Beam width reconfigurable antenna and base station

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a beam width reconfigurable antenna and a base station. The antenna comprises: a main radiation unit, used for generating a first electromagnetic wave on the basis of a feed network; and a plurality of groups of electric control parasitic units, which are arranged around the main radiation unit and used for generating a second electromagnetic wave, so that the first electromagnetic wave and the second electromagnetic wave are fused to generate a third electromagnetic wave, wherein the beam widths of the directional pattern of the third electromagnetic wave on a horizontal plane and a vertical plane are adjustable. The present disclosure at least solves the problem in the prior art of being difficult to satisfy the requirements of different communication environments.

Description

Beamwidth reconfigurable antenna and base station

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This disclosure is based on Chinese patent application CN202311539335.6, filed on November 17, 2023, entitled “Beamwidth Reconfigurable Antenna and Base Station”, and claims the priority of the patent application, all of the contents disclosed therein are incorporated into this disclosure by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the technical field of wireless communications, and in particular, to a beamwidth reconfigurable antenna and a base station. Background Art

[0004] With the rapid development of communication technology in recent years, beamwidth reconfigurable antennas, as an important communication device, have been widely used in wireless communication systems. A beamwidth reconfigurable antenna is an antenna that can adjust its beamwidth based on actual needs. By controlling the antenna's radiation characteristics, both the antenna's directivity and beamwidth can be adjusted. Traditional beamwidth reconfigurable antennas typically use fixed radiating elements and corresponding control circuits, adjusting the beamwidth by adjusting circuit parameters. This antenna design meets the communication system's need for adjustable beamwidth to a certain extent, but it still has some limitations.

[0005] However, given the complexity and diversity of real-world communication environments, different communication scenarios have varying requirements for beamwidth. For example, in indoor environments, due to the high levels of multipath and interference, a narrower beamwidth improves signal focus and interference resistance. In outdoor environments, a wider beamwidth provides greater coverage and signal transmission efficiency.

[0006] However, traditional beamwidth reconfigurable antennas can often only provide fixed beamwidth, which is difficult to meet the needs of different communication environments.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a beam width reconfigurable antenna and a base station to at least solve the problem in the related art that the beam width reconfigurable antenna is difficult to meet the requirements of different communication environments.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a beamwidth reconfigurable antenna, comprising:

[0010] A main radiating unit, configured to generate a first electromagnetic wave based on a feeding network;

[0011] A plurality of electrically controlled parasitic units are arranged around the main radiating unit and are used to generate a second electromagnetic wave so that the first electromagnetic wave and the second electromagnetic wave are merged to generate a third electromagnetic wave, and the beam width of the radiation pattern of the third electromagnetic wave in the horizontal plane and the vertical plane is adjustable.

[0012] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a base station is provided, including the above-mentioned antenna. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beam width reconfigurable antenna at a first viewing angle according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG2 is a second schematic diagram of the overall structure of an antenna with reconfigurable beam width at a first viewing angle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beam width reconfigurable antenna at a second viewing angle according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG4 is a cross-sectional view of a parasitic patch, a dielectric substrate, a ground plane, and a feed substrate according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] 5 is a cross-sectional view of a parasitic patch, a dielectric substrate, a floor, a feed substrate, and a sidewall block according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a main radiating unit and a feeding network according to Example 1 of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a structure in which the feeding network of Example 1 of the present disclosure is a series multi-point feeding network;

[0020] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of a structure in which the feeding network of Example 1 of the present disclosure is a parallel multi-point feeding network;

[0021] FIG9 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beam width reconfigurable antenna at a first viewing angle according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beam width reconfigurable antenna at a second viewing angle according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG11 is a cross-sectional view of a dielectric substrate according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG12 is a partial enlarged view of the portion marked B in FIG10 ;

[0025] FIG13 is a partial enlarged view of the portion marked C in FIG10 ;

[0026] FIG14 is a partial enlarged view of the portion marked D in FIG10 ;

[0027] FIG15 is a partial enlarged view of the portion marked E in FIG11 ;

[0028] FIG16 is a partial enlarged view of the portion marked F in FIG11 ;

[0029] FIG17 is a partial enlarged view of the portion marked G in FIG11 ;

[0030] FIG18 is a directional diagram of narrow polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG19 is a directional diagram of narrow-width polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG20 is a directional diagram of wide and narrow polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 21 is a directional diagram of wide-wide polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Explanation of the accompanying drawings: 1. Main radiating unit; 11. Radiating patch; 111. Partitioning slot; 12. Side wall block; 2. First group of electrically controlled parasitic units; 3. Second group of electrically controlled parasitic units; 4. First electrically controlled switch; 5. Second electrically controlled switch; 6. Floor; 61. Slot; 7. Feed network; 71. Input port; 72. Output port; 73. Output branch; 74. Main line; 8. Dielectric substrate; 9. Conductive metal body; 10. Feed substrate; 101. Support block; A1. Parasitic patch; A2. Adjustment conductor; A3. Short-circuit conductor; 20. Dielectric plate; 30. First metal strip; 40. Adjustment metal strip; 50. Second metal strip; 60. Short-circuit metal strip; 70. Conductor. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and in conjunction with embodiments.

[0036] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present disclosure and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0037] In this embodiment, a beamwidth reconfigurable antenna is provided, including:

[0038] A main radiating unit, configured to generate a first electromagnetic wave based on a feeding network;

[0039] The main radiating element of the present disclosure has high radiation efficiency and directivity, which can be achieved by selecting appropriate antenna structures and materials. For example, the main radiating element can adopt a microstrip antenna, an antenna array, or other antenna structures with good radiation characteristics.

[0040] A feeding network is used to feed the main radiating element to adjust the radiation characteristics of the first electromagnetic wave. The feeding network may include various network components, such as filters, couplers, and phase shifters. These network components adjust the radiation characteristics of the first electromagnetic wave by adjusting their parameters.

[0041] By simulating and analyzing the parameters of the feeding network, the appropriate network element types, parameters, and layout can be determined to obtain the required first electromagnetic wave.

[0042] After the simulation analysis is completed, the feed network is integrated with the main radiating element. The network components are connected to the appropriate positions of the main radiating element to ensure that the signal can be transmitted and radiated correctly.

[0043] Finally, testing and adjustments are performed to ensure that the primary radiating element, based on the feed network, can generate the required first electromagnetic wave. This testing can be performed using antenna testing equipment (such as an antenna test bench or antenna tester) and a signal source (such as a signal generator). This testing allows the antenna's radiation characteristics and beamwidth to be evaluated, allowing necessary adjustments and optimizations to be made.

[0044] In the above manner, the main radiating unit can generate the required first electromagnetic wave based on the feeding network.

[0045] Multiple sets of electrically controlled parasitic units are arranged around the main radiating unit and are used to generate a second electromagnetic wave, thereby fusing the first and second electromagnetic waves to produce a third electromagnetic wave. The beamwidth of the third electromagnetic wave's directivity pattern in the horizontal and vertical planes is adjustable. The second electromagnetic wave is generated by the multiple sets of electrically controlled parasitic units and interacts with the first electromagnetic wave generated by the main radiating unit, for example, by performing phase superposition or amplitude superposition to produce the third electromagnetic wave. By adjusting the electrically controlled parasitic units to change the phase or amplitude of the second electromagnetic wave, the direction or beam of the third electromagnetic wave can be changed, and the beamwidth of the third electromagnetic wave's directivity pattern in the horizontal and vertical planes can be changed.

[0046] Furthermore, the electrically controlled parasitic unit may include:

[0047] a parasitic patch for outputting a second electromagnetic wave according to a current flowing therethrough;

[0048] A parasitic patch is a special inductor that generates a second electromagnetic wave through the current flowing through it. The design and material selection of the parasitic patch affect its inductance value and the output effect of the second electromagnetic wave.

[0049] a floor, used to pass current with the parasitic patch;

[0050] The floor is the ground plane or substrate connected to the parasitic patch. The function of the floor is to provide a low-impedance loop, allowing the current flowing through the parasitic patch to flow out of the parasitic patch, or the current flowing through the floor to flow into the parasitic patch, thus forming a closed loop.

[0051] A short-circuit component is provided between the parasitic patch and the floor, and is used to connect the parasitic patch and the floor;

[0052] A short-circuit component is a set of connecting conductors placed between a parasitic patch and the ground plane. Its function is to divert current flowing through the parasitic patch to the ground plane, or vice versa, completing a closed current loop. By adjusting the shape and position of the short-circuit component, the current distribution and path can be influenced, thereby altering the secondary electromagnetic wave output by the parasitic patch.

[0053] The regulating component is arranged between the parasitic patch and the floor, and is used to regulate the flow path of the current between the parasitic patch and the floor to change the flow path of the current on the parasitic patch so that the parasitic patch outputs a different second electromagnetic wave.

[0054] The regulating component is a set of adjustable components placed between the parasitic patch and the ground plane. The regulating component controls the flow of current between the parasitic patch and the ground plane, thereby changing the distribution and direction of current on the parasitic patch. By adjusting the parameters of the regulating component (such as size, shape, and position), the output of the second electromagnetic wave from the parasitic patch can be adjusted.

[0055] In summary, the parasitic patch generates a second electromagnetic wave through the current flowing through it, the floor provides a loop for the current to flow out / in, the short-circuit component diverts the current to the floor, or it can also reverse the current of the floor to the parasitic patch, and the adjustment component adjusts the second electromagnetic wave output of the parasitic patch by changing the flow of current.

[0056] Furthermore, the short-circuit component may include:

[0057] At least one set of short-circuit conductors has one end connected to the parasitic patch and the other end connected to the ground plane, ensuring electrical continuity between the parasitic patch and the ground plane. As part of the short-circuit assembly, the short-circuit conductors work with the parasitic patch and the ground plane. Through good electrical contact and conductive properties, they divert current from the parasitic patch to the ground plane, or vice versa. This ensures that the current forms a closed loop, enabling the parasitic patch to function properly and output the desired second electromagnetic wave.

[0058] Furthermore, the adjustment component includes:

[0059] An adjusting conductor is located on one side of the short-circuit conductor, one end of which is used to connect to the parasitic patch and the other end of which is used to connect to the floor through an electrically controlled switch;

[0060] An electrically controlled switch used to change the way current flows between the regulating conductor and the floor.

[0061] The regulating conductor facilitates electrical connection between the parasitic patch and the floor, while the electronically controlled switch facilitates changing the flow of current through the regulating conductor. For example, when the electronically controlled switch is on, the current in the regulating conductor flows through the switch before entering the floor. When the electronically controlled switch is off, the current in the regulating conductor radiates into the floor. Although the current in the regulating conductor can enter the floor regardless of the state of the electronically controlled switch, the two operating modes of the electronically controlled switch can change the flow of current. These two current flow modes, combined with the function of the short-circuit conductor, can alter the current flow path through the parasitic patch.

[0062] Therefore, by controlling the state of the electronically controlled switch, it is possible to select whether the current flows through the regulating conductor or the short-circuit conductor, thereby changing the current flow path on the parasitic patch. This allows the intensity or direction of the second electromagnetic wave output by the parasitic patch to be adjusted, achieving regulation and control of the second electromagnetic wave.

[0063] Furthermore, the main radiation unit adopts an air medium microstrip antenna.

[0064] Specifically, air-based microstrip antennas are a type of antenna used in wireless communications. Microstrip antennas typically have substrates made of non-conductive materials such as fiberglass, ceramic, or polymer. Their operating principle is based on the radiation of the microstrip patch and the resonance of the conductor. Microstrip antennas can achieve wide bandwidths despite their small size, making them widely used in microwave and millimeter-wave applications. Their advantages include small size, light weight, low manufacturing cost, and ease of integration, leading to their widespread application in fields such as wireless communications, satellite communications, radar, and wireless sensor networks.

[0065] Furthermore, the main radiation unit may include:

[0066] a dielectric substrate, disposed on one side of the floor;

[0067] The dielectric substrate is the foundation of the main radiating element, installed on one side of the floor. It provides support and stability, and also acts as a dielectric to modify the propagation properties of electromagnetic waves. By selecting different dielectric materials and designing different structures, the propagation speed of electromagnetic waves, impedance matching, and other characteristics can be adjusted.

[0068] The radiating patch, installed on one side of the dielectric substrate, generates a primary electromagnetic wave based on the current flowing through it. The radiating patch is one of the most important components in the main radiating unit, generating the primary electromagnetic wave based on the current flowing through it. The shape and size of the radiating patch determine the frequency and radiation characteristics of the generated electromagnetic wave. By using radiating patches of different shapes and sizes, the frequency and direction of the radiated electromagnetic wave can be adjusted.

[0069] Multiple groups of side wall blocks are arranged between the dielectric substrate and the radiation patch, with one end connected to the dielectric substrate and the other end connected to the radiation patch, so that there is a distance between the radiation patch and the dielectric substrate and the output signal of the feed network is transmitted to the radiation patch.

[0070] The sidewall block is located between the dielectric substrate and the radiating patch, with one end connected to the dielectric substrate and the other to the radiating patch. Its function is to create a certain distance between the dielectric substrate and the radiating patch and to transmit the signal output by the feed network to the radiating patch. The design of the sidewall block can influence the radiation effect and radiation characteristics of the radiating patch, such as increasing the radiation efficiency of the radiating patch and reducing the coupling between the radiating patch and the dielectric substrate.

[0071] Furthermore, the feeding network is a multi-output port network for feeding the main radiating unit so that the main radiating unit outputs the first electromagnetic wave.

[0072] The feeding network can be composed of multiple branches, and each branch can be set with a different phase and amplitude. These branches can adjust the phase and amplitude through components such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors. By adjusting the parameters of the feeding network, the first electromagnetic wave output by the radiating patch can be adjusted. For example, by adjusting the phase and amplitude of each branch, the radiating patch can output greater power in a specific direction, thereby adjusting the radiation direction; or by adjusting the phase difference of each branch, the radiating patch can be consistent in phase in a specific direction, thereby achieving a beamforming effect. The technical solution disclosed in the present invention mainly outputs output signals of different phases by changing the phase difference of each branch. By adjusting the amplitude of the output signal, the amplitudes of multiple groups of output signals can be kept the same.

[0073] In short, the feed network can adjust the first electromagnetic wave output by the radiating patch by adjusting the phase and amplitude of the input signal. This allows the direction, intensity, and other parameters of the electromagnetic wave radiation to be controlled to meet the needs of different application scenarios.

[0074] Furthermore, the feeding network includes:

[0075] Input ports are used to obtain input signals and can be connected to external control systems or signal sources. Input ports can provide input signals to the feed network to adjust the phase and amplitude of the output signals of multiple output ports.

[0076] a plurality of groups of output ports, configured to output a plurality of groups of output signals based on the input signal, so that the primary radiation unit generates a first electromagnetic wave;

[0077] Each output port can provide an independent output signal. By adjusting the parameters of each branch in the feed network, the phase and amplitude of the output signal can be adjusted. Therefore, each output port can output a signal with a different phase and amplitude, thereby controlling the generation of the first electromagnetic wave by the main radiating element.

[0078] The multiple groups of output branches have different lengths, so that the multiple groups of output ports output multiple groups of output signals with the same amplitude and different phases.

[0079] Multiple output branches are key components of the feed network, and they vary in length. These varying lengths result in varying signal arrival times at each output port. By adjusting the length of each output branch, it is possible to achieve output signals with the same amplitude but different phases at multiple output ports. Specifically, by controlling the length of each output branch, the signal propagation time in the branch can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the phase difference at each output port.

[0080] In summary, the input port is used to receive an input signal, and the multiple output ports are used to output multiple output signals based on the input signal. The different lengths of the multiple output branches enable the multiple output ports to output signals with the same amplitude but different phases. By adjusting the parameters and structure of these components, the generation of the first electromagnetic wave by the main radiating element can be controlled.

[0081] Furthermore, a feeding point is provided at the end of each group of side wall blocks, so that the output signal enters the side wall block through the feeding point.

[0082] The feeding point may be a conductive patch, and the feeding point is connected to the end of the side wall block by bonding or welding.

[0083] Furthermore, it also includes: multiple groups of conductive metal bodies, one end of each group of conductive metal bodies is connected to the feeding point, and the other end is connected to the output port of the feeding network.

[0084] With the above solution, the output signal from the output port of the feed network can be transmitted through the conductive metal body to the sidewall block, and then to the radiating patch, thereby facilitating feeding the radiating patch. Because the conductive metal body has a certain length, the distance between the radiating patch and the feed network can be extended, reducing the degree of interference between the first electromagnetic wave generated by the radiating patch and the electromagnetic wave generated by the feed network.

[0085] Furthermore, the radiation patch is provided with a plurality of partition grooves.

[0086] When current flows on the radiation patch, the setting of the partition groove can block the current, allowing the current to flow around the partition groove, effectively extending the current flow path, so that the radiation patch generates different first electromagnetic waves.

[0087] Furthermore, the multiple groups of electrically controlled parasitic units are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the main radiation unit.

[0088] Furthermore, the multiple groups of output ports are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the main radiation unit, and the multiple groups of output branches with different lengths enable the multiple groups of output ports to output multiple groups of output signals with the same amplitude and equidistant phase distribution.

[0089] Furthermore, the multiple groups of side wall blocks are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the radiation patch.

[0090] Furthermore, the feeding point is located in the middle of the end portion of the side wall block.

[0091] Furthermore, the shape of the radiation patch is circular or polygonal.

[0092] Furthermore, the cross section of the parasitic patch is rectangular or arc-shaped.

[0093] Furthermore, the feeding network is a series multi-point feeding network or a parallel multi-point feeding network.

[0094] Furthermore, the side wall blocks are detachably connected to the radiation patch and the dielectric substrate.

[0095] Furthermore, the numbers of output ports, conductive metal bodies, feeding points and sidewall blocks are consistent.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the above contents are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0097] Example 1:

[0098] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beamwidth reconfigurable antenna according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure at a first viewing angle; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beamwidth reconfigurable antenna according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure at a first viewing angle; and Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beamwidth reconfigurable antenna according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure at a second viewing angle. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the electrically controlled parasitic units are preferably four groups, including a first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2 and a second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3. Two groups of the first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2 are provided, symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the main radiating unit 1. Two groups of the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3 are provided, symmetrically arranged on the front and rear sides of the main radiating unit 1. Of course, the two groups of the first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2 can also be provided on the front and rear sides of the main radiating unit 1, and the two groups of the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3 can also be provided on the left and right sides of the main radiating unit 1, without limitation here.

[0099] In an exemplary embodiment, the first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2 and the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3 are both located on a side close to the main radiating unit 1 (as shown in FIG3 ), or may be both located on a side away from the main radiating unit 1 (not shown). The first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2 and the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3 may be arranged parallel to each other (as shown in FIG3 ), or may be both arranged toward the main radiating unit 1, inclined, and surrounding the main radiating unit 1 (not shown).

[0100] A short-circuit assembly preferably includes two short-circuit conductors A3, and an adjustment assembly includes an adjustment conductor A2 and an electrically controlled switch. The adjustment conductor A2 is located in the middle of the two short-circuit conductors A3, and both the short-circuit conductor A3 and the adjustment conductor A2 are conductive metal columns.

[0101] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a parasitic patch A1, dielectric substrate 8, floor 6, and feed substrate 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, floor 6 is provided with a slot 61 that separates the regulating conductor A2 from floor 6. An electrically controlled switch is located within slot 61. One end of the switch is connected to the end of regulating conductor A2 away from parasitic patch A1, and the other end is connected to the wall of slot 61. This facilitates adjusting the current flow in conductor A2 based on the state of the switch. When the switch is off, current flows through parasitic patch A1 and primarily into floor 6 via two short-circuit conductors A3. When the switch is on, current flows out of parasitic patch A1 and into floor 6 not only via the two short-circuit conductors A3 but also via regulating conductor A2. Because the adjustment conductor A2 is located between the two short-circuit conductors A3, the current on the parasitic patch A1 has an additional flow path to flow into the floor 6, thereby facilitating the change of the current flow path on the parasitic patch A1, thereby changing the second electromagnetic wave generated by the parasitic patch A1, and further changing the coupling relationship between the second electromagnetic wave generated by the parasitic patch A1 and the first electromagnetic wave generated by the main radiating unit 1, generating a third electromagnetic wave, thereby changing the beam width of the directivity pattern of the third electromagnetic wave. Therefore, due to the provision of a first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2, the horizontal beam width can be changed by the first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2, and due to the provision of a second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3, the vertical beam width can be changed by the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3. Of course, the vertical beam width can also be changed by the first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2, and the horizontal beam width can be changed by the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3, without limitation here.

[0102] Furthermore, the electrically controlled switches preferably include a first electrically controlled switch 4 and a second electrically controlled switch 5. The first electrically controlled switch 4 is used to adjust the current flow between the control conductor A2 of the first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2 and the floor, and the second electrically controlled switch 5 is used to adjust the current flow between the control conductor A2 of the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3 and the floor. The relevant adjustment methods are described above and are not further elaborated here.

[0103] Furthermore, to facilitate the installation and fixation of the adjustment conductor A2, a support block 101 is provided within the slot 61. This support block 101 is located at the end of the adjustment conductor A2 away from the parasitic patch A1 and is used to support the adjustment conductor A2. The support block 101 is an insulator, further effectively isolating the adjustment conductor A2 from the floor 6. Furthermore, the support block 101 is detachably connected within the slot 61 and can be attached to the floor 6 by bonding or welding, without limitation. This detachable connection facilitates replacement of components such as the adjustment conductor A2, the parasitic patch A1, and the floor 6.

[0104] Furthermore, to facilitate replacement of components such as the adjustment conductor A2, parasitic patch A1, and floor 6, the support block 101 may not be connected to the floor 6. When the feed substrate 10 is located on the side of the floor 6 facing away from the dielectric substrate 8, during installation and integration of the beamwidth reconfigurable antenna, the dielectric substrate 8, floor 6, and feed substrate 10 are parallel to each other, and the dielectric substrate 8 abuts the floor 6, and the floor 6 abuts the feed substrate 10, thereby causing the support block 101 to abut against the feed substrate 10. Therefore, the feed substrate 10 supports the support block 101, thereby facilitating the fixing of the support block 101.

[0105] Furthermore, the radiating patch 11 is a rectangular block having four partitioning slots 111 formed therein, one on each side of the radiating patch 11. Therefore, when current flows near a side of the radiating patch 11, the partitioning slots 111 allow the current to avoid the partitioning slots 111 and flow through other locations on the radiating patch 11, thereby changing the current flow path and length on the radiating patch 11, thereby producing a better radiation effect.

[0106] Furthermore, the partition groove 111 is a rectangular groove, but can also be an arc-shaped groove, a U-shaped groove, etc. (not shown in the figure). There can also be four arc-shaped grooves or U-shaped grooves, which are respectively set on the four sides of the radiation patch 11. The partition groove 111 can also be a cross-shaped groove, and there can be one cross-shaped groove, which is set at the center of the radiation patch 11 (not shown in the figure).

[0107] FIG5 is a cross-sectional view of the parasitic patch A1, dielectric substrate 8, floor 6, feed substrate 10, and side wall block 12 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG6 is a structural schematic diagram of the main radiation unit 1 and feed network 7 of the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG5 and FIG6,

[0108] Furthermore, the sidewall block 12 is a rectangular block, with one long side of the sidewall block 12 connected to the radiating patch 11, and the other long side of the sidewall block 12 connected to the dielectric substrate 8, thereby increasing the contact area. This not only makes the connection between the radiating patch 11, the sidewall block 12, and the dielectric substrate 8 more stable, but also facilitates the output signal of the feed network 7 to effectively enter the radiating patch 11. The connection method can be adhesive bonding or welding, which will not be detailed here.

[0109] Furthermore, there are preferably four sidewall blocks 12, with two opposing sidewall blocks 12 symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the radiating patch 11. The sidewall blocks 12 are located on the side of the partition slot 111 near the center of the radiating patch 11. The sidewalls of the sidewall blocks 12 facing the partition slot 111 are flush with the sidewalls of the partition slot 111 near the center of the radiating patch 11, further increasing the contact area between the sidewall blocks 12 and the radiating patch 11. Consequently, the output signal from the feed network 7 can more effectively enter the radiating patch 11 and flow around the partition slot 111.

[0110] Furthermore, the side wall block 12 and the radiation patch 11 may also be an integrally formed structure, and the radiation patch 11 is cut and then bent to form the side wall block 12 and the partition groove 111 .

[0111] FIG7 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a feed network 7 in series multi-point feed network 7 according to Example 1 of the present disclosure; as shown in FIG7 ,

[0112] Furthermore, the feed network 7 is a series multi-point feed network 7, and the feed network 7 preferably includes an input port 71, four groups of output ports 72, and four groups of output branches 73. The four groups of output branches 73 are serially connected in the main trunk 74 of the feed network 7. The main trunk 74 can include different network components, such as the above-mentioned filters, couplers, phase shifters and other network components. The output port 72 is located at the end of the output branch 73 away from the main trunk 74, and the two groups of opposite output ports 72 are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the radiation patch 11 so that the four output ports 72 output output signals with the same amplitude. The lengths of the four groups of output branches 73 are different so that the four output ports 72 output output signals with equidistant phase distribution. The input port 71 receives the input signal, and after the equal power distribution and 90° shifting effect of the four groups of output branches 73 and the four groups of output ports 72, output signals with the same phase and amplitude of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° are generated respectively.

[0113] Furthermore, the four groups of output ports 72 are mirrored about the center point of the radiation patch 11, so that the input port 71 receives the input signal, and after the power distribution and 90° shifting effect of the four groups of output branches 73 and the four groups of output ports 72, generates output signals with the same phase and amplitude of 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° respectively, further making the output signal more accurate.

[0114] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 , the conductive metal bodies 9 are preferably conductive metal probes. Four groups of conductive metal bodies 9 are provided, with one end of each group of conductive metal bodies 9 connected to the output port 72 of the feed network 7 and the other end connected to the feed point on the sidewall block 12. Therefore, the output signal output through the output port 72 sequentially passes through the conductive metal bodies 9, the feed point, the sidewall block 12, and ultimately enters the radiating patch 11.

[0115] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the feeding network 7 of Example 1 of the present disclosure, which is a parallel multi-point feeding network 7. As shown in FIG8 , the difference from the series multi-point feeding network 7 is that the four groups of output branches 73 of the parallel multi-point feeding network 7 are connected in parallel.

[0116] Example 2:

[0117] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beam width reconfigurable antenna according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure at a first viewing angle, Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a beam width reconfigurable antenna according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure at a second viewing angle, and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the dielectric substrate 8 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11,

[0118] The difference between the second embodiment of the present disclosure and the first embodiment is that a dielectric plate 20 is provided between the dielectric substrate 8 and the parasitic patch A1. One end of the dielectric plate 20 is connected to the dielectric substrate 8, and the other end is connected to the parasitic patch A1 to support the parasitic patch A1.

[0119] FIG12 is a partial enlarged view of the mark B in FIG10 , as shown in FIG10 and FIG12 ,

[0120] Furthermore, the adjustment assembly of the first group of electrically controlled parasitic units 2 preferably includes a first metal strip 30, an adjustment metal bar 40, a second metal strip 50, and a first electrically controlled switch 4. The adjustment metal bar 40 is detachably connected to the side wall of the dielectric plate 20, for example, by bonding or welding. One end of the first metal strip 30 is electrically conductive to the floor 6, and the other end is connected to the first electrically controlled switch 4. The other end of the first electrically controlled switch 4 is connected to the adjustment metal strip 40, and the other end of the adjustment metal bar 40 is connected to the second metal strip 50. The other end of the second metal strip 50 is connected to the parasitic patch A1, forming a conductive loop.

[0121] FIG13 is a partial enlarged view of the mark C in FIG10 , as shown in FIG10 and FIG13 ,

[0122] Furthermore, the adjustment assembly of the second group of electrically controlled parasitic units 3 preferably includes a first metal strip 30, an adjustment metal bar 40, a second metal strip 50, and a second electrically controlled switch 5. The adjustment metal bar 40 is detachably connected to the side wall of the dielectric plate 20, for example, by bonding or welding. One end of the first metal strip 30 is electrically conductive to the floor 6, and the other end is connected to the second electrically controlled switch 5. The other end of the second electrically controlled switch 5 is connected to the adjustment metal strip 40, and the other end of the adjustment metal bar 40 is connected to the second metal strip 50. The other end of the second metal strip 50 is connected to the parasitic patch A1, forming a conductive loop.

[0123] FIG14 is a partial enlarged view of the mark D in FIG10 , as shown in FIG10 and FIG14 ,

[0124] Furthermore, the short-circuit assembly preferably includes a first metal strip 30, a short-circuit metal bar 60, and a second metal strip 50. The short-circuit metal bar 60 is detachably connected to the side wall of the dielectric plate 20, for example, by bonding or welding. One end of the first metal strip 30 is electrically conductive to the floor 6, and the other end is connected to the short-circuit metal bar 60. The other end of the short-circuit metal bar 60 is connected to the second metal strip 50, and the other end of the second metal strip 50 is connected to the parasitic patch A1, forming a conductive loop.

[0125] FIG15 is a partial enlarged view of the mark E in FIG11, FIG16 is a partial enlarged view of the mark F in FIG11, and FIG17 is a partial enlarged view of the mark G in FIG11. As shown in FIG15, FIG16 and FIG17,

[0126] Furthermore, the first metal strip line 30 is connected to the ground plane 6 via a conductor 70. One end of the conductor 70 is connected to the first metal strip line 30, and the other end passes through the dielectric substrate 8 and connects to the ground plane 6. The second metal strip line 50 is also connected to the parasitic patch A1 via the conductor 70. One end of the conductor 70 is connected to the second metal strip line 50, and the other end is connected to the parasitic patch A1, forming a conductive loop.

[0127] Furthermore, the conductor 70 may be a conductive block or a conductive wire, so as to facilitate the flow of current between the first metal strip line 30 and the ground plane 6 , or the flow of current between the second metal strip line 50 and the parasitic patch A1 .

[0128] Specifically, the components involved in the embodiments of the present disclosure are explained in detail:

[0129] 1. In the disclosed embodiment, the main radiating element may preferably employ a square cross-sectional radiating patch, and the electrically controlled parasitic element may employ an elongated rectangular cross-sectional parasitic patch. This is primarily due to considerations of structural symmetry and miniaturization, and to produce a symmetrical radiation pattern. However, in specific implementations, the structural scheme is not limited to this. The main radiating element 11 may employ a circular radiating patch, a regular polygonal radiating patch, etc.; the electrically controlled parasitic element may employ an elongated arc-shaped parasitic patch, etc.

[0130] 2. The example of the electronically controlled switch in the embodiment of the present disclosure is a PIN diode switch. In specific implementation, the switch selection is not limited to this, and MEMS switches, etc. can be used.

[0131] 3. The principles of two-dimensional control and one-dimensional control in the embodiments of the present disclosure are consistent, both of which are achieved by controlling the coupling amplitude and phase synthesis of the electrically controlled parasitic units around the main radiating unit. The implementation method of one-dimensional control requires replacing the four-point feeding network of the main antenna with a differential feeding network, and the parasitic units are arranged in one dimension.

[0132] Among them, the main radiating unit adopts a four-point symmetrical feeding method, and obtains a completely symmetrical directivity pattern characteristic in the horizontal and vertical planes within a wide impedance bandwidth (2515MHz to 2675MHz).

[0133] Table 1 shows the beam width from 2515MHz to 2675MHz in different PIN tube states.

[0134] Two sets of parasitic elements are loaded around the main radiating element 11. The beam width is adjusted by electrically controlled switches on the parasitic elements (for example, PIN diodes, which are used as an example below). The beam width states of different PIN diode configurations shown in Table 1 are used as examples:

[0135] When the PIN diode switch is turned on, a reverse current will be generated on the outside of the parasitic unit, which can stimulate the operating mode of the parasitic units on both sides, generating a second electromagnetic wave with a directivity pattern of a depression in the middle and convex at both ends. This is superimposed on the first electromagnetic wave with a directivity pattern of a convex center generated by the main radiating unit 11, and a third electromagnetic wave with a directivity pattern of a wide beam state can be synthesized. When the PIN diode switch is cut off, an electromagnetic wave with a directivity pattern of a narrow beam state is mainly generated by the main radiating unit 11. Based on different configurations of PIN diodes, two-dimensional reconfigurable directivity patterns can be achieved, including four states: wide-wide beam, wide-narrow beam, narrow-wide beam, and narrow-narrow beam in the xoz and yoz planes. The specific situations are as follows:

[0136] FIG18 is a directional diagram of narrow polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Table 1 and FIG18 ,

[0137] When all PIN diodes are turned off, the configuration is 0000, and the directivity pattern in the corresponding direction is a narrow beam state, with the horizontal and vertical beam widths being 60±5°.

[0138] FIG19 is a directional diagram of narrow-width polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Table 1 and FIG19 ,

[0139] When the vertical PIN diode is turned on and the horizontal PIN diode is turned off, the configuration is 0011, and the corresponding radiation pattern is a narrow-wide beam state, with a horizontal beam width of 60±5° and a vertical beam width of 95±10°;

[0140] FIG20 is a directional diagram of wide and narrow polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Table 1 and FIG20 ,

[0141] When the horizontal PIN diode is turned on and the vertical PIN diode is cut off, the configuration is 1100, and the corresponding radiation pattern is a wide-narrow beam state, with a horizontal beam width of 95±10° and a vertical beam width of 60±5°;

[0142] FIG21 is a directional diagram of wide polar coordinates generated according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in Table 1 and FIG21 ,

[0143] When all PIN diodes are turned on, the configuration is 1111, and the directivity pattern in the corresponding direction is a wide beam state, with a horizontal and vertical beam width of 125±15°;

[0144] Based on different configurations of PIN diodes, two-dimensional reconfigurable directivity patterns in the XOZ and YOZ planes can be achieved, including four states: wide beam, wide-narrow beam, narrow-wide beam, and narrow-narrow beam in both the horizontal and vertical planes. Furthermore, the main radiating element 11 proposed in the disclosed embodiment utilizes a plug-in air microstrip format, achieving an integrated and miniaturized design through meander folding. This ensures good beamwidth consistency across a wide impedance bandwidth, facilitating synchronization of transmit and receive characteristics within the antenna frequency band and facilitating assembly.

[0145] Table 1 shows the beam width from 2515MHz to 2675MHz at different PIN diode states.

[0146] An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a base station, comprising the above-mentioned antenna.

[0147] The foregoing description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the principles of the present disclosure shall be included within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A beam width reconfigurable antenna, comprising: A main radiation unit, configured to generate a first electromagnetic wave based on a feeding network; A plurality of groups of electrically controlled parasitic units are arranged around the main radiation unit and are used to generate a second electromagnetic wave so that the first electromagnetic wave and the second electromagnetic wave are merged to generate a third electromagnetic wave, and the beam width of the radiation pattern of the third electromagnetic wave in the horizontal plane and the vertical plane is adjustable.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The electrically controlled parasitic unit comprises: a parasitic patch, configured to output the second electromagnetic wave according to the current flowing through the patch; A floor, for passing current with the parasitic patch; A short-circuit component is disposed between the parasitic patch and the floor, and is used to connect the parasitic patch and the floor; The regulating component is arranged between the parasitic patch and the floor, and is used for regulating the flow path of the current between the parasitic patch and the floor to change the flow path of the current on the parasitic patch so that the parasitic patch outputs different second electromagnetic waves.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein: The short-circuit component comprises: At least one set of short-circuit conductors has one end for connecting to the parasitic patch and the other end for connecting to the ground plane.

4. The antenna according to claim 3, wherein: The adjustment component comprises: An adjusting conductor, located at one side of the short-circuit conductor, one end of which is used to connect to the parasitic patch, and the other end of which is used to connect to the floor through an electric control switch; The electric control switch is used to change the flow mode of the current between the regulating conductor and the floor.

5. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The main radiation unit comprises: A dielectric substrate is disposed on one side of the floor; A radiation patch, disposed on one side of the dielectric substrate, to generate a first electromagnetic wave according to a current flowing therethrough; A plurality of groups of side wall blocks are arranged between the dielectric substrate and the radiation patch, one end of which is connected to the dielectric substrate and the other end of which is connected to the radiation patch, so that there is a distance between the radiation patch and the dielectric substrate and the output signal of the feed network is transmitted to the radiation patch.

6. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein: The feeding network is a multi-output port network for feeding the main radiating unit.

7. The antenna according to claim 6, wherein: The feeding network comprises: Input port, used to obtain input signal; A plurality of groups of output ports, used to output a plurality of groups of output signals based on the input signal; The multiple groups of output branches have different lengths, so that the multiple groups of output ports output multiple groups of output signals with the same amplitude and different phases.

8. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein: A feeding point is arranged at the end of each group of the side wall blocks, so that the output signal enters the side wall block through the feeding point.

9. The antenna according to claim 8, wherein: Also includes: A plurality of groups of conductive metal bodies, one end of each group of conductive metal bodies is connected to the feeding point, and the other end is connected to the output port of the feeding network.

10. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein: The radiation patch is provided with a plurality of groups of partition grooves.

11. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The multiple groups of electrically controlled parasitic units are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the main radiation unit.

12. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein: The multiple groups of output ports are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the main radiation unit, and the multiple groups of output branches with different lengths enable the multiple groups of output ports to output multiple groups of output signals with the same amplitude and equidistantly distributed phases.

13. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein: The multiple groups of side wall blocks are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the radiation patch.

14. The antenna according to claim 9, wherein: The feeding point is located at a middle position of an end portion of the side wall block.

15. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein: The shape of the radiation patch is circular or polygonal.

16. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein: The cross section of the parasitic patch is rectangular or arc-shaped.

17. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein: The feeding network is a series multi-point feeding network or a parallel multi-point feeding network.

18. The antenna according to claim 5, wherein: The side wall block is detachably connected to the radiation patch and the dielectric substrate.

19. The antenna according to claim 14, wherein: The numbers of the output ports, the conductive metal bodies, the feeding points and the side wall blocks are the same.

20. A base station, comprising the antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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