Phase shifting system, base station antenna, and base station antenna feeder system

Abstract

The present application provides a phase shifting system, a base station antenna, and a base station antenna feeder system. The phase shifting system comprises a phase shifting device, a main feeder line and a first transmission line. The phase shifting device is provided with an input port and an output port, a first output end of the main feeder line is connected to the input port, the input end of the first transmission line is connected to the output port, and the output end of the first transmission line is used for being connected to an antenna unit. The main feeder line and the first transmission line are both made of metal. In the present application, because the main feeder line and the first transmission line are both made of metal, compared with a coaxial line, a sheet metal transmission line made of metal is convenient to machine and manufacture and can realize long-distance signal transmission; additionally, in the event of long-distance signal transmission, the transmission line made of metal has relatively small loss, helping to improve the radiation performance of the antenna.

Description

Phase shifting system, base station antenna and base station antenna feed system

[0001] This invention claims priority to the Chinese patent application filed with the State Intellectual Property Office on December 22, 2023, with application number 202311785382.9 and application name “Phase Shifting System, Base Station Antenna and Base Station Antenna Feed System”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] The present application relates to the field of communication technology, and in particular to a phase shift system, a base station antenna, and a base station antenna feed system. Background Art

[0003] Phase shifters are devices that adjust the phase of waves and are widely used in antenna systems. Traditionally, the output port of a phase shifter requires a coaxial cable to connect to the antenna's radiating element for power feeding. However, excessively long coaxial cables can significantly increase transmission losses. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present application provides a phase shifting system, a base station antenna, and a base station antenna feed system to solve the problem of excessive transmission loss caused by the above-mentioned traditional phase shifter using coaxial cable feeding.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present application provide a phase shifting system, comprising a phase shifting device, a main feeder, and a first transmission line. The phase shifting device is provided with an input port and an output port, the first output end of the main feeder is connected to the input port, the input end of the first transmission line is connected to the output port, and the output end of the first transmission line is used to connect to an antenna unit. The main feeder and the first transmission line are both made of metal.

[0006] In the phase shifting system provided in the present application, the main feed line and the first transmission line are made of metal. Compared with the coaxial line, the sheet metal transmission line made of metal material is easy to process and manufacture, and can achieve long-distance signal transmission. At the same time, when transmitting signals over long distances, the transmission line made of metal material has less loss, which is beneficial to improving the antenna radiation performance.

[0007] In one possible design, the phase shifting system further includes a riser, a first cover, and a second cover. The first cover and the second cover are both connected to the riser. A first cavity is formed between the first cover and the riser, and a second cavity is formed between the second cover and the riser. The main feeder and the first transmission line are disposed in the first cavity, and the phase shifter is disposed in the second cavity. The riser, the first cover, and the second cover are all made of metal. The riser, the first cover, and the second cover are all made of metal. Thus, a first metal cavity is formed between the riser and the first cover, and a second metal cavity is formed between the riser and the second cover. The first and second cavities can act as electromagnetic shields, reducing electromagnetic interference between the metal first transmission line, the main feeder, and the phase shifter, thereby improving the system's anti-interference capability and reducing radiation loss. The riser is an integral structure and can be relatively long, enabling connection to multiple antenna units, which is beneficial for improving the integration of base station antennas.

[0008] In one possible design, the first housing includes a top plate, a first side plate, and a second side plate. The top plate is connected to the first and second side plates at both ends, and the first and second side plates are located on either side of the vertical plate along the thickness direction of the vertical plate. A first small cavity is enclosed between the top plate, the first side plate, and the vertical plate. The first small cavity is used to accommodate a phase shifter, a main feeder, and a first transmission line located on one side of the vertical plate. The phase shifter, main feeder, and first transmission line located on one side of the vertical plate are used to enable the antenna unit to generate a first polarization. A second small cavity is enclosed between the top plate, the second side plate, and the vertical plate. The second small cavity is used to accommodate a phase shifter, main feeder, and first transmission line located on the other side of the vertical plate. The phase shifter, main feeder, and first transmission line located on the other side of the vertical plate are used to enable the antenna unit to generate a second polarization. Thus, dual polarization of the antenna unit can be achieved through the phase shifter, first transmission line, and main feeder located on both sides of the vertical plate. At the same time, the first cover and the second cover can reduce electromagnetic interference between the phase shifting device, the first transmission line, the main feeder and surrounding devices.

[0009] In one possible design, a connecting flange is provided on the second cover shell, and the second cover shell is connected to the riser and the first cover shell via the connecting flange. The flange can abut against the surface of the riser and can be fixed to the riser by welding or other processes, thereby facilitating the connection and fixation of the second cover shell to the riser. Of course, the first cover shell can also be connected and fixed to the flange of the second cover shell by welding or other processes. The first cover shell and the second cover shell can be assembled separately and independently, thereby achieving decoupling between the first cover shell and the second cover shell, facilitating the independent design of the first cover shell and the second cover shell and adopting different processing processes, which is conducive to improving the design, assembly and processing accuracy of the first cover shell and the second cover shell.

[0010] In one possible design, the phase shifter is provided with a grounding port, which is electrically connected to the riser. The grounding port can be used for grounding the phase shifter, the riser can be equivalent to a metal ground, and the grounding port can be welded to the riser.

[0011] In one possible design, the phase shifting device further includes a metal balun, which is connected to the vertical plate, and at least a portion of the metal balun protrudes from the first cover, and is used to connect to the antenna unit to balance current or voltage.

[0012] In one possible design, the metal balun is integrally formed with the vertical plate, that is, the metal balun can be formed simultaneously during the vertical plate forming process, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection between the metal balun and the vertical plate, reducing the process difficulty, and improving the integration of the base station antenna.

[0013] In one possible design, the first housing is provided with a through-hole, through which at least a portion of the metal balun protrudes, and the metal balun is fixedly connected to the first housing via the through-hole. During assembly, the first housing can be positioned over the exterior of the riser in the height direction of the riser, while the through-hole can be positioned over the exterior of the metal balun, allowing at least a portion of the metal balun to protrude through the through-hole. The through-hole and the metal balun can then be welded together at the mating position, thereby achieving relative fixation between the first housing and the riser, making installation simple and convenient.

[0014] In one possible design, the input port is located on a side of the output port away from the antenna unit. The phase shifting system further includes a first jumper and a second transmission line. The second transmission line is located on a side of the first transmission line closer to the antenna unit. The main feeder is located on a side of the first transmission line away from the antenna unit. The second output end of the main feeder is connected to the input end of the first jumper, the output end of the first jumper is connected to the input end of the second transmission line, and the output end of the second transmission line is used to connect to the antenna unit. A gap is maintained between the first jumper and the first transmission line to enable electrical connection between the main feeder and the second transmission line. Thus, by providing the first jumper, the layout of the second transmission line and the main feeder can be more flexible. The first transmission line can be located above the main feeder, which facilitates the connection of the first transmission line to the corresponding antenna units above it, facilitating routing layout and improving the integration of the base station antenna. Since the second output port of the main feeder does not pass through the phase shifting device, the phase of the RF signal fed from the main feeder to the second transmission line does not change. In other words, the second transmission line constitutes a zero-phase transmission line, which facilitates providing a reference for phase adjustment of other antenna units.

[0015] In one possible design, the input port is located on a side of the output port that is close to the antenna unit, and the main feeder is located on a side of the first transmission line that is away from the antenna unit. The phase shifting system further includes a second jumper, wherein the first output end of the main feeder is connected to the input end of the second jumper, the output end of the second jumper is connected to the input port, and a gap is maintained between the second jumper and the first transmission line. Thus, the second jumper can cross the first transmission line to connect the main feeder to the input port of the phase shifting device, thereby making the layout of the phase shifting device more flexible and able to meet different application scenarios.

[0016] In one possible design, the phase shifting device includes a metal body, a first movable transmission line, and a second movable transmission line, and the metal body is provided with the input port and the output port. The first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are respectively located on both sides of the metal body, and the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are gap-coupled with the metal body. One end of the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are both rotatably connected to the metal body, and the other ends of the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are electrically connected. There are at least two independent signal transmission paths between the metal body and each movable transmission line, the first signal transmission path is from the input port to the end of the first movable transmission line close to the input port, and from the input port to the end of the second movable transmission line close to the input port, and the second signal transmission path is a path for coupling radio frequency signals from the parts of the first and second movable transmission lines away from the input port to the metal body and transmitting the radio frequency signals from the metal body to the corresponding output port.

[0017] In one possible design, the metal body includes a first fixed transmission line and at least one second fixed transmission line, with a gap between the first and second fixed transmission lines. The first fixed transmission line is provided with the input port, and one end of the first and second movable transmission lines is rotatably connected to the first fixed transmission line. The second fixed transmission line is provided with the output port, and along the thickness direction of the phase shifter, the projections of the first and second movable transmission lines overlap with at least a portion of the projection of the second fixed transmission line. A gap is provided between the first fixed transmission line and the second fixed transmission line. The radio frequency signal fed into the first fixed transmission line by the main feeder line is not directly transmitted to the second fixed transmission line. Instead, the radio frequency signal can be coupled to the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line by the first fixed transmission line. The first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line have a greater length toward the second fixed transmission line, and along the thickness direction of the phase shifter, the projections of the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line overlap with at least a portion of the projection of the second fixed transmission line. In other words, the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line can couple the radio frequency signal to the second fixed transmission line. By rotating and adjusting the first and second movable transmission lines, the distances between the first and second movable transmission lines and the target output port can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the electrical length of the radio frequency signal transmitted to the output port, thereby achieving phase adjustment.

[0018] In a possible design, the second fixed transmission line is fan-shaped.

[0019] In a possible design, the phase shifter is made of metal. For example, the phase shifter can be made of metal materials such as aluminum and copper, so that the phase shifter has smaller loss.

[0020] In one possible design, the phase shifter includes a metal body and a sliding medium. The metal body is provided with the input port and the output port. The sliding medium is slidably mounted on the metal body, with at least a portion of the sliding medium located in the transmission path between the input port and the output port. The sliding medium has a certain dielectric constant. When an RF signal is transmitted from the metal body to the sliding medium, the sliding medium can change the transmission speed of the RF signal, thereby causing a change in the phase of the RF signal.

[0021] In a second aspect, the present application further provides a base station antenna, which includes an antenna unit and the phase shifting system provided in the first aspect of the present application, and the phase shifting system is connected to the antenna unit through an output port.

[0022] In a third aspect, the present application further provides a base station antenna feed system, which includes the base station antenna provided in the second aspect of the present application.

[0023] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely illustrative and are not restrictive of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0025] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase shifting system provided in an embodiment of the present application from one viewing angle;

[0026] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase shifting system provided in an embodiment of the present application from another perspective;

[0027] FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station antenna feed system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG4 is an exploded view of a phase shifting system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase shifting device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] FIG6 is a front view of the phase shifting system provided in an embodiment of the present application (the first cover and the second cover are hidden);

[0031] FIG7 is a side view of a phase shifting system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] FIG8 is a front view of a second cover provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] FIG9 is a partial schematic diagram of a phase shifting system provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] FIG10 is a partial schematic diagram of a phase shifting system at a first jumper provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] FIG11 is a side view of a phase shifting system at a first jumper provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] FIG12 is a partial schematic diagram of a phase shifting system provided by another embodiment of the present application;

[0037] FIG13 is a partial schematic diagram of a phase shifting system provided in yet another embodiment of the present application.

[0038] Reference numerals: 100 - base station antenna; 200 - antenna adjustment bracket; 300 - pole; 400 - joint seal; 500 - grounding device; 1 - phase shifter; 11 - metal body; 111 - first fixed transmission line; 112 - second fixed transmission line; 12 - first movable transmission line; 13 - second movable transmission line; 14 - metal connector; 15 - input port; 16 - output port; 17 - grounding port; 18 - sliding medium; 2 - main feeder; 21 - first output port; 22 - second output port; 3 - first transmission line; 4 - riser; 41 - metal balun; 5 - first cover; 51 - top plate; 511 - through hole; 52 - first side plate; 53 - second side plate; 54 - first small cavity; 55 - second small cavity; 6 - second cover; 61 - flange; 7-First jumper; 8-Second jumper; 9-Second transmission line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] In order to better understand the technical solution of the present application, the embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040] It should be clear that the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0041] The terms used in the embodiments of the present application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present application. The singular forms "a", "an", "the" and "the" used in the embodiments of the present application and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0042] It should be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein simply describes a relationship between associated objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, "A and / or B" can represent: A alone, A and B together, or B alone. Furthermore, the character " / " in this document generally indicates an "or" relationship between the associated objects.

[0043] In the description of this application, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance; unless otherwise specified or explained, the term "plurality" refers to two or more; the terms "connected" and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "connected" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, an integral connection, or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] A phase shifter is a device that can adjust the phase of a wave and is widely used in antenna systems. For example, a phase shifter can be used in a feed network and can be connected to a radio frequency source to adjust the phase of the radio frequency fed to the antenna element to change the radiation direction and pattern of the antenna. The output port of a traditional phase shifter generally needs to be connected to the antenna's radiating element via a coaxial cable to achieve the feeding function. However, an excessively long coaxial cable will cause a sharp increase in transmission loss.

[0045] FIG1 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase shifting system provided in an embodiment of the present application from one perspective, and FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase shifting system provided in an embodiment of the present application from another perspective. Referring to FIG1 or FIG2 , an embodiment of the present application provides a phase shifting system, which can be applied to a base station antenna. The base station antenna may include an antenna unit and a feeding network. The antenna unit is used to receive or transmit electromagnetic waves. The feeding network can feed the antenna unit, and the feeding network may include the phase shifting system, which can adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal fed to the antenna unit. The base station antenna can be applied to a base station antenna feeder system. FIG3 is a schematic structural diagram of a base station antenna feeder system provided in an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG3 , the base station antenna feeder system includes a base station antenna 100, an antenna adjustment bracket 200, a holding pole 300, a joint seal 400, a grounding device 500, etc. The base station system is an interface device for wireless communication, and can exchange information with communication terminals in the area.

[0046] FIG4 is an exploded view of a phase shifting system according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG4 , the phase shifting system includes a phase shifting device 1, a main feeder 2, and a first transmission line 3. FIG5 is a schematic structural diagram of the phase shifting device 1 according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG5 , the phase shifting device 1 is provided with an input port 15 and an output port 16. FIG6 is a front view of the phase shifting system according to an embodiment of the present application (with the first and second housings 5 ​​and 6 hidden). Referring to FIG6 , the first output end 21 of the main feeder 2 is connected to the input port 15 of the phase shifting device 1 for feeding a radio frequency signal into the phase shifting device 1. The input end of the first transmission line 3 is connected to the output port 16, and the output end of the first transmission line 3 is connected to an antenna unit (not shown). The radio frequency signal, after phase adjustment by the phase shifting device 1, can be fed into the antenna unit via the first transmission line 3, causing the antenna unit to radiate electromagnetic waves in a predetermined direction. The main feeder 2 and the first transmission line 3 are both made of metal. For example, the main feeder 2 and the first transmission line 3 are both made of long strips of sheet metal, such as aluminum, copper, or the like. Compared with coaxial cables, sheet metal transmission lines made of metal materials are easy to process and manufacture, and can achieve long-distance signal transmission. At the same time, when transmitting signals over long distances, transmission lines made of metal materials have smaller losses, which is beneficial to improving antenna radiation performance.

[0047] In one embodiment, referring to FIG4 , the phase shifting system further includes a riser 4, a first cover 5, and a second cover 6. The first cover 5 and the second cover 6 are both connected to the riser 4. A first cavity is formed between the first cover 5 and the riser 4, and a second cavity is formed between the second cover 6 and the riser 4. The main feeder 2 and the first transmission line 3 are disposed in the first cavity, and the phase shifting device 1 is disposed in the second cavity. The riser 4, the first cover 5, and the second cover 6 are all made of metal. Thus, a first metal cavity is formed between the riser 4 and the first cover 5, and a second metal cavity is formed between the riser 4 and the second cover 6. The first cavity and the second cavity can act as electromagnetic shields, reducing electromagnetic interference between the metal first transmission line 3, the main feeder 2, and the phase shifting device 1, thereby improving the system's anti-interference capability and reducing radiation loss. The riser 4 is an integrated structure and can be relatively long, enabling connection to multiple antenna units, which is beneficial for improving the integration of base station antennas.

[0048] In one embodiment, referring to FIG4 , a second cover 6 can be mounted on the side of the riser 4. For example, two second covers 6 and two phase shifters 1 can be provided, with the two second covers 6 being disposed on opposite sides of the riser 4 to house corresponding phase shifters 1. The phase shifters 1 can be provided with output ports 16 at both ends along the length direction X of the riser 4, and each output port 16 can be connected to a corresponding antenna unit via a corresponding first transmission line 3. The main feeder 2 is located on one side of the phase shifter 1. To accommodate the first transmission lines 3 on both sides of the phase shifter 1 and the main feeder 2 located on one side of the phase shifter 1, two first covers 5 can also be provided. The two first covers 5 are disposed on either side of the second cover 6 along the length direction X of the riser 4. One of the first covers 5 can be disposed outside the first transmission lines 3 on one side of the phase shifter 1, and the other first cover 5 can be disposed outside the main feeder 2 and the first transmission lines 3 on the other side of the phase shifter 1. In addition, the first cover shell 5 and the second cover shell 6 can be independently processed and manufactured, and can be independently assembled to the vertical plate 4, so as to achieve decoupling of the first cover shell 5 and the second cover shell 6, so that the second cover shell 6 and the phase shifting device 1, and the first cover shell 5 and the first transmission line 3 and the main feeder 2 have the best matching effect.

[0049] In one embodiment, FIG7 is a side view of a phase shifting system provided by an embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG7 , the first housing 5 includes a top plate 51, a first side plate 52, and a second side plate 53. The top plate 51 is connected to the first and second side plates 52, 53 at both ends. Along the thickness direction of the vertical plate 4, the first and second side plates 52, 53 are located on either side of the vertical plate 4. The top plate 51, the first and second side plates 52, 53 form a U-shaped structure, enabling the first housing 5 to be positioned outside the vertical plate 4. A first small cavity 54 is enclosed between the top plate 51, the first side plate 52, and the vertical plate 4, while a second small cavity 55 is enclosed between the top plate 51, the second side plate 53, and the vertical plate 4. A phase shifter 1, a first transmission line 3, and a main feeder 2 can be provided on both sides of the riser 4. The first small cavity 54 is used to accommodate the phase shifter 1, the main feeder 2, and the first transmission line 3 located on one side of the riser 4. These phase shifters 1, the main feeder 2, and the first transmission line 3 located on one side of the riser 4 can be used to generate a first polarization for the antenna unit. The second small cavity 55 is used to accommodate the phase shifter 1, the main feeder 2, and the first transmission line 3 located on the other side of the riser 4. These phase shifters 1, the main feeder 2, and the first transmission line 3 located on the other side of the riser 4 can be used to generate a second polarization for the antenna unit. Thus, the phase shifter 1, the first transmission line 3, and the main feeder 2 on both sides of the riser 4 can achieve dual polarization for the antenna unit. Simultaneously, the first and second cover shells 5 and 6 can reduce electromagnetic interference between the phase shifter 1, the first transmission line 3, the main feeder 2, and surrounding devices. In one embodiment, two second covers 6 may be provided. The two covers may be fixed on two sides of the vertical plate 4 respectively and may be respectively provided to cover the outside of the corresponding phase shifting device 1 to achieve electromagnetic shielding for the two phase shifting devices 1 .

[0050] In one embodiment, FIG8 is a front view of the second cover shell 6 provided in the embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG8 , a connecting flange 61 is provided on the second cover shell 6, and the second cover shell 6 is connected to the riser 4 and the first cover shell 5 via the connecting flange 61. The flange 61 can abut against the surface of the riser 4 and can be fixed to the riser 4 by welding or other processes, thereby facilitating the connection and fixation of the second cover shell 6 to the riser 4. Of course, the first cover shell 5 can also be connected and fixed to the flange 61 of the second cover shell 6 by welding or other processes. The first cover shell 5 and the second cover shell 6 can be assembled separately and independently, thereby achieving decoupling between the first cover shell 5 and the second cover shell 6, facilitating the independent design of the first cover shell 5 and the second cover shell 6 and adopting different processing techniques, which is conducive to improving the design, assembly and processing accuracy of the first cover shell 5 and the second cover shell 6.

[0051] In one embodiment, referring to FIG5 , the phase shifter 1 is provided with a grounding port 17, which is electrically connected to the riser 4. The grounding port 17 can be used to ground the phase shifter 1. The riser 4 can function as a metal ground, and the grounding port 17 can be welded to the riser 4. In other embodiments, the grounding port 17 can be used for connection to a zero-phase transmission line instead of grounding. Since the RF signal output by the grounding port 17 does not undergo phase adjustment by the phase shifter 1, the RF signal fed into the phase shifter 1 by the main feeder 2 can be fed into the antenna unit through the grounding port 17 and the zero-phase transmission line without changing its phase.

[0052] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 4 , the phase shifting system may further include a metal balun 41 connected to the riser 4 and disposed on a side of the riser 4 proximal to the antenna unit. Referring to Figure 1 , at least a portion of the metal balun 41 protrudes from the first housing 5 and is configured to connect to the antenna unit to balance current or voltage. In one embodiment, multiple metal baluns 41 may be provided along the length direction X of the riser 4 to enable connection to multiple antenna units.

[0053] In one embodiment, the metal balun 41 and the vertical plate 4 can be integrally formed, that is, during the molding process of the vertical plate 4, the metal balun 41 can be molded at the same time, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection between the metal balun 41 and the vertical plate 4, reducing the process difficulty, and improving the integration of the base station antenna.

[0054] In one embodiment, referring to FIG7 , a through hole 511 may be provided on the first cover 5, and at least a portion of the balun may pass through the through hole 511, and the balun is fixedly connected to the first cover 5 via the through hole 511. During assembly, the first cover 5 may be placed on the outside of the riser 4 in the height direction of the riser 4, while the through hole 511 may be sleeved on the outside of the metal balun 41, so that at least a portion of the metal balun 41 may pass through the through hole 511. The through hole 511 and the metal balun 41 may then be welded together at the mating position using a welding process, thereby achieving relative fixation between the first cover 5 and the riser 4, and making installation simple and convenient.

[0055] In one embodiment, FIG9 is a partial schematic diagram of a phase shifting system provided by one embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG9 , the input port 15 is located on the side of the output port 16 away from the antenna unit, allowing the phase shifting device 1 to be used in a vertical configuration. The phase shifting system also includes a first jumper 7 and a second transmission line 9. The second transmission line 9 is located on the side of the first transmission line 3 closer to the antenna unit, and the main feeder 2 is located on the side of the first transmission line 3 away from the antenna unit. In other words, the main feeder 2 and the second transmission line 9 are located on either side of the first transmission line 3. Because the first transmission line 3 is blocked between the main feeder 2 and the second transmission line 9, the main feeder 2 cannot be directly connected to the second transmission line 9. To this end, the first jumper 7 can be used to connect the main feeder 2 and the second transmission line 9. Specifically, FIG10 is a partial schematic diagram of the phase shifting system provided by one embodiment of the present application at the first jumper 7. Referring to FIG10 , the second output end 22 of the main feeder 2 is connected to the input end of the first jumper 7, the output end of the first jumper 7 is connected to the input end of the second transmission line 9, and the output end of the second transmission line 9 is used to connect to the antenna unit. FIG11 is a side view of the phase shifting system provided by an embodiment of the present application at the first jumper 7. Referring to FIG11 , a gap is maintained between the first jumper 7 and the first transmission line 3. Thus, the first jumper 7 can cross the first transmission line 3 and maintain a gap between the first transmission line 3, thereby achieving electrical connection between the main feeder 2 and the second transmission line 9. Thus, by setting the first jumper 7, the layout of the second transmission line 9 and the main feeder 2 can be made more flexible, and the first transmission line 3 can be set above the main feeder 2, which is conducive to connecting the first transmission line 3 with each corresponding antenna unit above, facilitating the wiring layout, and improving the integration of the base station antenna. Among them, since the second output end 22 of the main feeder 2 does not pass through the phase shifting device 1, the phase of the radio frequency signal fed from the main feeder 2 to the second transmission line 9 will not change, that is, the second transmission line 9 constitutes a zero-phase transmission line, which is conducive to providing a reference for adjusting the phase of other antenna units.

[0056] In one embodiment, FIG12 is a partial schematic diagram of a phase shifting system provided in another embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG12 , the input port 15 is disposed on a side of the output port 16 close to the antenna unit. In the Z direction shown in FIG12 , which is the height direction of the riser 4, the antenna unit (not shown) is located above the metal balun 41. The input port 15 of the phase shifting device 1 is disposed above each output port 16. The phase shifting device 1 is used in a flip-up configuration, with the main feeder 2 disposed on a side of the first transmission line 3 away from the antenna unit. Because the input port 15 and the main feeder 2 of the flip-up phase shifting device 1 are located on either side of the first transmission line 3, the main feeder 2 cannot be directly connected to the input port 15 due to obstruction by the first transmission line 3. To this end, the phase shifting system further includes a second jumper 8. The first output end 21 of the main feeder 2 is connected to the input end of the second jumper 8, and the output end of the second jumper 8 is connected to the input port 15. A gap is maintained between the second jumper 8 and the first transmission line 3. Thus, the second jumper 8 can cross the first transmission line 3 to connect the main feeder 2 to the input port 15 of the phase shifter 1, thereby making the layout of the phase shifter 1 more flexible and able to meet different application scenarios. In this connection method, the ground port 17 of the phase shifter 1 can be used to connect to the zero-phase transmission line, which can be connected to the corresponding antenna unit. The phase of the RF signal fed from the main feeder 2 through the ground port 17 and the zero-phase transmission line to the antenna unit will not be changed.

[0057] In one embodiment, the phase shifter 1 is made of metal. For example, the phase shifter 1 can be made of metal materials such as aluminum and copper, so that the phase shifter 1 has a smaller loss.

[0058] In one embodiment, referring to Figure 5 , a phase shifting device 1 includes a metal body 11, a first movable transmission line 12, and a second movable transmission line 13. The metal body 11 can be made of a metal with excellent electrical conductivity, such as aluminum or copper. In one embodiment, the metal body 11 can be a flat plate. The metal body 11 is provided with an input port 15 and multiple output ports 16. The input port 15 can be connected to the main feeder 2 in the feed network to receive the RF signal fed by the main feeder 2. The output port 16 can be connected to an antenna unit via a transmission line, such as a stripline, to feed the phase-adjusted RF signal to the antenna unit.

[0059] The first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 can also be made of metal materials and both have the function of transmitting radio frequency signals. Along the thickness direction of the phase shifter 1, the first movable transmission line 12 is rotatably arranged on one side of the metal body 11. The first movable transmission line 12 is gap-coupled with the metal body 11, and the projection of the first movable transmission line 12 overlaps with at least a portion of the projection of the metal body 11. The second movable transmission line 13 is rotatably arranged on the side of the metal body 11 away from the first movable transmission line 12. The second movable transmission line 13 is gap-coupled with the metal body 11, and the projection of the second movable transmission line 13 overlaps with at least a portion of the projection of the metal body 11. The first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 are respectively located on both sides of the metal body 11. Through gap coupling, radio frequency signals can be transmitted between the metal body 11 and the first movable transmission line 12, and between the metal body 11 and the second movable transmission line 13.

[0060] Among them, there are at least two independent signal transmission paths between the metal body 11 and each active transmission line. The first signal transmission path is from the input port 15 to the end of the first active transmission line 12 close to the input port 15, and from the input port 15 to the end of the second active transmission line 13 close to the input port 15. The second signal transmission path is a path for coupling radio frequency signals from a portion of the first active transmission line 12 and the second active transmission line 13 away from the input port 15 to the metal body 11 and transmitting the radio frequency signals from the metal body 11 to the corresponding output port 16.

[0061] In one embodiment, the radio frequency signal fed into the metal body 11 by the main feed line 2 through the input port 15 can be coupled to the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 along the first signal transmission path. The first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 move synchronously to a preset position relative to the metal body 11 to adjust the phase of the radio frequency signal. The first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 can then transmit the radio frequency signal to the corresponding output port 16 along the second signal transmission path, and feed the radio frequency signal from the corresponding output port 16 to the antenna unit. In particular, along the thickness direction of the phase shifting device 1, the projection of the first movable transmission line 12 coincides with the projection of the second movable transmission line 13. By adjusting the phase of the radio frequency signal by the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13, the phase difference of the radio frequency signal fed into the antenna unit can be made close to 90°, thereby achieving dual polarization of the antenna unit.

[0062] In one embodiment, as described above, both the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 can be made of metal, which facilitates the transmission of radio frequency signals and also facilitates the electrical connection between the second movable transmission line 13 and the first movable transmission line 12. Electrical connection refers to the direct connection between the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13. This direct connection can take the form of direct electrical connection between portions of the first movable transmission line 12 and portions of the second movable transmission line 13, or can be directly electrically connected via a conductive connector, such as a metal structure or metal strip. By directly electrically connecting the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13, better electrical performance consistency can be achieved between the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13. Furthermore, the impedance matching space can be maximized, thereby achieving optimal electrical performance of the phase shifting device 1.

[0063] In one embodiment, referring to FIG5 , the phase shifting device 1 includes a metal connector 14 , the two ends of which are fixedly connected to the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 . The metal connector 14 can be a structural component independently made of metal material and can be fixed to corresponding positions on the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 through a process such as welding. This ensures the reliability of the connection between the metal connector 14 and the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 , while also ensuring that energy can be effectively transmitted between the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 , thereby ensuring consistent electrical performance. In one embodiment, the metal connector 14 can be made of sheet metal, such as a metal plate or a metal block, and has a certain degree of structural stability. The metal connector 14 can constrain the relative positions of the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 , and can also ensure the consistency and stability of the movement of the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 , ensuring that the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 maintain a consistent gap with the metal body 11 when moving to various positions, thereby ensuring electrical performance.

[0064] In one embodiment, the metal body 11 includes a first fixed transmission line 111 and at least one second fixed transmission line 112. The first fixed transmission line 111 is provided with an input port 15, through which the first fixed transmission line 111 is electrically connected to the main feeder 2. The second fixed transmission line 112 is provided with an output port 16, through which the second fixed transmission line 112 feeds a phase-adjusted RF signal to the antenna unit. One end of the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 are rotatably connected to the first fixed transmission line 111. A gap is provided between the first fixed transmission line 111 and the second fixed transmission line 112. The RF signal fed into the first fixed transmission line 111 by the main feeder 2 is not directly transmitted to the second fixed transmission line 112. Instead, the RF signal is coupled by the first fixed transmission line 111 to the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13. The first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 have a greater length toward the second fixed transmission line 112. Furthermore, along the thickness direction of the phase shifter 1, the projections of the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 overlap at least partially with the projections of the second fixed transmission line 112. In other words, the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 can couple the RF signal to the second fixed transmission line 112. By rotating the first and second movable transmission lines 12 and 13, the distance between the first and second movable transmission lines 12 and 13 and the target output port 16 can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the electrical length of the RF signal transmitted to the output port 16, thereby achieving phase adjustment.

[0065] In one embodiment, the second fixed transmission line 112 is fan-shaped, and the output ports 16 are at both ends of the second fixed transmission line 112 in the length direction X. One end of the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 rotates relative to the first fixed transmission line 111, so that the portions of the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line 13 away from the first fixed transmission line 111 can move along a fan-shaped trajectory, thereby changing the distance between the first movable transmission line 12 and the second movable transmission line and each output port 16, thereby adjusting the phase of the radio frequency signal.

[0066] In one embodiment, FIG13 is a partial schematic diagram of a phase shifting system provided in yet another embodiment of the present application. Referring to FIG13 , a phase shifting device 1 includes a metal body 11 and a sliding medium 18. The metal body 11 is provided with an input port 15 and an output port 16. The sliding medium 18 is slidably mounted on the metal body 11, with at least a portion of the sliding medium 18 located along the transmission path between the input port 15 and the output port 16. The sliding medium 18 has a certain dielectric constant. When an RF signal is transmitted from the metal body 11 to the sliding medium 18, the sliding medium 18 can change the transmission speed of the RF signal, thereby causing a change in the phase of the RF signal. In this embodiment, by moving the sliding medium 18 to different positions, the length of the sliding medium 18 along the path from the input port 15 to the output port 16 can be changed, thereby adjusting the phase of the RF signal.

[0067] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present application shall be included within the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A phase shifting system, characterized in that: include: A phase shifting device, wherein the phase shifting device is provided with an input port and an output port; A main feeder, a first output end of the main feeder being connected to the input port; a first transmission line, wherein an input end of the first transmission line is connected to the output port, and an output end of the first transmission line is used to connect to an antenna unit; Wherein, the main feed line and the first transmission line are both made of metal.

2. The phase shifting system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a vertical plate, a first cover shell and a second cover shell, wherein the first cover shell and the second cover shell are both connected to the vertical plate, a first cavity is formed between the first cover shell and the vertical plate, a second cavity is formed between the second cover shell and the vertical plate, the main feed line and the first transmission line are arranged in the first cavity, and the phase shifting device is arranged in the second cavity; The vertical plate, the first cover shell and the second cover shell are all made of metal.

3. The phase shifting system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The first housing comprises a top plate, a first side plate and a second side plate, the two ends of the top plate are respectively connected to the first side plate and the second side plate, and along the thickness direction of the vertical plate, the first side plate and the second side plate are respectively located on both sides of the vertical plate; A first small cavity is enclosed between the top plate, the first side plate and the vertical plate, and the first small cavity is used to accommodate a phase shifter, a main feeder and a first transmission line located on one side of the vertical plate, and the phase shifter, the main feeder and the first transmission line located on one side of the vertical plate are used to enable the antenna unit to generate a first polarization; A second small cavity is enclosed between the top plate, the second side plate and the vertical plate, and the second small cavity is used to accommodate the phase shifter, the main feeder and the first transmission line located on the other side of the vertical plate. The phase shifter, the main feeder and the first transmission line located on the other side of the vertical plate are used to enable the antenna unit to produce a second polarization.

4. The phase shifting system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second cover shell is provided with a connecting flange, and the second cover shell is connected to the vertical plate and the first cover shell through the connecting flange.

5. The phase shifting system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The phase shifting device is provided with a grounding port, and the grounding port is electrically connected to the vertical plate.

6. A phase shifting system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that: The phase shifting device further comprises a metal balun, which is connected to the vertical plate. At least a part of the metal balun protrudes from the first cover shell and is used to be connected to the antenna unit.

7. The phase shifting system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The metal balun is integrally formed with the vertical plate.

8. The phase shifting system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The first cover shell is provided with a through hole, at least a part of the metal balun passes through the through hole, and the metal balun is fixedly connected to the first cover shell through the through hole.

9. A phase shifting system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The input port is arranged on a side of the output port away from the antenna unit; The phase shifting system also includes a first jumper and a second transmission line, wherein the second transmission line is arranged on a side of the first transmission line close to the antenna unit, and the main feeder is arranged on a side of the first transmission line away from the antenna unit, the second output end of the main feeder is connected to the input end of the first jumper, the output end of the first jumper is connected to the input end of the second transmission line, and the output end of the second transmission line is used to be connected to the antenna unit; a gap is maintained between the first jumper and the first transmission line.

10. The phase shifting system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The input port is arranged at a side of the output port close to the antenna unit, and the main feed line is arranged at a side of the first transmission line away from the antenna unit; The phase shifting system further includes a second jumper, the first output end of the main feeder is connected to the input end of the second jumper, the output end of the second jumper is connected to the input port, and a gap is maintained between the second jumper and the first transmission line.

11. A phase shifting system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The phase shifting device comprises a metal body, a first movable transmission line and a second movable transmission line, and the metal body is provided with the input port and the output port; The first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are respectively located on two sides of the metal body, and both the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are gap-coupled with the metal body; One end of the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are both rotatably connected to the metal body, and the other ends of the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are electrically connected.

12. The phase shifting system according to claim 11, characterized in that: The metal body comprises a first fixed transmission line and at least one second fixed transmission line, and a gap is formed between the first fixed transmission line and the second fixed transmission line; The first fixed transmission line is provided with the input port, and one end of the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line are rotatably connected to the first fixed transmission line; The output port is arranged on the second fixed transmission line, and along the thickness direction of the phase shifting device, the projections of the first movable transmission line and the second movable transmission line overlap with at least a part of the projection of the second fixed transmission line.

13. The phase shifting system according to claim 12, characterized in that: The second fixed transmission line is fan-shaped.

14. A phase shifting system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that: The material of the phase shifting device is metal.

15. The phase shifting system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The phase shifting device comprises a metal body and a sliding medium, the metal body is provided with the input port and the output port, the sliding medium is slidably sleeved on the metal body, and at least part of the sliding medium is located on the transmission path between the input port and the output port.

16. A base station antenna, characterized in that: It comprises an antenna unit and the phase shifting system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the phase shifting system is connected to the antenna unit via an output port.

17. A base station antenna feed system, characterized in that: Includes the base station antenna as claimed in claim 16.

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