Antenna placement and communication systems

Abstract

To provide a transceiver arrangement having an antenna arrangement that is low in complexity and has substantial isolation characteristics between a transmitter and a receiver within the same transceiver.SOLUTION: A first transmitting antenna 2 and a second transmitting antenna 3 of an antenna arrangement 1 are connected to a symmetrical connection of a first balun 22, and a first receiving antenna 4 and a second receiving antenna 5 are connected to a symmetrical connection of a second balun 23. It is prescribed such that an asymmetrical connection of the first balun 22 is connectable to a transmitting signal path S of a transceiver arrangement portion 17 and an asymmetrical connection of the second balun 23 is connectable to a receiving signal path E of the transceiver arrangement portion 17 that is independent of the transmitting signal path S. The first transmitting antenna, the second transmitting antenna, the first receiving antenna, and the second receiving antenna have relative spatial positions with respect to each other such that crosstalk between a transmitting antenna group and a receiving antenna group is at least reduced by a differential interconnection of the respective antennas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 This invention claims the priority of European Patent Application No. 21 180 140.2, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 【0002】 The present invention relates to an antenna arrangement having a group of transmitting antennas including a first transmitting antenna and a second transmitting antenna, and a group of receiving antennas including a first receiving antenna and a second receiving antenna, preferably for use within a full-duplex communication channel, particularly an antenna arrangement for a transceiver arrangement, particularly a high-frequency transceiver arrangement. 【0003】 The present invention further relates to a transceiver arrangement having an antenna arrangement, a transmitting unit, and a receiving unit. 【0004】 The present invention further relates to a communication system having a first transceiver arrangement and a second transceiver arrangement for providing wireless signal transmission. 【0005】 The present invention further relates to an actuator device having a first actuator element, a second actuator element, and a communication system having a first transceiver arrangement and a second transceiver arrangement, particularly for an industrial robot system. 【0006】 Finally, the present invention also relates to a method for operating an antenna arrangement of a transceiver arrangement, particularly a high-frequency transceiver arrangement. 【Background Art】 【0007】 An antenna arrangement consisting of one antenna or a plurality of antennas is used for non-contact or wireless energy transmission and / or data transmission. Regarding the use of an antenna arrangement within a communication channel that provides simultaneous transmission and reception of electromagnetic waves (referred to as full-duplex operation), that is, simultaneous transmission and reception of signals at the same frequency (in-band full-duplex), in order to avoid crosstalk or interference between the transmitter and the receiver, high electromagnetic attenuation or separation between the transmitter and the receiver within the same transceiver is essential. 【0008】 Furthermore, in radar applications, it is often necessary for the radar receiver to be ready to receive while the radar transmitter is transmitting the radar signal. Since radar signals are typically transmitted and received at the same frequency, high electromagnetic attenuation or isolation is required between the transmitting and receiving antennas of the radar system. 【0009】 Various technical approaches are already known for providing adequate electromagnetic isolation between the transmitter and receiver within an in-band full-duplex communication channel. One possibility involves transmission using different polarizations (polarization multiplexing / polarization dualization), where the two communication partners (hereinafter also referred to as the "transceiver configuration") transmit electromagnetic waves in different directions of rotation, for example, by circular polarization. Further techniques involve transmitting electromagnetic waves from the two communication partners in a special radiation pattern to avoid interference between transmitter and receiver characteristics as much as possible. Further examples of metal shielding between the transmitting and receiving antennas in a common antenna configuration can be found in Non-Patent Document 1. 【0010】 However, the isolation behavior of known antenna configurations is still sometimes insufficient, or cannot be achieved without very complex antenna and circuit configurations that require considerable manufacturing effort and cost. [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature] 【0011】 [Non-Patent Document 1] "Circularly Polarized PIFA Array For Simultaneous Transmit And Receive Applications", A. Kee, M. Elmansouri, DS Filipovic, 2017 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation, pp. 2303-2304 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve] 【0012】 In light of known prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an antenna arrangement that is improved compared to the prior art, preferably less complex, and has substantial isolation characteristics between the transmitter and receiver within the same transceiver. 【0013】 Ultimately, an object of the present invention is also to provide a transceiver arrangement, an improved communication system, and an actuator device having an antenna arrangement that is improved compared to the prior art, preferably less complex and having substantial isolation characteristics between the transmitter and receiver within the same transceiver. 【0014】 A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating an antenna configuration of a transceiver configuration that is improved compared to the prior art and is preferably suitable for in-band full-duplex transmission. [Means for solving the problem] 【0015】 The objective is achieved by an antenna arrangement having the features described in claim 1. With respect to a transceiver arrangement, the objective is achieved by the features of claim 20, with respect to a communication system, by claim 22, and with respect to an actuator device, by claim 26. With respect to a method for operating the antenna arrangement, the objective is achieved by the features of claim 27. 【0016】 The dependent claims and the features described below relate to advantageous embodiments and variations of the present invention. 【0017】 In particular, an antenna configuration for use within a full-duplex communication channel is provided. This antenna configuration is advantageously suitable for use in transceiver configurations, especially in high-frequency transceiver configurations as described below. 【0018】 According to the present invention, the antenna arrangement has a group of transmitting antennas having a first transmitting antenna and a second transmitting antenna. The first transmitting antenna and the second transmitting antenna, which may sometimes be simply referred to as "transmitting antenna" hereinafter, are preferably planar transmitting antennas, but can also be provided in other antenna designs, particularly directive antennas, when appropriate. 【0019】 The "planar" antenna is understood to mean an antenna having a generally flat, preferably uniform shape, mainly in the vertical and horizontal directions, and particularly having two preferably parallel main regions facing away from each other, i.e., in the form of, for example, a disc, a coating, or a platelet. In particular, the planar antenna can be a patch antenna or a slot antenna, as proposed hereinafter. 【0020】 According to the present invention, the antenna arrangement further has a group of receiving antennas having a first receiving antenna and a second receiving antenna. The first receiving antenna and the second receiving antenna, which may sometimes be simply referred to as "receiving antenna" hereinafter, are preferably planar receiving antennas, but can also be provided in other antenna designs, particularly directive antennas, when appropriate. 【0021】 The transmitting antennas and the receiving antennas may sometimes be referred to hereinafter without specifying as "planar" etc. (optionally), and may also be grouped together using the term "antenna". 【0022】 The above-mentioned groups of antennas (the group of transmitting antennas and the group of receiving antennas) are each an antenna array, particularly a phased array. Therefore, the group of transmitting antennas is a transmitting antenna array, and the group of receiving antennas is a receiving antenna array. 【0023】 According to the present invention, the transmitting antenna has a first balun (also known as a balancing unit), and the first transmitting antenna and the second transmitting antenna are each connected to the symmetric connection (differential connection) of the first balun, or are connected to both symmetric connections. The receiving antenna group further has a second balun, and the first receiving antenna and the second receiving antenna are each connected to the symmetric connection of the second balun, or are connected to both symmetric connections. The asymmetric connection (single-ended connection) of the first balun can be connected to the transmission signal path of the transceiver arrangement, and the asymmetric connection of the second balun can be connected to the reception signal path of the transceiver arrangement independent of the transmission signal path. 【0024】 In other words, the symmetric connection refers to the connection for symmetric signal transmission, and the asymmetric connection refers to the connection for asymmetric signal transmission. 【0025】 Therefore, the transmitting antennas are preferably interconnected differentially, supplied via the transmission signal path, and can transmit a transmission signal having a first carrier frequency band. The receiving antennas are similarly interconnected differentially and can transfer a reception signal having a second carrier frequency band via the reception signal path. 【0026】 According to the present invention, the antennas are provided with spatial positions relative to each other such that crosstalk between the transmitting antenna group and the receiving antenna group is at least reduced by the differential connection of each antenna. In this regard, various possibilities that can also be implemented in combination are shown below as an example. 【0027】 According to the present invention, an antenna arrangement is proposed that suppresses crosstalk between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna as much as possible, despite their spatial proximity. This can be achieved, in particular, by arranging two co-transmitting antennas relative to a receiving antenna such that the levels of crosstalk from the two transmitting antennas to the receiving antenna are equally high but have opposite signs. Crosstalk with opposite signs can be achieved by exciting two transmitting antennas that are 180° phase-shifted, and for this purpose, the aforementioned balancing unit or balun can be used. 【0028】 By positioning the two transmitting antennas at geometrically equal distances from the receiving antenna, it is possible to achieve the same level of crosstalk between the transmitting and receiving antennas. The antennas can preferably be designed so that equally large effective areas or effective edges of the transmitting and receiving antennas are positioned facing each other accordingly. Various possibilities are further described below. 【0029】 In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna may be arranged around a common central point. 【0030】 The common center point of the antennas, sometimes referred to as the "center of rotation" below, does not mean that the antennas actually rotate or are capable of rotating around the center of rotation or center point (although this is optionally possible in one advantageous use of the present invention, which will be discussed later). 【0031】 The two transmitting antennas and the two receiving antennas can be oriented such that their antenna main lobes point in the same direction, preferably parallel to each other. In particular, the phase center of the transmitting antenna group can coincide with the phase center of the receiving antenna group, and preferably further coincide with a common center point. 【0032】 The directional effect of an antenna is explained in terms of its antenna gain. This is often represented by a radiation diagram in spherical coordinates, depending on the elevation and azimuth angles. In the radiation diagram, the alternation of the maximum and minimum values ​​of the antenna gain generates "antenna lobes," and the antenna lobe containing the global maximum value of the antenna gain is called the "antenna main lobe." 【0033】 As long as the transmitting and receiving antennas are designed as planar antennas, the antennas can be arranged with their respective principal regions parallel to a common base region around a common center of rotation or common center point. 【0034】 The antenna may be positioned in and / or mounted in the base region. The antenna may also be spaced apart from the base region or incorporated into an electrical assembly having a base region, such as a printed circuit board. The base layer may be, for example, the grounding region of a multilayer printed circuit board (GND plane) or the upper layer of a multilayer printed circuit board. 【0035】 Preferably, the two transmitting antennas are positioned at the same height or distance from the base area, and / or the two receiving antennas are positioned at the same height or distance from the base area. Particularly preferably, all transmitting antennas (transmitting antennas and receiving antennas) are positioned at the same height or distance from the base area. 【0036】 The common center of rotation or common center point is preferably designed as the center point of a virtual connection line between the two center points or geometric centers of the two transmitting antennas. Thus, the center of rotation is preferably located in the middle between the two transmitting antennas. 【0037】 The transmitting antenna and / or receiving antenna can be positioned rotated 180° relative to each other around a center of rotation or a common center point. The rotation of the antennas may be related in particular to the geometric shape of the antennas themselves (e.g., the relative alignment of the axis of symmetry or other axes of the main region of a planar antenna, as described later), and / or the feed point or path of the feed lines connected to each antenna. 【0038】 In one embodiment of the present invention, each receiving antenna can be configured to have the same center-to-center distance from both transmitting antennas. 【0039】 The "center" or "center point" of an antenna is understood to mean, for example, the geometric center of each antenna, based on the determination of the center-to-center distance. 【0040】 This antenna configuration is particularly advantageous when the two transmitting antennas are excited in opposite phases. 【0041】 The inventors have recognized that highly effective separation characteristics can be achieved between a transmitter and a receiver, or between the transmitting and receiving antennas of the same transceiver, by pairwise differential excitation of the transmitting antenna. 【0042】 Regarding crosstalk of the transmitted signal to a 180° phase-shifted receiving antenna, the proposed arrangement of the transmitting antenna compensates for the electromagnetic waves that generate crosstalk from the transmitting antenna. 【0043】 The proposed invention enables reliable data transmission in full-duplex operation, even with an offset between communication partners. In particular, for two communication partners, the following can be achieved: - They are rotationally offset from each other, that is, they rotate around a common axis of rotation such that the transmitting antenna of one communication partner is not oriented to coincide with the receiving antenna of the other communication partner, and / or -They are translational offsets relative to each other, i.e., starting from the target distance between the two center points of each antenna configuration, they move away from each other or closer to each other, and / or - There is an axial offset with respect to the other, that is, there is an offset between each central axis extending through the center point of the antenna arrangement such that the central axis of the antenna arrangement is deviated from coaxial alignment, and / or -They are radially offset from each other, that is, they start with a parallel alignment of the antenna arrangement and are tilted. The corresponding offset may arise due to tolerances or may be explicitly provided on an application-relevant basis. In particular, the offset may occur only during data transmission or may be intentionally introduced, for example, through the target rotation of the communication partner. 【0044】 At the same time, the low complexity of the proposed antenna configuration enables technically simple and economical implementation. Therefore, the present invention allows for cost-optimized design of full-duplex communication antenna configurations or radar antenna configurations using, for example, standard printed circuit board processing. The proposed antenna configuration can be easily integrated into any electronic assembly. 【0045】 In one particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, two transmitting antennas are based on the same basic geometric shape. In particular, planar transmitting antennas may be based on the same basic shape of their main regions. The two transmitting antennas preferably have the same design, in particular with respect to the geometric shape, material, and / or location of the feed point on the main region. 【0046】 However, while the two transmitting antennas may have substantially different designs, it is preferable that they have at least similar designs, especially insofar as it is technically feasible. Attenuation with respect to the receiving antenna can be further improved by having identical or at least substantially identical designs for the transmitting antennas. 【0047】 Furthermore, the two receiving antennas are preferably, though not necessarily, based on the same basic geometric shape, in particular, the same basic shape as the transmitting antenna (again, preferably related to the main region of the planar antenna). The receiving antennas preferably have the same or at least substantially the same design as the transmitting antenna with respect to the geometric shape, material, and / or location of the feed point on each main region of the antenna. 【0048】 The present invention can be substantially suitable for transmitting any electromagnetic wave having any wavelength or frequency. However, the present invention is particularly advantageous for transmitting electromagnetic waves in the frequency range of 40 GHz to 80 GHz, preferably 50 GHz to 70 GHz, and especially preferably 55 GHz to 65 GHz. The high carrier frequency can result in very high data rates in short-distance signal transmission, making the proposed antenna configuration particularly advantageously suited to contactless electrical connectors as an alternative to conventional plug-in connections. This advantageous application of the present invention will be discussed in more detail below. 【0049】 Transmitting at corresponding high frequencies offers the further advantage that free-space attenuation increases with increasing frequency (free-space attenuation increases proportionally to the square of the carrier frequency). The signal of the proposed antenna configuration fades relatively rapidly as it escapes into the environment. Furthermore, interference signals generated within the bandwidth reach the antenna configuration with only low amplitude. Thus, according to the present invention, the characteristic of signals that rapidly lose power density at high frequencies is advantageously utilized. 【0050】 The transmission bandwidth can be, for example, 3 GHz to 20 GHz, and especially around 10 GHz. 【0051】 The first transmitting antenna can be positioned in the near field of the second transmitting antenna, preferably at a maximum distance from the second transmitting antenna of half the free-space wavelength of the transmitted electromagnetic wave. In this way, the formation of antenna-side lobes can be avoided. 【0052】 In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna can be positioned relative to each other such that the center-to-center distance between each transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna is, in any case, less than half the wavelength of the transmitted electromagnetic wave. 【0053】 The first receiving antenna (and optionally the second receiving antenna as well) is positioned rotated 90° around a common center of rotation or common center point relative to the transmitting antenna. 【0054】 The transmitting and receiving antennas are, in either case, arranged alternately so as to circulate around a common center of rotation or common center point, and each antenna may be rotated 90° relative to its upstream antenna. Preferably, all antennas along the circumference are rotated in the same direction. 【0055】 The center points of all antennas are preferably located on a common virtual circumference where the center points coincide with the rotational center of the antennas or a common center point. Therefore, the center points of the antennas can preferably have the same radial distance from the common center point. 【0056】 In one advantageous design of the present invention, antennas, in particular, planar antennas as specified below, can also be made copolarized. Copolarization is understood to mean, for example, that all antennas are either right-circularly polarized, left-circularly polarized, vertically linearly polarized, or horizontally linearly polarized. 【0057】 In relation to the proposed antenna configuration, the inventors unexpectedly recognized that copolarization may be advantageous compared to other conventional cross-polarizations. Cross-polarization is typically chosen to reduce crosstalk from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna. However, when the receiving antenna is relatively close to the transmitting antenna (for example, when the distance is less than half the free-space wavelength), the receiving antenna is located in the near-field of the transmitting antenna. In the near-field, the electromagnetic wave is not yet a transverse electromagnetic wave, and therefore, the formed circular polarization cannot yet exist in the near-field. In this respect, cross-polarization does not result in improved antenna isolation. However, copolarization can result in improved isolation from reflective elements. For example, in the case of simple reflection on a conductive surface, the direction of rotation changes with respect to a circularly polarized electromagnetic wave. When the transmitting and receiving antennas are then copolarized with respect to each other, simple reflective elements reaching the receiving antenna (e.g., due to simple reflections on the opposing communication partner) are cross-polarized with respect to the receiving antenna, resulting in a substantially reduced undesirable reception of reflective elements. Thus, the receiving antenna is more effectively isolated from the transmitting antenna with respect to propagation paths having one or an odd number of reflection points. 【0058】 In particular, suppression of reception of such reflective elements may be relevant in the case of contactless data plugs or contactless vectors. This type of contactless connector may include two transceiver arrangements according to the present invention, which are positioned in close proximity to each other and facing each other, for example, at a distance of less than 10 cm (or even less than 5 cm). Due to the short distance and the relatively large lateral extensions with respect to distance of the printed circuit boards of the transceiver arrangements to which the transmitting and receiving antennas are mounted, reflective elements can have high amplitudes, for example in the case of contactless connectors, and are therefore advantageous in suppressing undesirable reception of such reflective elements. 【0059】 The transmitting antenna and / or receiving antenna can be designed as directional antennas, and their main radiation directions are aligned in the same spatial direction, preferably parallel. In one embodiment of the present invention, the antenna can be designed as a planar antenna, and its main region is aligned parallel to the aforementioned base region, preferably parallel to the side region of an electrically and mechanically connected printed circuit board. 【0060】 In one advantageous embodiment, the main region of the planar antenna can have an elongated geometric shape, preferably a rectangular or elliptical geometric shape. 【0061】 The geometric shape can also be a triangular shape (not necessarily an equilateral triangle, i.e., an elongated triangle). Furthermore, geometric shapes with asymmetry incorporated in a targeted manner, such as chamfered corners, indentations, or slots, can also be provided, and this type of asymmetry can be provided even in basic geometric shapes that do not have an elongated shape. 【0062】 In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the planar antennas can be configured to have exactly one feed point. 【0063】 The antenna can preferably be circularly polarized, especially when the antenna is designed as a planar antenna, and especially when the planar antenna has exactly one feed point in any case. The geometric shape of the antenna and any asymmetry incorporated into the geometric shape can be designed accordingly. 【0064】 Circular polarization, which means that the vectors of the electric and magnetic field strengths of the transmitted electromagnetic waves rotate continuously, allows for independence of the signal transmission strength from the rotation angle of the communication partner, for example, two transceiver arrangements, even at a distance of less than 10 cm between non-contact electrical connectors. 【0065】 According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the planar antennas can be designed such that its main region has a finite number of non-zero axes of symmetry, preferably exactly two or exactly three axes of symmetry. 【0066】 In particular, the antenna can be made to have a geometric shape other than a circle. 【0067】 According to one embodiment of the present invention, in each case, a planar antenna forms an orientation angle between the principal symmetry axis, which is the longest symmetry axis of the corresponding planar antenna (particularly, symmetry axes aligned longitudinally in the principal region or diagonally aligned on the principal region), and a straight line passing between the geometric center of the corresponding planar antenna and the common center point of the antennas, and the planar antennas can be aligned with respect to one another such that the orientation angles of all planar antennas are at least substantially the same, preferably the same. 【0068】 The orientation angle of all antennas can be, for example, 40° to 50°, preferably 43° to 47°, particularly preferably substantially 45°, or exactly 45°. 【0069】 At this point, it should be noted that if the orientation is not exactly 45° (obtuse, i.e., greater than 90°, and acute, i.e., less than 90°), two distinct angles will be substantially formed between the line and the principal axis of symmetry defined above for each antenna. In this case, the same selection criteria must always be used to determine the “orientation angle” for all antennas. That is, for example, the orientation angle for all antennas is the angle enclosed in a clockwise (or counterclockwise) direction starting from the line between the line and the principal axis of symmetry. The starting point (i.e., the line or principal axis of symmetry) and the direction of rotation (i.e., the clockwise or counterclockwise direction) should be the same for all antennas in order to define each of their orientation angles. Thus, this orientation angle is, more preferably, identical for all antennas, or at least substantially identical. The “counterclockwise direction” is understood with respect to a common center point of the antennas. 【0070】 The principal axes of symmetry of the transmitting and receiving antennas can be extended so as to be orthogonal to each other. Preferably, the individual antennas are arranged such that the transmitting and receiving antennas face each other in both cases, with a short side and a long side. 【0071】 In one design of the present invention, the antenna may have each eccentric offset feed point, and each eccentric offset (distance to the center point and / or position on the main region) is the same for all antennas. 【0072】 Impedance matching can be achieved by an eccentric offset feed point. The feed point is preferably selected such that the input impedance is 50 ohms. 【0073】 The feed points of each antenna can preferably be located on the principal axis of symmetry of the antenna. However, by any arrangement of the feed points on the principal region of each antenna, it is also possible to substantially provide feed point locations on a line that extends over the principal region, passes through the center point or center of the principal region, and forms a 45° angle with respect to the principal axis of symmetry. 【0074】 In one embodiment of the present invention, each feed line can be capacitively coupled to each of the planar antennas. Thus, electromagnetic waves can be injected into the transmitting antenna from each feed line via near-field coupling (preferably mainly capacitive) and extracted from the receiving antenna via near-field coupling (preferably mainly capacitive). The feed lines can be incorporated, in particular, into electrical assemblies forming a base region, especially within a printed circuit board. 【0075】 To form optimal circular polarization for each individual transmitting and / or receiving antenna, the feed lines assigned to each antenna can be positioned at a substantially 45° angle with respect to the principal axis of symmetry of the main region of each antenna and can be capacitively coupled to each antenna. 【0076】 Preferably, primary capacity feeding and transmission of electromagnetic waves based on electromagnetic near-field coupling is particularly advantageous because it allows for the pre-determining of the feeding point in a flexible manner. 【0077】 However, injection and extraction can also be carried out in substantially different ways. 【0078】 For example, electromagnetic waves can be injected through a feed line (e.g., a microstrip line on a printed circuit board) that leads directly to the antenna (especially to its main region). Thus, coplanar, direct galvanic feeding and transmission can be provided to each antenna. 【0079】 Electromagnetic waves can also be injected through through-connections (vias) that directly lead to antennas (especially their main region) connected directly or indirectly to feed lines extending at different heights. However, one advantage of the capacitive coupling described above compared to coupling via through-connections is that it eliminates the need for these through-connections. Generally speaking, the etching process in printed circuit board manufacturing is more precise than the positioning of through-connections. Therefore, the positioning tolerance problem of through-connections can be avoided by capacitive coupling. In the case of manufacturing-related offsets of through-connections, the rotational symmetry of the antenna arrangement may be broken, which can be important when determining whether the level of crosstalk from the first transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna corresponds to the level of crosstalk from the second transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna. For this reason, if the problem of through-connections is eliminated, the rotational symmetry of the antenna arrangement can be more effectively ensured. This can ultimately improve the isolation between the transmitting and receiving antennas. 【0080】 Furthermore, electromagnetic waves can be injected by at least one intermediate antenna positioned parallel to the main region and the feed line, and located in the plane between the main region and the feed line. Thus, a stacked arrangement having one or more intermediate antennas can be provided, for example, a stacked arrangement of multiple intermediate antennas designed as patch antennas and / or slot antennas within a common printed circuit board. The transmission bandwidth can optionally be further increased by the stacked antenna arrangement. 【0081】 Any antenna structure capable of generating or receiving circularly polarized electromagnetic waves can be substantially used. However, linear polarization is also substantially possible, especially when reciprocal rotation of the communication partner is not assumed. 【0082】 The feed line can be spread out in the direction of the feed point to enable impedance matching. 【0083】 To achieve a more advantageous radiation pattern, particularly directional radiation of electromagnetic waves along the main radiation direction, a metallic or conductive reference electrode structure or grounding plate can be formed on the side of the antenna facing the desired main radiation direction, i.e., "below" the antenna. The grounding plate can be formed, for example, as the metallized underside of a printed circuit board, with the main region of the antenna formed above it. 【0084】 In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the antenna may be designed as a patch antenna or a slot antenna. 【0085】 The antenna is preferably designed as a patch antenna. A patch antenna can be designed, in particular, as a metallized region on or within a printed circuit board. Conversely, a slot antenna can be designed complementaryly as a corresponding indentation in a metallized region of a printed circuit board. 【0086】 The use of patch antennas or slot antennas is merely one advantageous possibility for implementing the antenna configuration according to the present invention. For example, the use of horn antennas is also possible. 【0087】 Patch antennas or slot antennas are preferably manufactured by printed circuit board manufacturing processes in addition and / or subtraction techniques. However, individual antennas, For example, they can be manufactured separately by deep drawing, or by punching and bending. 【0088】 In one embodiment of the present invention, each main region of the antenna may have an elliptical geometric shape. A rectangular geometric shape (with different side lengths, or a square) can similarly be given, for example, by exactly a pair of chamfered corners facing each other diagonally, particularly in the case of a square geometric shape. 【0089】 Further geometric shapes, such as triangular shapes, circular shapes (in particular having punched or recessed peripheral regions, e.g., square punched peripheral regions), or other geometric shapes can also be substantially provided. 【0090】 However, an elliptical geometric shape is preferred because it yields a particularly advantageous radiation pattern. In particular, perfectly circularly polarized electromagnetic waves can be radiated by an elliptical geometric shape having an axial ratio of ideally 1.0. One particular advantage of the elliptical geometric shape is, on the one hand, its small area requirement compared to other geometric shapes, and the possibility of generating circular polarization with only a single feed point. Linear polarization components can be avoided as much as possible by the elliptical geometric shape, and for this reason, the elliptical geometric shape can also enable the most energy-efficient antenna arrangement. 【0091】 In the case of a patch antenna, the metallized region can have a corresponding geometric shape (ellipse, rectangle, etc.). In the case of a slot antenna, the corresponding indentation within the metallized region can have the aforementioned geometric shape. 【0092】 In one embodiment, the antenna arrangement may include a shielding arrangement positioned around the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna. 【0093】 The shielding arrangement preferably forms a shielding casing that encloses the antenna in a substantially tubular form extending perpendicular to the base region. The shielding arrangement can be formed, preferably in a uniform arrangement, particularly preferably in two or more rows, and very preferably at equal distances from one another, from individual through-connections extending through the electrical assembly (e.g., a printed circuit board) that forms the base region. 【0094】 The shielding arrangement is preferably arranged equally symmetrically with respect to all antennas. 【0095】 Since the antenna arrangement has the shielding arrangement described above, the antenna arrangement can be shielded from the environment, and furthermore, electromagnetic isolation can be further enhanced. A quasi-coaxial structure for the power supply and power transmission path can preferably be realized by the shielding arrangement. 【0096】 The antenna is preferably arranged on an electrical printed circuit board. The substrate material of the printed circuit board can be, for example, a composite material FR-4 (a composite material consisting of glass fibers in epoxy resin) in order to provide a particularly economical antenna arrangement. Alternatively, the substrate material can be formed as a composite of ceramic particles (Teflon®) and glass fibers in epoxy resin in order to minimize dielectric loss. 【0097】 Depending on the application, a transmit channel established between two transceiver configurations can be affected by distortion caused by reflections of electromagnetic waves transmitting data signals. Reflections can occur on any object to which electromagnetic waves strike during transmission. Due to reflections, the useful signal is transmitted from one transceiver configuration to the other not only along a direct path through the line-of-sight element, but also through multiple propagation paths formed by the reflective element of the transmit. This is called multipath propagation or a multipath channel. Due to multipath propagation, the line-of-sight element can interfere on the receiving antenna of the opposing transceiver configuration with the reflective element, causing the received signal to be distorted in terms of quantity and phase. As a result, it becomes more difficult for the receiver to detect the received signal without error. Along with distortion, multipath propagation also causes the problem of canceling interference on the receiver, as the line-of-sight element can be canceled out by a reflective element shifted 180° relative to it, resulting in a significant loss of power. 【0098】 In particular, when transceiver arrangements are positioned facing each other and in close proximity (e.g., less than 10 cm apart), as in the case of non-contact electrical connectors described later, reflections can occur on the base area of ​​the electrical assembly (e.g., printed circuit board) to which the antenna is mounted, because this type of assembly sometimes constitutes a good reflector. Therefore, in transmission from the first to the second transceiver arrangement, the signal can reach the second transceiver arrangement via the line-of-sight element, where it is reflected in the direction of the first transceiver arrangement. Returning to the first transceiver arrangement once more, the signal is reflected again there, bounced back to the receiving antenna of the second transceiver arrangement, and finally interferes with the line-of-sight element. 【0099】 To improve signal transmission quality, it is optional to minimize the effects of multipath propagation as much as possible. In this regard, signal processing elements in the transceiver configuration, particularly digital signal processing elements for equalization or pre-emphasis, can be provided. 【0100】 However, in one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the antenna arrangement may have an attenuation arrangement arranged around the antenna. Preferably, the attenuation arrangement surrounds the antenna in the direction of radiation, for example, in a symmetrical arrangement around the antenna. 【0101】 It has become clear that channel distortion can be advantageously reduced by attenuation arrangement without using the signal processing elements that are definitely required as described above. Thus, a considerable amount of energy that would otherwise be required to supply digital signal processing elements can be further saved in signal transmission. Energy efficiency can be particularly advantageous in the case of contactless data plugs or contactless connectors, as the latter compete with contact data plugs, which often require no energy because they are passive. Energy efficiency can also substantially facilitate heat dissipation in contactless connectors, and thus facilitate their integration into data transmission systems. 【0102】 A high-frequency attenuating material (also called an RF absorber) is preferably used. This attenuating material, which is usually used in the form of an absorber sheet, is preferably mounted on at least one, preferably both, communication partners, particularly around their antennas. The attenuation arrangement can be made to ensure that radiation is reflected little or no on the surface of the electrical assembly or printed circuit board. 【0103】 The attenuation arrangement may have at least one first attenuation unit having an access opening, and the antennas are arranged together inside the access opening. The central axis of the access opening may preferably extend along the main radiation direction of the antenna arrangement and / or through a common center point of the antennas. 【0104】 The attenuation arrangement or attenuation unit preferably does not extend between the antennas in the antenna arrangement. Preferably, no attenuation material is provided between the antennas. 【0105】 The attenuation configuration is preferably located in the base region, particularly in the lateral region of the printed circuit board where the antenna is also formed. The attenuation configuration or its elements (e.g., attenuation units) can be attached to the base region, for example, by being securely coupled, and especially by being bonded, and additionally or alternatively, pressure-fit and / or shape-fit attachments may be provided. 【0106】 The damping arrangement can also be spaced axially away from the base region or embedded at least partially within the base region, i.e., formed inside a printed circuit board, for example. 【0107】 In this regard, it should be noted that the definition of the attenuation arrangement being positioned around the antenna is preferably understood to refer to a base region or a top view of the antenna such that the attenuation arrangement surrounds the antenna radially or in an annular manner. It is not necessarily required that the attenuation arrangement also cover the antenna in an axial or lateral direction. 【0108】 In one embodiment, the attenuation arrangement may have a second attenuation unit having an access opening in which the antenna is also arranged. In particular, the first and second attenuation units may be arranged concentrically. 【0109】 The first damping unit and the second damping unit are preferably geometrically and / or with respect to their respective material composition / structural composition. 【0110】 For example, the damping arrangement or elements of the damping arrangement, such as the first damping unit and / or the second damping unit, may mainly have a flat shape, preferably a plate shape, and in particular, the form of an absorber sheet. However, any design can be substantially provided, such as a pyramidal arrangement or the design of the damping arrangement or its elements. 【0111】 The access openings of the first and / or second attenuation units may have a circular or square design. However, any polygonal or other geometric shape can be substantially provided for the access opening. Circular access openings are generally preferred because, through rotational symmetry, they can reduce the effects of interference on any circular polarization. 【0112】 The areas around the access openings of the first and / or second attenuation units, and the extensions of the first and / or second attenuation units along the central axis, can be designed so that one of the antenna main lobes of the antenna is not covered by the attenuation arrangement in the main radiation direction (in a top view on the antenna or base area / printed circuit board). 【0113】 The access opening to the antenna is preferably designed to be as small as possible without intersecting the antenna's main lobe. The small opening in the attenuating material offers the advantage of effectively suppressing reflections on the printed circuit board on which the antenna is preferably located. 【0114】 In one embodiment of the present invention, the lateral extension of the access opening of the first attenuation unit and / or the second attenuation unit (for example, the radius of a circular access opening or the diagonal of a square access opening) can be up to 2.0 free-space wavelengths of electromagnetic waves transmitted in the antenna configuration. 【0115】 In one advantageous embodiment, the first damping unit can be positioned inside the access opening of the second damping unit. 【0116】 The first damping unit can be substantially custom-fitted, and more preferably, custom-fitted, inside the second damping arrangement. Therefore, preferably, no gap or other gap remains between the two damping units. 【0117】 In this way, substantially any number of damping units can be arranged relative to each other, that is, for example, a third damping unit in which a second damping unit is arranged together with a first damping unit. 【0118】 In one embodiment of the present invention, the second attenuation unit may have a larger extension along the central axis than the first attenuation unit. Therefore, the second attenuation unit is preferably taller than the first attenuation unit. This is particularly advantageous when the first attenuation unit is positioned inside the second attenuation unit, because the overall structure can thereby provide sufficient space for the antenna lobes of the transmitting and receiving antenna groups to bulge in the main radiation direction without intersecting one of the attenuation units in the top view, and the attenuation unit can simultaneously provide good coverage, and therefore attenuation. 【0119】 The first damping unit and / or the second damping unit may have a loss-based absorber (also called a “broadband absorber”) and / or a resonance-based absorber (also called a “narrowband absorber”). 【0120】 In the case of loss-based materials, reflection attenuation can be achieved by dielectric and / or magnetic losses within the attenuating material. Examples of this type of attenuating material include foamed plastics made from polyurethane, or elastomers such as silicone or nitrile polymers with loss materials such as carbon powder or ferrite powder. 【0121】 Therefore, loss-based absorbers may have dielectric carrier materials made from foamed plastics or granular conductive foreign matter, particularly elastomers containing carbon powder or ferrite powder. 【0122】 Loss-based absorbers can optionally form layered or continuous impedance gradients that extend axially. By multilayer structures, or by varying the dielectric and / or magnetic properties of the material with depth, an impedance gradient can be established that continuously reduces the free-space characteristic impedance (approximately 377 ohms). This impedance matching prevents electromagnetic waves striking the material from being reflected at the air-absorber interface. Instead, they are induced into the absorber and, with gradual penetration, are increasingly attenuated as a result of the absorber's dielectric or magnetic losses. 【0123】 Furthermore, the pyramidal RF absorbers that can be practically provided are also based on the concept of a gradual change in the electric field characteristic impedance. 【0124】 The resonance-based absorber may have a dielectric carrier material made from foamed plastic or elastomer, and a conductive reflective region, in particular a metal coating or metal foil, may be formed on the side facing the main radiation direction of the antenna. 【0125】 Similarly, in the case of a resonance-based damping material, which may be based on silicone, nitrile, or polyurethane, a second reflective element can be generated in a metallized region located beneath the damping material, phase-shifted by 180° relative to a first reflective element generated at the air-damping material interface. The first and second reflective elements can then cancel each other out. 【0126】 In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the second attenuation unit may have a loss-based absorber and the first attenuation unit may have a resonant-based absorber. This combination is particularly advantageous when the first attenuation unit is positioned inside the second attenuation unit, and especially when the second attenuation unit has a larger axial extension than the first attenuation unit. Very thin resonant-based attenuation materials can be implemented, especially at carrier frequencies above 20 GHz, and particularly above 50 GHz. The small axial extension resulting from the implementation of the resonant-based attenuation material in the first attenuation unit can have a favorable effect on any circular polarization of the antenna, as the first attenuation unit has minimal impact on the antenna's radiation field. 【0127】 For example, a thin attenuating material, or a thin first attenuating unit (e.g., 0.5 mm to 2 mm thick), can be placed very close to the first ring around the antenna, with little effect on antenna characteristics (antenna gain and polarization, etc.) due to its thin design. This can be made possible, for example, by a resonance-based attenuating material or a thin elastomer-based broadband attenuating material. Resonance-based attenuating materials offer the advantages of being more economical and thinner. Broadband materials offer the advantage of being able to effectively absorb non-orthogonal incident electromagnetic radiation along with their large absorption bandwidth. For example, a second attenuating material or second attenuating unit, which is thicker (e.g., >2 mm), more economical, and effectively absorbs non-orthogonal incident electromagnetic radiation, can be placed in the second ring around the antenna, such as in the case of a broadband foamed plastic absorber. 【0128】 The diameter or side length of the attenuation configuration can be such that it corresponds to up to six free-space wavelengths and at least three free-space wavelengths of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the antenna configuration. 【0129】 The present invention also relates to the antenna configuration described above and below, and to a transceiver configuration having a transmit signal path and a receive signal path, wherein an asymmetric connection of a first balun is connected to the transmit signal path, and an asymmetric connection of a second balun is connected to the receive signal path. The transmit signal path has a transmit unit, and the receive signal path has a receive unit which can be an element of a common circuit configuration. The transmit unit is connected to two transmit antennas via the first balun to radiate electromagnetic waves through differential excitation of the two transmit antennas. The receive unit is connected to a receiving antenna via the second balun to receive electromagnetic waves via the receiving antenna. 【0130】 Accordingly, the single-ended connection of the first balun (i.e., the connection for asymmetric signal transmission) is preferably connected to the HF output of the transmitting unit or transmitter, and the differential connection of the first balun (i.e., the connection for symmetric signal transmission) is in either case connected to the transmitting antenna. The single-ended connection of the second balun is preferably further connected to the HF input of the receiving unit or receiver, and the differential connection of the second balun is in either case connected to the receiving antenna. 【0131】 The transceiver configuration can be advantageously provided to be suitable for simultaneous bidirectional transmission of data (full duplex) in the same frequency band (full duplex within the band) and to have an antenna configuration independent of the opposing rotation or alignment of the communication partners. For example, rotation of two communication partners around a common center point of the antennas is possible during transmission, particularly when the two communication partners are arranged concentrically with each other such that their axis of rotation with respect to the common center point of the antennas coincides with the axis of rotation of each other communication partner, forming a common center of rotational symmetry. Each communication partner comprises the transceiver configuration described above and below. 【0132】 The proposed transceiver configuration allows for simultaneous transmission of data with a simple technical design of antenna configuration, independently of the orientation or alignment of the two communication partners or the first and second transceiver configurations. While the present invention can be advantageously implemented using conventional printed circuit board technology, other manufacturing techniques, such as those using waveguides, are substantially possible. 【0133】 The balun or balancing unit can preferably be designed as a 180° hybrid coupler (also known as a rat-race coupler or ring coupler). However, alternatively, different structures, in particular a Merchand balun, can be provided. Other embodiments are also possible. For example, a 90° hybrid coupler can be provided at the second output gate, which is phase-shifted by 90° relative to the first output gate, and connected to a line having an electrical length of 90° (i.e., 1 / 4 of the free-space wavelength of the transmitted electromagnetic wave). A Wilkinson splitter can further be provided at the first output section to which the first antenna feed line is connected, the electrical length of which is 180° longer than the electrical length of the second antenna feed line connected to the second output section of the Wilkinson splitter. A magic tee can also be provided. 【0134】 In one particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit can be designed to enable in-band full-duplex communication. In a different design of this disclosure, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit can be elements of a radar system. 【0135】 The transmitting unit is preferably designed to transmit a transmit signal having a first carrier frequency band, and the receiving unit is designed to receive a receive signal having a second carrier frequency band, wherein the first and second carrier frequency bands are at least partially spectrally superimposed on each other, preferably completely spectrally superimposed, and the receiving unit is designed to receive the receive signal while the transmitting unit transmits the transmit signal. 【0136】 In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiving unit may be designed to perform incoherent demodulation. Preferably, the receiving unit may have an envelope detector that performs incoherent demodulation. 【0137】 In particular, when the objective is to achieve a high data rate in signal transmission, a coherent transmission method is usually preferred. However, the inventors have recognized that an incoherent demodulation method may be more appropriate here due to significantly reduced power consumption. To simultaneously maintain a high data rate, in-band full-duplex transmission can be used, which is advantageous due to the high attenuation characteristics of the antenna arrangement according to the present invention, as proposed above. High attenuation characteristics can be achieved by a first attenuation unit and optionally by a second attenuation unit. 【0138】 In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmitting unit may further include a freewheeling voltage-controlled oscillator that generates a carrier frequency for signal transmission. 【0139】 Using a freewheeling oscillator can result in a simple and power-efficient design for transceiver configurations. In particular, it eliminates the need for complex phase-locked loops that require significant installation space and power. The receive signal path in a transceiver configuration can also be obtained without an oscillator, especially if the receive signal path performs incoherent demodulation and has a corresponding envelope detector, thereby saving power and installation space. 【0140】 To further simplify the transceiver configuration, only two-stage double-sided amplitude modulation can be used. In particular, complex modulation methods such as quadrature-phase amplitude modulation can be omitted. 【0141】 The maximum transmission power of the transmitting unit can preferably be less than 30 dBm, preferably less than 27 dBm, particularly preferably less than 20 dBm, very particularly preferably less than 10 dBm, and even more preferably less than 2 dBm. 【0142】 The transmit power can be set, for example, by setting the operating point of the final stage amplifier of the transmit signal path. 【0143】 A transceiver-configured transmitting unit may include a first signal processing element (more precisely, a transmit signal processing element). This transmit signal processing element may include an upconverter that converts the transmit baseband signal to the carrier frequency range. A local oscillator signal for the upconverter may be provided by the oscillator circuit of the transmit signal processing element. The transmit signal processing element may further include a final stage transmit signal amplifier connected to the high-frequency output (abbreviated as HF output) of the transmit signal processing element. The transmit signal processing element may optionally include a transmit filter, such as a bandpass filter, connected between the output of the final stage transmit signal amplifier and the HF output of the transmit signal processing element. 【0144】 The receiving unit may include a second signal processing element (more precisely, a receiving signal processing element). This receiving signal processing element may have a receiving filter at its high-frequency input (abbreviated as HF input), which may be implemented as a bandpass filter. The receiving signal processing element may further include a low-noise preamplifier that can be connected to the high-frequency input of the receiving signal processing element. The low-noise preamplifier may be connected, for example, to the output of the receiving filter. The receiving signal processing element may further include a downconverter that can convert the received signal from the carrier frequency range to a baseband or intermediate frequency. This downconverter may be implemented, for example, as an envelope detector, or may be supplied with a local oscillator signal by any local oscillator circuit of the receiving signal processing element. 【0145】 In one exemplary embodiment, neither the transmit signal processing element nor the receive signal processing element includes digital signal processing devices for digital pre-emphasis of the transmit signal or equalization of the receive signal, particularly devices for radio channel estimation. This can result in power savings in the transceiver configuration. 【0146】 In particular, a carrier frequency of 10 GHz or higher, preferably 30 GHz or higher, and especially preferably 60 GHz or higher, can be provided for data transmission. The voltage-controlled oscillator of the transmitting unit can preferably be designed to generate carrier oscillations at the aforementioned carrier frequencies. 【0147】 In one exemplary embodiment of a non-contact electrical connector, the first and second transceiver arrangements are positioned facing each other, the distance between them is less than 10 cm, a carrier frequency greater than 50 GHz is provided, and the maximum transmit power is preferably less than 0 dBm. The first and second transceiver arrangements are preferably connected by in-band full-duplex communication. 【0148】 Antenna size is generally scaled by the operating wavelength used. One particular advantage of the aforementioned relatively high carrier frequencies, along with the associated high data rates for signal transmission, can also be found in smaller wavelengths of electromagnetic waves, thus allowing the enclosed antennas and structures to be designed to be correspondingly smaller. As a result, the present invention may have the advantage of being suitable for implementing contactless connectors with small space requirements, as proposed below. 【0149】 In particular, when a correspondingly high carrier frequency is selected, the data rate in signal transmission can be greater than 0.2 Gbit / s, preferably greater than 0.5 Gbit / s, and especially preferably greater than 1.0 Gbit / s. 【0150】 The present invention also relates to a communication system having a first transceiver configuration and a second transceiver configuration, in any of the cases described above and below, for providing wireless signal transmission between each circuit configuration of the transceiver configuration, and in particular for providing an in-band full-duplex communication channel between the transceiver configurations. 【0151】 A compact and energy-efficient in-band full-duplex communication system has the advantage of allowing each communication partner to have separate transmitting and receiving antennas, enabling very fast data transmission with mechanical rotation over very short distances in a limited installation space. 【0152】 The communication system according to the present invention is particularly advantageous as it can be used as an alternative to sliding contacts for wireless transmission between electrical devices arranged to be movable relative to each other. The proposed communication system may be advantageous when the two communication partners, i.e., a first transceiver arrangement and a second transceiver arrangement, have variable or unknown rotation angles relative to each other during operation, and as a result, the transmitting antenna and the receiving antenna are not always able to align with each other in a defined manner. 【0153】 The communication system according to the present invention is particularly suitable for use with motors or rotating machinery or linear actuators. Possible application areas relate to energy technology (e.g., wind turbines and generators) and vehicle technology (particularly adjustable equipment such as electric motors, generators, seats, door mirrors, or car doors). The present invention is also particularly advantageous for use in robotics in the field of articulation, medical technology, or in industry in general, especially when a sealed system is provided. 【0154】 In one advantageous embodiment, the two transceiver arrangements can be positioned up to 10 centimeters apart from each other, preferably up to 5 centimeters apart, particularly preferably up to 2 centimeters apart, very preferably up to 1 centimeter apart, and even more preferably up to 0.5 centimeters apart, for example, 1.0 millimeter to 3.0 centimeters apart from each other, for wireless signal transmission. 【0155】 The distance between transceiver configurations can be defined as the shortest distance between the common center point of the transmitting antenna group of the first transceiver configuration and the common center point of the receiving antenna group of the second transceiver configuration. 【0156】 Therefore, the use of antennas for transmission over relatively short distances is proposed. This contrasts with the approach of known technologies, such as systems based on cross-coupling between adjacent conductors using waveguides, which are typically used for short transmission distances. Conversely, antennas are waveform converters that convert linearly conducted electromagnetic waves to free-space waves and vice versa. Therefore, they are generally not suitable for non-contact data transmission over very short distances. However, these drawbacks can be overcome by the proposed antenna configuration, resulting in an economical, compact system with low power consumption and high electromagnetic compatibility. The inherent attenuation characteristics of the antenna configuration and the associated possibility of full-duplex in-band operation allow for even higher data rates in signal transmission. 【0157】 The present invention is substantially advantageously suited for use in near-field conditions or for short-range wireless transmission. However, the present invention may also be generally suitable for long-range field transmission or transmission over distances longer than those specified above. Accordingly, the distance between the two transceiver arrangements can be substantially arbitrary, for example, greater than 10 centimeters, and for example, 20 to 100 centimeters or more. 【0158】 In one advantageous embodiment of the present invention, two transceiver arrangements can be made rotatable relative to each other about a common axis of rotation. 【0159】 Therefore, the center points of each antenna arrangement or the common center point of the antennas in each antenna arrangement are preferably arranged coaxially with each other and coincide with a common axis of rotation. 【0160】 Furthermore, the two transceiver arrangements can be translated relative to each other, for example, along a duct, particularly in the direction of the antenna's primary radiation, or in the opposite direction of the primary radiation. 【0161】 In one advantageous embodiment, the communication system may have a non-contact electrical connector on which a first transceiver arrangement is located, and a non-contact mating electrical connector that is mechanically connectable to the connector and on which a second transceiver arrangement is located. 【0162】 Therefore, non-contact (especially with respect to electrical contacts) connectors or wireless connectors, i.e., connectors having a wireless interface, can be provided. Each transceiver arrangement can optionally be housed in a sealed manner within the connector or mating connector. 【0163】 The connector and the mating connector can preferably be designed to be completely non-contact, i.e., mechanically and electrically non-contact, so that the connector and the mating connector do not come into contact with each other. Thus, the connector and the mating connector can be designed to be galvanically and / or mechanically isolated from each other. 【0164】 Unlike conventional contact-forming connectors, electrically and optionally mechanically non-contact connectors offer the advantage of less wear because they do not require a plug-in procedure that causes mechanical wear of conductor contacts over time. A further advantage of non-contact data plugs or connectors is that the connector and mating connector can move relative to each other during operation (as long as this is provided within the application). Thus, it is possible to avoid the use of sliding contacts, such as cables that are subjected to mechanical stress as they move together, and are particularly susceptible to wear. 【0165】 The connector and the mating connector are lockable to each other. The connector may have at least one first locking means, and the mating connector may have a second locking means corresponding to the first locking means. The locking means may be designed, for example, as a lock catch, snap hook, spring clip, lock recess, female recess, or other locking mechanism. A locking lever or other fastener for closed plug-in connections may also be provided. The lock is preferably designed so that the connector and the mating connector are still movable relative to each other even after locking, for example, translationally in the insertion direction, or along the main radiation direction of the antenna, or rotationally around the rotation axis already described above, within at least one degree of freedom (within an optionally defined limit). 【0166】 The connector is preferably rotatable and / or movable relative to the mating connector in at least some areas (especially when connected). 【0167】 The present invention also relates to an actuator device having a first actuator element, a second actuator element, and a communication system as described above and below, particularly to an industrial robot system, wherein the first transceiver arrangement is located on the first actuator element, and the second transceiver arrangement is located on the second actuator element to enable wireless signal transmission between the two actuator elements. 【0168】 For actuator devices, and especially for multi-axis industrial robot systems, it is advantageous to provide non-contact bidirectional data transmission (full-duplex) in the same or at least overlapping frequency bands (full-duplex within the band), and communication can be enabled independently of the opposing rotation of the communication partner. 【0169】 Finally, the present invention further relates to a method for operating a transceiver arrangement, in particular an antenna arrangement of a high-frequency transceiver arrangement, comprising at least the following method steps: - The step of providing a group of transmitting antennas consisting of a first transmitting antenna and a second transmitting antenna that are connected in either case to the symmetric connection of the first balun, - The step of providing a group of receiving antennas consisting of a first receiving antenna and a second receiving antenna that are connected in either case to the symmetric connection of the second balun, - The step of operating a group of transmitting antennas via a transmit signal path of a transceiver arrangement connected to the first balun via an asymmetric connection of the first balun, - A step of operating a group of receiving antennas via a receiving signal path in a transceiver configuration that is independent of the transmitting signal path and connected to a second balun via an asymmetric connection of the second balun, and The first transmitting antenna, the second transmitting antenna, the first receiving antenna, and the second receiving antenna are positioned spatially relative to each other such that crosstalk between the transmitting antenna group and the receiving antenna group is at least reduced by the differential connection of each of these antennas. 【0170】 The differential operation of the transmitting and receiving antennas offers the advantage of significantly improving the adjustment of the balun's asymmetric connection compared to adjusting the individual antennas. As a result, the improved adjustment leads to a more uniform frequency response of the transmitting channel between communication partners, and therefore less channel distortion. Less channel distortion ultimately leads to a reduction in intersymbol interference, which enables higher data rates. 【0171】 Features described in relation to one of the subjects of the present invention, namely, features including antenna arrangements, transceiver arrangements, communication systems, actuator devices, or methods, are also advantageously implementable for other subjects of the present invention. Similarly, advantages mentioned in relation to one of the subjects of the present invention can be understood to be relevant to other subjects of the present invention. 【0172】 In addition, note that terms such as "include," "have," or "equip" do not exclude other features or steps. Furthermore, terms such as "one" or "it" referring to a singular step or feature do not exclude multiple steps or features, and vice versa. 【0173】 However, in the purest embodiments of the present invention, the features introduced to the present invention can also be comprehensively enumerated by the terms “includes,” “has,” or “equipped.” Thus, one or more enumerations of features according to the present invention can be considered exhaustive and, for example, considered for each claim. The present invention may consist, for example, only of the features described in claim 1. 【0174】 Please note that indications such as "first" or "second" are used primarily to distinguish between different device or method features, and are not necessarily intended to indicate that the features are interdependent or related to each other. 【0175】 Furthermore, it should be emphasized that the values ​​and parameters described herein also include deviations or fluctuations of ±10%, preferably ±5%, more preferably ±1%, and most preferably ±0.1% of the specified value or parameter, unless these deviations are excluded in actual implementation of the invention. Range indications by initial and final values ​​also include the specified ranges, in particular, all values ​​and fractions encompassed in the initial and final values ​​and each mean. 【0176】 Another invention is described below within the framework of the overall inventive concept. The applicant expressly reserves the right to claim the subject matter described below separately. 【0177】 Another invention relates to an attenuation arrangement for an antenna arrangement, the attenuation arrangement being configurable around one or more antennas of the antenna arrangement, preferably in a base region (e.g., a side region of a printed circuit board) to which the antennas are connected. The attenuation arrangement has at least one first attenuation unit having an access opening, the antennas being configurable within this access opening, the central axis of the access opening extending along the main radiation direction of the antenna arrangement and / or through a common center point of the antennas. 【0178】 Another invention further relates to an antenna arrangement having one or more antennas, preferably a base region, and the aforementioned attenuation arrangement. 【0179】 The following claims, in particular the features of claims 14-19, as well as the features and advantages described herein relating to antenna arrangements, attenuation arrangements, and further subjects, shall be understood as advantageous embodiments and variations of another invention. 【0180】 Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 【0181】 In any case, the drawings show preferred exemplary embodiments in which the individual features of the present invention are presented in combination with each other. Features of one exemplary embodiment can also be implemented separately from other features of the same exemplary embodiment and, therefore, those skilled in the art can easily combine them with features of other exemplary embodiments to form further suitable combinations and subcombinations. 【0182】 In the diagram, functionally identical elements are given the same reference numeral. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0183】 [Figure 1]This shows a top view of the antenna arrangement according to the present invention, which has an elliptical patch antenna. [Figure 2] Further examples of patch antennas for use in antenna configurations according to the present invention are shown, having a square geometric shape and two chamfered corners that are diagonally opposite to each other. [Figure 3] Further examples of patch antennas for use in antenna configurations according to the present invention, having a square geometric shape and a central slot-shaped indentation, are shown. [Figure 4] Further examples of patch antennas for use in antenna configurations according to the present invention are shown, having a round geometric shape and two peripheral regions punched out or recessed in a square shape. [Figure 5] Further examples of patch antennas for use in antenna arrangements according to the present invention having a triangular geometric shape are shown. [Figure 6] Further examples of patch antennas for use in antenna configurations according to the present invention, having a rectangular, elongated geometric shape, are shown. [Figure 7] A cross-sectional view of an antenna arrangement according to the present invention having near-field coupling or capacitive coupling is shown. [Figure 8] Figure 7 shows a top view of the antenna arrangement. [Figure 9] This shows a cross-sectional view of an antenna arrangement according to the present invention, which has direct coupling via through-connection. [Figure 10] This shows a cross-sectional view of the antenna arrangement according to the present invention, which has direct coupling by microstrip lines. [Figure 11] This shows a cross-sectional view of the antenna arrangement according to the present invention, which is coupled via an intermediate antenna designed as a slot antenna. [Figure 12] The diagram shows a top view of an antenna arrangement according to the present invention, which has a circumferential shielding arrangement consisting of through-connections. [Figure 13] The transceiver configuration according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 14] This shows a communication system according to the present invention having an electrical connector and a mating electrical connector. [Figure 15]Further communication systems according to the present invention are shown, having communication partners that are rotated relative to each other. [Figure 16] The simulation results of the transmission and separation characteristics of the communication system according to the present invention are shown. [Figure 17] This shows an actuator element according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] Further communication systems according to the present invention are shown, having two communication partners, each having an attenuation configuration according to the first modification. [Figure 19] A perspective view of a further transceiver arrangement according to the present invention, having an attenuation configuration according to a second modified example, is shown. [Figure 20] Two of the transceiver configurations shown in Figure 19 in a further communication system according to the present invention are shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0184】 Figure 1 schematically shows antenna configuration 1 according to the present invention for use in a full-duplex communication channel. Antenna configuration 1 has a transmitting antenna group formed from a first planar transmitting antenna 2 and a second planar transmitting antenna 3, and a first planar receiving antenna 4 and a second planar receiving antenna 5 of the same design, which together form a receiving antenna group with the first receiving antenna 4. 【0185】 All transmitting antennas 2 and 3 can be of the same design in exemplary embodiments. Receiving antennas 4 and 5 can preferably be of the same design as transmitting antennas 2 and 3, that is, in particular, the geometric shape, material, and feed point of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 can be the same. 【0186】 The transmitting antennas 2, 3 and the receiving antennas 4, 5 are arranged with their respective main regions 6 parallel to a common base region 7, around a common center point or around a common rotation center Z. The base region 7 is preferably formed in the electrical assembly having the antennas 2, 3, 4, 5. The base region 7 can be, in particular, the outer metallized region of the electrical printed circuit board 8, for example, the upper or lower layer. The rotation center Z is preferably formed midway between the two transmitting antennas 2, 3, and in exemplary embodiments, further formed midway between the two receiving antennas 4, 5, but is not limited thereto. In exemplary embodiments, all antennas 2, 3, 4, 5 are arranged such that their center point M lies on a common virtual circumference K whose center point coincides with the rotation center Z. 【0187】 The transmitting antennas 2 and 3 are positioned so as to be rotated 180° relative to each other around a center of rotation Z. The receiving antennas 4 and 5 are also rotated 180° relative to each other, and the receiving antennas 4 and 5 are positioned so as to be rotated a further 90° relative to the transmitting antennas 2 and 3 which are adjacent to each other along the circumference K. In all cases, the antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 rotate in the same direction around the center of rotation Z, in particular clockwise based on the position of the feed point 9 of the antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, as is clearly recognizable in Figure 1 in the exemplary embodiment. 【0188】 In other exemplary embodiments, the rotation of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 can also be recognized based on similarly rotated feed lines of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, for example, in capacitively coupled feed lines (see also Figure 8). 【0189】 The first receiving antenna 4 has the same center-to-center distance D as the two transmitting antennas 2 and 3. In an exemplary embodiment, the second receiving antenna 5 also has the same center-to-center distance D as both transmitting antennas 2 and 3, and the center-to-center distance D of the second receiving antenna 5 is identical to the center-to-center distance D of the first receiving antenna 4. The overall result is the geometric arrangement shown in Figure 1. 【0190】 The center-to-center distance D between the receiving antennas 4, 5 and transmitting antennas 2, 3, which are located close together along the circumference K, is preferably less than half the wavelength λ of the transmitted electromagnetic wave, and the distance between the two transmitting antennas 2, 3 and the two receiving antennas 4, 5 corresponds exactly to half the wavelength λ of the transmitted electromagnetic wave, or similarly less than half the wavelength λ. 【0191】 The receiving antennas 4 and 5 and the transmitting antennas 2 and 3 are more preferably positioned relative to each other such that their respective principal axes of symmetry H form a substantially, or preferably exactly, orientation angle α of 45°. The principal axes of symmetry H of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, which are close to each other along the circumference K, are aligned to be orthogonal to each other, as shown in the figure. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is the actual orientation angle α, but rather that it is the same for all antennas. 【0192】 Due to the identical orientation angle α on all antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, and / or the arrangement of all antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 with respect to a common virtual circumference K and a center point M, crosstalk between the transmitting antenna group and the receiving antenna group can be reduced at least by the differential connection of each antenna 2, 3, 4, and 5. 【0193】 Antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 each have an eccentric offset feed point 9, where each eccentric offset d is the same for all antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. The feed point 9 is preferably located on the principal axis of symmetry H, but this is not necessarily required. The feed point 9 is typically matched to an input impedance of 50 ohms. However, it should be noted that multiple possible feed points 9 may exist on the principal region 6 of each antenna 2, 3, 4, and 5. Therefore, it should be understood that the feed points 9 shown in the exemplary embodiment are merely examples. In effect, multiple feed points 9 can be used simultaneously, but usually, one single feed point per antenna 2, 3, 4, and 5 is sufficient. 【0194】 The illustrated antenna configuration 1 allows for highly effective separation between the transmitter and receiver, especially when the transmitting antennas 2 and 3 of the transmitting antenna group are excited with a 180° phase-shifted signal, and particularly when the received electromagnetic waves are similarly differentially evaluated by the receiving antennas 4 and 5 of the receiving antenna group, although this is not strictly necessary. Nevertheless, antenna configuration 1 can be designed using technically simple means, such as simple printed circuit board technology. 【0195】 Antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 are preferably designed as patch antennas, as in most exemplary embodiments. The patch antennas can be designed in particular as conductive or metallized regions on or within the printed circuit board 8. Alternatively, antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 can be designed as slot antennas, and may be arranged complementaryly, for example, in the metallized regions of the printed circuit board 8, with indentations 10 corresponding to the metallized regions (see, for example, Figures 3 and 11). 【0196】 The main regions 6 of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 are particularly preferably elliptical in shape, as shown in Figure 1 and some of the following figures. This allows the antenna configuration 1 shown in Figure 1 to generate purely circularly polarized electromagnetic waves, for example, clockwise circular polarization (or, in the case of configurations where antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 are each rotated by 90°, counterclockwise circular polarization can also be generated). However, alternatively, other geometric shapes of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 can also be provided, some of which are shown as examples in Figures 2 to 6. 【0197】 As shown in Figure 2, for example, a square geometric shape can be provided having exactly one pair of punched or recessed corners arranged diagonally opposite to each other. In this case, the feed point 9 is preferably not located on the principal axis of symmetry H, but instead rotated 45° with respect to the principal axis of symmetry H and located on a line passing through the center point M of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. 【0198】 Further antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 are shown in Figure 3, and these antennas have a slot-shaped, diagonally positioned indentation 10 in the center of the conductive main region 6. The feed point 9 is preferably aligned at 45° with respect to the main axis of symmetry H and is located on a straight line passing through the center point M of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. 【0199】 Figure 4 shows the geometric shapes of yet another antenna. Antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 are designed as circular and have exactly one pair of square, punched, or recessed portions that are diagonally opposite to each other. Next, the feed point 9 is tilted at 45° with respect to the principal axis of symmetry H and is located on a straight line passing through the center point M. 【0200】 Antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, which have a triangular geometric shape, are shown in Figure 5 as further examples, and the feed point 9 is eccentrically offset on the axis of symmetry H. 【0201】 Finally, Figure 6 shows rectangular cross-sections along the longitudinal direction of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, with the feed point 9 located on the axis of symmetry H. 【0202】 As already mentioned, additional feed points 9 can be provided. For example, in Figure 2, additional feed points 9 can be provided along a straight line shown mirrored upwards across the center points of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, or in Figures 3, 4, and 6, up to four feed points 9 can be provided, respectively. 【0203】 The aforementioned antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 can also be designed complementaryly as slot antennas. 【0204】 Different modifications are possible, such as injecting electromagnetic waves into each antenna 2, 3, 4, and 5 and then extracting them from there. Preferred injection and extraction techniques are shown in Figures 7 and 8. Electromagnetic waves are preferably injected mainly capacitively into transmitting antennas 2 and 3 from each feed line 11 and extracted mainly capacitively from receiving antennas 4 and 5, as shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 7. Thus, the feed point 9 is merely a virtual point in Figure 8. In the case of capacitive injection, the rotation of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 is substantially easily discernible by the angle of the incoming feed line 11. Ultimately, the angle of the incoming feed line 11 substantially affects the polarization of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. For example, for antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 shown in Figure 8, this results in right-hand circular polarization due to the feed line arriving at 45° to the principal axis H. If antenna main region 6 is extended perpendicularly to main region 6 and rotated 90° around a virtual axis passing through the center point of the main region, this results in left circular polarization for antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. 【0205】 For favorable impedance matching, the feed line 11 can extend continuously in the direction of the center point M of each antenna 2, 3, 4, and 5 (see Figure 8). 【0206】 A stacked arrangement of one or more intermediate antennas 12 for injection and extraction to and from each of the antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 can further increase the bandwidth of the arrangement. The main region 6 of the intermediate antenna 12 is preferably enlarged compared to the antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. As long as multiple intermediate antennas 12 are provided, their main regions 6 enlarge with respect to their distance from the corresponding antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. 【0207】 To obtain a directional radiation pattern, the final ground plate 13 can be provided on the rear side of the corresponding antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, as clearly visible in Figure 7. This can be, for example, a metal coating on a printed circuit board 8 and / or a metal housing. 【0208】 As an alternative to near-field coupling, direct excitation can also be performed, for example, by through-connection 14 shown in Figure 9 of the printed circuit board 8, or by feeding through microstrip lines leading to the corresponding antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 (see Figure 10). Furthermore, injection can also be performed by an intermediate antenna 12 designed as a slot antenna, as shown in Figure 11. 【0209】 To increase the separation characteristics and shielding of antenna configuration 1, and, where appropriate, to further optimize the radiation pattern, a shielding configuration 15 can be provided, as shown as an example in Figure 12. 【0210】 The shielding configuration 15 can be positioned around the transmitting antennas 2, 3 and the receiving antennas 4, 5, and can surround the antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 in a substantially tubular form. Preferably, the shielding device 15 can form a shielding casing 16 that extends perpendicularly to the base region 7 (shown by a dotted line in Figure 12). Alternatively, the shielding configuration 15 can be formed, for example, by a metal plate, from individual through-connections 14 that extend through the printed circuit board 8, as shown in Figure 12, and are preferably arranged regularly, and particularly preferably in at least two rows. 【0211】 One advantage of the shielding configuration 15 combined with antenna configuration 1 is that it shields the conductive structure from the radiation fields of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5, which are positioned around antenna configuration 1. The asymmetrically positioned conductive structure can have different effects on the radiation fields of transmitting antennas 2 and 3 and receiving antennas 4 and 5, and thus can result in non-uniform crosstalk between transmitting antennas 2 and 3 and receiving antennas 4 and 5. As a result, the crosstalk from the two transmitting antennas 2 and 3 to the receiving antennas may not be eliminated at all, or may only be partially eliminated, which can reduce antenna isolation. 【0212】 Figure 13 shows, as an example, a transceiver arrangement 17 according to the present invention. The transceiver arrangement 17 has the antenna arrangement 1 described above and a circuit arrangement 18 having a transmitting unit (TX) 19 and a receiving unit (RX) 20. 【0213】 The transmitting unit 19 is connected to two transmitting antennas 2 and 3 to radiate electromagnetic waves by differential excitation of the two transmitting antennas 2 and 3. For this purpose, the transmitting unit 19 has a first signal processing element 21 in the transmitting signal path S, and the transmitting antenna group has a first balun or first balancing unit 22 to excite the transmitting antennas 2 and 3 with an electrical signal that is phase-shifted over 180°. The first balancing unit 22 is preferably designed as a 180° hybrid coupler. The first transmitting antenna 2 and the second transmitting antenna 3 are each connected to the first balun 22 in a symmetrical connection A S The transmitting unit 19 or the signal processing element 21 of the transmitting unit 19 is connected to the asymmetric connection A of the first balun 22. A It connects to the network. 【0214】 For differential reception with two receiving antennas 4 and 5, in order to receive electromagnetic waves and transfer them to a second signal processing element 24 in the receiving signal path E, the receiving unit 20 is connected to the two receiving antennas 4 and 5 via a second balun of the receiving antenna group, or via a second balancing unit 23, preferably also via a 180° hybrid coupler. The first receiving antenna 3 and the second receiving antenna 4 are each connected to the second balun 23 via a symmetric connection A S The receiving unit 20 or the signal processing element 24 of the receiving unit 20 is connected to the asymmetric connection A of the second balun 23. A It connects to the network. 【0215】 The independence between the transmit signal path S and the receive signal path E within the same transceiver configuration 17 means, for example, that the transceiver configuration 17 can be made to route different, i.e., uncorrelated signals. The transmit signal path S can route transmit signals that can be transmitted via transmit antennas 2 and 3 and transmitted wirelessly to a second transceiver configuration 17. The receive signal path E can route received signals transmitted from the second transceiver configuration 17 and received via receive antennas 4 and 5. 【0216】 In addition, as shown in Figure 13, the transmitting signal path S and the receiving signal path E can be galvanically isolated from each other. 【0217】 The wireless communication system 25 can be formed by two transceiver arrangements 17 of this type. This type of communication system 25 may have first and second communication partners, the first communication partner may have a first transceiver arrangement 1,7 and the second communication partner may have a second transceiver arrangement 17 of the type disclosed herein. The communication system 25 according to the present invention is particularly advantageous for short-range wireless signal transmission, for example, up to 5 meters, and is also typically suitable for short distances, for example, up to 10 centimeters. With the antenna arrangement 1 proposed by the present invention, wireless communication can be enabled from the alignment of the two transceiver arrangements 17 relative to each other, even in the near field, substantially independently, preferably completely independently, if at least the center point Z of the antenna arrangement 1 is located on a common axis of rotation aligned perpendicular to the printed circuit board 8. In this case, signal transmission can be made independent of the rotation of the antenna arrangement 1 relative to each other, in particular. 【0218】 One advantageous application is, among others, as a substitute for sliding contacts in the field of joint connections, for example, in robotics, or in sealed and shielded applications where communication connections are established, especially under harsh environmental conditions. 【0219】 Figure 14 shows, as an example, a communication system 25 having an electrical connector 26 on which a first transceiver arrangement 17 is located, and a mating electrical connector 27 that can be mechanically connected to the connector 26 on which a second transceiver arrangement 17 is located. 【0220】 Connector 26 can be connected, for example, to a device housing 28. The mating connector 27 can be, for example, a cable connector through which an electrical cable 29 having a single wire 30 passes. Connectors 26 and 27 can have locking means for interlocking when connected. Figure 14 shows, as an example, an interlocked plug-in connection consisting of connector 26 and 27 that allows rotation of the mating connector relative to each other. In this way, a non-contact or wireless plug-in connection independent of the direction of rotation can be advantageously provided for transmitting electrical signals between the cable 29 or the wire 30 of the cable 29 and a conductor 32 in the device housing 28. Connectors 26 and 27 can preferably be designed to be completely non-contact, i.e., electrically and mechanically non-contact. 【0221】 However, in practice, any further applications are conceivable, such as applications in energy technology or vehicle technology. 【0222】 Further communication systems 25 are shown in a simplified diagram as an example in Figure 15 to illustrate once again the particular advantages of the present invention in transmitting communication partners arranged to rotate relative to each other. In Figure 15, the antenna arrangements 1 are arranged coaxially with each other but rotated around a center of rotation, and yet favorable signal transmission can still be achieved by the proposed antenna arrangements 1. The inclination of the antenna arrangements 1 relative to each other, and the eccentric offset of each center of rotation can also be compensated for. 【0223】 Figure 16 shows simulation results of a communication system 25 according to the present invention to demonstrate the advantageous transmission and separation characteristics of antenna arrangement 1 according to the present invention. Antenna arrangement 1 shown in Figures 1, 7, and 8 is simulated to have a transmission bandwidth of 10 GHz and a distance of 12 millimeters between two transceiver arrangements 17 or antenna arrangement 1. The individual curves in the two curve arrays represent simulation results with different orientation / rotation angles of the two communication partners relative to each other. On the one hand, high separation characteristics between the transmitter and receiver of the same transceiver are recognizable (separation within the proposed frequency bandwidth > 50 dB, see lower array of curve y1), and on the other hand, high independence of transmission characteristics from the alignment or orientation of the two communication partners relative to each other is evident (see upper array of curve y2). 【0224】 As already mentioned, the use of the proposed antenna arrangement 1 in an assembly that is movable relative to each other during operation can also be very advantageous for enabling wireless signal transmission with high data rates and high electromagnetic compatibility over short distances. Figure 17 shows an actuator device 33 for illustrative purposes. An industrial robot system consisting of two separate multi-axis industrial robots 34 is shown as an example, but this is only an example. The actuator device 33 has a first actuator element 35, a second actuator element 36, and a communication system 25, and to enable wireless signal transmission between the two actuator elements 35, 36, a first transceiver arrangement 17 can be placed on the first actuator element 35, and a second transceiver arrangement 17 can be placed on the second actuator element 36. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 17, the actuator elements 35, 36 are end effectors of the industrial robot 34 in either case, but substantially they can be any movable or immovable elements of a general actuator device 33. Both actuator elements 35 and 36 may be part of the same device, i.e., the same industrial robot 34, for example, to bridge joint connections wirelessly and without using sliding contacts, etc., in order to enable signal transmission along the individual axes of the industrial robot 34. 【0225】 As already mentioned above, electromagnetic wave reflection can occur during signal transmission between communication partners, which can lead to undesirable multipath propagation. In particular, when communication partners are positioned close to each other and facing each other, as in the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 14, 15, and 17, reflection can occur on the printed circuit board 8 to which antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 are connected. As indicated by the dotted arrows in Figure 18, signals can also be reflected back and forth between communication partners, as well as through line-of-sight elements, and therefore can be transmitted through one or more reflective elements, which can ultimately lead to interference between desired line-of-sight elements and unwanted reflective elements. To minimize this multipath propagation as much as possible, without using complex signal processing elements such as digital signal processing, an advantageous attenuation arrangement 37 for antenna placement is proposed based on Figures 18-20 and the following description (in particular, but not exclusively, for antenna placement 1 described above). 【0226】 Figure 18 shows a communication system 25 comprising first and second transceiver arrangements 17. Each of the transceiver arrangements 17 has a printed circuit board 8 on which each antenna arrangement 1 is arranged. In an exemplary embodiment, an attenuation arrangement 37 is arranged around the antenna arrangement 1, having a first attenuation unit 38 which is an absorber sheet having an access opening 39 on which antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 of antenna arrangement 1 are arranged together. The central axis M of the access opening 39 D It extends along the main radiation direction of antenna configuration 1 or along the antenna main lobe 40 (see Figure 20), and further extends through the common center point or rotation center Z of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5. 【0227】 The laterally extended portion of the access opening 39 of the first attenuation unit 38 is less than 2.0 free-space wavelengths of the transmitted electromagnetic wave, and the access opening 39 can be as narrow as possible, but without obscuring the antenna main lobes 40 of antennas 2, 3, 4, and 5 in a top view. The access opening 39 can have substantially any geometric shape, for example, a circle (preferred) or a square, as illustrated in the exemplary embodiments of Figures 18 to 20. 【0228】 Multipath propagation can be advantageously eliminated or at least significantly reduced by the proposed attenuation configuration 37. Reflections, shown by the dotted lines in Figure 18, can no longer occur or can only occur in substantially reduced form. 【0229】 The attenuation configuration 37 can be extended with further attenuation units for further optimization. This principle will be illustrated with reference to Figures 19 and 20. For example, the attenuation configuration 37 may have a second attenuation unit 41 which also has an access opening 39 in which the antenna configuration 1 is located. The first attenuation unit 38 and the second attenuation unit 41 are arranged concentrically and preferably (but not necessarily) differ from each other geometrically and / or in terms of their respective material compositions. The second attenuation unit 41 preferably has a loss-based absorber, for example, and the first attenuation unit 38 preferably has a resonance-based absorber. Suitable material compositions are described above. 【0230】 In particular, the first attenuation unit 38 can be positioned inside the access opening 39 of the second attenuation unit 41, as shown in the figure. The outer or second attenuation unit 41 can preferably be formed to be thicker or taller than the inner or first attenuation unit 38. As a result, the antenna main lobes 40 of the transmitting antenna group and the receiving antenna group can be given sufficient space in the top view to bulge in the main radiation direction without intersecting one of the attenuation units 38, 41. 【0231】 Figure 20 is referenced here to illustrate in general terms how the transceiver arrangement 17 of the communication system 25 may be aligned to minimize transmission loss. The antenna main lobes 40 of the transmitting antennas 2, 3 of the first communication partner and the receiving antennas 4, 5 of the second communication partner (and vice versa) are preferably aligned along the central axis M of the attenuation arrangement. DThe antennas are aligned with each other along a common center point or rotation center Z of both communication partners' antenna arrangements 1, or such that the common center point or rotation center Z of both communication partners' antenna arrangements 1 passes through a common rotation axis or central axis. The main antenna lobe 40 of the patch antenna is oriented, for example, in a direction perpendicular to the patch antenna, while the minimum antenna gain is in the opposite direction, i.e., within the printed circuit board 8. Therefore, it is advantageous to align the printed circuit boards 8 of the two communication partners parallel to each other, or at least substantially parallel to each other, so that the patch antennas face each other, as shown in the figure. The transceiver arrangement 17 of the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 20 can be arranged, for example, on each actuator element 35, 36 of an actuator device 33 that can perform rotational motion relative to each other. 【0232】 Within the antenna main lobe 40 having a certain width (for example, elevation angle of approximately -20° to +20°), parallel translational offsets are possible (referred to above as the "axial offset" of the communication partner, i.e., the offset between each central axis of the communication partner extending through the center point Z of antenna arrangement 1). The communication partners can also move perpendicular to each other or away from each other (referred to above as "translational offset"). The communication partners can also be tilted (referred to above as "radial offset"). 【0233】 However, it is possible to enable a complete rotation ("rotational offset") of the communication partners relative to each other around a virtual axis that is upright with respect to the printed circuit board 8 (in Figure 20, the central axis M DThis can be used in robotics, for example, when a robot joint or actuator element 35, 36 is intended to rotate 360°, and data is intended to be transmitted from one side of the robot joint to the other in a non-contact, i.e., wear-free manner. To enable rotation, the transmitting antennas 2, 3 of the first communication partner and the receiving antennas 4, 5 of the second communication partner are preferably circularly polarized and copolarized. However, to enable rotation, it is also possible that only the transmitting antennas 2, 3 or only the receiving antennas 4, 5 are circularly polarized, while each of the other antennas is linearly polarized only (at the expense of polarization loss). 【0234】 In the exemplary embodiment described with reference to Figure 20, a second damping unit 41 is considered as an option. 【0235】 The distance between the first and second transceiver arrangements 17 is the distance between the antenna arrangement 1 of the first transceiver arrangement 17 and the central axis M D The distance between the first and second transceiver configurations 17 can be defined as the shortest distance between them and a second transceiver configuration 17 that is in parallel. The distance between the first and second transceiver configurations 17 can be defined, for example, based on the distance between the common center point Z of the antenna configuration 1 of the first transceiver configuration 17 (left side of Figure 20) and the common center point Z of the antenna configuration 1 of the second transceiver configuration 17 (right side of Figure 20). 【0236】 The communication system 25 shown in Figure 20 can be a contactless data plug or an electrical connector, and the distance between the first and second transceiver arrangements 17 is less than 10 cm or less than 5 cm. This contactless connector can use a carrier frequency above 50 GHz, for example, about 60 GHz, for data transmission, which can result in small antenna dimensions and thus easily achieve good integration of the contactless connector. Carrier frequencies above 50 GHz can further enable high data rates. The contactless connector can use in-band full-duplex communication, thus also enabling high data rates with transmitting antennas 2, 3 and receiving antennas 4, 5 that are well separated from each other within the same transceiver arrangement. The transmitting unit 19 of the transceiver arrangement 17 may optionally have a freewheeling voltage-controlled oscillator for generating the carrier frequency for signal transmission. Additionally or alternatively, the receiving unit 20 of the transceiver arrangement 17 may be designed to perform incoherent demodulation. The receiving unit 20 may have an envelope detector for this purpose. The power consumption of the non-contact connector can be reduced due to the freewheeling, voltage-controlled oscillator, and / or envelope detector, thereby simplifying the integration of the connector into, for example, industrial systems. The reduced power consumption also substantially reduces the need for heat dissipation of the non-contact connector, thus eliminating the need for a heat sink. For further or alternative power savings, the non-contact connector described herein can optionally omit digital signal processing, in particular digital channel estimation, digital signal pre-emphasis, or digital signal equalization. Good radio channel characteristics can be established by the attenuation arrangement 37, for example, signal transmission occurs primarily through the line-of-sight element between the first and second transceiver arrangements 17, and the multipath element is substantially attenuated. This eliminates the need for the aforementioned digital signal processing, resulting in power savings and simplified heat dissipation. The DC power consumption of the first and second transceiver arrangements 17 can be, for example, less than 200 mW in either case.

Claims

[Claim 1] An antenna arrangement comprising a first transmitting antenna, a second transmitting antenna, a first receiving antenna, and a second receiving antenna, a printed circuit board having a base region, and an attenuation arrangement disposed within the base region, The first transmitting antenna, the second transmitting antenna, the first receiving antenna, and the second receiving antenna are connected to the base region of the printed circuit board, and the attenuation arrangement has at least one first attenuation unit having an access opening in which the first transmitting antenna, the second transmitting antenna, the first receiving antenna, and the second receiving antenna are jointly arranged, the central axis of the access opening extends along the main radiation direction of the antenna arrangement, and the attenuation arrangement has a second attenuation unit having an access opening in which the first transmitting antenna, the second transmitting antenna, the first receiving antenna, and the second receiving antenna are jointly arranged, the first attenuation unit and the second attenuation unit are arranged concentrically, and the first attenuation unit and the second attenuation unit are geometrically and / or with respect to their respective material compositions. Antenna placement. [Claim 2] The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, The central axis of the access opening extends through the common center point of the first transmitting antenna, the second transmitting antenna, the first receiving antenna, and the second receiving antenna. Antenna placement. [Claim 3] The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, The first damping unit and the second damping unit are arranged concentrically, the first damping unit is positioned inside the access opening of the second damping unit, and the second damping unit has a larger extension along the central axis than the first damping unit. Antenna placement. [Claim 4] The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, The access opening of the first damping unit is characterized by being circular. Antenna placement. [Claim 5] The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, The second damping unit has a loss-based absorber, The loss-based absorber is characterized by forming a layered or continuous impedance gradient that extends axially along the central axis. Antenna placement. [Claim 6] The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, The first damping unit is characterized by having a resonance-based absorber. Antenna placement. [Claim 7] The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, The laterally extending portion of the access opening of the first attenuation unit is characterized by having a maximum free-space wavelength of 2.0 of the electromagnetic waves transmitted in the antenna configuration. Antenna placement. [Claim 8] The antenna arrangement according to claim 1, The antennas jointly arranged within the aforementioned attenuation arrangement are characterized by comprising a transmitting antenna group consisting of a first transmitting antenna and a second transmitting antenna, and a receiving antenna group consisting of a first receiving antenna and a second receiving antenna. Antenna placement. [Claim 9] The antenna arrangement according to claim 8, The aforementioned transmitting antenna group further comprises a first balun, The aforementioned receiving antenna group further comprises a second balun, The first transmitting antenna and the second transmitting antenna are connected to the symmetrical connection of the first balun, the first receiving antenna and the second receiving antenna are connected to the symmetrical connection of the second balun, the asymmetrical connection of the first balun is connectable to the transmitting signal path of the transceiver configuration, and the asymmetrical connection of the second balun is connectable to the receiving signal path of the transceiver configuration, which is independent of the transmitting signal path. Antenna placement. [Claim 10] The present invention features a first transceiver configuration and a second transceiver configuration having the antenna device described in claims 1 to 9, and provides wireless signal transmission between the first transceiver configuration and the second transceiver configuration. Communication system. [Claim 11] A communication system according to claim 10, The first transceiver configuration and the second transceiver configuration are characterized by having a transmitting unit and a receiving unit designed to enable full-duplex communication within the bandwidth, respectively. Communication system. [Claim 12] A communication system according to claim 10, The first transceiver arrangement and the second transceiver arrangement are characterized by being arranged at a distance of up to 10 centimeters from each other for the purpose of transmitting the wireless signal. Communication system. [Claim 13] A communication system according to claim 10, The first transceiver arrangement and the second transceiver arrangement are rotatable relative to each other around a common axis of rotation, and the center point of each antenna arrangement coincides with the common axis of rotation. Communication system. [Claim 14] A communication system according to claim 10, The present invention is characterized by comprising a non-contact electrical connector in which the first transceiver arrangement is sealed, and a non-contact mating electrical connector that is mechanically connectable to the electrical connector in which the first transceiver arrangement is arranged, and in which the second transceiver arrangement is sealed. Communication system.

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