Antenna elements and array antennas

Abstract

This antenna element comprises: a first conductor, a second conductor, a third conductor, and a fourth conductor; a first coupling conductor configured to capacitively couple the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor; a second coupling conductor configured to capacitively couple the first conductor and the second conductor; a third coupling conductor configured to capacitively couple the second conductor and the third conductor; a fourth coupling conductor configured to capacitively couple the third conductor and the fourth conductor; a fifth coupling conductor configured to capacitively couple the fourth conductor and the first conductor; a first feed conductor electromagnetically connected to any one of the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor; and a second feed conductor electromagnetically connected to one of the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor that is different from the one for the first feed conductor.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to antenna elements and array antennas. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known techniques for wirelessly transmitting power. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for improving the transmission efficiency of a wireless power supply system by using a resonant coil with a high Q value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-10168 A Summary of the Invention

[0004] The antenna element of the present disclosure includes a first conductor, a second conductor, a third conductor, and a fourth conductor disposed on a first surface of a base; a first coupled conductor located inside the base away from the first surface in a first direction and configured to capacitively couple the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor; a second coupled conductor located on the same plane as the first coupled conductor and configured to capacitively couple the first conductor and the second conductor; a third coupled conductor located on the same plane as the first coupled conductor and configured to capacitively couple the second conductor and the third conductor; a fourth coupled conductor located on the same plane as the first coupled conductor and configured to capacitively couple the third conductor and the fourth conductor; a fifth coupled conductor located on the same plane as the first coupled conductor and configured to capacitively couple the fourth conductor and the first conductor; To Electromagnetically connected Ta The power supplying conductor includes a first power supplying conductor, and a second power supplying conductor electromagnetically connected to one of the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor that is different from the first power supplying conductor.

[0005] The antenna element of the present disclosure includes a first resonator, a second resonator, a third resonator, and a fourth resonator arranged in a circular pattern, each of which has one end shorted, a first conductor that commonly capacitively couples the first resonator, the second resonator, the third resonator, and the fourth resonator, and a first port and a second port that input an alternating current of the same frequency are provided in opposing resonators among the first resonator, the second resonator, the third resonator, and the fourth resonator, respectively, and is configured to control a mode by a phase difference of the alternating current of the same frequency from the first port and the second port.

[0006] The array antenna of the present disclosure includes a plurality of antenna elements of the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an antenna according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a first phase difference. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is the first phase difference. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is the second phase difference. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is the second phase difference. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a third phase difference. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a third phase difference. [Figure 8]FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a fourth phase difference. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a fourth phase difference. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a fifth phase difference. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing frequency characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is the fifth phase difference. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining changes in the characteristics of the antenna element according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an antenna according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an array antenna according to the third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and in the following embodiments, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0009] In the following description, an XYZ Cartesian coordinate system is set, and the positional relationship of each part is described with reference to this XYZ Cartesian coordinate system. The direction parallel to the X-axis in a horizontal plane is defined as the X-axis direction, the direction parallel to the Y-axis in the horizontal plane perpendicular to the X-axis is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the direction parallel to the Z-axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane is defined as the Z-axis direction. A plane including the X-axis and Y-axis is appropriately referred to as the XY plane. A plane including the X-axis and Z-axis is appropriately referred to as the XZ plane. A plane including the Y-axis and Z-axis is appropriately referred to as the YZ plane. The XY plane is parallel to the horizontal plane. The XY plane, the XZ plane, and the YZ plane are perpendicular to each other.

[0010] [First embodiment] A configuration example of an antenna element according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an antenna element according to the first embodiment.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the antenna element 1 includes a base 10, a first conductor 22, a second conductor 24, a third conductor 26, a fourth conductor 28, a first coupling conductor 30, a second coupling conductor 32, a third coupling conductor 34, a fourth coupling conductor 36, a fifth coupling conductor 38, a ground conductor 40, a first power supply conductor 52, a second power supply conductor 54, a first connecting conductor 62, a second connecting conductor 64, a third connecting conductor 66, and a fourth connecting conductor 68.

[0012] In this embodiment, the antenna element 1 is described as being formed in a rectangular prism shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The antenna element 1 may be formed in a polygonal prism shape other than a rectangular prism, a cylindrical shape, an elliptical cylindrical shape, or the like.

[0013] The antenna element 1 is configured to be capable of radiating at a predetermined resonant frequency. When the antenna element 1 resonates at the predetermined resonant frequency, the antenna element 1 radiates an electromagnetic wave. The antenna element 1 may have at least one of at least one resonant frequency band of the antenna element 1 as an operating frequency. The antenna element 1 may radiate an electromagnetic wave at the operating frequency. The wavelength of the operating frequency may be an operating wavelength, which is the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave at the operating frequency of the antenna element 1. On the other hand, under a signal input condition, the antenna element 1 behaves as a resonator that is a non-radiator at the same operating frequency. In order for such a phenomenon to occur, it is necessary to adjust two different modes to be at the same frequency and to provide a signal condition that allows the two modes to be selectively excited.

[0014] The antenna element 1 exhibits an artificial magnetic conductor character, as described below, for electromagnetic waves of a predetermined frequency incident on a surface approximately parallel to the XY plane of the antenna element 1 from the positive direction of the Z axis. In this disclosure, "artificial magnetic conductor character" refers to the characteristics of a surface where the phase difference between the incident wave and the reflected wave at the operating frequency is 0 degrees. On a surface having the artificial magnetic wall character, the phase difference between the incident wave and the reflected wave is -90 degrees to +90 degrees in the operating frequency band. The operating frequency band includes the resonant frequency exhibiting the artificial magnetic wall character and the operating frequency.

[0015] The substrate 10 is made of a dielectric material.

[0016] The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 are disposed on the upper surface of the base 10. The upper surface of the base 10 is also called the first surface. The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 are conductors extending in the XY plane direction. The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 are configured as, for example, a square resonator. The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 are disposed in a square lattice pattern. The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 are formed to have approximately the same area in the XY plane.

[0017] A gap of a predetermined distance is formed between the first conductor 22 and the second conductor 24. A gap of a predetermined distance is formed between the second conductor 24 and the third conductor 26. A gap of a predetermined distance is formed between the third conductor 26 and the fourth conductor 28. The first conductor 22 to the fourth conductor 28 are configured to be capacitively connected to each other.

[0018] The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 are described as being formed in a square shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 may be, for example, a polygon other than a square, a circle, or an ellipse. The first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 may differ from each other in at least one of the area and shape in the XY plane.

[0019] The first coupling conductor 30, the second coupling conductor 32, the third coupling conductor 34, the fourth coupling conductor 36, and the fifth coupling conductor 38 may be located inside the base 10 away from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction. The Z-axis direction is also called the first direction. The first coupling conductor 30, the second coupling conductor 32, the third coupling conductor 34, the fourth coupling conductor 36, and the fifth coupling conductor 38 are conductors extending in the XY plane direction.

[0020] The first coupling conductor 30 is formed, for example, in a square shape. The first coupling conductor 30 is disposed at a position away from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction and at a position overlapping the first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28. The first coupling conductor 30 is configured to capacitively connect the first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28. The first coupling conductor 30 is described as being formed in a square shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first coupling conductor 30 may be, for example, a polygon other than a square, a circle, or an ellipse.

[0021] The second coupling conductor 32, the third coupling conductor 34, the fourth coupling conductor 36, and the fifth coupling conductor 38 are formed, for example, in a rectangular shape. The second coupling conductor 32, the third coupling conductor 34, the fourth coupling conductor 36, and the fifth coupling conductor 38 are formed to have approximately the same size. The second coupling conductor 32, the third coupling conductor 34, the fourth coupling conductor 36, and the fifth coupling conductor 38 are described as being formed in a rectangular shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The second coupling conductor 32, the third coupling conductor 34, the fourth coupling conductor 36, and the fifth coupling conductor 38 may be formed, for example, in a polygonal shape other than a rectangle, a circle, or an ellipse.

[0022] The second coupling conductor 32 is disposed at a position away from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction and at a position overlapping with the first conductor 22 and the second conductor 24. The second coupling conductor 32 is configured to capacitively connect the first conductor 22 and the second conductor 24.

[0023] The third coupling conductor 34 is disposed at a position away from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction and at a position overlapping with the second conductor 24 and the third conductor 26. The third coupling conductor 34 is configured to capacitively connect the second conductor 24 and the third conductor 26.

[0024] The fourth coupling conductor 36 is disposed at a position away from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction and at a position overlapping with the third conductor 26 and the fourth conductor 28. The fourth coupling conductor 36 is configured to capacitively connect the third conductor 26 and the fourth conductor 28.

[0025] The fifth coupling conductor 38 is disposed at a position away from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction and at a position overlapping with the fourth conductor 28 and the first conductor 22. The fifth coupling conductor 38 is configured to capacitively connect the fourth conductor 28 and the first conductor 22.

[0026] The ground conductor 40 is disposed on the lower part of the base 10. The ground conductor 40 is disposed so as to face the first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 in the Z-axis direction.

[0027] The first power supply conductor 52 is configured such that one end is electromagnetically connected to the first conductor 22 and the other end is electromagnetically connected to a first power supply point (not shown). The first power supply conductor 52 may be, for example, a via formed in the base 10.

[0028] The second power supply conductor 54 is configured such that one end is electromagnetically connected to the third conductor 26 and the other end is electromagnetically connected to a second power supply point (not shown). The second power supply conductor 54 may be, for example, a via formed in the base 10.

[0029] The first power supply conductor 52 and the second power supply conductor 54 are configured to be located on a diagonal line connecting a vertex of the first conductor 22 to a vertex of the third conductor 26 in the first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28 arranged in a square lattice pattern.

[0030] A predetermined first input signal is input to the first conductor 22 from the first power supply conductor 52. A predetermined second input signal is input to the third conductor 26 from the second power supply conductor 54. The first input signal and the second input signal have the same frequency. In this embodiment, the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is configured to be arbitrarily changeable. In this embodiment, the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is changed to switch between a resonator mode in which the resonator behaves as a resonator with a relatively high Q value and an antenna mode in which the resonator behaves as an antenna with a relatively low Q value.

[0031] The first connecting conductor 62 is configured such that one end is electromagnetically connected to the first conductor 22 and the other end is electromagnetically connected to the ground conductor 40. The second connecting conductor 64 is configured such that one end is electromagnetically connected to the second conductor 24 and the other end is electromagnetically connected to the ground conductor 40. The third connecting conductor 66 is configured such that one end is electromagnetically connected to the third conductor 26 and the other end is electromagnetically connected to the ground conductor 40. The fourth connecting conductor 68 is configured such that one end is electromagnetically connected to the fourth conductor 28 and the other end is electromagnetically connected to the ground conductor 40. That is, the first connecting conductor 62, the second connecting conductor 64, the third connecting conductor 66, and the fourth connecting conductor 68 are configured to surround the first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28.

[0032] In this embodiment, the first connecting conductor 62, the second connecting conductor 64, the third connecting conductor 66, and the fourth connecting conductor 68 are shown as being two in number, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first connecting conductor 62, the second connecting conductor 64, the third connecting conductor 66, and the fourth connecting conductor 68 may be one in number, or three or more in number.

[0033] Radiation Pattern Next, a description will be given of the radiation pattern of radio waves of the antenna element according to the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the antenna element 1 is configured to be able to control the radiation pattern of radio waves by controlling the phase difference between a first input signal input to the first conductor 22 and a second input signal input to the third conductor 26.

[0034] (1st phase difference) Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a first phase difference. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a frequency characteristic when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a first phase difference. In the first embodiment, the first phase difference is 0 degrees.

[0035] When the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, the maximum value of the antenna gain value can be, for example, -22 [dBi (decibels)]. That is, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, no radio waves are emitted from the antenna element 1. In this case, the antenna element 1 can be in a resonator mode in which it behaves as a resonator. In the waveform W1 shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal axis indicates frequency [GHz (gigahertz)] and the vertical axis indicates the gain of the reflection coefficient [dB (decibels)]. As shown in the waveform W1, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, the resonant frequency of the antenna element 1 can be f1 [GHz] and the reflection coefficient can be D1 [dB].

[0036] (2nd phase difference) Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a second phase difference. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a frequency characteristic when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a second phase difference. In the first embodiment, the second phase difference is 45 degrees.

[0037] When the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, the maximum value of the antenna gain value can be, for example, -9 [dBi]. That is, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, radio waves are emitted from the antenna element 1. In this case, the antenna element 1 can be in an antenna mode in which it behaves as an antenna. In the waveform W2 shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates frequency [GHz] and the vertical axis indicates the gain [dB] of the reflection coefficient. As shown in the waveform W2, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 45 degrees, the resonant frequency of the antenna element 1 can be f1 [GHz] and the reflection coefficient can be D2 [dB]. That is, the resonant frequency does not change when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees and when it is 45 degrees. The reflection coefficient D2 is shifted to the lower side compared to the reflection coefficient D1.

[0038] (3rd phase difference) Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a third phase difference. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a frequency characteristic when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a third phase difference. In the first embodiment, the third phase difference is 90 degrees.

[0039] When the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, the maximum value of the antenna gain value can be, for example, -3.9 [dBi]. That is, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, radio waves are emitted from the antenna element 1. In this case, the antenna element 1 can be in an antenna mode in which it behaves as an antenna. In the waveform W3 shown in FIG. 7, the horizontal axis indicates frequency [GHz] and the vertical axis indicates the gain [dB] of the reflection coefficient. As shown in the waveform W3, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 90 degrees, the resonant frequency of the antenna element 1 can be f1 [GHz] and the reflection coefficient can be D3 [dB] (not shown). That is, the resonant frequency does not change when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees and when it is 90 degrees. The reflection coefficient D3 is shifted to the lower side compared to the reflection coefficient D2.

[0040] (4th phase difference) Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a fourth phase difference. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a frequency characteristic when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a fourth phase difference. In the first embodiment, the fourth phase difference is 135 degrees.

[0041] When the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 135 degrees, the maximum value of the antenna gain value can be, for example, -1.7 [dBi]. That is, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, radio waves are emitted from the antenna element 1. In this case, the antenna element 1 can be in an antenna mode in which it behaves as an antenna. In the waveform W4 shown in FIG. 9, the horizontal axis indicates frequency [GHz] and the vertical axis indicates the gain [dB] of the reflection coefficient. As shown in the waveform W4, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 135 degrees, the resonant frequency of the antenna element 1 can be f1 [GHz] and the reflection coefficient can be D4 [dB]. That is, the resonant frequency does not change when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees and when it is 135 degrees. The reflection coefficient D4 is shifted to the higher side compared to the reflection coefficient D3.

[0042] (5th phase difference) Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a radiation pattern when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a fifth phase difference. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a frequency characteristic when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal according to the first embodiment is a fifth phase difference. In the first embodiment, the fifth phase difference is 180 degrees.

[0043] When the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 180 degrees, the maximum value of the antenna gain value can be, for example, -1 [dBi]. That is, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0 degrees, radio waves are emitted from the antenna element 1. In this case, the antenna element 1 can be in an antenna mode that behaves as an antenna. Specifically, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 180 degrees, the antenna element 1 emits linearly polarized waves. In the waveform W5 shown in FIG. 11, the horizontal axis indicates frequency [GHz] and the vertical axis indicates the gain [dB] of the reflection coefficient. As shown in the waveform W5, when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 0, the resonant frequency of the antenna element 1 can be f1 [GHz] and the reflection coefficient can be D5 [dB].

[0044] [Comparison of characteristics] Changes in the characteristics of the antenna element according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining changes in the characteristics of the antenna element according to the first embodiment.

[0045] In graphs G1, G2, and G3 shown in Fig. 12, the horizontal axis indicates the distance [mm] from the object, and the vertical axis indicates the KQ product. Graph G1 shows the characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is optimized in the antenna element 1 according to the first embodiment. Graph G2 shows the characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is set to 0 degrees in the antenna element 1 according to the first embodiment. Graph G3 shows the characteristics when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is set to 180 degrees in the antenna element 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0046] Point P1 shows the KQ product of antenna element 1 when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 14 degrees. Point P2 shows the KQ product of antenna element 1 when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 85 degrees. Point P3 shows the KQ product of antenna element 1 when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 172 degrees. Point P4 shows the KQ product of antenna element 1 when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 135 degrees. Point P5 shows the KQ product of antenna element 1 when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 121 degrees. Point P6 shows the KQ product of antenna element 1 when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 180 degrees. Point P7 shows the KQ product of antenna element 1 when the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal is 171 degrees.

[0047] Graph G1 shows a KQ product that is relatively close to graph G2 when the distance to the object is close. That is, the antenna element 1 can be adjusted to function as a resonator when the distance to the object is close. Graph G1 shows a KQ product that is relatively close to graph G3 when the distance to the object is far. That is, the antenna element 1 can be adjusted to function as an antenna when the distance to the object is far.

[0048] Moreover, the graph G1 shows a relatively higher KQ product than the graphs G2 and G3 over a range from close to far distances from the object. In other words, the antenna element 1 can achieve a relatively high KQ product regardless of the distance to the object.

[0049] As described above, in the first embodiment, a relatively high KQ product can be achieved over a wide range of distances from a close object to a far object by controlling the phase difference between the first input signal and the second input signal input to the antenna element 1. This makes it possible for the first embodiment to obtain high transmission efficiency over a wide range of distances from a close object to a far object.

[0050] [Second embodiment] A configuration example of the antenna according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the antenna according to the second embodiment.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 13, antenna element 1A differs from antenna element 1 shown in FIG. 1 in that it does not include a first coupling conductor 30, and includes a sixth coupling conductor 72, a seventh coupling conductor 74, an eighth coupling conductor 76, a ninth coupling conductor 78, a first connecting portion 82, and a second connecting portion 84.

[0052] The sixth coupling conductor 72, the seventh coupling conductor 74, the eighth coupling conductor 76, and the ninth coupling conductor 78 may be located inside the base 10 away from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction. The sixth coupling conductor 72, the seventh coupling conductor 74, the eighth coupling conductor 76, and the ninth coupling conductor 78 are formed on the same plane inside the base 10. The sixth coupling conductor 72, the seventh coupling conductor 74, the eighth coupling conductor 76, and the ninth coupling conductor 78 are formed, for example, in a square shape. The sixth coupling conductor 72, the seventh coupling conductor 74, the eighth coupling conductor 76, and the ninth coupling conductor 78 are each formed in approximately the same shape. The sixth coupling conductor 72, the seventh coupling conductor 74, the eighth coupling conductor 76, and the ninth coupling conductor 78 are each smaller than the first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28, respectively. The sixth coupled conductor 72, the seventh coupled conductor 74, the eighth coupled conductor 76, and the ninth coupled conductor 78 are described as being formed in a square shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The sixth coupled conductor 72, the seventh coupled conductor 74, the eighth coupled conductor 76, and the ninth coupled conductor 78 may be, for example, a polygon other than a square, a circle, or an ellipse.

[0053] The sixth coupling conductor 72 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction so as to overlap at least a portion of the first conductor 22 .

[0054] The seventh coupling conductor 74 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction so as to overlap at least a portion of the second conductor 24.

[0055] The eighth coupling conductor 76 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction so as to overlap at least a portion of the third conductor 26 .

[0056] The ninth coupling conductor 78 is disposed at a position spaced apart from the upper surface of the base 10 in the Z-axis direction so as to overlap at least a portion of the fourth conductor 28.

[0057] The first connection portion 82 is configured to electromagnetically connect the sixth coupling conductor 72 and the eighth coupling conductor 76. One end of the first connection portion 82 is configured to be electromagnetically connected to the apex of the sixth coupling conductor 72 that faces the eighth coupling conductor 76, and the other end is configured to be electromagnetically connected to the apex of the eighth coupling conductor 76 that faces the sixth coupling conductor 72.

[0058] The second connection portion 84 is configured to electromagnetically connect the seventh coupling conductor 74 and the ninth coupling conductor 78. One end of the second connection portion 84 is configured to be electromagnetically connected to the apex of the seventh coupling conductor 74 that faces the ninth coupling conductor 78, and the other end is configured to be electromagnetically connected to the apex of the ninth coupling conductor 78 that faces the seventh coupling conductor 74.

[0059] The first connection portion 82 and the second connection portion 84 are configured to be electromagnetically connected to each other. The first connection portion 82 and the second connection portion 84 are configured to be electromagnetically connected to each other at an intersection of a straight line connecting the sixth coupling conductor 72 and the eighth coupling conductor 76 and a straight line connecting the seventh coupling conductor 74 and the ninth coupling conductor 78.

[0060] The sixth coupling conductor 72, the seventh coupling conductor 74, the eighth coupling conductor 76, the ninth coupling conductor 78, the first connection portion 82, and the second connection portion 84 are configured to capacitively connect the first conductor 22, the second conductor 24, the third conductor 26, and the fourth conductor 28.

[0061] When manufacturing the antenna element 1A, for example, it is assumed that the relative positions of the first conductor 22 to the fourth conductor 28 and the sixth coupling conductor 72 to the ninth coupling conductor 78 may vary. If the positions of the sixth coupling conductor 72 to the ninth coupling conductor 78 are misaligned with respect to the first conductor 22 to the fourth conductor 28, the magnitude of the capacitive coupling may change, and the characteristics of the antenna element 1A may be affected. Here, the sixth coupling conductor 72 to the ninth coupling conductor 78 are smaller than the first conductor 22 to the fourth conductor 28, respectively. Therefore, when manufacturing the antenna element 1A, it is relatively easy to manufacture the antenna element 1A so that the portions where the sixth coupling conductor 72 to the ninth coupling conductor 78 do not overlap with the first conductor 22 to the fourth conductor 28 are small. That is, in the second embodiment, the variation in the magnitude of the capacitive coupling between the first conductor 22 to the fourth conductor 28 and the sixth coupling conductor 72 to the ninth coupling conductor 78 can be reduced, and therefore the variation in the characteristics of the antenna element 1A can be reduced.

[0062] As described above, in the second embodiment, the variation in characteristics of the antenna element 1A can be reduced by capacitively coupling the first conductor 22 to the fourth conductor 28 by the sixth coupling conductor 72 to the ninth coupling conductor 78. This makes it possible to stabilize the characteristics of the antenna element 1A in the second embodiment.

[0063] [Third embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an array antenna according to the third embodiment.

[0064] As shown in Fig. 14, the array antenna 100 includes a plurality of antenna elements 1. The plurality of antenna elements 1 are arranged at predetermined intervals along, for example, the X-axis and the Y-axis. The plurality of antenna elements 1 may be arranged at equal intervals or at non-equidistant intervals along, for example, the X-axis and the Y-axis. The plurality of antenna elements 1 may be arranged at equal or non-equidistant intervals along a diagonal direction in the XY plane.

[0065] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the contents of these embodiments. The above-mentioned components include those that a person skilled in the art can easily imagine, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the so-called equivalent range. Furthermore, the above-mentioned components can be appropriately combined. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, or modifications of the components can be made without departing from the gist of the above-mentioned embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1,1A Antenna element (resonating element) 10 Base 22 First Conductor 24 Second Conductor 26 Third Conductor 28 4th Conductor 30 First coupling conductor 32 Second coupling conductor 34 Third coupling conductor 36 Fourth coupling conductor 38 5th coupling conductor 40 Ground Conductor 52 First power supply conductor 54 Second power supply conductor 62 First connecting conductor 64 Second connecting conductor 66 Third connecting conductor 68 Fourth connecting conductor 72 6th coupling conductor 74 Seventh coupling conductor 76 8th coupling conductor 78 9th coupling conductor 82 First connection part 84 Second connection part 100 Array Antenna

Claims

1. a first conductor, a second conductor, a third conductor, and a fourth conductor disposed on a first surface of a substrate; a first coupling conductor located inside the base away from the first surface in a first direction and configured to capacitively couple the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor; a second coupling conductor located on the same plane as the first coupling conductor and configured to capacitively couple the first conductor and the second conductor; a third coupling conductor located on the same plane as the first coupling conductor and configured to capacitively couple the second conductor and the third conductor; a fourth coupling conductor located on the same plane as the first coupling conductor and configured to capacitively couple the third conductor and the fourth conductor; a fifth coupling conductor located on the same plane as the first coupling conductor and configured to capacitively couple the fourth conductor and the first conductor; a first power supply conductor electromagnetically connected to any one of the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor; a second power supply conductor electromagnetically connected to one of the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor that is different from the first power supply conductor; an antenna element comprising:

2. 2. An antenna element according to claim 1, the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor are arranged in a square lattice pattern, the second coupling conductor is disposed so as to overlap the first conductor and the second conductor at a position spaced apart in the first direction; The third coupling conductor is connected to the second conductor and the third conductor at a position spaced apart in the first direction. They are arranged so that they overlap, the fourth coupling conductor is disposed so as to overlap the third conductor and the fourth conductor at a position spaced apart from each other in the first direction; The fifth coupling conductor is arranged to overlap the fourth conductor and the first conductor at a position spaced apart in the first direction.

3. 3. An antenna element according to claim 2, The antenna element, wherein the first feed conductor and the second feed conductor are configured to be located on diagonals of the square lattice.

4. 4. An antenna element according to claim 1, An antenna element, wherein the first coupling conductor is arranged to overlap the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor, and the fourth conductor at positions spaced apart in the first direction.

5. 4. An antenna element according to claim 1, the first coupling conductor includes a sixth coupling conductor, a seventh coupling conductor, an eighth coupling conductor, a ninth coupling conductor, a first connection portion that electromagnetically connects the sixth coupling conductor and the eighth coupling conductor, and a second connection portion that electromagnetically connects the seventh coupling conductor and the ninth coupling conductor, the sixth coupling conductor is disposed at a position spaced apart from the first conductor in the first direction so as to at least partially overlap the first conductor; the seventh coupling conductor is disposed at a position spaced apart from the second conductor in the first direction so as to at least partially overlap the second conductor; the eighth coupling conductor is disposed at a position spaced apart from the third conductor in the first direction so as to at least partially overlap the third conductor; the ninth coupling conductor is disposed at a position spaced apart from the fourth conductor in the first direction so as to at least partially overlap the fourth conductor; The antenna element, wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are configured to be electromagnetically connected to each other.

6. a first resonator, a second resonator, a third resonator, and a fourth resonator, each having one end shorted, are provided in a circumferential arrangement; a first conductor that commonly capacitively couples the first resonator, the second resonator, the third resonator, and the fourth resonator; a first port and a second port for inputting an alternating current having the same frequency are provided in opposing resonators among the first resonator, the second resonator, the third resonator, and the fourth resonator, A mode is controlled by a phase difference of alternating current having the same frequency from the first port and the second port. Antenna element.

7. An array antenna comprising a plurality of antenna elements according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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