Cross-shaped feed connector, ortho-mode transducer and antenna

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a cross feed connector, an ortho-mode transducer, and an antenna, and belongs to the field of communication technologies. The cross feed connector includes a common waveguide, four branch waveguides, a boss structure, and four metal ridges. The four branch waveguides are arranged in a cross shape. The common waveguide is in connection with a junction area of the four branch waveguides, and is in connection with all the four branch waveguides. The boss structure is located inside the junction area of the four branch waveguides, and is opposite to the common waveguide. The four metal ridges are respectively located on inner walls of the four branch waveguides, and respectively extend along the branch waveguides in which the four metal ridges are located. The four metal ridges are all in connection with the boss structure. The cross feed connector provided in the present disclosure can be used in an ortho-mode transducer, and the boss structure and the four metal ridges are used together, so that broadbandization of the cross feed connector and the ortho-mode transducer can be implemented.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210716063.1, filed on June 22, 2022 and entitled "CROSS FEED CONNECTOR, ORTHO-MODE TRANSDUCER, AND ANTENNA", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to a cross feed connector, an ortho-mode transducer, and an antenna.BACKGROUND

[0003] As data traffic of a base station increases sharply, a transmission capacity required for data backhaul of the base station is also increasing.

[0004] To implement large-capacity transmission, generally, two aspects are considered: One is to implement broadbandization of an antenna, and the other is to implement dual-polarization transmission of the antenna.

[0005] An ortho-mode transducer (ortho-mode transducer, OMT) can combine and divide orthogonally polarized signals, and is a core component for implementing dual-polarization transmission of the antenna. To implement broadbandization of the antenna, broadbandization of the ortho-mode transducer also needs to be implemented.SUMMARY

[0006] The present disclosure provides a cross feed connector, an ortho-mode transducer and an antenna. The cross feed connector provided in the present disclosure has a boss structure inside a junction area of four branch waveguides, and an inner wall of each branch waveguide has a metal ridge. The boss structure and the four metal ridges are used together, so that broadbandization of the cross feed connector can be implemented. Technical solutions of the feed connector, the ortho-mode transducer, and the antenna are described as follows:

[0007] According to a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a cross feed connector. The cross feed connector includes a common waveguide, four branch waveguides, a boss structure, and four metal ridges. The four branch waveguides are arranged in a cross shape. The common waveguide is in connection with a junction area of the four branch waveguides, and is in connection with all the four branch waveguides. The boss structure is located inside the junction area of the four branch waveguides, and is opposite to the common waveguide. The four metal ridges are respectively located on inner walls of the four branch waveguides, and respectively extend along the branch waveguides in which the four metal ridges are located. The four metal ridges are all in connection with the boss structure.

[0008] The boss structure is a protrusion protruding toward the common waveguide, and the metal ridge is a protrusion or a convex strip on the inner wall of the branch waveguide.

[0009] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, the boss structure facing the common waveguide is disposed inside the junction area of the four branch waveguides, so that a shape of a cavity at a joint between the common waveguide and the four branch waveguides is changed, and the cavity in the junction area of the common waveguide and the branch waveguides is smoother. This facilitates transmission of electromagnetic waves from the common waveguide to the branch waveguides, and facilitates transmission of electromagnetic waves from the branch waveguides to the common waveguide. In this way, a return loss S11 (dB) of the cross feed connector is reduced.

[0010] It may be understood that, if no boss structure is disposed, a cavity of the common waveguide and a cavity of the branch waveguide are at 90°, an electromagnetic wave transmitted by the common waveguide to the branch waveguide is very easily reflected back by a bottom wall of the junction area of the four branch waveguides, and an electromagnetic wave transmitted by the branch waveguide to the common waveguide is very easily directly transmitted to another opposite branch waveguide, and is not easily transmitted to the common waveguide. The boss structure plays a guiding role for the electromagnetic wave.

[0011] In addition, disposing the four metal ridges on the inner walls of the four branch waveguides is equivalent to adding ridges to standard branch waveguides (in other words, the branch waveguides become ridge waveguides), and adding ridges can expand a bandwidth in a fundamental mode of the branch waveguide. Because the branch waveguide mainly transmits a signal in the fundamental mode, expanding the bandwidth in the fundamental mode provides a basis for expanding a bandwidth of the cross feed connector. In addition, because a total frequency band of an electromagnetic wave signal transmitted by the branch waveguide is fixed, an increase in the bandwidth in the fundamental mode inevitably causes a decrease in a useless high-order mode. In this way, the return loss S11 (dB) of the cross feed connector is reduced.

[0012] In other words, for the cross feed connector provided in the present disclosure, the bandwidth in the fundamental mode of the cross feed connector is expanded through cooperation of the boss structure and the four metal ridges. In this way, the return loss S11 (dB) of the cross feed connector is reduced, and broadbandization of the cross feed connector is implemented.

[0013] In a possible implementation, the boss structure includes a plurality of bosses arranged in a stacked manner, and outer diameters of the bosses gradually decrease along a direction toward the common waveguide.

[0014] In a possible implementation, the boss structure includes a first boss and a second boss; and the second boss is located on a surface that is of the first boss and that faces the common waveguide, and an outer diameter of the second boss is less than an outer diameter of the first boss.

[0015] In a possible implementation, the boss structure includes one boss.

[0016] In a possible implementation, a central axis of the common waveguide coincides with a central axis of the boss structure.

[0017] In a possible implementation, a cross section of the boss structure is circular.

[0018] The common waveguide is a circular waveguide.

[0019] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, the cross section of the boss structure is set to be circular, so that the boss structure better matches the common waveguide in a circular waveguide form. In this way, effect of guiding an electromagnetic wave by the boss structure is improved.

[0020] In a possible implementation, the metal ridge is a metal strip.

[0021] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, the metal ridge is disposed as the metal strip. This facilitates processing of the cross feed connector.

[0022] In a possible implementation, the metal ridge is formed by bending a shell wall of the branch waveguide inward.

[0023] In a possible implementation, one end that is of each metal ridge and that is away from the boss structure is flush with the branch waveguide in which the metal ridge is located.

[0024] In a possible implementation, each metal ridge is located in a center line of the branch waveguide in which the metal ridge is located.

[0025] In a possible implementation, a cross section of the metal ridge is rectangular.

[0026] In a possible implementation, a cross section of the metal ridge is polygonal.

[0027] In a possible implementation, the boss structure and the four metal ridges are located on bottom walls of the branch waveguides, and the bottom wall is a wall that is of the branch waveguide and that is opposite to the common waveguide.

[0028] In a possible implementation, the common waveguide is a circular waveguide.

[0029] In a possible implementation, the branch waveguide is a rectangular waveguide.

[0030] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an ortho-mode transducer. The ortho-mode transducer includes a cross feed connector, a first power combiner, and a second power combiner. The first power combiner has a main port of a first polarized signal and two branch ports of the first polarized signal, the two branch ports of the first polarized signal are respectively in connection with two branch waveguides of the cross feed connector, and the two branch waveguides are located in a first straight line. The second power combiner has a main port of a second polarized signal and two branch ports of the second polarized signal, the two branch ports of the second polarized signal are respectively in connection with the other two branch waveguides of the cross feed connector, the other two branch waveguides are located in a second straight line, and the second straight line is perpendicular to the first straight line.

[0031] The cross feed connector is the cross feed connector described in any implementation of the first aspect.

[0032] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, the foregoing cross feed connector is used in the ortho-mode transducer, so that an absolute bandwidth and a relative bandwidth of the ortho-mode transducer are expanded, and broadbandization of the ortho-mode transducer is implemented.

[0033] An operating process of the ortho-mode transducer provided in the present disclosure may be described as follows:

[0034] When an antenna sends a signal, a first feed source sends the first polarized signal to the main port of the first polarized signal of the first power combiner, and the first polarized signal is divided into two first polarized sub-signals inside the first power combiner. The two first polarized sub-signals are respectively transmitted to two branch waveguides of the cross feed connector through the two branch ports of the first polarized signal of the first power combiner. In addition, a second feed source sends the second polarized signal to the main port of the second polarized signal of the second power combiner, and the second polarized signal is divided into two second polarized sub-signals inside the second power combiner. The two second polarized sub-signals are respectively transmitted to the other two branch waveguides of the cross feed connector through the two branch ports of the second polarized signal of the second power combiner.

[0035] The cross feed connector combines the two first polarized sub-signals and the two second polarized sub-signals that are received through the four branch waveguides, and transmits the combined first polarized sub-signals and the combined second polarized sub-signals to an antenna body through a common port of a common waveguide. The antenna body radiates the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal that are orthogonal to each other.

[0036] When the antenna receives a signal, the antenna body receives the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal that are orthogonal to each other, and transmits the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal to the common port of the cross feed connector. The common waveguide divides the first polarized signal into two first polarized sub-signals, and divides the second polarized signal into two second polarized sub-signals. The two first polarized sub-signals and the two second polarized sub-signals are respectively output through the four branch waveguides.

[0037] Two branch waveguides transmit the two first polarized sub-signals to the two branch ports of the first polarized signal of the first power combiner. The two first polarized sub-signals are combined into the first polarized signal inside the first power combiner, and are transmitted to the first feed source through the main port of the first polarized signal.

[0038] The other two branch waveguides transmit the two second polarized sub-signals to the two branch ports of the second polarized signal of the second power combiner. The two second polarized sub-signals are combined into the second polarized signal inside the second power combiner, and are transmitted to the second feed source through the main port of the second polarized signal.

[0039] In a possible implementation, the first power combiner has a first metal ridge, and the second power combiner has a second metal ridge. The first metal ridge and the second metal ridge may be configured to be in connection with metal ridges of the cross feed connector.

[0040] The first power combiner and the second power combiner may be understood as waveguides, and the first metal ridge and the second metal ridge may be understood as protrusions or convex strips on inner walls of the waveguides.

[0041] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, the first metal ridge and the second metal ridge are disposed on the first power combiner and the second power combiner, so that the first power combiner and the second power combiner better match the cross feed connector.

[0042] In a possible implementation, two branch waveguides that are located in the first straight line and that are in the four branch waveguides are configured to transmit the first polarized sub-signals, and the two first polarized sub-signals have an equal size and a phase difference of 180°. Two second branch waveguides that are located in the second straight line and that are in the four branch waveguides are configured to transmit the second polarized sub-signals, and the two second polarized sub-signals have an equal size and a phase difference of 180°.

[0043] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, generation of a high-order mode can be effectively suppressed in a balanced differential feed manner. In this way, a return loss S11 (dB) of the ortho-mode transducer is reduced, a bandwidth of the ortho-mode transducer is expanded, and broadbandization of the ortho-mode transducer is implemented.

[0044] It should be noted that, in the ortho-mode transducer, both a fundamental-mode electromagnetic wave and a high-order-mode electromagnetic wave are generated, and a signal is mainly transmitted by using the fundamental-mode electromagnetic wave. The ortho-mode transducer provided in the present disclosure effectively suppresses a useless high-order mode in the balanced differential feed manner.

[0045] According to a third aspect, the present disclosure provides an antenna. The antenna has the ortho-mode transducer described in the second aspect.

[0046] The antenna is a dual-polarized antenna.

[0047] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, the foregoing ortho-mode transducer is used in the antenna, so that dual-polarization transmission of the antenna can be implemented, and broadbandization of the antenna can also be implemented.

[0048] In a possible implementation, the antenna includes an antenna body, an ortho-mode transducer, a first feed source, and a second feed source. The first feed source is in connection with a main port of a first polarized signal of the ortho-mode transducer, and the second feed source is in connection with a main port of a second polarized signal of the ortho-mode transducer. A common port of the ortho-mode transducer is in connection with the antenna body.

[0049] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, when the antenna sends a signal, the first feed source sends the first polarized signal to the main port of the first polarized signal, the second feed source sends the second polarized signal to the main port of the second polarized signal, and after the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are combined inside the ortho-mode transducer, the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are transmitted to the antenna body from the common port. The antenna body externally radiates both the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal that are orthogonal to each other.

[0050] When the antenna receives a signal, the antenna body receives the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal, and transmits the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal to the common port of the ortho-mode transducer. After the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are divided inside the ortho-mode transducer, the first polarized signal is transmitted to the first feed source through the main port of the first polarized signal, and the second polarized signal is transmitted to the second feed source through the main port of the second polarized signal.

[0051] According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a network device. The network device has the antenna described in the third aspect.

[0052] In a possible implementation, the network device is a base station.

[0053] According to the technical solution provided in the present disclosure, the foregoing antenna is used in the base station, so that a requirement for large-capacity transmission of the base station can be met.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an architecture of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram of an ortho-mode transducer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an ortho-mode transducer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a diagram of a cross feed connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a diagram of a cross feed connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a diagram of a metal ridge and a boss structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a diagram of a metal ridge and a boss structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a diagram of a cross section of a branch waveguide and a metal ridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 is a top view of a cross feed connector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 10 is a diagram of a return loss of an ortho-mode transducer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Reference numerals:

[0055] 100: Antenna body; 200: Ortho-mode transducer; 300: First feed source; 400: Second feed source; 1: Cross feed connector; 11: Common waveguide; 111: Common port; 12: Branch waveguide; 13: Boss structure; 131: First boss; 132: Second boss; 14: Metal ridge; 2: First power combiner; 21: Main port of a first polarized signal; 22: Branch port of the first polarized signal; 23: First metal ridge; 3: Second power combiner; 31: Main port of a second polarized signal; 32: Branch port of the second polarized signal; and 33: Second metal ridge. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0056] To better understand the technical solutions provided in embodiments of the present disclosure, the following first explains some terms used in the technical solutions provided in embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0057] A dual-polarized antenna is an antenna that can receive and transmit both a first polarized signal and a second polarized signal. The first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are orthogonal to each other. Therefore, the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal do not interfere with each other. For a dual-polarized antenna and a single-polarized antenna in a same operating frequency band, because the dual-polarized antenna can receive and transmit signals in two polarization directions, but the single-polarized antenna can receive and transmit signals in only one polarization direction, a transmission capacity of the dual-polarized antenna is twice a transmission capacity of the single-polarized antenna.

[0058] One of the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal may be a vertically polarized signal, and the other may be a horizontally polarized signal. Alternatively, one of the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal may be a +45° polarized signal, and the other may be a -45° polarized signal.

[0059] A vertically polarized signal is a signal whose electric field direction is perpendicular to the ground.

[0060] A horizontally polarized signal is a signal whose electric field direction is parallel to the ground.

[0061] A +45° polarized signal is a signal whose electric field direction is oriented at +45° relative to the ground.

[0062] A -45° polarized signal is a signal whose electric field direction is oriented at - 45°relative to the ground.

[0063] An ortho-mode transducer (ortho-mode transducer, OMT) is a core component of the dual-polarized antenna for implementing dual-polarization transmission, and is configured to combine and divide orthogonally polarized signals (the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal).

[0064] Using FIG. 1 as an example, an ortho-mode transducer 200 is a device including three ports: a common port 111, a main port 21 of the first polarized signal, and a main port 31 of the second polarized signal. The main port 21 of the first polarized signal is configured to be in connection with a first feed source 300, the main port 31 of the second polarized signal is configured to be in connection with a second feed source 400, and the common port 111 is configured to be in connection with an antenna body 100.

[0065] When an antenna sends a signal, the first feed source 300 sends the first polarized signal to the main port 21 of the first polarized signal, and the second feed source 400 sends the second polarized signal to the main port 31 of the second polarized signal. After the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are combined in the ortho-mode transducer 200, the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are transmitted from the common port 111 to the antenna body 100. The antenna body 100 externally radiates both the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal that are orthogonal to each other.

[0066] When the antenna receives a signal, the antenna body 100 receives the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal, and transmits the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal to the common port 111 of the ortho-mode transducer 200. After the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are divided in the ortho-mode transducer 200, the first polarized signal is transmitted to the first feed source 300 through the main port 21 of the first polarized signal, and the second polarized signal is transmitted to the second feed source 400 through the main port 31 of the second polarized signal.

[0067] A return loss S11 (dB) is a ratio of reflected power of a radio-frequency input signal to input signal power, is usually expressed in dB, and is a negative value. In an ideal case, the ortho-mode transducer 200 completely matches impedance of a radio-frequency circuit, and there is no reflected power. In this case, the return loss is infinitely small. However, the impedance cannot be completely matched in engineering. Therefore, the reflected power definitely exists. A worst case is that the input power is completely reflected. In this case, the return loss is 0 dB. Therefore, for the technical parameter of the return loss, a smaller value indicates better performance of the ortho-mode transducer 200.

[0068] An absolute bandwidth is a frequency band width occupied by an operating frequency band that makes the return loss S11 (dB) of the ortho-mode transducer 200 less than a target value (where when the ortho-mode transducer operates in the operating frequency band, the return loss S11 (dB) is less than the target value), that is, a difference value between a highest frequency and a lowest frequency of the operating frequency band. In the technical solutions provided in embodiments of the present disclosure, for example, the target value is -20 dB.

[0069] A relative bandwidth is a ratio of the absolute bandwidth to a center frequency of the operating frequency band, that is, f=(fH-fL) / ((fH+fL) / 2), where f is the relative bandwidth, fH is the highest frequency of the operating frequency band, and fL is the lowest frequency of the operating frequency band.

[0070] The advent of the era of a fifth generation mobile communication technology (5th generation mobile communication technology, 5G) leads to a sharp increase in data traffic of base stations. A point-to-point communication mode, as one of common methods for data backhaul of a base station, faces great challenges. Data backhaul of the base station means that data of the base station is transmitted to a server in an equipment room through an antenna.

[0071] To meet a data backhaul requirement of a 5G base station, a transmission capacity needs to be expanded to implement large-capacity transmission.

[0072] According to division of the International Telecommunication Union (international telecommunication union, ITU), frequencies used for backhaul of the base station are divided into a plurality of frequency bands shown in Table 1. A transmission capacity in a single frequency band is limited. Consequently, a large-capacity requirement of 5G backhaul cannot be met. Therefore, a plurality of adjacent frequency bands need to be used simultaneously. For a conventional narrow-band antenna, to implement simultaneous use of a plurality of frequency bands, a plurality of antennas need to be deployed on the base station simultaneously, causing extremely high material costs, installation costs, tower lease costs, and the like. If broadbandization of the antenna can be implemented, one antenna can cover a plurality of frequency bands, and one antenna can replace a plurality of antennas. This significantly reduces costs of operating in a plurality of frequency bands simultaneously. Table 1 6 G7 G8G10 G11 G13 G15 G18 G23 G26 G28 G32 G38 G42 G

[0073] In addition, compared with a single-polarized antenna, a dual-polarized antenna can double a transmission capacity on a premise that a same spectrum resource is occupied.

[0074] In conclusion, a broadband dual-polarized antenna is required to implement large-capacity transmission. A dual-polarized antenna needs to use an ortho-mode transducer to combine and divide orthogonally polarized signals. It may be understood that, to implement broadbandization of the dual-polarized antenna, broadbandization of the ortho-mode transducer 200 also needs to be implemented.

[0075] In view of the foregoing technical problems, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an ortho-mode transducer 200. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the ortho-mode transducer 200 includes a cross feed connector 1, a first power combiner 2, and a second power combiner 3.

[0076] The cross feed connector 1 includes a common waveguide 11 and four branch waveguides 12. The four branch waveguides 12 are arranged in a cross shape. The common waveguide 11 is in connection with a junction area of the four branch waveguides 12, and is in connection with all the four branch waveguides 12.

[0077] The first power combiner 2 has a main port 21 of a first polarized signal and two branch ports 22 of the first polarized signal, the two branch ports 22 of the first polarized signal are respectively in connection with two branch waveguides 12 of the cross feed connector 1, and the two branch waveguides 12 are located in a first straight line.

[0078] The second power combiner 3 has a main port 31 of a second polarized signal and two branch ports 32 of the second polarized signal, the two branch ports 32 of the second polarized signal are respectively in connection with the other two branch waveguides 12 of the cross feed connector 1, the other two branch waveguides 12 are located in a second straight line, and the second straight line is perpendicular to the first straight line.

[0079] An operating frequency band of the ortho-mode transducer 200 is not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure. The ortho-mode transducer 200 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure may operate in each frequency band shown in Table 1, or may operate in another higher frequency band or the like.

[0080] The following describes an operating process of the ortho-mode transducer 200 by using an example: In a case in which an antenna sends a signal: A first feed source 300 sends the first polarized signal to the main port 21 of the first polarized signal of the first power combiner 2, and the first polarized signal is divided into two first polarized sub-signals inside the first power combiner 2. The two first polarized sub-signals are respectively transmitted to two branch waveguides 12 of the cross feed connector 1 through the two branch ports 22 of the first polarized signal of the first power combiner 2.

[0081] In addition, a second feed source 400 sends the second polarized signal to the main port 31 of the second polarized signal of the second power combiner 3, and the second polarized signal is divided into two second polarized sub-signals inside the second power combiner 3. The two second polarized sub-signals are respectively transmitted to the other two branch waveguides 12 of the cross feed connector 1 through the two branch ports 32 of the second polarized signal of the second power combiner 3.

[0082] The cross feed connector 1 combines the two first polarized sub-signals and the two second polarized sub-signals that are received through the four branch waveguides 12, and transmits the combined first polarized sub-signals and the combined second polarized sub-signals to an antenna body 100 through a common port 111 of the common waveguide 11. The antenna body 100 radiates the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal that are orthogonal to each other.

[0083] In a case in which the antenna receives a signal: The antenna body 100 receives the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal that are orthogonal to each other, and transmits the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal to the common port 111 of the cross feed connector 1. The common waveguide 11 divides the first polarized signal into two first polarized sub-signals, and divides the second polarized signal into two second polarized sub-signals. The two first polarized sub-signals and the two second polarized sub-signals are respectively output through the four branch waveguides 12.

[0084] Two branch waveguides 12 transmit the two first polarized sub-signals to two branch ports 22 of the first polarized signal of the first power combiner 2. The two first polarized sub-signals are combined into the first polarized signal inside the first power combiner 2, and are transmitted to the first feed source 300 through the main port 21 of the first polarized signal.

[0085] The other two branch waveguides 12 transmit two second polarized sub-signals to the two branch ports 32 of the second polarized signal of the second power combiner 3. The two second polarized sub-signals are combined into the second polarized signal inside the second power combiner 3, and are transmitted to the second feed source 400 through the main port 31 of the second polarized signal.

[0086] In some examples, the two first polarized sub-signals have a phase difference of 180° and an equal size. The two second polarized sub-signals have a phase difference of 180° and an equal size.

[0087] In other words, the ortho-mode transducer 200 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure uses a balanced differential feed manner, and generation of a high-order mode can be effectively suppressed in the balanced differential feed manner, so that an absolute bandwidth and a relative bandwidth of the ortho-mode transducer 200 can be expanded. This facilitates broadbandization of the ortho-mode transducer 200.

[0088] It should be noted that, in the ortho-mode transducer 200, both a fundamental-mode electromagnetic wave and a high-order-mode electromagnetic wave are generated, and a signal is mainly transmitted by using the fundamental-mode electromagnetic wave. The ortho-mode transducer 200 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure effectively suppresses a useless high-order mode in the balanced differential feed manner.

[0089] For the ortho-mode transducer 200, the cross feed connector 1 mainly limits a bandwidth of the ortho-mode transducer 200. Therefore, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides a new cross feed connector 1, and both an absolute bandwidth and a relative bandwidth of the cross feed connector 1 are large.

[0090] The following describes the cross feed connector 1 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure by using an example in more detail: As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the cross feed connector 1 includes a common waveguide 11, four branch waveguides 12, a boss structure 13, and four metal ridges 14. The four branch waveguides 12 are arranged in a cross shape. The common waveguide 11 is in connection with a junction area of the four branch waveguides 12, and is in connection with all the four branch waveguides 12. The boss structure 13 is located inside the junction area of the four branch waveguides 12, and is opposite to the common waveguide 11. The four metal ridges 14 are respectively located on inner walls of the four branch waveguides 12, and respectively extend along the branch waveguides 12 in which the four metal ridges 14 are located. The four metal ridges 14 are all in connection with the boss structure 13.

[0091] Types of the common waveguide 11 and the branch waveguide 12 are not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the common waveguide 11 is a circular waveguide, and the branch waveguide 12 is a rectangular waveguide.

[0092] The boss structure 13 is a protrusion protruding toward the common waveguide 11, and the metal ridge 14 is a protrusion or a convex strip on the inner wall of the branch waveguide 12.

[0093] According to technical solution provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the boss structure 13 facing the common waveguide 11 is disposed inside the junction area of the four branch waveguides 12, so that a shape of a cavity at a joint between the common waveguide 11 and the four branch waveguides 12 is changed, and the cavity in the junction area of the common waveguide 11 and the branch waveguide 12 is smoother. This facilitates transmission of electromagnetic waves from the common waveguide 11 to the branch waveguides 12, and facilitates transmission of electromagnetic waves from the branch waveguides 12 to the common waveguide 11. In this way, a return loss S11 (dB) of the cross feed connector 1 is reduced.

[0094] It may be understood that, if the boss structure 13 is not disposed, as shown in FIG. 5, a cavity of the common waveguide 11 and a cavity of the branch waveguide 12 are 90°, an electromagnetic wave transmitted by the common waveguide 11 to the branch waveguide 12 is very easily reflected back by a bottom wall of the junction area of the branch waveguides 12, and an electromagnetic wave transmitted by the branch waveguide 12 to the common waveguide 11 is very easily directly transmitted to another branch waveguide 12, and is not easily transmitted to the common waveguide 11. The boss structure 13 actually plays a guiding role for the electromagnetic wave.

[0095] In addition, disposing the four metal ridges 14 on the inner walls of the four branch waveguides 12 is equivalent to adding ridges to standard branch waveguides 12 (in other words, the branch waveguides 12 become ridge waveguides), to expand a bandwidth in a fundamental mode of the branch waveguide 12. Because the branch waveguide 12 mainly transmits a signal in the fundamental mode, expanding the bandwidth in the fundamental mode provides a basis for expanding a bandwidth of the cross feed connector 1. In addition, because a total operating frequency band of the branch waveguide 12 is fixed, an increase in the bandwidth in the fundamental mode inevitably causes a decrease in a useless high-order mode. In this way, the return loss S11 (dB) of the cross feed connector 1 is reduced.

[0096] In other words, for the cross feed connector 1 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the bandwidth in the fundamental mode of the cross feed connector 1 is expanded through cooperation of the boss structure 13 and the four metal ridges 14. In this way, the return loss S11 (dB) of the cross feed connector 1 is reduced, broadbandization of the cross feed connector 1 is implemented, and further, broadbandization of the ortho-mode transducer 200 can be implemented.

[0097] In this embodiment of the present disclosure, sizes such as lengths of the common waveguide 11 and the branch waveguide 12 of the cross feed connector 1 are not limited, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. Specific sizes of the common waveguide 11 and the branch waveguide 12 may be randomly set according to an actual requirement, for example, set based on a required operating frequency band.

[0098] The following describes the boss structure 13 and the metal ridge 14 by using an example in more detail: A quantity of bosses included in the boss structure 13 is not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 6, the boss structure 13 includes a plurality of bosses arranged in a stacked manner, and outer diameters of the bosses gradually decrease along a direction toward the common waveguide 11.

[0099] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the boss structure 13 includes a first boss 131 and a second boss 132; and the second boss 132 is located on a surface that is of the first boss 131 and that faces the common waveguide 11, and an outer diameter of the second boss 132 is less than an outer diameter of the first boss 131.

[0100] Certainly, as shown in FIG. 7, the boss structure 13 may alternatively include only one boss. This is not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0101] A form of the boss included in the boss structure 13 is not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a cross section of the boss structure 13 is circular.

[0102] According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the cross section of the boss structure 13 is set to be circular, so that the boss structure 13 better matches the common waveguide 11 in a circular waveguide form. In this way, effect of guiding an electromagnetic wave by the boss structure 13 is easier to be achieved.

[0103] Certainly, for example, the cross section of the boss structure 13 may alternatively be polygonal. This is not specifically limited in embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0104] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the boss included in the boss structure 13 is a columnar boss.

[0105] In some other examples, the boss included in the boss structure 13 may alternatively be a conical boss.

[0106] A manner of forming the metal ridge 14 is not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the metal ridge 14 is a metal strip and is fastened to the inner wall of the branch waveguide 12. For example, the metal strip is fastened to the inner wall of the branch waveguide 12 in a connection manner such as bonding or welding.

[0107] In some other examples, as shown in FIG. 8, the metal ridge 14 may alternatively be formed by bending a shell wall of the branch waveguide 12 inward.

[0108] A form of the metal ridge 14 is not limited in embodiments of the present disclosure. In some examples, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a cross section of the metal ridge 14 is rectangular.

[0109] Certainly, for example, the cross section of the metal ridge 14 may alternatively be square, triangular, conical, or semicircular. This is not specifically limited in embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0110] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 9, one end that is of each metal ridge 14 and that is away from the boss structure 13 is flush with the branch waveguide 12 in which the metal ridge 14 is located.

[0111] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 9, each metal ridge 14 is located in a center line of the branch waveguide 12 in which the metal ridge 14 is located.

[0112] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 5, both the boss structure 13 and the metal ridge 14 are located on a bottom wall of the branch waveguide 12, and the bottom wall is a wall that is of the branch waveguide 12 and that is opposite to the common waveguide 11.

[0113] The following describes the first power combiner 2 and the second power combiner 3 by using an example in more detail:

[0114] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 3, the first power combiner 2 has a first metal ridge 23, and the second power combiner 3 has a second metal ridge 33. The first metal ridge 23 and the second metal ridge 33 are configured to be in connection with the metal ridges 14 of the cross feed connector 1, so that the cross feed connector 1 better matches the first power combiner 2 and the second power combiner 3.

[0115] The first power combiner 2 and the second power combiner 3 may be understood as waveguides, and the first metal ridge 23 and the second metal ridge 33 may be understood as protrusions or convex strips on inner walls of the waveguides.

[0116] The foregoing cross feed connector 1 is used in the ortho-mode transducer 200 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure, to implement broadbandization.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 10, a frequency band in which a return loss S11 (dB) of the ortho-mode transducer 200 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure is less than -20 dB is 5.82 GHz to 11.83 GHz, an absolute bandwidth is 11.83-5.82=6.01 GHz, and a relative bandwidth reaches 6.01 GHz / ((5.82+11.83) / 2)=68.1%. The operating frequency band of the ortho-mode transducer 200 provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure can cover a frequency band of 6 G to 11 G obtained through division by the ITU, and can be further conveniently expanded to frequency bands such as Ka and E-band.

[0118] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an antenna. As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna has the foregoing ortho-mode transducer 200.

[0119] The antenna is a dual-polarized antenna.

[0120] According to the technical solution provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the foregoing ortho-mode transducer 200 is used in the antenna, so that dual-polarization transmission of the antenna can be implemented, and broadbandization of the antenna can also be implemented.

[0121] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 1, the antenna includes an antenna body 100, an ortho-mode transducer 200, a first feed source 300, and a second feed source 400. The first feed source 300 is in connection with a main port 21 of the first polarized signal of the ortho-mode transducer 200, and the second feed source 400 is in connection with a main port 31 of a second polarized signal of the ortho-mode transducer 200. A common port 111 of the ortho-mode transducer 200 is in connection with the antenna body 100.

[0122] When the antenna sends a signal, the first feed source 300 sends the first polarized signal to the main port 21 of the first polarized signal, and the second feed source 400 sends the second polarized signal to the main port 31 of the second polarized signal. After the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are combined in the ortho-mode transducer 200, the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are transmitted from the common port 111 to the antenna body 100. The antenna body 100 externally radiates both the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal that are orthogonal to each other.

[0123] When the antenna receives a signal, the antenna body 100 receives the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal, and transmits the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal to the common port 111 of the ortho-mode transducer 200. After the first polarized signal and the second polarized signal are divided in the ortho-mode transducer 200, the first polarized signal is transmitted to the first feed source 300 through the main port 21 of the first polarized signal, and the second polarized signal is transmitted to the second feed source 400 through the main port 31 of the second polarized signal.

[0124] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a network device. The network device includes the foregoing antenna.

[0125] In some examples, the network device is a base station, for example, a 5G base station.

[0126] According to the technical solution provided in embodiments of the present disclosure, the foregoing antenna is used in the base station, so that a requirement for large-capacity transmission of the base station can be met.

[0127] Terms used in the implementations of the present disclosure are merely used to explain embodiments of the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Unless defined in another way, technical terms or scientific terms used in the implementations of the present disclosure should have same meanings as those commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. The terms "first", "second", and similar words used in the specification and the claims of the present disclosure do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely intended to distinguish between different constituents. Similarly, "a / an", "one", and similar words are not intended to limit a quantity, but are intended to indicate existence of "at least one". Terms such as "include" and "comprise" mean that an element or an object before the term "include" or "comprise" encompasses elements or objects and their equivalents listed after the term "include" or "comprise", and other elements or objects are not excluded. Terms such as "up", "down", "left", and "right" merely indicate relative positional relationships. When an absolute position of an object described changes, the relative positional relationships may also change accordingly. "A plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise expressly limited.

[0128] The foregoing descriptions are merely optional embodiments of the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, or the like made without departing from the principle of the present disclosure should fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A cross feed connector, wherein the cross feed connector comprises a common waveguide (11), four branch waveguides (12), a boss structure (13), and four metal ridges (14); the four branch waveguides (12) are arranged in a cross shape, and the common waveguide (11) is in connection with a junction area of the four branch waveguides (12), and is in connection with all the four branch waveguides (12); the boss structure (13) is located inside the junction area of the four branch waveguides (12), and is opposite to the common waveguide (11); and the four metal ridges (14) are respectively located on inner walls of the four branch waveguides (12), and respectively extend along the branch waveguides (12) in which the four metal ridges (14) are located, and the four metal ridges (14) are all in connection with the boss structure (13).

2. The cross feed connector according to claim 1, wherein the boss structure (13) comprises a plurality of bosses arranged in a stacked manner, and outer diameters of the plurality of bosses gradually decrease in a direction toward the common waveguide (11).

3. The cross feed connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the boss structure (13) comprises a first boss (131) and a second boss (132); and the second boss (132) is located on a surface that is of the first boss (131) and that faces the common waveguide (11), and an outer diameter of the second boss (132) is less than an outer diameter of the first boss (131).

4. The cross feed connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a cross section of the boss structure (13) is circular.

5. The cross feed connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one end that is of each metal ridge (14) and that is far away from the boss structure (13) is flush with the branch waveguide (12) in which the metal ridge (14) is located.

6. The cross feed connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the metal ridges (14) is located in a center line of the branch waveguide (12) in which the metal ridges (14) are located.

7. The cross feed connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a cross section of the metal ridge (14) is rectangular.

8. The cross feed connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the common waveguide (11) is a circular waveguide, and the branch waveguide (12) is a rectangular waveguide.

9. An ortho-mode transducer, wherein the ortho-mode transducer comprises a cross feed connector (1), a first power combiner (2), and a second power combiner (3); the cross feed connector (1) is the cross feed connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8; the first power combiner (2) has a main port (21) of a first polarized signal and two branch ports (22) of the first polarized signal, the two branch ports (22) of the first polarized signal are respectively in connection with two branch waveguides (12) of the cross feed connector (1), and the two branch waveguides (12) are located in a first straight line; and the second power combiner (3) has a main port (31) of a second polarized signal and two branch ports (32) of the second polarized signal, the two branch ports (32) of the second polarized signal are respectively in connection with the other two branch waveguides (12) of the cross feed connector (1), the other two branch waveguides (12) are located in a second straight line, and the second straight line is perpendicular to the first straight line.

10. An antenna, wherein the antenna has the ortho-mode transducer according to claim 9.

Images