Multi-band multi-channel phase shifter and multi-band dual-polarized antenna

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention are a multi-band multi-channel phase shifter and a multi-band dual-polarized antenna. The multi-band multi-channel phase shifter comprises a metal cavity; a transverse rib is provided in the metal cavity to divide the metal cavity into an upper cavity and a lower cavity which are independent from each other, and the upper and lower side surfaces of the transverse rib are each provided with a partition member facing the interior of the corresponding cavity; the partition members comprise parallel walls parallelly spaced apart from each other relative to the transverse rib, and a vertical wall is connected between the parallel walls and the transverse rib; a metal stripline of an integrated structure is mounted in a single cavity, and the metal stripline comprises phase shifting sections and a combining section which are parallel to each other. According to the present invention, the metal striplines of the integrated structure are mounted in the metal cavity, facilitating assembling, effectively reducing assembling components in existing stack structures, and especially saving the space inside the cavity in the thickness direction. The phase shifter of the present invention can support at least two bands and support the design of dual-polarized base station antennas.

Description

Multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter and multi-frequency dual-polarized antenna TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of mobile communication antennas, in particular to a multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter and a multi-frequency dual-polarized antenna. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the development of base station antennas, multi-frequency multi-standard antennas have gradually become mainstream. In order to ensure communication quality, antennas are usually in the form of orthogonal polarization.

[0003] With the complex evolution of antenna systems, the feed network usually needs to integrate more and more functions. Since the cavity phase shifter adopts the transmission form of air strip line, it has obvious advantages in reducing network loss and improving the radiation efficiency of the antenna feed system compared with other phase shift forms.

[0004] In order to realize a multi-frequency phase shifter, in the prior art, the combiner and the phase shifter are usually accommodated in one cavity, and the cavity is designed in different zones according to different frequency bands or different functions. When a dual-polarized antenna is needed, the cavity is usually arranged in a stacked or arrayed manner. The existing split stacked structure is relatively complex and occupies a large space.

[0005] SUMMARY

[0006] To solve the above problems, the present application provides a multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter and a multi-frequency dual-polarized antenna with a reasonable structure, thereby effectively reducing the assembly components in the existing stacked structure, facilitating assembly, and especially saving space in the thickness direction of the cavity.

[0007] The technical solutions adopted by the present application are as follows:

[0008] A multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter comprises a metal cavity, the inside of the metal cavity is provided with a horizontal rib to divide it into two independent and symmetrically distributed cavities, and a partition is arranged on the upper and lower sides of the horizontal rib; the partition comprises parallel walls arranged in parallel with respect to the horizontal rib, and a vertical wall is connected between the parallel walls and the horizontal rib; an integrated metal strip line is installed in each cavity, and the metal strip line comprises a combiner section and a phase shifter section arranged in parallel with each other.

[0009] As a further improvement of the above technical solutions:

[0010] The parallel walls and the inner wall of the metal cavity form a combiner wiring area, the vertical wall separates the parallel walls and the horizontal rib into two phase shifter functional areas, and the two phase shifter functional areas are in space communication with the combiner wiring area; the vertical wall is vertically located in the middle of the horizontal rib and the middle of the parallel wall.

[0011] The single metal strip line comprises two phase-shifting sections located in the same plane and separated from each other, and the two phase-shifting sections are located in the phase-shifting functional areas on both sides of the vertical wall respectively.

[0012] The connecting part is perpendicular to the plane of the combining section and the plane of the phase-shifting section, and the opposite edges of the connecting part are connected with the combining section and the phase-shifting section respectively.

[0013] The medium block is arranged between at least one side surface of the single phase-shifting section and the corresponding parallel wall or cross rib, and the medium block is pulled by the pull rod assembly to generate relative displacement between the medium block and the phase-shifting section, thereby generating phase shift.

[0014] The concave-convex fitting structure is arranged between the medium block and the corresponding parallel wall, and the concave-convex fitting structure provides guidance for the displacement of the medium block relative to the phase-shifting section.

[0015] The combining section is located in the combiner wiring area between the parallel wall and the inner wall of the metal cavity, and the combining section is provided with a strip line support between the upper and lower surfaces and the parallel wall and the inner wall of the metal cavity.

[0016] The parallel wall and the cross rib are vertically connected with a vertical wall, and the parallel wall and the vertical wall form a T-shaped structure of the partition;

[0017] Alternatively, the parallel wall and the cross rib are vertically connected with two spaced vertical walls.

[0018] The cross rib between the two vertical walls is connected or separated.

[0019] The middle part of the top edge of the metal cavity is provided with an input end welding window, and the input end welding window is provided below the two cavities and the output end welding window is provided on both sides of the input end welding window.

[0020] A multi-frequency dual-polarized antenna comprises the multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter of any one of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the phase shifter is formed in the two cavities of the metal cavity, and the input signal is excited by the two phase shifters to radiate the array.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] The present application has the advantages that: the present application is compact and reasonable in structure, convenient and reliable to use, and the metal strip line is installed in an integrated structure via the metal cavity, so that the assembly of the existing stacked structure is effectively reduced, and especially the space in the thickness direction inside the cavity is saved; the phase shifter can support at least two frequency bands and support a dual-polarized base station antenna design;

[0023] The present application also has the following advantages:

[0024] In the present application, the existing two-dimensional strip line is converted into a three-dimensional transmission line used in space by using the ductility of the metal strip line, so that the discontinuity of the connection between different layers is reduced, the product manufacturability is improved, and the environmental pollution is reduced.

[0025] The phase shifter adopts an integrated structure design, the metal strip line is installed in an integrated structure via the integrated metal cavity, and a multi-frequency multi-channel is formed, so that the product assembly and layout difficulty is reduced, the space of the antenna surface is saved, the antenna weight is reduced, and it has a positive significance for reducing the windward area of the antenna. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Fig. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of the phase shifter of the present application.

[0027] Fig. 2 is a side view of the phase shifter of the present application.

[0028] Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged view of A in Fig. 2.

[0029] Fig. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the metal cavity in the first embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Fig. 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the metal cavity in the second embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Fig. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of the metal cavity in the third embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the phase shifter of the present application.

[0033] Fig. 8 is a partial enlarged view of B in Fig. 7.

[0034] Fig. 9 is a partial enlarged view of C in Fig. 7.

[0035] Fig. 10 is a structural schematic diagram of the phase shifter of the present application (omitting the metal cavity and the transverse rib).

[0036] Fig. 11 is a partial enlarged view of D in Fig. 10.

[0037] Fig. 12 is a working schematic diagram of the multi-frequency dual-polarized antenna of the present application.

[0038] 1, metal cavity; 2, pull rod assembly; 3, strip line support; 4, metal strip line; 5, separator; 6, dielectric block; 7, concave-convex matching structure;

[0039] 10, transverse rib; 11, output solder window; 12, output solder opening; 13, input solder window; 14, input solder opening;

[0040] 41, combining section; 42, connecting part; 43, phase-shifting section;

[0041] 50, groove; 51, parallel wall; 52, vertical wall;

[0042] 61, convex rib. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The specific embodiments of the present application will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter of the present embodiment comprises a metal cavity 1, which is internally provided with a transverse rib 10 to separate into two independent and symmetrically distributed cavities, and the upper and lower sides of the transverse rib 10 are respectively provided with a partition 5 towards the cavities; the partition 5 comprises a parallel wall 51 arranged in parallel with the transverse rib 10, and a vertical wall 52 connecting the parallel wall 51 and the transverse rib 10; an integrated metal strip line 4 is installed in each cavity, as shown in FIG. 3, which comprises a combining section 41 and a phase-shifting section 43 arranged in parallel with each other.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the integrated metal strip line 4 is installed in the metal cavity 1, which is convenient to assemble and effectively reduces the assembly components in the existing stacked structure, especially saves the space in the thickness direction of the cavity.

[0046] In the present embodiment, the metal cavity 1 is separated into two independent cavities by the transverse rib 10, and the combining section 41 and the phase-shifting section 43 of the metal strip line 4 are arranged by the partition 5 in each cavity, which greatly helps to realize the composition of the multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter, and the overall structure is compact, simple and ingenious.

[0047] The parallel wall 51 and the inner wall of the metal cavity 1 form a combiner wiring area, and the partition 5 separates the two phase-shifting functional areas between the parallel wall 51 and the transverse rib 10, the two phase-shifting functional areas are symmetrically arranged, and the two phase-shifting functional areas are in space communication with the combiner wiring area; the vertical wall 52 is vertically located in the middle of the transverse rib 10 and the middle of the parallel wall 51.

[0048] In the present embodiment, the phase-shifting functional area is in space communication with the combiner wiring area, so that the metal strip line 4 can be placed in the connected cavity area without obstruction, and it is convenient to assemble; especially in the two phase-shifting functional areas formed on both sides of the vertical wall 52 in the single cavity, combined with the arrangement of the phase-shifting section 43 of the metal strip line 4, a dual-frequency structure is formed in the single cavity.

[0049] In this embodiment, two internal regions, i.e. the combiner wiring region and the phase shift function region, are separated by the partition 5 in the single cavity of the metal cavity 1, and the single cavity can be regarded as a single-layer wide-mouth cavity folded; the combiner wiring region and the phase shift function region respectively transmit and distribute energy for one polarized signal of the antenna.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, a vertical wall 52 is vertically connected between the parallel wall 51 and the horizontal rib 10, and the partition 5 is formed in a T-shaped structure by the parallel wall 51 and the vertical wall 52; thereby forming two symmetrical phase shift function regions on both sides of the vertical wall 52.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, two spaced vertical walls 52 are vertically connected between the parallel wall 51 and the horizontal rib 10; thereby forming two symmetrical phase shift function regions outside the two vertical walls 52.

[0052] The horizontal rib 10 between the two vertical walls 52 is connected, and this section of the horizontal rib 10, in combination with the two vertical walls 52 on both sides of the two partitions 5 and the upper and lower parallel walls 51, forms a sun-shaped structure.

[0053] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, based on the structure of Fig. 5, the horizontal rib 10 between the two vertical walls 52 is interrupted, and the two vertical walls 52 on both sides of the two partitions 5 and the upper and lower parallel walls 51 form a mouth-shaped structure.

[0054] In this embodiment, the horizontal rib 10 and the metal cavity 1 are in an integrated structure, which is formed by pressing or extruding once.

[0055] The single metal strip line 4 includes two phase shift sections 43 located in the same plane and separated from each other, and the two phase shift sections 43 are respectively located in the phase shift function regions on both sides of the vertical wall 52, which can form phase shift networks of two different frequency bands such as frequency band 1 and frequency band 2; the two phase shift sections 43 are respectively connected to the edges of the combiner section 41 via the connecting part 42, forming an integrated metal strip line 4.

[0056] In this embodiment, the metal strip line 4 is used to convert the existing two-dimensional strip line into a three-dimensional transmission line used in space, which reduces the discontinuity of the connection between different layers, improves the manufacturability of the product, and reduces environmental pollution.

[0057] The connecting part 42 is perpendicular to the plane where the combiner section 41 is located and the plane where the phase shift section 43 is located, and the opposite edges of the connecting part 42 are respectively connected to the combiner section 41 and the phase shift section 43; a plurality of connecting parts 42 are respectively arranged at intervals along the length direction of the edges of the combiner section 41, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

[0058] In the embodiment, the metal strip line 4 is integrally formed and assembled, and internal switching does not require welding; compared with the existing flat arrangement of metal line structure, the structure form in the embodiment occupies a smaller back area, reducing the problem of space shortage and assembly difficulty of the remaining components and line arrangement on the back.

[0059] The single-phase shifting section 43 is provided with a medium block 6 on at least one side surface and the corresponding parallel wall 51 or / and transverse rib 10. The medium block 6 is pulled by the pull rod assembly 2, the outer end of the pull rod assembly 2 is connected with the transmission assembly, so that the relative displacement between the medium block 6 and the phase shifting section 43 is generated, thereby generating phase shift.

[0060] In the embodiment, the medium block 6 realizes phase shift during the displacement relative to the phase shifting section 43, and the medium block 6 also plays a supporting and protecting role for the metal strip line 4.

[0061] In actual use, the medium block 6 can be installed on any single side or both sides of the phase shifting section 43, and the phase shift is generated by the relative displacement of the medium block 6, and the medium block 6 can support the metal strip line 4.

[0062] In the embodiment, the two groups of medium blocks 6 corresponding to the two phase shifting sections 43 of the metal strip line 4 on both sides of the vertical wall 52 in the same cavity can be respectively led out by the pull rod assembly 2, and the same transmission assembly can be used for power transmission, so that the overall structure is more compact; at this time, the left and right pull rod assemblies 2 can be arranged on both sides of the vertical wall 52.

[0063] Of course, in actual use, the left and right two groups of medium blocks 6 and the two groups of pull rod assemblies 2 can be driven by different transmission assemblies according to actual use requirements.

[0064] The end portions of the two medium blocks 6 on both sides of the same phase shifting section 43 are commonly provided with the pull rod assembly 2; for the upper and lower two medium blocks 6 in the same group, the pull rod assembly 2 can be provided with a boss penetratingly arranged on the end portion; the upper and lower two bosses are respectively arranged with the upper and lower two medium blocks 6, so as to facilitate the synchronous movement of the two medium blocks 6 driven by the pull rod assembly 2.

[0065] The concave-convex assembly structure 7 is arranged between the parallel wall 51 and the corresponding medium block 6, and the concave-convex assembly structure 7 provides guidance for the displacement of the medium block 6 relative to the phase shifting section 43.

[0066] In the embodiment, the concave-convex assembly structure 7 limits the transverse direction of the medium block 6, and plays a guiding role during the displacement of the medium block 6 relative to the phase shifting section 43.

[0067] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the protrusions 61 are arranged on the side of the dielectric block 6 facing the parallel wall 51, and the recesses 50 are arranged on the side of the parallel wall 51 facing the dielectric block 6, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and the protrusions 61 and the recesses 50 are fitted to form the concave-convex fitting structure 7, thereby guiding the relative displacement.

[0068] Of course, in actual operation, the recesses can be arranged on the side of the dielectric block 6, and the protrusions can be arranged on the parallel wall 51, and the concave-convex fitting structure 7 is formed by the fitting of the recesses and the protrusions.

[0069] As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the combining section 41 is located in the combiner wiring area between the parallel wall 51 and the inner wall of the metal cavity 1, and the band line support 3 is arranged between the upper and lower sides of the combining section 41 and the parallel wall 51 and the inner wall of the metal cavity 1, respectively.

[0070] In the embodiment, the band line support 3 can be made of sponge, foam or plastic, which supports and shapes the metal band line 4.

[0071] In the embodiment, the three-dimensional metal band line 4 is supported by the band line support 3 and the dielectric block 6 in the combiner wiring area and the phase-shifting functional area, which effectively ensures the structure of the metal band line 4, so that the metal band line 4 is reliably and stably arranged around the partition 5, and the metal band line 4 does not contact the cavity wall of the metal cavity 1.

[0072] The input end welding window 13 is arranged in the middle of the top edge of the metal cavity 1, and the input end welding opening window 14 is arranged below the input end welding window 13 and corresponds to the two cavities; the output end welding window 11 is arranged on the top edge of the metal cavity 1 on both sides of the input end welding window 13, and the output end welding opening window 12 is arranged below the output end welding window 11 and corresponds to the two cavities.

[0073] In the embodiment, the input end welding window 13 and the output end welding window 11 are used for welding the inner conductor of the cable; the input end welding opening window 14 and the output end welding opening window 12 are used for connecting to the antenna radiation unit through the cable network.

[0074] The phase shifter adopts an integrated structure design, which installs the metal band line 4 with an integrated structure in the metal cavity 1 with an integrated structure, thereby forming a multi-frequency multi-channel, reducing the difficulty of product assembly and layout, saving the space of the antenna surface, reducing the weight of the antenna, and having a positive significance for reducing the windward area of the antenna.

[0075] In actual operation, the metal band line 4 can be realized by sheet metal process, which is bent along the bending line and shaped, and then placed in the corresponding cavity of the metal cavity 1 according to the preset form, which is beneficial to installation and wiring.

[0076] The metal cavity 1 and the cross rib 10 are integrally formed, which can be formed by die casting or profile cavity pultrusion, and the manufacturing cost is low, and the batch production is suitable.

[0077] The multi-frequency dual-polarized antenna of the embodiment includes the multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter of any one of the above, and the phase shifter is respectively formed in the two cavities of the metal cavity 1, and the input signal excites the radiation array through the two phase shifters respectively, as shown in FIG. 12.

[0078] The structure of the present application is compact, reasonable and ingenious, supports and realizes the multi-frequency dual-polarized antenna, effectively reduces the assembly components in the existing phase shifter stacking structure, saves the space in the thickness direction of the cavity inside, and greatly facilitates the assembly.

[0079] Each embodiment in the specification is described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the difference from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between each embodiment can be referred to each other.

[0080] The above description is an explanation of the present application, not a limitation of the application, and the scope of the present application is defined in the claims, and any form of modification within the protection scope of the present application can be made.

Claims

1. A multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter, comprising a metal cavity (1), characterized in that: The metal cavity (1) is provided with a transverse rib (10) inside to separate it into two independent cavities, upper and lower. The upper and lower sides of the transverse rib (10) are provided with a separator (5) facing the cavity. The separator (5) includes parallel walls (51) arranged parallel to the transverse rib (10), and a vertical wall (52) is connected between the parallel walls (51) and the transverse rib (10). A metal strip line (4) of an integrated structure is installed in each cavity. The metal strip line (4) includes a parallel merging section (41) and a phase shifting section (43).

2. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: A combiner wiring area is formed between the parallel wall (51) and the inner wall surface of the metal cavity (1); the parallel wall (51) and the transverse rib (10) are separated into two phase shifting functional areas by a vertical wall (52); the two phase shifting functional areas are spatially connected to the combiner wiring area; the vertical wall (52) is vertically located in the middle of the transverse rib (10) and the middle of the parallel wall (51).

3. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: A single metal strip line (4) includes two phase-shifting sections (43) located on the same plane and separated from each other. The two phase-shifting sections (43) are respectively located in phase-shifting functional areas on both sides of a vertical wall (52). The two phase-shifting sections (43) are respectively connected to the edges on both sides of the junction section (41) via connecting portions (42), forming an integrated metal strip line (4).

4. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 3, wherein: The connecting portion (42) is perpendicular to the plane where the merging section (41) is located and the plane where the phase shift section (43) is located, and the edges of the connecting portion (42) arranged opposite to each other are connected to the merging section (41) and the phase shift section (43) respectively; and a plurality of connecting portions (42) are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the edges on both sides of the merging section (41).

5. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 3, wherein: A dielectric block (6) is installed between at least one side surface of the single-stage phase-shifting section (43) and the corresponding parallel wall (51) or transverse rib (10). The dielectric block (6) is pulled by the pull rod assembly (2), so that a relative displacement is generated between the dielectric block (6) and the phase-shifting section (43), thereby generating phase shift.

6. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 5, wherein: A concave-convex fitting structure (7) is provided between the parallel wall (51) and the dielectric block (6) in contact therewith, and the concave-convex fitting structure (7) provides guidance for the displacement of the dielectric block (6) relative to the phase shifting section (43).

7. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: The combining section (41) is located in the combiner wiring area between the parallel wall (51) and the inner wall surface of the metal cavity (1), and wire supports (3) are respectively installed between the upper and lower side surfaces of the combining section (41) and the parallel wall (51) and the inner wall surface of the metal cavity (1).

8. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: A vertical wall (52) is vertically connected between the parallel wall (51) and the transverse rib (10), and the parallel wall (51) and the vertical wall (52) form a T-shaped separator (5); Alternatively, two vertical walls (52) arranged at intervals are vertically connected between the parallel wall (51) and the transverse rib (10); the transverse rib (10) between the two vertical walls (52) is connected or disconnected.

9. The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein: An input end welding window (13) is provided in the middle of the top edge of the metal cavity (1), and input end welding windows (14) are provided below the input end welding window (13) and corresponding to the two cavities; output end welding windows (11) are provided on the top edge of the metal cavity (1) on both sides of the input end welding window (13), and output end welding windows (12) are provided below the output end welding window (11) and corresponding to the two cavities.

10. A multi-frequency dual-polarization antenna, characterized in that: The multi-frequency multi-channel phase shifter comprises any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein phase shifters are respectively formed in two cavities of a metal cavity (1), and input signals respectively excite radiation arrays via the two phase shifters.

Images