Antenna, base station, and communication system

Abstract

The present application provides an antenna, a base station, and a communication system. The antenna comprises a first radiation array and a second radiation array; an included angle between a normal line of the first radiation array and a normal line of the second radiation array is an acute angle; the first radiation array and the second radiation array are each provided with at least one antenna element; the at least one antenna element is used for radiating a signal; the radiation coverage of the antenna comprises at least one radiation area; and the at least one radiation area is formed by cooperative radiation of beams from the first radiation array and the second radiation array. Therefore, the sum of projection widths of the first radiation array and the second radiation array on the front side is taken as a limited width, and the plane where the first radiation array is located is taken as a reference plane, so that the first radiation array is planar and the second radiation array is inclined; under the condition that the limited width remains unchanged, fully utilizing the size of the antenna in the thickness direction allows more antennas to be arranged without changing the element density; thus, the antenna can be widely applied to low-frequency scenarios.

Description

Antenna, base station and communication system

[0001] The present application claims priority from the Chinese patent application No. 202410662097.6 filed on May 24, 2024, and entitled "Antenna, base station and communication system", the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present application relate to the field of communication technology, in particular to an antenna, a base station and a communication system. BACKGROUND

[0003] In recent years, the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology can greatly increase the number of antennas in the base station, thereby forming independent narrow beam coverage for different users, and transmitting data of different users based on the spatial isolation of the users, thereby improving the capacity of the system by tens of times.

[0004] The more antennas can obtain higher antenna gain and beam gain, thereby improving coverage or capacity performance. However, the more the number of antennas, the larger the antenna aperture (array area size), which affects engineering safety, so the area size of the radiation array is limited.

[0005] Among them, under the premise of a certain area, the lower the frequency, the greater the distance between the antenna elements, so the multiple input multiple output technology is usually widely used in medium and high frequency scenarios, and cannot form a good solution in low frequency scenarios. SUMMARY

[0006] Embodiments of the present application provide an antenna, a base station and a communication system, which solve the problem that the multiple input multiple output antenna is difficult to be widely applied in low frequency scenarios.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the embodiments of the present application adopt the following technical solutions:

[0008] In a first aspect of the embodiments of the present application, an antenna is provided, comprising: a first radiation array surface and a second radiation array surface, an included angle between a normal line of the first radiation array surface and a normal line of the second radiation array surface being an acute angle; the first radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface are respectively provided with at least one antenna array element, the at least one antenna array element being used for radiating signals, a range of an area capable of being radiated by the antenna comprising at least one radiation area, the at least one radiation area being formed by beam coordination radiation from the first radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface. Thus, the radiation array surface is divided into the first radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface, the plane where the first radiation array surface is located is taken as a front surface, the plane where the second radiation array surface is located is taken as a side surface, the sum of the projection widths of the first radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface in the front surface is taken as a limited width, and the front surface is taken as a reference surface, then the first radiation array surface is a plane, and the second radiation array surface is an inclined surface, compared with the case where the first radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface are both planes, more antenna array elements can be arranged on the inclined surface of the second radiation array surface, and the size in the thickness direction of the antenna can be fully utilized. Meanwhile, the antennas arranged on the second radiation array surface can cover not only the cells on the side surface but also the cells on the front surface, the system performance of the cells on the front surface can be effectively improved, greater front shaping gain can be obtained, and the side surface coverage can be taken into account at the same time. The antenna with the structure can increase the area of the antenna array surface without changing the limited width, more antennas can be arranged without changing the array element density, and can be widely applied to low-frequency scenarios.

[0009] In an optional implementation manner, the first radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface are arranged to form a convex surface. Thus, the convex surface can fully utilize the size in the thickness direction of the antenna, more antenna array elements can be arranged without changing the array element density, and the radiation performance of the antenna is improved.

[0010] In an optional implementation manner, the antenna further comprises: a third radiation array surface, the third radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface being arranged on two sides of the first radiation array surface, and the third radiation array surface is provided with at least one antenna array element, and the third radiation array surface cooperates with the first radiation array surface and the second radiation array surface to radiate. Thus, more antennas can be arranged by arranging the third radiation array surface, and the antennas can be widely applied to low-frequency scenarios.

[0011] In an optional implementation manner, the second radiation array surface and the third radiation array surface are symmetrical about a central axis of the first radiation array surface. Thus, the antenna structure is more symmetrical, and uniform coverage in each direction in the front cells can be realized.

[0012] In an optional implementation manner, the first radiation array surface, the second radiation array surface and the third radiation array surface are in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid in the longitudinal section. Thus, the symmetry of the antenna is improved, and uniform coverage in each direction in the front cells can be realized.

[0013] In an optional implementation, the included angle between the normal line of the first radiating array and the normal line of the second radiating array is 45°. In this way, the size in the thickness direction of the antenna can be fully utilized.

[0014] In an optional implementation, the distance between adjacent elements on the first radiating array is D1, and the projected distance of adjacent elements on the second radiating array on the first radiating array is D3, where D1 and D3 satisfy D3 < D1. In this way, the space of the second radiating array can be fully utilized, more antenna elements can be arranged on the second radiating array, and the system performance of the antenna can be improved.

[0015] In an optional implementation, the projected distance of adjacent elements between the first radiating array and the second radiating array on the first radiating array is D5, and D5 satisfies D3 < D5 < D1. D5 is approximately the sum of one-half of D3 and one-half of D1, that is, the distance of the most edge element of the first radiating array to the edge is approximately one-half of the distance between elements of the first radiating array, and the distance of the most edge element of the second radiating array to the edge is approximately one-half of the distance between elements of the second radiating array. In this way, the space of the radiating array can be fully utilized.

[0016] In an optional implementation, the power of a single channel corresponding to the first radiating array of the radio frequency unit is P0, where P0 satisfies P0 > P / N, where P0 is the maximum power of the single channel transmission, P is the total concurrent power of the multiple channels, and N is the total number of channels. In this way, the power of the single channel corresponding to the first radiating array of the radio frequency unit is greater than the average power of the single channel of the antenna, which is conducive to concentrating the transmission power on the first radiating array and improving the transmission power of the first radiating array.

[0017] In an optional implementation, the power of a single channel corresponding to the second radiating array of the radio frequency unit is (P-P0N0) / (N-N0), and the power (P-P0N0) / (N-N0) of the single channel corresponding to the second radiating array satisfies (P-P0N0) / (N-N0) < P / N, where the number of channels corresponding to the first radiating array is N0, and the number of channels corresponding to the second radiating array is N-N0. In this way, the power of the single channel corresponding to the second radiating array of the radio frequency unit is less than the average power of the single channel of the antenna, which is conducive to concentrating the transmission power on the first radiating array and improving the transmission power of the first radiating array.

[0018] In an optional implementation, the antenna is arranged at the network side, and the antenna comprises: N columns of antenna elements, the first radiation array and the second radiation array each being provided with at least one column of antenna elements, the N columns of antenna elements being configured to send N sets of reference information, N being a positive integer greater than 1; wherein the i-th column of antenna elements is configured to send the i-th set of reference information, i satisfying: 1≤i≤N; and the N sets of reference information are used for determination of N sets of channel information. The N sets of channel information are obtained by the terminal side measuring the N sets of reference information. Thus, in the antenna, the elements on the first radiation array and the elements on the second radiation array are oriented differently and have different radiation directions. That is, the elements of the first radiation array and the second radiation array are arranged non-uniformly. In this scenario, the channel information corresponding to different radiation arrays is different. By dividing the antenna array into multiple subarrays and configuring multiple sets of reference information, one column of elements in this embodiment can serve as one subarray, and one set of reference information corresponds to one subarray. Based on the measurement feedback of multiple subarrays, the channel information of the non-uniform array can be obtained.

[0019] In an optional implementation, the antenna is arranged at the network side, and the network side can be configured with at least three sets of reference information, and each radiation array corresponds to one set of reference information. The antenna comprises: three radiation arrays, each radiation array being provided with at least one column of antenna elements, and the network side being configured to send three sets of reference information to the terminal side through the three radiation arrays. For example, the first radiation array corresponds to the first set of reference information, and the antenna elements on the first radiation array are configured to send the first set of reference information, which is used for determination of the first set of channel information. The first set of channel information is obtained by the terminal side measuring the first set of reference information. The second radiation array corresponds to the second set of reference information, and the antenna elements on the second radiation array are configured to send the second set of reference information, which is used for determination of the second set of channel information. The second set of channel information is obtained by the terminal side measuring the second set of reference information. The third radiation array corresponds to the third set of reference information. The antenna elements on the third radiation array are configured to send the third set of reference information, which is used for determination of the third set of channel information. The third set of channel information is obtained by the terminal side measuring the third set of reference information. Thus, in the antenna, the elements on the first radiation array and the elements on the second radiation array are oriented differently and have different radiation directions. That is, the elements of the first radiation array and the second radiation array are arranged non-uniformly. In this scenario, the channel information corresponding to different radiation arrays is different. According to the radiation array, the antenna array is divided into multiple subarrays, and multiple sets of reference information are configured. In this embodiment, the elements on one radiation array can serve as one subarray, that is, one set of reference information corresponds to one radiation array. Based on the measurement feedback of multiple subarrays, the channel information of the non-uniform array can be obtained.

[0020] In a second aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a base station, comprising the antenna as described above.

[0021] In a third aspect, the embodiment of the present application provides a communication system, comprising a network device and a terminal device, wherein the network device is in communication connection with the terminal device, and the network device comprises the base station as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the antenna in FIG. 2;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the antenna in FIG. 4;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the antenna in FIG. 6;

[0029] FIG. 8 is an array arrangement schematic diagram of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clear, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0031] Hereinafter, the terms "first", "second", and the like are only used for the purpose of description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second", and the like can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality of" is two or more.

[0032] In addition, in the present application, the orientation terms such as "upper", "lower", and the like are defined with respect to the orientation of the components shown in the drawings, and it should be understood that these directional terms are relative concepts, which are used for relative description and clarification, and can be changed accordingly according to the change of the orientation of the components placed in the drawings.

[0033] Hereinafter, the terms that may appear in the embodiments of the present application are explained.

[0034] Antenna array: two or more single antenna elements working at the same frequency are fed and arranged in space according to certain requirements to form an antenna array, also known as antenna array. The radiation field of the antenna array is the vector sum of the radiation fields of each antenna element, and its characteristics depend on the type, position, arrangement and excitation amplitude and phase of the antenna element.

[0035] Antenna element: the antenna radiation unit that constitutes the antenna array, also known as array element.

[0036] Multiple input multiple output (MIMO): the basic principle is to greatly increase the number of antennas in the base station, thereby forming independent narrow beam coverage for different users. Based on the spatial isolation of users, the system transmits data for different users at the same time, thereby increasing the capacity of the system by tens of times.

[0037] To facilitate understanding of the embodiments of the present application, first take the communication system shown in FIG. 1 as an example to explain the communication system applicable to the embodiments of the present application. FIG. 1 shows the architecture of a possible communication system, which includes a network device and at least one terminal device, wherein: the network device can establish a communication link with at least one terminal device (such as terminal device 1 and terminal device 2 shown in the figure) through beams in different directions. The network device can provide wireless access-related services for the at least one terminal device, and implement one or more of the following functions: wireless physical layer function, resource scheduling and radio resource management, quality of service (Qos) management, radio access control, and mobility management function. The at least one terminal device can also form a beam to perform data transmission with the network device. In this embodiment, the network device and the at least one terminal device can communicate through beams.

[0038] It should be understood that the network device involved in the embodiments of the present application can be any device with wireless transceiver function or a chip that can be arranged in the device, including but not limited to: evolved node B (eNB), radio network controller (RNC), node B (NB), base station controller (BSC), base transceiver station (BTS), home base station (for example, home evolved node B (H-eNB) or home node B (HNB)), baseband unit (BBU), access point (AP) in a wireless fidelity (WIFI) system, wireless relay node, wireless backhaul node, transmission point (TP), or transmission and reception point (TRP / TP), or remote radio head (RRH), etc., and can also be a base station (gNB) in a 5G, such as an NR system, or a transmission point, one or a group (including multiple antenna panels) of antenna panels of a base station in a 5G system, or a network node constituting a gNB or a transmission point, such as a baseband unit, or a distributed unit (DU), etc. The network device can also be a wireless controller in a cloud radio access network (CRAN) scenario, or the network device can be a relay station, an access point, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, and an access network device (such as a gNB) in a future 5G network or an access network device in a future evolved PLMN network, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited.

[0039] Exemplarily, the network device can be a scheduling device, in which case the network device can include, but is not limited to, an LTE base station eNB, an NR base station gNB, an operator, and the like, and the functions thereof can include, but are not limited to, performing configuration of uplink and downlink resources, in a base station scheduling mode, transmitting downlink control information (DCI). Exemplarily, in this application, the network device can also be a first device, in which case the network device can include, but is not limited to, a TRP, a RRH, and the functions thereof can include, but are not limited to, transmitting downlink signals and receiving uplink signals. The first device in this application refers to a device that transmits reference information for performing channel measurement, and therefore, the first device can also be referred to as a transmitting device. For example, the first device can have an antenna panel. It should be understood that the first device can also be used for receiving signals, information, signaling, messages, and the like, and is not limited to only transmitting. Optionally, the first device can include a network device such as a base station, and in addition, in a scenario where reference information is transmitted by a terminal device and reference information is received by another terminal device, the first device can also include a terminal device that transmits reference information.

[0040] The terminal device involved in the embodiments of the present application can also be referred to as a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a user unit, a user station, a mobile station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent or a user apparatus. The terminal device can also be a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device with wireless communication function, a computing device or other processing device connected to a wireless modem, a vehicle-mounted device, a wearable device, a terminal device in a future 5G network or a terminal device in a future evolved public land mobile network (PLMN), etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto. The terminal device 1 and the terminal device in the embodiments of the present application can be a mobile phone, a pad, a computer with wireless transceiver function, a wearable device, a virtual reality (VR) terminal device, an augmented reality (AR) terminal device, a wireless terminal in industrial control, a wireless terminal in unmanned driving, a wireless terminal in remote medical treatment, a wireless terminal in smart grid, a wireless terminal in transportation safety, a wireless terminal in smart city, a wireless terminal in smart home, etc. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the application scenarios. The aforementioned terminal device and the chip that can be provided in the terminal device are collectively referred to as a terminal device in the present application.

[0041] For example, the functions of the terminal device can include, but are not limited to, receiving downlink / sidelink signals and / or transmitting uplink / sidelink signals.

[0042] Exemplarily, the network device and the terminal device can include: an RRC signaling interaction module, a MAC signaling interaction module, and a PHY signaling interaction module. The RRC signaling interaction module can be a module for the network device and the terminal device to send and receive RRC signaling. The MAC signaling interaction module can be a module for the network device and the terminal device to send and receive MAC control elements (CEs). The PHY signaling and data can be a module for the network device and the terminal device to send and receive uplink control signaling or downlink control signaling, uplink and downlink data, or downlink data.

[0043] The wireless communication system mentioned in the embodiments of the present application includes, but is not limited to: a global system of mobile communication (GSM) system, a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, a wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) system, a general packet radio service (GPRS), a long term evolution (LTE) system, an LTE-advanced (LTE-A) system, an LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) system, an LTE time division duplex (TDD), a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), a worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) communication system, a 5G, a fusion system of multiple access systems, or an evolved system, three application scenarios of a 5G mobile communication system: enhanced mobile broad band (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low-latency communication (URLLC), and enhanced machine type communication (eMTC), or a new communication system to be appeared in the future.

[0044] It should be noted that the architecture of the communication system shown in Figure 1 is not limited to only comprising the devices shown in the figure, but can also comprise other devices not represented in the figure, which will not be listed one by one here.

[0045] In some embodiments, the network device comprises an antenna. In the antenna, the size of the radiation array is limited due to wind resistance or morphology and other factors, thereby limiting the capacity and coverage of the antenna.

[0046] Figures 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of a scenario in which the number of antenna elements in an antenna is limited by the size. As shown in Figure 2, the antenna 100 comprises an antenna panel and antenna elements 1001 arranged on the antenna panel.

[0047] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the antenna elements 1001 are arranged only on the front surface 101 of the antenna panel. Due to the size of the front surface 101 of the antenna panel, the number of antenna elements 1001 that can be deployed in a multiple-input multiple-output or terminal device is limited, which limits the capacity and coverage of the antenna.

[0048] The size of the windward surface is determined by the projected area of the front surface 101 of the antenna, i.e., the area determined by the width D (size in the x direction) and the height L (size in the z direction) without considering the thickness H (size in the z direction) of the antenna. Therefore, under the premise that the height of the antenna is constant, the width of the antenna determines the number of columns. Under the limited width D, it is not possible to place 4 columns of antenna elements uniformly, and therefore, a new antenna architecture needs to be designed to improve the radiation coverage performance. The limited width D refers to the width of the radiation array that is limited due to wind resistance or morphology and other factors.

[0049] In the related art, antenna elements can also be arranged on other surfaces of the antenna panel to improve the capacity and coverage of the antenna, but the improvement in the performance of the small cell system of the front surface 101 of the antenna is limited.

[0050] Therefore, the present application provides an improved antenna that can fully utilize the size of the thickness dimension of the antenna panel and improve the directivity of the antenna radiation.

[0051] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the antenna in Figure 4. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the antenna 10 comprises a first radiation array 12 and a second radiation array 13. Referring to Figure 4, the included angle between the normal line O of the first radiation array 12 and the normal line S of the second radiation array 13 is an acute angle.

[0052] Wherein, for the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13, the normal is directional: the normal positive direction is the direction from the inner surface to the outer surface of the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13, that is, the outer normal. In the embodiment, the inner surface of the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 is concave, the outer surface of the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 is convex, and the normal O and the normal S are both outer normals.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the included angle between the normal O of the first radiating array 12 and the normal S of the second radiating array 13 is α, and the included angle between the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 is θ, wherein the included angle α between the normal O of the first radiating array 12 and the normal S of the second radiating array 13 is equal to the included angle θ between the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13.

[0054] In the present application, the included angle α between the normal O of the first radiating array 12 and the normal of the second radiating array is an acute angle, that is, the included angle α is greater than 0° and less than 90°, for example, the included angle α can be 45°. Correspondingly, the included angle θ between the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 is equal to α, so the included angle θ is also an acute angle.

[0055] In some embodiments, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the second radiating array 13 projects a width D on the first radiating array 12, the thickness of the antenna is h, and θ satisfies:

[0056] According to the above formula, the included angle θ between the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 is related to the width D of the second radiating array 13 projected on the first radiating array 12 and the thickness h of the antenna. Wherein, when the length l of the second radiating array 13 along the y direction is constant, the width D of the second radiating array 13 projected on the first radiating array 12 and the thickness h of the antenna determine the size of the second radiating array 13, that is, by adjusting the included angle θ between the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13, the size of the second radiating array 13 can be changed, accordingly, the user can design appropriate antenna arrays and the included angle between the antenna arrays according to needs. Correspondingly, α satisfies:

[0057] According to the above formula, the size of the second radiating array 13 is related to the included angle α between the normal O of the first radiating array 12 and the normal S of the second radiating array 13. The present application limits the included angle α between the normal O of the first radiating array 12 and the normal S of the second radiating array 13 to be an acute angle, and the size of the second radiating array 13 satisfying the formula is larger, and more antenna elements can be set.

[0058] In the present application, as shown in FIG. 5, the plane where the first radiation array surface 12 is located is the xy plane. The antenna array on the first radiation array surface 12 can be referred to as a "front array".

[0059] As shown in FIG. 4, the second radiation array surface 13 is a slant surface, where the antenna array on the second radiation array surface 13 can be referred to as a "side array".

[0060] The two radiation array surfaces in the present application are only logical divisions and are not necessarily two separate planes. In actual applications, the two radiation array surfaces in the present application can be two separate panels (such as curved surfaces or planes, etc.) connected together, or can also be a curved surface covering two planes of an antenna panel as the two radiation array surfaces in the present application. On the other hand, in actual applications, due to errors in the installation process or errors in the device form, etc., the first radiation array surface 12 may not be perpendicular to the thickness direction of the antenna panel accurately and may have a certain deviation. The present application is not limited to this deviation, i.e., it is also applicable to the above-mentioned scenarios with deviations.

[0061] Wherein the first radiation array surface 12 and the second radiation array surface 13 are respectively provided with at least one antenna array element 11 for radiating signals, and the antenna 10 can radiate an area range including at least one radiation area formed by beam coordination radiation from the first radiation array surface 12 and the second radiation array surface 13.

[0062] The number of antenna array elements 11 in the first radiation array surface 12 and the second radiation array surface 13 can be the same or different, and the present application does not limit this. In actual applications, the antenna array elements 11 of the present application can be connected to the antenna panel and the structure (such as a mounting seat) for fixing the antenna panel, thereby completing the installation and fixation.

[0063] The antenna 10 provided by the embodiment of the present application divides the radiation array surface into a first radiation array surface 12 and a second radiation array surface 13. The first radiation array surface 12 is a plane relative to the xy plane, and the second radiation array surface 13 is an inclined plane. The sum of the projection widths of the first radiation array surface 12 and the second radiation array surface 13 on the xy plane is equal to the limited width D. That is, the projection size of the antenna panel on the xy plane is unchanged, the radiation array surface size is larger, and more antenna array elements 11 can be installed. For example, 6 columns of antenna array elements 11 can be arranged on the front surface 101 (xy plane) of the antenna panel in FIG. 3, and 8 columns of antenna array elements 11 can be arranged on the first radiation array surface 12 and the second radiation array surface 13 of the antenna panel in FIG. 5. The size in the thickness direction of the antenna panel can be fully utilized. The antenna of the structure increases the area of the antenna array surface without changing the width of the antenna, and more antenna array elements can be arranged without changing the front surface element density (that is, the element spacing), and can be widely applied to low-frequency scenarios.

[0064] Meanwhile, the antenna provided by the embodiment has the second radiation array surface 13 as an inclined plane, and the antenna arranged on the second radiation array surface 13 can not only cover the cells on the side surface, but also cover the cells on the front surface, which can effectively improve the cell system performance of the front surface antenna and obtain greater front surface beamforming gain, while taking into account the side surface coverage.

[0065] In the present application, a cell, also referred to as a cellular cell, refers to an area covered by a base station or a part (sector antenna) of a base station in a cellular mobile communication system. In this area, the mobile station can reliably communicate with the base station through a wireless channel. Beamforming gain refers to the use of wave interference principles to enhance part of the beam, thereby enhancing the propagation ability of the beam.

[0066] The above embodiment takes the radiation array surface of the antenna as an example for illustration. In other embodiments, the panel of the antenna has a thickness, each antenna panel includes two opposite surfaces, and the radiation array surface can be one of the surfaces of the antenna panel, or the radiation array surface is arranged on one surface of the antenna panel. For example, the antenna 10 includes a first antenna panel and a second antenna panel, and the first antenna panel and the second antenna panel can be connected at a first end. The first antenna panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, and the second antenna panel includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite to each other. The first surface of the first antenna panel and the third surface of the second antenna panel are connected at the first end, and the second surface of the first antenna panel and the fourth surface of the second antenna panel are connected at the first end.

[0067] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the shape of the antenna panel. In some embodiments, the first antenna panel and the second antenna panel include an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface refers to a surface that protrudes outward, and the inner surface refers to a surface that is concave inward, and the radiation array of the antenna is arranged on the outer surface of the antenna panel. For example, the first surface of the first antenna panel and the third surface of the second antenna panel are outer surfaces, the first surface of the first antenna panel and the third surface of the second antenna panel are arranged to form a convex surface, the first radiation array is arranged on the first surface of the first antenna panel, and the second radiation array is arranged on the third surface of the second antenna panel, that is, the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 are arranged to form a convex surface.

[0068] In some embodiments, the longitudinal section of the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 forms two sides of a right trapezoid, for example, the first radiation array 12 can be the upper base of the right trapezoid, and the second radiation array 13 can be the hypotenuse of the right trapezoid.

[0069] In this way, the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 form a convex surface, more antenna elements can be arranged, and the system performance of the antenna is improved.

[0070] To further improve the system performance of the first radiation array 12, the spacing between the antenna elements 11 on the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 can be adjusted, so that the projection spacing of adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12 is less than the spacing between adjacent elements on the first radiation array 12.

[0071] In some embodiments, a plurality of elements are arranged on the first radiation array 12, the elements are uniformly arranged, the spacing between adjacent elements is D1, and the plurality of elements on the first radiation array 12 are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the first radiation array 12.

[0072] At least one column of elements is arranged on the second radiation array 13, the elements are uniformly arranged, the spacing between adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 is D2, and the projection spacing of adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12 is D3, wherein D2 and D3 satisfy:

[0073] D3 < D2. Since the second radiation array 13 is a hypotenuse, the projection spacing D3 of adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12 (xy plane) is less than the spacing D2 between adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13.

[0074] In some embodiments, the distance D2 between adjacent elements on the second radiating array 13 can be equal to the distance D1 between adjacent elements on the first radiating array 12, so that the second radiating array 13 is inclined, and the capacity and coverage of the antenna 10 can be improved without changing the density of the antenna array 11.

[0075] Correspondingly, D1 and D3 satisfy:

[0076] D3 < D1.

[0077] Thus, under the condition of the same projection area, the smaller the projection distance between adjacent elements, the greater the element density, that is, more elements can be arranged on the second radiating array 13, the space of the second radiating array can be fully utilized, and the system performance of the antenna can be improved.

[0078] The distance between adjacent elements of the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 is D4, and in some embodiments, D4 can be equal to the distance D1 between adjacent elements on the first radiating array 12. In the case where the second radiating array 13 is inclined, the projection distance of adjacent elements between the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 on the first radiating array 12 is D5, and D5 satisfies:

[0079] D3 < D5 < D1. Wherein, D5 is about half of D3 and half of D1, that is, the distance between the outermost element of the first radiating array and the edge is about half of the distance between elements of the first radiating array, and the distance between the outermost element of the second radiating array and the edge is about half of the distance between elements of the second radiating array, so that the space of the radiating array can be fully utilized.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first radiating array 12 has m columns of elements, and the second radiating array 13 has s columns of elements.

[0081] The projection width of the first radiating array 12 and the second radiating array 13 on the first radiating array 12 is less than or equal to the limited width D.

[0082] For example, the limited width D of the antenna satisfies:

[0083] (m-1)D1+D3+(s-1)D2+D6≤D, wherein D6 is the projection distance on the first radiating array (xy plane) of the distance between the element at the edge of the second radiating array 13 and the boundary.

[0084] In the above embodiments, only one inclined surface is arranged on one side of the first radiating array 12. In order to realize uniform coverage in each direction within the cell, in some embodiments, two inclined surfaces can be arranged on both sides of the first radiating array 12.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the antenna 10 includes a first radiation array 12, a second radiation array 13 and a third radiation array 14, wherein the third radiation array 14 and the second radiation array 13 are respectively arranged on both sides of the first radiation array 12. The third radiation array 14 is provided with at least one antenna array element for radiating signals, and the antenna 10 can radiate at least one radiation area formed by beam coordination radiation from the first radiation array, the second radiation array and the third radiation array.

[0086] In the embodiment, the first radiation array 12 can be an xy plane, and the antenna array on the first radiation array 12 can be referred to as a “front array”.

[0087] The second radiation array 13 is arranged adjacent to the left side of the first radiation array 12, and the second radiation array 13 is a slope relative to the xy plane, and the antenna array on the second radiation array 13 can be referred to as a “side array”.

[0088] The third radiation array 14 is arranged adjacent to the right side of the first radiation array 12, and the third radiation array 14 is a slope relative to the xy plane, and the antenna array on the third radiation array 14 can be referred to as a “side array”.

[0089] The three radiation arrays in the present application are only logical divisions and are not specific to two separate planes. In actual application, the two radiation arrays in the present application can be three separate panels (such as curved surfaces or planes, etc.) connected together, or it can be that one curved surface covers three planes of the antenna panel as the three radiation arrays in the present application. On the other hand, in actual application, due to errors in the installation process or errors in the device form, etc., the first radiation array 12 may not be perpendicular to the thickness direction of the antenna panel accurately, and there may be a certain deviation. The present application is not limited to this deviation, that is, it is also applicable to the above-mentioned scenario with deviation.

[0090] The antenna 10 provided by the embodiment of the present application divides the radiation array surface into a first radiation array surface 12, a second radiation array surface 13 and a third radiation array surface 14. The first radiation array surface 12 is a plane relative to the xy plane, and the second radiation array surface 13 and the third radiation array surface 14 are inclined planes. The sum of the projection widths of the first radiation array surface 12, the second radiation array surface 13 and the third radiation array surface 14 on the xy plane is equal to the limited width D. That is, the projection size of the antenna panel on the xy plane is unchanged, the radiation array surface size is larger, and more antenna array elements 11 can be installed. For example, the first radiation array surface 12 (xy plane) of the antenna panel in FIG. 2 can be provided with 6 columns of antenna array elements 11, and the first radiation array surface 12 (xy plane), the second radiation array surface 13 and the third radiation array surface 14 of the antenna panel in FIG. 6 can be provided with 8 columns of antenna array elements 11. The size in the thickness direction of the antenna panel can be fully utilized. The antenna of the structure increases the area of the antenna array surface without changing the width of the antenna, can be provided with more antenna array elements without changing the front array element density (that is, the array element spacing), and can be widely applied to low-frequency scenarios.

[0091] Meanwhile, the antenna provided by the embodiment has the second radiation array surface 13 and the third radiation array surface 14 as inclined planes. The antenna provided on the second radiation array surface 13 and the third radiation array surface 14 can not only cover the cells on the side surface, but also cover the cells on the front surface, can effectively improve the cell system performance of the front antenna, can obtain greater front shaping gain, and can also consider the side coverage.

[0092] The above embodiment takes the radiation array surface of the antenna as an example for illustration. In other embodiments, the panel of the antenna has a thickness. For example, the antenna 10 further includes a third antenna panel. The first antenna panel and the second antenna panel can be connected at a first end, and the first antenna panel and the third antenna panel can be connected at a second end.

[0093] The first antenna panel includes opposite first and second surfaces, the second antenna panel includes opposite third and fourth surfaces, and the third antenna panel includes opposite fifth and sixth surfaces. The first surface of the first antenna panel and the third surface of the second antenna panel are connected at the first end, the second surface of the first antenna panel and the fourth surface of the second antenna panel are connected at the first end, the first surface of the first antenna panel and the fifth surface of the third antenna panel are connected at the first end, and the second surface of the first antenna panel and the sixth surface of the third antenna panel are connected at the first end.

[0094] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the shape of the antenna panel. In some embodiments, the first antenna panel, the second antenna panel and the third antenna panel comprise inner surfaces and outer surfaces, wherein the outer surface refers to a surface protruding outward, and the inner surface refers to a surface concave inward, and the radiation arrays of the antennas are arranged on the outer surfaces of the antenna panels. For example, the first surface of the first antenna panel, the third surface of the second antenna panel and the fifth surface of the third antenna panel are outer surfaces, the first surface of the first antenna panel, the third surface of the second antenna panel and the fifth surface of the third antenna panel collectively enclose a convex surface, the first radiation array is arranged on the first surface of the first antenna panel, the second radiation array is arranged on the third surface of the second antenna panel, and the third radiation array is arranged on the fifth surface of the third antenna panel. That is, the first radiation array 12, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 collectively enclose a convex surface.

[0095] In some embodiments, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 are symmetrically arranged about the central axis of the first radiation array 12, and the number of antenna elements 11 in the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 is the same. For example, the third radiation array 14 and the second radiation array 13 are symmetric about the central axis of the first radiation array 12, and the elements arranged in the third radiation array 14 and the elements arranged in the second radiation array 13 are symmetric about the central axis of the first radiation array 12.

[0096] The number of antenna elements 11 in the first radiation array 12 and the third radiation array 14 can be the same or different, and the present application does not limit this. In actual applications, the antenna elements 11 of the present application can be connected to the structure for fixing the antenna panel, thereby completing installation and fixation.

[0097] In some embodiments, the longitudinal section of the first radiation array 12, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 is isosceles trapezoidal, wherein the first radiation array 12 is the upper base of the trapezoid, and the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 are the legs of the trapezoid.

[0098] Therefore, the first radiation array 12, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 enclose a convex surface, more antenna elements can be arranged, and the system performance of the antenna is improved.

[0099] The embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific value of the angle between the normal line O of the first radiation array 12 and the normal line P of the third radiation array 14. For example, the angle β between the normal line O of the first radiation array 12 and the normal line P of the third radiation array 14 is an acute angle.

[0100] In some embodiments, the angle a between the normal O of the first radiation array 12 and the normal S of the second radiation array is equal to the angle b between the normal O of the first radiation array 12 and the normal P of the third radiation array 14. For example, the angle a between the normal O of the first radiation array 12 and the normal S of the second radiation array, and the angle b between the normal O of the first radiation array 12 and the normal P of the third radiation array 14 are both 45°.

[0101] To further improve the system performance of the first radiation array 12, the spacing between the antenna elements 11 on the first radiation array 12, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 can be adjusted, so that the spacing between adjacent elements on the third radiation array 14 is equal to the spacing between adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13, and the projection spacing of adjacent elements on the third radiation array 14 on the first radiation array 12 is equal to the projection spacing of adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12.

[0102] In this way, the elements on the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 are symmetrically arranged, so that the overall structure of the antenna is more symmetrical, and uniform coverage in each direction within the front cell can be achieved.

[0103] In some embodiments, taking the first radiation array 12 having m columns of elements and the second radiation array 13 having s columns of elements as an example.

[0104] The projection width of the first radiation array 12, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 on the first radiation array 12 is less than or equal to the limited width D.

[0105] For example, the limited width D of the antenna satisfies:

[0106] (m-1)D1+2D5+2(s-1)D3+2D6≤D, where D1 is the spacing between adjacent elements on the first radiation array 12, (m-1)D1 is the width (x-direction dimension) of the m columns of elements on the first radiation array 12.

[0107] D3 is the projection spacing of adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12, and 2(s-1)D3 is the width (x-direction dimension) of the projection of the s columns of elements on the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 on the first radiation array 12.

[0108] D5 is the projection interval of adjacent elements between the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12, and 2D5 is the sum of the projection interval of adjacent elements between the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12 and the projection interval of adjacent elements between the first radiation array 12 and the third radiation array 14 on the first radiation array 12.

[0109] D6 is the projection interval of the interval between the element arranged at the edge of the second radiation array 13 and the boundary on the first radiation array (xy plane), and 2D6 is the sum of the projection interval of the interval between the element arranged at the edge of the second radiation array 13 and the boundary on the first radiation array (xy plane) and the projection interval of the interval between the element arranged at the edge of the third radiation array 14 and the boundary on the first radiation array (xy plane).

[0110] The antenna 10 provided by the embodiment of the present application adjusts the interval between the antenna elements 11 on the first radiation array 12, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14, so that the interval between adjacent elements on the third radiation array 14 is equal to the interval between adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13, and the projection interval of adjacent elements on the third radiation array 14 on the first radiation array 12 is equal to the projection interval of adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12, that is, the projection density of the elements on the second radiation array 13 on the xy plane is the same as the projection density of the elements on the third radiation array 14 on the xy plane. And the projection interval of adjacent elements on the second radiation array 13 on the first radiation array 12 is less than the interval of adjacent elements on the first radiation array 12, that is, the projection density of the elements on the first radiation array 12 on the xy plane is less than the projection density of the elements on the second radiation array 13 on the xy plane, that is, the projection of the elements on the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 on the xy plane is non-uniformly arranged. The antenna 10 adopting the design can set more antenna elements 11 on the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 compared with a plane, the antenna arranged on the second radiation array 13 can not only cover the cell on the side (xz plane) but also cover the cell on the front (xy plane), which can effectively improve the cell system performance of the front antenna, obtain greater front shaping gain, and meanwhile, the side coverage can be considered.

[0111] The following are all described by taking an antenna including three radiation arrays as an example.

[0112] The antenna 10 in the present application includes three radiation arrays, as shown in FIG. 8, and for example, N columns of elements are arranged on the three radiation arrays, and the N columns of elements are non-uniformly arranged. In some embodiments, the number of channels can be equal to the number of element columns, and one channel corresponds to one column of elements. For the elements arranged in an array in a uniform manner, the power of each channel of the radio frequency unit can be the same.

[0113] For example, for the antenna shown in the related art in FIG. 2, only the antenna array is arranged on the front face, and the antenna array is arranged in an array, so that the transmission power corresponding to different columns of antennas is the same, or the power of the middle column gradually decreases relative to the power of the side column, and the maximum power value of the middle column is the average power value P / N, where P is the total power of multiple channels, and N is the number of channels.

[0114] The antenna 10 in the present application includes a first radiation array 12, and a second radiation array 13 and a third radiation array 14 arranged on both sides of the first radiation array 12, wherein the first radiation array 12 is a plane, the second radiation array 13 and the second radiation array 13 are inclined planes, the projection density of the array on the second radiation array 13 in the xy plane and the projection density of the array on the third radiation array 14 in the xy plane are the same, and the projection density of the array on the first radiation array 12 in the xy plane is less than the projection density of the array on the second radiation array 13 in the xy plane, that is, the projection of the array on the first radiation array 12 and the second radiation array 13 in the xy plane is arranged non-uniformly. In this scenario, if a power equalization method is used, the side array will contribute less to the "front shaping".

[0115] Therefore, the present application provides a new power distribution mode. For the array arranged non-uniformly, the transmission power of each channel of the radio frequency unit can be configured to be concentrated on the channel corresponding to the front (xy plane) array, so as to improve the cell system performance of the front antenna.

[0116] For example, the single-channel transmission power of the radio frequency unit corresponding to the first radiation array 12 can be configured to be greater than the single-channel transmission power of the radio frequency unit corresponding to the second radiation array 13, and the single-channel transmission power of the radio frequency unit corresponding to the first radiation array 12 can be configured to be greater than the single-channel transmission power of the radio frequency unit corresponding to the third radiation array 14, so as to concentrate the transmission power on the first radiation array 12 and improve the transmission power of the front (xy plane).

[0117] For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the antenna is provided with N columns of antenna arrays, and the N columns of antenna arrays correspond to N channels.

[0118] The single-channel power of the radio frequency unit corresponding to the first radiation array 12 is configured as P0, wherein P0 satisfies:

[0119] P0 > P / N. Wherein, P0 is the maximum power of single-channel transmission, P is the total power of multiple channels, and N is the number of channels. That is, the power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and the first radiation array 12 is greater than the average power of the single channel of the antenna 10.

[0120] The antenna provided by the embodiment of the present application, the power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and the first radiation array surface 12 is greater than the average power of the single channel of the antenna, which is beneficial to concentrate the sending power on the first radiation array surface and improve the sending power of the first radiation array surface.

[0121] In the embodiment, N is equal to the sum of the number of array element columns on the first radiation array surface 12, the number of array element columns on the second radiation array surface 13 and the number of array element columns on the third radiation array surface 14.

[0122] In some embodiments, the antenna array elements 11 on the first radiation array surface 12 are arranged in an array, so that the sending power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and different column antenna array elements 11 on the first radiation array surface 12 is the same, for example, P0.

[0123] In other embodiments, the sending power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and different column antenna array elements 11 on the first radiation array surface 12 is different, for example, the power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and the middle column antenna array element 11 on the first radiation array surface 12 is higher than the power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and the edge column antenna array element 11, and the power of the antenna array element 11 gradually decreases from the middle column to the two edge columns.

[0124] The present application takes the same sending power of different column antenna array elements 11 on the first radiation array surface 12 as an example for description.

[0125] Wherein, the number of channels corresponding to the first radiation array surface 12 is N0, then the number of channels corresponding to the second radiation array surface 13 is (N-N0) / 2, and the total power of the second radiation array surface 13 is (P-P0N0) / 2.

[0126] In some embodiments, the antenna array elements 11 on the second radiation array surface 13 are arranged in an array, so that the sending power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and different column antenna array elements 11 on the second radiation array surface 13 is the same, for example, (P-P0N0) / (N-N0).

[0127] In other embodiments, the sending power of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and different column antenna array elements 11 on the second radiation array surface 13 is different. For example, the power of the middle column antenna array element 11 on the second radiation array surface 13 is higher than the power of the edge column antenna array element 11, and the power of the antenna array element 11 gradually decreases from the middle column to the two edge columns.

[0128] The present application takes the same sending power of different column antenna array elements 11 on the second radiation array surface 13 as an example for description.

[0129] Thus, the power of the single channel corresponding to the second radiation array 13 of the radio frequency unit is configured as (P-P0N0) / (N-N0), and the power (P-P0N0) / (N-N0) of the single channel corresponding to the second radiation array 13 of the radio frequency unit satisfies:

[0130] (P-P0N0) / (N-N0) < P / N. That is, the power of the single channel corresponding to the second radiation array 13 is less than the average power of the single channel of the antenna 10.

[0131] The power of the single channel corresponding to the third radiation array 14 of the radio frequency unit can refer to the power of the single channel corresponding to the second radiation array 13 described above, and will not be repeated here.

[0132] The antenna provided in the application has the advantages that the power of the single channel corresponding to the second radiation array and the third radiation array is less than the average power of the single channel of the antenna, which is beneficial to concentrate the sending power on the first radiation array and improve the sending power of the first radiation array.

[0133] The antenna 10 provided in the application has the advantages that the power of the single channel corresponding to the first radiation array 12 is greater than the average power of the single channel of the antenna 10, and the power of the single channel corresponding to the second radiation array 13 or the third radiation array 14 is less than the average power of the single channel of the antenna 10, so that the sending power of the single channel corresponding to the first radiation array 12 is greater than the sending power of the single channel corresponding to the second radiation array 13 or the third radiation array 14, the sending power is concentrated on the first radiation array 12, the sending power of the front surface (xy surface) is improved, and the side array has the effect of "front surface shaping".

[0134] In some embodiments, in order to enable the terminal side to better measure the multi-antenna channel information between the network side and the terminal side, it is necessary to measure and feed back based on the predefined reference information.

[0135] In the embodiments of the present application, the network side can send reference information to the terminal side, and the reference information can be any one of the following signals: a synchronization signal, a broadcast channel, a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel block (SS / PBCH block), a CSI-RS, a cell-specific reference signal (CS-RS), a user equipment-specific reference signal (US-RS), a downlink control channel demodulation reference signal, a downlink data channel demodulation reference signal, a downlink phase noise tracking signal, or an SRS, etc. Among them, the SS / PBCH block can be referred to as a synchronization signal block (SSB).

[0136] In transmission, different kinds of reference information are usually used by a communication system: one kind of reference information is used for estimating a channel, so that a received signal containing control information or data can be coherently demodulated. It can be understood that the channel estimation or estimating a channel in the present application refers to channel measurement. Another kind is used for measuring a channel state (or channel quality), so as to realize scheduling of the UE. For example, in the process of measuring a downlink channel, the UE can obtain channel state information (CSI) based on the channel quality measurement of the CSI-RS sent by the base station. The CSI includes at least one of a rank indicator (RI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), etc. These CSI information can be sent by the UE to the base station through a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). Among them, the PMI can be used to indicate a precoding matrix, for example, the terminal side can obtain a precoding matrix through channel estimation, then select a matrix closest to the precoding matrix from a predefined codebook set, and then feed back the precoding matrix to the base station through a corresponding PMI. The PMI includes various parameters that can reconstruct the precoding matrix, and the base station can reconstruct the precoding matrix according to these parameters.

[0137] For example, in the uplink channel measurement process, the base station estimates the uplink channel by receiving the SRS sent by the UE, and can perform frequency selection resource scheduling, power control, timing estimation and modulation / coding scheme order selection, and downlink precoding generation in time division duplex (TDD) based on the information.

[0138] However, the current codebook design is designed for "uniform" array, for example, as shown in the related art in FIG. 2, the antenna is provided with an antenna array only on the front surface, and the antenna array is uniformly arranged in an array. In this scenario, the channel information of each channel can be the same. Thus, when performing channel measurement, the antenna can send one set of reference information to the terminal side through the antenna array on the front surface, the terminal side measures the one set of reference information to obtain channel information, and feeds back to the network side.

[0139] In this application, the antenna 10, for example, includes a first radiation array surface 12, and a second radiation array surface 13 and a third radiation array surface 14 arranged on both sides of the first radiation array surface 12, wherein the first radiation array surface 12 is a plane, the second radiation array surface 13 and the second radiation array surface 13 are inclined surfaces, the projection density of the array on the second radiation array surface 13 on the xy plane and the projection density of the array on the third radiation array surface 14 on the xy plane are the same, the projection density of the array on the first radiation array surface 12 on the xy plane and the projection density of the array on the second radiation array surface 13 on the xy plane are different, and the array on the first radiation array surface 12 and the array on the second radiation array surface 13 are different in direction. That is, the array of the first radiation array surface 12 and the second radiation array surface 13 is non-uniformly arranged, and in this scenario, the channel information corresponding to different radiation array surfaces is different.

[0140] Therefore, an embodiment of the present application provides a channel information measurement method to obtain the channel information of the non-uniform array. For example, referring to FIG. 8, the antenna includes N columns of antenna arrays, the first radiation array surface 12 and the second radiation array surface 13 are each provided with at least one column of antenna arrays, and the N columns of antenna arrays are used to send N sets of reference information, N being a positive integer.

[0141] Among them, the i-th column of antennas is used to send the i-th set of reference information, i satisfies: 1≤i≤N.

[0142] The N sets of reference information are used to determine N sets of channel information, wherein the N sets of channel information are obtained by measuring the N sets of reference information at the terminal side.

[0143] The antenna of the present application, the elements on the first radiation array and the elements on the second radiation array are different in orientation and radiation direction. That is, the elements of the first radiation array and the second radiation array are arranged non-uniformly, in which case the channel information corresponding to different radiation arrays is different. The present embodiment divides the antenna array into multiple sub-arrays, one column of elements can be a sub-array, and multiple sets of reference information are configured, one set of reference information corresponding to one sub-array. Based on the measurement feedback of multiple sub-arrays, the channel information of the non-uniform array can be obtained.

[0144] In some other embodiments of the present application, at least three sets of reference information can also be configured, one set of reference information corresponding to each radiation array. For example, the first radiation array 12 corresponds to the first set of reference information, the second radiation array corresponds to the second set of reference information, and the third radiation array corresponds to the third set of reference information.

[0145] For example, the antenna elements 11 on the first radiation array 12 are used to send the first set of reference information, which is used for determining the first set of channel information. The first set of channel information is obtained by the terminal side measuring the first set of reference information.

[0146] The antenna elements 11 on the second radiation array 13 are used to send the second set of reference information, which is used for determining the second set of channel information. The second set of channel information is obtained by the terminal side measuring the second set of reference information.

[0147] The antenna elements 11 on the third radiation array 14 are used to send the third set of reference information, which is used for determining the third set of channel information. The third set of channel information is obtained by the terminal side measuring the third set of reference information.

[0148] The antenna of the present embodiment, the elements on the first radiation array and the elements on the second radiation array are different in orientation and radiation direction. That is, the elements of the first radiation array and the second radiation array are arranged non-uniformly, in which case the channel information corresponding to different radiation arrays is different. According to the radiation array, the antenna array is divided into multiple sub-arrays, and multiple sets of reference information are configured, one set of reference information corresponding to one sub-array, that is, the elements on one radiation array can be a sub-array. Based on the measurement feedback of multiple sub-arrays, the channel information of the non-uniform array can be obtained.

[0149] The present application does not limit the power supply type of the antenna 10. The antenna 10 of the present application can be a passive antenna, or can also be an active antenna. The following will be introduced respectively.

[0150] In the passive antenna, multiple radiation arrays are connected with one radio remote unit (RRU) (for example, one RRU connects the first radiation array 12, the second radiation array 13 and the third radiation array 14 in the antenna 10). In each antenna panel in the antenna 10, the antenna panel includes a first feeding network, a second feeding network, a third feeding network and at least one reflecting plate. The first feeding network, the second feeding network and the third feeding network respectively feed different radiation arrays in the antenna 10. The reflecting plate is used to reflect the first feeding network, the second feeding network and the third feeding network. For example, the reflecting plate can be a metal plate.

[0151] In a possible structure of the passive antenna in the present application, the antenna panel in each antenna 10 includes a first feeding network, a second feeding network, a third feeding network and three reflecting plates.

[0152] In another possible structure of the passive antenna in the present application, the antenna panel includes a first feeding network, a second feeding network, a third feeding network and three reflecting plates, and further includes at least one ground plate. The ground plate is used to reflect the first feeding network, the second feeding network and the third feeding network. For example, the ground plate can be a metal plate.

[0153] In another possible structure of the passive antenna in the present application, the antenna panel includes a first feeding network, a second feeding network, a third feeding network and at least one reflecting plate. The first feeding network, the second feeding network and the third feeding network can be installed on the reflecting plate, thereby reducing the thickness and weight of the antenna 10. Specifically, the antenna panel can include three reflecting plates, and the first feeding network, the second feeding network and the third feeding network are respectively installed on the planes of different reflecting plates. Alternatively, the antenna panel can include one reflecting plate, and the first feeding network, the second feeding network and the third feeding network can be installed on the same reflecting plate, thereby further reducing the thickness and weight of the antenna 10.

[0154] In the active antenna, the three radiation arrays in each antenna 10 are located in one active antenna unit (AAU) 11, and the antenna panel in each antenna 10 includes at least one heat sink and at least one active single board. The heat sink is used to dissipate heat of the at least one active single board, and the at least one active single board is used to feed different radiation arrays in the antenna 10. In actual application, the active single board can be connected with the radiation array through a radio frequency line (for example, a coaxial line, a microstrip line or a strip line, etc.), thereby enabling the active single board to feed the radiation array.

[0155] In a possible structure of the active antenna in the present application, the antenna panel comprises a heat sink and an active single board, the active single board connects the three radiation arrays in the antenna 10, and simultaneously supplies power to the antenna array elements 11 of the three radiation arrays in the antenna 10, and the heat generated by the active single board during operation is dissipated by the heat sink. The structure of the antenna panel is simple, only one heat sink and one active single board are needed, and meanwhile, hardware resources are saved, and the thickness and weight of the antenna 10 are reduced.

[0156] In another possible structure of the active antenna in the present application, the antenna panel comprises three heat sinks and an active single board, the active single board connects the three radiation arrays in the antenna 10, and simultaneously supplies power to the antenna array elements 11 of the three radiation arrays in the antenna 10. The structure of the antenna panel is from outside to inside: the reflector, the heat sink, the active single board, the heat sink and the reflector. In the antenna panel, the number of active single boards only needs one, hardware resources are saved, the thickness and weight of the antenna 10 are reduced, and meanwhile, since three heat sinks are deployed, the heat dissipation capacity of the antenna 10 is improved.

[0157] The above is only a specific implementation of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto, any change or replacement within the technical scope disclosed in the present application should be covered in the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An antenna, characterized by, include: The first radiating surface and the second radiating surface, wherein the angle between the normal of the first radiating surface and the normal of the second radiating surface is an acute angle. The first radiating array and the second radiating array are each provided with at least one antenna element. The at least one antenna element is used to radiate signals. The area that the antenna can radiate includes at least one radiating region. The at least one radiating region is formed by the coordinated radiation of beams from the first radiating array and the second radiating array.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first radiating surface and the second radiating surface are arranged to form a convex surface.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, characterized in that, The antenna further includes a third radiating array, wherein the third radiating array and the second radiating array are respectively disposed on both sides of the first radiating array, and the third radiating array is provided with at least one antenna element, and the third radiating array radiates in coordination with the first radiating array and the second radiating array.

4. The antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second and third radiating surfaces are symmetrical about the central axis of the first radiating surface.

5. The antenna according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The longitudinal sections of the first, second, and third radiating surfaces are isosceles trapezoids.

6. The antenna according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The angle between the normal of the first radiating surface and the normal of the second radiating surface is 45°.

7. The antenna according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The spacing between adjacent elements on the first radiating array is D1, and the projection spacing between adjacent elements on the second radiating array on the first radiating array is D3, wherein D3 is less than D1.

8. The antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that, The projection spacing between adjacent elements of the first radiating array and the second radiating array on the first radiating array is D5, and D5 satisfies: D3 < D5 < D1.

9. The antenna according to any of claims 1-8, characterized by The power configuration of the single channel of the radio frequency unit corresponding to the first radiating array is P0, where P0 satisfies: P0>P / N; where P0 is the maximum power transmitted through a single channel, P is the total power transmitted concurrently through multiple channels, and N is the total number of channels.

10. The antenna according to claim 9, characterized in that, The power configuration of the single channel corresponding to the radio frequency unit and the second radiating array is (P-P0N0) / (N-N0), and the power (P-P0N0) / (N-N0) of the single channel corresponding to the second radiating array satisfies: (P-P0N0) / (N-N0)<P / N; where the number of channels corresponding to the first radiation array is N0, and the number of channels corresponding to the second radiation array is N-N0.

11. The antenna according to any of claims 1-10, characterized by The antenna includes N antenna arrays, with at least one antenna array on each of the first and second radiating surfaces. The N antenna arrays are used to transmit N sets of reference information, where N is a positive integer. Among them, the i-th column antenna is used to transmit the i-th set of reference information, and i satisfies: 1≤i≤N; The N sets of reference information are used to determine the N sets of channel information.

12. A base station, characterized by Including the antenna as described in any one of claims 1-11.

13. A communication system, characterized by include: At least one base station as described in claim 12.

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