Antenna device phase shifter

Abstract

This invention provides a phase shifter for antenna devices that can prevent the complexity of the appearance of transmission lines. [Solution] The phase shifter of the antenna device includes a phase adjustment dielectric panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "phase dielectric") that is movable and positioned at a branching point of a transmission line, spaced apart from one side of the reflecting panel; an impedance matching dielectric panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "impedance dielectric") fixedly positioned alongside one side of the phase dielectric; and a moving clamp for moving the phase dielectric. The phase dielectric has an impedance matching step formed on the side facing the reflecting panel such that an air layer is formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a phase shifter of an antenna apparatus, and more particularly, to a phase shifter of an antenna apparatus configured to transition a phase value due to a change in dielectric constant by a dielectric without changing the physical length of a transmission line provided for feeding power to a radiating element.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, in a wireless communication network such as a mobile communication network or a wireless subscriber line, a base station is installed between an exchange and a subscriber terminal, and wireless signals are exchanged between the base station and the subscriber terminal.

[0003] An antenna apparatus provided in a base station is designed to have a certain vertical / horizontal beam pattern and beam directivity characteristics in consideration of the spatial distribution of subscribers.

[0004] Recently, existing mobile communication carriers are acquiring business rights in frequency bands other than the existing assigned frequency bands to diversify services. In response to the requirements of such changes in the radio wave environment, there is a need to change beam characteristics such as the beam width and beam tilt of an antenna (radiating element).

[0005] That is, when the beam width of a communication antenna or a broadcast antenna is fixed, there is a problem that a person has to climb up a tower and manually control the antenna when steering or tilting the beam. Therefore, recently, a structure that responds to changes in beam characteristics such as beam steering and beam tilting by transitioning a phase value due to a change in the physical length of a transmission line for a radiating element has been applied.

[0006] However, while phase shifters are necessary to accommodate changes in the physical length of the transmission line, the space occupied by these phase shifters is relatively large, hindering product slimming and also contributing to increased manufacturing costs due to the complexity of the transmission line. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and aims to provide a phase shifter for an antenna device that enables phase value transitions due to changes in dielectric constant at branching points, after arranging transmission lines provided in the form of air strip lines at a distance from the front and back surfaces of a reflecting panel.

[0008] In addition, the present invention also aims to provide a phase shifter for an antenna device in which the formation of an impedance matching step for impedance matching is advantageous, by positioning the phase dielectric apart from the reflecting panel and between transmission lines that are spaced apart in the form of an air strip line.

[0009] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by an ordinary person from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A phase shifter for an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a phase adjustment dielectric panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "phase dielectric") that is movable and positioned at a branching point of a transmission line, spaced apart from one surface of a reflecting panel; an impedance matching dielectric panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "impedance dielectric") fixedly positioned alongside one side of the phase dielectric; and a moving clamp for moving the phase dielectric, wherein the phase dielectric has a stepped impedance matching step formed on the surface facing the reflecting panel such that an air layer is formed.

[0011] Here, the phase dielectric may be placed between any one surface of the reflecting panel and the transmission line in the form of an air strip line that is spaced apart from any one surface of the reflecting panel.

[0012] Furthermore, if the transmission line has branching points where it branches into multiple branching lines to supply power to multiple radiating elements from the input line, the phase dielectric may be formed to extend along the branching lines.

[0013] Furthermore, the phase values ​​of the radiating elements can be transitioned according to the change in dielectric constant due to the change in the position of the phase dielectric.

[0014] Furthermore, the impedance dielectric may be arranged longitudinally between the input line and one of the reflecting panels at the branching point, and the impedance matching step may be formed within the longitudinal range of the impedance dielectric.

[0015] The device further includes a drive motor that is electrically driven to generate rotational force, and a plurality of vertical moving bars that receive the rotational force generated by the drive motor and move vertically on any one surface of the reflecting panel, wherein the moving clamp is coupled to multiple locations on the plurality of vertical moving bars to move the phase dielectric vertically.

[0016] Furthermore, a pinion gear is connected to the rotating shaft of the drive motor so as to rotate axially, and the rack gear teeth of the rack gear section provided on the connecting bar that connects the plurality of vertical moving bars mesh with the pinion gear teeth of the pinion gear, thereby enabling the plurality of vertical moving bars to move vertically.

[0017] Furthermore, the moving clamp may include a clamp body fixed to the vertical moving bar via a bridge bar extending perpendicularly from the vertical moving bar, a coupling dielectric coupled to the back of the clamp body and mediating the coupling of the phase dielectric to the clamp body across the transmission line, and an elastic portion provided on the clamp body that elastically supports the transmission line toward the phase dielectric.

[0018] Furthermore, the transmission line includes a first transmission line positioned in front of the reflecting panel and supplying power to a first radiating element associated with a radiating beam in a first frequency band, and a second transmission line positioned in rear of the reflecting panel and supplying power to a second radiating element associated with a radiating beam in a second frequency band, and the phase shifter may be separately provided with the drive motor, a plurality of vertical moving bars, and the moving clamps to engage with the first transmission line and the second transmission line, respectively.

[0019] Furthermore, if multiple radiating elements are arranged at vertically separated intervals at each end of the branch line, and the distance between adjacent radiating elements is the same, the impedance matching step of the phase dielectric may be formed such that the phase values ​​formed by the multiple radiating elements are the same, thereby achieving a phase difference.

[0020] Furthermore, when the branching points are defined as the upper end of the input line as the first branching point, and the tips of the upper and lower transmission lines branching from the first branching point, which are points where they branch into three branch transmission lines, respectively, as the second and third branching points, the phase dielectric can be positioned to change the dielectric constant at each of the branching points.

[0021] Furthermore, the phase dielectric may be arranged in correspondence with the first branching point, the second branching point, and the third branching point.

[0022] Furthermore, when the target phase values ​​of the radiating elements are set to a maximum value of +2.5X and a minimum value of -2.5X, the impedance matching steps may be fabricated and formed such that the phase dielectrics placed at the first branching point have a phase difference of only +1.5X and -1.5X with respect to the upper and lower transmission lines, respectively, so that each of the radiating elements has the same phase difference.

[0023] Furthermore, when the target phase values ​​of the radiating elements are set to a maximum value of +2.5X and a minimum value of -2.5X, the impedance matching steps may be fabricated and formed on the phase dielectrics placed at the second and third branching points so that there is the same phase difference between each of the radiating elements, with respect to the upper branching transmission line and to the lower branching transmission line, except for the middle branching transmission line among the three branching transmission lines, so that there is a phase difference of +1X. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a phase shifter for an antenna device allows for phase value transitions due to changes in the effective dielectric constant of the dielectric without the need to physically change the length of the transmission line provided in the form of an air strip line. This not only enables slimmer product manufacturing but also has the effect of reducing costs in the product manufacturing process.

[0025] At the same time, the present invention is advantageous in forming an impedance matching step for impedance matching and improving the manufacturability of the product by disposing the phase dielectric apart from the reflecting panel and between transmission lines disposed apart in the form of an air stripline.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of an antenna device provided with a phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] It is a front-side exploded perspective view of the antenna housing part separated from the configuration of FIG. 1. [Figure 2B] It is a rear-side exploded perspective view of the antenna housing part separated from the configuration of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view showing the appearance state with the radome panel removed from the configuration of (a) in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing the appearance state with the rear panel removed from the configuration of (b) in FIG. 1. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing an antenna board assembly provided with a phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is an exploded perspective view showing the state where the low band element and the mid band element are separated from the configuration of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is an exploded perspective view showing the state where only the low band element is separated from the configuration of FIG. 5. [Figure 8] It is an exploded perspective view showing the overlapping installation of the low band element and the mid band element in the configuration of FIG. 5. [Figure 9A] It is an exploded perspective view showing the front surface part of the reflecting panel on which the low band element and the mid band element are provided in the configuration of FIG. 5. [Figure 9B] It is an exploded perspective view showing the back surface part of the reflecting panel on which the low band element and the mid band element are provided in the configuration of FIG. 5. [Figure 10A]This is a front perspective view showing the low-band phase shifter and mid-band phase shifter provided on the reflecting panel. [Figure 10B] This is a rear perspective view showing the low-band phase shifter and mid-band phase shifter provided on the reflecting panel. [Figure 11A] Figure 10A shows exploded perspective views and their respective enlarged sections.

[0027] [Figure 11B] Figure 10B shows exploded perspective views and their respective enlarged sections. [Figure 12A] This is a front view of Figures 10A and 10B. [Figure 12B] This is a rear view of Figures 10A and 10B. [Figure 13] A cross-sectional perspective view and a partially enlarged view of the phase adjustment dielectric panel, which is part of the configuration of a phase shifter in an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating the operation of a phase shifter in an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] This is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 14. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the function of the phase adjustment dielectric panel in the configuration of a phase shifter in an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] This is a partial front view (a) of the first transmission line and a graph (b) showing an ideal phase difference diagram, illustrating how the phase difference is achieved by adjusting the position and depth of the impedance matching step of the phase dielectric in the configuration of a phase shifter of an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0028] A phase shifter for an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0029] When assigning reference numerals to the components in each drawing, it should be noted that, as far as possible, identical components should have the same reference numeral even if they are shown in other drawings. Furthermore, when describing embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of such known configurations or functions would hinder understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0030] In describing the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as First, Second, A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used. Such terms are merely for distinguishing a component from other components, and do not limit the nature, order, or procedure of that component. Furthermore, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as generally understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms as defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and not in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in this application.

[0031] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an antenna device equipped with a phase shifter according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B are exploded perspective views of the front and rear sides of the configuration in Figure 1, with the antenna housing separated; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the configuration in Figure 1(a) with the radome panel removed; and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the configuration in Figure 1(b) with the rear panel removed.

[0032] An antenna device 1 equipped with phase shifters 400A and 400B according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an antenna housing portion 5 having an internal space (not shown in the drawing reference numerals) and an antenna board assembly 100 arranged vertically in the internal space of the antenna housing portion 5.

[0033] As shown in Figures 1, 2A, and 2B, the antenna housing section 5 includes a rear panel 10 that performs a skeletal function, side panels 20 provided by a left body panel 21 and a right body panel 22 which are coupled to the left and right ends of the rear panel 10 to form a thickness in the front-rear direction, a radome panel 30 which is coupled to the front end of the side panels 20 to shield the internal space, and a cap panel 40 provided by an upper cap panel 41 which is coupled to cover the upper open portion and a lower cap panel 42 which is coupled to cover the lower open portion.

[0034] The rear panel 10 forms the external appearance of the rear of the antenna housing 5 and may be provided in the form of a thin panel. Here, the rear panel 10 may be made of aluminum, but is not necessarily limited to this, and does not exclude non-metallic materials such as plastic resin.

[0035] A reinforcing frame 50 is provided on the front surface (i.e., the side facing the interior space) of the rear panel 10 to reinforce the rigidity of the thin, panel-like rear panel 10. The reinforcing frame 50 may include a plurality of left and right reinforcing bars 51-54 that are horizontally connected to the front surface of the rear panel 10 and connected vertically at predetermined distances apart, and a center reinforcing bar 55 that is vertically connected and connects the intermediate portions of the plurality of left and right reinforcing bars 51-54.

[0036] On the other hand, the rear ends of the left body panel 21 and the right body panel 22 are connected to the left and right ends of the rear panel 10 to form the side portion of the antenna housing 5, and the front ends of the left body panel 21 and the right body panel 22 can be connected to the radome panel 30 using a plurality of connecting clips 25 provided for connection to the radome panel 30. The left and right ends of the radome panel 30 may each be bent backward with a predetermined curvature and formed at corresponding positions in the clip grooves 35 to allow for the locking and connection of the plurality of connecting clips 25.

[0037] Left-side sealer 23 and right-side sealer 24 are interposed between the left-side body panel 21 and the left end of the radome panel 30, and between the right-side body panel 22 and the right end of the radome panel 30, respectively, to prevent rainwater (such as rain) from entering the interior space from the outside.

[0038] However, although not shown in the diagram, it goes without saying that the same components as those described above for the left-side sealer and right-side sealer can also be interposed between the left-side body panel 21 and the left-side end of the rear panel 10, and between the right-side body panel 22 and the right-side end of the rear panel 10, respectively.

[0039] On the other hand, the upper cap panel 41 of the cap panel 40 can be more firmly connected to the upper ends of the rear panel 10, left body panel 21, right body panel 22, and radome panel 30 via a pair of connecting mediating blocks 45 that mediate the connection to the upper end of the reflecting panel 110, which is part of the antenna board assembly 100 described later.

[0040] In addition, the lower cap panel 42 of the cap panel 40 may have multiple through-holes or connection terminals (not shown) for connecting an external power supply cable (not shown). The lower cap panel 42 can also be simultaneously connected to the lower end of the rear panel 10, the left body panel 21, the right body panel 22, and the radome panel 30.

[0041] The radome panel 30 protects the internal configuration of the antenna board assembly 100 located in its internal space from the outside, and may also be made of a radio wave-transparent material that allows for smooth radiation from the radiating elements 120 and 130 provided by the low-band element 120 and mid-band element 130, which will be described later.

[0042] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the antenna board assembly 100 can be placed in the internal space of the antenna housing 5.

[0043] More specifically, in the internal space of the antenna housing 5, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, a plurality of radiating elements 120 and 130 may be arranged in front of the reflecting panel 110 so as to form a plurality of matrices in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a transmission line 300 in the form of an air strip line for supplying power to a radiating element (for example, a mid-band element 130 in this embodiment) associated with any one of the frequency bands of the plurality of radiating elements 120 and 130 may be arranged behind the reflecting panel 110.

[0044] For reference, in one embodiment of the present invention, a structure is employed in which a plurality of radiating elements 120, 130 are arranged in 6 columns vertically and 2 rows horizontally, with mid-band elements 130 placed between each of the low-band elements 120 described later in the vertical column direction, and a single mid-band element 130 placed at the center of each low-band element 120.

[0045] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing an antenna board assembly equipped with a phase shifter according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the low-band element and mid-band element separated from the configuration of Figure 5; and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing only the low-band element separated from the configuration of Figure 5.

[0046] In an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna board assembly 100 may include radiating elements 120 and 130 positioned in front of the reflecting panel 110, as shown in Figures 5 to 7. Here, the reflecting panel 110 may be made of a material that plays a role in reflecting the frequency beam radiated from the front radiating elements 120 and 130 forward.

[0047] The radiating elements 120 and 130 are communication components that, when powered by the low-band transmission line 200 and the mid-band transmission line 300 described later, radiate a beam in a predetermined frequency band.

[0048] Here, the predetermined frequency band can be limited to a single defined frequency band, but in one embodiment of the present invention, the explanation will be limited to the application of a first frequency band, which is a relatively low frequency band, and a second frequency band, which is a relatively high frequency band.

[0049] Therefore, the radiating elements 120 and 130 may include a low-band element 120 capable of radiating a beam in the first frequency band and a mid-band element 130 capable of radiating a beam in the second frequency band.

[0050] In this manner, when the radiating elements 120 and 130 are arranged to emit beams in different frequency bands, it is preferable to position them so that the mutually radiated beams do not interfere with each other.

[0051] However, maintaining a horizontal distance of at least half the frequency ratio between adjacent radiating elements 120 and 130 is most preferable in terms of ensuring isolation. Avoiding interference between them by separating all radiating elements 120 and 130 for each frequency band presents the problem of potentially increasing the overall size of the product.

[0052] Therefore, in the case of antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, a relatively small mid-band element 130 is placed in the area where it overlaps the relatively large low-band element 120 in the front-to-back direction, thereby preventing an increase in the overall size of the product while enabling smooth radiation of pattern beams in each frequency band.

[0053] More specifically, as shown in Figure 3, low-band elements 120 can be arranged on the front surface of the reflecting panel 110 at predetermined distances apart in the vertical direction, and mid-band elements 130 can be alternately arranged in area P1 where there is no beam interference with the low-band elements 120 and in area P2 where there is beam interference. Hereinafter, the mid-band elements 130 arranged in area P1 where there is no beam interference will be referred to as outer mid-band elements 130O, and the mid-band elements 130 arranged in area P2 where there is beam interference will be referred to as inner mid-band elements 130I.

[0054] The inner midband elements 130I located in the beam interference region P2 may be provided so as to be exposed forward through element mounting holes 121 formed in the center of each lowband element 120.

[0055] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, a total of six low-band elements 120 (120-1a to 1c, 120-2a to 2c) are arranged at predetermined distances apart in the vertical direction (Vertical direction, hereinafter referred to as "V-direction") to construct at least one RF channel.

[0056] Here, the midband elements 130 can be arranged in the V-direction in a total of 12 units, with an inner midband element 130I provided in the element mounting hole 121 of each lowband element 120, and one outer midband element 130O provided in each beam interference-free area P1 located outside each lowband element 120.

[0057] Two such low-band elements 120 and mid-band elements 130 can be arranged in the left-right horizontal direction (horizontal direction, hereinafter referred to as the "H-direction").

[0058] The low-band element 120 and the mid-band element 130 are powered via independently arranged transmission lines 200 and 300, respectively, allowing them to radiate beams corresponding to their respective frequency bands. Each element 120 and 130, positioned in the V-direction, radiates a beam while maintaining its own unique phase value, thereby forming a specific pattern beam (beamforming).

[0059] The transmission lines 200 and 300 can be concentrated on either the front or back surface of the reflecting panel 110. However, in the case of antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, phase shifters 400A and 400B, described later, are separately provided as a low-band phase shifter 400A and a mid-band phase shifter 400B to independently phase-shift the radiation beams of the low-band element 120 and mid-band element 130 of two frequency bands. To minimize operational interference between each of the phase shifters 400A and 400B, the transmission line 200 associated with the low-band element 120 is arranged on the front surface of the reflecting panel 110, and the transmission line 300 associated with the mid-band element 130 is arranged on the back surface of the reflecting panel 110.

[0060] Hereinafter, among the transmission lines 200 and 300, the one located in front of the reflecting panel 110 and responsible for supplying power to the low-band element 120 will be referred to as the "low-band transmission line" and designated as "200" in the drawings, while the transmission line 200 and 300 located in rear of the reflecting panel 110 and responsible for supplying power to the mid-band element 130 will be referred to as the "mid-band transmission line" and designated as "300" in the drawings.

[0061] Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the overlapping placement of the low-band element and the mid-band element in the configuration of Figure 5; Figures 9A and 9B are exploded perspective views showing the front and rear parts of the reflecting panel on which the low-band element and the mid-band element are provided in the configuration of Figure 5; Figures 10A and 10B are front and rear perspective views showing the low-band phase shifter and the mid-band phase shifter provided on the reflecting panel; Figures 11A and 11B are exploded perspective views of Figures 10A and 10B and their respective enlarged sections; and Figures 12A and 12B are front and rear views of Figures 10A and 10B, respectively.

[0062] The low-band element 120 and the mid-band element 130 may be dual-polarization elements configured to generate at least one polarization beam of a dual-polarization beam when power is supplied at two locations via different transmission lines.

[0063] Here, as shown in Figures 8 to 12B, the low-band transmission line 200 and the mid-band transmission line 300 can be configured such that power is supplied to two locations for each of the low-band elements 120 and mid-band elements 130, which are arranged in the V-direction, with two input transmission lines 210L, 210R, 310L, and 310R arranged on the front and back of the reflecting panel 110, respectively.

[0064] First, looking at the low-band transmission line 200, the left input line 210L and the right input line 210R can be extended in a straight line to the left and right sides of the low-band element 120, respectively, via the down-cap panel 42.

[0065] At this time, the upper ends of the left input line 210L and the right input line 210R are positioned in the middle of the low-band elements 120 arranged in the V-direction, and from their upper ends (first branching point S1), they can branch out into the upper transmission line 220U and the lower transmission line 220D, respectively.

[0066] At the respective ends of the upper transmission line 220U and the lower transmission line 220D (second branching point S2 and third branching point S3), they can branch out toward the three low-band elements 120-1a to 120-1c located relatively above and the three low-band elements 120-2a to 120-2c located relatively below, forming branch lines that are three branch transmission lines 230-1 to 230-3.

[0067] In the following explanation, each end of the three branch transmission lines 230-1 to 230-3 is defined as a power supply terminal for connecting one side and the other side of the low-band element 120, and is referred to as "output terminals 205L and 205R".

[0068] When a low-band element 120 is mounted on each output terminal 205L, 205R, power can be supplied by connecting to a feed pattern processed on the outer or inner surface of the low-band element 120.

[0069] On the other hand, the mid-band transmission line 300 differs from the low-band transmission line 200 in that it is located on the back of the reflecting panel 110 and that it branches into two more lines at the ends of the three branch transmission lines 330-1 to 330-3.

[0070] More specifically, the midband transmission line 300 can be extended in a straight line via the down cap panel 42 to the left input line 310L and the right input line 310R, respectively, to the left and right portions of the midband element 130.

[0071] Here too, the upper ends of the left input line 310L and the right input line 310R are positioned in the middle of the midband elements 130 arranged in the V-direction, and from their upper ends (first branching point S1), they can branch out into the upper transmission line 320U and the lower transmission line 320D, respectively.

[0072] At the respective ends of the upper transmission line 320U and the lower transmission line 320D (second branching point S2 and third branching point S3), the lines can branch out toward the six mid-band elements 130 located relatively above and the six mid-band elements 130 located relatively below, forming three branched transmission lines 330-1 to 330-3.

[0073] At the end of each of the three branch transmission lines 330-1 to 330-3, as a difference from the low-band transmission line 200 described above, the lines are branched and extended to form two branch lines, and their ends can function as the output terminals 305L and 305R described above.

[0074] Such transmission lines 200 and 300 may be provided in the form of air strip lines, positioned at a predetermined distance from the front and back of the reflecting panel 110 via separation supporters 500 (see Figures 14 and 15, described later).

[0075] While it is preferable for the power supply lines to the radiating elements 120 and 130 to be pattern-printed on the surface of a typical printed circuit board (PCB), printed circuit boards have the problem of being significantly affected by signal loss due to the dielectric constant of the FR-4 material itself. To solve such losses, an air strip transmission line structure is advantageous, but when attempting to implement a phase shifter in an air strip transmission line structure, it must be used in combination with structures such as multiple cables and PCBs, resulting in problems of reduced aesthetics and increased weight. In such a structure, impedance matching elements are additionally applied, and it becomes difficult to improve losses due to the increase in discontinuous sections.

[0076] Therefore, the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention employs an air strip type transmission line structure to prevent signal loss due to the dielectric constant of the printed circuit board material, while also employing phase shifters 400A and 400B that transition the phase value by changing the dielectric constant of the dielectric material in order to prevent a decrease in aesthetics and an increase in weight.

[0077] In particular, an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention proposes a technical feature in which the transmission lines 200 and 300 are manufactured in the shape of general conductive strips and arranged at a predetermined distance from the front and back of the reflecting panel 110 using a separation supporter 500, and a dielectric panel 450 for phase adjustment, which is the core component of the phase shifters 400A and 400B, can be inserted and positioned in the separation space between them.

[0078] To explain this in more detail, the phase shifters 400A and 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include, as shown in Figures 8 to 12B, a low-band phase shifter 400A that operates forward with respect to the reflecting panel 110 to shift the phase value of the radiated beam of the low-band element 120, and a mid-band phase shifter 400B that operates backward with respect to the reflecting panel 110 to shift the phase value of the radiated beam of the mid-band element 130.

[0079] In the following explanation, the first frequency band described above is defined as the Low Band band, which radiates frequencies defined as operating frequencies between 600 MHz and 800 MHz to form a low-frequency low beam (beamforming), and the second frequency band is defined as the Mid Band band, which radiates frequencies defined as operating frequencies between 1.7 GHz and 2.4 GHz to form a mid-frequency mid-beam pattern (beamforming).

[0080] In addition, a low-band transmission line 200 provided for supplying power to the low-band element 120 can be defined as a first transmission line, and a mid-band transmission line 300 provided for supplying power to the mid-band element 130 can be defined as a second transmission line.

[0081] First, the low-band phase shifter 400A of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described as follows. The mid-band phase shifter 400B differs from the low-band phase shifter 400A only in the position of the drive motor 410, as will be explained later. The rest of the configuration and the theoretical principles that constitute it are all the same, so a detailed explanation will be omitted to the extent that it is redundant, and the differences will be the focus of the explanation from here on.

[0082] The low-band phase shifter 400A, as shown in Figures 8 to 12B, may include a drive motor 410 that is electrically driven to generate rotational force, a plurality of vertical moving bars 430C, 430L, and 430R that receive the rotational force generated by the drive motor 410 and move vertically (V-direction) on the front of the reflecting panel 110, and a plurality of moving clamps 440 that are coupled to multiple points on the plurality of vertical moving bars 430C, 430L, and 430R and move vertically in conjunction with each other.

[0083] Here, the drive motor 410 of the low-band phase shifter 400A is provided in a gearbox configuration on the lower rear side of the reflecting panel 110, the rotation shaft of the drive motor 410 is positioned in the front-rear direction and is exposed to the front by penetrating the reflecting panel 110, and a pinion gear having pinion gear teeth 411 formed on its outer circumference can be connected to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 410 so as to rotate on the shaft.

[0084] In addition, the multiple vertical moving bars 430C, 430L, and 430R may consist of three bars: a center moving bar 430C which is vertically elongated and positioned in the center of the front of the reflecting panel 110; a left moving bar 430L which is positioned parallel to and spaced apart from the center moving bar 430C on the left side of the front of the reflecting panel 110; and a right moving bar 430R which is positioned parallel to and spaced apart from the center moving bar 430C on the right side of the front of the reflecting panel 110.

[0085] Here, the three vertical moving bars 430C, 430L, and 430R are connected via a connecting bar 425 that connects their lower ends horizontally. A rack gear 420, which has rack gear teeth 421 that mesh with the pinion gear teeth 411 of the aforementioned pinion gear, can be connected to the connecting bar 425 in an extended vertical direction.

[0086] When the drive motor 410 is electrically driven and generates rotational force, the pinion gear rotates, and the rack gear 420 is moved vertically (V-direction) by the rack gear teeth 421 that mesh with the pinion gear teeth 411. At this time, the three vertical moving bars 430C, 430L, and 430R, which are fixed by the connecting bar 425, move in conjunction in the V-direction, allowing multiple moving clamps 440 to move in conjunction.

[0087] On the other hand, the low-band phase shifter 400A may further include, as shown in Figures 8 to 12, a phase adjustment dielectric panel (450, hereinafter abbreviated as "phase dielectric") that is movablely arranged at branching points S1, S2, and S3 of the first transmission line 200, which are spaced apart from the front surface of the reflecting panel 110, and an impedance matching dielectric panel (460, hereinafter abbreviated as "impedance dielectric") that is fixedly arranged alongside one side of the phase dielectric 450.

[0088] Here, the phase dielectric 450, while being moved in the V-direction by the moving clamp 440 described above, plays a role in transitioning the phase value of the low-band element 120 by changing the dielectric constant at branching points S1, S2, and S3 on the first transmission line 200.

[0089] As shown in Figures 11A and 11B, the moving clamp 440 may include a clamp body 441 fixed to the vertical moving bars 430 via a bridge bar 443 extending perpendicularly from the vertical moving bars (430C, 430L, 430R, hereinafter referred to as "430"), a coupling dielectric 444 coupled to the back of the clamp body 441 to mediate the coupling of the phase dielectric 450 to the clamp body 441 across the transmission line 200, and an elastic part 445 provided on the clamp body 441 to elastically support the transmission line 200 towards the phase dielectric 450.

[0090] Here, the multiple vertical moving bars 430 can be guided to move up and down by multiple support roller sections 470 that are spaced a predetermined distance apart in the V-direction. The specific configuration of the support roller sections 470 will be described in more detail later.

[0091] The coupling dielectric 444 is configured to move in conjunction with the clamp body 441 in front of the transmission line 200, and is made of a dielectric material. It may be a component designed to not affect the dielectric constant of the phase dielectric 450, except for the change in dielectric constant of the phase dielectric 450 that moves between the transmission line 200 and the front of the reflecting panel 110.

[0092] On the other hand, the elastic portion 445 can elastically adhere the coupling dielectric 444 to the transmission line 200 side, thereby ensuring that the transmission line 200 and the phase dielectric 450 are in contact with a uniform adhesion force and move together.

[0093] In the following description, the mid-band phase shifter 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described only in terms of the differences between it and the low-band phase shifter 400A already described. The remaining components not described can be considered identical to those of the low-band phase shifter 400A.

[0094] As shown in Figures 8 to 12B, the midband phase shifter 400B can transition the phase value by changing the dielectric constant generated while moving the phase dielectrics 450, which are positioned at branching points S1, S2, and S3 of the second transmission line 300, which are spaced apart from the back surface of the reflecting panel 110.

[0095] Here, unlike the low-band phase shifter 400A which is equipped with a center moving bar 430C, the mid-band phase shifter 400B may be equipped with only a left moving bar 430L and a right moving bar 430R.

[0096] Furthermore, in the case of the low-band phase shifter 400A, the bridge bar 443 is formed as an extension in the left-right direction only on the center moving bar 430C, and each bridge bar 443 is equipped with two clamp bodies 441, while the left moving bar 430L and the right moving bar 430R are equipped with one clamp body 441 per bridge bar 443. However, in the case of the mid-band phase shifter 400B, there is a difference in that bridge bars 443 extend in the left-right direction from each moving bar 430L and 430R, and each bridge bar 443 is equipped with two clamp bodies 441.

[0097] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view and a partially enlarged view showing the phase adjustment dielectric panel in the configuration of a phase shifter in an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 14 is a partially enlarged perspective view to explain the operation of the phase shifter in an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view along line BB in Figure 14; and Figure 16 is a schematic diagram to explain the function of the phase adjustment dielectric panel in the configuration of a phase shifter in an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] Since the phase shifters 400A and 400B transition their phase values ​​due to the change in the dielectric constant of the phase dielectric being moved in the V-direction, the multiple vertical moving bars 430, which are provided to directly move these phase shifters, must move stably without flowing during vertical linear movement.

[0099] For this purpose, as shown in Figure 14, a plurality of support roller sections 470 may be provided to provide rolling support to the upper and lower surfaces of the vertical moving bar 430.

[0100] The multiple support roller sections 470 may include a pair of roller coupling ends 471 that project forward or backward from the left and right sides of the vertical moving bar 430, respectively, and a first roller 472 rotatably mounted on each of the pair of roller coupling ends 471 to rotatably support one side of the vertical moving bar 430, and a second roller 473 to rotatably support the other side of the vertical moving bar 430.

[0101] With these multiple support roller sections 470, the vertical moving bar 430 can move stably up and down while minimizing moving resistance at a predetermined distance from the front and back of the reflecting panel 110.

[0102] On the other hand, the first transmission line 200 and the second transmission line 300 may be provided in the form of air strip lines separated by a predetermined distance D1 from the front or back of the reflecting panel 110 by a plurality of separation supporters 500, as shown in Figure 15.

[0103] The separation supporter 500 may include a panel hook portion 510 that is inserted and fixed into a hook hole (not shown in the drawing reference numerals) formed in the reflecting panel 110, and a line mounting portion 520 provided on the opposite side of the panel hook portion 510, on which the first transmission line 200 and the second transmission line 300 are placed.

[0104] The panel hook portion 510 has panel hook ends 515 formed at each tip that penetrate the hook hole and are then hooked, and the line mounting portion 520 may also have line hook ends 525 formed at one end and the other end of the mounted first transmission line 200 and second transmission line 300 that are hooked.

[0105] On the other hand, the phase shifters 400A and 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention can operate on the principle of transitioning the phase value at each branching point S1, S2, and S3 of the first transmission line 200 and the second transmission line 300 by changing the dielectric constant due to the movement of the phase dielectric 450.

[0106] However, in order to more accurately realize the phase value transition due to the change in dielectric constant, an impedance dielectric 460 must be fixedly placed in a part of the branching points S1, S2, and S3 of the input lines 310L, 310R, or the transmission lines 320U, 320D before branching, which correspond to one side of the phase dielectric 450.

[0107] In this case, the phase dielectric 450 is preferably placed between any one surface of the reflecting panel 110 and the transmission lines 200, 300, which are in the form of air strip lines spaced apart from any one surface of the reflecting panel 110. However, it is not necessary for it to be provided along the entire length of the line. The transmission lines 200, 300 here may be formed along branching points S1, S2, S3, which branch into multiple branching lines 220U, 220D, 320U, 320D so as to supply power from the input lines 210L, 210R, 310L, 310R to multiple radiating elements 120, 130.

[0108] Here, the phase dielectric 450 may have a stepped impedance matching step 455 formed on the surface facing the reflecting panel 110, as shown in Figure 16(c).

[0109] Furthermore, the impedance dielectric 460 may be arranged longitudinally between the input lines 210L, 210R, 310L, 310R corresponding to S1 of the branching points S1, S2, S3 and any one surface of the reflecting panel 110, or between the upper transmission lines 220U, 320U and lower transmission lines 220D, 320D corresponding to S2 and S3 of the branching points S1, S2, S3 and any one surface of the reflecting panel 110. In this case, it is preferable that the impedance matching step 455 is formed within the longitudinal range of the impedance dielectric 460.

[0110] The impedance matching step 455 formed in such a phase dielectric 450 minimizes the change in the width size of the first transmission line 200 or the second transmission line 300, which must be changed for impedance matching, by forming a dielectric layer of a predetermined thickness, such as an air layer 455A, between it and either one surface of the reflecting panel 110.

[0111] For example, as shown in Figure 16(a), if only a phase dielectric 450 is provided and no impedance dielectric 460 is provided, the change in width size of the input lines 210L, 210R or the upper transmission line 220U and lower transmission line 220D, which correspond to the lines before branching at branching points S1, S2, and S3 of the first transmission line 200, is very large at "X1" in order to achieve an effective phase value transition, so interference with one of the branch lines is a concern.

[0112] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 16(b), even when an impedance dielectric 460 is provided along with the phase dielectric 450, and an impedance matching step 455 is not formed in the phase dielectric 450, there is a problem in that the variation range of the width size of the first transmission line 200 or the second transmission line 300 is "X2", which is larger than in the case of X1.

[0113] In this case, as shown in Figure 16(c), forming an impedance matching step 455 in the phase dielectric 450 minimizes the width variation of the first transmission line 200 or the second transmission line 300 to "X3". This not only allows for the formation of a simple overall appearance for the transmission lines 200 and 300, but also provides the advantage of enabling effective phase value transitions.

[0114] Figure 17 is a partial front view (a) of the first transmission line 200 and a graph (b) showing an ideal phase difference diagram, illustrating how the phase difference is achieved by adjusting the position and depth of the impedance matching step 455 of the phase dielectric 450 in the configuration of the phase shifters 400A and 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0115] In an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the low-band elements 120 can be arranged spaced apart in the vertical direction (V-direction) so that six of them form a single RF chain, as described above. Here, each low-band element 120 may be arranged so that the spacing distance between adjacent low-band elements 120 is the same as ΔXl. This is because, generally, when the phase shifter 400A is in operation, if the phase difference ΔX between the low-band elements 120 is the same, the side lobes formed during beamforming can be minimized, and the resulting decrease in gain can also be minimized.

[0116] In other words, it is preferable that the phase value transitioned by the low-band phase shifter 400A of the phase shifters 400A and 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is driven to have the same phase difference with respect to a reference phase, as shown in Figure 17(b).

[0117] However, as explained earlier, the phase dielectric 450 is provided to be moved in conjunction with the moving clamp 440 by a plurality of vertical moving bars 430 and is positioned at the first to third branching points S1, S2, and S3 respectively. In order to achieve the same phase difference ΔX as described above, there is a problem in that the moving distances of the phase dielectric 450 positioned at each branching point S1, S2, and S3 must be different.

[0118] Thus, moving each of the phase dielectrics 450 located at each branching point S1, S2, and S3 by a different moving distance leads to the problem that a separate drive mechanism is required to drive each phase dielectric 450 independently due to the physical spatial constraints of the first transmission line 200, which is provided in the form of an air strip line.

[0119] Here, in the phase shifters 400A and 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 17, when the target phase values ​​of each low-band element 120 are set to the maximum value +2.5X and the minimum value -2.5X, the phase dielectric 450 located at the first branch point S1 is processed and formed such that the phase difference ΔX between each low-band element 120 is the same, with respect to the upper transmission line 220U and the lower transmission line 220D being +1.5X and -1.5X respectively. The phase dielectric 450 located at the second branch point S2 and the third branch point S3 is processed and formed such that the phase difference 455 is the same, with respect to the upper branch transmission line 230-1 and the lower branch transmission line 230-3 being +1X, except for the middle branch transmission line 230-2 of the three branch transmission lines 230-1 to 230-3.

[0120] Thus, the phase shifters 400A and 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention have the advantage of being able to change the effective dielectric constant by forming different impedance matching steps 455 in the phase dielectric 450, thereby allowing them to be varied to different electrical phases even when the phase dielectric 450 is physically moved the same distance.

[0121] The phase shifters 400A and 400B of the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the embodiment described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications and equivalent implementations are possible by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the true scope of the rights of the present invention is defined by the claims described later. [Industrial applicability]

[0122] The present invention provides a phase shifter for an antenna device that enables phase value transitions due to changes in dielectric constant at branching points, after arranging transmission lines, which are provided in the form of air strip lines, at a distance from the front and back of a reflecting panel. [Explanation of symbols]

[0123] 1: Antenna device, 5: Antenna housing 10: Rear panel, 20: Side panel 30: Radome panel, 40: Cap panel 50: Reinforcement frame, 100: Antenna board assembly 110: Reflecting panel, 120, 130: Radiating element 120: Low-band element, 130: Mid-band element 200: First transmission line, 210L, 210R: Input lines 220U: Upper transmission line, 220D: Lower transmission line 300: Second transmission line, 400A, 400B: Phase shifter 410: Drive motor, 411: Pinion gear teeth 420: Rack gear, 421: Rack gear teeth 430: Vertical moving bar, 440: Moving clamp 450: Dielectric panel for phase adjustment, 455: Impedance matching step 460: Dielectric panel for impedance matching

Claims

1. A phase-adjusting dielectric panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "phase dielectric") is movable and positioned at a branching point of a transmission line, which is spaced apart from one side of the reflecting panel, An impedance matching dielectric panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "impedance dielectric") fixedly arranged alongside one side of the phase dielectric, The moving clamp for moving the phase dielectric is included, The phase dielectric is a phase shifter for an antenna device, having a stepped impedance matching step formed on the surface facing the reflecting panel such that an air layer is formed on the surface facing the reflecting panel.

2. The phase shifter for the antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the phase dielectric is disposed between any one surface of the reflecting panel and the transmission line in the form of an air strip line spaced apart from any one surface of the reflecting panel.

3. If the transmission line has branching points where it branches into multiple branch lines so as to supply power to multiple radiating elements from the input line, The phase dielectric is formed to be long along the branch line, a phase shifter for an antenna device according to claim 1.

4. A phase shifter for an antenna device according to claim 3, which transitions the phase values ​​of each radiating element in accordance with the change in dielectric constant due to a change in the position of the phase dielectric.

5. The impedance dielectric is arranged longitudinally between the input line and one of the reflecting panels at the branching point, The impedance matching step is formed within the longitudinal range of the impedance dielectric, wherein the phase shifter of the antenna device according to claim 3.

6. A drive motor that is electrically driven to generate rotational force, The system further includes a plurality of vertical moving bars that are moved vertically on any one surface of the reflecting panel in response to a rotational force generated by the drive motor, The phase shifter for the antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the moving clamp is coupled to multiple locations on the multiple vertical moving bars to move the phase dielectric in the vertical direction.

7. A pinion gear is connected to the rotating shaft of the aforementioned drive motor so as to rotate axially. The phase shifter for an antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of vertical moving bars are moved vertically by an action in which the teeth of the rack gear section of a rack gear section provided on a connecting bar that connects the plurality of vertical moving bars mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear of the pinion gear.

8. The moving clamp comprises a clamp body fixed to the vertical moving bar via a bridge bar extending perpendicularly from the vertical moving bar, A coupling dielectric is coupled to the back surface of the clamp body and mediates the coupling of the phase dielectric to the clamp body across the transmission line, A phase shifter for an antenna device according to claim 6, comprising an elastic portion provided on the clamp body for elastically supporting the transmission line toward the phase dielectric side.

9. The aforementioned transmission line is A first transmission line is positioned in front of the reflecting panel and supplies power to a first radiating element associated with a radiating beam in a first frequency band, The reflecting panel includes a second transmission line that is positioned on the back of the reflecting panel and supplies power to a second radiating element associated with a radiating beam in a second frequency band, The phase shifter of the antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the drive motor, a plurality of vertical moving bars, and the moving clamp are separately provided so as to be involved with the first transmission line and the second transmission line, respectively.

10. When multiple radiating elements are arranged at vertically separated intervals at each end of the aforementioned branch line, and each radiating element is arranged such that the distance between adjacent radiating elements is the same, The phase shifter for the antenna device according to claim 6, wherein the impedance matching step of the phase dielectric is formed so that the phase values ​​formed by the plurality of radiating elements are the same, thereby achieving a phase difference.

11. When the branching point is defined as the upper end of the input line as the first branching point, and the tips of the upper and lower transmission lines branching from the first branching point, where they each branch into three branch transmission lines, are defined as the second and third branching points, respectively, The phase shifter for the antenna device according to claim 10, wherein the phase dielectric is positioned to change the dielectric constant at each of the branching points.

12. The phase shifter of the antenna device according to claim 11, wherein the phase dielectric is arranged corresponding to the first branching point, the second branching point, and the third branching point.

13. When setting the target phase values ​​of the aforementioned radiating element to the maximum value +2.5X and the minimum value -2.5X, A phase shifter for an antenna device according to claim 11, wherein the impedance matching steps of the phase dielectrics arranged at the first branching point are processed and formed such that the phase differences between each of the radiating elements are the same, with respect to the upper transmission line and the lower transmission line, respectively, are +1.5X and -1.5X.

14. When setting the target phase values ​​of the aforementioned radiating element to the maximum value +2.5X and the minimum value -2.5X, A phase shifter for an antenna device according to claim 11, wherein the phase dielectrics arranged at the second branch point and the third branch point have the same phase difference between each of the radiating elements, and the impedance matching steps are machined and formed such that, except for the middle branch transmission line among the three branch transmission lines, the phase difference is +1X with respect to the upper branch transmission line and -1X with respect to the lower branch transmission line.

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