Multi-path unmanned aerial vehicle signal enhancement active antenna

Abstract

The utility model discloses a multipath unmanned aerial vehicle signal enhancement active antenna, comprising a power supply management unit which is electrically connected with a power supply input end and is used for supplying power to equipment and providing working voltage for each functional module; the radio-frequency signal amplification module comprises at least two dual-frequency amplifiers, the input end of each dual-frequency amplifier is connected with the radio-frequency signal output end of the remote controller, and the output end of each dual-frequency amplifier is connected with the high-gain antenna so as to amplify the radio-frequency signal emitted by the remote controller and send the radio-frequency signal to the unmanned aerial vehicle; and the high-gain antenna is used for sending the amplified radio-frequency signal and receiving a radio-frequency signal returned by the unmanned aerial vehicle. According to the utility model, the active amplification part is added, the transmitting channel can improve the transmitting power of the remote controller, so that the anti-interference capability of the unmanned aerial vehicle is greatly enhanced, the LNA of the receiving channel can reduce the noise of the receiving channel and compensate the influence of line loss on the receiving channel, and the antenna can rotate flexibly and is more friendly to users.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a signal enhancement device, specifically to a multipath unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) signal enhancement active antenna. Background Technology

[0002] Conventional civilian drones have limited communication range. For example, the DJI RC and DJI RC Pro remote controllers have a communication range of 3-5 km in unobstructed conditions, while the DJI RC Pro has a range of 2-3 km. With the improvement in drone battery life, these ranges are insufficient for certain applications, such as power line inspection, forest fire prevention, and agricultural applications.

[0003] To improve the communication range of drones, existing solutions simply add a passive directional high-gain antenna (patent number: CN221202703U). While this solution can improve signal strength, it cannot enhance the transmission power of the remote controller PA or reduce the loss of the connector and RF cable, resulting in limited improvement.

[0004] Taking patent number CN221202703U as an example, this utility model improves the antenna gain by sacrificing the directivity of the drone antenna to increase the communication distance. The antenna azimuth angle is fixed and cannot be adjusted for a comfortable feel. This technology is a passive product and cannot increase the remote controller's transmission power, resulting in significantly reduced anti-interference capabilities. Furthermore, the signal receiving channel cannot reduce the noise figure of the radio frequency channel, leading to limited overall improvement. Utility Model Content

[0005] To address the aforementioned issues, this invention provides an active antenna for enhancing multipath drone signals. It employs an active signal amplification combined with a passive high-gain antenna, which significantly improves signal radiation. The RF channel utilizes a 2x2 MIMO configuration, effectively preventing multipath fading.

[0006] This utility model is achieved through the following technical solution: an active antenna for enhancing multipath UAV signals, comprising:

[0007] The power management unit is electrically connected to the power input terminal to supply power to the device and provide operating voltage to each functional module;

[0008] The radio frequency signal amplification module includes at least two dual-band amplifiers. The input terminal of each dual-band amplifier is connected to the radio frequency signal output terminal of the remote controller, and the output terminal is connected to a high-gain antenna to amplify the radio frequency signal transmitted by the remote controller and send it to the drone.

[0009] A high-gain antenna is used to transmit amplified radio frequency signals and receive radio frequency signals returned by the drone.

[0010] The radio frequency signal distribution and filtering unit has its input end connected to the radio frequency signal output end of the remote control, and is used to separate the signal by frequency band and filter out interference from irrelevant frequency bands.

[0011] The receiving channel, whose input is connected to a high-gain antenna, is used to receive signals returned by the drone and transmit them to the remote controller after amplification.

[0012] Lightning protection units are installed in the transmitting and receiving channels to prevent damage to the equipment caused by electrostatic high voltage introduced by the antenna;

[0013] Radio frequency (RF) signal interface, used for signal connection between remote control and device.

[0014] As a preferred technical solution, the dual-frequency amplifier of the radio frequency signal amplification module is used in the 2.4G and 5.8G frequency bands respectively, with a transmit gain greater than 20dB and a receive gain greater than 12dB.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution, the antenna gain of the high-gain antenna is greater than 8dB.

[0016] As a preferred technical solution, the radio frequency signal distribution and filtering unit includes a duplexer and a bandpass filter;

[0017] The input terminal of the duplexer is connected to the radio frequency signal output terminal of the remote control, and the output terminal is connected to the input terminals of the 2.4G amplifier and the 5.8G amplifier, respectively.

[0018] The bandpass filter is used to filter 2.4G and 5.8G radio frequency signals to remove interference from irrelevant frequency bands.

[0019] As a preferred technical solution, the transmission channel includes a preamplifier, a driver amplifier, a main power amplifier, and an RF switch connected in sequence, for amplifying the RF signal step by step and outputting it to a high-gain antenna.

[0020] As a preferred technical solution, the receiving channel includes a high-gain antenna, a duplexer, a bandpass filter, an amplifier, and a radio frequency switch;

[0021] The high-gain antenna output is connected to the duplexer input, and the duplexer output is connected to the 2.4G and 5.8G bandpass filter inputs respectively. The filtered RF signal is amplified by an amplifier and then transmitted to the remote controller through an RF switch.

[0022] As a preferred technical solution, the lightning protection unit includes a quarter-wavelength lightning protection wire, which is respectively installed in the transmitting channel and the receiving channel to avoid damage to the equipment caused by electrostatic high voltage introduced by the antenna.

[0023] As a preferred technical solution, the radio frequency signal interface adopts a QMA quick-release interface for quick connection between the remote control and the device.

[0024] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: This utility model adopts an active signal amplification + passive high-gain antenna method, which can greatly improve the signal radiation effect. The radio frequency channel adopts a 2x2 MIMO method, which can effectively avoid multipath fading.

[0025] The main design of this utility model selects two frequency bands commonly used by UAVs: 2.400-2483.5MHz and 5750-5875MHz. The maximum output power is 36dBm, the RF transmit gain is greater than 20dB, the RF receive gain is greater than 12dB, and the antenna gain is greater than 8dB.

[0026] This invention adopts a simple and flexible installation method. The angle of the antenna can be flexibly adjusted in a way that suits the user, which greatly improves the practicality of the product. The product is lightweight and will not significantly increase the user's burden.

[0027] This invention has been tested and found to increase the communication range of mainstream multi-rotor drones on the market by 3-5 times, with a communication range of more than 20KM. Attached Figure Description

[0028] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall principle of this utility model;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a block diagram illustrating the principle of the built-in dual-frequency 4W amplifier of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0031] All features disclosed in this specification, or all steps in all disclosed methods or processes, may be combined in any way, except for mutually exclusive features and / or steps.

[0032] Any feature disclosed in this specification (including any appended claims, abstract, and drawings) may be replaced by other equivalent or similar features, unless specifically stated otherwise. That is, unless specifically stated otherwise, each feature is merely one example of a series of equivalent or similar features.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this utility model discloses a multipath drone signal enhancement active antenna, which includes a power management unit, an RF signal amplification module, a high-gain antenna, an RF signal distribution and filtering unit, a receiving channel, a lightning protection unit, and an RF signal interface. The modules are interconnected and work together to enhance the drone's communication signal and improve the communication distance and stability between the remote controller and the drone.

[0034] The device's power management unit (PMU) is electrically connected to the power input terminal to provide the operating voltage and stable voltage to the various functional modules, ensuring normal operation. Powered by a built-in lithium battery, the PMU continuously provides operating voltage, enabling the device to maintain stable signal enhancement during drone flight. Furthermore, the PMU is connected to the display module to monitor battery level and provide corresponding information on the LCD screen.

[0035] The RF signal amplification module consists of at least two dual-band amplifiers. The input of each amplifier is connected to the RF signal output of the remote controller, and the output is connected to a high-gain antenna. This RF signal amplification module amplifies the RF signal emitted by the remote controller and transmits it to the drone via the high-gain antenna. The dual-band amplifiers operate on the 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands respectively, effectively covering the commonly used communication frequency bands for drones. The amplifiers have a transmit gain greater than 20dB and a receive gain greater than 12dB, significantly enhancing the signal strength of the remote controller and thus improving the drone's anti-interference capability and communication stability.

[0036] The high-gain antenna is used to transmit amplified radio frequency signals and receive signals returned by the drone. With a gain greater than 8dB, the antenna significantly increases signal propagation distance and enhances signal reception at the same transmit power. The adjustable azimuth angle of the high-gain antenna allows users to adjust the antenna angle based on the hand position of the remote controller and the drone's flight direction, ensuring optimal signal transmission.

[0037] The RF signal distribution and filtering unit is used to divide and filter the RF signal emitted by the remote control to ensure signal stability and frequency band purity. This unit includes a duplexer and a bandpass filter. The input of the duplexer is connected to the RF signal output of the remote control, and its output is connected to the inputs of the 2.4G amplifier and the 5.8G amplifier, respectively, to achieve signal splitting between different frequency bands. The bandpass filter is connected to both the 2.4G and 5.8G signal paths to filter out signal interference from irrelevant frequency bands, ensuring that the signal entering the amplification module is stable and free of noise interference.

[0038] The transmission channel amplifies the remote control signal in stages and transmits it over long distances via a high-gain antenna. This channel includes a preamplifier, a driver amplifier, a main power amplifier, and an RF switch. The remote control's RF signal is first initially amplified by the preamplifier, then further enhanced by the driver amplifier, followed by further amplification by the main power amplifier, and finally output to the high-gain antenna via the RF switch. This amplification process ensures high-power RF signal output while avoiding signal distortion, thus improving the quality of long-distance communication.

[0039] The receiving channel receives the weak radio frequency signals returned by the drone and processes them before transmitting them back to the remote controller. This channel includes a high-gain antenna, a duplexer, a bandpass filter, an amplifier (LNA), and an RF switch. The signal returned by the drone is first received by the high-gain antenna, then separated into 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands by the duplexer, and then passed through bandpass filters to remove interference signals from irrelevant frequency bands. The filtered signal is then amplified by the amplifier to compensate for signal attenuation during propagation and improve signal quality. Finally, the signal is transmitted to the remote controller after being controlled by the RF switch, achieving signal return and improved communication stability.

[0040] To prevent damage to the equipment from electrostatic high voltage introduced by the antenna, a lightning protection unit is installed. This unit includes quarter-wavelength lightning protection wires, which are respectively configured in the transmitting and receiving channels to reduce the impact of static electricity or lightning strikes in the external environment on the equipment, ensuring the safety and long-term stable operation of the equipment.

[0041] The RF signal interface is used to connect the remote control and the device, enabling signal input and output. The device employs a QMA quick-release interface, allowing users to easily connect and disconnect the device quickly, reducing operation time and improving its convenience. This interface structure is stable, ensuring reliable signal transmission and minimizing the impact of connector loss on the RF signal.

[0042] Through the coordinated operation of the aforementioned functional modules, this device can effectively increase the communication range of drones, making its communication range 3-5 times that of traditional remote controllers, with a measured communication range exceeding 20 kilometers. Furthermore, the device adopts a lightweight design, ensuring that while increasing communication capabilities, it does not impose additional burdens on the user, making it suitable for scenarios such as power line inspection, forest fire prevention, and agricultural applications.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, the signal emitted by the remote control is connected to the device's input RF interface via an RF connector. The RF interface uses a QMA quick-release connector for easy and quick installation. After the two RF signals are input to the device, they are amplified by two built-in dual-band 4W amplifiers and then transmitted through a high-gain antenna. The receiving path receives weak RF signals from the air through a high-gain antenna, amplifies them through an LNA, and then transmits them to the remote control. The PMU unit controls the built-in lithium battery circuit, amplifier switching, LCD display, and other functions.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, the working principle of the transmission channel is as follows: The radio frequency signal received from the remote control is divided into 2.4G and 5.8G frequency bands by the preamplifier DUP, and then passes through the second-stage filter to ensure that the output channel signal is free from interference from other frequency bands. The 2.4G & 5.8G signals separated by the duplexer and filter are coupled through a coupler to couple a portion of the signal for signal detection. The switching of the TDD time division system is determined based on the detected signal. The transmission signal passes through the radio frequency switch to switch the signal to the transmission path, and then passes through the preamplifier, driver amplifier, and main power amplifier to amplify the radio frequency signal to the required power level. It is then output through the radio frequency switch. The output path is designed with a quarter-wavelength lightning protection wire to prevent damage to the amplifier caused by electrostatic high voltage introduced through the antenna. The amplified radio frequency signal passes through the bandpass filter to filter out harmonics and other spurious signals, and then passes through the combiner to be transmitted to the high-gain antenna for transmission.

[0045] The receiving channel works as follows: The amplifier receives a weak radio frequency signal from the high-gain antenna. After passing through a duplexer, it is divided into different frequency bands of 2.4G and 5.8G. Then, after passing through a second-stage filter, the resulting channel signal is in the required frequency band. After passing through a quarter-wavelength lightning protection wire, the received radio frequency signal is switched to the receiving path by the radio frequency switch. To prevent the two paths from interfering with each other, a high-pass and low-pass filter to suppress other frequency bands is added to the front end of the LNA. The suppressed radio frequency signal enters the LNA for amplification, is filtered and amplified again, and then input to the radio frequency switch. The radio frequency switch switches to the receiving channel according to the current channel logic, inputs the amplified received signal to the corresponding filter, and after passing through a combiner, it is transmitted to the remote control.

[0046] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions conceived without inventive effort should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A multipath drone signal enhancement active antenna, characterized by, include: The power management unit is electrically connected to the power input terminal to supply power to the device and provide operating voltage to each functional module; The radio frequency signal amplification module includes at least two dual-band amplifiers. The input terminal of each dual-band amplifier is connected to the radio frequency signal output terminal of the remote controller, and the output terminal is connected to a high-gain antenna to amplify the radio frequency signal transmitted by the remote controller and send it to the drone. A high-gain antenna is used to transmit amplified radio frequency signals and receive radio frequency signals returned by the drone. The radio frequency signal distribution and filtering unit has its input end connected to the radio frequency signal output end of the remote control, and is used to separate the signal by frequency band and filter out interference from irrelevant frequency bands. The receiving channel, whose input is connected to a high-gain antenna, is used to receive signals returned by the drone and transmit them to the remote controller after amplification. Lightning protection units are installed in the transmitting and receiving channels to prevent damage to the equipment caused by electrostatic high voltage introduced by the antenna; Radio frequency (RF) signal interface, used for signal connection between remote control and device.

2. The multipath drone signal boost active antenna of claim 1, wherein: The dual-band amplifiers of the radio frequency signal amplification module are used in the 2.4G and 5.8G frequency bands respectively, with a transmit gain greater than 20dB and a receive gain greater than 12dB.

3. The multipath drone signal boost active antenna of claim 1, wherein: The antenna gain of the high-gain antenna is greater than 8dB.

4. The multipath drone signal boost active antenna of claim 1, wherein: The radio frequency signal distribution and filtering unit includes a duplexer and a bandpass filter; The input terminal of the duplexer is connected to the radio frequency signal output terminal of the remote control, and the output terminal is connected to the input terminals of the 2.4G amplifier and the 5.8G amplifier, respectively. The bandpass filter is used to filter 2.4G and 5.8G radio frequency signals to remove interference from irrelevant frequency bands.

5. The multipath drone signal boost active antenna of claim 1, wherein: The transmission channel includes a preamplifier, a driver amplifier, a main power amplifier, and an RF switch connected in sequence, which are used to amplify the RF signal step by step and output it to a high-gain antenna.

6. The multipath drone signal boost active antenna of claim 1, wherein: The receiving channel includes a high-gain antenna, a duplexer, a bandpass filter, an amplifier, and an RF switch; The high-gain antenna output is connected to the duplexer input, and the duplexer output is connected to the 2.4G and 5.8G bandpass filter inputs respectively. The filtered RF signal is amplified by an amplifier and then transmitted to the remote controller through an RF switch.

7. The multipath drone signal boost active antenna of claim 1, wherein: The lightning protection unit includes a quarter-wavelength lightning protection wire, which is installed in the transmitting channel and the receiving channel respectively, to prevent electrostatic high voltage introduced by the antenna from damaging the equipment.

8. The multipath drone signal boost active antenna of claim 1, wherein: The radio frequency signal interface adopts a QMA quick-release interface for quick connection between the remote control and the device.

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