Phase conversion device and communication device including the same

Abstract

A phase conversion device capable of maximizing space utilization is provided. [Solution] The phase conversion device includes a base panel, a fixed substrate stacked and fixed to one or the other side of the base panel and having a plurality of circuit patterns printed on its upper surface, and a plurality of movable substrates including movable strip terminals that serve as contact points for each of the plurality of circuit patterns on the fixed substrate, and a phase conversion switching unit that moves the plurality of movable substrates back and forth a predetermined distance horizontally on the base panel to change the contact positions of the movable substrates with respect to the circuit patterns, and the phase conversion switching unit moves the plurality of movable substrates while constantly supporting them elastically toward the circuit patterns.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a phase conversion device and a communication device including the same (PHASE SHIFTER AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME), and more particularly to a phase conversion device that minimizes the height from one surface of a fixed substrate to improve the space utilization of an antenna device and is overall lightweight, and a communication device including the same.

Background Art

[0002] An antenna device forms a beam in the horizontal direction, which is most efficient in terms of coverage area. However, sometimes it is necessary to adjust the beam angle in the vertical direction due to reasons such as interference and loss. In this case, the beam angle in the vertical direction of the antenna device is adjusted by a mechanical beam tilt method or an electrical beam tilt method.

[0003] The mechanical beam tilt method is a method of adjusting the beam angle by directly installing the antenna device in a downward inclined manner. Although it is a simple method, this method has a drawback that it is somewhat troublesome due to various reasons such as on-site visits by workers and power interruption during work.

[0004] The electrical beam tilt method is a method based on a multi-line phase shifter (MLPS: Multi Line Phase Shifter). Specifically, the electrical beam tilt method adjusts the beam angle by feeding signals having different phases to a plurality of radiating elements arranged vertically.

[0005] To implement the electrical beam tilt method, a phase conversion device is provided in the antenna device. The phase conversion device appropriately delays an input signal so that a phase difference occurs between the input signal and the output signal. At this time, the delay of the input signal can be realized by changing the length of the transmission line or changing the signal transmission speed in the transmission line.

[0006] Korean Patent Publication No. 2010-0122005 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 1"), which is a conventional phase conversion device, discloses a fixed substrate having one input port and a plurality of output ports, and a moving substrate having a variable strip. However, Patent Document 1 has a drawback that the fixed substrate and the moving substrate are provided only on one surface of the phase conversion device, resulting in a decrease in space efficiency.

[0007] On the other hand, recently, as base stations and repeaters of mobile communication systems, multi-band frequency antenna devices capable of servicing various bands have been widely used. The multi-band antenna device needs to individually adjust the phases of several band frequencies. Therefore, the number of phase conversion devices provided in the antenna device increases, and thus, the phase conversion device needs to be made smaller and lighter.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and an object thereof is to provide a phase conversion device that is miniaturized and lightweight, and a communication device including the same.

[0009] At the same time, the present invention is provided with a reduction gear set so as to precisely reciprocate the moving rod horizontally, so that precise phase difference adjustment is possible, and since the phase conversion switching unit can be arranged in a slim manner on the base panel, it is possible to maximize the space utilization of the product. Another object is to provide a phase conversion device and a communication device including the same.

[0010] The technical problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] One embodiment of the phase conversion device according to the present invention includes a base panel, a fixed substrate laminated and fixed on one side or the other side of the base panel, with a plurality of circuit patterns printed and formed on the upper surface, and a plurality of moving substrates each including a moving strip terminal that serves as a contact to the plurality of circuit patterns of the fixed substrate. The phase conversion switching unit is provided to reciprocally move the plurality of moving substrates horizontally on the base panel by a predetermined distance to change the contact position of the moving substrates with respect to the circuit patterns. The phase conversion switching unit moves the plurality of moving substrates while constantly elastically supporting them on the circuit pattern side.

[0012] Here, the plurality of circuit patterns are printed and formed on the fixed substrate in such a form that the length of the transmission line changes due to the change in the contact position of the moving substrate.

[0013] In addition, the plurality of circuit patterns are formed so as to branch from one input end to two output ends, and the moving strip terminals of the moving substrate can change the lengths of the transmission lines to the two branched output ends.

[0014] The phase conversion switching unit may further include a plurality of moving substrate installation parts where the plurality of moving substrates are respectively mounted at the ends, a module rod connecting the plurality of moving substrate installation parts in module units, a moving rod linearly extending from the module rod in the reciprocating moving direction, and a moving driving part for moving the moving rod in the reciprocating moving direction.

[0015] The fixed substrate is respectively and dispersedly arranged as a one-side fixed substrate and an other-side fixed substrate on both sides of the reciprocating moving direction of the moving driving part located at the intermediate part of the base panel. The plurality of moving substrate installation parts and the module rod are respectively provided adjacent to the one-side fixed substrate and the other-side fixed substrate side. The moving rod can receive a driving force from the moving driving part at the same time to move the plurality of moving substrate installation parts in the same direction at the same time.

[0016] Further, an elastic member that elastically supports the moving substrate toward the circuit pattern side can be interposed between the plurality of moving substrate installation portions and the moving substrate.

[0017] Further, the elastic member can include a leaf spring.

[0018] Further, the moving drive unit can include a drive motor that is electrically driven, a reduction gear set that receives a driving force from the drive motor and decelerates it, and a rack gear portion that is provided on the moving rod and has rack gear teeth formed on one side, and is provided such that one gear of the reduction gear set meshes with the rack gear teeth.

[0019] Further, the drive motor is provided with a step motor capable of rotational control in one side or the other direction.

[0020] Further, the reduction gear set is provided inside a gear box as a plurality of parallel gear combinations provided to mesh with each other in various gear ratio combinations.

[0021] Further, one of the plurality of parallel gear combinations is provided with a worm wheel gear including worm wheel gear teeth that can mesh with a worm gear coupled to the rotation shaft of the drive motor.

[0022] Further, at least one guide bracket for preventing detachment of the moving rod and guiding the reciprocating movement is provided on the base panel.

[0023] One embodiment of the communication device according to the present invention can include the phase conversion device described above.

Advantages of the Invention

[0024] According to the phase conversion device and the communication device including the same according to the present invention, various effects as follows can be achieved.

[0025] First, since the reduction gear set is provided to precisely reciprocate the moving rod horizontally, an effect of enabling precise phase difference adjustment can be created.

[0026] Second, since the phase conversion switching unit can be arranged in a slim manner on the base panel, it has the effect of maximizing the space utilization of the product.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 6

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 8A

Figure 8B

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] Hereinafter, a phase conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] When attaching reference numerals to the components in each drawing, it should be noted that for the same components, they are given as identical reference numerals as much as possible even if they are shown on other drawings. Further, when explaining the embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific explanation of such a known configuration or function hinders the understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, the detailed explanation thereof is omitted.

[0030] When explaining the components of the embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. can be used. Such terms do not limit the nature, order, or procedure of the components. Also, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless clearly defined in the present application.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a phase conversion device according to the present invention, FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded perspective views of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a side view of FIG. 1.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base panel 10, fixed substrates 20A and 20B that are laminated and fixed on one side or the other side of the base panel 10 and on which a plurality of circuit patterns 30 are printed and formed on the upper surface, and a plurality of moving substrates 40 that each serve as a contact to the plurality of circuit patterns 30 of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B, and a phase conversion switching unit 100 that reciprocally moves the plurality of moving substrates 40 in the horizontal direction on the base panel 10 by a predetermined distance to change the contact position of the circuit patterns 30 of the moving substrates 40.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the fixed substrates 20A and 20B are fixed to one surface (the upper surface in the drawing) of the base panel 10. Here, assuming that the base panel 10 is provided in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, a pair is arranged separately on one short side and the other short side, respectively.

[0034] The fixed substrates 20A and 20B are provided with ordinary printed circuit boards, and on one surface (the upper surface in the drawing), the plurality of circuit patterns 30 described above are printed and formed by methods such as etching and engraving. Each of the plurality of circuit patterns 30 is formed on the fixed substrates 20A and 20B at intervals corresponding to the number of the moving strip terminals 44 described later formed on the lower surfaces of the plurality of moving substrates 40, and is made of a material that is electrically coupled to the moving strip terminals 44.

[0035] Here, eight pairs of the plurality of circuit patterns 30 are provided on one fixed substrate 20A or 20B, and eight of the plurality of moving substrates 40 described above are also provided so as to be moved on one fixed substrate 20A or 20B. Therefore, when two fixed substrates 20A and 20B are provided on one base panel 10, a total of 16 circuit patterns 30 are printed and formed, and a total of 16 moving substrates 40 are also provided.

[0036] The plurality of circuit patterns 30 are connected to at least one input port 30A and a plurality of output ports 30B-1 and 30B-2. Also, the plurality of circuit patterns 30 share at least one input port 30A, or each of the plurality of circuit patterns 30 is provided with its own input port 30A.

[0037] Each circuit pattern 30 of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B can form a plurality of transmission lines by being coupled to the moving strip terminals 44 of the corresponding moving substrates 40.

[0038] The signal received via the input port 30A is transmitted to each of the output ports 30B-1 and 30B-2 via each transmission line realized by each circuit pattern 30. The signals transmitted to the output ports 30B-1 and 30B-2 are transmitted to an antenna element (not shown), which is one of the components of each communication device, via an RF cable or an RF connector or the like.

[0039] When the moving substrate 40 moves on one surface (upper surface) of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B, the moving strip terminals 44 provided on the lower surface of the moving substrate 40 also move while being grounded to the plurality of circuit patterns 30. In this way, by changing the contact positions of the moving strip terminals 44 of the moving substrate 40 with respect to the plurality of circuit patterns 30, the physical length of each transmission line can be reduced or extended, and thereby, the phase difference between the signals transmitted via each transmission line can be adjusted.

[0040] The base panel 10 is made of a Teflon (registered trademark) material having a low loss rate in a high-frequency environment. However, the material of the base panel 10 is not necessarily limited to this, and the base panel 10 may be made of other materials.

[0041] FIGS. 5A and 5B are a cross-sectional view (a) and a cutaway view (b) taken along the line A-A of FIG. 3 and their respective partial enlarged views, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the phase conversion switching unit in the configuration of FIG. 1.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the phase conversion switching unit 100 can include a plurality of moving substrate installation parts 110 on which a plurality of moving substrates 40 are respectively mounted at the ends, a module rod 120 that connects the plurality of moving substrate installation parts 110 in module units, a moving rod 130 that extends linearly in the reciprocating moving direction from the module rod 120, and a moving driving part 150 that moves the moving rod 130 in the reciprocating moving direction.

[0043] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of moving substrate installation parts 110 are arranged such that a plurality of moving substrates 40 are provided at positions corresponding to each of the plurality of circuit patterns 30. At the lower surface of each end of the plurality of moving substrate installation parts 110, each moving substrate 40 is fitted via a pair of fixing protrusions 41.

[0044] At this time, at the upper end part of the pair of fixing protrusions 41, a protrusion part larger than the diameter of a fixing hole 111 formed to penetrate through the moving substrate installation part 110 is provided, so that the moving substrate 40 is fixed to the moving substrate installation part 110 by an interference fit operation in the fixing hole 111, and the length of the fixing protrusion 41 is formed larger than that of the fixing hole 111, so that the moving substrate 40 is provided to be flowable within the limit restricted by the protrusion part of the fixing protrusion 41 in the vertical direction.

[0045] When the protrusion part of the fixing protrusion 41 is fitted inside the fixing hole 111, a slit (not shown in the drawing reference numeral) with a predetermined depth is formed at the tip part so as to be deformed in shape by the interference fit force. When being fitted to the fixing hole 111, the diameter of the protrusion part of the fixing protrusion 41 is reduced while being deformed in shape and is smoothly fitted into the fixing hole 111.

[0046] Here, on the upper surface of the moving substrate 40, an elastic member 43 provided with a leaf spring that bulges and protrudes toward the lower surface of the moving substrate installation part 110 is provided. Due to the elastic support force of the elastic member 43, the moving substrate 40 is constantly elastically supported on the side of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B on which the plurality of circuit patterns 30 are formed, so that the moving strip terminals 44 of the moving substrate 40 can be constantly in close contact with the circuit patterns 30 of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B.

[0047] On one hand, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of moving substrate installation parts 110 are connected module by module by at least two or more module rods 120. For example, when a total of eight moving substrate installation parts 110 are provided on one side of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B, two moving substrates 40 are provided for each module, with four moving substrates 40 provided for each module, and two moving substrate installation parts 110 are simultaneously connected to one module rod 120.

[0048] The module rod 120 can include a module connection part 121 branched and connected to three points of each of the two moving substrate installation parts 110, and an integrated connection part 123 integrally connecting each module connection part 121. The moving rod 130 is connected to the center of the integrated connection part 123 in the center part of the integrated connection part 123.

[0049] Such a moving substrate 40, moving substrate installation part 110, and module rod 120 are provided for each module on one side of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B and the other side of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B, and one end and the other end of the moving rod 130 are respectively connected to the center of the integrated connection part 123 in the configuration of the module rod 120. Therefore, when the moving rod 130 moves in the reciprocating moving direction described above, the moving substrates 40 on one side of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B and the other side of the fixed substrates 20A and 20B can all be moved in the same direction while adjusting the above-described phase difference.

[0050] On the other hand, at least one or more guide slots 115 are formed by cutting in the vertical direction in the module rod 120. The guide slot 115 is formed to have a length that limits the change of the contact position of the moving substrate 40 with the circuit pattern 30 described above and the change from the position where the transmission line is the shortest to the position where the transmission line is the longest. In one embodiment of the present invention, the description is limited to the case where two guide slots 115 are provided separately in each of the two module rods 120. However, it is not necessarily the case that only two guide slots 115 are formed in one module rod 120, and it is also possible to form more than that number.

[0051] Each of at least one guide slot 115 is provided with a guide rod 117 fixed to the base panel 10. The guide rod 117 penetrates the guide slot 115 vertically and is screwed to the base panel 10, and the upper end portion is provided with a countersunk head shape having a diameter sufficient to support the edge portion of the guide slot 115.

[0052] Therefore, the guide rod 117 and the guide slot 115 guide the reciprocating horizontal movement of the moving rod 130 so that the module rod 120 and the moving substrate installation portion 110 reciprocate, and at the same time, prevent the module rod 120 and the moving substrate installation portion 110 from detaching from the base panel 10 or floating excessively.

[0053] In this case, the moving substrate installation portion 110 is elastically supported upward by an elastic member 43 provided between the moving substrate installation portion 110 and the moving substrate 40, and there is a risk of irregular flow from the fixed substrate 20A and 20B sides. However, as described above, the countersunk head-shaped guide rod 117 is supported by the edge portion of the guide slot 115, so that the moving substrate installation portion 110, the module rod 120, and the moving rod 130 can stably maintain a horizontal state.

[0054] Here, at least one guide bracket 140A and 140B for preventing the detachment of the moving rod 130 and guiding the reciprocating movement are provided on the base panel 10. The guide brackets 140A and 140B are provided so that both end portions of the moving rod 130 penetrate therethrough, and a pair of them are provided so as to penetrate and support a portion close to each end portion of the moving rod 130.

[0055] More specifically, the guide brackets 140A and 140B may include a first-side guide bracket 140A provided so that one end portion side of the moving rod 130 adjacent to the first-side fixed substrate 20A side penetrates therethrough, and a second-side guide bracket 140B provided so that the other end portion side of the moving rod 130 adjacent to the second-side fixed substrate 20B side penetrates therethrough.

[0056] The one - side guide bracket 140A and the other - side guide bracket 140B are screwed to the base panel 10 and serve to guide the moving rod 130 to pass through and reciprocate horizontally in the horizontal direction.

[0057] At the same time, the one - side guide bracket 140A and the other - side guide bracket 140B can perform a function of preventing all of the module rod 120 including the moving substrate installation part 110 from being overly separated from the one - side fixed substrate 20A and the other - side fixed substrate 20B by the elastic member 43 interposed between them and the moving substrate 40.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 6, the phase - conversion switching unit 100 can further include a moving drive unit 150 that horizontally moves the moving rod 130 in the reciprocating moving direction.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the moving drive unit 150 is provided inside the gearbox 151 and includes a drive motor 153 that is electrically driven, a reduction gear set 155 - 159 that receives a driving force from the drive motor 153 and decelerates it, and a rack gear part 160 that is provided on the moving rod 130 and has rack gear teeth 161 formed on one side, and is provided such that one of the gears (pinion gear 159) of the reduction gear set 155 - 159 meshes with the rack gear teeth 161.

[0060] The rotation shaft 153c of the drive motor 153 is arranged inside the gearbox 151 parallel to the moving rod 130, and a worm gear 154 having worm gear teeth formed on the rotation shaft 153c of the drive motor 153 is coupled thereto.

[0061] On one hand, the reduction gear set 155-159 includes a worm wheel gear 155 provided with worm wheel gear teeth that mesh with the worm gear teeth of a worm gear 154 coupled to the rotating shaft 153c of a drive motor 153, and a pinion gear 159 that meshes with a rack gear portion 160 provided on the moving rod 130. Between the worm wheel gear 155 and the pinion gear 159, at least three two-stage parallel gear assemblies 156-158 are meshed at various gear ratios to form a gear group set for reducing and transmitting the driving force of the drive motor 153.

[0062] In this way, the reduction gear set 155-159 can reduce the driving force of the drive motor 153 at an appropriate reduction ratio through a combination of a plurality of gear ratios including the worm wheel gear 155 and the pinion gear 159. Therefore, the moving distance of the precise moving rod 130 can be controlled, and more precise phase difference adjustment can be achieved through the control of the moving distance of the moving rod 130.

[0063] Here, the drive motor 153 is preferably provided with a step motor capable of controlling rotation in one or the other direction. The principle of adjusting the phase difference by controlling the rotation of the drive motor 153 provided with a step motor will be described in more detail while explaining a communication device including a phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan views of FIG. 1, which visually show the change in the overlapping length between the circuit pattern before and after phase conversion and the moving substrate. FIGS. 8A and 8B are plan views of FIG. 1, which show the states before and after phase conversion corresponding to the maximum and minimum.

[0065] A phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is included in a communication device that can transition a phase value to enable the realization of beamforming with improved gain (+3 dB) by a plurality of antenna sub-arrays in the configuration of an antenna device reflecting MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology, although not shown.

[0066] MIMO technology is a technology that epochally increases the data transmission capacity by using multiple antenna sub-arrays. In the transmitter, different data are transmitted through each transmitting antenna, and in the receiver, it is a spatial multiplexing method that separates the received data by appropriate signal processing. Therefore, by simultaneously increasing the number of transmitting and receiving antennas, the channel capacity increases, enabling more data to be transmitted. For example, when the number of antennas is increased to 10, about 10 times the channel capacity is ensured using the same frequency band compared to a single-antenna system.

[0067] In particular, for the antenna device, TRx modules (not shown) that perform transmitter and receiver functions are V (Vertical)-H (Horizontal) arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a plurality of antenna elements electrically connected to each TRx module are arranged. Here, the channel capacity constructed per TRx module can be redefined as an "RF chain", and a plurality of antenna elements can be redefined as an "antenna sub-array" in units of groups of antenna elements arranged for antenna beamforming.

[0068] A plurality of RF chains are constructed in the V - direction. At this time, for each RF chain, three or more antenna sub-arrays are arranged in the V - direction.

[0069] Here, each RF chain is constructed through a transmission line so as to be branched from one input end to two output ends, and antenna sub-arrays are respectively arranged at each output end. However, it should be noted that although another additional antenna sub-array can be constructed to realize a linear phase value of the output phase difference, it is not limited to this.

[0070] In particular, in the phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the transmission line is realized in the form of a circuit pattern 30 printed on one-side fixed substrate 20A and the other-side fixed substrate 20B. The input end is realized as the input port 30A of the power supply signal, while the two output ends are realized as the output ports 30B-1 and 30B-2 of the power supply signal, and it can have a structure in which the physical length of the transmission line changes while being powered by the moving strip terminal 44 of the moving substrate 40.

[0071] In this way, the radiation beam such as the antenna subarray radiating at the phase value transitioned by the phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention does not branch from the input end of each conventional RF chain to the two output ends, and compared with the case of radiating the beam through the antenna subarray for each RF chain, it is possible to realize beamforming with a gain improvement of +3 dB.

[0072] Hereinafter, the process of changing the physical transmission line length using the phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to the attached drawings (particularly, FIGS. 7A to 8B).

[0073] For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the drive motor 153 rotates to one side, the moving rod 130 can move to the right side on the drawing while the plurality of moving substrates 40 move to the right side simultaneously, and the contact position changes to the right side on the circuit pattern 30 so that the length of the transmission line becomes longer, and the adjustment of the phase difference by the contact position is completed.

[0074] At this time, the overlapping length between the moving strip terminal 44 of the moving substrate 40 and the circuit pattern 30 corresponds to the reference numeral "O1, Overlap1" in FIG. 7A, and the length of the moving strip terminal 44 excluding twice the length corresponding to O1 becomes the increase contributed to the existing transmission line.

[0075] Also, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the drive motor 153 rotates to the other side, the moving rod 130 can be changed so that while moving to the left side on the drawing, the plurality of moving substrates 40 move to the left side simultaneously and the contact position changes to the left side on the circuit pattern 30 and the length of the transmission line becomes longer, and the adjustment of the phase difference due to the contact position is completed.

[0076] At this time, the overlapping length between the moving strip terminal 44 of the moving substrate 40 and the circuit pattern 30 corresponds to "O2, Overlap2" in FIG. 7B, and the length of the moving strip terminal 44 excluding the length corresponding to twice of O2 becomes the increased portion contributing to the existing transmission line.

[0077] For reference, the reciprocating moving distance of the moving rod 130 is limited by the guide rod 117 provided in the guide slot 115 described above. However, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, assuming that the guide rod 117 is located at the center in the guide slot 115 (refer to the reference numeral "T" in FIGS. 8A and 8B), when moving 0.8 mm to each of one side and the other side, it can be designed so that the longest transmission line and the shortest transmission line can be formed on the circuit pattern 30.

[0078] The communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to include all embodiments of the phase conversion device 1 described above. For example, as described above, the phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention can function as one configuration included in a communication device that enables more efficient beamforming by changing the length of a physical transmission line when realizing beamforming via a plurality of antenna sub-arrays.

[0079] As described above, the phase conversion device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and the communication device including the same are very slimly arranged without occupying much space above on the base panel 10, and by being reciprocally horizontally moved, the phase difference can be precisely adjusted, providing an advantage that the space utilization of the product can be maximized.

[0080] As described above, the phase conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention and the communication device including the same have been described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications and implementations within an equivalent range can be made by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the true scope of the rights of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims described below.

Industrial Applicability

[0081] The present invention provides a phase conversion device and a communication device including the same, which can be miniaturized and lightened, are provided with a reduction gear set so as to precisely reciprocate a moving rod horizontally, can perform precise phase difference adjustment, and can arrange a phase conversion switching unit on a base panel in a slim manner, thereby maximizing the space utilization of the product.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0082] 1: Phase conversion device 10: Base panel 20A, 20B: Fixed substrate 30: Circuit pattern 40: Moving substrate 41: Fixed protrusion 43: Elastic member 100: Phase conversion switching unit 110: Moving substrate installation part 111: Fixed hole 115: Guide slot 117: Guide rod 120: Module rod 121: Module connection part 123: Integrated connection part 130: Moving rod 140A, 140B: Guide bracket 150: Moving drive part 151: Gear box 152: Box cover 153: Drive motor 153c: Rotation shaft 154: Worm gear 155 - 159: Reduction gear set 155: Worm wheel gear 158: Parallel gear combination 159: Pinion gear 160: Rack gear part

Claims

1. A base panel, A fixed substrate that is laminated and fixed on one side or the other side of the base panel, and on which a plurality of circuit patterns are printed and formed on the upper surface, A plurality of moving substrates each including a moving strip terminal that serves as a contact point for each of the plurality of circuit patterns of the fixed substrate are provided, and the plurality of moving substrates are moved in a reciprocating moving direction by a predetermined distance on the base panel to change the contact position of the moving substrate with respect to the circuit pattern, and a phase conversion switching unit, The phase conversion switching unit moves while constantly elastically supporting the plurality of moving substrates toward the circuit pattern side, The phase conversion switching unit, A plurality of moving substrate installation parts on which the plurality of moving substrates are respectively mounted at the ends, A module rod that connects the plurality of moving substrate installation parts in module units, the module rod including a module connection part that is branched and connected into a plurality at each of the plurality of moving substrate installation parts, and an integrated connection part that integrally connects each module connection part, A moving rod that extends linearly in the reciprocating moving direction from the integrated connection part, A phase conversion device including a moving drive unit that moves the moving rod in the reciprocating moving direction.

2. The plurality of circuit patterns are printed and formed on the fixed substrate in a form in which the length of the transmission line changes due to the change in the contact position of the moving substrate. The phase conversion device according to claim 1.

3. The plurality of circuit patterns are formed so as to be branched from one input end to two output ends, The moving strip terminal of the moving substrate changes the length of the transmission line to the two branched output ends. The phase conversion device according to claim 2.

4. The fixed substrate is dispersedly arranged as a one-side fixed substrate and a the other-side fixed substrate on both sides in the reciprocating moving direction of the moving drive unit located at an intermediate part of the base panel, The plurality of moving substrate installation parts and the module rod are respectively provided adjacent to the one-side fixed substrate and the other-side fixed substrate sides, The moving rod receives a driving force from the moving drive unit and moves the plurality of moving substrate installation parts simultaneously in the same direction. The phase conversion device according to claim 1.

5. The phase conversion device according to claim 1, wherein an elastic member that elastically supports the moving substrate toward the circuit pattern side is interposed between the plurality of moving substrate installation parts and the moving substrate.

6. The phase conversion device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member includes a leaf spring.

7. The moving drive unit includes a drive motor that is electrically driven, a speed reduction gear set that receives a driving force from the drive motor and reduces the speed, and a rack gear part provided on the moving rod and having rack gear teeth formed on one side of the moving rod, the rack gear part being provided such that one gear of the speed reduction gear set meshes with the rack gear teeth. The phase conversion device according to claim 1.

8. The phase conversion device according to claim 7, wherein the drive motor is a step motor capable of controlling rotation in one or the other direction of the drive motor.

9. The phase conversion device according to claim 7, wherein the speed reduction gear set is provided inside a gear box as a plurality of parallel gear combinations provided to mesh with each other in various gear ratio combinations.

10. The phase conversion device according to claim 9, wherein the speed reduction gear set includes a worm wheel gear including worm wheel gear teeth provided to be meshed with a worm gear coupled to a rotation shaft of the drive motor.

11. The phase conversion device according to claim 1, wherein at least one guide bracket for preventing the separation of the moving rod and guiding the movement in the reciprocating moving direction is provided on the base panel.

12. A communication device including the phase conversion device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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