Antenna device

Abstract

To provide an antenna device in which phases of radio waves at a plurality of radiation openings can be easily aligned with each other while suppressing an increase in size.SOLUTION: In a cross section in one direction, which is a cross section along a height direction Dh and a width direction Dw, an inclined wall surface 163f of a first side wall 163a is formed such that a distance W1 in the width direction Dw from a power supply opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163f becomes larger toward one side in the height direction Dh. Similarly, in the cross section in the one direction, an inclined wall surface 163h of a second side wall 163b is also formed such that a distance W2 in the width direction Dw from the power supply opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163h becomes larger toward the one side in the height direction Dh. Further, in comparison with a configuration where the inclined surfaces 163f, 163h are not formed, the shape of each of the inclined wall surface 163f, 163h is determined such that a variation in the phase of a radio wave at a plurality of radiation openings 17 is small when a radio wave of a predetermined wavelength is propagated from the power supply opening 14 to a cavity 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to antenna devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in an antenna device having four radiation apertures, a structure is known in which the radio wave propagation path is branched in a tournament shape using a first branch that branches the radio wave propagation path into two and a second branch that branches the radio wave propagation path into four. For example, such an antenna device is described in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2022 / 122319 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As in Patent Document 1, when the propagation path of the radio wave is branched in a tournament shape, it is easy to align the phase of the radio wave at the four radiation apertures. However, in the structure of Patent Document 1, the first branch and the second branch need to be stacked, and it is unavoidable that the size of the antenna device becomes large. As a result of detailed investigation by the inventors, the above findings were found.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide an antenna device that can easily align the phases of radio waves at multiple radiation apertures while minimizing expansion of the device's size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, an antenna device according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: A waveguide section (12) that forms a waveguide path (12a) therein for propagating radio waves; a cavity forming portion (16) that is provided on one side of the waveguide in the first direction (Dh) and that forms a cavity (15) therein and communicates with the waveguide through a power supply opening (14); the cavity forming portion has an opening wall portion (161) which faces the cavity from the other side opposite to the one side in the first direction and in which a power supply opening is formed, an opposing wall portion (162) which faces the cavity from the one side in the first direction and in which a plurality of radiation openings (17) are formed and which faces the opening wall portion, and a side wall portion (163) which faces the cavity so as to surround the cavity between the opening wall portion and the opposing wall portion and connects the opening wall portion and the opposing wall portion; The plurality of radiation apertures communicate the cavity with an external space (SP), propagate radio waves between the cavity and the external space, and are arranged in a line of three or more in a second direction (Dw, Dwp) perpendicular to the first direction; In a first cross section along the first direction and the second direction, the side wall portion has second direction change surfaces (163f, 163h, 163j, 163m) facing the cavity and formed so that a distance (W1, W2, W3, W4) in the second direction from the power feed opening increases toward one side in the first direction, on one side and the other side in the second direction relative to the power feed opening, The shape of the second direction changing surface is determined so that when radio waves of a specified wavelength are propagated from the feed opening to the cavity, the variation in the phase of the radio waves at multiple radiation openings is reduced, compared to when no second direction changing surface is provided in the first cross section and the distance in the second direction from the feed opening to the side wall portion is constant regardless of the position in the first direction.

[0007] In this way, the path length along which the radio waves propagate between each of the multiple radiation apertures and the feed aperture and the reflection configuration of the radio waves can be adjusted by setting the shape of the second direction changing surface. Therefore, even if three or more radiation apertures are arranged side by side in the second direction, it is easy to align the phases of the radio waves at the radiation apertures.

[0008] In addition, since the structure distributes radio waves to three or more radiation openings using a single cavity, the expansion of the antenna device in the first direction can be suppressed compared to the structure in which the radio wave propagation path is branched in a tournament shape as in conventional technology.

[0009] Therefore, according to the antenna device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the advantageous effect that it is easy to align the phases of radio waves at a large number of radiation apertures, three or more, arranged in the second direction, while suppressing an increase in the size of the antenna device.

[0010] In addition, in each section of the application documents, each element may be given a reference number in parentheses. In this case, the reference number merely indicates an example of the correspondence between the element and the specific configuration described in the embodiment described later. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited in any way by the description of the reference number. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus including an antenna device in a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the II-II cross section of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic view of an antenna device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic exploded view of the antenna device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is an excerpt of part VI in Figure 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the VII-VII section of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining radiation directivity of an antenna device of a first comparative example to be compared with the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining radiation directivity of the antenna device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10]4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a first modified example of the first embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 3. [Figure 11] 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a second modified example of the first embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 3. [Figure 12] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a third modified example of the first embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 3. [Figure 13] FIG. 7 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing an extracted portion corresponding to portion VI in FIG. 1 in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. 13 in the second embodiment. [Figure 15] 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section taken along line XV-XV of FIG. 13 in the second embodiment. [Figure 16] 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a first modified example of the second embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 15. [Figure 17] 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a second modified example of the second embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 15. [Figure 18] 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a third modified example of the second embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 15. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a cavity and a plurality of radiation apertures extracted from an antenna device in a third embodiment, illustrating an image of the shapes of the cavity and the plurality of radiation apertures. [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a schematic view of an antenna device according to a fourth embodiment, illustrating an image of the shape of a cavity. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic exploded view of an antenna device according to a fifth embodiment, the view corresponding to FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic exploded view of an antenna device according to a sixth embodiment, the view corresponding to FIG. [Figure 23] 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a sixth embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. [Figure 24] 24 is a view taken along the arrow XXIV direction of FIG. 23 in the sixth embodiment, and is a plan view corresponding to FIG. [Diagram 25] 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic cross section of an antenna device according to a seventh embodiment, the cross section corresponding to the cross section of FIG. 3. [Figure 26] 26 is a view taken along the arrow XXVI direction of FIG. 25 in the seventh embodiment, and is a plan view corresponding to FIG. [Figure 27] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to an eighth embodiment, the cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. [Figure 28] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a ninth embodiment, the cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. [Figure 29] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a tenth embodiment. [Diagram 30] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to an eleventh embodiment. [Diagram 31] FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of an apparatus including an antenna device in a twelfth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, each embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to parts that are the same or equivalent to each other.

[0013] (First embodiment) In this embodiment, an example will be described in which an antenna device 1 according to the present disclosure is applied to an apparatus including an MMIC 2, which is an electrical component, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. "MMIC" is an abbreviation for Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit.

[0014] In the description of this embodiment, the height direction Dh, width direction Dw, and width-orthogonal direction Dwp shown in Figures 1 and 2 may be used to represent the orientation of the antenna device 1. The height direction Dh, width direction Dw, and width-orthogonal direction Dwp are mutually intersecting directions, or strictly speaking, mutually perpendicular directions. In this embodiment, the height direction Dh corresponds to the first direction of the present disclosure, the width direction Dw corresponds to the second direction of the present disclosure, and the width-orthogonal direction Dwp corresponds to the third direction of the present disclosure.

[0015] The MMIC 2 is a semiconductor device including an input / output unit 3 that transmits and receives radio waves. The MMIC 2 is a transmitting / receiving device provided corresponding to the antenna device 1. In this embodiment, the operating frequency of the radio waves transmitted and received by the MMIC 2 is a frequency band corresponding to millimeter waves. Note that the operating frequency of the radio waves transmitted and received by the MMIC 2 is not limited to a frequency corresponding to millimeter waves, and may be a frequency other than millimeter waves.

[0016] The electric board 4 is a printed circuit board on which a plurality of wiring patterns are formed by a conductive member such as a metal foil. The thickness direction of the electric board 4 coincides with the height direction Dh. The electric board 4 has one surface F1 formed on one side of the height direction Dh and another surface F2 formed on the other side of the height direction Dh. The MMIC 2 is mounted on the one surface F1 of the electric board 4.

[0017] In addition to the MMIC 2, a plurality of spacers 5 are arranged on one surface F1 of the electric substrate 4. The spacers 5 are made of, for example, a conductive material. The spacers 5 are fixed to the electric substrate 4.

[0018] The antenna device 1 is disposed on one surface F1 of an electric substrate 4 with the MMIC 2 and a plurality of spacers 5 sandwiched therebetween. The antenna device 1 is fixed to the electric substrate 4 by screws, adhesive, or the like while being in contact with the MMIC 2 and each of the plurality of spacers 5.

[0019] The antenna device 1 is an antenna that transmits radio waves transmitted and received by the MMIC 2. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the antenna device 1 is a structural body ST having a laminated structure in which three conductive blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3 are laminated in the height direction Dh. The three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3 are made of metal blocks.

[0020] At least one of the three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3 may not be a metal block, but may be, for example, a resin block having a conductive film such as a metal film formed on the surface thereof by plating or the like, or a block made of a conductive material other than metal.

[0021] In addition, the cross-sectional line II-II in Fig. 1 does not pass through the power feed opening 14, but in Fig. 2, the power feed opening 14 is shown in cross section for ease of illustration. This method of illustrating the cross section is also adopted in Fig. 3 and cross-sectional views similar to Fig. 3 described below.

[0022] The antenna device 1 has three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3, which are joined to each other by screws, adhesive, etc. The antenna device 1 is fixed to the electric board 4 in a position in which the height direction Dh coincides with the thickness direction of the electric board 4.

[0023] Specifically, the three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3 constituting the antenna device 1 are a first block BC1, a second block BC2, and a third block BC3. The first block BC1, the second block BC2, and the third block BC3 are stacked in this order from the side closer to the electric board 4, i.e., the other side in the height direction Dh.

[0024] The three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3 have the same rectangular shape in a plan view, which is a view along the height direction Dh. The three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3 also have approximately the same size in a plan view so that they overlap each other in the height direction Dh.

[0025] The first block BC1 and the second block BC2 have opposing surfaces that are in contact with each other. The second block BC2 and the third block BC3 have opposing surfaces that are in contact with each other. This electrically connects the three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3.

[0026] The other surface of the first block BC1 in the height direction Dh faces one surface F1 of the electric substrate 4, sandwiching the MMIC 2 and the plurality of spacers 5 therebetween. Although not shown, the first block BC1 is electrically connected to a ground pattern included in the wiring pattern formed on the one surface F1 of the electric substrate 4 via at least some of the plurality of spacers 5. The second block BC2 and the third block BC3 are electrically connected to the first block BC1, and are therefore electrically connected to the ground pattern of the electric substrate 4 via the first block BC1. The ground pattern of the electric substrate 4 is at ground potential.

[0027] The first block BC1 has an external port 11 formed therein so as to allow radio waves to propagate between the external port 11 and the MMIC 2. The external port 11 is formed in a position in the first block BC1 facing the input / output unit 3 of the MMIC 2. This allows radio waves to propagate between the external port 11 and the MMIC 2.

[0028] The first block BC1 and the second block BC2 are formed with a waveguide section 12 that is included in a waveguide that serves as a propagation path for radio waves. In this embodiment, the external port 11 opens into the waveguide section 12, so that the entire waveguide section 12 serves as a waveguide. Therefore, the portions of the first block BC1 and the second block BC2 that form the waveguide section 12 constitute the waveguide.

[0029] The waveguide portion 12 is formed by joining a pair of grooves 121, 122 formed in portions of the first block BC1 and the second block BC2 that face each other in the height direction Dh.

[0030] The first block BC1 has a first groove 121 formed in a portion facing the second block BC2. The first groove 121 is configured as a bottomed groove recessed from one side to the other side in the height direction Dh. The external port 11 is formed in the bottom surface of the first groove 121.

[0031] The second block BC2 has a second groove 122 formed in a portion facing the first groove 121 of the first block BC1. The second groove 122 is configured as a bottomed groove recessed from the other side to one side in the height direction Dh. A power supply opening 14, which will be described later, is formed in the bottom surface of the second groove 122.

[0032] The waveguide section 12 has a waveguide 12a formed therein for propagating radio waves. The waveguide 12a is a cavity formed by the coupling of the first groove section 121 and the second groove section 122, and extends along a pipe extension direction Da. In this embodiment, the pipe extension direction Da coincides with the width direction Dw. Moreover, one side of the pipe extension direction Da is also one side of the width direction Dw, and the other side of the pipe extension direction Da is also the other side of the width direction Dw.

[0033] 4 and 5, the waveguide 12a has a cross section (i.e., a transverse cross section) perpendicular to the waveguide extension direction Da, which has a rectangular shape extending in a height direction Dh. That is, the dimension of the waveguide 12a in the height direction Dh is larger than the dimension in the direction perpendicular to the width Dwp.

[0034] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the waveguide 12a extends from near the external port 11 to near the power feed opening 14 described below. The waveguide section 12 has a pair of end walls 123, 124 that form the ends of the waveguide 12a, at both ends of the waveguide 12a in the waveguide extension direction Da. Specifically, a first end wall 123, which is one of the pair of end walls 123, 124, is provided at one end of the waveguide 12a in the waveguide extension direction Da. Moreover, a second end wall 124, which is the other of the pair of end walls 123, 124, is provided at the other end of the waveguide 12a in the waveguide extension direction Da.

[0035] The second end wall 124 is formed of a planar wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the pipe extension direction Da. The second end wall 124 is disposed near the external port 11. Specifically, the second end wall 124 is disposed on the other side of the pipe extension direction Da with respect to the external port 11, and faces the waveguide 12a toward one side of the pipe extension direction Da.

[0036] The first end wall 123 is formed of a planar wall extending in a direction perpendicular to the pipe extension direction Da. The first end wall 123 is provided as a short wall, and is disposed near a power feed opening 14 described below. Specifically, the first end wall 123 is provided on one side of the pipe extension direction Da from the position where the power feed opening 14 opens to the waveguide 12a, and faces the waveguide 12a on the other side of the pipe extension direction Da.

[0037] The positional relationship between the power feed opening 14 and the first end wall 123 is set taking into consideration the amount of coupling between the waveguide 12a and a cavity 15 (described later). In other words, the antenna device 1 is adapted to control the amount of coupling between the waveguide 12a and a cavity 15 (described later) by the distance between the power feed opening 14 and the first end wall 123.

[0038] In the second block BC2, a feed opening 14 is formed in the bottom surface of the second groove portion 122 forming the waveguide 12a. The feed opening 14 is a port that propagates radio waves between the waveguide 12a and a cavity 15 described below. The feed opening 14 is formed as a through hole penetrating the second block BC2 in the height direction Dh between the waveguide 12a and the cavity 15. The feed opening 14 is formed in the second block BC2 at a position that does not overlap with the external port 11 in the height direction Dh.

[0039] The power feed opening 14 has a rectangular shape extending in the width direction Dw in a plan view. The shape of the power feed opening 14 may not be rectangular, but may be, for example, an oval shape, a diamond shape, or the like.

[0040] Here, the waveguide section 12 has a reflection suppression wall 13 that is provided inside the waveguide 12a and suppresses reflection of radio waves. The reflection suppression wall 13 is provided at a position on the other side in the waveguide extension direction Da of the opening position of the power supply opening 14 for the waveguide 12a.

[0041] The reflection suppression wall 13 is composed of a pair of protruding walls 131, 132 arranged in the waveguide 12a at a distance from each other in the height direction Dh. The first protruding wall 131, which is one of the pair of protruding walls 131, 132, is provided so as to protrude from the bottom surface of the first groove portion 121 toward one side in the height direction Dh. The second protruding wall 132, which is the other of the pair of protruding walls 131, 132, is provided so as to protrude from the bottom surface of the second groove portion 122 toward the other side in the height direction Dh. The first protruding wall 131 and the second protruding wall 132 are provided so as to be positioned at the same position in the waveguide extension direction Da in the waveguide 12a. The first protruding wall 131 and the second protruding wall 132 are configured so as to be substantially the same in height, thickness, and shape. The first protruding wall 131 and the second protruding wall 132 are at a height such that they do not contact each other.

[0042] Here, the position, height, thickness, and shape of each of first protruding wall 131 and second protruding wall 132 affect the impedance of the space between first end wall 123 and reflection suppression wall 13 in waveguide 12a. For this reason, it is desirable that the position, height, thickness, and shape of first protruding wall 131 and second protruding wall 132 are set so that the impedance of the space between first end wall 123 and reflection suppression wall 13 in waveguide 12a matches the impedance of cavity 15.

[0043] The second block BC2 and the third block BC3 are provided with a cavity forming portion 16 so as to straddle the second and third blocks BC2 and BC3. A cavity 15 is formed inside the cavity forming portion 16. The cavity 15 is a hollow space formed between the second block BC2 and the third block BC3.

[0044] The cavity 15 is disposed adjacent to one side of the waveguide 12a in the height direction Dh, and communicates with the waveguide 12a via the power feed opening 14. For example, the cavity 15 has a flat shape expanding in the width direction Dw and the width-orthogonal direction Dwp. The cavity 15 has a rectangular shape in a plan view, with the longitudinal direction of the cavity 15 being the width direction Dw and the lateral direction of the cavity 15 being the width-orthogonal direction Dwp. In this embodiment, the portions of the second block BC2 and the third block BC3 that form the cavity 15 constitute the cavity forming portion 16.

[0045] The cavity forming portion 16 has an opening wall portion 161 adjacent to the waveguide portion 12 and in which the power feeding opening 14 is formed, an opposing wall portion 162 facing the opening wall portion 161 in the height direction Dh, and a side wall portion 163 connecting the opening wall portion 161 and the opposing wall portion 162.

[0046] 3, 6, and 7, the opening wall portion 161 is disposed on the other side of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh and faces the cavity 15 from the other side in the height direction Dh. On the other hand, the opposing wall portion 162 is disposed on one side of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh and faces the cavity 15 from the one side in the height direction Dh.

[0047] Moreover, the opening wall 161 and the opposing wall 162 each have a rectangular shape in a plan view. Specifically, the opening wall 161 and the opposing wall 162 each have a rectangular shape extending in the width direction Dw. However, while the opening wall 161 and the opposing wall 162 have the same size in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp, the opening wall 161 is formed smaller than the opposing wall 162 in the width direction Dw. To be more specific, the opening wall 161 is formed so that the entire width of the opening wall 161 falls within the width of the opposing wall 162 in the width direction Dw.

[0048] The side wall portion 163 is provided between the opening wall portion 161 and the opposing wall portion 162 in the height direction Dh, and faces the cavity 15 so as to surround the cavity 15 between the opening wall portion 161 and the opposing wall portion 162. Specifically, the side wall portion 163 has four side walls 163a, 163b, 163c, and 163d that connect the four sides of the opening wall portion 161 and the four sides of the opposing wall portion 162. The four side walls 163a, 163b, 163c, and 163d are the first side wall 163a, the second side wall 163b, the third side wall 163c, and the fourth side wall 163d.

[0049] The first side wall 163a is disposed on one side of the cavity 15 and the power feed opening 14 in the width direction Dw, and the second side wall 163b is disposed on the other side of the cavity 15 and the power feed opening 14 in the width direction Dw. That is, the first side wall 163a and the second side wall 163b are disposed opposite each other in the width direction Dw with the cavity 15 therebetween. Therefore, the first side wall 163a and the second side wall 163b are shown in a one-way cross section (for example, the cross section of FIG. 3) that is a cross section along the height direction Dh and the width direction Dw. In this embodiment, this one-way cross section corresponds to the first cross section of the present disclosure.

[0050] The first side wall 163a and the second side wall 163b each have vertical wall surfaces 163e, 163g facing the cavity 15, and inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h disposed on the other side of the vertical wall surfaces 163e, 163g in the height direction Dh and facing the cavity 15. In this embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h correspond to the second direction change surface of the present disclosure.

[0051] The inclined wall surface 163f of the first side wall 163a is provided between the vertical wall surface 163e of the first side wall 163a and the opening wall portion 161, and connects the vertical wall surface 163e and the opening wall portion 161. The inclined wall surface 163h of the second side wall 163b is provided between the vertical wall surface 163g of the second side wall 163b and the opening wall portion 161, and connects the vertical wall surface 163g and the opening wall portion 161.

[0052] The vertical wall surfaces 163e, 163g of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b are each formed in a planar shape with the width direction Dw as the normal direction, whereas the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b are each formed in a planar shape extending along the width-perpendicular direction Dwp, but are formed as inclined surfaces inclined with respect to the height direction Dh.

[0053] 3, the inclined wall surface 163f of the first side wall 163a is formed such that the distance W1 in the width direction Dw from the power supply opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163f increases continuously toward one side in the height direction Dh. Similarly, the inclined wall surface 163h of the second side wall 163b is formed such that the distance W2 in the width direction Dw from the power supply opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163h increases continuously toward one side in the height direction Dh.

[0054] In this embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163f and 163h are formed in the second block BC2, and the vertical wall surfaces 163e and 163g are formed in the third block BC3.

[0055] 5 and 7, the third side wall 163c is disposed on one side of the cavity 15 and the power feed opening 14 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp, and the fourth side wall 163d is disposed on the other side of the cavity 15 and the power feed opening 14 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp. In other words, the third side wall 163c and the fourth side wall 163d are disposed opposite each other in the width orthogonal direction Dwp with the cavity 15 in between. In addition, the third side wall 163c and the fourth side wall 163d are not inclined with respect to the height direction Dh, and each forms a planar wall surface facing the cavity 15 with the width orthogonal direction Dwp as the normal direction.

[0056] In the cavity 15 thus formed, the dimension in the width direction Dw is larger than the dimension in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp and the dimension in the height direction Dh, as shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6. The cavity 15 is shaped such that it is wider on both sides of the width-orthogonal direction Dwp than the waveguide 12a. That is, the dimension of the cavity 15 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp is larger than the dimension of the waveguide 12a in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp.

[0057] The cavity 15 of this embodiment is formed by joining a pair of recesses 151, 152 formed in portions of the second block BC2 and the third block BC3 facing each other in the height direction Dh.

[0058] The first recess 151, which is one of the pair of recesses 151, 152, is formed in a portion of the second block BC2 facing the third block BC3. The first recess 151 is recessed from one side to the other side in the height direction Dh. The power feed opening 14 is formed in an opening wall portion 161 that forms the bottom surface of the first recess 151. This allows radio waves to propagate between the power feed opening 14 and the cavity 15.

[0059] The second recess 152, which is the other of the pair of recesses 151, 152, is formed in a portion of the third block BC3 facing the second block BC2. The second recess 152 is recessed from the other side to one side in the height direction Dh. A plurality of radiation openings 17 constituting the antenna radiation element are formed in an opposing wall portion 162 which is the bottom surface of the second recess 152.

[0060] This allows radio waves to propagate between the feed opening 14 and each of the multiple radiation openings 17 via the cavity 15. The cavity 15 in this embodiment functions as a branching section that distributes radio waves from the feed opening 14 to each of the multiple radiation openings 17 for propagation.

[0061] The multiple radiation openings 17 are formed as through holes penetrating the opposing wall portion 162 in the height direction Dh. As a result, the cavity 15 communicates with the external space SP of the antenna device 1 via the multiple radiation openings 17. Radio waves can propagate between the cavity 15 and the external space SP via each of the multiple radiation openings 17. In other words, each of the multiple radiation openings 17 communicates the cavity 15 with the external space SP and propagates radio waves between the cavity 15 and the external space SP.

[0062] The multiple radiation openings 17 have the same shape and form a rectangular shape extending in the width direction Dw in a plan view. For example, the dimension of the radiation opening 17 in the width direction Dw is configured to be about 0.5 to about 1 time the wavelength of the radio wave at the operating frequency. The wavelength of the radio wave at the operating frequency is the wavelength of the radio wave at a representative frequency included in the operating frequency, and can be interpreted as the wavelength of the radio wave at the center frequency of the operating frequency, for example.

[0063] As shown in Fig. 6, the multiple radiation openings 17 are arranged side by side at intervals in both the width direction Dw and the width-orthogonal direction Dwp. Specifically, six radiation openings 17 are provided, with three aligned at equal intervals in the width direction Dw and two aligned in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp. That is, the multiple radiation openings 17 are arranged in a 3 x 2 grid pattern.

[0064] The antenna device 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the phases of radio waves of a predetermined wavelength are aligned at the multiple radiation apertures 17 so that the radio waves do not cancel each other out at the multiple radiation apertures 17. The configuration for achieving this will be described below. Note that the "predetermined wavelength" may be simply referred to as the "predetermined wavelength". In addition, it is preferable that the predetermined wavelength is the same as the wavelength of the radio waves at the operating frequency.

[0065] 3, in this embodiment, three radiation openings 17 are arranged in the width direction Dw, so it is not possible to make all the path lengths along which radio waves propagate between each radiation opening 17 and the feed opening 14, i.e., the radio wave path lengths, the same. However, even if the radio wave path lengths between each radiation opening 17 and the feed opening 14 are different from one another, as long as the difference in the radio wave path lengths is an integer multiple of a predetermined wavelength, which is the wavelength of the propagated radio waves, it is believed that the phases of the radio waves will be aligned.

[0066] Based on this idea, in order to align the phase of radio waves of a predetermined wavelength among the multiple radiation openings 17, the radio wave path length and reflection configuration between each radiation opening 17 and the power feed opening 14 are adjusted by setting the shape of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the cavity forming portion 16. The shape of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h is expressed by at least one of the orientation, size, etc. of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h, for example.

[0067] Specifically, in the cross section in one direction shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the orientation or size of the inclined wall surface 163f of the first side wall 163a is changed, the length La of the wall surface connecting the power supply opening 14 and the radiation opening 17 including the inclined wall surface 163f changes accordingly. The wall length La is indicated by a dashed line in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the radio wave path length and the reflection configuration between each radiation opening 17 and the power supply opening 14 are adjusted by adjusting the wall length La. This is the same on the second side wall 163b side. As a result of adjusting the radio wave path length and the reflection configuration, the phase of the radio wave of a predetermined wavelength is aligned in all of the multiple radiation openings 17. Note that the phase alignment of the radio waves mentioned here does not mean that the phases of the radio waves are completely aligned, but means that the variation in the phase of the radio waves is reduced to within a certain allowable range determined from a practical standpoint.

[0068] In other words, in this embodiment, the shape of each of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h is determined so that when radio waves of a specified wavelength are propagated from the feed opening 14 to the cavity 15, the phase variation of the radio waves at the multiple radiation openings 17 is reduced, in comparison with the antenna device of the first comparative example described below.

[0069] The antenna device of the first comparative example differs from the antenna device 1 of the present embodiment in that it has a cavity 15 having a shape indicated by two-dot chain lines LC1 and LC2 in the cross section in one direction shown in Fig. 3. That is, the antenna device of the first comparative example has a configuration in which the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h are not provided in the cross section in one direction, and the distance in the width direction Dw from the power feeding opening 14 to the side wall portion 163 is constant regardless of the position in the height direction Dh. Except for this configuration, the antenna device of the first comparative example is similar to the antenna device 1 of the present embodiment.

[0070] For example, in this embodiment, the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the cavity forming portion 16 are determined by performing a computer simulation so that the phases of radio waves of a predetermined wavelength are aligned in all of the multiple radiation openings 17.

[0071] 3, 6, and 7, in this embodiment, the cavity 15, the power feed opening 14, and the multiple radiation openings 17 are collectively referred to as a cavity integrating portion 20. That is, the cavity 15, the power feed opening 14, and the multiple radiation openings 17 constitute the cavity integrating portion 20. This cavity integrating portion 20 constitutes a space interposed between the external space SP and the waveguide 12a. The cavity integrating portion 20 is formed symmetrically in the width direction Dw as shown in FIG. 3. At the same time, the cavity integrating portion 20 is also formed symmetrically in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp as shown in FIG. 7.

[0072] 3 and 6, the power feed opening 14 is provided in the opening wall portion 161 so as to overlap with the other side in the height direction Dh with respect to the center position C of the cavity 15. In other words, the center position C of the cavity 15 is the position of the center of gravity of the cavity 15. And, as shown in FIG. 6, the power feed opening 14 is arranged so as not to overlap with any of the multiple radiation openings 17 in a plan view.

[0073] Here, if the dimension Lst in the height direction Dh of the cavity 15 shown in Fig. 3 is too large, the propagation loss of the radio wave in the cavity 15 increases. For this reason, it is desirable that the dimension Lst in the height direction Dh of the cavity 15 is 2.0 times or less the wavelength of the radio wave at the operating frequency. In this embodiment, the dimension Lst in the height direction Dh of the cavity 15 is smaller than both the dimension in the width direction Dw of the cavity 15 and the dimension in the width-perpendicular direction Dwp.

[0074] Next, the operation of the antenna device 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, in the antenna device 1 of this embodiment, for example, when radio waves are output from the input / output unit 3 of the MMIC 2, the radio waves are input to the external port 11. The radio waves input to the external port 11 pass through the waveguide 12a and the power feed opening 14 in this order, as indicated by an arrow A1 in Fig. 3, and reach the cavity 15. Then, the radio waves that reach the cavity 15 are distributed to six radiation openings 17 in the cavity 15, as indicated by arrows A2, A3, and A4, and are radiated from each of the six radiation openings 17 into the external space SP.

[0075] Here, the results of a computer simulation performed on the antenna device of the first comparative example and the antenna device 1 of this embodiment in the case where radio waves of a predetermined wavelength are input from the power feed opening 14 to the cavity 15 will be described. As a result of this computer simulation, it was confirmed that in the antenna device of the first comparative example, the phase of the radio waves at the radiation opening 17 at the center in the width direction Dw is approximately opposite to the phase of the radio waves at the radiation openings 17 at both ends in the width direction Dw. In contrast, it was confirmed that in the antenna device 1 of this embodiment, the phase of the radio waves is approximately the same at all three radiation openings 17 arranged in the width direction Dw. In other words, as a result of this computer simulation, it was confirmed that in the antenna device 1 of this embodiment, the variation in the phase of the radio waves at the multiple radiation openings 17 is significantly smaller than in the antenna device of the first comparative example.

[0076] Due to such variation in the phase of the radio waves, the directivity of the radio waves radiated from the multiple radiation apertures 17 is as shown in Figure 8 for the antenna device of the first comparative example, and as shown in Figure 9 for the antenna device 1 of this embodiment.

[0077] The solid lines L1 and L3 in Figures 8 and 9 show the distribution of gain on a plane parallel to the height direction Dh and the width direction Dw. The dashed lines L2 and L4 show the distribution of gain on a plane parallel to the height direction Dh and the direction perpendicular to the width Dwp. The horizontal axis of 0 deg in Figures 8 and 9 means parallel to the height direction Dh and toward one side of the height direction Dh.

[0078] As can be seen from the solid line L1 in the range Bx of the horizontal axis in FIG. 8, in the antenna device of the first comparative example, the radio waves radiated from each radiation opening 17 are different in phase, so that the radio waves cancel each other out and the beam is not narrowed to one side in the height direction Dh. In contrast, in the antenna device 1 of the present embodiment, as can be seen from the solid line L3 in the range Bx of the horizontal axis in FIG. 9, the phases of the radio waves radiated from each radiation opening 17 are aligned, so that the radio waves are amplified and the beam is narrowed to one side in the height direction Dh. That is, from FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, it can be seen that the directivity of the radio waves toward one side in the height direction Dh is higher in the antenna device 1 of the present embodiment compared to the antenna device of the first comparative example. The range Bx of the horizontal axis in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 indicates the same range in both figures.

[0079] For example, when the input / output unit 3 of the MMIC 2 receives radio waves from the external space SP, the antenna device 1 propagates the radio waves in the opposite direction to the case where the radio waves are output from the input / output unit 3 described above.

[0080] As described above, according to this embodiment, in a cross section in one direction (for example, the cross section in FIG. 3), the inclined wall surface 163f of the first side wall 163a is formed so that the distance W1 in the width direction Dw from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163f becomes larger toward one side in the height direction Dh. In addition, in a cross section in one direction, the inclined wall surface 163h of the second side wall 163b is also formed so that the distance W2 in the width direction Dw from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163h becomes larger toward one side in the height direction Dh. Furthermore, the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h are determined so that the variation in the phase of the radio waves at the multiple radiation openings 17 becomes smaller when the radio waves of a predetermined wavelength are propagated from the power feed opening 14 to the cavity 15, as compared with the antenna device of the first comparative example described above.

[0081] Therefore, the path length along which radio waves propagate between each of the multiple radiation openings 17 and the feed opening 14 and the reflection configuration of the radio waves are adjusted by setting the shape of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h. Therefore, even if three or more radiation openings 17 are arranged side by side in the width direction Dw, there is an advantage in that the phases of the radio waves at the radiation openings 17 can be easily aligned with each other.

[0082] In addition, since the structure distributes radio waves to three or more radiation openings 17 using a single cavity 15, the expansion of the size of the antenna device 1 in the height direction Dh can be suppressed compared to the structure in which the radio wave propagation path is branched in a tournament shape as in the conventional technology.

[0083] Therefore, according to the antenna device 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to obtain the advantageous effect that it is easy to align the phases of radio waves at a large number of radiation apertures 17, three or more of which are arranged in the width direction Dw, while suppressing an increase in the size of the antenna device 1.

[0084] In addition, since it is easy to increase the number of radiation apertures 17 in the width direction Dw without any restriction while aligning the phases of radio waves at the multiple radiation apertures 17, it is possible to realize a high gain of the antenna device 1.

[0085] Furthermore, in a structure where the radio wave propagation path is branched in a tournament shape, if three or more radiation openings are to be provided, a laminated structure is required in which multiple parts that split the radio waves from the waveguide into two are laminated, which leads to an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0086] In contrast, if the antenna device 1 is structured in such a way that a single cavity 15 distributes radio waves to six radiation openings 17, as in the present embodiment, the antenna device 1 can be realized with a simple layered structure, which can reduce manufacturing costs.

[0087] (1) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the feed opening 14 is provided so as to overlap the other side in the height direction Dh with respect to the center position C of the cavity 15. This makes it easier for radio waves to propagate evenly within the cavity 15, which in turn contributes to aligning the phases of radio waves at the multiple radiation openings 17.

[0088] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the cavity 15, the feed opening 14, and the multiple radiation openings 17 form a cavity integrating portion 20. The cavity integrating portion 20 is formed symmetrically in the width direction Dw as shown in Fig. 3. At the same time, the cavity integrating portion 20 is also formed symmetrically in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp as shown in Fig. 7. This makes it easier to propagate radio waves evenly between the feed opening 14 and each of the multiple radiation openings 17 connected to the cavity 15, which in turn contributes to aligning the phases of radio waves at the multiple radiation openings 17.

[0089] (3) According to this embodiment, the waveguide section 12 has a first end wall 123 that is located on one side of the opening position of the power feed opening 14 in the waveguide 12a in the pipe extension direction Da and forms the end of the waveguide 12a. In addition, the waveguide section 12 has a reflection suppression wall 13 that is located on the other side of the opening position of the power feed opening 14 in the pipe extension direction Da and suppresses reflection of radio waves.

[0090] According to this, the reflection suppressing wall 13 reduces the influence of the reflected waves from the first terminal wall 123 etc., and therefore the band limitation caused by the influence of the reflected waves is suppressed. As a result, the band of the antenna device 1 can be broadened.

[0091] (Modification of the first embodiment) The antenna device 1 shown in the first embodiment can be modified, for example, as follows. Each of the modified examples shown below is similar to the first embodiment described above in terms of points other than those described below. Each of the modified examples shown below can also be applied to embodiments other than the first embodiment, unless there is a particular problem.

[0092] (First Modification) In the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the first side wall 163a and the second side wall 163b each have vertical wall surfaces 163e, 163g and inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h facing the cavity 15, but this is just one example. In this modified example, as shown in Fig. 10, the vertical wall surfaces 163e, 163g having the width direction Dw as the normal direction are not provided, and the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h, which are inclined surfaces, extend over the entire width of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh.

[0093] (Second Modification) 11, in this modification, unlike the first embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b are not limited to the second block BC2 but extend from the second block BC2 to the third block BC3. Furthermore, in this modification, unlike the first embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h are not inclined surfaces formed of planes inclined with respect to the height direction Dh.

[0094] Specifically, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of this modification are configured as stepped surfaces in which the distances W1, W2 in the width direction Dw from the power feed opening 14 change stepwise. That is, in this modification, in a cross section in one direction, for example, the cross section in FIG. 11, the inclined wall surface 163f of the first side wall 163a is formed so that the distance W1 in the width direction Dw from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163f increases stepwise toward one side in the height direction Dh. And, in the cross section in one direction, the inclined wall surface 163h of the second side wall 163b is also formed so that the distance W2 in the width direction Dw from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163h increases stepwise toward one side in the height direction Dh.

[0095] In this modification, examples of the shape of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h include the orientation of each surface of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h, the number of steps of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h that are composed of stepped surfaces, and the size of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h. Examples of the shape of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h include the rate of change of the distances W1, W2 from the power supply opening 14 to the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h in the width direction Dw with respect to the position change in the height direction Dh.

[0096] In this modified example, the stepped inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h extend to both the second block BC2 and the third block BC3, but they may be formed only on one of the second block BC2 and the third block BC3 and not on the other.

[0097] (Third Modification) 12, in this modification, as in the above-described second modification, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b are configured as stepped surfaces in which the distances W1, W2 in the width direction Dw from the power feed opening 14 change in a step-like manner. However, in this modification, the number of steps of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h configured as stepped surfaces is greater than that of the above-described second modification. That is, the number of steps of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h may be any number.

[0098] Second embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. Also, parts that are the same as or equivalent to the above-mentioned embodiment will be omitted or simplified. This also applies to the following embodiments.

[0099] 13 to 15, in this embodiment, the radiation openings 17 are arranged in a 3×2 grid pattern, with a total of six radiation openings 17. In this respect, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, this embodiment has the multiple radiation openings 17 arranged in pairs in the width direction Dw and in pairs in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp at equal intervals.

[0100] In this embodiment, the height direction Dh corresponds to the first direction of the present disclosure, as in the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the width-orthogonal direction Dwp corresponds to the second direction of the present disclosure, and the width direction Dw corresponds to the third direction of the present disclosure.

[0101] In this embodiment, the configuration of the side wall portion 163 of the cavity forming portion 16 is different from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 14, the first side wall 163a and the second side wall 163b of the side wall portion 163 are not inclined with respect to the height direction Dh, but are parallel to the height direction Dh. The first side wall 163a and the second side wall 163b each form a planar wall surface facing the cavity 15 with the width direction Dw as the normal direction, and are disposed opposite each other in the width direction Dw with the cavity 15 in between.

[0102] As shown in Fig. 15, the third side wall 163c and the fourth side wall 163d of the side wall portion 163 are disposed opposite to each other in the width-perpendicular direction Dwp with the cavity 15 therebetween, and are therefore represented in a cross section in the other direction (e.g., the cross section in Fig. 15) that is a cross section along the height direction Dh and the width-perpendicular direction Dwp. In this embodiment, this cross section in the other direction corresponds to the first cross section of the present disclosure. Also, this cross section in the other direction is a cross section perpendicular to the one-direction cross section described above.

[0103] Although the XV-XV cross-sectional line in Fig. 13 does not pass through the power feed opening 14, in order to make the illustration easier to see, the power feed opening 14 is shown in cross-section in Fig. 15. This method of illustrating the cross-section is also adopted in cross-sectional views similar to Fig. 15, which will be described later.

[0104] The third side wall 163c and the fourth side wall 163d each have vertical wall surfaces 163i, 163k facing the cavity 15, and inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m disposed on the other side of the vertical wall surfaces 163i, 163k in the height direction Dh and facing the cavity 15. In this embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m correspond to the second direction change surface of the present disclosure.

[0105] The inclined wall surface 163j of the third side wall 163c is provided between the vertical wall surface 163i of the third side wall 163c and the opening wall portion 161, and connects the vertical wall surface 163i to the opening wall portion 161. The inclined wall surface 163m of the fourth side wall 163d is provided between the vertical wall surface 163k of the fourth side wall 163d and the opening wall portion 161, and connects the vertical wall surface 163k to the opening wall portion 161.

[0106] The vertical wall surfaces 163i, 163k of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d are each formed in a planar shape with the width-perpendicular direction Dwp as the normal direction, whereas the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d are each formed in a planar shape extending along the width direction Dw, but as an inclined surface inclined with respect to the height direction Dh.

[0107] 15, the inclined wall surface 163j of the third side wall 163c is formed so that the distance W3 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163j increases continuously toward one side in the height direction Dh. Similarly, the inclined wall surface 163m of the fourth side wall 163d is formed so that the distance W4 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163m increases continuously toward one side in the height direction Dh.

[0108] In this embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m are formed in the second block BC2, and the vertical wall surfaces 163i, 163k are formed in the third block BC3.

[0109] In addition, the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d in this embodiment are determined by a method similar to that of determining the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b in the first embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d are determined by, for example, performing a computer simulation so that the phase of radio waves of a predetermined wavelength is aligned in all of the multiple radiation openings 17.

[0110] In other words, in this embodiment, the shape of each of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m is determined so that when radio waves of a specified wavelength are propagated from the feed opening 14 to the cavity 15, the phase variation of the radio waves at the multiple radiation openings 17 is reduced, in comparison with the antenna device of the second comparative example described below.

[0111] The antenna device of the second comparative example differs from the antenna device 1 of the present embodiment in that it has a cavity 15 having a shape indicated by two-dot chain lines LC3 and LC4 in the cross section in the other direction shown in Fig. 15. That is, the antenna device of the second comparative example has a configuration in which the inclined wall surfaces 163j and 163m are not provided in the cross section in the other direction, and the distance in the width direction Dw from the power feeding opening 14 to the side wall portion 163 is constant regardless of the position in the height direction Dh. Except for this configuration, the antenna device of the second comparative example is similar to the antenna device 1 of the present embodiment.

[0112] In this embodiment, the cavity integrating portion 20 has a symmetrical shape as in the first embodiment. That is, the cavity integrating portion 20 in this embodiment is formed symmetrically in the width direction Dw as shown in Fig. 14, and is also formed symmetrically in the width-perpendicular direction Dwp as shown in Fig. 15.

[0113] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, in the cross section in the other direction (for example, the cross section in FIG. 15), the inclined wall surface 163j of the third side wall 163c is formed so that the distance W3 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163j becomes larger toward one side in the height direction Dh. In addition, in the cross section in the other direction, the inclined wall surface 163m of the fourth side wall 163d is also formed so that the distance W4 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163m becomes larger toward one side in the height direction Dh. Furthermore, in comparison with the antenna device of the second comparative example described above, the shape of each of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m is determined so that the variation in the phase of the radio wave at the multiple radiation openings 17 is reduced when the radio wave of a predetermined wavelength is propagated from the power feed opening 14 to the cavity 15.

[0114] Therefore, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d can provide the same effects as those of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b in the first embodiment. That is, even if three or more radiation openings 17 are arranged in the width orthogonal direction Dwp, there is an advantage that the phases of the radio waves at the radiation openings 17 can be easily aligned with each other.

[0115] In addition, since it is easy to increase the number of radiation apertures 17 without any restrictions in the direction orthogonal to the width Dwp while aligning the phases of radio waves at the multiple radiation apertures 17, it is possible to achieve a high gain for the antenna device 1.

[0116] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0117] (Modification of the second embodiment) The antenna device 1 shown in the second embodiment can be modified, for example, as follows. Each of the modified examples shown below is similar to the second embodiment described above in terms of points other than those described below. Each of the modified examples shown below can also be applied to embodiments other than the second embodiment, unless there is a particular problem.

[0118] (First Modification) In the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 15, the third side wall 163c and the fourth side wall 163d each have vertical wall surfaces 163i, 163k and inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m facing the cavity 15, but this is just one example. In this modified example, as shown in Fig. 16, the vertical wall surfaces 163i, 163k having the width orthogonal direction Dwp as the normal direction are not provided, and the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m, which are inclined surfaces, extend over the entire width of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh.

[0119] (Second Modification) 17, in this modification, unlike the second embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d are not limited to the second block BC2 but extend from the second block BC2 to the third block BC3. Furthermore, in this modification, unlike the second embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m are not inclined surfaces formed of planes inclined with respect to the height direction Dh.

[0120] Specifically, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of this modification are configured as stepped surfaces in which the distances W3, W4 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp from the power feed opening 14 change stepwise. That is, in this modification, in the other direction cross section, for example the cross section of FIG. 17, the inclined wall surface 163j of the third side wall 163c is formed so that the distance W3 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163j increases stepwise toward one side in the height direction Dh. In addition, in the other direction cross section, the inclined wall surface 163m of the fourth side wall 163d is also formed so that the distance W4 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp from the power feed opening 14 to the inclined wall surface 163m increases stepwise toward one side in the height direction Dh.

[0121] In this modified example, examples of the shape of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m include the orientation of each part of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m, the number of steps of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m composed of stepped surfaces, and the size of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m. Also, examples of the shape of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m include the rate of change of the distances W3, W4 in the direction orthogonal to the width Dwp from the power supply opening 14 to the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m with respect to the position change in the height direction Dh.

[0122] In this modified example, the stepped inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m extend to both the second block BC2 and the third block BC3, but it is also acceptable for them to be formed only on one of the second block BC2 and the third block BC3 and not on the other.

[0123] (Third Modification) 18, in this modification, as in the second modification described above, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d are configured as stepped surfaces whose distances W3, W4 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp to the power feed opening 14 change stepwise. However, in this modification, the number of steps of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m configured as stepped surfaces is greater than that of the second modification described above. That is, the number of steps of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m may be any number.

[0124] Third embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described.

[0125] As shown in Fig. 19, this embodiment is an embodiment obtained by combining the first modified example of the first embodiment and the first modified example of the second embodiment described above. Therefore, the Xa-Xa cross section of Fig. 19 looks like Fig. 10, and the XVIa-XVIa cross section of Fig. 19 looks like Fig. 16.

[0126] In this embodiment, the height direction Dh corresponds to the first direction of the present disclosure, the width direction Dw corresponds to the second direction of the present disclosure, and the width-orthogonal direction Dwp corresponds to the third direction of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the inclined wall surfaces 163f and 163h of the first and second side walls 163a and 163b correspond to the second direction change surface of the present disclosure, and the inclined wall surfaces 163j and 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c and 163d correspond to the third direction change surface of the present disclosure. In addition, the one-way cross section (e.g., the cross section of FIG. 10) that is a cross section along the height direction Dh and the width direction Dw corresponds to the first cross section of the present disclosure, and the other-way cross section (e.g., the cross section of FIG. 16) that is a cross section along the height direction Dh and the width-orthogonal direction Dwp corresponds to the second cross section of the present disclosure.

[0127] Specifically, in this embodiment, the radiation openings 17 are arranged in a 3 × 3 grid pattern, with a total of nine radiation openings 17. That is, the multiple radiation openings 17 are arranged in groups of three at equal intervals in the width direction Dw, and in groups of three at equal intervals in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp.

[0128] As shown in Fig. 10, the first side wall 163a of this embodiment has an inclined wall surface 163f similar to the first modified example of the first embodiment, and the second side wall 163b of this embodiment has an inclined wall surface 163h similar to the first modified example of the first embodiment. Then, as shown in Fig. 16, the third side wall 163c of this embodiment has an inclined wall surface 163j similar to the first modified example of the second embodiment, and the fourth side wall 163d of this embodiment has an inclined wall surface 163m similar to the first modified example of the second embodiment.

[0129] Therefore, in this embodiment, the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b are determined in the same manner as in the first modified example of the first embodiment. The shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d are determined in the same manner as in the first modified example of the second embodiment. That is, in this embodiment, the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h, 163j, 163m of the cavity forming portion 16 are determined so that when an electric wave of a predetermined wavelength is propagated from the power supply opening 14 to the cavity 15, the phase of the electric wave is aligned in all of the multiple radiation openings 17. For example, like the first modified example of the first embodiment and the first modified example of the second embodiment, the shapes of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h, 163j, 163m in this embodiment are determined by computer simulation.

[0130] From the above, it is possible to simultaneously enjoy the action and effect of the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b in the first modified example of the first embodiment and the action and effect of the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d in the first modified example of the second embodiment. This makes it easy to increase the number of radiation openings 17 without restrictions in both the width direction Dw and the width-orthogonal direction Dwp while aligning the phase of the radio waves at the multiple radiation openings 17, so that it is possible to realize a high gain of the antenna device 1.

[0131] Furthermore, since a large number of radiation openings 17 can be arranged two-dimensionally in the width direction Dw and the width-perpendicular direction Dwp, it becomes much easier to achieve high gain while suppressing enlargement of the antenna device 1 compared to the case where the direction in which three or more radiation openings 17 are arranged is limited to a single direction.

[0132] Except for the above description, this embodiment is similar to the first modified example of the first embodiment or the first modified example of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the effects achieved from the configuration common to the first modified example of the first embodiment described above can be obtained in the same manner as the first modified example of the first embodiment. In addition, in this embodiment, the effects achieved from the configuration common to the first modified example of the second embodiment described above can be obtained in the same manner as the first modified example of the second embodiment.

[0133] (Fourth embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the third embodiment will be mainly described.

[0134] 20, in this embodiment, the arrangement of the multiple radiation openings 17 is different from that in the third embodiment. In this embodiment, a maximum of three radiation openings 17 are arranged in the width direction Dw, and a maximum of four radiation openings 17 are arranged in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp.

[0135] In addition, in a cross section parallel to the width direction Dw and the width-perpendicular direction Dwp, the side wall portion 163 of this embodiment has a circular ring shape or an elliptical shape. The side wall portion 163 is formed so as to expand in diameter toward one side in the height direction Dh. Therefore, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h, 163j, and 163m of the side wall portion 163 are all curved concavely in a plan view, and are connected to each other continuously without bending.

[0136] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the third embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the third embodiment.

[0137] Although this embodiment is based on the third embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with the first or second embodiment described above.

[0138] Fifth embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0139] As shown in Fig. 21, the antenna device 1 of this embodiment does not include the third block BC3 shown in Fig. 5, and instead includes a plate PL. That is, the antenna device 1 is a structural body ST having a laminated structure in which two conductive blocks BC1 and BC2 and a conductive plate PL are laminated.

[0140] The two blocks BC1 and BC2 are made of metal blocks. The plate PL is made of a metal plate. At least one of the two blocks BC1 and BC2 and the plate PL may be made of a conductive material such as a metal film formed on the surface of a resin member by plating or the like, or may be made of a conductive material made of a conductive material other than metal.

[0141] The antenna device 1 includes two blocks BC1 and BC2 and a plate PL which are joined together by screwing, gluing, or the like.

[0142] The two blocks BC1, BC2 and the plate PL have the same rectangular shape in a plan view. The two blocks BC1, BC2 and the plate PL have approximately the same size in a plan view so that they overlap each other in the height direction Dh. The two blocks BC1, BC2 and the plate PL are electrically connected by being stacked on top of each other.

[0143] The waveguide section 12 in this embodiment is formed by a first groove portion 121 formed in the first block BC1 and a flat portion in the second block BC2 facing the first groove portion 121. Note that the second block BC2 in this embodiment is not provided with the second groove portion 122 described in the first embodiment.

[0144] The reflection suppressing wall 13 is composed of a first protruding wall 131 that protrudes toward one side in the height direction Dh from the bottom surface of the first groove portion 121. Note that in this embodiment, the second protruding wall 132 described in the first embodiment is not provided.

[0145] The cavity 15 in this embodiment is formed by joining a first recess 151 formed in the second block BC2 and a portion of the plate PL that faces the first recess 151. In this embodiment, the portions of the second block BC2 and the plate PL that form the cavity 15 constitute a cavity forming portion 16. The power feed opening 14 is provided in a portion that faces the first groove portion 121, which is the bottom surface of the first recess 151 of the second block BC2.

[0146] Furthermore, in this embodiment, similar to the first modified example of the first embodiment described above, the vertical wall surfaces 163e, 163g (see FIG. 3) of the cavity forming portion 16 are not provided, and the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h extend over the entire width of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh.

[0147] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0148] Although this embodiment is based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to fourth embodiments described above.

[0149] Sixth embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0150] 22 to 24, the antenna device 1 of this embodiment includes a plurality of first partition walls 23 provided in a third block BC3 and a plurality of second partition walls 24 provided in a second block BC2. The plurality of first partition walls 23 of this embodiment correspond to the second direction partition walls of the present disclosure.

[0151] The multiple first partition walls 23 and the multiple second partition walls 24 are disposed in the cavity 15. As shown in Fig. 23 and Fig. 24, the multiple first partition walls 23 are provided at positions between the multiple radiation openings 17 adjacent to each other in the width direction Dw in a plan view among the multiple radiation openings 17. The multiple first partition walls 23 are each formed so as to protrude from the opposing wall portion 162 of the cavity forming portion 16 into the cavity 15, and are provided across the entire width of the cavity 15 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp. Each of the multiple first partition walls 23 has a tip 231 on the other side in the height direction Dh.

[0152] In contrast, the second partition walls 24 are formed and arranged in the cavity 15 so as to face the first partition walls 23 in the height direction Dh. Specifically, the second partition walls 24 are provided at positions between the radiation openings 17 adjacent to each other in the width direction Dw in a plan view. In other words, the second partition walls 24 are provided at the same positions as the first partition walls 23 in a plan view. The second partition walls 24 are formed so as to protrude from the opening wall portion 161 of the cavity forming portion 16 into the cavity 15, and are provided across the entire width of the cavity 15 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp. The second partition walls 24 each have a tip 241 on one side in the height direction Dh.

[0153] By providing the plurality of first partition walls 23 and the plurality of second partition walls 24 in this manner, a plurality of partition spaces 15a arranged in the width direction Dw between the first partition wall 23 and the second partition wall 24 are formed in the cavity 15. Similarly to the cavity integration portion 20, the plurality of first partition walls 23 and the plurality of second partition walls 24 are formed symmetrically in the width direction Dw and also symmetrically in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp.

[0154] In addition, the tip 231 of the first partition wall 23 and the tip 241 of the second partition wall 24 are spaced apart in the height direction Dh. Therefore, a communication portion 15b that connects adjacent partition spaces 15a sandwiching the pair of the first partition wall 23 and the second partition wall 24 aligned in the height direction Dh is also formed in the cavity 15. This communication portion 15b is formed on the other side of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh relative to the tip 231 of the first partition wall 23 and on one side of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh relative to the tip 241 of the second partition wall 24. In short, the communication portion 15b is formed between the tip 231 of the first partition wall 23 and the tip 241 of the second partition wall 24 in the height direction Dh.

[0155] In addition, the protruding height of the second partition wall 24 into the cavity 15 is lower than the protruding height of the first partition wall 23 into the cavity 15. For example, the protruding height of the second partition wall 24 is half or less than the depth of the first recess 151. Therefore, each of the communication parts 15b is disposed biased toward the other side in the height direction Dh in the cavity 15.

[0156] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, the multiple first partition walls 23 protruding from the opposing wall portion 162 into the cavity 15 are provided at positions between adjacent radiation openings 17 in the width direction Dw among the multiple radiation openings 17. Then, the communication portion 15b connecting adjacent partition spaces 15a in the cavity 15 across the first partition wall 23 is formed on the other side of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh with respect to the tip 231 of the first partition wall 23.

[0157] As a result, isolation in the width direction Dw between the multiple radiation openings 17 can be ensured by the first partition wall 23, and as a result, the accuracy of phase alignment of the radio waves at the radiation openings 17 can be improved.

[0158] (2) Furthermore, according to this embodiment, all of the communication parts 15b are disposed biased toward the other side in the height direction Dh in the cavity 15. This makes it easier to ensure isolation in the width direction Dw between the multiple radiation openings 17 while avoiding excessive interference by the first partition wall 23 with the propagation of radio waves between each of the multiple radiation openings 17 and the power supply opening 14.

[0159] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0160] Although this embodiment is based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to fifth embodiments described above.

[0161] Seventh embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the sixth embodiment will be mainly described.

[0162] 25 and 26, the antenna device 1 of this embodiment includes a third partition wall 25 provided in a third block BC3 in addition to the multiple first partition walls 23 and multiple second partition walls 24 as in the sixth embodiment. The multiple first partition walls 23 of this embodiment correspond to the second direction partition walls of the present disclosure as in the sixth embodiment. The third partition wall 25 of this embodiment corresponds to the third direction partition wall of the present disclosure.

[0163] The third partition wall 25 is disposed in the cavity 15. The third partition wall 25 is provided at a position between adjacent radiation openings 17 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp in a plan view among the multiple radiation openings 17. The third partition wall 25 is formed so as to protrude from the opposing wall portion 162 of the cavity forming portion 16 into the cavity 15, and is provided across the entire width of the cavity 15 in the width direction Dw. The third partition wall 25 has a tip 251 on the other side in the height direction Dh.

[0164] Since the third partition wall 25 is formed so as to be perpendicular to the first partition walls 23, the third partition wall 25 and the first partition walls 23 are formed in a lattice pattern as a whole. In this embodiment, the partition spaces 15a partitioned by the first to third partition walls 23, 24, 25 are formed in the same number as the radiation openings 17, and are provided so as to correspond one-to-one to the radiation openings 17. In other words, the partition spaces 15a are arranged in a 3×2 lattice pattern, with three partition spaces 15a lined up in the width direction Dw and two partition spaces 15a lined up in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp.

[0165] For example, the protruding height of the third partition wall 25 into the cavity 15 is the same as the protruding height of the first partition wall 23 into the cavity 15. That is, the position of the tip 251 of the third partition wall 25 is the same as the position of the tip 231 of the first partition wall 23 in the height direction Dh.

[0166] Therefore, a communication portion 15c is also formed on the other side of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh relative to the tip 251 of the third partition wall 25. The communication portion 15c contacts the tip 251 of the third partition wall 25 and connects adjacent partition spaces 15a across the third partition wall 25. The communication portion 15c contacting the tip 251 of the third partition wall 25 is also disposed biased toward the other side of the height direction Dh in the cavity 15, similar to the communication portion 15b contacting the tip 231 of the first partition wall 23.

[0167] In addition, the multiple first partition walls 23, the multiple second partition walls 24, and the third partition walls 25 are formed symmetrically in the width direction Dw and also in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp, similar to the cavity integration portion 20.

[0168] (1) As described above, according to this embodiment, the third partition wall 25 protruding from the opposing wall portion 162 into the cavity 15 is provided at a position between adjacent radiation openings 17 in the width-orthogonal direction Dwp among the multiple radiation openings 17. Then, the communication portion 15c connecting adjacent partition spaces 15a in the cavity 15 across the third partition wall 25 is formed on the other side of the cavity 15 in the height direction Dh with respect to the tip 251 of the third partition wall 25.

[0169] As a result, the third partition wall 25 can ensure isolation between the multiple radiation openings 17 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp, which in turn can improve the accuracy of phase alignment of radio waves at the radiation openings 17. Moreover, the first partition wall 23 and the third partition wall 25 can also ensure isolation between the individual radiation openings 17.

[0170] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the sixth embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the sixth embodiment.

[0171] Eighth embodiment Next, an eighth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0172] As shown in FIG. 27, in this embodiment, instead of the input / output section 3 (see FIG. 2) of the MMIC 2 described in the first embodiment, a connection wiring 41 and an input / output circuit 42 are provided on an electric substrate 4.

[0173] The connection wiring 41 and the input / output circuit 42 are configured by a conductive wiring pattern formed on one surface F1 of the electric board 4.

[0174] The connection wiring 41 is formed so as to be led out from the MMIC 2 along one surface F1 of the electric substrate 4. One end of the connection wiring 41 is electrically connected to a terminal of the MMIC 2, and the other end is electrically connected to the input / output circuit 42.

[0175] The input / output circuit 42 transmits and receives radio waves to and from the external port 11 of the antenna device 1. The input / output circuit 42 functions in the same manner as the input / output unit 3 of the MMIC 2 described in the first embodiment.

[0176] The external port 11 in this embodiment is disposed so as to face the input / output circuit 42. This allows radio waves to propagate between the external port 11 and the input / output circuit 42. In this embodiment, the antenna device 1 is disposed closer to the electric substrate 4 in the height direction Dh than in the first embodiment, so that the first block BC1 has a recessed groove portion RG recessed toward one side in the height direction Dh. The MMIC2 is partially inserted into this recessed groove portion RG.

[0177] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0178] Although this embodiment is based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to seventh embodiments described above.

[0179] Ninth embodiment Next, a ninth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the eighth embodiment will be mainly described.

[0180] 28, the MMIC 2 is mounted on the other surface F2 of the electric substrate 4, not on the first surface F1 of the electric substrate 4. Note that the first block BC1 does not have the recessed groove portion RG described in the eighth embodiment.

[0181] Furthermore, in the electric board 4, an input / output circuit 42 is formed on one surface F1, and a connection wiring 41 is formed on the other surface F2. The electric board 4 is provided with a connection portion 43 that penetrates the electric board 4 and electrically connects the connection wiring 41 and the input / output circuit 42. The connection portion 43 is formed of, for example, a through hole. The input / output circuit 42 and the connection wiring 41 are electrically connected via the connection portion 43.

[0182] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the eighth embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the eighth embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the eighth embodiment.

[0183] Tenth embodiment Next, a tenth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0184] 29, in this embodiment, the spacer 5 (see FIG. 2) described in the first embodiment is not provided. In the antenna device 1 of this embodiment, the first block BC1 is disposed so as to contact one surface F1 of the electric substrate 4 without the spacer 5 therebetween. The MMIC 2 is mounted on the other surface F2 of the electric substrate 4.

[0185] Furthermore, a substrate through hole SH is formed in the electric substrate 4 at a position facing the input / output unit 3 of the MMIC 2, penetrating the electric substrate 4 in the height direction Dh. The external port 11 is disposed between the external port 11 and the input / output unit 3 of the MMIC 2 so as to face the input / output unit 3 with the substrate through hole SH interposed therebetween. This type of arrangement allows radio waves to propagate between the external port 11 and the MMIC 2.

[0186] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0187] Although this embodiment is based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to seventh embodiments described above.

[0188] Eleventh embodiment Next, an eleventh embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the above-mentioned ninth embodiment will be mainly described.

[0189] As shown in Fig. 30, in this embodiment, the spacer 5 (see Fig. 28) described in the first embodiment is not provided. In the antenna device 1 of this embodiment, the first block BC1 is disposed so as to contact one surface F1 of the electric substrate 4 without the spacer 5 therebetween. The MMIC 2 is mounted on the other surface F2 of the electric substrate 4.

[0190] An input / output circuit 42 is formed on one surface F1 of the electric board 4, and a connection wiring 41 is formed on the other surface F2 of the electric board 4. The electric board 4 is provided with a connection portion 43 that penetrates the electric board 4 and electrically connects the connection wiring 41 and the input / output circuit 42. The connection portion 43 is formed of, for example, a through hole. The input / output circuit 42 and the connection wiring 41 are electrically connected via the connection portion 43.

[0191] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the ninth embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the ninth embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the ninth embodiment.

[0192] Twelfth embodiment Next, a twelfth embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0193] 31, an array antenna AR in which a plurality of antenna devices 1 are arrayed can be used to transmit radio waves transmitted and received by the MMIC 2. Such an array antenna AR can be realized, for example, by collecting the MMIC 2 sides of the waveguides 12a of the plurality of antenna devices 1 together to enable radio waves to propagate between each of the waveguides 12a of the antenna devices 1 and the MMIC 2.

[0194] As described in the above embodiment, the antenna device 1 of the present invention can be configured to be small, so that a small array antenna AR can be realized by configuring an array antenna AR using a plurality of such antenna devices 1. In addition, since the input / output section 3 of the MMIC 2 can be connected to a large number of radiation apertures 17, the gain of the array antenna AR can be increased.

[0195] Except for the points described above, this embodiment is similar to the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained from the configuration common to the first embodiment.

[0196] Although this embodiment is based on the first embodiment, it is also possible to combine this embodiment with any of the second to eleventh embodiments described above.

[0197] (Other embodiments) (1) In each of the above-described embodiments, for example as shown in FIG. 1, the waveguide extension direction Da of the waveguide 12a coincides with the width direction Dw. However, this is not limited to the above, and it is also possible that the waveguide extension direction Da is slightly inclined with respect to the width direction Dw.

[0198] (2) In the above-described first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, three radiation openings 17 are arranged in the width direction Dw, but four or more may be arranged in the width direction Dw.

[0199] The same can be said about the second and third embodiments described above. That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 13, three radiation openings 17 are arranged in the width orthogonal direction Dwp, but four or more may be arranged in the width orthogonal direction Dwp. Also, in the third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 19, three radiation openings 17 are arranged in each of the width direction Dw and the width orthogonal direction Dwp, but four or more may be arranged in each of the width direction Dw and the width orthogonal direction Dwp.

[0200] (3) In the first embodiment described above, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h of the first and second side walls 163a, 163b are flat as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5, but this is only an example. For example, the inclined wall surfaces 163f, 163h may be curved surfaces in the cross section of Fig. 3.

[0201] Similarly, in the second embodiment described above, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m of the third and fourth side walls 163c, 163d are configured as flat surfaces as shown in Fig. 15, but this is just one example. For example, the inclined wall surfaces 163j, 163m may be configured as curved surfaces that are curved in the cross section of Fig. 15.

[0202] (4) In each of the above-described embodiments, the waveguide section 12 preferably has the reflection suppression wall 13, as shown in Fig. 3, but the reflection suppression wall 13 is not an essential component. For example, the antenna device 1 may be configured in such a way that the reflection suppression wall 13 is omitted, or that only one of the pair of protruding walls 131, 132 that constitute the reflection suppression wall 13 is omitted. Furthermore, the pair of protruding walls 131, 132 may have the same shape as each other, or may have different shapes from each other.

[0203] Furthermore, the reflection suppressing wall 13 may be formed so as to locally narrow the waveguide 12a in the direction perpendicular to the width Dwp, rather than locally narrowing the waveguide 12a in the height direction Dh.

[0204] (5) In the sixth and seventh embodiments described above, a plurality of second partition walls 24 are provided as shown in FIG. 23, for example. However, it is also possible that the plurality of second partition walls 24 are not provided.

[0205] (6) In the seventh embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 26, two of the radiation openings 17 are arranged in the width orthogonal direction Dwp, but three or more may be arranged in a row, for example, as shown in Fig. 19. In such a case, a plurality of third partition walls 25 are provided. The third partition walls 25 are provided at positions between adjacent radiation openings 17 in the width orthogonal direction Dwp in a plan view among the plurality of radiation openings 17.

[0206] (7) In the above-described seventh embodiment, in addition to the third partition wall 25, a plurality of first partition walls 23 and a plurality of second partition walls 24 are provided, but it is also envisaged that these plurality of first partition walls 23 and the plurality of second partition walls 24 are not provided.

[0207] (8) In each of the above-described embodiments, the cavity integration portion 20 is formed symmetrically in the width direction Dw and also in the width-perpendicular direction Dwp. Although it is desirable to form the cavity integration portion 20 in this manner, this is not necessarily required.

[0208] (9) In the first embodiment and the like described above, the waveguide 12a extends linearly, but the waveguide 12a may extend with a curved portion. In such a waveguide 12a, the extension direction Da is defined as the tangent direction of the central axis of the waveguide 12a.

[0209] (10) The antenna device 1 in each of the above-described embodiments is composed of a structure ST in which three blocks BC1, BC2, and BC3 are stacked in the height direction Dh, but it does not have to be composed of a structure ST with such a stacked structure.

[0210] (11) In the above embodiment, the MMIC 2 transmits and receives radio waves, but this is just one example, and the MMIC 2 may transmit or receive radio waves. The antenna device 1 can also be applied to equipment that transmits and receives radio waves using semiconductor devices other than the MMIC 2.

[0211] (12) In each space formed in the antenna device 1 of each of the above-mentioned embodiments, such as the external port 11, the waveguide 12a, the feed opening 14, the cavity 15, and the radiation opening 17, a corner R may or may not be formed at the corner. This is because there is no substantial effect on the characteristics of the antenna device 1.

[0212] (13) The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various modified forms. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are not unrelated to each other, and can be appropriately combined, except in cases where the combination is clearly impossible.

[0213] In each of the above embodiments, the elements constituting the embodiment are not necessarily essential, unless otherwise specified as essential or considered to be obviously essential in principle. In each of the above embodiments, when the numbers, values, amounts, ranges, etc. of the components of the embodiment are mentioned, they are not limited to the specific numbers, except when specified as essential or when they are obviously limited to a specific number in principle. In each of the above embodiments, when the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc. of the components are mentioned, they are not limited to the materials, shapes, positional relationships, etc., except when specified as essential or when they are obviously limited to a specific material, shape, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0214] (In view of the present disclosure) The present disclosure described above can be understood from the following viewpoints, for example. [First viewpoint] 1. An antenna device, comprising: A waveguide section (12) that forms a waveguide path (12a) therein for propagating radio waves; a cavity forming portion (16) that is provided on one side of the waveguide in a first direction (Dh) and that forms a cavity (15) therein and communicates with the waveguide through a power supply opening (14); the cavity forming portion has an opening wall portion (161) which faces the cavity from the other side opposite to the one side in the first direction and in which the power supply opening is formed, an opposing wall portion (162) which faces the cavity from the one side in the first direction and in which a plurality of radiation openings (17) are formed and which faces the opening wall portion, and a side wall portion (163) which faces the cavity so as to surround the cavity between the opening wall portion and the opposing wall portion and connects the opening wall portion and the opposing wall portion, The plurality of radiation openings communicate the cavity with an external space (SP), propagate the radio waves between the cavity and the external space, and are arranged in a line of three or more in a second direction (Dw, Dwp) perpendicular to the first direction; in a first cross section along the first direction and the second direction, the side wall portion has second direction change surfaces (163f, 163h, 163j, 163m) facing the cavity and formed such that a distance (W1, W2, W3, W4) in the second direction from the power feed opening increases toward the one side in the first direction, on one side and the other side in the second direction relative to the power feed opening, an antenna device, wherein a shape of the second direction change surface is determined so that when the radio waves of a predetermined wavelength are propagated from the feed opening to the cavity, the variation in phase of the radio waves at a plurality of the radiation openings is reduced, compared to a case in which the second direction change surface is not provided in the first cross section and the distance in the second direction from the feed opening to the side wall portion is constant regardless of the position in the first direction. [Second viewpoint] The plurality of radiation openings are also arranged in a line in a third direction (Dwp) perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, with three or more of them being arranged side by side; in a second cross section along the first direction and the third direction, the side wall portion has third direction change surfaces (163j, 163m) facing the cavity and formed such that a distance (W3, W4) in the third direction from the power feed opening increases toward the one side in the first direction, on one side and the other side in the third direction relative to the power feed opening, The antenna device described in the first aspect, wherein a shape of the third direction changing surface is determined so that when the radio waves of the specified wavelength are propagated from the feed opening to the cavity, the phase variation of the radio waves at a plurality of the radiation openings is reduced, compared to a case in which the third direction changing surface is not provided in the second cross section and the distance in the third direction from the feed opening to the side wall portion is constant regardless of the position in the first direction. [Third Perspective] The antenna device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the feed opening is provided so as to overlap the other side in the first direction with respect to a center position (C) of the cavity. [Fourth viewpoint] the cavity, the feed opening, and the plurality of radiation openings constitute a cavity integrating portion (20); The antenna device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the cavity integration portion is formed symmetrically in the second direction and also symmetrically in a third direction (Dwp, Dw) perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. [Fifth viewpoint] The waveguide extends in a waveguide extension direction (Da), The antenna device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the waveguide section has a short wall (123) that is provided on one side of an opening position where the power supply opening opens into the waveguide in the extension direction and forms an end of the waveguide, and a reflection suppression wall (13) that is provided on the other side of the opening position in the extension direction of the waveguide and suppresses reflection of the radio wave. [Sixth viewpoint] a plurality of second direction partition walls (23) provided at positions between adjacent ones of the plurality of radiation openings in the second direction and protruding from the opposing wall portion into the cavity; The second direction partition walls each have a tip (231) on the other side in the first direction, The antenna device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein a communication portion (15b) connecting adjacent compartment spaces (15a) of the cavity on either side of the second direction partition wall is formed on the other side in the first direction relative to the tip of the second direction partition wall of the cavity. [Seventh viewpoint] The plurality of radiation openings are arranged in a line such that two or more of them are arranged in a third direction (Dwp) perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, one or more third direction partition walls (25) provided at positions between adjacent ones of the plurality of radiation openings in the third direction and protruding from the opposing wall portion into the cavity, The third direction partition wall has a tip (251) on the other side in the first direction, The antenna device according to a first aspect, wherein a communication portion (15c) connecting adjacent compartment spaces (15a) of the cavity on either side of the third direction partition wall is formed on the other side of the first direction relative to the tip of the third direction partition wall of the cavity. [Eighth viewpoint] The antenna device according to the sixth or seventh aspect, wherein the communication portion is disposed in the cavity biased toward the other side in the first direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0215] 12 Waveguide section 12a Waveguide 14 Power supply opening 15 Cavity 16 Cavity forming part 17 Radiation aperture 161 Opening wall 162 Opposing wall 163 Side wall 163f, 163h, 163j, 163m Inclined wall (second direction change surface)

Claims

1. 1. An antenna device, comprising: A waveguide section (12) that forms a waveguide path (12a) therein for propagating radio waves; a cavity forming portion (16) that is provided on one side of the waveguide in a first direction (Dh) and that forms a cavity (15) therein and communicates with the waveguide through a power supply opening (14); the cavity forming portion has an opening wall portion (161) which faces the cavity from the other side opposite to the one side in the first direction and in which the power supply opening is formed, an opposing wall portion (162) which faces the cavity from the one side in the first direction and in which a plurality of radiation openings (17) are formed and which faces the opening wall portion, and a side wall portion (163) which faces the cavity so as to surround the cavity between the opening wall portion and the opposing wall portion and connects the opening wall portion and the opposing wall portion, The plurality of radiation openings communicate the cavity with an external space (SP), propagate the radio waves between the cavity and the external space, and are arranged in a line of three or more in a second direction (Dw, Dwp) perpendicular to the first direction; In a first cross section along the first direction and the second direction, the side wall portion has second direction change surfaces (163f, 163h, 163j, 163m) facing the cavity and formed so that a distance (W1, W2, W3, W4) in the second direction from the power feed opening increases toward the one side in the first direction, on one side and the other side in the second direction relative to the power feed opening, an antenna device, wherein a shape of the second direction change surface is determined so that when the radio waves of a predetermined wavelength are propagated from the feed opening to the cavity, the phase variation of the radio waves at a plurality of the radiation openings is reduced, compared to a case in which the second direction change surface is not provided in the first cross section and the distance in the second direction from the feed opening to the side wall portion is constant regardless of the position in the first direction.

2. The plurality of radiation openings are also arranged in a line in a third direction (Dwp) perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, with three or more of the radiation openings being arranged in a line in the third direction (Dwp), In a second cross section along the first direction and the third direction, the side wall portion has third direction change surfaces (163j, 163m) facing the cavity and formed such that a distance (W3, W4) in the third direction from the power feed opening increases toward the one side in the first direction, on one side and the other side in the third direction relative to the power feed opening, 2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein a shape of the third direction change surface is determined so that when the radio waves of the specified wavelength are propagated from the feed opening to the cavity, a variation in phase of the radio waves at a plurality of the radiation openings is reduced, compared to a case in which the third direction change surface is not provided in the second cross section and the distance in the third direction from the feed opening to the side wall portion is constant regardless of the position in the first direction.

3. The antenna device according to claim 1 , wherein the feed opening is provided so as to overlap the other side in the first direction with respect to a center position (C) of the cavity.

4. the cavity, the feed opening and the plurality of radiation openings constitute a cavity integrating portion (20); The antenna device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cavity integration portion is formed symmetrically in the second direction and also symmetrically in a third direction (Dwp, Dw) perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction.

5. The waveguide extends in a waveguide extension direction (Da), 3. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide section has a short wall (123) that is provided on one side of an opening position where the power supply opening opens into the waveguide line in the extension direction and forms an end of the waveguide line, and a reflection suppression wall (13) that is provided on the other side of the opening position in the extension direction of the waveguide line and suppresses reflection of the radio wave.

6. a plurality of second direction partition walls (23) provided at positions between adjacent radiation openings among the plurality of radiation openings in the second direction and protruding from the opposing wall portion into the cavity; The second direction partition walls each have a tip (231) on the other side in the first direction, The antenna device of claim 1, wherein a communication portion (15b) connecting adjacent compartment spaces (15a) of the cavity on either side of the second direction partition wall is formed on the other side of the first direction relative to the tip of the second direction partition wall of the cavity.

7. The plurality of radiation openings are arranged in a line such that two or more of them are arranged in a third direction (Dwp) perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, one or more third direction partition walls (25) provided at positions between adjacent radiation openings among the plurality of radiation openings in the third direction and protruding from the opposing wall portion into the cavity; The third direction partition wall has a tip (251) on the other side in the first direction, The antenna device of claim 1, wherein a communication portion (15c) connecting adjacent compartment spaces (15a) of the cavity on either side of the third direction partition wall is formed on the other side of the first direction relative to the tip of the third direction partition wall of the cavity.

8. The antenna device according to claim 6 , wherein the communication portion is disposed in the cavity biased toward the other side in the first direction.

Images