Dielectric image line antenna and antenna device

Abstract

To provide a dielectric image line antenna and an antenna device that contribute to miniaturization and are compatible with both vertically and horizontally polarized waves.SOLUTION: A dielectric image line antenna 100 includes a flat ground plane 105 made of a conductor, and an antenna element 108 provided on the ground plane 105 in contact with the ground plane 105. The antenna element 108 includes a waveguide 110 that propagates radio waves, and an excitation portion 150 that includes an element that radiates radio waves. The waveguide 110 is made of a dielectric material and is at least partially tapered when viewed from above the antenna element 108, and the excitation portion 150 is provided in contact with the waveguide 110 or is provided so as to be included in the waveguide 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dielectric image line antenna and an antenna device that can be used as a base station antenna for mobile communications, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an antenna device has been proposed in which a directional antenna element for vertical polarization and a directional antenna element for horizontal polarization are arranged on the same substrate, and which is capable of irradiating beams in all directions (360 degrees) within a horizontal plane (Patent Document 1).

[0003] Also, a multi-beam dielectric rod antenna system has been proposed that can control the gain and half-width using a dielectric rod (dielectric image line) and can irradiate beams in multiple sectors in a horizontal plane (Non-Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-034234 [Non-patent literature]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Sato et al., "Multi-beam Dielectric Rod Antenna System," IEICE Transactions on Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Vol. J106-B, No. 12, pp. 797-804, December 2023 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The antenna device disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a Yagi-Uda antenna, and since it is necessary to ensure a certain distance from the substrate (base plate), there is a problem that the size in the height direction is inevitably large.

[0007] Moreover, the multi-beam dielectric rod antenna system disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 can only handle one type of polarization.

[0008] Therefore, the following disclosure has been made in consideration of this situation, and aims to provide a dielectric image line antenna and antenna device that contributes to miniaturization and is compatible with both vertically polarized waves and horizontally polarized waves. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] One aspect of the present disclosure is a dielectric image line antenna (dielectric image line antenna 100, dielectric image line antenna 200) comprising a flat ground plate (e.g., ground plate 105, ground plate 205) made of a conductor, and an antenna element (antenna element 108, antenna element 208) arranged on the ground plate in contact with the ground plate, the antenna element having a waveguide section (waveguide section 110, waveguide section 210) that propagates radio waves, and an excitation section (excitation section 150, excitation section 250) that includes an element that radiates the radio waves, the waveguide section being made of a dielectric and having at least a portion tapered when viewed from above the antenna element, and the excitation section being arranged in contact with the waveguide section or being included in the waveguide section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a dielectric image line antenna 100. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is a plan view of the antenna device 10 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the antenna device 10 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view (including dimensions) of dielectric image line antenna 200. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the dielectric image line antenna 200. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view (including dimensions) of the dielectric image line antenna 100. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side view of the dielectric image line antenna 100. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing S parameters of the directional antenna element of the first embodiment that mainly radiates horizontally polarized waves. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing S parameters of the directional antenna element of the first embodiment that mainly radiates vertically polarized waves. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the directivity in the horizontal plane of the directional antenna element according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the vertical plane directivity of the directional antenna element according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an antenna device 10A according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing S parameters of the directional antenna element of the second embodiment that mainly radiates horizontally polarized waves. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing S parameters of the directional antenna element of the second embodiment that mainly radiates vertically polarized waves. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the directivity in the horizontal plane of the directional antenna element according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the vertical plane directivity of the directional antenna element according to the second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a plan view of an antenna device 10B according to a third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an antenna device 10C according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a tilt state of the dielectric image line antenna 200A according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating S parameters of the directional antenna element according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the directivity of the directional antenna element according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating the directivity of the directional antenna element according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating the directivity of the directional antenna element according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating S parameters of the directional antenna element according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating S parameters of the directional antenna element according to the eighth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or similar reference numerals are used to designate the same functions or configurations, and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0012] (1) Basic structure of dielectric image line antenna 1 is a plan view of a dielectric image line antenna 100. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows the top surface of the dielectric image line antenna 100.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the dielectric image line antenna 100 includes a ground plane 105 and an antenna element 108 .

[0014] The ground plane 105 is a flat plate made of a conductor. The ground plane 105 may be called a conductor plate or a substrate. The ground plane 105 may be larger than the antenna element 108 in plan view (top view).

[0015] Antenna element 108 is provided on and in contact with ground plane 105. Antenna element 108 is a directional antenna element, and includes a waveguide section 110 and an excitation section 150.

[0016] The waveguide 110 is a portion that propagates radio waves from the excitation portion 150. The waveguide 110 is made of a dielectric. There are no particular limitations on the type of dielectric, but a glass fiber reinforced material (e.g., ROGERS 5880) that is also used as a material for high-frequency circuit printed circuit boards can be used.

[0017] The waveguide 110 is tapered when viewed from above the antenna element 108. Specifically, the waveguide 110 is tapered so that its width decreases with increasing distance from the excitation section 150. Note that the waveguide 110 does not necessarily have to be tapered as a whole, and may be tapered at least partially.

[0018] The excitation unit 150 includes an element that radiates radio waves. Specifically, the excitation unit 150 may include a monopole antenna 160. The monopole antenna 160 may be provided with a feeding point 161. Note that although the excitation unit 150 is expressed as including an element that radiates radio waves here, it may also be expressed that the antenna element 108 is an element that radiates radio waves.

[0019] The excitation section 150 may be provided in contact with the waveguide section 110. Alternatively, the excitation section 150 may be provided so as to be included in the waveguide section 110. In other words, the boundary between the waveguide section 110 and the excitation section 150 does not necessarily have to be clear. The excitation section 150 may be configured so as to be included within the waveguide section 110.

[0020] Such a tapered waveguide 110 constitutes a dielectric image line. The tapered waveguide 110 is advantageous in terms of radio wave propagation compared to a rectangular or other shape.

[0021] By using multiple dielectric image line antennas like this, it is possible to configure a dielectric image line multi-sector antenna. By applying the antenna elements that configure the dielectric image line as shown in Figure 1 to both vertically and horizontally polarized waves and adjusting the thickness of the excitation section and the dielectric image line, it is possible to align the maximum gain directions of multiple antennas with different polarizations installed on the same substrate (ground plane). Details such as the side shape of the dielectric image line antenna 100 will be described later.

[0022] (2) Configuration of an antenna device using a dielectric image line antenna Next, the configuration of an antenna device using a dielectric image line antenna will be described based on an embodiment.

[0023] (2.1) Example 1 (2.1.1) Overall configuration of the antenna device Fig. 2A is a plan view of the antenna device 10 according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the antenna device 10 according to the first embodiment.

[0024] 2A and 2B, the antenna device 10 is configured by a plurality (N pieces) of radially arranged dielectric image line antennas. In other words, the antenna device 10 is an antenna device in which a plurality of radially arranged dielectric image line antennas are arranged.

[0025] Specifically, the antenna device 10 is composed of 12 dielectric image line antennas. More specifically, the antenna device 10 is composed of a plurality of (six) dielectric image line antennas 100 and a plurality of (six) dielectric image line antennas 200.

[0026] The dielectric image line antenna 100 and the dielectric image line antenna 200 are provided on a circular ground plane 50 in a plan view. In this embodiment, the radius r of the ground plane 50 (antenna device 10) may be set to 85 mm.

[0027] The dielectric image line antenna 100 may have the shape shown in Figure 1. The dielectric image line antenna 200 differs in configuration, size, and shape from the dielectric image line antenna 100. The specific configuration of the dielectric image line antenna 200 will be described later.

[0028] The dielectric image line antenna 100 transmits and receives mainly vertically polarized radio waves. The dielectric image line antenna 200 transmits and receives mainly horizontally polarized radio waves. The dielectric image line antennas 100 and 200 may be arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. In other words, the antenna device 10 is an antenna device in which the dielectric image line antennas 100 and 200 are arranged alternately in a radial direction.

[0029] All of the dielectric image line antennas 100 and all of the dielectric image line antennas 200 may be arranged side by side on concentric circles (see the imaginary lines in FIG. 2A). Specifically, each of the excitation sections 150 of the dielectric image line antennas 100 and each of the excitation sections 250 of the dielectric image line antennas 200 (not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, see FIGS. 3 and 4) may be arranged on concentric circles (see the imaginary lines in FIG. 2A).

[0030] (2.1.2) Configuration of dielectric image line antenna Figure 3 is a plan view of dielectric image line antenna 200. Specifically, Figure 3 shows the top surface of dielectric image line antenna 200. Figure 4 is a side view of dielectric image line antenna 200.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the dielectric image line antenna 200 includes a ground plane 205 and an antenna element 208.

[0032] The ground plane 205 is a flat plate made of a conductor. The ground plane 205 may be called a conductor plate or a substrate. The ground plane 205 may be larger than the antenna element 208 in plan view (top view).

[0033] Antenna element 208 is provided on and in contact with ground plane 205. Antenna element 208 is a directional antenna element, and has a waveguide section 210 and an excitation section 250.

[0034] The waveguide 210 is a portion that propagates radio waves from the excitation portion 250. The waveguide 210 is made of a dielectric material, similar to the waveguide 110 of the dielectric image line antenna 100.

[0035] The waveguide 210 is tapered when viewed from above the antenna element 208. Specifically, the waveguide 210 is tapered so that its width decreases with increasing distance from the excitation section 150. Note that the waveguide 210 does not necessarily have to be tapered as a whole, and may be tapered at least partially.

[0036] The excitation section 250 includes an element that radiates radio waves. Specifically, the excitation section 250 may include a dipole antenna 260 with a balun.

[0037] As described above, dielectric image line antenna 200 is primarily compatible with horizontally polarized waves and includes balun-equipped dipole antenna 260 installed on a printed circuit board (ground plate 205), and antenna element 208 that uses balun-equipped dipole antenna 260 as an excitation unit. In other words, excitation unit 250 may be configured by a dipole antenna for horizontally polarized waves.

[0038] As described above, the waveguide 210 may be made of a dielectric material, but may be separated into two dielectric materials with a gap 220 between them, as shown in Fig. 4. In other words, the waveguide 210 may be made of a tapered column made of a single-layer or multi-layer dielectric material.

[0039] In this embodiment, the length of the dielectric image line antenna 200 is set to 80 mm (excluding part of the excitation section 250), the width on the excitation section 250 side to 7.0 mm, and the width on the tip side of the waveguide section 210 to 5.0 mm. The height of the dielectric image line antenna 200 is set to 4.8 mm, the thickness of the upper waveguide section 210 to 0.2 mm, the thickness of the lower waveguide section 210 to 3.8 mm, and the thickness of the air gap 220 to 1.0 mm.

[0040] As described above, antenna element 208 may be provided on and in contact with ground plate 205, but antenna element 208 (specifically, waveguide 210) does not necessarily have to be in contact with ground plate 205 and may be somewhat spaced apart. The distance between ground plate 205 and waveguide 210 may be 0.5λ or less, where λ is the wavelength of the radio waves transmitted and received by dielectric image line antenna 200. Furthermore, ground plate 205 and waveguide 210 may be in contact with each other via an adhesive layer or the like.

[0041] Figure 5 is a plan view (including dimensions) of dielectric image line antenna 100. Specifically, Figure 5 shows the top surface of dielectric image line antenna 100, similar to Figure 1, and also shows the dimensions of antenna element 108. Figure 6 is a side view of dielectric image line antenna 100.

[0042] As described above, the dielectric image line antenna 100 is primarily compatible with vertically polarized waves and includes the monopole antenna 160 and the antenna element 108, which uses the monopole antenna 160 as an excitation unit. In other words, the excitation unit 150 may be configured by a monopole antenna for vertically polarized waves.

[0043] 6, a monopole antenna 160 may be erected from the waveguide 110. The antenna element 108 (the waveguide 110 and the excitation section 150) is provided on the ground plate 105 in contact with the ground plate 105. However, like the antenna element 208 of the dielectric image line antenna 200, the antenna element 108 (specifically the waveguide 110) does not necessarily have to be in contact with the ground plate 105, and may be somewhat separated from it.

[0044] In this embodiment, the length of the dielectric image line antenna 100 is set to 80 mm (excluding part of the excitation section 150), the width on the excitation section 150 side to 7.0 mm, and the width on the tip side of the waveguide section 110 to 3.0 mm. In other words, the width on the tip side of the waveguide section 110 may be narrower than the width on the tip side of the waveguide section 210 of the dielectric image line antenna 200. In addition, the height of the dielectric image line antenna 100 is set to 4.8 mm, the thickness of the waveguide section 110 to 1.0 mm, and the distance from the top surface of the base plate 105 to the top end of the monopole antenna 160 to 2.2 mm.

[0045] The antenna device 10 according to this operation example may be primarily intended for installation indoors. In particular, the height (thickness) of the antenna device 10 can be reduced, which improves ease of installation in places with height restrictions, such as ceilings. The antenna device disclosed in Patent Document 1 (JP 2023-034234 A) is premised on the use of a Yagi-Uda antenna, and therefore tends to be quite tall.

[0046] Fig. 7 shows the S parameters of the directional antenna element of Example 1 that mainly radiates horizontally polarized waves. Fig. 8 shows the S parameters of the directional antenna element of Example 1 that mainly radiates vertically polarized waves. Specifically, Fig. 7 shows the S parameters of antenna element 208, and Fig. 8 shows the S parameters of antenna element 108.

[0047] The directional antenna elements operate in the 28 GHz band, and the amount of mutual coupling between the directional antenna elements is sufficiently suppressed.

[0048] Fig. 9 shows the horizontal plane directivity of the directional antenna element according to Example 1. Fig. 10 shows the vertical plane directivity of the directional antenna element according to Example 1. Specifically, Fig. 9 shows the horizontal plane directivity of the antenna element 208 of the dielectric image line antenna 200 constituting the antenna device 10, and Fig. 10 shows the vertical plane directivity of the antenna element 108 of the dielectric image line antenna 100 constituting the antenna device 10.

[0049] 9 and 10, each beam has directivity in the horizontal direction along the directional antenna element, and in the vertical direction, it is tilted slightly downward relative to the horizontal due to the influence of the circular conductor plate (ground plate 50).In addition, a high antenna gain of approximately 16 dBi can be achieved when r = 85 mm.

[0050] (2.2) Example 2 11 is a plan view of an antenna device 10A according to Example 2. In the antenna device 10 according to Example 1, the excitation sections 150 of the dielectric image line antenna 100 and the excitation sections 250 of the dielectric image line antenna 200 are arranged on the circumference of concentric circles, but in the antenna device 10A, the dielectric image line antenna 100 (antenna element 108) for vertical polarization is arranged away from the center of the antenna device 10A, and the dielectric image line antenna 200 (antenna element 208) for horizontal polarization is arranged closer to the center.

[0051] That is, in antenna device 10A, excitation section 150 of dielectric image line antenna 100 and excitation section 250 of dielectric image line antenna 200 may be disposed at different positions in the radial direction. Note that it is not excluded that dielectric image line antenna 200 (antenna element 208) for horizontal polarization may be disposed away from the center of antenna device 10A, and dielectric image line antenna 100 (antenna element 108) for vertical polarization may be disposed closer to the center.

[0052] In this embodiment, the radius r of the ground plane 50 (antenna device 10A) may be set to 70 mm. In the antenna device 10A, the diameter size can be reduced by arranging the dielectric image line antenna 100 and the dielectric image line antenna 200 alternately with an offset in the radial direction as described above.

[0053] Fig. 12 shows S parameters of the directional antenna element of Example 2 that mainly radiates horizontally polarized waves, and Fig. 13 shows S parameters of the directional antenna element of Example 2 that mainly radiates vertically polarized waves.

[0054] The directional antenna elements operate in the 28 GHz band, and the amount of mutual coupling between the directional antenna elements is sufficiently suppressed.

[0055] Fig. 14 shows the directivity in the horizontal plane of the directional antenna element according to Example 2. Fig. 15 shows the directivity in the vertical plane of the directional antenna element according to Example 2.

[0056] 14 and 15, each beam has directivity in the horizontal direction along the directional antenna element, and in the vertical direction, it is tilted slightly downward relative to the horizontal due to the influence of the circular conductor plate (ground plate 50).In addition, a high antenna gain of approximately 15.5 dBi can be achieved when r = 70 mm.

[0057] (2.3) Example 3 Fig. 16 is a plan view of an antenna device 10B according to Example 3. Specifically, Fig. 16 shows the top surface of the antenna device 10B.

[0058] 16, the antenna device 10B is composed of one dielectric image line antenna 100 and one dielectric image line antenna 200. Specifically, the antenna device 10B differs from the antenna device 10 in the arrangement of the directional antenna elements.

[0059] More specifically, antenna device 10B may have a configuration in which vertically polarized dielectric image line antenna 100 and horizontally polarized dielectric image line antenna 200 are arranged side by side. Antenna device 10B achieves polarization multiplexing by arranging a vertically polarized directional antenna element and a horizontally polarized directional antenna element in this horizontal direction.

[0060] (2.4) Example 4 Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an antenna device 10C according to Example 4. As shown in Fig. 17, the antenna device 10C is configured by a plurality (N pieces) of dielectric image line antennas 200A arranged radially.

[0061] Specifically, the antenna device 10C is composed of twelve dielectric image line antennas 200A. The dielectric image line antenna 200A has a structure similar to that of the dielectric image line antenna 200, but the shape of the ground plate 205A is different from that of the ground plate 205.

[0062] In addition, in the dielectric image line antenna 200A, the beam tilt is performed in the vertical direction by tilting the antenna element 208 together with the ground plane 205A (metal ground plane). That is, in this operation example, the antenna element 208 may be arranged tilted in the vertical direction. Note that the antenna elements 208 may also be arranged side by side in the horizontal direction while tilting in the vertical direction.

[0063] Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a tilt state of the dielectric image line antenna 200A according to Example 4. Fig. 19 illustrates S parameters of the directional antenna element according to Example 4.

[0064] The tilt angle θ of the dielectric image line antenna 200A (antenna element 208) may be set as shown in Fig. 18. θ is preferably set to approximately 3 to 10 degrees. Fig. 19 shows the S parameters of the antenna element 208 when the tilt angle θ is changed to 0, 3, 5, and 10 degrees.

[0065] Fig. 20 shows the directivity of the directional antenna element according to Example 4. Specifically, Fig. 20 shows the conical plane directivity and vertical plane directivity of the dielectric image line antenna 200A (antenna element 208) when the tilt angle θ is changed to 0, 3, 5, and 10 degrees.

[0066] (2.5) Example 5 Fig. 21 shows the directivity of the directional antenna element according to Example 5. Specifically, Fig. 21 shows the conical plane directivity and vertical plane directivity of the dielectric image line antenna 200A (antenna element 208) when the length of the waveguide 210 of the directional antenna element is changed to 40 mm, 50 mm, and 60 mm, based on the antenna device 10 according to Example 1.

[0067] 21, the gain can be controlled by adjusting the length of the waveguide 210. Note that the gain can also be controlled by adjusting the length of the waveguide 110 of the dielectric image line antenna 100, which mainly corresponds to vertically polarized waves.

[0068] (2.6) Example 6 Fig. 22 shows the directivity of the directional antenna element according to Example 6. Specifically, Fig. 22 shows the conical plane directivity and vertical plane directivity of the dielectric image line antenna 200A (antenna element 208) when the thickness of the waveguide 210 of the directional antenna element is changed to 3.0 mm, 3.4 mm, and 3.8 mm, based on the antenna device 10 according to Example 1.

[0069] 22, the gain can be controlled by adjusting the thickness of the waveguide 210. Note that the gain can also be controlled by adjusting the thickness of the waveguide 110 of the dielectric image line antenna 100, which is primarily compatible with vertically polarized waves.

[0070] (2.7) Example 7 Fig. 23 shows S parameters of the directional antenna element according to Example 7. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 23, in the antenna device according to this example (see the configuration example on the right side of Fig. 23), all of the radially arranged directional antenna elements may be configured only with directional antenna elements for horizontal polarization (dielectric image line antenna 200).

[0071] FIG. 23 shows the S parameters of the directional antenna element (antenna element 208).

[0072] (2.8) Example 8 Fig. 24 shows S parameters of the directional antenna element according to Example 8. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 24, in the antenna device according to this example (see the configuration example on the right side of Fig. 24), all of the radially arranged directional antenna elements may be configured only with directional antenna elements for vertical polarization (dielectric image line antenna 100).

[0073] FIG. 24 shows the S parameters of the directional antenna element (antenna element 108).

[0074] (2.9) Example 9 4, the waveguide 210 may be configured as a tapered column made of a single-layer or multi-layer dielectric. Furthermore, the directional antenna element may have a laminated structure of a conductor plate (ground plane) and a dielectric.

[0075] Specifically, the waveguide (waveguide 110 or 210) may have a laminated structure of a dielectric and a conductor plate. The number of layers in the laminated structure may be one or more.

[0076] (3) Actions and Effects The above-described embodiments provide the following advantageous effects. The waveguide of the dielectric image line antenna according to the above-described embodiments is made of a dielectric material and is at least partially tapered when viewed from above. The excitation portion is provided in contact with the waveguide or is included in the waveguide.

[0077] This allows the antenna element to be placed directly on the ground plane (conductor plate), which reduces the height of the dielectric image line antenna from approximately 2λ to approximately 0.5λ, making it easier to install in places with height restrictions.

[0078] Furthermore, as described above, by combining a dielectric image line antenna for vertical polarization with a dielectric image line antenna for horizontal polarization, it is possible to accommodate both vertically polarized waves and horizontally polarized waves.

[0079] In particular, by arranging the dielectric image line antenna radially so as to cover all directions (360 degrees), characteristics can be improved not only in the horizontal plane but also in the vertical plane.

[0080] The antenna device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can handle both vertically polarized waves and horizontally polarized waves, but because the maximum gain direction in the vertical plane does not match for each polarized element, there is a problem in that the area radius differs depending on the polarization. In other words, the size of the area differs depending on which polarization is used.

[0081] The multi-beam dielectric rod antenna system disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1 can only handle one type of polarization.

[0082] In the above-described embodiment, a dielectric image line is used to adjust the main beam direction in the vertical plane to the same direction while realizing 360-degree beam formation in the horizontal plane. By using a dielectric image line, it is possible to design an antenna device that can cover an area over 360 degrees with high gain while aligning the main beam direction in the vertical plane.

[0083] Furthermore, as shown in Examples 4 to 6, the gain and the like can be controlled by adjusting the tilt angle, length or thickness of the directional antenna element, making it easier to form more appropriate coverage according to needs.

[0084] Furthermore, the type of dielectric image line antenna (vertically polarized or horizontally polarized) can be selected as shown in Examples 7 and 8. Also, as shown in Example 9, the S-parameter characteristics can be adjusted by forming the directional antenna element into a laminated structure of a conductor plate and a dielectric.

[0085] (4) Other embodiments The contents of the present proposal have been explained above in accordance with the embodiments, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present proposal is not limited to these descriptions and that various modifications and improvements are possible.

[0086] For example, in the above-described embodiment, an antenna device in which multiple dielectric image line antennas are arranged radially has been mainly described, but as in antenna device 10B, an antenna device in which multiple (e.g., three or more) dielectric image line antennas are arranged in a horizontal (side) direction, or multiple dielectric image line antennas are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the dielectric image line antenna to form a circle or a polygon, may also be used.

[0087] Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be applied to at least one of a system using Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, a 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), a 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), a 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), an xth generation mobile communication system (xG) (where x is, for example, an integer or a decimal), Future Radio Access (FRA), New Radio (NR), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX (registered trademark)), IEEE 802.20, Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other suitable systems, and next-generation systems enhanced based on these. In addition, a combination of multiple systems (for example, a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A with 5G) may be applied.

[0088] The order of the procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc. of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be changed unless it is consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present elements of various steps using an example order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

[0089] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched depending on the implementation. Furthermore, notification of predetermined information (e.g., notification that "X is true") is not limited to being done explicitly, but may be done implicitly (e.g., by not notifying the predetermined information).

[0090] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0091] Note that terms explained in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, at least one of a channel and a symbol may be a signal (signaling). Furthermore, a signal may be a message. Furthermore, a component carrier (CC) may be called a carrier frequency, a cell, a frequency carrier, etc.

[0092] As used in this disclosure, the terms "system" and "network" are used interchangeably.

[0093] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc. described in the present disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or other corresponding information. For example, a radio resource may be indicated by an index.

[0094] The terms "connected," "coupled," or any variation thereof, refer to any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are "connected" or "coupled" to each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connected" may be read as "access." As used in this disclosure, two elements may be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, and / or printed electrical connections, as well as electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency range, microwave range, and optical (both visible and invisible) range, as some non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples.

[0095] The "means" in the configuration of each of the above devices may be replaced with "part," "circuit," "device," etc.

[0096] As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed therein or that the first element must precede the second element in some way.

[0097] When used in this disclosure, the terms "include," "including," and variations thereof are intended to be inclusive, similar to the term "comprising." Furthermore, when used in this disclosure, the term "or" is not intended to be an exclusive or.

[0098] In this disclosure, where articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural form.

[0099] As used in this disclosure, the terms "determining" and "determining" may encompass a wide variety of actions. "Determining" and "determining" may include, for example, judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, inquiring (e.g., searching in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. "Determining" and "determining" may also include receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory), and the like. Furthermore, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. as having been "judged" or "decided." In other words, "judgment" and "decision" can include regarding some action as having been "judged" or "decided." Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" can be interpreted as "assuming," "expecting," "considering," etc.

[0100] In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "coupled" may also be interpreted in the same way as "different."

[0101] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present disclosure can be implemented in modified and altered forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative and does not have any limiting meaning on the present disclosure.

[0102] (Addendum) The above disclosure may be expressed as follows: A first feature is a dielectric image line antenna including a flat ground plate made of a conductor, and an antenna element provided on the ground plate in contact with the ground plate, the antenna element having a waveguide that propagates radio waves and an excitation portion including an element that radiates the radio waves, the waveguide being made of a dielectric and having at least a portion tapered in a top view of the antenna element, and the excitation portion being provided in contact with the waveguide or provided to be included in the waveguide.

[0103] A second feature is that, in the first feature, the excitation unit is configured by a dipole antenna for horizontal polarization.

[0104] A third feature is that in the first or second feature, the excitation unit is configured by a monopole antenna for vertical polarization.

[0105] A fourth feature is that, in the first to third features, the antenna elements are arranged to be tilted in the vertical direction.

[0106] A fifth feature is that, in any one of the first to fourth features, the waveguide portion has a laminated structure of the dielectric and a conductor plate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0107] 10, 10A, 10B, 10C Antenna device 50 Main plate 100 Dielectric image line antenna 105 Main plate 108 antenna elements 110 Waveguide 150 Excitation section 160 Monopole Antenna 161 Power supply point 200, 200A Dielectric Image Line Antenna 205, 205A Main plate 208 Antenna Elements 210 Waveguide 220 void 250 Excitation section 260 Dipole antenna with balun

Claims

1. a flat ground plane made of a conductor; an antenna element provided on the ground plane in contact with the ground plane; Equipped with The antenna element is a waveguide portion that propagates radio waves; an excitation unit including an element that radiates the radio wave; and the waveguide portion is made of a dielectric material and is at least partially tapered when viewed from above the antenna element; The excitation section is provided in contact with the waveguide section or is provided so as to be included in the waveguide section.

2. 2. The dielectric image line antenna according to claim 1, wherein the excitation section is configured as a dipole antenna for horizontal polarization.

3. 2. The dielectric image line antenna according to claim 1, wherein the excitation section is configured as a monopole antenna for vertical polarization.

4. 2. The dielectric image line antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna elements are tilted in the vertical direction.

5. 2. The dielectric image line antenna according to claim 1, wherein the waveguide section has a laminated structure of the dielectric and a conductor plate.

6. 6. An antenna device comprising a plurality of dielectric image line antennas according to any one of claims 1 to 5 arranged radially.

7. An antenna device comprising the dielectric image line antenna of claim 2 and the dielectric image line antenna of claim 3 arranged side by side in a lateral direction.

8. 4. An antenna device comprising the dielectric image line antenna of claim 2 and the dielectric image line antenna of claim 3 arranged alternately in a radial pattern.

9. 9. The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein the excitation portion of the dielectric image line antenna of claim 2 and the excitation portion of the dielectric image line antenna of claim 3 are arranged on concentric circles.

10. 9. The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein the excitation portion of the dielectric image line antenna of claim 2 and the excitation portion of the dielectric image line antenna of claim 3 are disposed at different positions in the radial direction.

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