Antenna Combiner

Abstract

Antenna combiner (200), comprising: a housing (3); a plurality of input terminals (4) mounted on the housing (3), each of the plurality of input terminals (4) being adapted to receive an input signal; an output terminal (5) attached to the housing (3); and a signal combination circuit module (6) arranged in the housing (3) and comprising a plurality of input circuit units (61) each electrically connected to the plurality of input terminals (4), and a combination circuit unit (62) electrically connected between the plurality of input circuit units (61) and the output terminal (5), wherein each of the plurality of input circuit units (61) comprises an amplifier circuit (611) adapted to amplify the input signal received from the corresponding one of the plurality of input terminals (4) into a processed signal, and a circulator circuit (612) configured to transmit the processed signal to the combination circuit unit (62) and to isolate a returned signal from the combination circuit unit (62), wherein the combination circuit unit (62) is configured to combine the respective processed signals from the plurality of input circuit units (61) into an output signal and to output the output signal through the output terminal (5).

Description

[0001] The disclosure relates to a signal processing device and, in particular, to an antenna combiner.

[0002] The main function of an antenna combiner is to provide multiple transmitters with a common antenna. An antenna combiner can be used to combine radio-frequency signals from multiple transmitters into a single output signal, simplifying the antenna assembly process and significantly reducing cross-modulation distortion of transmitted signals. It is one of the essential pieces of equipment in an antenna system.

[0003] In order to prevent signal interference between signal terminals, improve signal stability in the high frequency band, and at the same time effectively protect the power amplifier, the design of antenna combiners also requires considering the effects of reflection of circuit radiation in the antenna combiner housing on signal modulation.

[0004] A common design for circuit isolation in antenna combiners is the Wilkinson power divider. The Wilkinson power divider, currently manufactured using a printed circuit board (PCB), can provide isolation in the range of approximately -20 dB to -25 dB. In antenna combiners, the isolation between each signal terminal is typically designed to be as low as possible—the lower the better.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the disclosure to provide an antenna combiner that can eliminate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0006] According to the disclosure, the antenna combiner comprises a housing, a plurality of input terminals attached to the housing, an output terminal attached to the housing, and a signal combining circuit module disposed within the housing. Each of the plurality of input terminals is configured to receive an input signal. The signal combining circuit module comprises a plurality of input circuit units, each electrically connected to the plurality of input terminals, and a combining circuit unit electrically connected between the plurality of input circuit units and the output terminal.Each of the plurality of input circuit units includes an amplifier circuit configured to amplify the input signal received from the corresponding one of the plurality of input terminals into a processed signal, and a circulator circuit configured to transmit the processed signal to the combination circuit unit and isolate a returned signal from the combination circuit unit. The combination circuit unit is configured to combine the respective processed signals from the plurality of input circuit units into an output signal and output the output signal through the output terminal.

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an antenna combiner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0009] Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the antenna combiner according to the embodiment.

[0010] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the antenna combiner according to the embodiment.

[0011] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the antenna combiner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] Before describing the disclosure in more detail, it should be noted that reference numerals or end portions of reference numerals may be repeated in the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, optionally having similar characteristics.

[0013] With reference to Fig. 1 to 4, an embodiment of an antenna combiner 200 according to the disclosure is configured to be electrically connected between a plurality of transmitters (not shown) and a common transmit antenna (not shown). The antenna combiner 200 is configured to combine signals from the transmitters to obtain a signal and transmit the signal through the common transmit antenna. The transmitters may be, for example, but are not limited to, ultra-high frequency (UHF) transmitters.

[0014] It should be noted that the term “signal” as used herein refers to a radio frequency (RF) signal.

[0015] The antenna combiner 200 includes a housing 3 made of metal, a plurality of input terminals 4 fixed and exposed on an outer surface of the housing 3, an output terminal 5 fixed and exposed on an outer surface of the housing 3, a signal combining circuit module 6 arranged in the housing 3 and electrically connected between the input terminals 4 and the output terminal 5, and an electromagnetic wave absorber 7 arranged in the housing 3 and between the housing 3 and the signal combining circuit module 6. The input terminals 4 are each configured to be electrically connected to the transmitters. Each input terminal 4 is configured to receive an input signal from the corresponding transmitter. The output terminal 5 is configured to be electrically connected to the common transmitting antenna.

[0016] The signal combination circuit module 6 includes a plurality of input circuit units 61 each electrically connected to the plurality of input terminals 4, and a combination circuit unit 62 electrically connected between the input circuit units 61 and the output terminal 5.

[0017] Each of the input circuit units 61 includes an amplifier circuit 611 electrically connected to the corresponding input terminal 4, and a circulator circuit 612 electrically connected between the amplifier circuit 611 and the combination circuit unit 62. The amplifier circuit 611 of each input circuit unit 61 is configured to amplify the input signal received from the corresponding input terminal 4 into a processed signal.

[0018] In each of the input circuit units 61, the circulator circuit 612 is configured to transmit the processed signal processed by the amplifier circuit 611 to the combination circuit unit 62 and to isolate a returned signal from the combination circuit unit 62.

[0019] Specifically, the circulator circuit 612 of each input circuit unit 61 includes a circulator 613 and a signal terminator 614. The circulator 613 and the signal terminator 614 are electrically connected to each other. The circulator 613 is further electrically connected between the corresponding amplifier circuit 611 and the combination circuit unit 62 and is configured to transmit the processed signal processed by the corresponding amplifier circuit 611 to the combination circuit unit 62 and to conduct the returned signal from the combination circuit unit 62 to the signal terminator 614. The signal terminator 614 is further configured to isolate the returned signal.

[0020] By the circulator circuit 612 connected between the corresponding amplifier circuit 611 and the combination circuit unit 62, isolation between the input terminals 4 can be improved to less than -35 dB, and the probability that each amplifier circuit 611 is damaged by the reflected signals from the combination circuit unit 62 can be significantly reduced.

[0021] The combination circuit unit 62 is configured to combine the respective processed signals from the input circuit units 61 into an output signal and output the output signal to the common transmitting antenna through the output terminal 5 for transmission by the common transmitting antenna. In embodiments, the combination circuit unit 62 may be a passive integrator, but is not limited thereto.

[0022] The electromagnetic wave absorber 7 serves as a shield between the signal combining circuit module 6 and the housing 3 for absorbing electromagnetic waves emitted from the signal combining circuit module 6, so as to prevent the electromagnetic waves emitted from the signal combining circuit module 6 from being reflected in the housing 3 and causing intermodulation characteristics of the signal combining circuit module 6 to deteriorate.

[0023] In the present embodiment, the electromagnetic wave absorber 7 is substantially shaped as a plate disposed between the signal combining circuit module 6 and a wall of the housing 3 (see Fig.3). However, in practice, the shape of the electromagnetic wave absorber 7 is not limited to this. In addition, since the use of the electromagnetic wave absorber 7 for absorbing electromagnetic waves is a common technique and there are many types of electromagnetic wave absorbers, such as, but not limited to, electromagnetic wave shielding panels containing graphene, details thereof are omitted here for brevity.

[0024] In summary, by structurally designing the amplifier circuit 611 and the circulator circuit 612 of each of the input circuit units 61 of the signal combining circuit module 6, the isolation between the input terminals 4 can be significantly increased, thus improving signal stability. Accordingly, the antenna combiner 200 of the present disclosure is indeed a relatively innovative, convenient, and practical invention and indeed achieves the purpose of the disclosure.

[0025] In the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). However, those skilled in the art will recognize that one or more embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be understood that reference in this description to "a particular embodiment," "an embodiment," an embodiment with an ordinal number, etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be incorporated into the practice of this disclosure.It should be further understood that in the description, in order to streamline the disclosure and aid understanding of various aspects of the invention, various features are occasionally grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof; this does not imply that each of these features must be implemented in the presence of all other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, if an implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect an implementation of one or more other features or specific details, that one or more features may be singled out and implemented alone without the one or more other features or specific details.It should further be understood that, in practicing the disclosure, one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be implemented together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, as appropriate.

Claims

[1] Antenna combiner (200), comprising: a housing (3); a plurality of input terminals (4) mounted on the housing (3), each of the plurality of input terminals (4) being adapted to receive an input signal; an output terminal (5) attached to the housing (3); and a signal combination circuit module (6) arranged in the housing (3) and comprising a plurality of input circuit units (61) each electrically connected to the plurality of input terminals (4), and a combination circuit unit (62) electrically connected between the plurality of input circuit units (61) and the output terminal (5), wherein each of the plurality of input circuit units (61) comprises an amplifier circuit (611) adapted to amplify the input signal received from the corresponding one of the plurality of input terminals (4) into a processed signal, and a circulator circuit (612) configured to transmit the processed signal to the combination circuit unit (62) and to isolate a returned signal from the combination circuit unit (62), wherein the combination circuit unit (62) is configured to combine the respective processed signals from the plurality of input circuit units (61) into an output signal and to output the output signal through the output terminal (5). [2] The antenna combiner (200) according to claim 1, wherein the circulator circuit (612) of each of the plurality of input circuit units (61) comprises a circulator (613) electrically connected between the amplifier circuit (611) and the combination circuit unit (62), and a signal terminator (614) electrically connected to the circulator (613), wherein the circulator (613) is configured to transmit the processed signal to the combination circuit unit (62) and to pass the returned signal to the signal terminator (614), and the signal terminator (614) is configured to isolate the returned signal. [3] Antenna combiner (200) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: an absorber (7) for electromagnetic waves, which is arranged in the housing (3) and between the housing (3) and the signal combination circuit module (6). [4] The antenna combiner (200) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the combination circuit unit (62) is a passive integrator.

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