An antenna element structure, an antenna array, and a base station

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, and provides an antenna array element structure, an antenna array and a base station, wherein the antenna array element structure comprises a first substrate, a main radiation patch arranged on one side wall surface of the first substrate, the main radiation patch being provided with a feeding connection part, a metal ground layer arranged on the other side wall surface of the first substrate away from the main radiation patch, and a phase adjusting module arranged on the wall surface of the first substrate on the same side as the main radiation patch, the phase adjusting module being connected with the feeding connection part, and the phase adjusting module being used for adjusting the phase of a wireless signal generated by the main radiation patch. The phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiation patch is adjusted through the phase adjusting module, the switching between ground coverage and low-altitude coverage of a beam can be realized, the effects of ground and low-altitude antenna coverage can be considered, and only the structure of the phase adjusting module needs to be added in the antenna array element, so that the implementation cost is low.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of wireless communication technology, and in particular to an antenna array element structure, an antenna array, and a base station. Background Technology

[0002] In wireless communication systems, base station antennas are key devices for achieving signal coverage. In existing technologies, base station antennas are primarily designed for ground users, and their main lobe of the radiation beam typically has a certain downtilt angle to optimize signal strength in ground areas and reduce inter-cell interference.

[0003] With the development of low-altitude applications such as drone communication, new requirements have been placed on wireless network coverage in low-altitude airspace. However, existing base station antennas are mainly for ground coverage and do not consider the needs of low-altitude coverage. Their signals attenuate rapidly in low-altitude areas, making it impossible to form an effective and continuous low-altitude coverage beam.

[0004] Therefore, how to achieve both ground-based and low-altitude antenna coverage is an urgent problem to be solved. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application provides an antenna array element structure, an antenna array, and a base station to address the shortcomings of existing base station antennas in achieving low-altitude coverage.

[0006] This application provides an antenna array element structure, including: First substrate; A main radiating patch is disposed on one side wall of the first substrate, and the main radiating patch is provided with a power supply connection portion; A metallic ground layer is disposed on the side wall of the first substrate opposite to the main radiating patch; A phase modulation module is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate on the same side as the main radiating patch. The phase modulation module is connected to the power supply connection part and is used to adjust the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch.

[0007] According to an antenna array structure provided in this application, the phase modulation module includes at least one stub unit and a switching unit corresponding to each stub unit. The stub unit and the switching unit are both disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate on the same side as the main radiating patch. The stub unit is connected to the feed connection part through the corresponding switching unit. When the stub unit and the feed connection part are connected, the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch is changed.

[0008] According to an antenna array structure provided in this application, the stub unit includes a microstrip line, which is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate on the same side as the main radiating patch. Both ends of the microstrip line are connected to the feed connection part through the switching unit.

[0009] According to an antenna array structure provided in this application, the switching unit includes a first PIN diode, a second PIN diode, and a bias connection line. The anodes of the first PIN diode and the second PIN diode are both connected to the feed connection portion. The cathode of the first PIN diode is connected to one end of the microstrip line, and the cathode of the second PIN diode is connected to the other end of the microstrip line. The bias connection line is connected to the microstrip line.

[0010] According to the antenna array structure provided in this application, a second substrate is further included. One side wall of the second substrate is connected to the metal ground layer. The bias connection line is disposed on the other side wall of the second substrate away from the metal ground layer. Both the first substrate and the second substrate are provided with connection vias. The bias connection line is connected to the microstrip line through the connection vias.

[0011] According to an antenna array structure provided in this application, an inductor is disposed on the same side wall of the first substrate as the main radiating patch, and the bias connection line is connected to the microstrip line through the inductor.

[0012] According to an antenna array structure provided in this application, a capacitor is also provided on the same side wall of the first substrate as the main radiating patch, and the capacitor is connected in series with the feed connection portion.

[0013] According to an antenna array structure provided in this application, a parasitic patch is also included, which is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate on the same side as the main radiating patch.

[0014] This application also provides an antenna array, including at least two of the above-described antenna array element structures, and further including a radio frequency module, a power divider network module, and a phase modulation control module. The radio frequency module is connected to the power divider network module, the power divider network module is connected to the feed connection portion of each main radiating patch, and the phase modulation control module is connected to the phase modulation module.

[0015] According to an antenna array provided in this application, the main radiating patches are arranged in a linear array, and the center-to-center spacing between adjacent main radiating patches is equal, wherein the center-to-center spacing is in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 times the wavelength of the generated wireless signal.

[0016] This application also provides a base station, including the antenna array described above.

[0017] The antenna element structure, antenna array, and base station provided in this application have at least the following advantages: In the antenna element, a phase modulation module is connected to the feed connection of the main radiating patch. The phase modulation module can quickly and directly change the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch, thereby changing the beam coverage direction based on phase modulation. Therefore, by adjusting the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch in the antenna element through the phase modulation module, the beam can be switched between ground coverage and low-altitude coverage, which is beneficial for achieving antenna coverage that balances both ground and low-altitude coverage. Furthermore, the structure only requires adding a phase modulation module to the antenna element, resulting in low implementation cost. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application or related technologies, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an antenna array element structure provided in this application.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of one embodiment of an antenna array element structure provided in this application.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a test performance diagram of one embodiment of an antenna array element structure provided in this application.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an antenna array provided in this application.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of one embodiment of an antenna array provided in this application.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the beam angle of one embodiment of an antenna array provided in this application.

[0025] Figure 7 This is a test performance diagram of one embodiment of an antenna array provided in this application.

[0026] Figure 8 This is a test performance diagram of another embodiment of an antenna array provided in this application.

[0027] Figure label: 100: First substrate; 200: Main radiating patch; 210: Feed connection; 300: Metal ground layer; 400: Phase modulation module; 410: Stub unit; 420: Switching unit; 421: First PIN diode; 422: Second PIN diode; 423: Bias connection line; 500: Second substrate; 600: Inductor; 700: Capacitor; 800: Parasitic patch; 910: RF module; 920: Power divider network module; 930: Phase modulation control module. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] The remote radio unit (RRU) equipment of a base station typically connects one channel to one row of antenna elements. The relative phase of the antenna elements in a row is a fixed value, and the final shaped beam has a fixed orientation, generally towards the ground to achieve ground antenna coverage. With the development of drone technology, new demands have been placed on low-altitude network coverage. Among related technologies, low-altitude coverage is achieved based on active antenna units (AAU) through built-in phase shifters; however, this method has high implementation costs and is not convenient for widespread adoption.

[0030] For the above situation, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides an antenna array element structure, including: First substrate 100; A main radiating patch 200 is disposed on one side wall of the first substrate 100, and the main radiating patch 200 is provided with a power supply connection portion 210; A metal ground layer 300 is disposed on the side wall of the first substrate 100 opposite to the main radiating patch 200; A phase modulation module 400 is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate 100 on the same side as the main radiating patch 200. The phase modulation module 400 is connected to the power supply connection part 210 and is used to adjust the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200.

[0031] In the antenna array element, a phase modulation module 400 is connected to the feed connection 210 of the main radiating patch 200. The phase modulation module 400 can quickly and directly change the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200, thereby changing the coverage direction of the beam based on phase modulation. Thus, by adjusting the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 in the antenna array element through the phase modulation module 400, the beam can be switched between ground coverage and low-altitude coverage, which is beneficial for achieving antenna coverage that covers both ground and low altitudes. Furthermore, the structure only requires adding the phase modulation module 400 to the antenna array element, resulting in low implementation cost.

[0032] The main radiating patch 200 acquires radio frequency (RF) signals via the feed connection 210, and then radiates the RF signals to generate corresponding wireless signals. The phase of the wireless signal is related to the initial phase of the RF signal and the signal transmission distance. The phase modulation module 400 is connected to the feed connection 210. The phase modulation module 400 can adjust the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 by changing the signal transmission distance. Alternatively, it can be understood from the perspective of equivalent reactance. Since the signal phase is related to the reactance of the transmission path, the phase modulation module 400, connected to the feed connection 210, adjusts the equivalent reactance of the RF signal transmitted to the main radiating patch 200 to achieve phase modulation.

[0033] Understandably, multiple antenna elements can form an antenna array. The wireless signals generated by these elements interact with each other, ultimately forming a directional beam. By adjusting the phase of the wireless signals generated by the antenna elements using the phase modulation module 400, the beam's orientation can be changed, enabling switching between ground coverage and low-altitude coverage, thus achieving antenna coverage that balances both ground and low-altitude coverage.

[0034] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of an antenna array structure provided in this application, the phase modulation module 400 includes at least one stub unit 410 and a switching unit 420 corresponding to each stub unit 410. The stub unit 410 and the switching unit 420 are both disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate 100 on the same side as the main radiating patch 200. The stub unit 410 is connected to the feed connection portion 210 through the corresponding switching unit 420. When the stub unit 410 and the feed connection portion 210 are connected, the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 is changed.

[0035] The stub unit 410 is connected to the feed connection 210 via the switch unit 420. When the switch unit 420 is turned on, that is, when the feed connection 210 and the stub unit 410 are connected, the radio frequency signal flows through the stub unit 410, and the total distance of the signal transmission path changes, or can be understood as a change in equivalent reactance. This causes a change in the phase of the radio frequency signal reaching the main radiating patch 200, and consequently, the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 also changes accordingly. Thus, by turning the switch unit 420 on and off, the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 can be flexibly adjusted, which is beneficial for adjusting the beam direction and achieving the effect of antenna coverage that covers both the ground and low altitudes.

[0036] By using the structure of the branch unit 410 and the switching unit 420, the phase modulation function is concretized into a signal transmission path switched by the switching unit 420. The structure is simple and the control is clear. Compared with the complex phase shifter structure used in related technologies, this application is simpler in structure and has lower implementation cost, which is conducive to its widespread application.

[0037] The stub unit 410 provides a signal transmission path of a certain length to achieve phase modulation. The length of the signal transmission path provided by the stub unit 410 is related to the phase offset of the wireless signal. The length of the signal transmission path of the stub unit 410 can be determined by combining the initial phase and the required phase offset. It can be understood that the length of the signal transmission path provided by the stub unit 410 is related to the provided reactance. The principle of phase modulation of the signal can be explained from the perspective of changing the signal transmission distance or changing the equivalent reactance, and the relationship between the length of the signal transmission path and the phase offset is determined.

[0038] In some embodiments of this application, multiple stub units 410 and corresponding switch units 420 can be provided. Different stub units 410 provide different signal transmission path lengths, thereby providing different phase offsets, which is beneficial for meeting the needs of transmitting wireless signals of different frequencies and flexibly adjusting the beam angle. According to the frequency of the transmitted signal and the required beam angle, a suitable switch unit 420 is selected to be turned on, so that the signal is transmitted through the corresponding stub unit 410, thereby achieving the purpose of phase modulation of the wireless signal, and thus making the beam point towards the required angle, achieving the effect of flexibly adjusting the beam coverage range.

[0039] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of an antenna array element structure provided in this application, the stub unit 410 includes a microstrip line, which is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate 100 on the same side as the main radiating patch 200. Both ends of the microstrip line are connected to the feed connection portion 210 through the switching unit 420.

[0040] As a planar transmission line, the microstrip line is convenient to be disposed on the first substrate 100 together with the main radiating patch 200. The length of the microstrip line affects the signal transmission distance, so the required phase shift adjustment of the wireless signal can be achieved by designing the trace length of the microstrip line. The stub unit 410 includes a microstrip line structure and is located on the same side wall of the first substrate 100 as the main radiating patch 200, which facilitates its fabrication during production, thereby simplifying the process and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0041] It is important to emphasize that the length of the microstrip line is related to the phase offset generated by the wireless signal; that is, the specific length of the microstrip line can be determined based on the required phase offset.

[0042] In some embodiments of this application, the stub unit 410 may also be an implementation that includes a transmission line, adjusting the signal transmission distance based on the length of the transmission line, thereby realizing the phase modulation function.

[0043] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of an antenna array structure provided in this application, the switching unit 420 includes a first PIN diode 421, a second PIN diode 422, and a bias connection line 423. The anodes of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 are both connected to the feed connection portion 210. The cathode of the first PIN diode 421 is connected to one end of the microstrip line, and the cathode of the second PIN diode 422 is connected to the other end of the microstrip line. The bias connection line 423 is connected to the microstrip line.

[0044] The first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 serve as switching nodes on the signal transmission path. By applying a DC bias voltage through the bias connection line 423, the simultaneous conduction or cutoff of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 can be controlled. When the bias connection line 423 is at a low potential, the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 conduct, presenting low impedance, allowing the RF signal to be transmitted through the microstrip line. When the bias connection line 423 is at a high potential, the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 are cut off, presenting high impedance, blocking the RF signal from flowing through the microstrip line. Therefore, by using the structure of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 and switching the high and low potentials of the bias connection line 423, the transmission path of the RF signal can be quickly and flexibly adjusted, thereby rapidly adjusting the phase of the signal.

[0045] It is understandable that the high and low potentials of the bias connection line 423 are based on whether the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 are turned on. When the bias connection line 423 is at a high potential, the cathode potential of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 is higher than the anode potential, and the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 are in the off state. When the bias connection line 423 is at a low potential, the anode potential of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 is higher than the cathode potential, and the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422 are in the on state.

[0046] In some embodiments of this application, the switching unit 420 may also be an implementation of a device with switching function, such as a MOSFET.

[0047] refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments of an antenna array structure provided in this application, a second substrate 500 is further included. One side wall of the second substrate 500 is connected to the metal ground layer 300. The bias connection line 423 is disposed on the other side wall of the second substrate 500 away from the metal ground layer 300. Both the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 500 are provided with connection through holes. The bias connection line 423 is connected to the microstrip line through the connection through holes.

[0048] By employing the structure of the second substrate 500, the first substrate 100 carrying high-frequency radio frequency signals is isolated from the second substrate 500 carrying DC control signals, and the necessary electrical connection is established through connecting vias. This structure allows the bias connection line 423 to be integrated into a single unit, facilitating installation and use, while effectively preventing interference between the DC bias signal and the radio frequency signal, thus helping to ensure the stability of the radio frequency performance of the main radiating patch 200.

[0049] In some embodiments of this application, the relative permittivity of the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 500 is 2.2.

[0050] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of an antenna array structure provided in this application, an inductor 600 is disposed on the same side wall of the first substrate 100 as the main radiating patch 200, and the bias connection line 423 is connected to the microstrip line through the inductor 600.

[0051] Utilizing the AC signal suppression characteristics of inductor 600, an inductor 600 is connected between bias connection line 423 and the microstrip line. This provides a low-impedance path for the DC bias current of bias connection line 423, enabling stable control of the conduction and cutoff of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422. Simultaneously, for high-frequency RF signals on the microstrip line, inductor 600 exhibits high impedance, effectively preventing RF signal leakage to bias connection line 423. Therefore, by incorporating inductor 600, the isolation between the RF path and the DC control path is enhanced, which is beneficial for improving the overall stability and reliability of the antenna array elements.

[0052] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of an antenna array structure provided in this application, a capacitor 700 is also provided on the same side wall of the first substrate 100 as the main radiating patch 200, and the capacitor 700 is connected in series with the feed connection portion 210.

[0053] Utilizing the DC blocking and AC passing characteristics of capacitor 700, a capacitor 700 is connected in series in the feed connection 210 to isolate the DC component of the radio frequency signal, while the AC component of the radio frequency signal is transmitted unimpeded to the main radiating patch 200 through the feed connection 210. This structure prevents the DC component of the radio frequency signal from affecting the DC bias of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422, improving the reliability of the on / off control of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422, and thus contributing to the overall stability and reliability of the antenna array elements.

[0054] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of an antenna array structure provided in this application, a parasitic patch 800 is also included, which is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate 100 on the same side as the main radiating patch 200.

[0055] A parasitic patch 800 is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate 100 on the same side as the main radiating patch 200. The parasitic patch 800 obtains energy from the main radiating patch 200 and generates resonance through electromagnetic coupling, which can introduce a new resonant point, i.e., excite a new resonant frequency, which is beneficial to expanding the operating bandwidth of the antenna array element. Thus, without significantly increasing the size and complexity of the antenna array element, the parasitic patch 800 can effectively improve the operating bandwidth of the antenna and enhance frequency adaptability.

[0056] It is understandable that by designing the size of the parasitic patch 800 and the spacing between the parasitic patch 800 and the main radiating patch 200, a resonant point that meets the requirements can be introduced near the original resonant frequency of the main radiating patch 200.

[0057] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, multiple parasitic patches 800 may be provided.

[0058] To more intuitively and clearly understand the working principle of the antenna array element structure provided in this application, Figure 1 and Figure 2 The following embodiments are illustrated by way of example: Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment could be a design in the 700MHz frequency band, where the phase modulation module 400 includes two stub units 410 and corresponding two switching units 420. Specifically, the first microstrip line L1 is connected to the corresponding bias connection line Bias1, the first PIN diode 421, and the second PIN diode 422, i.e., PIN1 and PIN1'; the second microstrip line L2 is connected to the corresponding bias connection line Bias2, the first PIN diode 421, and the second PIN diode 422, i.e., PIN2 and PIN2'. The lengths of the first microstrip line L1 and the second microstrip line L2 are different, meaning they have different offsets for signal modulation.

[0059] When bias connection line Bias1 is at a low potential and bias connection line Bias2 is at a high potential, that is, when PIN1 and PIN1' are on and PIN2 and PIN2' are off, the radio frequency signal can flow through the first microstrip line L1, and the phase can be adjusted by an offset of ΔA.

[0060] When bias connection line Bias1 is at a high potential and bias connection line Bias2 is at a low potential, that is, when PIN1 and PIN1' are cut off and PIN2 and PIN2' are turned on, the radio frequency signal can flow through the first microstrip line L2, and the phase can be adjusted by an offset of ΔB.

[0061] When both bias connection lines Bias1 and Bias2 are at high potential, i.e., when PIN1, PIN1', PIN2 and PIN2' are all cut off, no additional phase modulation processing is performed on the RF signal.

[0062] refer to Figure 3 It is Figure 1 and Figure 2 In this embodiment, a performance diagram of phase modulation using the phase modulation module 400 is shown, where S 11 The curve shows the return loss curve, and the dashed line shows the antenna gain curve. In the design scenario of the 700MHz band, it can be seen that the frequency range corresponding to the -10dB operating frequency band is 0.63GHz to 0.88GHz. Within the frequency range of 0.68GHz to 0.83GHz, the antenna gain is 8.1dBi to 8.7dBi.

[0063] The following describes an antenna array provided in this application. The antenna array described below can be referred to in correspondence with the antenna array element structure described above.

[0064] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 This application also provides an antenna array, including at least two of the above-described antenna array elements, and further including a radio frequency module 910, a power divider network module 920, and a phase modulation control module 930. The radio frequency module 910 is connected to the power divider network module 920, and the power divider network module 920 is connected to the feed connection portion 210 of each main radiating patch 200. The phase modulation control module 930 is connected to the phase modulation module 400.

[0065] Multiple antenna elements are arranged to form an antenna array. The radio frequency module 910 generates radio frequency signals and transmits them to the power divider network module 920. The power divider network transmits the radio frequency signals to each antenna element, and the radio frequency signals acquired by each antenna element have an initial phase shift, so that the beam has an initial direction.

[0066] In the antenna array element, a phase modulation module 400 is connected to the feed connection 210 of the main radiating patch 200. The phase modulation module 400 can quickly and directly change the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200. Under the control of the phase modulation control module 930, the phase modulation module 400 changes the phase of the wireless signal, thereby changing the coverage direction of the final beam.

[0067] Therefore, by adjusting the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 in the antenna array element through the phase modulation module 400, the beam can be switched between ground coverage and low-altitude coverage, which is beneficial to achieving the effect of antenna coverage that takes into account both ground and low-altitude coverage. Moreover, it only requires adding the phase modulation module 400 to the antenna array element, which has the advantage of low implementation cost.

[0068] In some embodiments of this application, the phase modulation control module 930 may include a control unit and a bias circuit. The bias circuit is connected to the bias connection line 423. The control unit controls the high and low potentials of the bias connection line 423 through the bias circuit, thereby controlling the on / off state of the first PIN diode 421 and the second PIN diode 422. In some embodiments, the phase modulation control module 930 may also be integrated into the power divider network module 920.

[0069] It is understood that the antenna array may include multiple antenna elements as described above. The number of antenna elements is determined according to the requirements of the actual application scenario. The power divider network module 920 is provided with output ports corresponding to the antenna elements. In some embodiments of this application, the number of antenna elements n can be designed based on the final shaped beamwidth P and the beamwidth Q of a single antenna element, specifically n = Q / P. In the 700MHz operating frequency band, the value of n can be in the range of 5 to 7.

[0070] It should be noted that each output port of the power divider network module 920 has an initial phase offset, meaning that there is an initial phase offset difference between the various antennas transmitted to the antenna array. This can be understood as a feed phase difference. For example, the phase offset of the first main radiating patch 200 is α1, the phase offset of the nth main radiating patch 200 is αn, and the phase difference between two adjacent main radiating patches 200 is +Δα, giving the final shaped beam an initial orientation, such as towards the ground. Under the control of the phase modulation control module 930, when the phase modulation module 400 in the antenna array element performs phase adjustment, specifically, the switching unit 420 can be turned on to connect the stub unit 410 to the feed connection part 210, making the total phase offset of the first main radiating patch 200 β1, the phase offset of the nth main radiating patch 200 βn, and the phase difference between two adjacent main radiating patches 200 -Δβ, thus changing the orientation of the final shaped beam, such as changing it to face low altitude.

[0071] In this way, by adjusting the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 through the phase modulation module 400 in the antenna array element, the coverage direction of the final beam can be changed, which is conducive to achieving the effect of antenna coverage that covers both the ground and low altitude.

[0072] It is understandable that Δα and Δβ can be the same or different values. When Δα and Δβ are the same, the final beam direction is horizontally symmetrical. For example, when switch unit 420 is off, the beam is oriented x degrees below the horizontal plane, and when switch unit 420 is on, the beam is oriented x degrees above the horizontal plane. When Δα and Δβ are different, the final beam direction is horizontally asymmetrical. For example, when switch unit 420 is off, the beam is oriented x degrees below the horizontal plane, and when switch unit 420 is on, the beam is y degrees above the horizontal plane.

[0073] In some embodiments of an antenna array provided in this application, the main radiating patches 200 are arranged in a linear array, and the center-to-center spacing between adjacent main radiating patches 200 is equal, the center-to-center spacing being in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 times the wavelength of the generated wireless signal.

[0074] Multiple antenna elements are equidistant and arranged in a linear array. The center-to-center spacing of adjacent main radiating patches 200 is controlled within the range of 0.7 to 0.9 times the wavelength. This helps to ensure the unique main lobe characteristic when adjusting the beam angle, suppresses unwanted radiation, and improves the accuracy of antenna gain and beam control.

[0075] refer to Figure 6 For a linear array with identical antenna elements, equal spacing, and equal amplitude excitation, and whose phase increases or decreases sequentially along the array axis by equal amounts, the number of antenna elements is N, the spacing between adjacent antenna elements is d, and when the beam direction forms an angle δ with the array axis, the phase difference between adjacent antenna elements is Ψ(δ) = α + kdcosδ. The array factor of the linear array is: Where N is the number of antenna elements; d is the spacing between adjacent antenna elements, i.e., the center-to-center spacing of the main radiating patch 200; dcosδ is the path difference when a plane wave from the δ-angle direction reaches two adjacent elements; k is the conversion coefficient used to convert the path difference into a phase difference; α is the initial phase difference, i.e., the feed phase difference; Ψ(δ) is the phase difference between adjacent antenna elements in the δ-angle direction. Let be the composite field strength in the direction of angle δ in the far-field space.

[0076] The phase difference is within the interval Ψϵ (0, 2π). When Ψ = 0 or 2π, the array factor is at its maximum value N, corresponding to the main lobe or grating lobe of the radiation pattern. Based on this, the specific phase offset of each antenna element can be determined according to the above expression based on the required beam offset angle, so as to obtain the maximum composite field strength at the required offset angle. Accordingly, the phase offset of the phase modulation module 400 in each antenna element can be determined, so that after the stub unit 410 in the phase modulation module 400 is connected and the signal phase offset is adjusted, the composite field strength at the required angle is maximized, i.e., the beam points to the required angle. For each antenna element 1~N, based on the determined phase offset, the signal transmission path lengths L1~Ln provided by the stub unit 410 are further determined. It is understood that the RF signal output by the power divider network module 920 has a certain initial phase α1~αn, and the transmission path length of each stub unit 410 should be designed in conjunction with the initial phase.

[0077] By determining the transmission path lengths L1~Ln of the stub element 410, the phase difference between each antenna element is changed accordingly when the stub element 410 is connected. For a signal of a specified frequency, the specific relationship between the phase difference and the transmission path length is as follows: Where Δψ is the phase difference; L is the transmission path length; k is the conversion coefficient used to convert the path difference into a phase difference; ΔT is the signal transmission delay time corresponding to the transmission path length L; and f is the signal frequency.

[0078] In some embodiments of this application, for example, the total phase offset of the first main radiating patch 200 is β1=α1+kL1, the total phase offset of the nth main radiating patch 200 is βn=αn+kLn, and the phase difference between the main radiating patches 200 in two adjacent antenna elements is Δβ.

[0079] To more intuitively understand the performance of the antenna array provided in this application, an illustrative example is given: Adopting such Figure 1 and Figure 2 The antenna array structure shown in the embodiment forms a one-dimensional linear array with five antenna array elements, numbered 1 to 5. Each antenna element has two stub elements 410, with transmission path lengths of Ln and Ln'. That is, the transmission path lengths of the stub elements in the five antenna elements are L1 to L5 and L1' to L5', satisfying L1=L5'; L2=L4'; L3=L3'; L4=L2'; L5=L1'; ΔL=L1-L2=L2-L3=L3-L4=L4-L5. Each antenna is directly fed from the waveport, without considering the initial phase difference caused by the power divider network, i.e., α1=α2=α3=α4=α5=0.

[0080] Under the conditions of ΔL = 60 mm; δ = arccos(-ΔL / d) = 80.5°; θ = 9.5°, the antenna gain in each antenna element is as follows: PIN1 and PIN1' are on while PIN2 and PIN2' are off; and the antenna gain is as follows: PIN1 and PIN1' are off while PIN2 and PIN2' are on. Figure 7 As shown.

[0081] Under the conditions of Δl = 120 mm; δ = arccos(-Δl / d) = 70.7°; θ = 19.3°, the antenna gain in each antenna element is as follows: PIN1 and PIN1' are on while PIN2 and PIN2' are off; and the antenna gain is as follows: PIN1 and PIN1' are off while PIN2 and PIN2' are on. Figure 8 As shown.

[0082] Understandably, the RF module 910 includes a transmit channel, a receive channel, and an uplink / downlink switching unit. The function of the uplink / downlink switching unit is to isolate the transmit channel from the receive channel when they share the same antenna array. For frequency division duplex (FDD) systems, the uplink / downlink switching unit includes a duplexer; for time division duplex (TDD) systems, the uplink / downlink switching unit includes a circulator or an RF switch.

[0083] The following describes a base station provided in this application. The base station described below can be referred to in correspondence with the antenna array element structure and antenna array described above.

[0084] This application also provides a base station, including the antenna array described above.

[0085] By applying the aforementioned antenna array with beam angle switching function to the base station, the base station is able to dynamically switch between ground coverage mode and low-altitude coverage mode. It can switch the coverage direction of the beam according to the actual application situation, such as communication load and preset strategies, so as to achieve the effect of antenna coverage that takes into account both ground and low-altitude coverage.

[0086] In the antenna array element, the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch 200 is adjusted by the phase modulation module 400, which enables the switching of the beam between ground coverage and low-altitude coverage. This is beneficial for achieving antenna coverage that takes into account both ground and low-altitude coverage. Moreover, the structure only requires adding the phase modulation module 400 to the antenna array element, which has the advantage of low implementation cost.

[0087] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0088] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0089] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application 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 of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An antenna array element structure, characterized in that, include: First substrate (100); A main radiating patch (200) is disposed on one side wall of the first substrate (100), and the main radiating patch (200) is provided with a power supply connection portion (210). A metal ground layer (300) is disposed on the opposite side wall of the first substrate (100) away from the main radiating patch (200); A phase modulation module (400) is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate (100) on the same side as the main radiating patch (200). The phase modulation module (400) is connected to the power supply connection part (210) and is used to adjust the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch (200).

2. The antenna array element structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The phase modulation module (400) includes at least one stub unit (410) and a switch unit (420) corresponding to each stub unit (410). The stub unit (410) and the switch unit (420) are both disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate (100) on the same side as the main radiating patch (200). The stub unit (410) is connected to the power supply connection part (210) through the corresponding switch unit (420). When the stub unit (410) and the power supply connection part (210) are connected, the phase of the wireless signal generated by the main radiating patch (200) is changed.

3. The antenna array element structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The stub unit (410) includes a microstrip line, which is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate (100) on the same side as the main radiating patch (200). Both ends of the microstrip line are connected to the power supply connection part (210) through the switching unit (420).

4. The antenna array element structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The switching unit (420) includes a first PIN diode (421), a second PIN diode (422), and a bias connection line (423). The anodes of the first PIN diode (421) and the second PIN diode (422) are both connected to the power supply connection (210). The cathode of the first PIN diode (421) is connected to one end of the microstrip line, and the cathode of the second PIN diode (422) is connected to the other end of the microstrip line. The bias connection line (423) is connected to the microstrip line.

5. The antenna array element structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a second substrate (500), one side wall of the second substrate (500) is connected to the metal ground layer (300), and the bias connection line (423) is disposed on the other side wall of the second substrate (500) away from the metal ground layer (300). Both the first substrate (100) and the second substrate (500) are provided with connection through holes, and the bias connection line (423) is connected to the microstrip line through the connection through holes.

6. The antenna array element structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes an inductor (600) disposed on the same side wall of the first substrate (100) as the main radiating patch (200), and the bias connection line (423) is connected to the microstrip line through the inductor (600).

7. An antenna array element structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes a capacitor (700) disposed on the same side wall of the first substrate (100) as the main radiating patch (200), and the capacitor (700) is connected in series with the power supply connection (210).

8. An antenna array element structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, It also includes a parasitic patch (800), which is disposed on the wall surface of the first substrate (100) on the same side as the main radiating patch (200).

9. An antenna array, characterized in that, The device includes at least two antenna array elements as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, and further includes a radio frequency module (910), a power divider network module (920), and a phase modulation control module (930). The radio frequency module (910) is connected to the power divider network module (920), the power divider network module (920) is connected to the feed connection portion (210) of each main radiating patch (200), and the phase modulation control module (930) is connected to the phase modulation module (400).

10. An antenna array according to claim 9, characterized in that, The main radiating patches (200) are arranged in a linear array, and the center-to-center spacing between adjacent main radiating patches (200) is equal, and the center-to-center spacing is in the range of 0.7 to 0.9 times the wavelength of the generated wireless signal.

11. A base station, characterized in that, Including an antenna array as described in claim 9 or 10.

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