Polarization and directional diagram reconfigurable phased array antenna

Abstract

The utility model provides a polarization and directional diagram reconfigurable phased-array antenna, which relates to the field of antenna design and comprises an upper-layer PCB (printed circuit board), a lower-layer PCB, four dual-polarization antenna units and a phase-shifting network. The four dual-polarized antenna units are arranged in a rectangular shape and are arranged on the upper layer PCB, the phase shift network is arranged on the lower layer PCB, and the four dual-polarized antenna units are connected with the phase shift network; wherein a control unit for controlling the polarization direction of the antenna is arranged in each dual-polarized antenna unit. The antenna can be switched among horizontal polarization, vertical polarization and circular polarization, has beamforming capability, and can scan nine directions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of antenna design, in particular to a phased array antenna with reconfigurable polarization and directional pattern. Background Art

[0002] Antennas are a common tool in the communications field. Traditional antennas suffer from fixed orientation and a single polarization, requiring mechanical rotation for scanning. Traditional phased array radars utilize numerous phase shifters or TR units, resulting in high costs and typically limited to military applications. The expanding market for civilian electric vehicles and drones is placing new demands on the cost of phased arrays.

[0003] The disadvantages of traditional phased array approaches include: 1) high cost, with phase shifters or TR units typically costing several hundred yuan each, and a large number of these units are required to achieve scanning; 2) cumbersome manufacturing, requiring assembly of numerous components and debugging; and 3) single polarization, which can cause multipath interference and communication blind spots.

[0004] The disadvantages of traditional mechanical scanning are: 1) large size, high weight, and the need for space for the mechanical structure; 2) complex structure, inconvenient maintenance, and short lifespan; 3) mechanical movement can easily damage people and property. Utility Model Content

[0005] The embodiments of the present utility model provide a phased array antenna with reconfigurable polarization and directional pattern to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, or may be learned in part from the practice of the present invention.

[0007] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present utility model, there is provided a polarization and pattern reconfigurable phased array antenna, comprising: an upper PCB board, a lower PCB board, four dual-polarization antenna units and a phase shift network;

[0008] The four dual-polarized antenna units are arranged in a rectangular shape and are arranged on the upper PCB board, the phase shift network is arranged on the lower PCB board, and the four dual-polarized antenna units are connected to the phase shift network;

[0009] Each dual-polarized antenna unit is provided with a control unit for controlling the polarization direction of the antenna.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the above solution, each dual-polarization antenna unit includes an inner circle structure and an outer ring structure that are coaxially arranged.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the aforementioned solution, the control unit includes: a first PIN diode and a second PIN diode;

[0012] The first PIN diode and the second PIN diode are both arranged at the connection between the inner circular structure and the outer ring structure;

[0013] A connection line formed by the first PIN diode and the center point of the dual-polarization antenna unit and a connection line formed by the second PIN diode and the center point of the dual-polarization antenna unit are perpendicular to each other.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the above solution, the polarities of the first PIN diode and the second PIN diode are opposite.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the above solution, the phase shift network includes: a first power divider, a second power divider, a third power divider and four signal delay units;

[0016] The input end of the first power divider is used to receive an external input signal, and the output end is connected to the input end of the second power divider and the output end of the third power divider respectively;

[0017] The output end of the second power divider is connected to two signal delay units of the four signal delay units respectively, and the output end of the third power divider is connected to the other two signal delay units respectively.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the aforementioned solution, the signal delay unit includes: a 90-degree delay transmission line and a 0-degree delay transmission line;

[0019] The 90-degree delay transmission line and the 0-degree delay transmission line are provided with radio frequency switches.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the above solution, the upper PCB board and the lower PCB board are connected through multiple wires.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the above solution, a radio frequency interface is provided on the lower PCB board.

[0022] In some embodiments of the present invention, based on the above solution, the overall size of the antenna is between 30cm*30cm and 40cm*40cm.

[0023] The technical solution of the present utility model combines the technical advantages of phased array and provides a reconfigurable antenna. By combining the different phases of the power divider and the switching state of the PIN diode, it can switch between horizontal polarization, vertical polarization and circular polarization, and has beamforming capability and can scan in 9 directions.

[0024] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrating embodiments of the present invention and, together with the specification, explaining the principles of the present invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention, and those skilled in the art can derive other drawings based on these drawings without inventive effort. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 A front schematic diagram of a polarization and directional pattern reconfigurable phased array antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the back side of a phased array antenna with reconfigurable polarization and directivity pattern according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 3 FIG2 shows a schematic structural diagram of a first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0029] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of a phase shift network according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0030] Figure 5 FIG. 2 shows a schematic structural diagram of the first signal delay unit 214 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Description of Reference Numerals

[0032] 1-upper PCB board, 2-lower PCB board, 11-first dual-polarized antenna unit, 12-second dual-polarized antenna unit, 13-third dual-polarized antenna unit, 14-fourth dual-polarized antenna unit, 21-phase shift network, 111-first PIN diode, 112-second PIN diode, 211-first power divider, 213-second power divider, 213-third power divider, 214-first delay unit, 215-second delay unit, 216-third delay unit, 217-fourth delay unit, 2141-0 degree delay transmission line, 2142-90 degree delay transmission line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be more thorough and complete and will fully convey the concepts of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0034] In addition, the described features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, many specific details are provided to provide a full understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the technical solutions of the present invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, devices, steps, etc. can be adopted. In other cases, well-known methods, devices, implementations or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the present invention.

[0035] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," and the like in the specification and claims of the present invention and the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or precedence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate, such that the embodiments of the present invention described herein can be implemented in an order other than that shown or described.

[0036] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0037] The following will be combined with the accompanying drawings to describe some embodiments of the present invention in detail. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0038] In order to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art, the embodiment of the present utility model provides a polarization and directional pattern reconfigurable phased array antenna, comprising: an upper PCB board, a lower PCB board, four dual-polarization antenna units and a phase shift network;

[0039] The four dual-polarized antenna units are arranged in a rectangular shape and are arranged on the upper PCB board, the phase shift network is arranged on the lower PCB board, and the four dual-polarized antenna units are connected to the phase shift network;

[0040] Each dual-polarized antenna unit is provided with a control unit for controlling the polarization direction of the antenna.

[0041] It should be noted that the phase shift network in this embodiment can divide the external input RF signal into four, and can perform delay processing, and input the RF signals with different delays into different dual-polarized antenna units, so that a pair of dual-polarized antenna units at the diagonal corners of the rectangle are in phase and form a 90-degree phase difference with the other pair of dual-polarized antenna units, thereby achieving a circular polarization effect.

[0042] It should be noted that the lower PCB serves as both a reflective surface and a wiring area for the phase-shifting network, thereby reducing the overall size. In some feasible embodiments, the overall size of the antenna ranges from 30cm*30cm to 40cm*40cm, significantly reducing the overall antenna area.

[0043] For example, see Figure 1 , shows a front schematic diagram of a polarization and directional pattern reconfigurable phased array antenna according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0044] For example, see Figure 2 , shows a schematic back view of a polarization and directional pattern reconfigurable phased array antenna according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, a first dual-polarized antenna unit 11, a second dual-polarized antenna unit 12, a third dual-polarized antenna unit 13, and a fourth dual-polarized antenna unit 14 are provided on the upper PCB board 1. The four dual-polarized antenna units are arranged in a 2×2 manner on the upper PCB board, and the overall shape is rectangular.

[0046] Each of the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 , the second dual-polarized antenna unit 12 , the third dual-polarized antenna unit 13 and the fourth dual-polarized antenna unit 14 is provided with a control unit for controlling the polarization direction of the antenna.

[0047] like Figure 2 As shown, a phase shift network 21 is provided on the lower PCB board 2, and the phase shift network 21 is connected to the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11, the second dual-polarized antenna unit 12, the third dual-polarized antenna unit 13 and the fourth dual-polarized antenna unit 14 respectively.

[0048] The phase shift network 21 receives an external RF signal and splits it into four. It then delays the four split RF signals and outputs them to the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11, the second dual-polarized antenna unit 12, the third dual-polarized antenna unit 13, and the fourth dual-polarized antenna unit 14. The phase shift network 21 adjusts the phase differences between the four dual-polarized antenna units to achieve a change in scanning direction.

[0049] It should be noted that the phase shift network 21 controls its own state by external high and low levels.

[0050] In some feasible embodiments, based on the above solution, each dual-polarization antenna unit includes an inner circle structure and an outer ring structure that are coaxially arranged.

[0051] In some feasible embodiments, based on the above solution, the control unit includes: a first PIN diode and a second PIN diode;

[0052] The first PIN diode and the second PIN diode are both arranged at the connection between the inner circular structure and the outer ring structure;

[0053] A connection line formed by the first PIN diode and the center point of the dual-polarization antenna unit and a connection line formed by the second PIN diode and the center point of the dual-polarization antenna unit are perpendicular to each other.

[0054] In some feasible embodiments, based on the above solution, the polarities of the first PIN diode and the second PIN diode are opposite.

[0055] For example, taking the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 as an example, see Figure 3 , shows a schematic structural diagram of the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0056] like Figure 3 As shown, the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 includes an outer ring structure and an inner circle structure. The outer ring structure and the inner circle structure are coaxially arranged, and there is a gap at the connection between the two.

[0057] The control unit provided on the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 includes a first PIN diode 111 and a second PIN diode 112. Both the first PIN diode 111 and the second PIN diode 112 are provided at the junction of the outer ring structure and the inner circle structure. The connection line formed by the first PIN diode 111 and the center point of the dual-polarized antenna unit and the connection line formed by the second PIN diode 112 and the center point of the dual-polarized antenna unit are perpendicular to each other, forming a 90° angle. Furthermore, the polarities of the first PIN diode 111 and the second PIN diode 112 are opposite.

[0058] It should be noted that the first PIN diode 111 and the second PIN diode 112 control their own states by externally connecting high and low levels.

[0059] It can be understood that the polarization direction of the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 can be controlled by controlling the states of the first PIN diode 111 and the second PIN diode 112 .

[0060] It should be noted that the control units on the second dual-polarized antenna unit 12 , the third dual-polarized antenna unit 13 and the fourth dual-polarized antenna unit 14 are all configured according to the control unit on the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 .

[0061] The polarization direction control principle of the second dual-polarization antenna unit 12 , the third dual-polarization antenna unit 13 and the fourth dual-polarization antenna unit 14 is the same as that of the first dual-polarization antenna unit 11 , and will not be described in detail here.

[0062] In some feasible embodiments, based on the above solution, the phase shift network includes: a first power divider, a second power divider, a third power divider and four signal delay units;

[0063] The input end of the first power divider is used to receive an external input signal, and the output end is connected to the input end of the second power divider and the output end of the third power divider respectively;

[0064] The output end of the second power divider is connected to two signal delay units of the four signal delay units respectively, and the output end of the third power divider is connected to the other two signal delay units respectively.

[0065] It can be understood that the first power divider, the second power divider and the third power divider can divide the RF signal initially input from the outside into four, obtaining four RF sub-signals, each RF sub-signal is input into a signal delay unit, and each signal delay unit can delay the RF sub-signal by 90 degrees or 0 degrees. The delayed RF sub-signals are respectively input into the four dual-polarized antenna units.

[0066] For example, see Figure 4 , shows a structural schematic diagram of a phase shift network according to an embodiment of the present utility model.

[0067] like Figure 4 As shown, the phase shift network 21 includes a first power divider 211 , a second power divider 212 , a third power divider 213 , a first delay unit 214 , a second delay unit 215 , a third delay unit 216 and a fourth delay unit 217 .

[0068] Among them, the first power divider 211 is connected to the RF interface to receive the RF signal input from the outside. The output end of the first power divider 211 is connected to the second power divider 212 and the third power divider 213 respectively; the output end of the second power divider 212 is connected to the first delay unit 214 and the second delay unit 215 respectively; the output end of the third power divider 213 is connected to the third delay unit 216 and the fourth delay unit 217 respectively.

[0069] The input RF signal is divided into four by the first power divider 211, the second power divider 212, and the third power divider 213, and then transmitted to the four delay units for 90-degree or 0-degree delay processing. The delayed signals are then transmitted to the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11, the second dual-polarized antenna unit 12, the third dual-polarized antenna unit 13, and the fourth dual-polarized antenna unit 14, respectively. Through the delay processing, the first dual-polarized antenna unit 11 and the third dual-polarized antenna unit 13 at opposite corners are in phase, forming a 90-degree phase difference with the second dual-polarized antenna unit 12 and the fourth dual-polarized antenna unit 14, thereby achieving a circular polarization effect.

[0070] In some feasible embodiments, based on the above solution, the signal delay unit includes: a 90-degree delay transmission line and a 0-degree delay transmission line;

[0071] The 90-degree delay transmission line and the 0-degree delay transmission line are provided with radio frequency switches.

[0072] For example, taking the first signal delay unit 214 as an example, for example, see Figure 5 , shows a schematic structural diagram of the first signal delay unit 214 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] like Figure 5 As shown, the first signal delay unit 214 includes a 0-degree delay transmission line 2141 and a 90-degree delay transmission line 2142; an RF switch 2143 is provided on the 0-degree delay transmission line 2141 and the 90-degree delay transmission line 2142, and the 0-degree delay transmission line 2141 and the 90-degree delay transmission line 2142 are switched by the switch 2143 to perform signal transmission, thereby achieving 0-degree delay or 90-degree delay of the signal.

[0074] In some feasible embodiments, based on the above solution, the upper PCB board and the lower PCB board are connected through multiple wires to ensure electrical connectivity between the upper PCB board and the lower PCB board.

[0075] In some feasible embodiments, based on the above solution, a radio frequency interface is provided on the lower PCB board to receive radio frequency signals input from the outside.

[0076] In summary, the antenna provided in the embodiment of the present invention can switch between horizontal polarization and vertical polarization and scan in 9 directions. It is suitable for communication antenna solutions that require fixed placement, small size, low cost, and long distance. At the same time, it does not contain expensive phase shifters, which greatly reduces the cost and has the characteristics of low cost and high gain.

[0077] Those skilled in the art will readily conceive of other embodiments of the present invention after considering the specification and practicing the embodiments disclosed herein. The present invention is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present invention that follow the general principles of the present invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art that are not disclosed in the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A polarization and pattern reconfigurable phased array antenna, characterized in that: include: Upper PCB board, lower PCB board, four dual-polarized antenna units and phase shift network; The four dual-polarized antenna units are arranged in a rectangular shape and are arranged on the upper PCB board, the phase shift network is arranged on the lower PCB board, and the four dual-polarized antenna units are connected to the phase shift network; Wherein, each dual-polarized antenna unit is provided with a control unit for controlling the polarization direction of the antenna.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein Each dual-polarization antenna unit includes an inner circle structure and an outer ring structure that are coaxially arranged.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein: The control unit includes: a first PIN diode and a second PIN diode; The first PIN diode and the second PIN diode are both arranged at the connection between the inner circular structure and the outer ring structure; A connection line formed by the first PIN diode and the center point of the dual-polarization antenna unit and a connection line formed by the second PIN diode and the center point of the dual-polarization antenna unit are perpendicular to each other.

4. The antenna according to claim 3, wherein: The first PIN diode and the second PIN diode have opposite polarities.

5. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein The phase shift network includes: a first power divider, a second power divider, a third power divider and four signal delay units; The input end of the first power divider is used to receive an external input signal, and the output end is connected to the input end of the second power divider and the output end of the third power divider respectively; The output end of the second power divider is connected to two signal delay units of the four signal delay units respectively, and the output end of the third power divider is connected to the other two signal delay units respectively.

6. The antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that The signal delay unit includes: a 90-degree delay transmission line and a 0-degree delay transmission line; The 90-degree delay transmission line and the 0-degree delay transmission line are provided with radio frequency switches.

7. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein The upper PCB board and the lower PCB board are connected via a plurality of wires.

8. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein The lower PCB board is provided with a radio frequency interface.

9. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The overall size of the antenna is between 30cm*30cm and 40cm*40cm.

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