Antenna equipment

Abstract

To provide an antenna device which radiates a beam having a narrow beam width and a large antenna gain, and is advantageous in terms of cost and process. The antenna device includes a radiating element module including a plurality of antenna subarrays arranged to realize antenna beamforming by constructing a predetermined number of RF chains, and a phase shifter for shifting a phase value by changing a length ratio of a physical transmission line for the plurality of antenna subarrays to a predetermined ratio, the radiating element module being further arranged such that the antenna subarray is connected to one of two output terminals branched from an input terminal of each RF chain, and an additional antenna subarray corresponding to the antenna subarray is connected to the other output terminal.

Description

Technical Field

[0005]

[0001] The present invention relates to an antenna apparatus, and more particularly, to an antenna apparatus having a predetermined number of RF chains, further including an additional antenna subarray branched from an input end of each RF chain together with a plurality of antenna subarrays, and transmitting by transitioning so that phase values of the antenna subarray and the additional antenna subarray are different using a phase shifter, thereby improving an antenna gain.

Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication technology, for example, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology is a technology that epochally increases a data transmission capacity using a plurality of antennas, and is a Spatial multiplexing method in which different data are transmitted through respective transmission antennas in a transmitter and transmitted data is classified by appropriate signal processing in a receiver.

[0003] Therefore, by simultaneously increasing the number of transmit and receive antennas, the channel capacity increases and more data can be transmitted. For example, when the number of antennas is increased to 10, about 10 times the channel capacity is secured using the same frequency band compared to the current single antenna system.

[0004] In 4G LTE-advanced, up to 8 antennas are used, and products equipped with 64 or 128 antennas have been developed at the current pre-5G stage. In 5G, it is expected that base station apparatuses having a much larger number of antennas will be used, which is called Massive MIMO technology. Since 3D-Beamforming becomes possible when Massive MIMO technology is introduced while the current Cell operation is 2-Dimension, it is also called FD-MIMO (Full Dimension).

[0005] In particular, multiple array antenna elements can achieve beamforming using antenna radiation beams to provide optimal service in response to changes in subscriber usage density by region and time of day.

[0006] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing how the transmission signal channel of 64T64R is constructed using high-spec array antenna elements.

[0007] As shown in Figure 1, multiple antenna subarrays are arranged in the V-direction (vertical direction) to realize four RF chains, and multiple columns are arranged in the H-direction (horizontal direction), thereby constructing four V-direction RF chains V1, V2, V3, and V4 to realize the transmission signal channels of the 64T64R.

[0008] However, theoretically, doubling the number of RF chains (i.e., the number of antenna subarrays) in the array would allow for an additional channel capacity proportional to the increase in antenna subarrays, as described above. However, this would also lead to a sharp increase in weight and volume due to the proportional increase in power amplifiers (PAs) and filters. Furthermore, the increased number of RF chains would generate more heat, necessitating an additional increase in the size of the heat dissipation enclosure. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above technical problems, and aims to provide an antenna device that can achieve beamforming with a greater gain than an antenna device without additional antenna subarrays by further constructing additional antenna subarrays branching from the input end of each RF chain, along with a plurality of antenna subarrays arranged for the construction of a predetermined number of RF chains, and using a phase shifter to transition the phase values ​​of the antenna subarrays and the additional antenna subarrays to different values ​​and radiate.

[0010] In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide an antenna device that enables linear phase distribution beamforming when radiating antenna beams of multiple antenna subarrays and additional antenna subarrays after phase shifting using a phase shifter.

[0011] The problems addressed by the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] An antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a radiating element module that is electrically connected in front of an RF filter and includes a plurality of antenna subarrays arranged to construct a predetermined number of RF chains to achieve antenna beamforming, and a phase shifter that changes the ratio of the lengths of the physical transmission lines to the plurality of antenna subarrays to a predetermined ratio to shift the phase value, wherein each RF chain of the radiating element module has the antenna subarray connected to one of two output terminals branched from the input terminal of the RF chain, and an additional antenna subarray corresponding to the antenna subarray is further arranged at the other output terminal.

[0013] Here, the phase shifter can radiate the multiple antenna subarrays and additional antenna subarrays by shifting their phase values ​​differently in the transmission line that constitutes either the input terminal of each RF chain or one of the two branched output terminals, thereby realizing a linear phase distribution with respect to the same reference phase plane at a predetermined ratio.

[0014] Furthermore, when realizing antenna beamforming via the 32T32R transmission signal channel, the plurality of antenna subarrays may be arranged to form two RF chains, with each chain spaced apart in the V-direction (vertical direction), and the additional antenna subarrays may be arranged spaced apart in the V-direction so as to branch off together with the antenna subarrays from the input ends of each of the two RF chains.

[0015] Furthermore, the phase shifter can change the physical length of each transmission line connected to the plurality of antenna subarrays and the additional antenna subarrays corresponding to each RF chain for power feed.

[0016] Furthermore, the phase shifter may include a variable switch panel including a first energizing pattern terminal and a second energizing pattern terminal, and the radiating element module may include an antenna board assembly on which the antenna subarray and the plurality of additional antenna subarrays are arranged, and the transmission lines that contact the first energizing pattern terminal and the second energizing pattern terminal are coupled into a plurality of feed stripline shapes of a conductive material.

[0017] Furthermore, the plurality of power supply striplines in the antenna board assembly may be provided on a variable circuit board patterned with a variable circuit having a first power-off point and a second power-off point that are energized by the first power-carrying pattern terminal and the second power-carrying pattern terminal of the variable switch panel, respectively.

[0018] Furthermore, the variable circuit board may be provided in the form of a printed circuit board made of FR-4 material.

[0019] Furthermore, the plurality of power supply striplines may include a rear power supply stripline connected to energize the variable circuit of the variable circuit board, which has two input terminals to be powered at at least two locations, and a front power supply stripline connected to energize the rear power supply stripline, which branches out to have at least two output terminals and is connected to the plurality of antenna subarrays and the plurality of additional antenna subarrays.

[0020] Furthermore, the phase shifter can achieve a phase transition value at a predetermined ratio depending on the position where the first energizing pattern terminal and the second energizing pattern terminal contact the transmission line as the variable switch panel rotates.

[0021] Furthermore, the radiating element module includes an antenna board assembly comprising a reflecting panel provided to reflect antenna beams radiated from the plurality of antenna subarrays and the additional antenna subarrays forward, a rear panel and a front panel laminated to the back and front of the reflecting panel, and a plurality of feed striplines of conductive material disposed through the reflecting panel or in stripline installation slits processed in the rear panel and the front panel, and provided for electrical connection with the RF filter, wherein the front panel and the rear panel are made of different plastic resin materials than the material of the reflecting panel, and the antenna board assembly may be manufactured integrally by a double injection molding method with respect to the reflecting panel.

[0022] Furthermore, the front surface of the front panel may be configured with a variable circuit board patterned with a variable circuit having at least two power-off points to constitute a part of the physical transmission line that is modified by the phase shifter. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the antenna subarray provided to construct a basic RF chain, an additional antenna subarray is constructed, and a linear phase distribution using a phase shifter is used at multiple locations of a transmission line that constitutes output terminals branched into two from the input end of the RF chain. By transitioning to a phase value having the linear phase distribution to realize beamforming, not only can beamforming be realized such that the performance according to the specifications of the antenna device is possible, but also advantages such as cost and process being advantageous compared to existing high-specification antenna devices can be achieved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] [Figure 1] It is a conceptual diagram showing a state of constructing a transmission signal channel of 64T64R by a high-specification array antenna element. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the appearance of an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is an exploded perspective view of a state in which a radome panel is separated in the configuration of FIG. 2. [Figure 4A] It is a front exploded perspective view of the radiating element module disassembled. [Figure 4B] It is a rear exploded perspective view of the radiating element module disassembled. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view of the antenna board assembly and the feeding strip line coupled thereto disassembled in the configuration of the radiating element module of FIGS. 4A and 4B. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operating relationship of the phase shifter in the configuration of an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is an incision perspective view showing the “A” part of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a plan view for explaining the principle of feeding by a variable circuit board and a variable switch panel and the phase value transition of the phase shifter in the configuration of the phase shifter of FIG. 6. [Figure 9] It is an exploded perspective view showing an antenna device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a front view. [Figure 11A] This is a front exploded perspective view showing a phase shifter, which is part of the configuration of an antenna device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11B] This is a rear exploded perspective view showing a phase shifter, which is part of the configuration of an antenna device according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12A] This is a front exploded perspective view showing the specific coupling relationships of the phase transition drive motor, which is part of the configuration of the phase shifter. [Figure 12B] This is a rear-section exploded perspective view showing the specific coupling relationships of the phase transition drive motor, which is part of the configuration of the phase shifter. [Figure 13] This is a circuit diagram and phase difference diagram for explaining the principle of phase conversion performed in the RF stage using a phase shifter in an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a conceptual diagram illustrating the transmission signal channel and phase transition of the 32T32R antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] Hereinafter, an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. When assigning reference numerals to the components in each drawing, it should be noted that, as far as possible, identical components will 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 embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0026] 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.

[0027] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the configuration in Figure 2 with the radome panel separated; Figures 4A and 4B are exploded perspective views of the front and rear sections of the radiating element module; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the antenna board assembly and the feed stripline coupled thereto from the configuration of the radiating element module in Figures 4A and 4B; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the operating relationship of the phase shifter in the configuration of an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a cutaway perspective view showing part "A" in Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a plan view for explaining the principle of feed by the variable circuit board and variable switch panel and the phase value transition of the phase shifter in the configuration of the phase shifter in Figure 6.

[0028] An antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention may be an antenna device that incorporates MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology.

[0029] MIMO technology is a technique that dramatically increases data transmission capacity by using multiple antenna subarrays. It is a spatial multiplexing method in which the transmitter transmits different data through each transmitting antenna, and the receiver divides the transmitted data through appropriate signal processing. Therefore, by simultaneously increasing the number of transmitting and receiving antennas, the channel capacity increases, making it possible to transmit more data. For example, increasing the number of antennas to 10 provides approximately 10 times the channel capacity using the same frequency band compared to a single-antenna system.

[0030] In particular, the antenna device has TRx modules (not shown) that perform transmitter and receiver functions arranged in a V (Vertical)-H (Horizontal) configuration in the vertical and horizontal directions, and multiple antenna elements 350 can be arranged electrically connected to each TRx module. Here, the channel capacity built per TRx module can be redefined as an "RF chain," and a group unit of multiple antenna elements 350 arranged for antenna beamforming can be redefined as an "antenna subarray 350." Hereinafter, the term "TRx module" can be used interchangeably with "RF chain," and the definition of the arrangement of antenna elements 350 that construct RF communication for each RF chain can basically be used interchangeably with the term "antenna subarray."

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, two RF chains may be constructed in the V-direction. Here, three antenna subarrays 350 may be arranged in the V-direction for each RF chain.

[0032] Furthermore, each RF chain may have additional antenna sub-arrays 350' with the same specifications and number as the antenna sub-array 350 described above.

[0033] Here, each RF chain is constructed via a transmission line (power supply striplines 311B and 311C, described later) that branches from one input terminal to two output terminals, and the above-described antenna subarray 350 is connected to one of the two output terminals, and the above-described additional antenna subarray 350' may be further arranged on the other of the two output terminals.

[0034] Therefore, a total of 24 antenna subarrays 350 and additional antenna subarrays 350' can be arranged in the V-direction. Generally, if three antenna subarrays 350 or 350' arranged in the V-direction are associated with one TRx, a total of eight are arranged in the H-direction to construct a 64T64R transmission channel. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, a total of eight antenna subarrays 350 and additional antenna subarrays 350' are associated with one TRx, so a 32T32R transmission channel may be constructed if eight are arranged in the H-direction.

[0035] In other words, the antenna sub-array 350 and the additional antenna sub-array 350', regardless of their name, have a total of 24 antenna elements 350 arranged in the V-direction, and if they are not equipped with the phase shifter 500 described later, they generally serve as antenna devices that realize a 64T64R transmission signal channel (i.e., a total of 4 RF chains), as already explained in Figure 1. However, in one embodiment of the present invention, after constructing a transmission line that branches from one input terminal to two output terminals, the antenna sub-array 350 and the additional antenna sub-array 350' are provided at the locations corresponding to each output terminal, and two RF chains can be realized by phase transitions at two locations in the transmission line using the phase shifter 500.

[0036] To this end, an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, includes a radiating element module 300 which is electrically connected in front of an RF filter 210 and includes a plurality of antenna subarrays 350 and an additional antenna subarray 350' arranged to achieve antenna beamforming, and a phase shifter 500 which changes the ratio of the lengths of the physical transmission lines to the plurality of antenna subarrays 350 and the additional antenna subarray 350' to a predetermined ratio to shift the phase value.

[0037] Here, the radiated beams from the antenna sub-array 350 and the additional antenna sub-array 350', which radiate with the phase value shifted by the phase shifter 500, enable beamforming that achieves a +3dB increase in gain compared to the conventional method where the beam is radiated via an antenna sub-array for each RF chain without branching from the input end to two output ends.

[0038] In other words, the radiated beams of the antenna sub-array 350 and the additional antenna sub-array 350' radiating with the phase value shifted by the phase shifter 500 can achieve the performance of an antenna system with a gain improved by +3 dB compared to an antenna system with the same number of RF chains.

[0039] An antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention may further have additional antenna subarrays arranged in the V-direction to branch off from the radiating element module 300, along with a plurality of antenna subarrays arranged to achieve a predetermined antenna beamforming for each predetermined number of RF chains provided to realize a 32T32R transmission signal channel.

[0040] In this case, the phase shifter 500 can be interpreted as having the improved gain described above by shifting the phase values ​​of the multiple array antenna elements 350 and additional array antenna elements 350 of each RF chain to different values ​​and radiating accordingly.

[0041] This is similar to how a high-spec antenna device, which is generally designed to achieve a 64T64R transmission signal channel without the phase shifter 500, can achieve a 32T32R transmission signal channel and enable the radiation of an antenna beam with improved gain by adding the phase shifter 500 and applying the unique phase transition method of the present invention. However, in this case, it is necessary to construct the transmission line so that it branches to two output terminals compared to the input terminal of each RF chain, and the phase transition values ​​must be designed so that the phase transition values ​​achieve a linear distribution with respect to the reference cophase plane by designing the transmission line to undergo one phase transition before branching to the two output terminals by the phase shifter 500, and then to undergo one phase transition in one of the transmission lines connected to the two output terminals after branching.

[0042] In MIMO antenna systems for mobile communications, it is common practice to design multiple dual-polarization antenna module arrays to reduce the effects of fading due to multiple paths and to perform polarization diversity functions.

[0043] More specifically, an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 2 to 6, may include an antenna housing portion 10 that forms the left and right lateral and rear exterior of the antenna device, and a radome panel 20 that forms the front exterior of the antenna device and is provided to shield the open front surface of the antenna housing portion 10, protecting internal components (including an RF filter 210 and an antenna board assembly 310, which will be described later) located in the internal space of the antenna housing portion 10 from the outside.

[0044] The radome panel 20 can be detachably secured to the front end of the antenna housing 10 by a plurality of connecting clips 21 provided along its edges.

[0045] Here, the functions and detailed features of the antenna housing 10 and the radome panel 20 are of little relevance to the technical features of one embodiment of the present invention, so a detailed explanation of them will be omitted.

[0046] The RF filter 210 may be stacked on the front of a main board (not shown) located in the internal space of the antenna housing 10, or it may be provided by a plurality of unit RF filter bodies (not shown in the drawings). Here, the plurality of unit RF filter bodies can be arranged in a manner corresponding to the number of antenna subarrays 350 and additional antenna subarrays 350' arranged in the H-direction, as described later.

[0047] On the other hand, an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a radiating element module 300 which is electrically connected in front of the RF filter 210 configured as described above and includes a plurality of antenna subarrays 350 and an additional antenna subarray 350' arranged to achieve antenna beamforming.

[0048] The radiating element module 300 may include an antenna board assembly 310 on which multiple antenna subarrays 350 and additional antenna subarrays 350' are fixed in a VH arrangement on the front.

[0049] Here, the antenna board assembly 310 may include a reflecting panel 310A provided to reflect antenna beams radiated from a plurality of antenna subarrays 350 and additional antenna subarrays 350' forward, and a rear panel 310B and a front panel 310C laminated to the back and front of the reflecting panel 310A.

[0050] The reflecting panel 310A is preferably made of an electromagnetic wave shielding material that does not allow the antenna beam to pass through, and the rear panel 310B and front panel 310C, which are provided on the back and front of the reflecting panel 310A, are preferably made of a non-conductive material, such as a plastic resin material that can be easily manufactured integrally with the reflecting panel 310A by molding.

[0051] More specifically, the reflecting panel 310A is made of a different material than the materials that make up the rear panel 310B and the front panel 310C, and may be made of a plastic resin material that is easy to manufacture as a single unit using a double injection molding method with the reflecting panel 310A as the reference.

[0052] For reference, conventionally, the antenna board assembly 310 is provided in the form of a printed circuit board using a normal PCB material, and the power supply feed line (transmission line, which corresponds to the power supply strip line of the present invention described later) is printed and formed on the front or back of the printed circuit board using a pattern printing method.

[0053] When power supply feed lines are printed on the front or back of such a printed circuit board using a pattern printing method, there was a problem in that the power supply feed lines were formed directly on a dielectric layer having a predetermined dielectric constant, which increased insertion loss.

[0054] An antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention has the advantage of minimizing insertion loss compared to conventional devices, by eliminating the printed circuit board made of ordinary PCB material from the antenna board assembly 310, integrally molding the rear panel 310B and front panel 310C made of plastic resin material on the back and front sides of the reflecting panel 310A, and housing the feed striplines 311B and 311C that perform the function of a transmission line in an air dielectric layer.

[0055] On the other hand, in an antenna device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the radiating element module 300 may further include a plurality of rear-feed striplines 311B arranged in stripline installation slits (312B, hereinafter referred to as "rear installation slits") processed in the rear panel 310B, as shown in Figure 5, and a front-feed stripline 311C arranged in stripline installation slits (312C, hereinafter referred to as "front installation slits") processed in the front panel 310C.

[0056] The rear power supply strip line 311B and the front power supply strip line 311C each have a number of pin fixing holes 311B-1 and 311C-1, respectively, and the rear mounting slit 312B and the front mounting slit 312C each have a number of fixing pins 312B-1 and 312C-1, respectively, which are press-fitted into the pin fixing holes 311B-1 and 311C-1 of the rear power supply strip line 311B and the front power supply strip line 311C to secure them.

[0057] Here, the rear installation slit 312B and the front installation slit 312C may be formed to penetrate in the front-to-back direction so that the rear power supply strip line 311B and the front power supply strip line 311C are accommodated with an air layer as a medium, or they may be machined into a groove shape that is at least larger than the thickness of the rear power supply strip line 311B and the front power supply strip line 311C.

[0058] As shown in Figure 8, the front-feed striplines 311C can be positioned above and below a single variable circuit board 505. In one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna device 1 is provided with two variable circuit boards 505 per RF channel, so four front-feed striplines 311C can be positioned above and below each of the two variable circuit boards 505 that are spaced apart in the V-direction. Here, the variable circuit boards 505 play a role in forming part of the physical transmission line that is modified by the phase shifter 500, which will be described later.

[0059] In addition, the front power supply stripline 311C is connected to the variable circuit board 505 by a rear power supply stripline 311B connected to extensions extending from the two input terminals 507a and 507b of the variable circuit board 505, and may include a left front power supply stripline 311C-α and a right front power supply stripline 311C-β that branch upward and downward from the variable circuit board 505 so as to have at least two output terminals.

[0060] Although not shown in detail in the drawing, the rear power supply stripline 311B is connected at one end to the extensions extending from the two input terminals 507a and 507b of the variable circuit board 505, and at the other end to energize the left front power supply stripline 311C-α and the right front power supply stripline 311C-β, which are located above and below the variable circuit board 505, respectively, and serves to branch and transmit the power supply signal via the low-bandwidth pass filter 330, which will be described later.

[0061] On the other hand, an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a phase shifter 500 that physically changes the length of the transmission lines of the feed striplines 311B and 311C connected from the RF filter 210 to a plurality of antenna subarrays 350 and an additional antenna subarray 350', thereby varying the phase by a predetermined value relative to the same plane as the reference phase and achieving a desired phase transition value.

[0062] The phase shifter 500 may include, on the rear side of the antenna board assembly 310, a phase transition drive motor 510 fixed between unit RF filter bodies, a horizontal mounting bar 520 that moves horizontally in the vertical direction on the rear and front sides of the antenna board assembly 310 along the rotational direction of the motor shaft of the phase transition drive motor 510, a plurality of vertical mounting bars 530, one end of which is connected to the horizontal mounting bar 520 and the other end of which is hinged to a variable switch panel 540 described later, and the aforementioned variable switch panel 540 that is rotatably provided on the front of the variable circuit board 505 fixed to the front of the front panel 310C of the antenna board assembly 310.

[0063] Here, the horizontal mounting bar 520 may include a rear horizontal mounting bar 520A that moves vertically while maintaining horizontal horizontality on the rear side of the antenna board assembly 310, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B, and a front horizontal mounting bar 520B that is connected to the left and right ends of the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A via the outer parts of the left and right sides of the antenna board assembly 310, respectively, and moves vertically while maintaining horizontal horizontality on the front side of the antenna board assembly 310 in conjunction with the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A.

[0064] The rear horizontal mounting bar 520A functions to support vertical movement at the left and right inner ends of the antenna housing 10, while the front horizontal mounting bar 520B is connected to the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A and receives vertical movement force, while also providing connection points to which the other ends of the multiple vertical mounting bars 530 are connected.

[0065] As shown in Figure 6, the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A is arranged such that the phase transition drive motor 510 has a motor rotation axis in the vertical direction, and a rotating screw rod 511 may be axially coupled to the motor rotation axis of the phase transition drive motor 510 and rotatably mounted on one side or the other.

[0066] Here, the phase transition drive motor 510 is fixed inside the antenna housing 10, and when the rotating screw rod 511 engages with the female threads of the screw rod through hole 526h provided in the screw guide mounting block 526 and rotates, the screw guide mounting block 526 moves vertically, causing the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A to move vertically.

[0067] A detailed explanation of the connection structure between the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A and the front horizontal mounting bar 520B, and the connection structure between the front horizontal mounting bar 520B and the multiple vertical mounting bars 530, will be replaced by a description of the configuration of the antenna device 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] The variable circuit board 505 is a type of printed circuit board made of FR-4 material or the like, and a variable circuit 506 having at least one or more power-off points that can change the phase of the frequency via the transmission line is pattern-printed on its front surface, and at least one power-off point of the variable circuit board 505 is powered on the back surface of the variable switch panel 540 Powered pattern terminals 546 may be printed onto the surface.

[0069] More specifically, the variable circuit 506, which is pattern-printed on the variable circuit board 505, receives power supply signals from two input terminals 507a and 507b, as shown in Figure 8, and two of the aforementioned power-off points may be formed in the parts that extend from each input terminal 507a and 507b by pattern printing.

[0070] Here, the variable switch panel 540 is provided so as to be permanently elastically supported on the front side of the variable circuit board 505 via an elastic member 541 provided with a leaf spring, and the elastic member 541 can be elastically supported toward the variable switch panel 540 by being hinged and fixed by a hinge screw 542.

[0071] Thus, the elastic member 541 is of the variable switch panel 540 Powered pattern terminals By allowing 546 to rotate without separating from the variable circuit 506 of the variable circuit board 505, errors due to contact separation can be prevented.

[0072] The front surface of the reflecting panel 310A is provided with a panel type made of a material capable of shielding electromagnetic waves, as described above, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B, and the variable circuit board 505 of the phase shifter 500 described above can be fixed to the front surface.

[0073] The variable circuit board 505 can be fixed by press-fitting it into a board mounting boss 508 fixed so as to penetrate the antenna board assembly 310 in the front-to-back direction, as shown in Figure 7, and the variable switch panel 540 may also be screw-fastened to the tip of the board mounting boss 508 using hinge screws 542.

[0074] On the other hand, an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a low-pass filter (LPF) connected to each input terminal 507a, 507b of a variable circuit board 505, which is connected to the output port (not shown) of a unit RF filter body and provided for feeding power to a plurality of feed striplines 311B, 311C, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B.

[0075] The low-pass filter (LPF) 330 is a filter for removing high-frequency noise and may be provided in a tubular shape, with its upper and lower ends connected to the input terminals 507a and 507b of the respective upper / lower variable circuit boards 505.

[0076] On the other hand, referring to Figures 5 and 7, multiple grounding washers 315 are arranged in pairs on the front surface of the reflecting panel 310A, which corresponds to the input terminals 507a and 507b of the variable circuit board 505 at the upper and lower ends of the low-band-pass filter 330, thereby enabling a grounding (GND) function. For the installation of multiple grounding washers 315, a washer installation groove 310A-h may be formed on the front surface of the reflecting panel 310A, recessed toward the rear.

[0077] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the phase shifter 500, with this configuration, moves upward or downward along the rotational direction of the screw guide mounting block 526 when the rotating screw rod 511 rotates to one side or the other while the phase transition drive motor 510 is electrically operated. The rear horizontal mounting bar 520A to which the screw guide mounting block 526 is fixed and the front horizontal mounting bar 520B fixed thereto move upward or downward while maintaining horizontal alignment. Multiple vertical mounting bars 530 move simultaneously in the vertical direction, causing the variable switch panel 540 coupled to their ends to rotate. This enables the phase transition value to be realized by changing the physical transmission length of the variable circuit board 505 and the front power supply stripline 311C.

[0078] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing an antenna device according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 10 is a front view of Figure 9, Figures 11A and 11B are exploded perspective views of the front and rear sections showing a phase shifter in the configuration of an antenna device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 12A and 12B are exploded perspective views of the front and rear sections showing the specific coupling relationship of the phase transition drive motor in the configuration of the phase shifter.

[0079] An antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, described with reference to Figures 2 to 8, is an embodiment that constructs a 32T32R transmission channel that simultaneously achieves a predetermined phase transition value using two phase shifters 500, whereas another embodiment of the present invention (1A) can be defined as an embodiment that constructs a 16T16R transmission channel using one phase shifter 500.

[0080] In other words, compared to the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 2 to 8, the arrangement of the antenna subarray 350 and the additional antenna subarray 350' is arranged so that two RF chains are substantially constructed in the V-direction, and when the antenna beam is radiated by changing the phase transition value by the phase shifter 500 to a desired value, a single RF chain is realized, thereby achieving the same effect as realizing a 16T16R transmission signal channel.

[0081] Hereinafter, an antenna device 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described in a manner that includes differences other than those described above compared to Embodiment (1) of the present invention, or in a manner that provides additional explanations for technical aspects that are insufficient in the explanatory portion of Embodiment (1) of the present invention.

[0082] Another embodiment of the present invention, antenna device 1A, as shown in Figures 9 to 12B, differs from one embodiment (1) of the present invention in that a low-band-pass filter (not shown) is installed internally adjacent to the output port of the RF filter 210.

[0083] However, the low-band-pass filter does not necessarily have to be installed inside the RF filter 210. The front power supply stripline 311C may be provided to be directly electrically connected to the variable circuit board 505. In one embodiment (1) of the present invention, the rear power supply stripline 311B provided between the rear panel 310B and the reflecting panel 310A may be removed, or the low-band-pass filter may be integrally formed on the rear power supply stripline 311B.

[0084] On the other hand, antenna device 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 10, is equipped with only a single phase shifter 500 and can simultaneously shift the phase values ​​of two RF chains (RF Chain 1, RF Chain 2). This differs from antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which uses two phase shifters 500 to simultaneously shift the phase values ​​of two RF chains.

[0085] In addition, in antenna device 1A according to another embodiment of the present invention, the horizontal mounting bar 520 in the configuration of the phase shifter 500 may include a rear horizontal mounting bar 520A and a front horizontal mounting bar 520B, as shown in Figures 11A to 12B.

[0086] The rear horizontal mounting bar 520A may include a support mounting bar 521A, which is provided such that both ends are supported by the left and right side walls within the internal space of the antenna housing 10, and a fixing mounting bar 522A, which is connected to the front of the support mounting bar 521A and has multiple screw fastening holes 522A-1 formed at both left and right ends for fixing to the front horizontal mounting bar 520B.

[0087] Here, multiple screw through-holes 522B-2 may be formed at both the left and right ends of the front horizontal mounting bar 520B for screw fastening of the fixing mounting bar 522A of the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A by fixing screws 522B-3.

[0088] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 11A and 11B, one end of a plurality of vertical mounting bars 530 is connected to the front horizontal mounting bar 520B, and variable switch panels 540 can be connected to the other ends of the plurality of vertical mounting bars 530 via predetermined hinge members 543 and 544, respectively.

[0089] Here, the predetermined hinge members 543 and 544 include a hinge bolt 543 and a hinge nut 544 fastened thereto, and bolt through holes 533 through which the hinge bolt 543 passes may be formed at the other end of the variable switch panel 540 and the vertical mounting bar 530.

[0090] In this way, the variable switch panel 540 is hinged to the other end of the multiple vertical mounting bars 530 by hinge bolts 543 and hinge nuts 544, so that when the multiple vertical mounting bars 530 move up and down, the variable switch panel 540 rotates freely by a predetermined angle with respect to the rotation center, thereby making the physical length of the transmission line variable.

[0091] On the other hand, the phase transition drive motor 510 can be coupled to a screw guide mounting block 526 provided on the support mounting bar 521A of the rear horizontal mounting bar 520A via a motor mounting bracket 515.

[0092] The screw guide mounting block 526 further includes a lower coupling end 523a integrally formed at the bottom centered on the screw rod through hole 526h, and an upper coupling end 523b integrally formed at the top centered on the screw rod through hole 526h. The lower coupling end 523a and the upper coupling end 523b may have lower screw rod through holes 523a-h and upper screw rod through holes 523b-h formed therein, which communicate with or connect to the screw rod through hole 526h.

[0093] The motor mounting bracket 515 may have a fixing screw through hole 515h-1 formed therein so that a fixing screw 515s can pass through and be fastened to a fixing screw fastening hole 525h-2 formed in the lower coupling end 523a of the screw guide mounting block 526.

[0094] In addition, the upper end of the rotating screw rod 511, which is exposed at the top by passing through the upper screw rod through hole 523b-h of the upper coupling end 523b of the screw guide mounting block 526, can be fixed via a hinge bush 524 and a C-ring 525.

[0095] Figure 13 is a circuit diagram and phase difference diagram illustrating the principle of phase conversion performed in the RF stage using the phase shifter 500 of an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 14 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the transmission signal channel and phase transition of the 32T32R antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] Generally, when varying the transmission line length in each RF chain, achieving a Mirror Symmetry structure requires support work in the digital stage for the phase of signals fed to at least two of the four antenna subarrays 350.

[0097] In an antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the phase shifter 500 is intended to omit the support work in the Digital stage described above, and as shown in Figure 14, the feed signal input from one TRx module (meaning a transmitting and receiving element mounted on the main board or the amplification element section, respectively) may be rotated by the first energizing pattern terminal (not shown in the drawing) and the second energizing pattern terminal (not shown in the drawing) of the variable switch panel 540 so that the lengths of one-side transmission line and the other-side transmission line are varied by a predetermined ratio at a first power-off point (not shown) before branching from each input terminal to two output terminals and at a second power-off point (not shown) after branching.

[0098] Therefore, at the first power-off point before branching from one input terminal to two output terminals, the physical length of one transmission line and the other transmission line is changed by the first energizing pattern terminal of the variable switch panel 540, and the phase is varied by △φ and -△φ to achieve the desired phase transition value. At the second power-off point, which is the transmission line at the output terminal after branching to two output terminals, the physical length of the other transmission line is changed by the second energizing pattern terminal of the variable switch panel 540, and the phase is varied by 2△φ and -2△φ to achieve the desired phase transition value.

[0099] In this case, the phase transition values ​​for the two antenna subarrays 350 and the two additional antenna subarrays 350' with respect to the same phase plane can form a linear phase distribution, enabling the realization of a Mirror Symmetry structure with the most efficient beamforming performance, as shown in Figure 13.

[0100] Here, in one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 14, the antenna device 1 is provided to realize a total of 32T32R transmission line channels. Among the antenna sub-arrays 350 and additional antenna sub-arrays 350', the phase transition is performed so that the physical length ratio is a predetermined ratio at one point on the transmission line before it branches from the input end of the RF chain to two output ends, and at one point on the transmission line connecting one of the two output ends after it branches, thereby achieving beamforming.

[0101] This results in a +6dB gain improvement compared to an antenna device with two RF chains and a 32T32R transmission line channel without a phase shifter 500, and a +3dB gain improvement compared to an antenna device with two RF chains and a phase shifter but with a 32T32R transmission line channel that does not branch to two output terminals. Therefore, it has the advantage of being able to radiate a beam with a narrow beamwidth and high antenna gain.

[0102] Furthermore, the antenna device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figures 13 and 14, can apply phase changes to four antenna subarrays per RF chain, thus achieving beamforming with the same effect as a 64T64R antenna device. Moreover, having two RF chains, it has the advantage of being more cost- and process-efficient compared to a 64T64R antenna device having four RF chains.

[0103] An antenna device according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings. However, it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to the embodiment described above, and 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 determined by the claims described later. [Industrial applicability]

[0104] The present invention provides an antenna device that can achieve beamforming with a greater gain than an antenna device without additional antenna subarrays by constructing additional antenna subarrays branching from the input end of each RF chain, along with a plurality of antenna subarrays arranged to construct a predetermined number of RF chains, and using a phase shifter to shift the phase values ​​of the antenna subarrays and the additional antenna subarrays to different values ​​and radiate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0105] 210: RF filter, 211: Unit RF filter body 310: Antenna board assembly, 310A: Reflecting panel 310B: Rear panel, 310C: Front panel 311B: Rear power supply strip line, 311C: Front power supply strip line 350: Antenna sub-array, 350': Additional antenna sub-array 500: Phase shifter, 510: Phase transition drive motor 520: Horizontal mounting bar, 530: Vertical mounting bar 540: Variable switch panel, 590: Front horizontal moving bar

Claims

1. A radiating element module comprising multiple antenna subarrays arranged to be electrically connected in front of an RF filter and to construct a predetermined number of RF chains to achieve antenna beamforming, The system includes a phase shifter that changes the ratio of the lengths of the physical transmission lines to the plurality of antenna subarrays to a predetermined ratio, thereby causing a phase shift, Each RF chain of the radiating element module is further arranged such that the antenna subarray is connected to one of the two output terminals branched from the input terminal of each RF chain, and an additional antenna subarray corresponding to the antenna subarray is connected to the other output terminal. The aforementioned phase shifter is An antenna device that changes the physical length of each transmission line connected to the plurality of antenna subarrays and the additional antenna subarrays corresponding to each RF chain for power supply feed.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the phase shifter causes the phase values ​​of the plurality of antenna subarrays and additional antenna subarrays to be shifted differently in the transmission line constituting either the input end of each RF chain or one of the two branched output ends, thereby radiating an antenna beam and realizing a linear phase distribution according to the predetermined ratio with respect to the same reference phase plane.

3. When implementing antenna beamforming via the 32T32R transmission signal channel, The aforementioned plurality of antenna subarrays construct two RF chains, and each RF chain is arranged with a distance between them in the V-direction (vertical direction). The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the additional antenna subarrays are arranged spaced apart in the V-direction so as to branch off together with the antenna subarrays from the input ends of each of the two RF chains.

4. A radiating element module comprising multiple antenna subarrays arranged to be electrically connected in front of an RF filter and to construct a predetermined number of RF chains to achieve antenna beamforming, The system includes a phase shifter that changes the ratio of the lengths of the physical transmission lines to the plurality of antenna subarrays to a predetermined ratio, thereby causing a phase shift, Each RF chain of the radiating element module is further arranged such that the antenna subarray is connected to one of the two output terminals branched from the input terminal of each RF chain, and an additional antenna subarray corresponding to the antenna subarray is connected to the other output terminal. The phase shifter includes a variable switch panel including a first energizing pattern terminal and a second energizing pattern terminal, The radiating element module includes an antenna board assembly on which the plurality of antenna subarrays and the plurality of additional antenna subarrays are arranged, and the transmission lines that contact the first energizing pattern terminal and the second energizing pattern terminal are coupled as a plurality of feed striplines of a conductive material, The plurality of power supply striplines in the antenna board assembly are made of a variable circuit board on which a variable circuit having a first power-off point and a second power-off point, which are powered by a first power-carrying pattern terminal and a second power-carrying pattern terminal of the variable switch panel, respectively, is pattern-printed. The aforementioned multiple power supply strip lines are A rear power supply stripline connected to energize the variable circuit of the variable circuit board, which has two input terminals so as to be powered at least at two locations, An antenna device comprising: a front-feed stripline connected to energize the rear-feed stripline, branching and extending to have at least two output terminals, and connected to the plurality of antenna subarrays and the plurality of additional antenna subarrays.

5. The antenna device according to claim 4, wherein the variable circuit board is configured as a printed circuit board made of FR-4 material.

6. The antenna device according to claim 4, wherein the phase shifter realizes a phase transition value at a predetermined ratio according to the position where the variable switch panel rotates and the first energized pattern terminal and the second energized pattern terminal contact the transmission line.

7. A radiating element module comprising multiple antenna subarrays arranged to be electrically connected in front of an RF filter and to construct a predetermined number of RF chains to achieve antenna beamforming, The system includes a phase shifter that changes the ratio of the lengths of the physical transmission lines to the plurality of antenna subarrays to a predetermined ratio, thereby causing a phase shift, Each RF chain of the radiating element module is further arranged such that the antenna subarray is connected to one of the two output terminals branched from the input terminal of each RF chain, and an additional antenna subarray corresponding to the antenna subarray is connected to the other output terminal. The aforementioned radiating element module is An antenna board assembly comprising: a reflecting panel provided to reflect antenna beams radiated from the plurality of antenna subarrays and the additional antenna subarrays forward; and a rear panel and a front panel laminated to the back and front of the reflecting panel, It includes a plurality of power supply striplines made of a conductive material, which penetrate the reflecting panel or are disposed in one of the stripline installation slits processed in the rear panel and the front panel, and which are disposed for electrical connection with the RF filter, The front panel and the rear panel are made of different types of plastic resin materials, which are different from the material of the reflecting panel. The antenna board assembly is an antenna device in which the rear panel and front panel are manufactured integrally using a double-extrusion method with respect to the reflecting panel.

8. The antenna device according to claim 7, wherein the front surface of the front panel is comprised of a variable circuit board on which a variable circuit having at least two power-off points is pattern-printed to constitute a part of the physical transmission line that is changed by the phase shifter.

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