Phase-shifter, antenna, and base station

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a phase-shifter, an antenna, and a base station. The phase-shifter comprises a cavity and a stripline. The cavity comprises a side plate and a plurality of partition plates. The plurality of partition plates are disposed on the side plate at intervals, and the plurality of partition plates and the side plate form at least one accommodating space. The stripline may comprise a feed part and an output part. Feed parts may be respectively arranged in one or more accommodating spaces, and a medium part is arranged between each feed part and the partition plate corresponding to the accommodating space in which the feed part is located. The output part is connected to the feed part and extends to the outside of the accommodating space, and the output part is used to be connected to a vibrator unit of the antenna. When the foregoing solution is used, miniaturization of the cavity can be implemented, that is, miniaturization of the phase-shifter can be implemented, obstruction of an antenna array by the phase-shifter can be reduced, the impact of the phase-shifter on a pattern of the antenna array is reduced, and the performance of the antenna array is improved.

Description

Phase shifters, antennas, and base stations

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on October 31, 2023, with application number 202311440522.9 and application name “Phase Shifter, Antenna and Base Station”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of antenna technology, and in particular to a phase shifter, an antenna, and a base station. Background Art

[0004] In the antenna of the base station, the radiating element (or vibrator element) is connected to the feeding network. The feeding network is usually composed of a controlled impedance transmission line. The feeding network feeds the signal to the radiating element according to a certain amplitude and phase, or sends the received signal to the signal processing unit of the base station according to a certain amplitude and phase. The feeding network may include phase shifters, combiners, and filters. The phase shifter is used to change the maximum direction of antenna signal radiation. The combiner is used to combine signals of different frequencies and transmit them through the antenna, or to divide the signal received by the antenna into multiple channels according to different frequencies and transmit them to the signal processing unit for processing. The filter is used to filter out interference signals. Existing phase shifters are large in size and have a large obstruction on the massive multiple-input multiple-output antenna array (Massive MIMO, MM), affecting the performance of the antenna array.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the present application provide a phase shifter, an antenna, and a base station to reduce obstruction to an antenna array and improve the performance of the antenna array.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present application provides a phase shifter that may include a cavity and a stripline, wherein the cavity may include side panels and a plurality of partitions, the plurality of partitions being spaced apart on the side panels, and the plurality of partitions and the side panels forming at least one accommodation space. The stripline may include a feed portion and an output portion, the feed portion being disposed within one or more accommodation spaces, with a dielectric portion disposed between the feed portion and the partition corresponding to the accommodation space in which the feed portion is located; the output portion being connected to the feed portion and extending beyond the accommodation space, and the output portion being connected to an antenna element unit.

[0008] In the technical solution provided by the present application, the cavity has at least one accommodating space, and the feeding part is arranged in at least one accommodating space, which can physically separate the feeding parts located in different accommodating spaces, and can avoid electromagnetic coupling between the feeding parts located in different accommodating spaces, so that the distance between the feeding parts located in different accommodating spaces can be smaller, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the cavity can be smaller, that is, the volume of the cavity can be smaller, and the cavity can be miniaturized, that is, the phase shifter can be miniaturized, which can reduce the obstruction of the antenna array by the phase shifter and reduce the impact of the phase shifter on the antenna array radiation pattern, thereby improving the performance of the antenna array. When the phase shifter provided by the present application is applied to an antenna, the feeding part can transmit signals between multiple vibrator units, and a phase difference between two adjacent vibrator units can be achieved by changing the setting of the dielectric part.

[0009] In one specific embodiment, the output portion may include a first connecting section and a first transition section. One end of the first connecting section may be connected to the feeding portion. The first transition section may be located outside the accommodation space. One end of the first transition section may be connected to the other end of the first connecting section. The other end of the first transition section may be connected to the antenna element. The connection between the output portion and the antenna element is convenient and does not require additional transition components.

[0010] In one specific embodiment, the output portion may further include a second connecting section, which may be located outside the accommodation space. The other end of the first adapter section may be connected to the antenna element via the second connecting section. This allows the output portion to be more easily accessible to the antenna element, making connection to the antenna element more convenient.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the feeder can be multiple and can be placed in at least one of the receiving spaces. The stripline also includes a transition portion, and the feeders in different receiving spaces can be connected via the transition portion. This provides a larger layout space for the stripline and more flexible placement of the feeders.

[0012] In a specific embodiment, the transition section may include a third connecting section, a second transition section, and a fourth connecting section connected in sequence, one end of the third connecting section may be connected to the feeding section located in one of the accommodating spaces, one end of the fourth connecting section may be connected to the feeding section located in another of the accommodating spaces, the second transition section may be located outside the accommodating spaces, and both ends of the second transition section may be connected to the other end of the third connecting section and the other end of the fourth connecting section, respectively. This allows the connection of feeding sections in different accommodating spaces and the switching of strip lines between different accommodating spaces without the need for additional transition components.

[0013] In a specific embodiment, the projections of the feeding portions in different receiving spaces along a second direction may overlap; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the first direction is the extension direction of the side plate. The strip line can be wound across different receiving spaces.

[0014] In one specific embodiment, the projections of the feeding portions within the same accommodation space along a third direction may overlap; the third direction is perpendicular to the first and second directions, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the first direction is the extension direction of the side panels. The strip line can be wound within the same accommodation space.

[0015] In a specific embodiment, the dielectric portion may have a notch, and the notch may be offset from the overlapping portion in the second direction. This can reduce the area of ​​the dielectric portion while ensuring that the dielectric portion corresponds to the feeding portion in the second direction, thereby increasing the effective utilization of the dielectric portion and reducing costs.

[0016] In one specific embodiment, the partitions can be provided on both sides of the side panels along a third direction, the third direction being perpendicular to the first and second directions, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction, and the first direction being the direction in which the side panels extend. Accommodation spaces can be formed on both sides of the side panels along the third direction, and ribbon cables can be arranged on both sides of the side panels along the third direction, thereby increasing ribbon cable routing space and flexibility.

[0017] In a specific embodiment, the partition plate and the side plate can be arranged vertically to facilitate the formation of the cavity.

[0018] In a second aspect, the present application further provides an antenna, which may include a vibrator unit and a phase shifter as described in any of the possible implementations of the first aspect above; the vibrator unit may be multiple, and the multiple vibrator units may be arranged along a first direction, where the first direction is the extension direction of the side plate; the balun of each vibrator unit may be fixedly connected to the cavity; and the feed line of each vibrator unit may be electrically connected to the feeding part through the output part. The phase shifter provides less obstruction to the antenna array, thereby improving the performance of the antenna array.

[0019] In one specific embodiment, the antenna may further include a reflector. The reflector and the oscillator unit may be disposed on either side of the phase shifter along the second direction, with the reflector and the phase shifter spaced apart. Alternatively, the reflector and the oscillator unit may be disposed on the same side of the phase shifter along the second direction, with the balun of the oscillator unit extending through the reflector. The reflector can enhance the antenna's signal reception or transmission capabilities and block or shield interference with antenna signal reception from other radio waves originating from the back of the reflector.

[0020] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a base station, which may include a signal processing unit and an antenna as described in any of the possible implementations of the second aspect above; the signal processing unit may be electrically connected to the feed portion, thereby electrically connecting to the vibrator unit. The antenna has superior performance, and the base station has relatively reliable performance and high stability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of an antenna feeding system of a base station according to an embodiment shown in the above figure;

[0023] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station antenna according to a possible embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of an exploded structure of a phase shifter provided in a possible embodiment of the present application;

[0025] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a cavity of a phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a cavity of a phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] FIG7 is another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG8 is another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG9 is another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] FIG10 is another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] FIG11 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG12 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG13 is a schematic structural diagram of an antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG14 is another schematic diagram of the structure of an antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of the strip lines of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Reference numerals:

[0037] 10-antenna; 20-pole; 30-antenna adjustment bracket; 40-radome; 50-RF processing unit; 60-signal processing unit;

[0038] 70-cable; 80-feed network; 11-radiating element; 12-reflector; 81-transmission component; 82-calibration network; 83-phase shifter;

[0039] 84 - combiner; 85 - filter; 100 - cavity; 200 - stripline; 300 - dielectric part; 400 - oscillator unit; 101 - side plate; 102 - partition;

[0040] 201 - feeding portion; 202 - output portion; 203 - adapter portion; 301 - notch; 401 - balun; 402 - first welding point; 403 - second welding point;

[0041] 2021-first connecting section; 2022-first transition section; 2023-second connecting section; 2031-third connecting section; 2032-second transition section;

[0042] 2033-The fourth connecting section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The same reference numerals in the figures represent the same or similar structures, and thus their repeated description will be omitted. The words expressing position and direction described in the embodiments of the present application are all explained with reference to the accompanying drawings as examples, but changes may be made as needed, and the changes made are all included in the scope of protection of the present application. The drawings in the embodiments of the present application are only used to illustrate the relative position relationship and do not represent the true proportion.

[0044] The following description sets forth specific details to facilitate understanding of the present application. However, the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in a variety of other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar generalizations without violating the connotations of the embodiments of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0045] FIG1 exemplarily shows a schematic diagram of a system architecture applicable to an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG1 , the system architecture may include a wireless access network device and a terminal, such as but not limited to the base station shown in FIG1 . Wireless communication can be achieved between the wireless access device and the terminal. The wireless access network device may be located in a base station subsystem (BSS), a terrestrial radio access network (UMTS terrestrial radio access network, UTRAN) or an evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRAN), and is used to provide cell coverage of wireless signals to achieve connection between the terminal device and the radio frequency end of the wireless network. Specifically, the base station can be a base station (base transceiver station, BTS) in a GSM or CDMA system, a base station (NodeB, NB) in a WCDMA system, an evolved base station (evolutional NodeB, eNB or eNodeB) in an LTE system, or a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or the base station can also be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a base station in a 5G network, or a base station in a future evolved PLMN network, for example, a new wireless base station, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the antenna feed system of a base station according to one embodiment of the above figure. The base station antenna feed system typically includes an antenna 10, a mast 20, and an antenna adjustment bracket 30. The base station antenna 10 includes a radome 40. This radome 40 has excellent electrical electromagnetic wave penetration characteristics and mechanical properties that can withstand harsh external environments, thereby protecting the antenna system from external environmental influences. The radome 40 can be mounted on the mast 20 or tower via the antenna adjustment bracket 30 to facilitate signal reception or transmission by the antenna 10.

[0047] In addition, the base station may further include a radio frequency processing unit 50 and a signal processing unit 60. For example, the radio frequency processing unit 50 may be configured to perform frequency selection, amplification, and down-conversion processing on the signal received by the antenna 10, and convert the signal into an intermediate frequency signal or a baseband signal, which is then transmitted to the signal processing unit 60. Alternatively, the radio frequency processing unit 50 may be configured to convert the intermediate frequency signal from the signal processing unit 60 into an electromagnetic wave through the antenna 10 after up-conversion and amplification, and then transmit the electromagnetic wave. The signal processing unit 60 may be connected to the feed structure of the antenna 10 via the radio frequency processing unit 50, and may be configured to process the intermediate frequency signal or baseband signal transmitted by the radio frequency processing unit 50.

[0048] In one possible embodiment, as shown in FIG2 , the RF processing unit 50 may be integrated with the antenna 10, and the signal processing unit 60 may be located at the distal end of the antenna 10. In other embodiments, the RF processing unit 50 and the signal processing unit 60 may be located at the distal end of the antenna 10. The RF processing unit 50 and the signal processing unit 60 may be connected via a cable 70.

[0049] More specifically, Figures 2 and 3 may be referenced together. Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station antenna according to a possible embodiment of the present application. As shown in Figure 3, the base station antenna 10 may include a radiating element 11 and a reflector 12. The radiating element 11, which may also be referred to as an antenna element, a vibrator element, etc., is a unit that constitutes the basic structure of the antenna array and can effectively radiate or receive antenna signals. In antenna 10, the frequencies of different radiating elements 11 can be the same or different. The reflector 12, which may also be referred to as a base plate, antenna panel, or metal reflective surface, can reflect and focus antenna signals at a receiving point. The radiating element 11 is typically placed on one side of the reflector 12. This not only significantly enhances the antenna 10's signal reception or transmission capabilities, but also blocks and shields other radio waves from the back side of the reflector 12 (the back side of the reflector 12 in this application refers to the side of the reflector 12 opposite to the side where the radiating element 11 is located) from interfering with antenna signal reception.

[0050] In the base station's antenna 10, the radiating element 11 is connected to a feed network 80. The feed network 80 typically consists of controlled impedance transmission lines. It can feed signals to the radiating element 11 at a specific amplitude and phase, or transmit received signals to the base station's signal processing unit 60 at a specific amplitude and phase. Furthermore, the feed network 80 can achieve different radiation beam directions through a transmission component 81, or connect to a calibration network 82 to obtain calibration signals required by the system. The feed network 80 may include a phase shifter 83 to change the maximum direction of antenna signal radiation. The feed network 80 may also include modules to extend performance, such as a combiner 84 (which can be used to combine signals of different frequencies into one channel for transmission through the antenna 10; or, in reverse, to divide the signals received by the antenna 10 into multiple channels based on frequency and transmit them to the signal processing unit 60 for processing), a filter 85 (for filtering out interference signals), and other modules.

[0051] The phase shifter provided in the embodiments of the present application can be adapted for use with antenna 10 of a base station antenna as part of a feed network 80, thereby changing the maximum direction of antenna signal radiation. In current base station antennas, the phase shifters are relatively large, significantly obstructing the antenna array and impacting antenna array performance.

[0052] Based on this, an embodiment of the present application provides a phase shifter to reduce obstruction of the antenna array, thereby improving the performance of the antenna array. The phase shifter is described in detail below.

[0053] First, reference is made to FIG4 , which shows an exploded schematic diagram of a phase shifter provided in a possible embodiment of the present application. In the coordinate directions in the following figures, the x-axis represents the first direction, the y-axis represents the second direction, and the z-axis represents the third direction. The second direction can be perpendicular to the first direction, and the third direction can be perpendicular to the first and second directions. As shown in FIG4 , as a possible embodiment, the phase shifter may include a cavity 100 and a stripline 200. The cavity 100 may include a side panel 101 and a plurality of partitions 102, with the plurality of partitions 102 spaced apart on the side panel 101. For example, the side panel 101 extends along a first direction, so that the first direction can be understood as the length direction of the side panel 101, and the plurality of partitions 102 can be spaced apart along a second direction. Specifically, the spacing between adjacent partitions 102 along the second direction can be the same or different. Each partition 102 can be arranged perpendicular to the side panel 101, so that the plurality of partitions 102 can be arranged parallel to each other.

[0054] Figure 5 shows a structural schematic diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 6 shows a structural schematic diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. A plurality of partitions 102 are respectively connected to the side panels 101, and the plurality of partitions 102 and the side panels 101 form at least one accommodating space, and each accommodating space can be regarded as a sub-cavity of the cavity 100. Specifically, the formation of the accommodating space can include a variety of situations. For example, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a form of accommodating space can be formed between two adjacent partitions 102 and the side panels 101. In the cross-section perpendicular to the first direction, the cross-sectional shape of the two adjacent partitions 102 and the side panels 101 is similar to a U-shape. For the sake of convenience of description, this form of accommodating space can be correspondingly referred to as a U-shaped accommodating space.

[0055] FIG7 shows another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG8 shows another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG7 and FIG8, an accommodating space can also be formed between the outermost partition 102 and the side panel 101 in the second direction. In the cross section perpendicular to the first direction, the cross-sectional shape of the outermost partition 102 and the side panel 101 is similar to an L-shape. For the sake of convenience of description, this form of accommodating space can be correspondingly referred to as an L-shaped accommodating space. Thus, the cavity 100 formed by the plurality of partitions 102 and the side panel 101 is an open structure having at least one accommodating space, or in other words, the cavity 100 formed by the plurality of partitions 102 and the side panel 101 is an open structure having at least one sub-cavity.

[0056] FIG9 shows another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. FIG10 shows another schematic structural diagram of the cavity of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG9 and FIG10, in a specific implementation, partitions 102 can be provided on both sides of the side panel 101 along the third direction, so that a receiving space can be formed on both sides of the side panel 101 along the third direction. The strip lines 200 can be arranged on both sides of the side panel 101 along the third direction, which can increase the layout space of the strip lines 200 and improve the flexibility of the layout of the strip lines 200.

[0057] In a specific implementation, as shown in Figure 4, the strip line 200 may include a feeding portion 201 and an output portion 202. The feeding portion 201 may extend along the first direction, and the feeding portion 201 may be respectively arranged in one or more accommodating spaces, that is, the feeding portion 201 may be respectively arranged in one or more sub-cavities of the cavity 100. In addition, a dielectric portion 300 is arranged between the feeding portion 201 and the partition 102 corresponding to the accommodating space where the feeding portion 201 is located. For example, at least part of the feeding portion 201 is arranged in the U-shaped accommodating space, and a dielectric portion 300 is arranged between the feeding portion 201 and one of the two adjacent partitions 102 forming the U-shaped accommodating space, or, dielectric portions 300 are respectively arranged between the feeding portion 201 and the two adjacent partitions 102 forming the U-shaped accommodating space, that is, dielectric portions 300 are arranged on both sides of the feeding portion 201 along the second direction; at least part of the feeding portion 201 is arranged in the L-shaped accommodating space, and a dielectric portion 300 is arranged between the feeding portion 201 and one of the partitions 102 forming the L-shaped accommodating space, that is, a dielectric portion 300 is arranged on one side of the feeding portion 201 along the second direction.

[0058] In a specific implementation, the feeding portion 201 can be fixed in the cavity 100 by the dielectric portion 300. Specifically, when the dielectric portion 300 is provided on both sides of the feeding portion 201 along the second direction, the dielectric portions 300 on both sides of the feeding portion 201 can be fixedly connected to the corresponding partition 102 by bonding or other means. Alternatively, one of the dielectric portions 300 on both sides of the feeding portion 201 is fixedly connected to the corresponding partition 102 by bonding or other means, and the other dielectric portion 300 is slidably connected to the corresponding partition 102. In this case, the feeding portion 201 can be fixedly connected to the dielectric portion 300 fixedly connected to the partition 102 by bonding or other means. Alternatively, the feeding portion 201 can be clamped by the two dielectric portions 300. When the dielectric portion 300 is provided on one side of the feeding portion 201 along the second direction, the dielectric portion 300 can be fixedly connected to the partition 102 by bonding or other means, and the feeding portion 201 can be fixedly connected to the dielectric portion 300 by bonding or other means.

[0059] FIG11 shows a schematic structural diagram of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG4 and FIG11, the output portion 202 is connected to the feeding portion 201 and extends outside the accommodation space. Specifically, the output portion 202 extends outside the cavity 100. The output portion 202 is physically and electrically connected to the feeding portion 201. The output portion 202 can be regarded as a structure extending outward from the feeding portion 201. In actual application, the output portion 202 is connected to the antenna element unit 400. Specifically, the output portion 202 is connected to the feeder line of the antenna element unit 400, thereby realizing the connection between the feeding portion 201 and the antenna element unit 400.

[0060] FIG12 shows a schematic diagram of the structure of the antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG12 , when the phase shifter provided in the present application is applied to the antenna, it can transmit signals between multiple vibrator units 400. Multiple vibrator units 400 can be arranged in a row along the first direction, and the balun 401 of each vibrator unit 400 is respectively fixedly connected to the cavity 100. Specifically, as shown in FIG4 , the balun 401 can be fixedly connected to the outermost partition 102 in the second direction. The feed line of each vibrator unit 400 can be electrically connected to an output part 202 respectively, so that each vibrator unit 400 is electrically connected to the feeding part 201. The feeding part 201 can feed signals to the multiple vibrator units 400, or receive signals received by the multiple vibrator units 400. In a specific implementation, the antenna may further include a reflector. The reflector may be positioned in a variety of ways. For example, the reflector and the vibrator unit 400 may be positioned on either side of the phase shifter along the second direction, i.e., the phase shifter is positioned between the reflector and the vibrator unit 400. Specifically, the reflector and the phase shifter may be spaced apart, or the phase shifter may be suspended relative to the reflector. The reflector and the vibrator unit 400 may also be positioned on the same side of the phase shifter along the second direction. In this case, the balun of the vibrator unit 400 extends through the reflector, and the balun does not contact the reflector.

[0061] The phase shifter provided in the present application has an open structure in the cavity 100, which is convenient for pultrusion of miniaturized profiles and easy to form. The cavity 100 has at least one sub-cavity, and the feeding portion 201 is arranged in at least one sub-cavity, which can physically separate the feeding portions 201 located in different sub-cavities, and can avoid electromagnetic coupling between the feeding portions 201 located in different sub-cavities, so that the distance between the feeding portions 201 located in different sub-cavities can be smaller, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the cavity 100 can be smaller, that is, the volume of the cavity 100 can be smaller, and the cavity 100 can be miniaturized, that is, the phase shifter can be miniaturized, which can reduce the obstruction of the antenna array by the phase shifter, reduce the impact of the phase shifter on the antenna array radiation pattern, and achieve improved performance of the antenna array.

[0062] In actual application, the dielectric part 300 can be located below the vibrator unit 400 along the second direction, or the dielectric part 300 can be located between two adjacent vibrator units 400. The phase difference between the two adjacent vibrator units 400 can be achieved by changing the setting of the dielectric part 300 (such as the presence or absence of the dielectric part 300, the position of the dielectric part 300, etc.).

[0063] Because the cavity 100 has an open structure, the stripline 200 can be directly assembled into the cavity 100 from a third direction. That is, the stripline 200 can be directly assembled into the cavity 100 from both sides, rather than from one end along the length of the cavity 100. This makes assembly of the stripline 200 relatively simple and easy to implement. Furthermore, the output portion 202 extending outward from the feeding portion 201 can be directly connected to the oscillator unit 400. That is, no additional transition structure is required between the stripline 200 and the oscillator unit 400, which can reduce the insertion loss of the feed network.

[0064] In a specific implementation, a row of vibrator units 400 connected to the same cavity 100 share a strip line 200, so that a row of vibrator units 400 can form an antenna module, and multiple antenna modules can then form an antenna array. As a result, the phase shifter provided in this application facilitates the modularization of the antenna array. The phase shifter provided in this application can be applied to passive antennas as well as active antennas. The balun 401 of the vibrator unit 400 can be directly welded to the cavity 100 by laser welding, which can achieve electroplating-free welding and low connection cost.

[0065] Figure 13 shows a structural schematic diagram of the antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 14 shows another structural schematic diagram of the antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application. During the specific connection, as shown in Figure 13, the balun 401 of the vibrator unit 400 can be perpendicular to the side panel 101, or, as shown in Figure 14, the balun 401 of the vibrator unit 400 can also be parallel to the side panel 101. The feed line of the vibrator unit 400 and the output part 202 can be directly connected by laser welding without the need for an additional adapter 203, which is more convenient to connect and can reduce signal loss. In Figures 10 and 11, the welding point between the balun 401 of the vibrator unit 400 and the cavity 100 is represented as a first welding point 402, and the welding point between the feed line of the vibrator unit 400 and the strip line 200 is represented as a second welding point 403.

[0066] FIG15 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the strip line of the phase shifter provided in an embodiment of the present application. As shown in FIG15 , the output portion 202 may include a first connecting section 2021 and a first transition section 2022, so that the output portion 202 extends outside the cavity 100. Specifically, one end of the first connecting section 2021 is connected to the feeding portion 201, the first transition section 2022 is located outside the accommodation space, and one end of the first transition section 2022 is connected to the other end of the first connecting section 2021. In actual application, the other end of the first transition section 2022 is connected to the antenna element unit 400. The connection between the output portion 202 and the element unit 400 is relatively convenient, and no additional transition section 203 is required. In a specific implementation, the first connecting section 2021 and the first transition section 2022 can be arranged at an angle. For example, the first connecting section 2021 and the first transition section 2022 can be arranged perpendicular to each other.

[0067] In a specific implementation, the output portion 202 may further include a second connecting section 2023, which is located outside the accommodation space. The first connecting section 2021, the first transition section 2022, and the second connecting section 2023 are sequentially connected. The other end of the first transition section 2022 is connected to one end of the second connecting section 2023, and the other end of the second transition section 2022 is connected to the antenna element 400. In other words, the other end of the first transition section 2022 is connected to the antenna element 400 via the second connecting section 2023. This allows the output portion 202 to more easily approach the element 400, making connection with the element 400 more convenient. Specifically, the second connecting section 2023 and the first transition section 2022 may be arranged at an angle. For example, the second connecting section 2023 and the first transition section 2022 may be arranged perpendicular to each other, thereby forming a U-shaped structure for the output portion 202.

[0068] As a possible embodiment, there may be multiple feeding sections 201, and multiple feeding sections 201 may be arranged in at least one receiving space, thereby increasing the space for arranging the stripline 200. For example, if the cavity 100 has three receiving spaces and there are three feeding sections 201, the three feeding sections 201 are respectively arranged in the three receiving spaces. It is understood that the number of feeding sections 201 can be greater than the number of receiving spaces in the cavity 100, and multiple feeding sections 201 can be arranged at intervals within a single receiving space.

[0069] In a specific implementation, the strip line 200 may also include a transition portion 203. The feeding portions 201 located in different accommodating spaces may be connected through the transition portion 203, or the transition portion 203 may be used to enable the strip line 200 to jump between different accommodating spaces, thereby eliminating the need for an additional transition portion 203 and reducing signal loss. The strip line 200 is divided into a plurality of feeding portions 201. During actual assembly, the plurality of feeding portions 201 may be separately loaded into the cavity 100, and then connected into one body through the transition portion 203 to achieve physical and electrical connections, making the assembly of the strip line 200 more convenient. Alternatively, the strip line 200 may be integrally bent to form a plurality of feeding portions 201 and transition portions 203, which are then loaded into the cavity 100. During actual application, different vibrator units 400 may be respectively connected to the feeding portions 201 in different accommodating spaces.

[0070] In a specific implementation, the adapter portion 203 may include a third connecting segment 2031, a second adapter segment 2032, and a fourth connecting segment 2033 connected in sequence, one end of the third connecting segment 2031 being connected to the feed portion 201 located in one storage space, one end of the fourth connecting segment 2033 being connected to the feed portion 201 located in another storage space, the second adapter segment 2032 being located outside the storage space, and the two ends of the second adapter segment 2032 being connected to the other end of the third connecting segment 2031 and the other end of the fourth connecting segment 2033, respectively, thereby achieving connection of the feed portions 201 in different storage spaces and enabling the strip line 200 to jump between different storage spaces without the need for an additional adapter portion 203. Specifically, the second adapter segment 2032 may be arranged perpendicularly to the third connecting segment 2031 and the fourth connecting segment 2033, respectively, and the adapter portion 203 as a whole may be similar to a U-shaped structure.

[0071] As a possible implementation, the projections of the feed sections 201 located in different accommodation spaces along the second direction can overlap, allowing the strip line 200 to be wound across the different accommodation spaces to meet diverse usage requirements. Because the cavity 100 has multiple sub-cavities, there is ample space for routing, making it relatively easy to wind the strip line 200 without increasing the size of the phase shifter.

[0072] In a specific implementation, the projections of the feeding portion 201 located in the same accommodation space along the third direction may also have overlapping portions, so that the strip line 200 can be wound within the same accommodation space. In a specific implementation, the dielectric portion 300 may have a notch 301. In the second direction, the notch 301 and the overlapping portion of the feeding portion 201 located in the same accommodation space along the third direction are offset. This can be understood as the dielectric portion 300 having a larger dimension or a wider width along the second direction at the portion corresponding to the overlapping portion, and a smaller dimension or a narrower width along the second direction at the portion offset from the overlapping portion. This ensures that the dielectric portion 300 corresponds to the feeding portion 201 in the second direction while reducing the area of ​​the dielectric portion 300, thereby improving the effective utilization of the dielectric portion 300 and reducing costs.

[0073] In this application, "at least one" means one or more, and "more" means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B can mean: A exists alone, A and B exist at the same time, and B exists alone, where A and B can be singular or plural. In the text description of this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in an "or" relationship; in the formula of this application, the character " / " indicates that the previous and next associated objects are in a "division" relationship. "Including at least one of A, B and C" can mean: including A; including B; including C; including A and B; including A and C; including B and C; including A, B and C.

[0074] It is understood that the various numbers used in the embodiments of this application are merely for ease of description and are not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments of this application. The order of the sequence numbers of the above-mentioned processes does not necessarily imply a specific order of execution; the order of execution of the processes should be determined by their functions and inherent logic.

[0075] The above is only a specific implementation method of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or replacements that can be easily thought of by any technician familiar with this technical field within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be covered by the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A phase shifter, characterized in that: Including cavity and strip line; The cavity comprises a side plate and a plurality of partitions, wherein the plurality of partitions are arranged on the side plate at intervals, and the plurality of partitions and the side plate form at least one accommodating space; The strip line includes a feeding part and an output part, the feeding part is respectively arranged in one or more of the accommodating spaces, and a dielectric part is arranged between the feeding part and the partition corresponding to the accommodating space where the feeding part is located; the output part is connected to the feeding part and extends outside the accommodating space, and the output part is used to be connected to the oscillator unit of the antenna.

2. The phase shifter according to claim 1, characterized in that The output part includes a first connecting section and a first transition section, one end of the first connecting section is connected to the feeding part, the first transition section is located outside the accommodating space, one end of the first transition section is connected to the other end of the first connecting section, and the other end of the first transition section is used to connect to the oscillator unit of the antenna.

3. The phase shifter according to claim 2, characterized in that The output portion further includes a second connecting section, which is located outside the accommodating space, and the other end of the first adapter section is connected to the oscillator unit of the antenna through the second connecting section.

4. The phase shifter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: There are multiple feeding parts, and the multiple feeding parts are arranged in at least one of the accommodating spaces; The strip line further includes a transition portion, and the feeding portions located in different accommodating spaces are connected via the transition portion.

5. The phase shifter according to claim 4, characterized in that The transition section includes a third connecting section, a second transition section and a fourth connecting section which are connected in sequence, one end of the third connecting section is connected to the feeding section located in one of the accommodating spaces, one end of the fourth connecting section is connected to the feeding section located in another of the accommodating spaces, the second transition section is located outside the accommodating space, and two ends of the second transition section are respectively connected to the other end of the third connecting section and the other end of the fourth connecting section.

6. The phase shifter according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: There is an overlapping portion in the projections of the feeding parts located in different accommodating spaces along the second direction; the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the first direction is the extension direction of the side plate.

7. The phase shifter according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that: There is an overlapping part in the projection of the feeding parts located in the same accommodating space along the third direction; the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the first direction is the extension direction of the side plate.

8. The phase shifter according to claim 7, characterized in that The medium portion has a notch, and the notch is arranged offset from the overlapping portion in the second direction.

9. The phase shifter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The partitions are respectively arranged on both sides of the side plate along the third direction; the third direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the first direction is the extension direction of the side plate.

10. The phase shifter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The partition plate is arranged perpendicularly to the side plate.

11. An antenna, characterized in that: It comprises an oscillator unit and a phase shifter as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10; There are a plurality of vibrator units, and the plurality of vibrator units are arranged along a first direction, and the first direction is an extension direction of the side plate; The balun of each of the vibrator units is fixedly connected to the cavity respectively; The feeder lines of the vibrator units are electrically connected to the feeding part through the output part.

12. The antenna according to claim 11, characterized in that It also includes a reflection plate, wherein the reflection plate and the vibrator unit are respectively arranged on both sides of the phase shifter along a second direction, the reflection plate and the phase shifter are spaced apart, and the second direction is perpendicular to the extension direction of the side plate; or The reflection plate and the vibrator unit are arranged on the same side of the phase shifter along the second direction, and the balun of the vibrator unit passes through the reflection plate.

13. A base station, characterized in that: comprising a signal processing unit and the antenna as claimed in claim 11 or 12; The signal processing unit is electrically connected to the feeding portion so as to be electrically connected to the vibrator unit.

Images