiple antenna units in the first row. In addition, the first shift register can also output the shifted signal (also referred to as the synchronization signal) to the second shift register. When the second shift register receives a valid synchronization signal transmitted by the first shift register, the second shift register can shift the received clock signal and output it to the gates of the transistors in the multiple antenna units in the second row, so as to modulate the impedance of the multiple antenna units in the second row.

[0091] Optionally, the multiple shift registers 7 can be located on the same layer as the antenna array 4; or, the multiple shift registers 7 are located on the side of the metal floor 1 away from the dielectric substrate 2. In this case, the multiple shift registers 7 can be coupled to different rows in the antenna array 4 through corresponding routing.

[0092] In another possible embodiment, when the impedance modulation antenna further includes multiple shift registers 7, and the multiple shift registers 7 correspond one-to-one to multiple rows in the antenna array 4, the control circuit 6 may include multiple second control sub-circuits, each of which corresponds one-to-one to the multiple shift registers 7. Each second control sub-circuit can be used to control the impedance of the transistors 41 in the multiple antenna elements in the same row through the corresponding shift register 7. In other words, the impedance of the multiple antenna elements in different rows of the antenna array 4 can be modulated by different second control sub-circuits through the corresponding coupled shift registers 7.

[0093] It is understood that the multiple rows in the antenna array 4 may refer to a logical relationship, specifically a logical "set," and may or may not be physically arranged in multiple rows. In practical applications, multiple antenna elements may be considered to belong to the same row as long as they are coupled to the same shift register 7.

[0094] In the impedance modulated antenna, the control circuit 6 can modulate the impedance of the antenna units corresponding to different rows in the antenna array 4 row by row through the multiple shift registers 7. In this way, the impedance modulation of different antenna units can be achieved through one control circuit, thereby reducing the complexity of the impedance modulated antenna and also reducing the volume of the impedance modulated antenna.

[0095] Furthermore, any antenna unit in the antenna array 4 may include one or more transistors 41 , and metal patches 42 may be provided on both sides of each of the one or more transistors 41 .

[0096] In a possible embodiment, the transistor 41 in any antenna unit in the antenna array 4 may include a first transistor and a second transistor, and the metal patch 42 in the antenna unit may include a first metal patch and a second metal patch arranged on both sides of the first transistor, and a third metal patch and a fourth metal patch arranged on both sides of the second transistor.

[0097] Optionally, when any antenna unit includes multiple transistors 41 , two adjacent transistors 41 among the multiple transistors 41 may also share a metal patch 42 .

[0098] In one possible embodiment, the transistor 41 in any antenna unit of the antenna array 4 may include a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and the metal patch in the antenna unit may include a fifth metal patch, a sixth metal patch, and a seventh metal patch. The fifth and sixth metal patches may be arranged on both sides of the third transistor, and the sixth and seventh metal patches may be arranged on both sides of the fourth transistor. That is, the third and fourth transistors may share the sixth metal patch.

[0099] The following description takes the case where the number of transistors 41 included in any antenna unit is equal to 4 as an example. For example, as shown in FIG8 , the antenna unit may include 4 transistors 41 and 4 metal patches 42 , and any two adjacent transistors 41 among the 4 transistors 41 share one metal patch 42 .

[0100] It can be understood that the number of transistors 41 included in any antenna unit described above is only exemplary and does not constitute a limitation to the embodiments of the present application. During application, the number of transistors 41 included in any antenna unit can be set according to actual needs, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose specific limitations on this.

[0101] In the above possible embodiments, any antenna unit in the antenna array 4 may include one or more transistors 41, and when the antenna unit includes multiple transistors 41, two adjacent transistors 41 in the multiple transistors 41 may share a metal patch 42, thereby improving the flexibility and diversity of the impedance modulation antenna design, while also reducing the volume of the impedance modulation antenna.

[0102] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application further provides an antenna unit, which may be an antenna unit in the antenna array of the impedance adjustment antenna provided above. The antenna unit includes: a transistor 41, and metal patches 42 arranged on both sides of the transistor 41. Optionally, the source and drain of the transistor 41 are respectively coupled to the metal patches 42 on the corresponding two sides, and the gate of the transistor 41 is used to receive a clock signal, which can be used to regulate the impedance of the transistor 41, thereby achieving impedance modulation of the antenna unit. The transistor 41 may be a transistor with a continuous impedance adjustment function, for example, the transistor 41 may be a thin film transistor TFT.

[0103] Optionally, the size of the metal patch 42 can range from λ / 5 to λ / 10, where λ is the free-space wavelength of the antenna signal corresponding to the impedance modulated antenna. The sizes of the different metal patches 42 in the antenna array can be the same or different, and this embodiment of the application does not impose specific limitations on this. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the metal patch 42 can be circular, elliptical, or polygonal. For example, the polygon can include a triangle, rectangle, hexagon, etc.

[0104] Furthermore, the antenna unit may include one or more transistors 41, and metal patches 42 may be provided on both sides of each of the one or more transistors 41. Two possible embodiments are described below as examples.

[0105] In a first possible embodiment, the transistor 41 includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the metal patch 42 includes a first metal patch and a second metal patch arranged on both sides of the first transistor, and a third metal patch and a fourth metal patch arranged on both sides of the second transistor.

[0106] In a second possible embodiment, the transistor 41 includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor, and the metal patch 42 includes a fifth metal patch, a sixth metal patch, and a seventh metal patch. The fifth metal patch and the sixth metal patch are arranged on both sides of the third transistor, and the sixth metal patch and the seventh metal patch are arranged on both sides of the fourth transistor.

[0107] It can be understood that the number of transistors 41 included in the antenna unit described in the above two possible embodiments is only exemplary and does not constitute a limitation to the embodiments of the present application. During application, the number of transistors 41 included in the antenna unit can be set according to actual needs, and the embodiments of the present application do not impose specific limitations on this.

[0108] In another possible embodiment of the present application, an antenna array is further provided. This antenna array may be the antenna array of the impedance-adjustable antenna provided above. The antenna array may include multiple antenna units distributed in an array, and each antenna unit may be any of the antenna units provided above. Exemplarily, the antenna array may include multiple rows and columns of antenna units.

[0109] In another possible embodiment of the present application, a communication device is provided, comprising a signal processing circuit and any of the impedance modulation antennas provided above, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to process signals transmitted and received by the impedance modulation antenna. Optionally, the communication device may be a base station or a terminal.

[0110] It can be understood that the above-mentioned descriptions about the antenna unit and the antenna array, as well as the descriptions about the impedance modulation antenna in the communication device, can be specifically referred to the relevant descriptions in the embodiments corresponding to the impedance modulation antenna provided above, and the embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0111] FIG9 is a flow chart of a method for controlling an antenna beam provided in an embodiment of the present application. The method can be used to control the beam of the impedance modulation antenna provided above. The method includes the following steps.

[0112] S301: Determine the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array according to target beam information.

[0113] The target beam information may be used to indicate one or more parameters of the target beam. The target beam may refer to a beam that the impedance modulation antenna needs to transmit or receive. Exemplarily, the one or more parameters of the target beam may include polarization direction, beam gain, beam width, sidelobe information, etc.

[0114] In one possible embodiment, determining the impedance value of each antenna element in the antenna array based on the target beam information may include: determining the impedance value of each antenna element in the antenna array using a full-wave inversion method based on the target beam information. Optionally, the full-wave method may include, but is not limited to, a method of moments and a finite element method.

[0115] It can be understood that the relevant description of determining the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array by inversion using the full-wave method, as well as the relevant description of the corresponding full-wave method, can be specifically referred to the detailed description in the relevant technology, and the embodiments of the present application will not be repeated here.

[0116] S302: Determine a control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit according to the impedance value of each antenna unit.

[0117] In a possible embodiment, determining the control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit according to the impedance value of each antenna unit may include: obtaining the control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit from a preset correspondence relationship according to the impedance value of each antenna unit, and the preset correspondence relationship is used to indicate the control voltages corresponding to different impedance values.

[0118] Optionally, the different impedance values ​​in the preset correspondence may specifically be different capacitive reactance values. That is, the preset correspondence may be used to indicate the relationship between different capacitive reactance values ​​and corresponding control voltages. In this case, after determining the impedance value of each antenna unit, the capacitive reactance value of the corresponding antenna unit may be determined based on the impedance value of each antenna unit. The preset correspondence may then be searched based on the capacitive reactance value of the antenna unit to obtain the corresponding control voltage.

[0119] It is understandable that the above-mentioned preset corresponding relationship can be set in advance. For example, those skilled in the art can test and analyze the capacitance value of a transistor (e.g., a thin film transistor) using different control voltages to determine the corresponding relationship between the capacitance value of the transistor and the corresponding control voltage. For example, those skilled in the art can first measure the capacitance values ​​corresponding to a portion of different control voltages, and then analyze and determine the capacitance values ​​corresponding to different control voltages within a certain range that are ultimately required based on methods such as mathematical modeling.

[0120] S303: Output a control voltage to the impedance modulation antenna, where the control voltage is used to modulate the impedance of each antenna unit in the antenna array, so as to achieve beam modulation of the impedance modulation antenna through impedance modulation.

[0121] In one possible embodiment, when the control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit is determined, the control voltage can be output to the control circuit in the impedance modulated antenna, that is, the magnitude of the corresponding control voltage is indicated to the control circuit. In this way, after receiving the control voltage, the control circuit can generate a clock signal of a corresponding magnitude based on the control voltage and output the clock signal to the gate of the transistor of the antenna unit in the antenna array. By controlling the magnitude of the gate voltage of the transistor, the impedance of the transistor can be modulated, or the impedance of the antenna unit where the modulation transistor is located can be modulated. Similarly, for different antenna units in the antenna array, impedance modulation can be performed in a similar manner to achieve modulation of the overall impedance of the impedance modulated antenna, so that the beam of the impedance modulated antenna can be modulated through impedance modulation.

[0122] In an embodiment of the present application, by regulating the impedance of the transistors in different antenna units of the antenna array, the impedance of the antenna can be modulated, thereby achieving the reconfiguration of the antenna; in addition, the impedance of the transistors in each antenna unit can be continuously modulated, thereby making the impedance-modulated antenna have a stronger control capability.

[0123] The above mainly introduces the solution provided by the embodiment of the present application from the perspective of the control method of the antenna beam. It can be understood that, in order to realize the above functions, the control device of the antenna beam includes hardware structures and / or software modules corresponding to the execution of each function. Those skilled in the art should easily realize that, in combination with the units and algorithm steps of each example described in the embodiments disclosed herein, the present application can be implemented in the form of hardware or a combination of hardware and computer software. Whether a function is executed in a hardware or computer software driven hardware manner depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professional and technical personnel can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of this application.

[0124] In the embodiment of the present application, the functional modules of the control device of the antenna beam can be divided according to the above method example. For example, each functional module can be divided according to each function, or two or more functions can be integrated into one processing module. The above functional modules can be implemented in the form of hardware or software functional modules. It should be noted that the division of modules in the embodiment of the present application is schematic and is only a logical functional division. There may be other division methods in actual implementation. The following is an example of dividing each functional module according to the corresponding function:

[0125] Figure 10 shows a possible schematic diagram of the structure of the antenna beam control device involved in the above-mentioned embodiments, using an integrated unit. The device may include a processing unit 401 and a transmitting unit 402. In one possible embodiment, the processing unit 401 may be used to support the device in executing S301 and S302 of the above-mentioned method embodiment; the transmitting unit 402 may be used to support the device in executing S303 of the above-mentioned method embodiment. Furthermore, the device also includes a receiving unit 403; wherein, the receiving unit 403 may be used to support the device in executing the step of receiving target beam information in the above-mentioned method embodiment.

[0126] All relevant contents of each step involved in the above method embodiment can be referred to the functional description of the corresponding functional module and will not be repeated here.

[0127] Based on hardware implementation, the processing unit 401 may be a processor, the sending unit 402 may be a transmitter, the receiving unit 403 may be a receiver, the receiver and the transmitter may be integrated into a transceiver, which may also be called a communication interface.

[0128] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a possible structure of an antenna beam control device involved in an embodiment of the present application. The device includes a memory 411 and a processor 412. The memory 411 is used to store program code and data for the device, and the processor 412 is used to control the actions of the antenna beam control device in the above-mentioned method embodiment. For example, the processor 412 is used to execute S301 and S302 in the above-mentioned method embodiment, and / or other processes used in the technology described herein. Optionally, the device may also include a communication interface 413, which is used to support the device's communication steps.

[0129] The processor 412 may be a central processing unit, a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application-specific integrated circuit, a processing chip, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, a transistor logic device, a hardware component, or any combination thereof. It may implement or execute various logic blocks, modules, and circuits described in conjunction with the disclosure of the embodiments of this application. The processor 412 may also be a combination that implements computing functions, such as a combination of one or more microprocessors, a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, and the like. The communication interface 413 may be a transceiver, a transceiver circuit, or a transceiver interface. The memory 411 may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory.

[0130] For example, communication interface 413, processor 412, and memory 411 are interconnected via bus 414; bus 414 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus. Bus 414 can be divided into address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, the figure shows only one thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or only one type of bus.

[0131] Optionally, the memory 411 may be included in the processor 412 .

[0132] In another embodiment of the present application, a device for controlling an antenna beam is provided, which can be used to control the beam of the impedance-modulated antenna provided above. The device includes a processor and a memory, in which instructions are stored. When the processor runs the instruction, the device executes the method for controlling the antenna beam provided above.

[0133] In another embodiment of the present application, a chip system is also provided, which includes at least one processor for supporting the functions involved in the antenna beam control method provided above, such as receiving or processing the data involved in the above method.

[0134] In one possible design, the chip system further includes a memory, which is used to store program instructions and data, and the memory is located inside or outside the processor.

[0135] The chip system can be composed of chips, or can include chips and other discrete devices.

[0136] In the method provided in the embodiment of the present application, it can be implemented in whole or in part by software, hardware or a combination thereof. When software is used for implementation, it can be implemented in whole or in part in the form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the process or function described in accordance with the embodiment of the present application is generated in whole or in part. The computer can be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, a network device or other programmable device. The computer instructions can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions can be transmitted from a website, a computer, a server or a data center to another website, a computer, a server or a data center by wired (e.g., coaxial cable, optical fiber, twisted pair) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) mode. The computer-readable storage medium can be any medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or a data center that includes one or more media integrations. The medium can be a magnetic medium (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk, a tape), an optical medium (e.g., an optical disk) or a semiconductor medium (e.g., a solid-state drive (SSD)).

[0137] In another aspect of the present application, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, in which instructions are stored. When the instructions are executed on a device, the device executes the antenna beam control method provided above.

[0138] In another aspect of the present application, a computer program product is provided. The computer program product includes instructions. When the instructions are executed on a device, the device executes the antenna beam control method provided above.

[0139] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present application, but the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included in the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An impedance modulated antenna, characterized in that: include: An antenna array, wherein each antenna unit in the antenna array comprises a transistor and metal patches arranged on both sides of the transistor; A feed source is arranged on the antenna array.

2. The impedance modulated antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The impedance modulated antenna further comprises: A control circuit, wherein the output end of the control circuit is coupled to the gate of the transistor of each antenna unit in the antenna array, and the source and drain of the transistor of each antenna unit are respectively coupled to the metal patches on the corresponding two sides.

3. The impedance modulated antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that: The control circuit is used to adjust the impedance of each antenna unit in the antenna array.

4. The impedance modulated antenna according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The antenna array and the control circuit are arranged in the same wafer.

5. The impedance modulated antenna according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The impedance modulated antenna further comprises: A plurality of shift registers corresponding one-to-one to a plurality of rows in the antenna array; Among them, the first input end of each shift register among the multiple shift registers is coupled to the output end of the control circuit, the output end of each shift register is coupled to the gate of the transistor of the corresponding multiple antenna units in the same row, and the second input end of each shift register is used to receive a synchronization signal.

6. The impedance modulated antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that: The control circuit is further configured to output clock signals to the plurality of shift registers respectively; Each shift register is used to adjust the impedance of multiple antenna units in the same row coupled to the shift register according to the received clock signal and synchronization signal.

7. The impedance modulated antenna according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The multiple shift registers and the antenna array are located at the same layer; or, the multiple shift registers are located at a side of the antenna array away from the feed source.

8. The impedance modulated antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The transistor includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the metal patch includes a first metal patch and a second metal patch disposed on both sides of the first transistor, and a third metal patch and a fourth metal patch disposed on both sides of the second transistor.

9. The impedance modulated antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The transistor includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor, the metal patch includes a fifth metal patch, a sixth metal patch and a seventh metal patch, the fifth metal patch and the sixth metal patch are arranged on both sides of the third transistor, and the sixth metal patch and the seventh metal patch are arranged on both sides of the fourth transistor.

10. The impedance modulated antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The impedance modulated antenna further comprises: A metal floor is located at a side of the antenna array away from the feed source.

11. The impedance modulated antenna according to claim 10, characterized in that: The impedance modulated antenna further comprises: A dielectric substrate is located between the antenna array and the metal floor.

12. The impedance modulated antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The transistor is a thin film transistor TFT.

13. The impedance modulated antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that: The feed source is a surface wave generator.

14. The impedance modulated antenna according to claim 13, characterized in that: The surface wave generator is a monopole antenna or a dipole antenna.

15. An antenna unit, characterized in that: The antenna unit includes a transistor and metal patches arranged on both sides of the transistor.

16. The antenna unit according to claim 15, characterized in that The source and drain of the transistor are respectively coupled to the metal patches on the corresponding two sides, and the gate of the transistor is used to receive a clock signal.

17. The antenna unit according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that: The transistor includes a first transistor and a second transistor, and the metal patch includes a first metal patch and a second metal patch disposed on both sides of the first transistor, and a third metal patch and a fourth metal patch disposed on both sides of the second transistor.

18. The antenna unit according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that: The transistor includes a third transistor and a fourth transistor, the metal patch includes a fifth metal patch, a sixth metal patch and a seventh metal patch, the fifth metal patch and the sixth metal patch are arranged on both sides of the third transistor, and the sixth metal patch and the seventh metal patch are arranged on both sides of the fourth transistor.

19. The antenna unit according to any one of claims 15 to 18, characterized in that: The transistor is a thin film transistor.

20. An antenna array, characterized in that: The antenna array comprises a plurality of antenna units distributed in an array, and the antenna units are the antenna units as described in any one of claims 15-19.

21. A method for controlling an antenna beam, characterized in that: For controlling the beam of the impedance modulated antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 14, the method comprising: Determining the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array according to the target beam information; Determine the control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit according to the impedance value of each antenna unit; A control voltage is output to the impedance modulation antenna, where the control voltage is used to modulate the impedance of each antenna unit in the antenna array, so as to achieve modulation of the beam of the impedance modulation antenna through impedance modulation.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that The step of determining the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array according to the target beam information includes: According to the target beam information, the impedance value of each antenna unit in the antenna array is determined by full-wave inversion method.

23. The method according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that The step of determining a control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit according to the impedance value of each antenna unit includes: According to the impedance value of each antenna unit, a control voltage corresponding to each antenna unit is obtained from a preset corresponding relationship, where the preset corresponding relationship is used to indicate control voltages corresponding to different impedance values.

24. A communication device, characterized in that: The communication device comprises a signal processing circuit and an impedance modulation antenna as described in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the signal processing circuit is used to process the transmit and receive signals of the impedance modulation antenna.

25. An antenna beam control device, characterized in that: Used to control the beam of the impedance modulated antenna as described in any one of claims 1-14, the device includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions. When the processor runs the instructions, the device executes the antenna beam control method as described in any one of claims 21-23.

26. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that: The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions, and when the instructions are executed on a device, the device executes the antenna beam control method according to any one of claims 21 to 23.

27. A computer program product, characterized in that The computer program product comprises instructions, and when the instructions are executed on a device, the device executes the antenna beam control method according to any one of claims 21 to 23.

Images