Patch radiating element and base station antenna
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510352093.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-25
Smart Images
Figure CN122823091A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure generally relates to the field of radio communications, and more specifically, to a patch radiating element and a base station antenna. Background Technology
[0002] Cellular communication systems are well known in the art. In a cellular communication system, a geographical area is divided into a series of regions, which are referred to as “cells” served by various base stations. Each base station may include one or more base station antennas configured to provide bidirectional radio frequency (“RF”) communication with mobile subscribers within the cell served by the base station.
[0003] In many cases, each base station is divided into "sectors". In the most common configuration, a hexagonal cell is divided into three 120° sectors, each served by one or more base station antennas with an azimuth half-power beamwidth (HPBW) of approximately 65°. Typically, base station antennas are mounted on towers, with the radiation pattern generated by the base station antennas pointing outwards. Base station antennas typically consist of one or more linear and / or planar phased arrays of radiating elements.
[0004] Patch radiating elements are gaining increasing attention due to their advantages such as low height, light weight, low cost, and high polarization purity. For example, multi-row arrays of patch radiating elements can be used in beamforming antennas or to support massively multi-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications. Summary of the Invention
[0005] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a patch radiating element is provided, comprising: a feed post; and a patch radiator positioned at a front end of the feed post, the patch radiator including a plurality of slots, wherein the plurality of slots are configured such that when the patch radiator is fed a radio frequency (RF) signal via the feed post, the current in the central region of the patch radiator is increased compared to the case where the patch radiator does not include the plurality of slots.
[0006] In some embodiments, the patch radiator includes a first feed point and a second feed point for a first polarized RF signal, and a third feed point and a fourth feed point for a second polarized RF signal, wherein the plurality of slots are configured such that: when the patch radiator is fed an RF signal via the first feed point and the second feed point, a current flowing along a first feed direction is generated in the central region of the patch radiator, the first feed direction being defined by the first feed point and the second feed point; or when the patch radiator is fed an RF signal via the third feed point and the fourth feed point, a current flowing along a second feed direction is generated in the central region of the patch radiator, the second feed direction being defined by the third feed point and the fourth feed point.
[0007] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots has one or more geometric lengths, wherein: the largest of the one or more geometric lengths is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or all of the one or more geometric lengths are between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator.
[0008] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots has one or more branches.
[0009] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots extends from a first position on the patch radiator to a second position on the patch radiator, the first position being adjacent to a corresponding edge of the patch radiator and the second position being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator.
[0010] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots is symmetrical about a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator.
[0011] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots includes a first slot portion extending along a respective axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the respective edge of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots includes a second slot portion extending at an angle to the respective axis and connected to the first slot portion. In some embodiments, the second slot portion is perpendicular to the respective axis and closer to the respective edge of the patch radiator than to the center of the patch radiator.
[0012] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots includes a first slot portion located on a first side of a respective axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the respective edge of the patch radiator, and a second slot portion located on a second side of the respective axis opposite to the first side, the second slot portion being connected to the first slot portion.
[0013] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots comprises a plurality of slot portions that are not connected to each other, each slot portion extending from a corresponding first location on the patch radiator to a corresponding second location on the patch radiator, the corresponding first location being adjacent to a corresponding edge of the patch radiator and the corresponding second location being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more geometric lengths, at least the largest of the one or more geometric lengths being between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, the plurality of slot portions have geometric lengths that are different from each other. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more branches. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions is symmetrical about a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, the plurality of slot portions as a whole have axial symmetry about the corresponding axis. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions includes a first segment located on a first side of the corresponding axis and a second segment located on a second side of the corresponding axis opposite to the first side, the second segment being connected to the first segment. In some embodiments, the plurality of groove portions include a first groove portion located on a first side of the respective axis and a second groove portion located on a second side of the respective axis opposite to the first side, wherein the second groove portion is not connected to the first groove portion.
[0014] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slots is symmetrical with respect to a first adjacent slot about the first feed direction and with respect to a second adjacent slot about the second feed direction.
[0015] In some embodiments, the plurality of slots as a whole have rotational symmetry about the center of the patch radiator.
[0016] In some embodiments, the patch radiating element is a multi-piece radiating element, and the patch radiator is mounted at the front end of the feed post. In some embodiments, the patch radiating element is a single-piece radiating element, and the feed post is cut and bent from a metal sheet forming the patch radiator.
[0017] In some embodiments, the patch radiator includes a first patch portion and a second patch portion located at the edge of the first patch portion and extending rearward from the first patch portion, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed on the first patch portion.
[0018] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a patch radiating element is provided, comprising: a feed post; and a patch radiator positioned at a front end of the feed post, the patch radiator having a slot extending from a first position on the patch radiator to a second position on the patch radiator, the first position being adjacent to an edge of the patch radiator and the second position being adjacent to a center of the patch radiator.
[0019] In some embodiments, the slot has one or more geometric lengths, wherein: the largest of the one or more geometric lengths is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or all of the one or more geometric lengths are between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator.
[0020] In some embodiments, the slot has one or more branches.
[0021] In some embodiments, the slot is symmetrical about an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator.
[0022] In some embodiments, the groove includes a first groove portion extending along an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, the groove includes a second groove portion extending at an angle to the axis and connected to the first groove portion.
[0023] In some embodiments, the groove includes a first groove portion located on a first side of an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator, and a second groove portion located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, the second groove portion being connected to the first groove portion.
[0024] In some embodiments, the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions that are not connected to each other, each of the plurality of slot portions extending from a corresponding first position on the patch radiator to a corresponding second position on the patch radiator, the corresponding first position being adjacent to the edge of the patch radiator and the corresponding second position being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more geometric lengths, at least the largest of the one or more geometric lengths being between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, the plurality of slot portions have geometric lengths that are different from each other. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more branches. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions is symmetrical about an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator. In some embodiments, the plurality of slot portions as a whole have axial symmetry about the axis. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of slot portions includes a first segment located on a first side of the axis and a second segment located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, the second segment being connected to the first segment. In some embodiments, the plurality of groove portions include a first groove portion located on a first side of the axis and a second groove portion located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, wherein the second groove portion is not connected to the first groove portion.
[0025] In some embodiments, a plurality of slots are provided on the patch radiator, and the plurality of slots as a whole have rotational symmetry about the center of the patch radiator.
[0026] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a base station antenna is provided, comprising: a reflector; and a radiating element mounted on the reflector and extending forward from the reflector, wherein the radiating element is a patch radiating element according to any embodiment of the foregoing aspects of this disclosure.
[0027] In some embodiments, the base station antenna includes an array of a plurality of the radiating elements, and the base station antenna further includes a plurality of fences mounted on the reflector and extending forward from the reflector, each of the plurality of fences being arranged along a first direction parallel to a column in the array such that each column in the array is located between two adjacent fences of the plurality of fences, wherein each of the plurality of fences includes a plurality of metal portions arranged spaced apart from each other along the first direction.
[0028] In some embodiments, each fence includes a printed circuit board, the plurality of metal portions being formed of metal deposited on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board having no metal in the gaps between each two adjacent metal portions.
[0029] In some embodiments, each fence includes a plurality of metal sheets arranged at intervals from each other along the first direction, each of the plurality of metal portions being formed by a corresponding metal sheet from the plurality of metal sheets.
[0030] In some embodiments, when viewed from a second direction parallel to the rows in the array, each radiating element overlaps with the gap between two corresponding metal portions of the plurality of metal portions of each of the plurality of fences.
[0031] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description
[0032] The foregoing and other features and advantages of this disclosure will become clear from the following description of embodiments illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings, incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, are further used to explain the principles of this disclosure and to enable those skilled in the art to make and use it. Wherein:
[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic bottom view of a patch radiating element according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic perspective view of a patch radiating element according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0035] Figure 3 This is a schematic perspective view of a patch radiating element according to other embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0036] Figure 4 These are schematic front views of two types of patch radiating elements, depicting respectively when... Figure 2 The current distribution on the patch radiator and the slotless patch radiator shown are displayed when the corresponding RF signals are fed.
[0037] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A schematic front view of the patch radiating element shown;
[0038] Figure 6 schematically depicted Figure 2 A slot in the patch radiator of the patch radiating element shown;
[0039] Figures 7 to 11Various example slot designs of patch radiating elements according to some embodiments of the present disclosure are schematically depicted;
[0040] Figure 12 These are schematic perspective views and schematic bottom views of patch radiating elements according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0041] Figure 13 These are schematic perspective views and schematic bottom views of patch radiating elements according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0042] Figure 14 This is a schematic perspective view of a base station antenna according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0043] Figure 15 and Figure 16 These are schematic perspective views of two example fences that can be applied to base station antennas according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0044] Figure 17 It is a schematic perspective view of a single patch radiating element, and also includes graphs showing the return loss (RL) and isolation performance of the single patch radiating element when it is implemented with and without slots;
[0045] Figure 18 It is a schematic three-dimensional view of an array of patch radiating elements, and a graph comparing the cross polarization ratio (CPR) of the array with and without slots in the patch radiating elements.
[0046] Note that in the embodiments described below, the same reference numerals are sometimes used across different figures to denote the same parts or parts with the same function, and repeated descriptions are omitted. In some cases, similar reference numerals and letters are used to denote similar items, so once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be discussed further in other figures.
[0047] For ease of understanding, the positions, dimensions, and extents of the structures shown in the accompanying drawings and other materials may not represent actual positions, dimensions, and extents. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the positions, dimensions, and extents disclosed in the accompanying drawings and other materials. Detailed Implementation
[0048] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0049] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the scope of this disclosure or its application or use. That is, the structures and methods herein are shown in an exemplary manner to illustrate different embodiments of the structures and methods in this disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will understand that they merely illustrate exemplary ways that can be used to implement this disclosure, and not exhaustive ways. Furthermore, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some features may be enlarged to show details of specific components.
[0050] In addition, techniques, methods and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods and equipment should be considered part of the specification.
[0051] In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.
[0052] The patch radiating element and base station antenna according to various embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that actual patch radiating elements and base station antennas may include other components, but to avoid obscuring the essential points of this disclosure, these other components will not be discussed herein and are not shown in the drawings. It will be understood that since antennas are typically mounted vertically, descriptions herein of one element being in front of another are made with the antenna viewed directly.
[0053] It will be understood that in the accompanying drawings, the radiating element and the base station antenna are shown such that the radiating element (e.g., from the reflector) extends upward. In use, the base station antenna is rotated 90° such that the radiating element is positioned to extend forward from the reflector. The following description will describe the relative positioning of the components of the base station antenna as if the base station antenna were mounted for use, even though the base station antenna is rotated 90° relative to the orientation shown in the drawings.
[0054] Figure 1 This is a schematic bottom view of a patch radiating element 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0055] like Figure 1 As shown, the patch radiating element 100 may include a plurality of feed posts 110 and a patch radiator 120 positioned at the front end of the feed posts 110. The feed posts 110 may be mechanically and electrically connected to the patch radiator 120 at their front ends (not shown) to feed RF signals to the patch radiator 120.
[0056] To meet the bandwidth and return loss (e.g., 15 dB or higher) requirements of modern base station antennas, the patch radiating element 100 can be an air-dielectric patch radiating element. Furthermore, the patch radiating element 100 can be designed as a dual-polarized patch radiating element. Such a dual-polarized patch radiator may include a first and a second feed point for a first-polarized RF signal, and a third and a fourth feed point for a second-polarized RF signal. For example, as described later... Figure 4 As shown, the patch radiating element 100 may include a first pair of feed posts 110 and a second pair of feed posts 110 arranged intersecting the first pair of feed posts 110. The first pair of feed posts 110 may be configured to feed an RF signal from a first polarization port to the patch radiator 120 and may be electrically connected to a first feed point and a second feed point, respectively. The second pair of feed posts 110 may be configured to feed an RF signal from a second polarization port to the patch radiator 120 and may be electrically connected to a third feed point and a fourth feed point, respectively. In other examples, the patch radiating element 100 may also include two feed posts 110, one of which is configured to feed an RF signal from a first polarization port to the patch radiator 120 and may be electrically connected to both the first and second feed points, while the other feed post 110 is configured to feed an RF signal from a second polarization port to the patch radiator 120 and may be electrically connected to both the third and fourth feed points. In this paper, no specific restrictions are placed on the number and configuration of the power supply columns 110.
[0057] In some embodiments, the patch radiating element 100 is a one-piece radiating element, wherein the feed post 110 and the patch radiator 120 comprise a single integral element. For example, the feed post 110 may be cut from the patch radiator 120 and bent backward. Such a design can simplify the manufacturing process and provide a more integrated structure. For example, as Figure 2 As shown, the four feed posts 110 are integrally formed with the patch radiator 120 and are formed by bending backward from the metal sheet forming the patch radiator 120, so that each feed post 110 can provide one of the first to fourth feed points at the position where the feed post 110 bends backward from the patch radiator 120.
[0058] In other embodiments, the patch radiating element 100 may be a multi-piece structure, and the patch radiator 120 may be mounted (e.g., soldered) to the front end of a plurality of feed posts 110. Such a design may be advantageous in the context of this disclosure. For example, as Figure 3As shown, since it is not necessary to cut the feed post 110 from the metal sheet forming the patch radiator 120, the patch radiator 120 has sufficient surface area to allow for flexible design and arrangement of the slots, which will be described in more detail later herein. For the sake of illustration and not limitation, the patch radiating element will be primarily illustrated as shown below. Figure 2 The one-piece patch radiating element 100 is shown and is displayed in a front view so that the feed direction can be easily identified.
[0059] refer to Figure 2 The patch radiating element 100 also includes a slot 130 in the patch radiator 120. Such a slot 130 can be used as an additional resonant structure, thereby enabling the patch radiating element 100 to achieve a wider operating bandwidth. Figure 2 Four slots in patch radiator 120 are depicted, each slot having a shape resembling a "person". It is understood that this is merely exemplary and not limiting, and the number and shape of the slots 130 can be specifically configured according to actual conditions, with various example configurations of the slots 130 described later. It is also understood that although the patch radiator is depicted in the figures as having a square outline, this is also merely exemplary and not limiting, and this disclosure can be applied to patch radiators with outlines of various shapes.
[0060] Slot 130 can be configured such that when patch radiator 120 is fed an RF signal via feed post 110, the current in the central region of patch radiator 120 is increased compared to when the patch radiator does not include any slot 130. Specifically, refer to Figure 4 This illustrates the current distribution in the patch radiator 120 when RF signals are fed via the upper left and lower right feed pillars 110, as shown in the diagram. Darker colors indicate stronger current density at those points. Figure 4 In Figure (A), the current simulation results of the patch radiator 120 without slot 130 are shown, and the current simulation results of the patch radiator 120 with slot 130 are shown. It can be seen that without slot 130, the current is mainly distributed in the edge regions of the patch radiator 120 (e.g., J1a, J1b, J1c, J1d, which can establish resonant modes depending on the size of the patch radiator 120), while there is almost no current in the central region of the patch radiator 120 (it cannot generate sufficiently strong resonance). With slot 130 provided, a stronger current appears in the central region of the patch radiator 120 (e.g., J2, which can establish new resonant modes depending on the size of slot 130), making it easier to excite, which is beneficial for matching. Each slot 130 can excite two current paths near its sides in the operating frequency band, thereby guiding the current from the edge regions to the central regions to promote impedance matching and radiation performance of the patch radiating element 100.
[0061] In some embodiments, for a dual-polarized patch radiating element 100, when the patch radiator 120 is fed an RF signal via a first feed point and a second feed point, a current flowing along a first feed direction can be generated in the central region of the patch radiator 120, the first feed direction being defined by the first and second feed points; when the patch radiator 120 is fed an RF signal via a third and a fourth feed point, a current flowing along a second feed direction can be generated in the central region of the patch radiator 120, the second feed direction being defined by the third and a fourth feed point. For example, in Figure 4 In (B), compared to (A), a new current J2 is generated in the central region of the patch radiator 120, flowing along the feed direction (in this example, the feed direction is along the diagonal direction defined by the upper left feed post and the lower right feed post). Furthermore, J1a, J1b, J1c, and J1d are also enhanced and become easier to excite, which is also beneficial for matching.
[0062] The slot 130 can be configured to extend from a first location on the patch radiator 120 to a second location on the patch radiator 120, the first location being adjacent to the edge of the patch radiator 120 and the second location being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator 120. This allows current to be directed from the edge region to the center region, thereby improving impedance matching and radiation performance of the patch radiating element 100. For example, refer to... Figure 5 It shows Figure 2 The diagram shows a front view of the patch radiator 100. In this example, a plurality of slots 1302, 1304, 1306, and 1308 (also collectively referred to as slot 130) are provided on the patch radiator 120. Each slot extends from a corresponding edge of the patch radiator 120 to the center of the patch radiator 120. Specifically, slot 1302 extends from an edge E1 of the patch radiator 120 to the center C of the patch radiator 120, slot 1304 extends from an edge E2 of the patch radiator 120 to the center C of the patch radiator 120, slot 1306 extends from an edge E3 of the patch radiator 120 to the center C of the patch radiator 120, and slot 1308 extends from an edge E4 of the patch radiator 120 to the center C of the patch radiator 120.
[0063] Each slot 130 may have one or more geometric lengths, thereby having one or more resonant lengths. In some embodiments, each slot 130 may be configured to have one or more branches. These branches can allow the slot 130 to have multiple different geometric lengths. Multiple different resonant lengths can be used to increase the resonant bandwidth. For example, refer to Figure 6Slot 130 is shown to have multiple branches and can provide multiple different geometric lengths, such as a first geometric length along the illustrated dashed path from e1 to e2 or e3, a second geometric length along the illustrated dashed path from e1 to e4 or e5, a third geometric length along the illustrated dashed path from e2 to e3, a fourth geometric length along the illustrated dashed path from e4 to e5, and a fifth geometric length along the illustrated dashed path from e2 or e3 to e4 or e5. Furthermore, these branches can also be used to fine-tune the impedance matching to increase the matching bandwidth and decrease the Q value.
[0064] The geometric length of slot 130, particularly the largest of a plurality of geometric lengths, affects impedance matching performance. In some embodiments, slot 130 may be configured such that the largest geometric length of slot 130 is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of patch radiator 120. For example, refer to Figure 6 The second geometric length is the maximum geometric length. When it is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator 120, the patch radiating element 100 will have good impedance matching performance, thereby increasing the impedance operating bandwidth. In some embodiments, the slot 130 can be configured such that all geometric lengths of the slot 130 are between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator 120. Furthermore, the width of the slot 130 is not particularly limited herein.
[0065] Return to reference Figure 5 In some embodiments, slot 130 may be symmetrical about a corresponding axis passing through the center of patch radiator 120 and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of patch radiator 120. Such symmetry can be advantageous for both the transmission and reception of RF signals at the corresponding first and second polarizations of the dual-polarized patch radiating element 100. Specifically, slots 1302 and 1306 are each symmetrical about axis A1 passing through the center C of patch radiator 120 and perpendicular to the corresponding edges E1 and E3 of patch radiator 120, and slots 1304 and 1308 are each symmetrical about axis A2 passing through the center C of patch radiator 120 and perpendicular to the corresponding edges E2 and E4 of patch radiator 120.
[0066] In some embodiments, the slot 130 includes a first slot portion extending along a respective axis. Additionally, in some embodiments, the slot 130 includes a second slot portion extending at an angle (e.g., but not limited to perpendicular) to the respective axis and connected to the first slot portion. In some embodiments, the second slot portion is closer to the respective edge of the patch radiator than the center of the patch radiator. For example, in Figure 5In the example, the groove 130 includes a first groove portion 130a extending along axis A1 (A2) and a plurality of second groove portions 130b extending at an angle to axis A1 (A2) and connected to the first groove portion 130a. Figure 7 Further examples of various slot configurations are shown, including a first slot portion extending along a corresponding axis and a second slot portion extending perpendicularly to the corresponding axis and connected to the first slot portion, wherein the slot in (A) has a small branch at a midpoint between the corresponding edge and the center, the slot in (B) has a small branch near the center, and the slot in (C) has a small branch near the edge.
[0067] In some embodiments, reference Figure 8 A patch radiating element including a slot 230 is provided, the slot 230 having a first slot portion 230a located on a first side of a corresponding axis A1 (A2) and a second slot portion 230b located on a second side of a corresponding axis A1 (A2) opposite to the first side, the second slot portion 230b converging into the first slot portion 230a and thus connected to the first slot portion 230a. Figure 9 Various additional patch radiating elements with other example slot configurations are further shown, wherein the slots include a first slot portion and a second slot portion connected to each other, respectively located on both sides of the respective axis and extending at an angle to the respective axis, wherein the slot in (A) has a small branch near the center, and the slot in (B) has a small branch at the midpoint between the respective edge and the center.
[0068] In some embodiments, the slot 130 may include a plurality of slot portions that are not connected to each other, wherein each slot portion extends from a corresponding first location on the patch radiator 120 to a corresponding second location on the patch radiator 120, the corresponding first location being adjacent to a corresponding edge of the patch radiator 120 and the corresponding second location being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator 120. Each of these slot portions may have the aforementioned... Figures 2 to 9The design of the slots is as described above. For example, each of these slot portions may have one or more geometric lengths, and at least the largest geometric length is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator 120. The geometric lengths of these slot portions may be the same or different from each other. When the geometric lengths of these slot portions are different from each other, a variety of different resonant lengths can be provided, thereby increasing the resonant bandwidth. These slot portions may also have one or more branches to provide a variety of different resonant lengths, thereby increasing the resonant bandwidth, and can also be used to fine-tune impedance matching to increase the matching bandwidth and reduce the Q value. These slot portions may be symmetrical about a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator 120 and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator 120, or they may have axial symmetry about the corresponding axis as a whole. Such symmetry can be advantageous for both the first and second polarizations of a dual-polarized patch radiating element.
[0069] For example, refer to Figure 10 The diagram illustrates a patch radiating element including a slot 330, which comprises a plurality of non-connected slot portions 3302, 3304, wherein each slot portion extends from a corresponding first position on the patch radiator 120 to a corresponding second position on the patch radiator 120, the corresponding first position being adjacent to a corresponding edge E1 (E2, E3, E4) of the patch radiator 120, and the corresponding second position being adjacent to the center C of the patch radiator 120. In some embodiments, each slot portion 3302, 3304 includes a first segment 3304a located on a first side of a corresponding axis A1 (A2) and a second segment 3304b located on a second side of the corresponding axis A1 (A2) opposite to the first side, the second segment 3304b being connected to the first segment 3304a. Each slot portion 3302, 3304 is symmetrical about the corresponding axis A1 (A2), and the slot 330 as a whole has axial symmetry about the corresponding axis A1 (A2).
[0070] refer to Figure 11 The diagram illustrates a patch radiating element including a slot 430 having multiple non-connected slot portions 4302, 4304, wherein each slot portion extends from a corresponding first position on the patch radiator 120 to a corresponding second position on the patch radiator 120, the corresponding first position being adjacent to a corresponding edge E1 (E2, E3, E4) of the patch radiator 120, and the corresponding second position being adjacent to the center C of the patch radiator 120. Slot portion 4302 is located on a first side of a corresponding axis A1 (A2), and slot portion 4304 is located on a second side of the corresponding axis A1 (A2) opposite to the first side. The slot 430 as a whole has axial symmetry about the corresponding axis A1 (A2).
[0071] Regardless of whether each slot 130 has such Figures 2 to 9The "one-piece" design shown is still as Figures 10 to 11 The illustrated "split-type" design, with multiple slots 130 on the patch radiator 120, in some embodiments, allows the multiple slots 130 as a whole to have rotational symmetry about the center C of the patch radiator 120, which can help improve the radiation pattern. For dual-polarized patch radiating elements, in some embodiments, each of the multiple slots 130 is symmetrical with respect to a first adjacent slot about a first feed direction and with respect to a second adjacent slot about a second feed direction, which can help achieve high CPR in both polarization directions.
[0072] In some embodiments, the patch radiator may include a first patch portion and a second patch portion located at the edge of the first patch portion and extending rearward from the first patch portion, wherein a slot is provided on the first patch portion. Such a bent design helps to reduce the size of the patch radiating element and facilitates the arrangement of a patch radiating element array in an antenna.
[0073] Figure 12 A modified version of the patch radiating element 100, a patch radiating element 500, is shown. The patch radiating element 500 includes a plurality of feed posts 510 and a patch radiator 520 positioned at the front end of the feed posts 510. The patch radiator 520 includes four first patch portions 5202 and four second patch portions 5204, wherein each second patch portion 5204 is positioned at the edge of a corresponding first patch portion 5202 and extends rearward from the corresponding first patch portion 5202. A corresponding slot 530 is provided on each first patch portion 5202. Figure 12 In the example, the four second patch portions 5204 are bent at right angles from the corresponding first patch portions 5202.
[0074] Figure 13 A modified version of the patch radiating element 100, a patch radiating element 600, is shown. The patch radiating element 600 includes a plurality of feed posts 610 and patch radiators 620 positioned at the front ends of the feed posts 610. The patch radiators 620 include four first patch portions 6202 and eight second patch portions 6204, wherein each second patch portion 6204 is positioned at the edge of a corresponding first patch portion 6202 and extends rearward from the corresponding first patch portion 6202. A corresponding slot 630 is provided on each first patch portion 6202. Figure 13 In the example, at each end of the edge of each first patch portion 6202, there is a corresponding second patch portion 6204 that bends out from it.
[0075] This disclosure also provides a base station antenna that may include a patch radiating element according to any embodiment of this disclosure. For example, refer to... Figure 14The base station antenna 1000 includes a reflector 1010 and a plurality of radiating elements 1020 mounted on and extending forward from the reflector 1010. The radiating elements 1020 may be patch radiating elements according to any embodiment of this disclosure. Specifically, in some examples, a feed plate is typically disposed on the front surface of the reflector 1010, and a matching network 1040 is formed on the feed plate. The feed posts of the radiating elements 1020 may be electrically connected to the matching network 1040 (e.g., by soldering) to obtain RF signals therefrom.
[0076] like Figure 14 As shown, the base station antenna 1000 may include an array of radiating elements 1020. In some embodiments, the base station antenna 1000 may further include a plurality of fences 1030 mounted on and extending forward from a reflector 1010, each fence 1030 being arranged along a first direction parallel to the columns in the array, such that each column of the array is located between two adjacent fences 1030. Each fence 1030 may include a plurality of metal portions spaced apart from each other along the first direction. The fences 1030 can serve as radiation boundaries. Conventional fences are arranged both between columns and between rows of the array. However, using fences 1030, they only need to be arranged between columns of the array, not between rows, which is advantageous for cost reduction. By adjusting the height of the fences 1030 (i.e., the distance extending forward from the reflector 1010) and / or the size of the gaps between the metal portions, the CPR can be optimized, for example, improved to better than 20 dB.
[0077] In some embodiments, viewed from a second direction parallel to the rows in the array, the gap between each radiating element 1020 and a corresponding two metal portions of a plurality of metal portions of each fence 1030 overlaps. In some embodiments, viewed from a second direction parallel to the rows in the array, each metal portion of each fence 1030 overlaps with the gap between a corresponding two radiating elements 1020 of a plurality of radiating elements 1020 in each column.
[0078] refer to Figure 15 In some embodiments, each fence 1030 includes a printed circuit board 1032, and a plurality of metal portions 1034 are formed of metal deposited on the printed circuit board 1032. The printed circuit board 1032 has no metal at the gaps 1036 between each two adjacent metal portions 1034. In such embodiments, the gaps between the metal portions may include portions of the substrate of the printed circuit board 1032.
[0079] refer to Figure 16In other embodiments, each fence 1030 includes a plurality of metal sheets 1038 spaced apart from each other along a first direction, each of the plurality of metal portions being formed by a corresponding metal sheet 1038. In such embodiments, the gaps between the metal portions may include air.
[0080] Figures 17 to 18 Some performance comparison results obtained through simulation are shown.
[0081] Figure 17 (A) shows a simulation environment including a single patch radiating element located between two fences. Figure 17 (B) shows that, compared to the case without slots, the relative bandwidth of RL matching expands from 25.1% to 29.1% with slots, and the isolation is also improved by 1.5 dB.
[0082] Figure 18 (A) shows a simulation environment including multiple rows of patch radiating elements located between multiple fences. Figure 18 (B) shows that, compared to the case without a slot, the CPR is improved by 2.6 dB at azimuth 0° / elevation 0° (H0 / V0) and by 3 dB at azimuth 47° / elevation 0° (H47 / V0). This high CPR performance is advantageous for large-scale MIMO systems.
[0083] The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “high,” “lower,” etc., used in the specification and claims, if present, are for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing constant relative positions. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate, so that embodiments of this disclosure described herein can operate, for example, in orientations different from those shown or otherwise described herein. For example, when the device in the drawings is reversed, a feature previously described as “above” other features may now be described as “below” other features. The device may also be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), in which case the relative spatial relationships will be interpreted accordingly.
[0084] In the specification and claims, when an element is described as being "on top of," "attached to," "connected to," "coupled to," or "in contact with" another element, the element may be directly located on top of, directly attached to, directly connected to, directly coupled to, or directly in contact with the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may be present. Conversely, when an element is described as being "directly" located on top of, directly attached to, directly connected to, directly coupled to, or directly in contact with another element, no intermediate elements are present. In the specification and claims, when a feature is arranged "adjacent" to another feature, it may mean that a feature has a portion overlapping with the adjacent feature or a portion located above or below the adjacent feature.
[0085] As used herein, the term "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and not as a "model" to be precisely copied. Any implementation described herein by example is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to any theory expressed or implied as given in the art, background, summary of the invention, or detailed description.
[0086] As used herein, the term "substantially" means any minor variation resulting from design or manufacturing defects, device or component tolerances, environmental influences, and / or other factors. The term "substantially" also allows for differences from the perfect or ideal situation due to parasitic effects, noise, and other practical considerations that may exist in the actual implementation.
[0087] Additionally, terms such as “first,” “second,” etc., may be used in this document for reference purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. For example, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words “first,” “second,” and other such numerical terms relating to structures or elements do not imply order or sequence.
[0088] It should also be understood that the term "including / comprises" as used herein indicates the presence of the indicated feature, whole, step, operation, unit, and / or component, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, units, and / or components, and / or combinations thereof. In this disclosure, the term "provide" is used broadly to cover all ways of obtaining an object; therefore, "providing an object" includes, but is not limited to, "purchasing," "preparing / manufacturing," "arranging / setting," "installing / assembling," and / or "ordering" an object.
[0089] As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed items in association. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0090] The same or similar parts between the various embodiments of this disclosure can be referred to mutually, and each embodiment focuses on describing the differences from other embodiments. In the description of this disclosure, the reference to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," "exemplary," etc., means that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. In this disclosure, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this disclosure and the features of the different embodiments or examples.
[0091] Additionally, when used in this disclosure, the terms “here,” “above,” “below,” “this,” “the following,” “the text,” “the preceding,” and similar terms should refer to the entire disclosure and not any particular part of it. Furthermore, unless expressly stated otherwise or otherwise understood in the context in which they are used, conditional language used herein, such as “may,” “possibly,” “for example,” “like,” etc., is generally intended to express that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not, certain features, elements, and / or states. Therefore, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that one or more embodiments require features, elements, and / or states in any way, or whether such features, elements, and / or states are included or performed in any particular embodiment.
[0092] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the boundaries between the above operations are merely illustrative. Multiple operations may be combined into a single operation, a single operation may be distributed among additional operations, and operations may be performed with at least partial overlap in time. Moreover, alternative embodiments may include multiple instances of a particular operation, and the order of operations may be changed in various other embodiments. However, other modifications, variations, and substitutions are equally possible. Aspects and elements of all the embodiments disclosed above may be combined in any way and / or in combination with aspects or elements of other embodiments to provide multiple additional embodiments. Therefore, this specification and the accompanying drawings should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
[0093] This disclosure may also include the following examples.
[0094] Example 1. A patch radiating element, comprising:
[0095] Feed column; and
[0096] A patch radiator positioned at the front end of the feed post, the patch radiator comprising multiple slots,
[0097] The plurality of slots are configured such that when the patch radiator is fed an RF signal via the feed post, the current in the central region of the patch radiator is increased compared to the case where the patch radiator does not include the plurality of slots.
[0098] Example 2. A patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein the patch radiator includes a first feed point and a second feed point for a first polarized RF signal, and a third feed point and a fourth feed point for a second polarized RF signal.
[0099] The plurality of slots are configured such that:
[0100] When the patch radiator is fed with an RF signal via the first feed point and the second feed point, a current flowing along a first feed direction is generated in the central region of the patch radiator, the first feed direction being defined by the first feed point and the second feed point; or
[0101] When the patch radiator is fed an RF signal via the third and fourth feed points, a current flowing along a second feed direction is generated in the central region of the patch radiator, the second feed direction being defined by the third and fourth feed points.
[0102] Example 3. A patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein each of the plurality of slots has one or more geometric lengths, and wherein:
[0103] The largest of the one or more geometric lengths is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or
[0104] The one or more geometric lengths are all between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator.
[0105] Example 4. A patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein each of the plurality of slots has one or more branches.
[0106] Example 5. A patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein each of the plurality of slots extends from a first position on the patch radiator to a second position on the patch radiator, the first position being adjacent to a corresponding edge of the patch radiator and the second position being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator.
[0107] Example 6. A patch radiating element according to Example 5, wherein each of the plurality of slots is symmetrical about a respective axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the respective edge of the patch radiator.
[0108] Example 7. A patch radiating element according to Example 5, wherein each of the plurality of slots includes a first slot portion extending along a respective axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the respective edge of the patch radiator.
[0109] Example 8. A patch radiating element according to Example 7, wherein each of the plurality of slots includes a second slot portion that extends at an angle to the respective axis and is connected to the first slot portion.
[0110] Example 9. A patch radiating element according to Example 8, wherein the second slot portion is perpendicular to the corresponding axis and is closer to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator than to the center of the patch radiator.
[0111] Example 10. A patch radiating element according to Example 5, wherein each of the plurality of slots includes a first slot portion located on a first side of a respective axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the respective edge of the patch radiator, and a second slot portion located on a second side of the respective axis opposite to the first side, the second slot portion being connected to the first slot portion.
[0112] Example 11. A patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein each of the plurality of slots includes a plurality of slot portions that are not connected to each other, each of the plurality of slot portions extending from a corresponding first position on the patch radiator to a corresponding second position on the patch radiator, the corresponding first position being adjacent to a corresponding edge of the patch radiator, and the corresponding second position being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator.
[0113] Example 12. The patch radiating element according to Example 11, wherein:
[0114] Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more geometric lengths, at least the largest of which is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or
[0115] The plurality of slot portions have different geometric lengths from each other; or
[0116] Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more branches; or
[0117] Each of the plurality of slot portions is symmetrical about a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator; or
[0118] The plurality of groove portions as a whole have axial symmetry about the respective axes; or
[0119] Each of the plurality of slot portions includes a first segment located on a first side of the corresponding axis and a second segment located on a second side of the corresponding axis opposite to the first side, the second segment being connected to the first segment; or
[0120] The plurality of groove portions include a first groove portion located on a first side of the corresponding axis and a second groove portion located on a second side of the corresponding axis opposite to the first side, wherein the second groove portion is not connected to the first groove portion.
[0121] Example 13. A patch radiating element according to Example 2, wherein each of the plurality of slots is symmetrical with respect to a first adjacent slot about the first feed direction and with respect to a second adjacent slot about the second feed direction.
[0122] Example 14. A patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein the plurality of slots as a whole have rotational symmetry about the center of the patch radiator.
[0123] Example 15. The patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein:
[0124] The patch radiating element is a multi-piece radiating element, and the patch radiator is installed at the front end of the feed post; or
[0125] The patch radiating element is a one-piece radiating element, and the feed post is cut and bent from the metal sheet that forms the patch radiator.
[0126] Example 16. A patch radiating element according to Example 1, wherein the patch radiator includes a first patch portion and a second patch portion located at the edge of the first patch portion and extending rearward from the first patch portion, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed on the first patch portion.
[0127] Example 17. A patch radiating element, comprising:
[0128] Feed column; and
[0129] A patch radiator is positioned at the front end of the feed post, and a slot is provided on the patch radiator. The slot extends from a first position on the patch radiator to a second position on the patch radiator. The first position is adjacent to the edge of the patch radiator, and the second position is adjacent to the center of the patch radiator.
[0130] Example 18. A patch radiating element according to Example 17, wherein the slot has one or more geometric lengths, and wherein:
[0131] The largest of the one or more geometric lengths is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or
[0132] The one or more geometric lengths are all between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator.
[0133] Example 19. A patch radiating element according to Example 17, wherein the slot has one or more branches.
[0134] Example 20. A patch radiating element according to Example 17, wherein the slot is symmetrical about an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator.
[0135] Example 21. A patch radiating element according to Example 17, wherein the groove includes a first groove portion extending along an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator.
[0136] Example 22. A patch radiating element according to Example 21, wherein the groove includes a second groove portion that extends at an angle to the axis and is connected to the first groove portion.
[0137] Example 23. A patch radiating element according to Example 17, wherein the slot includes a first slot portion located on a first side of an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator, and a second slot portion located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, the second slot portion being connected to the first slot portion.
[0138] Example 24. A patch radiating element according to Example 17, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions that are not connected to each other, each of the plurality of slot portions extending from a corresponding first position on the patch radiator to a corresponding second position on the patch radiator, the corresponding first position being adjacent to the edge of the patch radiator and the corresponding second position being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator.
[0139] Example 25. A patch radiating element according to Example 24, wherein:
[0140] Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more geometric lengths, at least the largest of which is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or
[0141] The plurality of slot portions have different geometric lengths from each other; or
[0142] Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more branches; or
[0143] Each of the plurality of slot portions is symmetrical about an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator; or
[0144] The plurality of groove portions as a whole have axial symmetry about the axis; or
[0145] Each of the plurality of slot portions includes a first segment located on a first side of the axis and a second segment located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, the second segment being connected to the first segment; or
[0146] The plurality of groove portions include a first groove portion located on a first side of the axis and a second groove portion located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, wherein the second groove portion is not connected to the first groove portion.
[0147] Example 26. A patch radiating element according to Example 17, wherein a plurality of slots are provided on the patch radiator, the plurality of slots having rotational symmetry about the center of the patch radiator.
[0148] Example 27. A base station antenna, comprising:
[0149] Reflector; and
[0150] A radiating element mounted on the reflector and extending forward from the reflector, wherein the radiating element is a patch radiating element according to any one of Examples 1 to 26.
[0151] Example 28. A base station antenna according to Example 27, wherein the base station antenna includes an array of a plurality of the radiating elements, and the base station antenna further includes:
[0152] A plurality of fences are mounted on the reflector and extend forward from the reflector, each of the plurality of fences being arranged along a first direction parallel to the columns in the array, such that each column in the array is located between two adjacent fences.
[0153] Each of the plurality of fences comprises a plurality of metal sections arranged at intervals from each other along the first direction.
[0154] Example 29. A base station antenna according to Example 28, wherein:
[0155] Each fence includes a printed circuit board, the plurality of metal portions being formed of metal deposited on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board having no metal at the gaps between each adjacent pair of the plurality of metal portions; or
[0156] Each fence includes a plurality of metal sheets arranged at intervals along the first direction, each of the plurality of metal portions being formed by a corresponding metal sheet from the plurality of metal sheets.
[0157] Example 30. A base station antenna according to Example 28, wherein, viewed from a second direction parallel to the rows in the array, each radiating element overlaps with the gap between two corresponding metal portions of the plurality of metal portions of each of the plurality of fences.
[0158] While specific embodiments of this disclosure have been described in detail by way of example, those skilled in the art should understand that the examples are for illustrative purposes only and not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. The various embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in any way without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art should also understand that various modifications can be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A patch radiating element, comprising: Feed column; as well as A patch radiator positioned at the front end of the feed post, the patch radiator comprising multiple slots, The plurality of slots are configured such that when the patch radiator is fed an RF signal via the feed post, the current in the central region of the patch radiator is increased compared to the case where the patch radiator does not include the plurality of slots.
2. The patch radiating element according to claim 1, wherein, The patch radiator includes a first feed point and a second feed point for a first polarized RF signal, and a third feed point and a fourth feed point for a second polarized RF signal. The plurality of slots are configured such that: When the patch radiator is fed with an RF signal via the first feed point and the second feed point, a current flowing along a first feed direction is generated in the central region of the patch radiator, the first feed direction being defined by the first feed point and the second feed point; or When the patch radiator is fed with an RF signal via the third and fourth feed points, a current flowing along a second feed direction is generated in the central region of the patch radiator, the second feed direction being defined by the third and fourth feed points. Optionally, each of the plurality of slots is symmetrical with respect to the first adjacent slot about the first feeding direction, and symmetrical with respect to the second adjacent slot about the second feeding direction.
3. The patch radiating element according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of slots has one or more geometric lengths, and wherein: The largest of the one or more geometric lengths is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or The one or more geometric lengths are all between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator. Optionally, each of the plurality of slots has one or more branches. Optionally, the plurality of slots as a whole have rotational symmetry about the center of the patch radiator. Optionally, the patch radiating element is a multi-piece radiating element, and the patch radiator is mounted at the front end of the feed post; alternatively, the patch radiating element is a single-piece radiating element, and the feed post is cut and bent from a metal sheet forming the patch radiator. Optionally, the patch radiator includes a first patch portion and a second patch portion located at the edge of the first patch portion and extending rearward from the first patch portion, wherein the plurality of slots are disposed on the first patch portion.
4. The patch radiating element according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of slots extends from a first position on the patch radiator to a second position on the patch radiator, the first position being adjacent to a corresponding edge of the patch radiator and the second position being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator. Optionally, each of the plurality of slots is symmetrical about a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator. Optionally, each of the plurality of slots includes a first slot portion extending along a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator. Optionally, each of the plurality of slots includes a second slot portion extending at an angle to the corresponding axis and connected to the first slot portion. Optionally, the second slot portion is perpendicular to the corresponding axis and closer to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator than the center of the patch radiator. Optionally, each of the plurality of slots includes a first slot portion located on a first side of a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator, and a second slot portion located on a second side of the corresponding axis opposite to the first side, the second slot portion being connected to the first slot portion.
5. The patch radiating element according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of slots includes a plurality of slot portions that are not connected to each other. Each slot portion extends from a corresponding first position on the patch radiator to a corresponding second position on the patch radiator. The corresponding first position is adjacent to a corresponding edge of the patch radiator, and the corresponding second position is adjacent to the center of the patch radiator. Optionally: Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more geometric lengths, at least the largest of which is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or The multiple slot sections have different geometric lengths from each other; or Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more branches; or Each of the plurality of slot portions is symmetrical about a corresponding axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the corresponding edge of the patch radiator; or The plurality of groove portions as a whole have axial symmetry about the respective axes; or Each of the plurality of slot portions includes a first segment located on a first side of the corresponding axis and a second segment located on a second side of the corresponding axis opposite to the first side, the second segment being connected to the first segment; or The plurality of groove portions include a first groove portion located on a first side of the corresponding axis and a second groove portion located on a second side of the corresponding axis opposite to the first side, wherein the second groove portion is not connected to the first groove portion.
6. A patch radiating element, comprising: Feed column; as well as A patch radiator is positioned at the front end of the feed post, and a slot is provided on the patch radiator. The slot extends from a first position on the patch radiator to a second position on the patch radiator. The first position is adjacent to the edge of the patch radiator, and the second position is adjacent to the center of the patch radiator.
7. The patch radiating element according to claim 6, wherein, The slot has one or more geometric lengths, and wherein: The largest of the one or more geometric lengths is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or The one or more geometric lengths are all between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator. Optionally, the slot has one or more branches. Optionally, the slot is symmetrical about an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator. Optionally, the groove includes a first groove portion extending along an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator; alternatively, the groove includes a second groove portion extending at an angle to the axis and connected to the first groove portion. Optionally, the groove includes a first groove portion located on a first side of an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator, and a second groove portion located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, the second groove portion being connected to the first groove portion.
8. The patch radiating element according to claim 6, wherein, The slot includes a plurality of slot portions that are not connected to each other, each of the plurality of slot portions extending from a corresponding first position on the patch radiator to a corresponding second position on the patch radiator, the corresponding first position being adjacent to the edge of the patch radiator, and the corresponding second position being adjacent to the center of the patch radiator, optionally: Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more geometric lengths, at least the largest of which is between 0.1 and 0.5 times the operating wavelength of the patch radiator; or The multiple slot sections have different geometric lengths from each other; or Each of the plurality of slot portions has one or more branches; or Each of the plurality of slot portions is symmetrical about an axis passing through the center of the patch radiator and perpendicular to the edge of the patch radiator; or The plurality of groove portions as a whole have axial symmetry about the axis; or Each of the plurality of slot portions includes a first segment located on a first side of the axis and a second segment located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, the second segment being connected to the first segment; or The plurality of groove portions include a first groove portion located on a first side of the axis and a second groove portion located on a second side of the axis opposite to the first side, wherein the second groove portion is not connected to the first groove portion.
9. The patch radiating element according to claim 6, wherein, The patch radiator has a plurality of slots, and the plurality of slots as a whole have rotational symmetry about the center of the patch radiator.
10. A base station antenna, comprising: Reflector; as well as A radiating element mounted on the reflector and extending forward from the reflector, wherein the radiating element is a patch radiating element according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Optionally, the base station antenna includes an array of multiple radiating elements, and further includes multiple fences mounted on the reflector and extending forward from the reflector, each of the multiple fences being arranged along a first direction parallel to the columns in the array, such that each column in the array is located between two adjacent fences, wherein each of the multiple fences includes multiple metal portions spaced apart from each other along the first direction. Optionally, each fence includes a printed circuit board, the plurality of metal portions being formed of metal deposited on the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board having no metal at the gaps between each pair of adjacent metal portions; or each fence includes a plurality of metal sheets spaced apart from each other along the first direction, each of the plurality of metal portions being formed of a corresponding metal sheet from the plurality of metal sheets. Optionally, viewed from a second direction parallel to the rows in the array, each radiating element overlaps with the gap between two corresponding metal portions of the plurality of metal portions of each of the plurality of fences.