Controllable reflector
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023838009
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-01-12
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-15
AI Technical Summary
Controllable reflectors face challenges in achieving precise and wide-range directional adjustments, particularly in the micro and millimeter wave ranges, as they are limited by mechanical adjustments which are slow and inaccurate, and electronic adjustments alone do not provide sufficient flexibility.
A controllable reflector combining electronically controllable antenna elements with a mechanical alignment device, allowing for precise alignment through a combination of mechanical and electronic beam tilting, and incorporating sensors to compensate for mechanical inaccuracies and external influences.
Enables rapid and precise adjustment of directional characteristics over a wide range, improving dynamic behavior and stability by combining mechanical and electronic adjustments, and simplifying handling and manufacturing.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] Controllable reflector
[0002] The invention relates to a controllable reflector.
[0003] A controllable reflector has a number of antenna elements, each of which receives a high-frequency signal, reflects it on an integrated electronically controllable element and then re-radiates this reflected signal.
[0004] The electronically controllable element in an antenna element is controlled by a control module, which uses magnitude and phase information as a control signal to influence the reflection properties of the antenna element.
[0005] For example, a controllable reflector can be a binary-controllable planar antenna array, in which the phase of the reflection factor can be influenced by binary control of a diode connected to an antenna element of the array. Each antenna element obviously has its own reflector element, such as a diode. Instead of a diode, a transistor, a switch, or a phase shifter can also be used.
[0006] A controllable reflector usually consists of several antenna elements, whereby the size and geometry of the antenna elements are often the same and the geometric arrangement on the surface follows a special rule, namely, for example, round copper elements with a spacing of 0.8 times the wavelength.
[0007] The performance of this controllable reflector can be described by the so-called relaying gain. To achieve a high gain, the controllable reflector comprises many basic or antenna elements, often over 1000.
[0008] A controllable reflector is typically limited to a rather narrow range within which the directional characteristic can be adjusted. In contrast, a mechanically pivoting reflector has a relatively large pivoting range, but the precision required for adjusting the directional characteristic, such as that required for reflectors in the microwave and millimeter wave range, is only achievable with considerable effort. Mechanical adjustment is also considerably slower than electronic adjustment.
[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a controllable reflector which, when used, can be adjusted or aligned precisely in space and over a wide adjustment range in a particularly simple manner.
[0010] The object of the invention is achieved by a controllable reflector which comprises an electronically controllable reflector device, comprising an antenna structure with controllable antenna elements and an antenna control device for controlling the antenna elements, and a connected mechanical alignment device with a mechanical alignment control device, and the mechanical alignment device is designed to align the electronically controllable reflector device mechanically in space, wherein the antenna control device and the alignment control device are configurable in combination such that a variable directional characteristic of the reflector can be set for reflecting an incident signal with a variable direction of incidence with respect to the reflector.
[0011] The solution described allows a particularly precise alignment to be achieved in a simple manner , namely a coarse adjustment by mechanical alignment and a fine adjustment by electronic alignment .
[0012] This makes handling the controllable reflector easier during installation and operation.
[0013] Furthermore, the reflector's combined directional characteristic can be adjusted particularly precisely and over a wide reflection range. The combination of mechanical and electronic beam steering also allows for improved dynamic performance.
[0014] For example, a rapid and at the same time precise change of the variable directivity can be achieved by combining mechanical and electronic beam steering, for example by compensating for inaccuracies or vibrations caused by the mechanical beam steering by the electronic beam steering.
[0015] For example, a beam deflection that is statically fixed over a period of time, which is compensated for by external influences on the reflector, for example, can be compensated by the electronic beam deflection, and a particularly stable directional characteristic can be achieved over the period of time.
[0016] These influences are taken into account by a development of the invention, wherein the antenna control device and the alignment control device in combination are configurable in such a way that undesired mechanical effects on the reflector, which are caused by a movement of the reflector, are compensated by a sensor means which is comprised by the reflector and which is configured to detect movement data relating to the undesired movement, by means of a corresponding control with the aid of the movement data.
[0017] In the present context, an antenna element comprises a controllable reflector element which receives a signal received by the antenna element itself, reflects it in a controllable manner via a control signal and radiates it again via the antenna element.
[0018] The control module is designed to control the respective antenna elements with control signals in such a way that a desired reflection property is achieved by the reflector element and the antenna element itself, and thus, for example, a desired antenna directional characteristic of the controllable reflector is achieved.
[0019] A transmitter arranged stationary relative to the controllable reflector radiates a transmission signal to the controllable reflector.
[0020] If the controllable reflector rotates, the directional characteristic of the reflector with respect to the transmitted signal, i.e. the incident signal for the reflector, behaves like a variable direction of incidence with respect to the reflector.
[0021] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the antenna structure has a surface which, at least in individual points or locations of the surface, follows a shape contour which is conical, parabolic, pyramid-like, hemispherical or funnel-shaped.
[0022] The surface of the antenna structure can be assembled from several planar components. These components can be applied and attached to a support structure in a tangential manner, so that the components, for example, follow the aforementioned shape contour only at one point, the tangential point.
[0023] The shape contour can be formed, for example, by a support structure on which antenna components with antenna elements are arranged. The points of the shape contour to which the antenna components are attached can form an imaginary contour that has a conical, parabolic, pyramidal, hemispherical, or funnel-shaped shape.
[0024] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the antenna elements each have a round shape.
[0025] This allows the antenna structure and its components to be manufactured particularly easily and precisely.
[0026] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the antenna control device comprises an electronic circuit which is configured to control the antenna elements by means of a pre-set configuration of control signals in such a way that they do not change over a period of more than 10 seconds, preferably by more than 1 minute, particularly preferably by more than 10 minutes.
[0027] This allows the electronically controllable reflector device to be manufactured and put into operation more easily and cost-effectively.
[0028] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the electronically controllable reflector device has a number of more than 30 antenna elements, preferably more than 100 antenna elements.
[0029] The reflector described above is particularly suitable for larger reflectors, as the influence of manufacturing accuracy increases.
[0030] In a further development of the invention, it is provided that the antenna elements are each designed for an operating frequency of more than 20 GHz, preferably more than 30 GHz and particularly preferably more than 40 GHz, and preferably the antenna elements have a distance between them of 0.8 times the wavelength of the operating frequency.
[0031] The previously described reflector is particularly suitable for reflectors with operating frequencies in the microwave and millimeter wave range, because then the influence of the alignment accuracy increases.
[0032] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
[0033] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a controllable reflector according to the invention,
[0034] Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a circuit carrier with a representation for a group with a number of antenna elements,
[0035] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a design of the electronically controllable reflector. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a controllable reflector SR according to the invention.
[0036] It comprises an electronically controllable reflector device RV with controllable antenna elements AE (see Fig. 2) on a surface of an antenna structure AS (see Fig. 3) and an antenna control device ACU for controlling the antenna elements AE.
[0037] The electronically controllable reflector device RV is designed to set a directional characteristic for a first coordinate system AC, for example three-dimensionally in space, which is indicated by the rays B1-B3 in the figure and can represent, for example, the Poynting vector, which characterizes the density and the main direction of the energy transport (energy flux density) of an electromagnetic field reflected by the reflector RV.
[0038] The rays B1-B3 are to be understood as three possible main directions of the reflected signal.
[0039] In the application, for example, one of the main directions B1-B3 can be selected electronically by means of corresponding control signals for the antenna elements AE.
[0040] For selected embodiments, it may be provided that the reflector is not provided in both transmit / receive directions or not for all polarizations of the transmitted signal, for example if an amplifier is used in the antenna elements.
[0041] In a specific embodiment, the antenna control device ACU may comprise an electronic circuit which is configured, for example, to control the antenna elements AE statically, for example by means of a fixed electronic circuit arrangement.
[0042] The antenna control unit ACU can alternatively comprise an electronic circuit configured to control the antenna elements AE using a preset configuration of control signals such that they do not change over a period of more than 10 seconds, preferably for more than 1 minute, particularly preferably for more than 10 minutes. This can simplify the determination and provision of the control signals when an arrangement changes only slowly.
[0043] Furthermore, a connected mechanical alignment device DV with an alignment control device DCU is included.
[0044] The mechanical alignment device DV is designed to align the electronically controllable reflector device RV mechanically in space.
[0045] The mechanical alignment device DV is designed to set a directional characteristic for a second coordinate system DC, for example rotatable and pivotable.
[0046] The antenna control device ACU and the alignment control device DCU can be configured in combination such that a variable directivity of the reflector can be set.
[0047] The antenna control unit ACU can be electrically connected, for example, via digital control lines to the individual circuit carriers S1-S4 and their antenna elements AE and can be controlled, for example, with a binary control signal. The antenna control unit ACU is configured to control the antenna elements AE with individual magnitude / amplitude and / or phase information.
[0048] For example, an amplifier can be integrated into each antenna element AE to re-radiate the signal in an amplified form. This common control can be achieved using a control device CU.
[0049] The antenna control device ACU and the alignment control device DCU can be configured in combination in such a way that undesirable mechanical effects on the reflector SR can be compensated by appropriate control using the movement data.
[0050] The undesirable mechanical effects can be caused by a movement of the reflector SR and detected by a sensor means.
[0051] The sensor means may be comprised of the reflector SR and configured to capture motion data relating to the unwanted movement.
[0052] The undesired movement of the reflector can occur, for example, due to external influences such as weather, wind or vibrations, or also, for example, due to a rotational movement or oscillation of the reflector SR as a result of the mechanical beam pivoting of the reflector SR .
[0053] A corresponding sensor for detecting the movement data, not shown in the figure, can be included, for example, in the antenna control device ACU and can be formed, for example, by an electronic three-axis acceleration sensor.
[0054] Fig. 2 shows controllable antenna elements AE on a component S1 for an antenna structure in hexagonal form K. On the surface of the antenna structure, a first group G1 with a number of circular, round antenna elements AE in planar design can be seen on a first circuit carrier S1 such as a planar printed circuit board with a hexagonal contour K. The circuit carriers S1 with antenna elements AE form antenna components S1-S4.
[0055] The antenna elements AE of the first group Gl are arranged in such a way that an imaginary outer contour K of the group Gl encloses its antenna elements AE and forms an essentially hexagonal shape.
[0056] Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a design of the electronically controllable reflector RV.
[0057] The electronically controllable reflector RV has a surface of the antenna structure AS which, at least in individual points of the surface, follows a shape contour which is cylindrical (for example with a round or hexagonal base area), conical, parabolic, pyramidal, hemispherical or funnel-shaped and is formed, for example, by a rotation about a rotation axis RA.
[0058] In this example, a funnel-shaped holding structure or antenna structure AS is shown, which is formed around a rotation axis RA.
[0059] Several groups, each identical in construction to the first group Gl, with round antenna elements AE on the first planar circuit carrier S 1 in the form of a printed circuit board with a hexagonal outer contour K, are arranged as antenna components S 1-S4 on the surface of a holding structure (not shown for better clarity), which form the antenna structure AS of an electronically controllable reflector.
[0060] The antenna components S 1-S4 are each formed by a circuit carrier with antenna elements AE of a respective group arranged thereon.
[0061] To mechanically join the groups, the circuit carriers are fixed by the holding structure, which is not shown in detail in the figure.
[0062] The advantages of the arrangement mentioned with regard to alignment are particularly great when the groups each have a number of more than 30 antenna elements AE, preferably more than 100 antenna elements AE. The advantages of the arrangement mentioned with regard to alignment are also particularly great when the antenna elements are each designed for an operating frequency of more than 20 GHz, preferably more than 30 GHz and particularly preferably more than 40 GHz, and preferably the antenna elements AE within the respective group have a distance from one another of 0.8 times the wavelength of the operating frequency.
[0063] Both advantages add up synergistically for a combined dimensioning in terms of number and operating frequency of the antenna elements AE .
[0064] List of reference symbols:
[0065] AC antenna coordinate system
[0066] ACU antenna control unit ( reflector control unit )
[0067] AE antenna element
[0068] AS antenna structure
[0069] B1-B3 Beam direction, reflection direction
[0070] CU control device of the controllable reflector
[0071] DC alignment coordinate system
[0072] DCU direction control unit
[0073] DV alignment device
[0074] Gl Group
[0075] K Contour
[0076] RA rotation matter
[0077] RV reflector device
[0078] S1-S4 circuit carrier with antenna elements, antenna
[0079] component
Claims
Patent claims 1. Controllable reflector (SR), comprising an electronically controllable reflector device (RV), comprising an antenna structure (AS) with controllable antenna elements (AE) and an antenna control device (ACU) for controlling the antenna elements (AE), and a connected mechanical alignment device (DV) with an alignment control device (DCU), and the mechanical alignment device (DV) is designed to align the electronically controllable reflector device (RV) mechanically in space, wherein the antenna control device (ACU) and the alignment control device (DCU) in combination are configurable such that a variable directional characteristic of the reflector (SR) can be set for reflecting an incident signal with a variable direction of incidence with respect to the reflector (SR).
2. Reflector (SR) according to the preceding claim, wherein the antenna control device (ACU) and the alignment control device (DCU) in combination are configurable such that undesired mechanical effects on the reflector (SR), which are caused by a movement of the reflector, are compensated by a sensor means which is comprised by the reflector (SR) and which is configured to detect movement data relating to the undesired movement, by means of a corresponding control using the movement data.
3. Reflector (SR) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna structure (AS) has a surface which at least in individual points follows a shape contour which is cylindrical, conical, parabolic, pyramidal, hemispherical or funnel-shaped.
4. Reflector (SR) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna elements (AE) each have a round shape.
5. Reflector (SR) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna control device (ACU) comprises an electronic Circuit which is configured to control the antenna elements (AE) by a preset configuration of control signals such that they do not change over a period of more than 10 seconds, preferably for more than 1 minute, particularly preferably for more than 10 minutes.
6. Reflector (SR) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electronically controllable reflector device (RV) has a number of more than 30 antenna elements (AE), preferably more than 100 antenna elements (AE).
7. Reflector (SR) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the antenna elements (AE) are each designed for an operating frequency of more than 20 GHz, preferably more than 30 GHz and particularly preferably more than 40 GHz, and preferably the antenna elements (AE) are spaced apart from one another by 0.8 times the wavelength of the operating frequency.