Antenna and communication equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of communication, and discloses an antenna and communication equipment, the antenna can comprise a substrate, a plurality of radiation units and a plurality of radiation reconstructors, the plurality of radiation units and the plurality of radiation reconstructors are arranged on the substrate, the orthographic projection of the radiation unit and the orthographic projection of the radiation reconstructor are both located on the substrate; in at least part of the radiation units, the periphery of each radiation unit is provided with the radiation reconstructors used for increasing the gain in a set angle range, and the gain increasing directions of the radiation reconstructors corresponding to different radiation units are different.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to an antenna and communication device. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous upgrading of communication equipment (such as home wireless routers) technology and the increasing complexity of indoor environments, the number of IoT terminals is growing. As the signal transceiver module of wireless devices, the performance of the antenna determines the quality of the communication equipment. How to improve the coverage distance of the device has become a common focus in the industry. For example, increasing the antenna gain can reduce the number of wireless routers needed in the coverage area, achieving energy saving and efficiency improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application discloses an antenna and communication device that can improve gain.

[0004] Improving the performance of existing antenna radiating elements requires significantly increasing the antenna size and weight, resulting in high costs and difficulties in equipment integration and complex installation in engineering applications.

[0005] The exemplary embodiments of this application provide the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, an antenna is provided, comprising: a substrate, a plurality of radiating elements, and a plurality of radiation reconfigurators, wherein the plurality of radiating elements and the plurality of radiation reconfigurators are disposed on the substrate, and the orthographic projections of the radiating elements and the radiation reconfigurators are both located on the substrate; wherein, in at least some of the radiating elements, a radiation reconfigurator for increasing gain within a set angular range is disposed around each radiating element, and the gain increase direction of the radiation reconfigurator corresponding to different radiating elements is different.

[0007] In the aforementioned antenna, a radiation reconfigurator is arranged around each radiating element to enhance gain within a set angular range. Therefore, by utilizing the space surrounding the radiating element to install the radiation reconfigurator, and ensuring that both the orthographic projection of the radiating element and the orthographic projection of the radiation reconfigurator are located on the substrate, the antenna's radiation impedance can be improved. Compared to excessively stacking radiating elements or using parabolic metal reflectors, this method increases antenna gain without increasing the overall antenna volume, thus improving the antenna's coverage distance in a specific direction. Different radiating elements correspond to radiation reconfigurators with different gain enhancement directions, allowing for gain enhancement in different directions using different radiating elements and their corresponding radiation reconfigurators.

[0008] Optionally, the plurality of radiation units include a first radiation unit, a second radiation unit, and a third radiation unit arranged along a first direction; wherein, the gain enhancement direction of the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the first radiation unit is offset backward at a first angle to the second direction, the gain enhancement direction of the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the third radiation unit is offset backward at a second angle to the second direction, and the first angle and the second angle are both acute angles and have opposite offset directions; the gain enhancement direction of the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the second radiation unit faces forward in the second direction; the first direction and the second direction are both parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to each other.

[0009] Optionally, along the second direction, the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the first radiation unit is located behind the first radiation unit, the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the third radiation unit is located behind the third radiation unit, and the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the second radiation unit is located in front of the second radiation unit; along the first direction, the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the first radiation unit and the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the third radiation unit are both located between the first radiation unit and the third radiation unit.

[0010] Optionally, the plurality of radiation units include a fourth radiation unit, a fifth radiation unit, and a sixth radiation unit, wherein the fourth radiation unit, the fifth radiation unit, and the sixth radiation unit are arranged in a triangle, and the gain boosting directions of the radiation reconfigurators corresponding to the fourth radiation unit, the fifth radiation unit, and the sixth radiation unit are all directed toward the geometric center of the triangle.

[0011] Optionally, in at least a portion of the radiation reconstructor, along a third direction, the radiation reconstructor includes at least two segments, and the different segments of the radiation reconstructor have different contours, wherein the third direction is perpendicular to the substrate.

[0012] Optionally, the cross-sectional shapes of different segments of the radiation reconstructor are different, or the cross-sectional areas of different segments of the radiation reconstructor are different.

[0013] Optionally, the radiation reconfigurator includes a medium having periodically distributed metal structures.

[0014] Optionally, the medium includes a dielectric substrate, and the metal structure includes metallized vias or a microstrip array disposed on the dielectric substrate.

[0015] Optionally, the medium plate can be rigid or flexible.

[0016] Optionally, there are multiple dielectric plates, and the multiple dielectric plates are distributed at intervals.

[0017] Optionally, the radiation reconfigurator further includes a housing, which includes a first housing and a second housing disposed opposite to each other. The dielectric plate includes a first flexible dielectric plate, a second flexible dielectric plate, and a rigid dielectric plate. The first flexible dielectric plate is attached to the surface of the first housing facing the second housing, the second flexible dielectric plate is attached to the surface of the second housing facing the first housing, and the rigid dielectric plate is fixedly spaced between the first flexible dielectric plate and the second flexible dielectric plate.

[0018] Optionally, the rigid medium plate is bonded to the first flexible medium plate by an adhesive.

[0019] Optionally, the metal structure includes a plurality of metal particles dispersed in the medium.

[0020] Optionally, the metal structure is made of gold, silver, or copper.

[0021] Optionally, the dielectric constant ε of the medium is between 1.2 and 2.0.

[0022] Optionally, at least a portion of the radiation reconfigurator is annular, and the axis of the annular radiation reconfigurator is perpendicular to the substrate, with at least one radiation element located within the space enclosed by the annular radiation reconfigurator.

[0023] Optionally, when the plurality of radiation units include a fourth radiation unit, a fifth radiation unit, and a sixth radiation unit, the fourth radiation unit, the fifth radiation unit, and the sixth radiation unit are all located within the space enclosed by the annular radiation reconfigurator.

[0024] In a second aspect, a communication device is provided, which may include the antenna described in any of the above technical solutions.

[0025] Compared with traditional technologies, the communication device and the antenna described above have the same advantages, which will not be repeated here.

[0026] Optionally, the communication device is a home router. By introducing a radiation reconfigurator in the horizontal direction, it is beneficial to increase the horizontal gain and improve the signal coverage effect, making it more suitable for home routers.

[0027] Optionally, the number of radiating elements is between 3 and 8, and the number of radiating reconfigurators is multiple; the distance between the radiating element and the corresponding radiating reconfigurator is between 0.05*λ and 4.5*λ to facilitate miniaturization and reduce mutual interference; the height H of the radiating reconfigurator is between 0.5*λ and 5.2*λ to ensure improved gain performance while avoiding excessive vertical space occupation by the antenna; the projected area of ​​the radiating reconfigurator on the substrate is between 0.4 cm².3 / λ to 30cm 3 The wavelength is between / λ, which is used to increase the horizontal gain of the radiating element while improving integration and avoiding an excessively large antenna size. Here, λ represents the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the radiating element.

[0028] Optionally, when the radiation reconfigurator includes a medium, the density of the medium is between 0.03 g / cm³. 3 Up to 0.08 g / cm 3 In order to achieve lightweight design while ensuring high gain performance in the horizontal direction.

[0029] Optionally, the set angle range is between 45° and 150°.

[0030] Thirdly, a method for fabricating an antenna is provided, the method comprising: sequentially mounting multiple sets of radiating elements and radiating reconfigurators corresponding to the radiating elements onto a substrate, wherein the radiating elements are surrounded by the radiating reconfigurators for improving gain within a set angle range; the gain improvement direction of the radiating reconfigurator in the latter set is different from the gain improvement direction of the radiating reconfigurator in the former set.

[0031] Compared with traditional technologies, the fabrication method described herein has the same advantages as the antenna described herein, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first type of antenna provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second type of antenna provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the third type of antenna provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 A comparison chart showing the antenna array efficiency of a conventional home router and the antenna array efficiency of the communication device provided in the embodiments of this application is shown.

[0037] Figure 5a This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the radiation reconfigurator 20 in the antenna provided in this application embodiment;

[0038] Figure 5b express Figure 5a Cross-sectional view along the KK axis;

[0039] Figure 5c express Figure 5a An exploded view of the radiation reconfigurator 20 shown;

[0040] Figure 6a A simulation diagram showing the directivity of a conventional antenna array in a home wireless router;

[0041] Figure 6b A simulation diagram of the antenna array directivity provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0042] Figure 7a express Figure 1 The image shows the horizontal radiation pattern when the antenna is selected in the 5.5 GHz band and no radiation reconfigurator is configured.

[0043] Figure 7b express Figure 1 The vertical radiation pattern shown is when the antenna is selected in the 5.5 GHz band and no radiation reconfigurator is configured.

[0044] Figure 8a express Figure 1 The image shows the horizontal radiation pattern when the antenna is selected in the 5.5 GHz band.

[0045] Figure 8b express Figure 1 The vertical radiation pattern is shown when the antenna is selected in the 5.5 GHz band.

[0046] Figure 9 Indicates will Figure 7a The radiation pattern shown and Figure 8a A comparative diagram of the radiation patterns shown. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0048] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0049] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The antenna provided in this application embodiment may include: a substrate 10, a plurality of radiating elements 20 and a plurality of radiation reconfigurators 30. The plurality of radiating elements 20 and the plurality of radiation reconfigurators 30 are all disposed on the substrate 10. The orthographic projection of the radiating elements 20 and the orthographic projection of the radiation reconfigurators 30 are both located on the substrate 10. In at least some of the radiating elements 20, each radiating element 20 is surrounded by a radiation reconfigurator 30 for improving gain within a set angle range. The radiating elements 20 and the corresponding radiation reconfigurators 30 are arranged in a direction parallel to the substrate 10, and the gain improvement direction of the radiation reconfigurators 30 corresponding to different radiating elements 20 is different. The aforementioned “set angle range” can be between 45° and 150°, for example, it can be 45°, 50°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, 120°, 135°, 145°, and 150°. In home routers and other fields, the number of radiating units 20 is generally between 3 and 8. If the angle is too large, even if only 3 radiating units 20 are used to splice together a 360° radiation area using the radiation reconfigurator 30, the radiation range between the radiation reconfigurators 30 of different radiating units 20 will overlap significantly, resulting in unnecessary cost waste. If the angle is too small, even if the maximum of 8 radiating units 20 are used, it is still difficult to approach a 360° radiation area. The radiation gain direction mentioned later refers to the direction pointed to by the angle bisector of the aforementioned set angle range.

[0050] In the aforementioned antenna, a radiation reconfigurator 30 is arranged around each radiating element 20 to enhance gain within a set angular range. Therefore, by utilizing the space surrounding the radiating element 20 to install the radiation reconfigurator 30, and ensuring that both the orthographic projection of the radiating element 20 and the orthographic projection of the radiation reconfigurator 30 are located on the substrate 10, the antenna radiation impedance can be improved. Compared to excessively stacking the radiating elements 20 or using parabolic metal reflectors, the antenna gain can be increased without increasing the overall antenna volume, thus increasing the antenna's coverage distance in a specific direction. The gain enhancement direction of the radiation reconfigurator 30 corresponding to different radiating elements 20 is different, allowing for gain enhancement in different directions using different radiating elements 20 and their corresponding radiation reconfigurators 30.

[0051] In one embodiment, the radiation reconfigurator 30 includes a dielectric material having periodically distributed metal structures. By introducing these periodically distributed metal structures onto the dielectric substrate, coherent superposition of electromagnetic waves within the structures can be induced. By appropriately designing the size and spacing of the metal structures, constructive interference of electromagnetic waves can be achieved, enhancing radiation in a specific direction. This spatially periodic structure enables beamforming, concentrating more electromagnetic energy in a particular direction and improving antenna gain.

[0052] In one embodiment, the aforementioned medium may include a dielectric substrate (such as...) Figure 5c The antenna comprises a rigid dielectric substrate 24, a first flexible dielectric substrate 22, and a second flexible dielectric substrate 23. The metal structure includes metallized vias or microstrip arrays (such as a microstrip array formed by the distribution of metal microstrip lines G1 on the surface of the rigid dielectric substrate 24) disposed on the dielectric substrates. The periodically distributed metallized vias or microstrip arrays induce coherent superposition of electromagnetic waves, enabling structural interference of electromagnetic waves and enhancing radiation in a specific direction. This spatially periodic structure can achieve beamforming, concentrating more electromagnetic energy in a particular direction and improving the antenna gain.

[0053] In one specific embodiment, the dielectric substrate can be rigid or flexible. When the dielectric substrate is rigid, glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin, such as FR-4 used in the fabrication of printed circuit boards (PCBs), can be selected, as it has high strength and good electrical insulation properties. Alternatively, composite materials such as CEM-1 and CEM-3 can be used, as these materials also possess good mechanical properties and heat resistance, allowing the dielectric substrate to be independently supported without relying on other structures. When the dielectric substrate is flexible, polyimide (PI) or polyester (PET) can be selected. Polyimide offers high-temperature stability, flexibility, and chemical resistance, while polyester can be used in applications where heat resistance requirements are lower. Furthermore, these materials have low dielectric constants.

[0054] In one specific embodiment, there are multiple dielectric substrates, and these substrates are spaced apart. (See below) Figure 5b and Figure 5c The first flexible dielectric plate 22, the rigid dielectric plate 24, and the second flexible dielectric plate 23 are distributed in sequence at intervals. The directional gain effect on electromagnetic waves can be superimposed through multiple dielectric plates equipped with metallized vias or microstrip arrays.

[0055] Combination Figure 5a , Figure 5b and Figure 5cIn one specific embodiment, the radiation reconfigurator 20 further includes a housing 21, which includes a first housing M1 and a second housing M2 disposed opposite to each other. The dielectric plate includes a first flexible dielectric plate 22, a second flexible dielectric plate 23 and a rigid dielectric plate 24. The first flexible dielectric plate 22 is attached to the surface of the first housing M1 facing the second housing M2, the second flexible dielectric plate 23 is attached to the surface of the second housing M2 facing the first housing M1, and the rigid dielectric plate 24 is fixedly spaced between the first flexible dielectric plate 22 and the second flexible dielectric plate 23. The space enclosed by the first housing M1 and the second housing M2 is used to accommodate the first flexible dielectric plate 22, the second flexible dielectric plate 23, and the rigid dielectric plate 24, and to provide physical protection. The first housing M1 supports the first flexible dielectric plate 22, and the second housing M2 supports the second flexible dielectric plate 23. The rigid dielectric plate 24 itself has sufficient structural strength, so it does not need to be attached to other structures. The rigid dielectric plate 24 can be snapped between the first housing M1 and the second housing M2. The first flexible dielectric plate 22, the second flexible dielectric plate 23, and the rigid dielectric plate 24 are all provided with microstrip arrays (formed by an array of metal microstrip lines G1) or metallized vias, which can superimpose the effect of directional gain. Among them, the surface of the first flexible dielectric plate 22 facing away from the first housing M1 is provided with an array of metal microstrip lines G2, and the side without metal microstrip lines G2 is relatively flat, which can be more firmly bonded to the surface of the first housing M1. The surface of the second flexible dielectric plate 23 facing away from the first housing M2 is provided with an array of metal microstrip lines.

[0056] In one specific embodiment, the rigid medium plate 24 is bonded to the first flexible medium plate 22 by an adhesive (such as double-sided tape 25) to further fix the rigid medium plate 24 with the help of the first flexible medium plate 22, preventing the rigid medium plate 24 from loosening due to vibration or other reasons. At the same time, the rigid medium plate 24 overlaps in the stepped structure 211 at the edge of the first housing M1 to limit the rigid medium plate 24.

[0057] In one specific embodiment, the aforementioned metal structure includes multiple metal particles dispersed in a dielectric medium. These metal particles can enhance the local electric field, creating a "localized surface plasmon resonance" (LSPR) effect. This effect can enhance the propagation efficiency of electromagnetic waves near the antenna, thereby increasing the antenna's gain. The presence of the metal particles can alter the propagation path of electromagnetic waves, enhancing the directivity of antenna radiation through reflection or refraction. By arranging the metal particles, they can even function similarly to metamaterials, resulting in more concentrated radiation from the antenna. Furthermore, the combination of metal particles and the dielectric medium can reduce energy attenuation caused by material loss during electromagnetic wave propagation, thereby improving the antenna's radiation efficiency and gain.

[0058] In one specific embodiment, the metal structure is made of gold, silver, or copper. Silver has the highest electrical conductivity of all metals, thus exhibiting excellent performance in Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR). It effectively enhances the local electric field and reduces losses during electromagnetic wave propagation, improving antenna gain in microwave and radio frequency bands, especially in high-frequency applications (such as millimeter waves). Gold has slightly lower conductivity than silver, but still very high, exhibiting stable LSPR across different frequency bands. Gold possesses good chemical stability and electrical conductivity, maintaining good performance even in demanding environments requiring long-term stable operation, such as millimeter-wave bands. Copper also has good electrical conductivity and low cost, and can also improve antenna gain in microwave and radio frequency bands. Furthermore, it can be fabricated on flexible and rigid dielectric substrates using flexible circuit board and printed circuit board methods, respectively.

[0059] In one specific embodiment, the dielectric constant ε of the medium is between 1.2 and 2.0, specifically 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.8, 1.9, and 2.0. An excessively high dielectric constant ε is accompanied by a higher loss tangent; therefore, more energy may be lost as heat when electromagnetic waves propagate through the medium, reducing antenna efficiency. When the dielectric constant is too low (e.g., close to 1), the medium's constraint on electromagnetic waves weakens, causing more energy to leak to the outside, making it impossible to effectively concentrate radiation and reducing antenna gain and efficiency.

[0060] The selected medium has advantages such as low loss, fixed dielectric constant, low cost, good stability and easy processing, making it suitable for home wireless routers.

[0061] In one specific embodiment, such as when the antenna is applied to a home router, and the back of the home router is against a wall, refer to... Figure 1The first direction A represents the left-right direction and includes two opposite directions, left and right; the second direction B represents the front-back direction and includes two opposite directions, front and back; the plurality of radiation units 20 include a first radiation unit a, a second radiation unit b, and a third radiation unit c arranged along the first direction A; wherein the gain boosting direction of the radiation reconstructor 30 (first radiation reconstructor f) corresponding to the first radiation unit a is offset from the backward direction in the second direction B by a first angle; the gain boosting direction of the radiation reconstructor 30 (third radiation reconstructor i) corresponding to the third radiation unit c is offset from the backward direction in the second direction B by a second angle; and both the first angle and the second angle are acute angles and offset in opposite directions. The first angle is formed by offsetting to the left in the first direction A with the backward direction in the second direction B as a reference, and the second angle is formed by offsetting to the right in the first direction A with the backward direction in the second direction B as a reference; the gain boosting direction of the radiation reconstructor (second radiation reconstructor g) corresponding to the second radiation unit b is oriented towards the frontward direction in the second direction B; both the first direction A and the second direction B are parallel to the substrate 10 and perpendicular to each other. The above design ensures sufficient signal coverage for home routers both in front and behind, and guarantees that the electromagnetic waves radiated by the first radiating unit a and the third radiating unit c reach the rear wall first, while avoiding excessive reflection of electromagnetic waves. The component parallel to the wall can pass through the wall, allowing users on the other side of the wall to access the network. Furthermore, the first and second included angles are both acute angles with opposite directions of offset, reducing signal dead zones behind the rear wall.

[0062] The following is a reference. Figure 1The specific arrangement of the radiating elements 20 and the radiating reconstructors 30 is described below. Multiple radiating elements 20 include a first radiating element a, a second radiating element b, and a third radiating element c arranged along a first direction A. Along a second direction B, the radiating reconstructor 30 (first radiating reconstructor f) corresponding to the first radiating element a is located behind the first radiating element a, the radiating reconstructor 30 (third radiating reconstructor i) corresponding to the third radiating element c is located behind the third radiating element c, and the radiating reconstructor 30 (second radiating reconstructor g) corresponding to the second radiating element b is located in front of the second radiating element b. The terms "front" and "rear" refer to the front and rear sides along the second direction B. Along the first direction A, the radiating reconstructors 30 (first radiating reconstructor f) corresponding to the first radiating element a and the radiating reconstructor 30 (third radiating reconstructor i) corresponding to the third radiating element c are both located between the first radiating element a and the third radiating element c to avoid blind spots in the electromagnetic wave coverage of the first radiating reconstructor f and the third radiating reconstructor i. The direction C of the line connecting the first radiating element a to the first radiating reconstructor f is the gain enhancement direction of the first radiating reconstructor f. The direction C forms the first angle with the backward direction in the second direction B. The direction D of the line connecting the third radiating element c to the third radiating reconstructor i is the gain enhancement direction of the third radiating reconstructor i. The direction D forms the second angle with the backward direction in the second direction B. Both acute angles, the first angle and the second angle, can be between 30° and 60°, for example, 30°, 40°, 45°, 50° and 60°. The first radiation reconfigurator f concentrates the electromagnetic waves radiated by the first radiation unit a mainly along the connecting direction C, and the third radiation reconfigurator i concentrates the electromagnetic waves radiated by the third radiation unit c mainly along the connecting direction D. If the angles formed by the connecting directions C and D with the straight line of the first direction A are too large, it will result in too much of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the first radiation unit a (or the third radiation unit c) being perpendicular to the rear wall. This portion of the electromagnetic waves will collide with the rear wall, causing excessive reflection and preventing them from effectively penetrating the rear wall to provide network coverage for the room on the rear side. If the angles are too small, the connecting directions C and D will be nearly parallel to the rear wall, causing the electromagnetic waves to propagate mostly along directions parallel to the wall, resulting in leakage in ineffective directions and preventing them from reaching the wall. However, if the electromagnetic waves propagate along the connecting directions C and D, it ensures that the electromagnetic waves reach the rear wall first, while avoiding excessive reflection. The component parallel to the wall can penetrate the wall, providing network access for users on the other side of the wall. In addition, the components of the connecting directions C and D in the first direction A are opposite, reducing the signal blind spot in the room behind the rear wall.

[0063] To enhance the signal coverage of the home router's antenna in front of the room, a similar arrangement to the second radiating unit b and the second radiating reconfigurator g can be used. An extended radiating unit d (radiating unit 20) can be placed next to the second radiating unit b. Along the first direction A, the extended radiating unit d is positioned between the second radiating unit b and the third radiating unit c. Along the second direction B, an extended radiating reconfigurator h (radiating reconfigurator 30) is placed in front of the extended radiating unit d. In the second direction B, the second radiating reconfigurator g and the second radiating unit b can be aligned, and the extended radiating reconfigurator h and the extended radiating unit d can be aligned to allow electromagnetic waves to be emitted directly in front of the home router. Depending on the apartment layout, other radiating units 20 can also be placed on the substrate 10 (refer to reference e). It should be understood that, as mentioned above, the alignment of the second radiating reconfigurator g and the second radiating unit b along the second direction B refers to the alignment of the central axis of the second radiating reconfigurator g with the central axis of the second radiating unit b, not edge alignment. "Alignment" does not necessarily mean perfect alignment; allowable engineering errors are permissible.

[0064] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one specific embodiment, at least part of the radiation reconstructor 30 includes at least two segments along the third direction Z, and the different segments of the radiation reconstructor 30 have different contours, wherein the third direction Z is perpendicular to the substrate 10. Because the different segments of the radiation reconstructor 30 have different contours, even in the same radiation reconstructor 30, the different contours of the different segments can provide different amounts of gain for different parts of the radiation unit 20, thus allowing for more targeted acquisition of radiation patterns of the desired shape.

[0065] For example, in Figure 2 In this example, the cross-sectional areas of different segments of the radiation reconstructor 30 are different. Taking the fourth radiation reconstructor k1 corresponding to the fourth radiation unit p1 as an example, the fourth radiation reconstructor k1 includes a first segment L1 and a second segment L2 arranged sequentially from bottom to top. Both the first segment L1 and the second segment L2 are cylinders, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the second segment L2 is larger than that of the first segment L1. Therefore, the second segment L2 can provide a greater gain for the upper half of the fourth radiation reconstructor k1.

[0066] For example, in Figure 3 In the process, the cross-sectional shapes of different segments of the radiation reconstructor 30 are different. Taking the sixth radiation reconstructor m as an example, the sixth radiation reconstructor m includes a third segment L3, a fourth segment L4 and a fifth segment L5 arranged from bottom to top. The third segment L3 is roughly a flat cuboid, the fourth segment L4 has a circumferentially convex structure, and the fifth segment L5 is cylindrical, so as to provide different gain intensities for different heights of the sixth radiation unit l.

[0067] Therefore, the different profiles of different segments of the radiation reconstructor 30 can include at least the following three cases: the cross-sectional shape is the same but the area is different, the cross-sectional shape is different and the area is also different, and the cross-sectional shape is different and the area is also different.

[0068] In one specific embodiment, the plurality of radiating units include a fourth radiating unit p1, a fifth radiating unit p2, and a sixth radiating unit p3. These units are arranged in a triangular configuration, and the gain enhancement directions of the three radiating reconfigurators (k1, k2, and k3) corresponding to the fourth, fifth, and sixth radiating units p1, p2, and p3 are all directed towards the geometric center of the triangle. The electromagnetic waves emitted by these three units are concentrated towards the geometric center of the triangle, thus forming a network coverage in three different directions parallel to the substrate 10.

[0069] At least part of the radiation reconfigurator 30 is annular, with the axis of the annular radiation reconfigurator 30 perpendicular to the substrate 10. At least one radiation unit 20 is located within the space enclosed by the annular radiation reconfigurator 30. The annular radiation reconfigurator 30 can concentrate the gain of the radiation unit 20 located therein in a direction parallel to the substrate 10, or in other words, concentrate the radiation energy perpendicular to the substrate 10 in a direction parallel to the substrate 10.

[0070] refer to Figure 2 When the plurality of radiation units include a fourth radiation unit p1, a fifth radiation unit p2, and a sixth radiation unit p3, the fourth radiation unit p1, the fifth radiation unit p2, and the sixth radiation unit p3 can all be located within the space enclosed by the aforementioned annular radiation reconstructor 30 (annular radiation reconstructor m). Based on concentrating the radiation energy of the fourth radiation unit p1, the fifth radiation unit p2, and the sixth radiation unit p3 in a direction parallel to the substrate 10, the gain is further increased, particularly in the directions where the fourth radiation unit p1 points to the fourth radiation reconstructor k1, the fifth radiation unit p2 points to the fifth radiation reconstructor k2, and the sixth radiation unit p3 points to the sixth radiation reconstructor k3, thereby further concentrating the energy in the specified directions.

[0071] For example, in Figure 2In the design, the annular radiation reconfigurator 30 (annular radiation reconfigurator m) contains three radiation elements 20 arranged in a triangular pattern, each corresponding to one of the three vertices of the triangle. The axis of the annular radiation reconfigurator 30 (annular radiation reconfigurator m) lies within the triangular region. Each radiation element 20 has a strip-shaped radiation reconfigurator 30 on one side facing the axis of the annular radiation reconfigurator m. The annular radiation reconfigurator m flattens the electromagnetic wave pattern radiated by the three radiation elements 20, while the strip-shaped radiation reconfigurator 30 makes the pattern bulge in a specific direction of the corresponding radiation element 20, thereby further increasing the gain within a specific angular range. Figure 3 In this design, the eighth radiation reconfigurator u contains three strip-shaped radiation elements 20 and two strip-shaped radiation reconfigurators 30. Both the ring-shaped radiation reconfigurator m and the eighth radiation reconfigurator u help to concentrate the electromagnetic waves of the radiation elements 20 within their enclosed space in the horizontal direction, flattening the originally nearly spherical radiation pattern into a pie shape. This makes the gain of the electromagnetic waves mainly concentrated in the horizontal direction, which can improve the antenna signal coverage effect for scenarios such as home routers that only need to cover the horizontal area.

[0072] In addition, the shape of the radiation reconstructor 30 is not limited to the above-mentioned shapes, and can also be designed as a sphere or an ellipsoid (refer to w, x and r) or other shapes.

[0073] refer to Figure 4 The horizontal axis represents frequency, and the vertical axis represents efficiency. The dashed curve is the efficiency curve of the conventional antenna array of a home router, and the solid curve is the efficiency curve of the antenna array after adding the radiating reconfigurator 30. It can be seen that after adding the radiating reconfigurator 30, the antenna efficiency is almost reduced while increasing the gain in the horizontal direction of the antenna.

[0074] Figure 6a This is a simulation diagram showing the directivity of a typical antenna array in a home wireless router. Figure 6b The antenna array directivity simulation diagram provided in the embodiments of this application, combined with Figure 6a and Figure 6b It can be seen that the electromagnetic waves of the antenna provided in this application embodiment have more obvious directionality in the horizontal direction, that is, the radiation pattern tends to be flatter after the addition of the radiation reconfigurator.

[0075] Figure 7a express Figure 1 The image shows the horizontal radiation pattern when the antenna is used in the 5.5 GHz band and no radiation reconfigurator is configured. Figure 7b express Figure 1 The image shows the vertical radiation pattern when the antenna is used in the 5.5 GHz band and no radiation reconfigurator is configured. Figure 8a express Figure 1 The image shows the horizontal radiation pattern when the antenna is used in the 5.5 GHz band. Figure 8b express Figure 1 The image shows the vertical radiation pattern when the antenna is used in the 5.5 GHz band. Figure 9 Indicates will Figure 7a The radiation pattern shown and Figure 8a The diagram showing the radiation pattern, combined with the above figures, indicates that the average gain in horizontal radiation gain is approximately 4.4 dBi after the addition of the radiation reconfigurator.

[0076] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a communication device, which may include the antenna provided in the above embodiments. The effect of this communication device can be referred to the effect analysis of the antenna described above.

[0077] In one specific embodiment, the communication device is a home router. By introducing a radiation reconfigurator 30 in the horizontal direction, it is beneficial to increase the horizontal gain, improve the signal coverage effect, and make it more suitable for home routers.

[0078] In one specific embodiment, the number of radiating elements 20 is between 2 and 8, and the number of radiating reconfigurators 30 is multiple. The distance between the radiating element 20 and the corresponding radiating reconfigurator 30 is between 0.05*λ and 4.5*λ, for example, it can be 0.05*λ, 0.15*λ, 0.25*λ, 0.35*λ, and 0.45*λ, to facilitate miniaturization and reduce mutual interference. The height H of the radiating reconfigurator 30 is between 0.5*λ and 5.2*λ, for example, it can be 0.5*λ, 1.0*λ, 1.5*λ, 2.0*λ, 2.5*λ, 3.5*λ, 4.0*λ, and 5.2*λ, to ensure improved gain performance while avoiding excessive space occupation in the Z-direction by the antenna. The projected area of ​​the radiating reconfigurator 30 on the substrate 10 is between 0.4 cm². 3 / λ to 30cm 3 Between / λ, for example, it could be 0.4cm 3 / λ、4cm 3 / λ、8cm 3 / λ、15cm 3 / λ、22cm 3 / λ、25cm 3 / λ and 30cm 3 / λ, etc., to ensure increased horizontal gain of radiating element 20 while improving integration and avoiding excessive antenna size; where λ represents the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated by radiating element 20.

[0079] In one specific embodiment, when the radiation reconfigurator 30 includes a medium, the density of the medium is between 0.03 g / cm³. 3 Up to 0.08 g / cm 3Between, for example, could be 0.03 g / cm³. 3 0.05g / cm 3 and 0.08g / cm 3 These measures aim to achieve lightweight design while ensuring high gain performance in the horizontal direction.

[0080] Based on the same inventive concept, this application also provides a method for fabricating an antenna. The antenna structure can be referred to above. The method includes: sequentially mounting multiple sets of radiating elements 20 and corresponding radiating reconfigurators 30 onto a substrate 10. Radiating reconfigurators 30 are arranged around the radiating elements 20 to enhance gain within a set angle range; the gain enhancement direction of the radiating reconfigurators 30 in the later set is different from the gain enhancement direction of the radiating reconfigurators 30 in the earlier set. The beneficial effects of this fabrication method can be seen in the antenna effect analysis described above.

[0081] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the embodiments of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if these modifications and variations of this application fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. An antenna, characterized in that, include: A substrate, multiple radiating elements, and multiple radiating reconstructors are provided, wherein the multiple radiating elements and multiple radiating reconstructors are all disposed on the substrate, and the orthographic projections of the radiating elements and the orthographic projections of the radiating reconstructors are both located on the substrate. In at least some of the radiation units, a radiation reconstructor is disposed around each radiation unit for increasing gain within a set angular range, and the gain increase direction of the radiation reconstructor corresponding to different radiation units is different.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of said radiating elements include a first radiating element, a second radiating element, and a third radiating element arranged along a first direction; wherein, The gain boosting direction of the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the first radiation unit is offset backward at a first angle to the second direction, and the gain boosting direction of the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the third radiation unit is offset backward at a second angle to the second direction, wherein the first angle and the second angle are both acute angles and the offset directions are opposite. The gain boosting direction of the radiation reconfigurator corresponding to the second radiation unit is towards the forward direction in the second direction; Both the first direction and the second direction are parallel to the substrate and perpendicular to each other.

3. The antenna according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Along the second direction, the radiation reconfigurator corresponding to the first radiation unit is located behind the first radiation unit, the radiation reconfigurator corresponding to the third radiation unit is located behind the third radiation unit, and the radiation reconfigurator corresponding to the second radiation unit is located in front of the second radiation unit. Along the first direction, the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the first radiation unit and the radiation reconstructor corresponding to the third radiation unit are both located between the first radiation unit and the third radiation unit.

4. The antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that, The plurality of said radiating elements also include extended radiating elements; Along the first direction, the extended radiation element is disposed between the second radiation element and the third radiation element; Along the second direction, the radiation reconfigurator is disposed on the front side of the extended radiation unit.

5. The antenna according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The plurality of radiation units include a fourth radiation unit, a fifth radiation unit, and a sixth radiation unit. The fourth radiation unit, the fifth radiation unit, and the sixth radiation unit are arranged in a triangle. The gain boosting directions of the radiation reconfigurators corresponding to the fourth radiation unit, the fifth radiation unit, and the sixth radiation unit are all directed toward the geometric center of the triangle.

6. The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, In at least a portion of the radiation reconstructor, along a third direction, the radiation reconstructor includes at least two segments, and the different segments of the radiation reconstructor have different contours, wherein the third direction is perpendicular to the substrate.

7. The antenna according to claim 6, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shapes of different segments of the radiation reconstructor are different; or, The cross-sectional area of ​​different segments of the radiation reconstructor is different.

8. The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The radiation reconfigurator includes a medium having periodically distributed metal structures.

9. The antenna according to claim 8, characterized in that, The medium includes a dielectric substrate, and the metal structure includes metallized vias or microstrip arrays disposed on the dielectric substrate.

10. The antenna according to claim 9, characterized in that, The dielectric plate can be rigid or flexible.

11. The antenna according to claim 9, characterized in that, The number of dielectric plates is multiple, and the multiple dielectric plates are distributed at intervals.

12. The antenna according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that, The radiation reconfigurator further includes a housing, which includes a first housing and a second housing disposed opposite to each other. The dielectric plate includes a first flexible dielectric plate, a second flexible dielectric plate, and a rigid dielectric plate. The first flexible dielectric plate is attached to the surface of the first housing facing the second housing, the second flexible dielectric plate is attached to the surface of the second housing facing the first housing, and the rigid dielectric plate is fixedly spaced between the first flexible dielectric plate and the second flexible dielectric plate.

13. The antenna according to claim 12, characterized in that, The rigid medium plate is bonded to the first flexible medium plate by an adhesive.

14. The antenna according to claim 8, characterized in that, The metal structure comprises a plurality of metal particles dispersed in the medium.

15. The antenna according to claim 8, characterized in that, The dielectric constant ε of the medium is between 1.2 and 2.

0.

16. The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that, At least a portion of the radiation reconfigurator is annular, and the axis of the annular radiation reconfigurator is perpendicular to the substrate, with at least one radiation element located within the space enclosed by the annular radiation reconfigurator.

17. The antenna according to claim 16, characterized in that, When the plurality of radiation units include a fourth radiation unit, a fifth radiation unit, and a sixth radiation unit, the fourth radiation unit, the fifth radiation unit, and the sixth radiation unit are all located within the space enclosed by the annular radiation reconfigurator.

18. The antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The set angle range is between 45° and 150°.

19. A communication device, characterized in that, Includes the antenna as described in any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. The communication device according to claim 19, characterized in that, The number of radiation units is between 3 and 8, and the number of radiation reconstructors is multiple; The distance between the radiation unit and the corresponding radiation reconstructor is between 0.05*λ and 4.5*λ; The height H of the radiation reconstructor is between 0.5*λ and 5.2*λ; The radiation reconstructor has a projected area of ​​approximately 0.4 cm² on the substrate. 3 / λ to 30cm 3 Between / λ; Wherein, λ represents the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave radiated by the radiating unit.

21. The communication device according to claim 19, characterized in that, When the radiation reconfigurator includes a medium, the density of the medium is between 0.03 g / cm³. 3 Up to 0.08 g / cm 3 between.

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