A wide-angle scanning phase-continuous tunable phased array antenna

Abstract

The application discloses a wide-angle scanning phase-continuous adjustable phased array antenna, which comprises a first layer of feed network, a second layer of dielectric substrate, a third layer of metal grounding plate, a fourth layer of dielectric substrate, a fifth layer of direct current bias, a sixth layer of dielectric substrate, a seventh layer of metal grounding plate, an eighth layer of dielectric substrate and a ninth layer of radiation structure which are stacked in sequence, and further comprises a coupling metal wall; the first layer of feed network comprises a four-stage Wilkinson power divider with 1 / 16 and 16 reflection-type phase shifters, and the phase shifters are used for adjusting the phase of a signal; the fifth layer of direct current bias is used for adjusting the reflection-type phase shifters of the first layer; and the radiation structure comprises 16 radiation units, each of which comprises a metal antenna plate and a coupling electric wall. The application can realize the continuous adjustment of the 360-degree phase of the phase shifters, and further realizes the flexible control of a beam; and the wide-beam radiation unit can also increase the beam scanning angle of the phased array antenna.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to phased array antennas, specifically a phased array antenna employing a wide-angle scanning method with a continuously modulated phase-reflective phase shifter. Background Technology

[0002] A phased array antenna is an antenna system that achieves rapid beam scanning by controlling the feed phase of each radiating antenna element. Compared with traditional mechanically scanned antennas, phased array antennas do not require mechanical rotation; they can change the phase state of the radiating elements electronically. This allows phased array antennas to complete rapid beam pointing switching within milliseconds, offering advantages such as fast scanning speed, flexible beam pointing, strong multi-target tracking capability, and high reliability.

[0003] In modern wireless communication systems, as requirements for communication quality increase, antenna performance demands also rise. Traditional phased array antennas mostly employ TR (Transient Phase Shift) modules, the core module connected to each antenna element. These modules contain crucial digital phase shifters, typically composed of phase-shifting chips. By precisely controlling the phase of each element's signal, they enable rapid beam scanning in space. However, the complexity, high power consumption, and high cost of TR modules hinder the development of large-scale phased array antennas. Changing the state of active devices in the phased array antenna's feed circuit alters the phase state of the radiating elements, thus controlling the antenna's beam pointing. Therefore, this method of controlling the beam of a phased array antenna has broad application prospects in wireless communication systems.

[0004] Changing the phase state of a radiating element by altering the state of an active device is a highly advantageous method. However, existing beam scanning schemes all implement discrete phase control, making it difficult to achieve continuous beam scanning and limiting the number of beam scanning states that can be scanned.

[0005] Wide-angle scanning phased array antennas are one of the important directions in the development of phased array technology, aiming to overcome the bottleneck of limited beam scanning range of traditional phased array antennas and achieve beam coverage over a wider angle range. Traditional phased array antennas are usually affected by the width of the radiation element pattern. When the beam is pointed at a large angle, the element gain decreases, which severely restricts the wide-angle scanning capability of the phased array antenna. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning and continuously adjustable phase, thereby achieving continuous scanning of the phased array beam and increasing the scanning angle of the phased array antenna.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A wide-angle scanning phased array antenna with continuously adjustable phase includes a first-layer feed network, a second-layer dielectric substrate, a third-layer metal ground plane, a fourth-layer dielectric substrate, a fifth-layer DC feed, a sixth-layer dielectric substrate, a seventh-layer metal ground plane, an eighth-layer dielectric substrate, a ninth-layer radiating structure, and coupled electrical walls distributed on both sides of the radiating antenna elements. The first-layer feed network includes a 1-to-16 four-stage Wilkinson power divider and 16 reflective phase shifters. The power divider distributes a signal with equal amplitude and in phase to the sixteen reflective phase shifters. Each phase shifter can continuously adjust the phase of the signal distributed by the power divider and feed the phase-modulated signal to the radiating element. The fifth-layer DC feed has 48 DC bias lines. The ninth-layer radiating structure consists of 16 antenna radiating elements that radiate electromagnetic waves. Coupled metal electrical walls are distributed on both sides of the metal antenna plate of each antenna radiating element.

[0008] Based on the above technical solutions, the present invention may also employ the following further technical solutions, or combine these further technical solutions: The reflective phase shifter includes a transmission delay microstrip line, a 3dB coupling matrix, four PIN diodes, and two varactor diodes. The transmission delay line is distributed around the 3dB coupling matrix and forms a "U" shape with the 3dB coupling matrix by bending the transmission delay line. The four PIN diodes are distributed on the transmission delay line to control the direction of current flow. The load end of the 3dB coupling matrix adopts an "L"-shaped microstrip line series varactor diode grounding structure. The 16 reflective phase shifters have the same structure and are evenly distributed in the power supply network.

[0009] The varactor diodes on the 3dB coupling matrix are used to control the phase state of the signal.

[0010] The four-stage Wilkinson power divider includes 15 100Ω surface mount resistors to isolate the two output ports of each stage. Surface mount capacitors are distributed between the 16 output ports of the four-stage Wilkinson power divider and the reflective phase shifter to isolate DC power supply.

[0011] In a reflective phase shifter, one end of the varactor diode at the load end of the 3dB coupling matrix is ​​connected to the 3dB coupling matrix, and the other end is connected to a metal stub. This metal stub is directly connected to two metal ground planes through a metal blind via, resulting in a terminal short circuit.

[0012] The input port of the reflective phase shifter is connected to the output port of the four-stage Wilkinson power divider. The output port is connected to the ninth-layer metal antenna plate through a metal through-hole for excitation of electromagnetic signals of the radiating unit.

[0013] The two transmission delay lines and the 3dB coupling matrix of the reflective phase shifter are all connected to the metal patch through the surface mount inductor. The metal patch is connected to the DC feed through the metal blind via to control the DC bias voltage of the reflective phase shifter. The surface mount inductor is used to isolate AC signals and connect to the DC bias.

[0014] As a further aspect of the present invention: each reflective phase shifter has 3 DC bias lines, and the phased array system has a total of 48 DC bias lines for DC power supply. Adjusting the voltage on the DC bias lines causes a potential difference to be formed across the PIN diode and varactor diode of the reflective phase shifter, thereby controlling the state of the PIN diode and varactor diode and thus changing the phase of the signal.

[0015] As a further aspect of the present invention: each radiating element in the radiating structure is symmetrically provided with coupled metal electric walls on both sides, which is used to increase the beamwidth and gain of the E-plane and H-plane of the radiating element and increase the beam scanning angle of the phased array antenna.

[0016] As a further aspect of the present invention: the second and eighth dielectric substrates are both Rogers RO4003C with a phase permittivity of 3.5 and a loss tangent of 0.0021; the thickness of the first dielectric substrate is 0.508 mm; the thickness of the eighth dielectric substrate is 3.856 mm; the fourth and sixth dielectric substrates are both Rogers RO4400F with a relative permittivity of 3.52 and a loss tangent of 0.004; and the thickness of both the fourth and sixth dielectric substrates is 0.102 mm.

[0017] As a further aspect of the present invention: the spacing between the radiating elements in the metal antenna plate is 40.1 mm on the H-plane and 39.65 mm on the E-plane.

[0018] In summary, the present invention first provides a 360° continuously adjustable reflective phase shifter, and uses the phase shifter to control the phase state of each radiating element of a phased array antenna to achieve continuous scanning of the phased array beam. It also provides a wide-beam antenna element to increase the scanning angle of the phased array antenna.

[0019] Compared with existing technologies, this invention controls the operating state of the PIN diode and varactor diode of each reflective phase shifter through 48 DC feed lines. This enables continuous 360° phase adjustment of the reflective phase shifter, greatly reducing the design freedom of the radiating unit. At the same time, by bending the load end of the transmission delay line and the 3dB coupling matrix, the phase shifter forms a "U" structure, which greatly reduces the overall size of the phase shifter. This allows the feed network to have enough space to set up 16 reflective phase shifters, ensuring structural compactness. Coupled electric walls are symmetrically set on both sides of the radiating unit to increase the scanning angle of the phased array antenna. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a side view of the structure of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the first-layer power supply network structure of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the fifth layer DC power supply structure of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the ninth layer metal antenna plate structure of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a reflection coefficient diagram at various scanning angles in this invention.

[0025] Figure 6 This is the beam pattern of the present invention during beam scanning in the E plane.

[0026] Figure 7 The radiation pattern of the present invention during beam scanning in the H plane.

[0027] In the diagram: 1. Second dielectric substrate, 2. Fourth dielectric substrate, 3. Sixth dielectric substrate, 4. Eighth dielectric substrate, 5. Coupling wall, 6. Metal strip twelve, 7. DC feed one, 8. Metal strip one, 9. Short transmission delay line, 10. Long transmission delay line, 11. First layer feed network, 12. Metal strip two, 13. Metal strip three, 14. Metal strip four, 15. 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line, 16. Surface mount capacitor, 17. Metal strip five, 18. Surface mount resistor, 19. Surface mount inductor, 20. PIN 21. Diode, 22. Third metal ground plane, 23. Varactor diode, 24. Surface mount inductor, 25. Metal strip six, 26. Metal strip seven, 27. Metal blind via one, 28. Metal blind via two, 29. Metal blind via three, 30. Metal blind via four, 31. DC feed two, 32. DC bias, 33. Metal antenna plate, 34. Metal via, 35. Metal strip nine, 36. Metal strip ten, 37. Metal strip eleven, 38. Metal strip twelfth, 41. Seventh metal ground plane, 51. Radial structure. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] As shown in the figure, the power supply network includes a 1-to-16 four-stage Wilkinson power divider and 16 identical reflective phase shifters. The Wilkinson power divider includes one input port and 16 output ports. The Wilkinson power divider uses microstrip transmission lines with impedances of 50Ω and 70.7Ω. The length of the 70.7Ω impedance microstrip line is one-quarter wavelength (the wavelength of electromagnetic waves at the operating frequency). The one-quarter wavelength impedance line enables the power divider to achieve good impedance matching. At the end of the one-quarter wavelength impedance microstrip line, there are 100Ω chip resistors to isolate the mutual interference of signals at the output of the power divider, thereby increasing the isolation of the power divider. The reflective phase shifter includes a short transmission delay line 9, a long transmission delay line 10, a second metal strip 12, a third metal strip 13, a 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line 15, a fifth metal strip 17, an eighth metal strip 34, a ninth metal strip 35, and a tenth metal strip 36. Two PIN diodes are placed between the short transmission delay line 9 and the eighth and ninth metal strips 34 and 35, two PIN diodes are placed between the long transmission delay line 10 and the eighth and ninth metal strips 34 and 35, and a varactor diode is placed between the 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line 15 and the fifth metal strip 17.

[0030] The 16 output ports of the four-stage Wilkinson power divider are connected to the 16 reflective phase shifters via surface-mount capacitors 16. The surface-mount capacitors 16 isolate DC signals between the power divider and the phase shifters, and also isolate the connection between the 16 phase shifters, thus enabling independent control of the 16 phase shifters.

[0031] The short transmission delay line 9 of the reflective phase shifter is connected to metal strip 8, the long transmission delay line 10 is connected to metal strip 12 38, and the metal strip 9 35 is connected to metal strip 4 14 via surface mount inductor 19. Metal strip 8 34 is connected to DC feed 7 via surface mount inductor 23. Voltages V1 and V2 are set for the short transmission delay line 9 and the long transmission delay line 10, respectively, and voltage V3 is set for metal strip 8 34 and metal strip 9 35. By controlling voltages V1, V2, and V3, the on / off state of the PIN diode is controlled, thereby controlling the signal transmission path (short transmission delay line or long transmission delay line), resulting in a 180° phase difference of the signal.

[0032] The 3dB coupling matrix of the reflective phase shifter includes metal strip 12, metal strip 13, 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line 15, metal strip 17, metal strip 35, and metal strip 36. A varactor diode 22 is placed between the 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line 15 and metal strip 17. Metal strip 17 is directly connected to the fifth metal ground plane 31 and the eighth metal ground plane 41 through a metal blind hole 27, and its voltage is set to 0V. Metal strips 12, 13, 15, 35, and 36 are all directly connected, so the voltage of all these metal strips is V3. Controlling the magnitude of voltage V3 controls the reverse voltage across the varactor diode, further controlling the phase state of the reflective phase shifter. Continuously controlling the magnitudes of V1, V2, and V3 allows for continuous 360° phase adjustment of the phase shifter.

[0033] Metal strip 18, metal strip 414, and metal strip 1238 are all connected to DC feed 20 in the fifth layer DC bias 31 through metal blind hole 26. Each phase shifter has 3 voltages to control its phase tuning. Therefore, the 16 phase shifters need to be fed by 48 DC feed lines in the DC bias to power the entire phase array system.

[0034] Metal strip 6 24 is connected to the third metal ground plane 21 and the seventh metal ground plane 41 through metal blind hole 3 28, controlling the voltage of the metal ground plane to 0V.

[0035] A surface-mount inductor is placed between metal strip 834 and DC power supply 7 to control the voltage of metal strip 834 to be the same as that of metal strip 414, which is V3, to ensure the normal operation of the PIN diode.

[0036] The second dielectric substrate 1 and the eighth dielectric substrate 4 are both Rogers RO4003C with a phase permittivity of 3.5 and a loss tangent of 0.0021. The thickness of the first dielectric substrate 1 is 0.508 mm, and the thickness of the eighth dielectric substrate 4 is 3.856 mm. The fourth dielectric substrate 2 and the sixth dielectric substrate 3 are both Rogers RO4400F with a relative permittivity of 3.52 and a loss tangent of 0.004. The thickness of the fourth dielectric substrate 2 and the sixth dielectric substrate 3 is 0.102 mm.

[0037] The radiating element includes a metal antenna plate 32 and a coupling electric wall 5. Each radiating element has a coupling electric wall distributed on both sides to increase the beamwidth of the radiating element and increase the scanning angle of the phased array antenna.

[0038] The radiating elements are spaced 40.1 mm apart on the H-plane and 39.65 mm apart on the E-plane.

[0039] The three voltages V1, V2, and V3 required for the operation of the reflective phase shifter can be adjusted by continuously varying the capacitance of the varactor diode from 0.15pF to 0.8pF through the magnitude of the bias voltage V3. The voltage difference between the bias voltages V1 and V2 and the bias voltage V3 controls the on / off state of the PIN diode, changing the signal path and achieving a 180° phase difference. Simultaneously controlling V1, V2, and V3 allows for continuous phase change of the phase shifter across the entire 360° angle, enabling continuous scanning of the phased array antenna beam in space.

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown, by controlling the reflective phase shifter to make the phase of each row of radiating elements the same, continuous scanning of the phased array antenna beam in the E-plane can be achieved (see...). Figure 6 Similarly, the copper drum controls the reflective phase shifter to make the phase of each column of radiating elements the same, thus achieving continuous scanning of the beam in the H-plane (see...). Figure 7 ).

[0041] The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the structural features of the present invention are not limited thereto. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention are covered by the protection scope of the present invention.

[0042] It should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "installed," "set," "equipped with," "connected," "connected," and "sleeve-in" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral construction; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or an internal connection between two devices, elements, or components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0043] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "one end," "the other end," "outer side," "inner side," "horizontal," "end," "length," "outer end," "left," and "right," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. The terms "first" and "second" are also used only for the sake of brevity in description and do not indicate or imply relative importance.

Claims

1. A phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning and continuously adjustable phase, characterized in that, It includes a first layer of power supply network (11), a second layer of dielectric substrate (1), a third layer of metal ground plane (21), a fourth layer of dielectric substrate (2), a fifth layer of DC bias (31), a sixth layer of dielectric substrate (3), a seventh layer of metal ground plane (41), an eighth layer of dielectric substrate (4), and a ninth layer of radiation structure (51) stacked in sequence. The power supply network is provided with a first metal blind via and a second metal blind via that pass through the first power supply network layer (11), the second dielectric substrate (1), the third metal grounding plate (21), the fourth dielectric substrate (2), the fifth DC power supply (31), the sixth dielectric substrate (3), and the seventh metal grounding plate (41) in sequence; and a first metal grounding blind via and a second metal grounding blind via that pass through the first power supply network layer (11), the second dielectric substrate (1), the third metal grounding plate (21), the fourth dielectric substrate (2), the fifth DC power supply (31), the sixth dielectric substrate (3), and the seventh metal grounding plate (41) in sequence. The first layer of the power supply network (11) has a four-stage Wilkinson power divider (6) and 16 phase shifters. Each phase shifter has the same structure. The Wilkinson power divider and the phase shifters are connected through a capacitor (22). The other end of the Wilkinson power divider is connected to an SMA connector. The fifth layer DC feed (31) includes 48 DC feed lines (30), which are connected to the first layer feed network (11) through the first metal blind hole and the second metal blind hole; The ninth-layer radiating structure (51) has 16 equal metal patches as metal antenna plates (32). Each metal antenna plate (32) of the ninth-layer radiating structure (51) is connected to the feed network (11) of the first layer through metal through holes (33). Coupled metal electric walls (5) are set on both sides of the metal antenna plates. The coupled metal electric walls (5) are set on the metal ground plane (41) of the seventh layer.

2. The phase-continuously adjustable phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning according to claim 1, characterized in that... The first layer of the power supply network (11) includes metal strip twelve (38) and metal strip eleven (37) that make up the Wilkinson power divider, short transmission delay line (9) and long transmission delay line (10) that make up the phase shifter, metal strip two (12) and metal strip three (13), 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line (15) and metal strip five (17). The Wilkinson power divider is used to divide a signal into sixteen signals of equal amplitude and phase, and the phase shifter is used to continuously change the phase of the signal and excite the metal antenna plate (51) through the metal through hole (33).

3. A phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning and continuously adjustable phase according to claim 2, characterized in that... The width of metal strip twelve (38), short transmission delay line (9), long transmission delay line (10), metal strip two (12), and metal strip eight (34) of the first layer feed network (11) is 1.1 mm, the width of metal strip eleven (37) is 0.6 mm, and the width of metal strip three (13) is 1.86 mm.

4. A phase-continuously adjustable phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning according to claim 2, characterized in that... The first layer of diodes includes a PIN diode (20), a varactor diode (22), a chip resistor (18), a chip inductor (19), a chip inductor (23), and a chip capacitor (16). The 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line (15) and metal strip five (17) are connected by a varactor diode (22). The short transmission delay line (9) and the long transmission delay line (10) are connected to metal strip nine (35) and metal strip ten (36) by a PIN diode (20). The metal strip eight (34) and metal strip twelve (6) are connected by a chip capacitor (16). The metal strip one (8) and metal strip four (14) are connected to the short transmission delay line (9), the long transmission delay line (10), and metal strip three (13) by a chip inductor (19). The 3dB coupling matrix load transmission line (15) and metal strip five (17) are connected by a varactor diode (22).

5. A phase-continuously adjustable phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning according to claim 1, characterized in that... The fifth layer DC feed (31) includes DC feed two (30), and the phase state of the phase shifter is regulated by controlling the voltage of DC bias (31) DC feed two (30).

6. A phase-continuously adjustable phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning according to claim 5, characterized in that... The width of DC feed 2 (30) of the fifth layer DC feed (31) is 0.5mm.

7. A phase-continuously adjustable phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning according to claim 1, characterized in that... The ninth-layer radiating structure (51) includes 16 metal antenna plates (32), each with a length of 21.5 mm and a width of 20.25 mm.

8. A phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning and continuously adjustable phase according to claim 1, characterized in that... The coupled metal electric walls (5) are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the metal antenna plate (32), with a length of 20 mm and a width of 10 mm.

9. A phase-continuously adjustable phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning according to claim 1, characterized in that... The second dielectric substrate (1) and the eighth dielectric substrate (4) are both Rogers RO4003C, with a phase dielectric constant of 3.5 and a loss tangent of 0.0021. The thickness of the first dielectric substrate (1) is 0.508 mm and the thickness of the eighth dielectric substrate (4) is 3.856 mm.

10. A phase-continuously adjustable phased array antenna with wide-angle scanning according to claim 1, characterized in that... The fourth dielectric substrate (2) and the sixth dielectric substrate (3) are both Rogers RO4400F, with a relative permittivity of 3.52 and a loss tangent of 0.

004. The thickness of the fourth dielectric substrate (2) and the sixth dielectric substrate (3) is 0.102 mm.

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