Antenna device

Abstract

The utility model provides an antenna device. The antenna device comprises a phase array antenna and a waveform adjusting accessory. The phased array antenna transmits a radio frequency signal. The waveform adjustment accessory is configured to reflect or refract a radio frequency signal to form a beam. The antenna device provided by the utility model can be configured into a parabolic antenna or a lens antenna with a beam forming function.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a wireless communication technology, and more particularly to an antenna device. Background Technology

[0002] Parabolic antennas or lens antennas are common antenna devices. These antenna devices can effectively concentrate the energy of radio frequency signals to transmit them to distant terminal devices. However, traditional methods cannot flexibly adjust the amplitude or phase of these antenna devices, making them unsuitable for beamforming-based wireless communication systems. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention provides an antenna device that can be configured to become a parabolic antenna or a lens antenna with beamforming function.

[0004] This invention discloses an antenna device comprising a phased array antenna and waveform adjustment accessories. The phased array antenna transmits radio frequency signals. The waveform adjustment accessories are configured to reflect or refract the radio frequency signals to form a beam.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, the waveform adjustment accessory described above includes at least one reflector.

[0006] In one embodiment of this invention, the antenna device comprises a parabolic antenna, and at least one reflector comprises a main reflector and a sub-reflector. The sub-reflector reflects radio frequency signals to the main reflector, wherein the main reflector reflects the radio frequency signals to form a beam.

[0007] In one embodiment of this utility model, the waveform adjustment accessory described above includes a lens.

[0008] In one embodiment of this utility model, the material of the lens includes a dielectric material.

[0009] In one embodiment of this invention, the antenna device further includes a receiver and a controller. The receiver is coupled to the phased array antenna and receives feedback information. The controller is coupled to the phased array antenna and the receiver, wherein the controller adjusts the amplitude or phase of the output of the antenna elements of the phased array antenna according to the feedback information.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned radio frequency signal forms one of a first beamforming signal and a second beamforming signal, wherein feedback information indicates one of the first beamforming signal and the second beamforming signal.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned feedback information further indicates the measurement result of the radio frequency signal of the terminal device, wherein the controller adjusts the output of the antenna unit according to the measurement result.

[0012] In one embodiment of this utility model, the phase array antenna includes one of a monopolar antenna, a bipolar antenna, and a multipolar antenna.

[0013] Based on the above, the antenna device of this utility model can be combined with a phase array antenna and waveform adjustment accessories to produce a parabolic antenna or lens antenna with beamforming function.

[0014] To make the above-mentioned features and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below, and detailed descriptions are provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an antenna device is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a phase array antenna is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a parabolic antenna is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 A perspective view of a lens antenna is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 A front view of a lens antenna is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 6 A flowchart of a method for transmitting power management is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of beam gain is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an antenna device 100 is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. The antenna device 100 may include a controller 110, a phased array antenna 120, a waveform adjustment accessory 130, and a receiver 140. The controller 110 may be coupled to the phased array antenna 120 and the receiver 140. The phased array antenna 120 and the receiver 140 may be the same or different components. For example, the phased array antenna 120 may transmit radio frequency signals and may also function as the receiver 140 to receive radio frequency signals.

[0023] Controller 110 may include a processor and a transceiver coupled to the processor. The processor may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), or other programmable general-purpose or special-purpose microcontrollers (MCUs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), programmable controllers, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), graphics processing units (GPUs), image signal processors (ISPs), image processing units (IPUs), arithmetic logic units (ALUs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other similar elements or combinations thereof. The transceiver can transmit or receive signals. Furthermore, the transceiver can perform operations such as low-noise amplification, impedance matching, mixing, up- or down-frequency conversion, filtering, amplification, and similar operations.

[0024] Receiver 140 can receive signals. Furthermore, receiver 140 can perform operations such as low-noise amplification, impedance matching, mixing, up or down frequency conversion, filtering, amplification, and similar operations. In one embodiment, receiver 140 and phased array antenna 120 may be the same element. In another embodiment, receiver 140 may be coupled to phased array antenna 120 via controller 110.

[0025] The phase array antenna 120 may include, but is not limited to, a monopolar antenna, a bipolar antenna, or a multipolar antenna. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a phase array antenna 120 is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. The phase array antenna 120 may include one or more antenna elements 20 (e.g., antenna element 21 or antenna element 22). A controller 110 can transmit radio frequency signals through the phase array antenna 120, wherein the controller 110 can adjust the amplitude or phase of the radio frequency signals output by the phase array antenna 120 by: enabling one or more antenna elements 20, disabling one or more antenna elements 20, allocating transmission rates to one or more antenna elements 20, or allocating transmit power to one or more antenna elements 20, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0026] Waveform adjustment accessory 130 can be configured on one side of phase array antenna 120 to reflect or refract the radio frequency signal output by phase array antenna 120 to form a beam. Antenna device 100 can transmit wireless signals to or receive wireless signals from terminal device via the beam.

[0027] In one embodiment, the antenna device 100 may be a parabolic antenna, and the waveform adjustment accessory 130 may include a reflector. Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a parabolic antenna is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. The waveform adjustment accessory 130 of the antenna device 100 may include a main reflector 131 and a sub-reflector 132. The sub-reflector 132 can reflect the radio frequency signal 31 output by the phase array antenna 120 to the main reflector 131. The main reflector 131 can reflect the radio frequency signal 31 again to form a beam 32. The controller 110 can form beams propagating in different directions by adjusting the amplitude or phase of the radio frequency signal 31 output by the phase array antenna 120. For example, the sub-reflector 132 may be configured in the transmission direction of the radio frequency signal 31 output by the phase array antenna 120 to reflect the radio frequency signal 31. The main reflector 131 may be configured on the reflection path of the sub-reflector 132 and receive the radio frequency signal 31 from the sub-reflector 132 to reflect the radio frequency signal 31 again. In one embodiment, the phase array antenna 120 may be disposed on the waveform adjustment accessory 130. For example, the phased array antenna 120 can be mounted on the main reflector 131.

[0028] In one embodiment, the antenna device 100 may be a lens antenna, and the waveform adjustment accessory 130 may be a lens, wherein the material of the lens may include a dielectric material. Figure 4 An oblique view of a lens antenna is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 A front view of a lens antenna is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. A controller 110 can transmit radio frequency (RF) signals to a waveform adjustment accessory 130 via a phase array antenna 120. The waveform adjustment accessory 130 can refract the RF signals to form a beam. The controller 110 can form beams propagating in different directions by adjusting the amplitude or phase of the RF signal 31 output by the phase array antenna 120. For example, the lens antenna can be configured in the transmission direction of the RF signal output by the phase array antenna 120 to refract the RF signal 31.

[0029] Figure 6 A flowchart of a method for transmitting power management according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the method may be performed by, for example Figure 1 The antenna device 100 shown is implemented.

[0030] In step S601, the controller 110 can transmit multiple detection signals to the terminal device using multiple beams. Specifically, the controller 110 can form multiple different beams using the phase array antenna 120 and the waveform adjustment accessory 130, and use each of the multiple different beams to transmit detection signals to the terminal device. The multiple different beams can each correspond to multiple different beam identifiers (IDs).

[0031] The terminal device can receive the multiple detection signals and measure each of the multiple detection signals to generate measurement results. The measurement results may include, but are not limited to, received signal strength indication or channel state information (CSI).

[0032] In one embodiment, the feedback information may further indicate the measurement results of the detection signal by the terminal device. The controller 110 may adjust the amplitude or phase of the radio frequency signal output by the phase array antenna 120 based on the measurement results. For example, if the measurement results indicate that the detection signal received by the terminal device has a low RSSI, the controller 110 may amplify the amplitude of the output of the phase array antenna 120 to improve the RSSI of the terminal device.

[0033] In one embodiment, before transmitting multiple detection signals to the terminal device, the antenna device 100 may select one of multiple beams supported by the antenna device 100 and communicate with the terminal device through the selected beam to establish a communication channel between the antenna device 100 and the terminal device. For example, the antenna device 100 may communicate with the terminal device through the beam corresponding to the beam identifier X.

[0034] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of beam gain is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein curve 71 represents the gain corresponding to beam #1 and curve 72 represents the gain corresponding to beam #2. It is assumed that the main lobe direction of beam #1 (e.g., the direction represented by 0 degrees) is the same as the main lobe direction of beam #2, and the gain of beam #1 in the main lobe direction is greater than the gain of beam #2 in the main lobe direction. When the terminal device, as the receiver of the radio frequency signal, is located in the main lobe direction of beam #1 or beam #2 and the distance between the terminal device and the antenna device 100 is very close, using beam #1 to transmit the signal may result in signal quality degradation due to amplifier saturation of the terminal device. Therefore, the antenna device 100 can select beam #2 from the beams #1 and #2 supported by the antenna device 100 to communicate with the terminal device.

[0035] In step S602, the controller 110 can receive feedback information corresponding to multiple detection signals from the terminal device via the receiver 140. The feedback information can be used to indicate one of the multiple beams formed by the antenna device 100. For example, the feedback information may include a beam identifier (e.g., beam identifier Y, where beam identifier Y may be the same as or different from beam identifier X) to indicate one of the multiple beams that the antenna device 100 can form. In one embodiment, the beam identifier can be used to indicate the directivity of the beam formed by the antenna device 100.

[0036] In step S603, the controller 110 determines the radio frequency signal output by the phase array antenna 120 based on feedback information. Specifically, the controller 110 adjusts the amplitude or phase of the radio frequency signal output by the phase array antenna 120 so that the radio frequency signal, after being reflected or refracted by the waveform adjustment accessory 130, forms a beam indicated by the feedback information. The antenna device 100 can then transmit data with the terminal device through this beam.

[0037] In one embodiment, in addition to the beam indicated by the feedback information for data transmission, the controller 110 may also use other beams to transmit data with the terminal device. The controller 110 may increase the usage time (i.e., the time for data transmission) of a specific beam indicated by the feedback information and decrease the usage time of other beams in response to the feedback information indicating that a specific beam has been used.

[0038] In step S604, the controller 110 determines whether the beam formed by the antenna device 100 corresponds to the boresight of the phase array antenna 120 or the waveform adjustment accessory 130 (e.g., the beam direction is the same as the boresight direction), where the boresight direction is, for example, a straight line passing through the geometric center of the phase array antenna 120 or the waveform adjustment accessory 130. Accordingly, in step S605, the controller 110 adjusts the amplitude of the output of the phase array antenna 120 (or antenna element 20) based on feedback information. If the beam corresponds to the boresight direction, it means that adjusting the amplitude of the output of the phase array antenna 120 (or antenna element 20) has a relatively insignificant effect on the directivity of the beam. If the beam does not correspond to the boresight direction (e.g., the beam direction is different from the boresight direction), it means that adjusting the amplitude of the output of the phase array antenna 120 (or antenna element 20) has a relatively significant effect on the directivity of the beam. Accordingly, the controller 110 may not execute step S605 and end the process.

[0039] In summary, the antenna device of this invention can be combined with a phase array antenna and waveform adjustment accessories to create a parabolic antenna or lens antenna with beamforming capabilities. The antenna device can output radio frequency (RF) signals through the phase array antenna and reflect or refract the RF signals using the waveform adjustment accessories to form a beam. The antenna device can form different beams by adjusting the amplitude or phase of the RF signal to communicate with terminal devices through various beams. To avoid the high power consumption resulting from using more chips in phase array antennas to achieve high transmission distances, this invention uses a phase array antenna with waveform adjustment accessories, thereby reducing chip usage and power consumption. Furthermore, the antenna device can implement transmit power management methods to improve transmission efficiency.

[0040] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and are not intended to limit it. Although the utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model.

Claims

1. An antenna device, characterized by Comprising: a phased array antenna that transmits a radio frequency signal; and a wave shaping accessory configured to reflect or refract the radio frequency signal to form a beam.

2. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein The wave shaping accessory includes at least one reflector.

3. The antenna device of claim 2, wherein, The antenna apparatus includes a parabolic antenna, and the at least one reflector includes: a main reflector; and a sub-reflector that reflects the radio frequency signal to the main reflector, wherein the main reflector reflects the radio frequency signal to form the beam.

4. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein, The wave shaping accessory includes a lens.

5. The antenna device of claim 4, wherein, The material of the lens includes a dielectric material.

6. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: a receiver coupled to the phased array antenna and that receives feedback information; and a controller coupled to the phased array antenna and the receiver, wherein the controller adjusts an amplitude or a phase of an output of an antenna element of the phased array antenna according to the feedback information.

7. The antenna apparatus of claim 6, wherein the radio frequency signal forms one of a first beamformed signal and a second beamformed signal, and the feedback information indicates the one of the first beamformed signal and the second beamformed signal.

8. The antenna apparatus of claim 6, wherein the feedback information further indicates a measurement of the radio frequency signal by a terminal apparatus, and the controller adjusts the output of the antenna element according to the measurement.

9. The antenna device of claim 1, wherein, The phased array antenna includes one of a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, and a multi-pole antenna.

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