Antenna apparatus, onboard communication system, communication method, and readable storage medium

Abstract

An antenna apparatus, an onboard communication system, a communication method, an electronic device, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product. The antenna apparatus comprises an array antenna, wherein the array antenna comprises a first antenna sub-array (110) and a second antenna sub-array (120), which are distributed in a first horizontal direction, and a third antenna sub-array (130) and a fourth antenna sub-array, which are distributed in a second horizontal direction, the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction being perpendicular to each other.

Description

Antenna devices, airborne communication systems, communication methods, and readable storage media

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application is based on and claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2024109200596, filed on July 8, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments of this application relate to, but are not limited to, the field of communication technology, and in particular to an antenna device, an airborne communication system, a communication method, an electronic device, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product. Background Technology

[0004] Current airborne air-to-ground (ATG) systems mostly employ phased array beamforming to achieve beam coverage at different elevation and azimuth angles, enabling communication coverage across various physical areas on the ground. Existing ATG communication systems typically control the phase shift of individual antenna elements on the analog side, forming a high-gain main beam through phased array beamforming. Switching between different phase shift amounts achieves beam scanning. However, this phased array beamforming method cannot achieve omnidirectional coverage, limiting its adaptability to various scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The following is an overview of the subject matter described in detail herein. This overview is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

[0006] This application provides an antenna device, an airborne communication system, a communication method, an electronic device, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product.

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an antenna device, comprising: an array antenna, the array antenna including a first antenna subarray and a second antenna subarray distributed along a first horizontal direction, and a third antenna subarray and a fourth antenna subarray distributed along a second horizontal direction, wherein the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0008] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an airborne communication system, including the antenna device described in the first aspect embodiment above, and further including a control module connected to the antenna device.

[0009] Thirdly, this application provides a communication method applied to the airborne communication system described in the second aspect of the embodiment above. The communication method includes: acquiring frequency band selection information; selecting a corresponding target antenna element from the antenna device according to the frequency band selection information; and performing communication processing with a ground base station according to the target antenna element. The target antenna element includes at least one of an array antenna and a single-frequency antenna.

[0010] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide an electronic device, including: at least one processor; at least one memory for storing at least one program; and when at least one of the programs is executed by at least one of the processors, implementing the communication method as described in the third aspect of the embodiments above.

[0011] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the communication method described in the third aspect of the embodiments above.

[0012] Sixthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product, including a computer program or computer instructions, the computer program or computer instructions being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, a processor of a computer device reading the computer program or computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executing the computer program or computer instructions to cause the computer device to perform the communication method as described in the third aspect of the embodiments above. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the technical solutions of this application and constitute a part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of this application to explain the technical solutions of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of this application.

[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic layout diagram of an antenna device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an array antenna structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0016] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an airborne communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0017] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an active electronic scanning array structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0018] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a signal splitting unit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0019] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a combined radio frequency link structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0020] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a tributary radio frequency link structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the control module structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a detector network structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0023] Figure 10 is a flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 11 is a detailed flowchart of a communication method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the operation of an airborne communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 13 is a beam scanning schematic diagram of an airborne communication system provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0028] Reference numerals in the figures: First antenna subarray 110, horizontally polarized antenna element 111, vertically polarized antenna element 112, second antenna subarray 120, third antenna subarray 130, fourth antenna subarray 140, single-frequency antenna 200, reflector 300, control module 400, signal splitting unit 500, signal repeater 600, power amplifier 700, branch RF link 810, combining RF link 820, power splitter network 830, power detection unit 840, detector network 850, active electronic scanning array 1000. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0030] In the description of this application, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0031] Furthermore, terms such as “above,” “over,” “below,” and “under,” used in this application to indicate spatial relative position, are for illustrative purposes to describe the relationship of one unit or feature relative to another unit or feature as shown in the accompanying drawings. The terms indicating spatial relative position may be intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation other than those shown in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, a unit described as being “below” or “under” other units or features would be located “above” other units or features. Therefore, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both above and below orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or otherwise) and the spatially related descriptive terms used herein shall be interpreted accordingly.

[0032] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, terms such as "setup," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0033] This application provides an antenna device, an airborne communication system, a communication method, an electronic device, a computer-readable storage medium, and a computer program product. The antenna device includes an array antenna, wherein the array antenna includes a first antenna subarray and a second antenna subarray distributed along a first horizontal direction, and a third antenna subarray and a fourth antenna subarray distributed along a second horizontal direction, the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction being perpendicular to each other; through the above settings, the antenna can achieve omnidirectional signal coverage, improving the applicability of the scenario.

[0034] The embodiments of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] As shown in Figure 1, an embodiment of the first aspect of this application provides an antenna device, which includes an array antenna. The array antenna includes a first antenna subarray 110 and a second antenna subarray 120 distributed along a first horizontal direction, and a third antenna subarray 130 and a fourth antenna subarray 140 distributed along a second horizontal direction. The first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction are perpendicular to each other. Through the above settings, the antenna can achieve omnidirectional signal coverage and improve the applicability of the scenario.

[0036] In some embodiments of this application, the antenna device may further include multiple single-frequency antennas 200, which are disposed in the placement space enclosed by the first antenna subarray 110, the second antenna subarray 120, the third antenna subarray 130, and the fourth antenna subarray 140. By configuring the single-frequency antennas 200, the antenna device can achieve multi-band signal coverage, further improving the applicability of the scenario, and different antennas will not interfere with each other, thus improving the stability of signal coverage.

[0037] It is worth noting that the embodiments of this application provide an air-to-ground communication system that utilizes an array antenna arranged in four directions, with multiple single-frequency antennas 200 placed in the middle, to achieve multi-band, multi-beam, large-angle scanning and anti-interference capabilities. The array is arranged in four directions, which increases the system scanning angle and improves the communication quality in a single direction, while reducing the size of the fully analog large-angle scanning roof. The use of multiple antenna system combinations, with corresponding filter components configured for each frequency band, increases anti-interference capability and improves the system's applicability to various scenarios.

[0038] It is worth noting that the antenna device in this application relates to antenna layout, large-angle scanning, long-distance communication, multi-band application, and anti-interference measures in the field of airborne ATG. The ATG network, or air-to-ground wireless communication network, can provide wireless internet access for aircraft. It can access the ground-based wireless base station system through a 5G ATG airborne system installed on the aircraft. The airborne signal relay device 600 is connected to the onboard wireless access point system to provide communication services to onboard terminal users.

[0039] It is worth noting that existing airborne ATG systems mostly employ phased arrays for beamforming to achieve beam coverage at different elevation and azimuth angles, enabling communication coverage across various physical areas on the ground. In some technical solutions, ATG communication systems typically use phase shifting of individual antenna elements on the analog side, forming a high-gain main beam through phased array beamforming, and switching different phase shift amounts to achieve beam scanning. However, in this system architecture, most use a single-array antenna to achieve multi-beam scanning, or a roof-type array, increasing the array's tilt angle to reduce the elevation scanning range. With the development of ATG communication systems, the requirement for omnidirectional ground coverage with 0-90° elevation and 0-360° horizontal coverage without blind spots places high demands on ATG antenna design. To meet domestic and international needs, airborne ATG systems need to be able to cover multiple frequency bands to satisfy the frequency band requirements of different operators. Meanwhile, due to the special nature of the airborne environment, multiple adjacent antenna subsystems operate simultaneously. From a safety perspective, it is crucial to avoid mutual interference between different frequency bands, which is a top priority in the design of airborne ATG antenna systems. Current requirements for airborne ATG communication systems include multi-band coverage, no dead zones, long communication distances, no impact on other airborne equipment, and strong anti-interference capabilities. Existing technology utilizes an L-band airborne forward cabin low-elevation coverage satellite communication phased array antenna. Two linear antenna arrays are symmetrical about the roof ridge, providing a certain tilt angle to reduce the difficulty of elevation coverage. Each linear array performs one-dimensional beam scanning to cover a 180° azimuth range by changing the phase of the phase shifter in the T / R module. Switching between the two antenna arrays achieves 360° azimuth beam coverage. The roof-type distribution inevitably leads to an increase in overall thickness, increasing wind resistance and hindering the design and installation of the radome. With only two sides having arrays, the gain in the linear array extension direction is inevitably lower than in the normal direction, affecting coverage distance. Furthermore, this design does not consider interference with other airborne equipment and lacks effective means to reduce interference, limiting its ability to support only a single frequency band and restricting its adaptability to various scenarios. This application's embodiment utilizes independently controlled antenna subarrays located in four different directions as a bandwidth planar phased array, achieving a horizontal scanning range of 0-360° and an elevation range of 0-90°. The independent and combined use of different arrays increases the system's scanning angle and gain at specific angles, balancing coverage range and distance. It also configures multiple single-frequency antennas 200 in different frequency bands. The combination of phased array antennas and single-frequency antennas 200, along with appropriate antenna placement, reduces spatial interference, significantly increasing the number of frequency bands for the entire airborne communication system, enabling coverage of L / S / C bands and improving scenario applicability.

[0040] It is worth noting that a phased array antenna refers to an antenna that changes its radiation pattern shape by controlling the feed phase of the radiating elements in the array antenna. Controlling the phase can change the direction of the maximum value of the antenna radiation pattern to achieve beam scanning. Generally, a phased array antenna should control the phase of each radiating element. To save on phase shifters and simplify control circuitry, sometimes several radiating elements share a single phase shifter; the combination of elements sharing a single phase shifter is called a subarray. To reduce costs and simplify the structure, the antenna can be designed to rotate mechanically in one dimension (e.g., in the horizontal plane) and control the beam scanning using phase control in another dimension (e.g., in the vertical plane). This hybrid scanning antenna has been widely used. In the embodiments of this application, the first antenna subarray 110 can be located at the nose position, the second antenna subarray 120 can be located at the tail position, the third antenna subarray 130 can be located at the left wing position, and the fourth antenna subarray 140 can be located at the right wing position. Through the above settings, the signal coverage can be more comprehensive. A single-frequency antenna 200 refers to an antenna that can only operate in a specific frequency band. In some examples, a single-frequency antenna 200 may include an omnidirectional antenna and a horn antenna. An omnidirectional antenna radiates uniformly in a 360° horizontal direction, meaning it is non-directional, and in a vertical direction, it exhibits a beam with a certain width. Generally, the smaller the beamwidth, the greater the gain. The phased array antenna is the array antenna mentioned in the embodiments of this application. In some embodiments of this application, to allow the antenna device to better fit the exterior of the aircraft, the shape of the array antenna can be arc-shaped or zigzag-shaped. Furthermore, the first antenna subarray 110, the second antenna subarray 120, the third antenna subarray 130, and the fourth antenna subarray 140 on a plane can also be arranged in an arc-shaped or zigzag-shaped configuration, which can also achieve omnidirectional signal coverage.

[0041] It is worth noting that the embodiments of this application provide a four-sided phased array, with multiple single-frequency antennas 200 disposed in the middle position of the four-sided phased array. Other combinations, such as two-sided or three-sided phased arrays combined with single-frequency antennas 200, are also within the protection scope of this application.

[0042] In some embodiments of this application, the antenna arrangement can be as shown in Figure 1, which is a top view. The single-band L-band and S-band antennas are positioned near the center, while the horizontally and vertically polarized array antennas are located on the four sides. This not only reduces spatial interference of the signal but also significantly increases the number of frequency bands in the entire airborne communication system, enabling coverage of L / S / C bands and improving scenario applicability. Specifically, the L-band has a frequency of 1-2 GHz and is used for satellite navigation systems, offering high frequency and wide bandwidth; the S-band has a frequency of 1.55-3.4 GHz and is used for communication equipment such as relays, satellite communications, and radar; the C-band has a frequency of 4.0-8.0 GHz and is used for downlink transmission signals from communication satellites, with large-aperture antennas receiving signals.

[0043] As shown in Figure 1, reflectors 300 are provided between the first antenna subarray 110, the second antenna subarray 120, the third antenna subarray 130, the fourth antenna subarray 140 and the single-frequency antenna 200. Based on the reflectors 300, on the one hand, spatial interference in different frequency bands can be reduced, and on the other hand, the radiation gain in a specific direction of each antenna subarray can be enhanced, thereby further improving the signal coverage performance.

[0044] It is worth noting that the reflector 300 can be made of aluminum, copper, titanium, magnesium, stainless steel and glass fiber with metal coating, or it can be made of high-strength rigid graphite fiber embedded in an epoxy resin adhesive substrate. By using different combinations of fibers and coatings, mechanical and electrical properties suitable for different applications can be obtained.

[0045] As shown in Figure 2, the first antenna subarray 110, the second antenna subarray 120, the third antenna subarray 130, and the fourth antenna subarray 140 all include horizontally polarized antenna elements 111 and vertically polarized antenna elements 112, which are orthogonal to each other. Antenna elements of the same polarization are arranged in an array to form a side-firing array and an end-firing array. To enhance radiation in a specific area, a reflector 300 is placed on the inner side of the array, while avoiding spatial interference with different antennas on the inner side. Through the above configuration, the first antenna subarray 110, the second antenna subarray 120, the third antenna subarray 130, and the fourth antenna subarray 140 achieve omnidirectional signal coverage and also enhance radiation in specific areas.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, one embodiment of the second aspect of this application provides an airborne communication system, including the antenna device described in the first aspect embodiment, and a control module 400 connected to the antenna device. The control module 400 can control and process the signals transmitted by the antenna device to adjust signal coverage; the control module 400 can also adjust and analyze the signals received by the antenna device to provide a foundation for subsequent user use.

[0047] In the embodiments of this application, the airborne communication system includes an active electronically scanned array (AESA) 1000, which comprises a signal splitting unit 500, a control module 400, an antenna device, a power amplifier 700, and a signal repeater 600. The signal repeater 600, power amplifier 700, signal splitting unit 500, control module 400, and antenna device are connected sequentially. The signal repeater 600 is located inside the cabin and is connected via cables to the power amplifier 700, also located inside the cabin, and further connected via cables to the AESA 1000 outside the cabin.

[0048] It is worth noting that the signal repeater 600 is used to convert 3G, 4G, 5G, and other wireless signals or wired broadband signals into local area network signals for use by terminal devices. The power amplifier 700 can amplify the signal transmitted from the active electronically scanned array 1000 so that the amplified signal can be used by the signal repeater 600. The signal splitting unit 500 includes a power interface, a filter component 1, an RF interface, and a digital interface. The power interface is responsible for supplying power to the entire system, the RF interface transmits signals from various frequency bands, the digital interface transmits all control information, and the filter component 1 is used to separate different signals and reduce interference between different frequency bands and digital control signals within the system. The control module 400 includes master control, gain control, amplitude and phase control, other controls, and detection control. The master control is responsible for processing the control information from the digital interface and issuing instructions to various control submodules of the system. The gain control is responsible for executing the gain control requirements of the master control. The amplitude and phase control is responsible for executing the amplitude and phase control requirements of the master control for beamforming of the array antenna. Other controls are responsible for executing non-RF-related functions of the main control unit, including but not limited to alarm detection, fault reporting, and temperature detection. The detection control is responsible for executing link detection requirements issued by the main control unit. The antenna device is a multi-antenna system, including but not limited to two omnidirectional antennas and a set of four-sided array antennas. Different antennas correspond to different frequency bands, and each frequency band antenna is equipped with a filter (filter component 2), forming a multi-band radiation module that does not interfere with each other. There is also an anti-interference layout between the different frequency band antennas to reduce spatial interference between different frequency bands within the system.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, the antenna device also includes a branch RF link 810. The control module 400 connects to the array antenna via the branch RF link 810. The branch RF link 810 is used to transmit RF and digital control signals. The control module 400 can control the branch RF link 810, and the array antenna can perform signal coverage processing based on the RF signals transmitted by the branch RF link 810. The antenna device also includes a combiner RF link 820 and a power divider network 830. The combiner RF link 820 is connected to the branch RF link 810 via the power divider network 830, and the combiner RF link 820 is connected to the control module 400; alternatively, the combiner RF link 820 is connected to the branch RF link 810. The main function of the combiner RF link 820 is gain adjustment, amplifying the transmitted and received signals, and improving the signal coverage distance. The gain requirements of the power divider network 830 and its RF channel antenna system determine the number of elements in the entire dense array, while the number of RF channels determines the number of radiating elements in the unit module. The power divider network 830 then feeds and excites multiple radiating elements of the unit module. The amplitude and phase weights of the power divider network 830 determine the pre-set tilt angle of the unit module. The airborne communication system also includes a power detection unit 840 and a detector network 850. The control module 400, power detection unit 840, detector network 850, and array antenna are connected in sequence. The detector network 850 is connected to the power detection module and can detect the transmit power of the horizontally or vertically polarized phased array and the receive power, enabling channel fault detection and power monitoring functions.

[0050] As shown in Figure 4, this embodiment of the application provides a structural schematic diagram of an active electronically scanned array 1000. The interface is located at the front end of the system, where some RF and digital interfaces are combined to transmit both RF and digital control signals. There are four RF ports, which are respectively connected to an L-band omnidirectional antenna, an S-band omnidirectional antenna, a horizontally polarized phased array antenna, and a vertically polarized phased array antenna. The vertically polarized phased array antenna outputs one RF signal for neighboring cell scanning. The horizontally polarized and vertically polarized phased array antennas form a four-sided array, including a nose array, a tail array, and left and right wing arrays, responsible for beam scanning of the nose, tail, left wing, and right wing, respectively. The phased array antennas include Time Division Duplex (TDD) switching, gain adjustment, and amplitude and phase modulation functions. The four-sided phased array antennas, both horizontally and vertically polarized, are equipped with a detector network 850. The detector network 850 is connected to the power detection module, enabling it to detect the transmit power of the horizontal / vertical polarized phased array and the receive power, thus achieving channel fault detection and power monitoring functions. The airborne ATG multi-antenna system also includes a control module 400, which is responsible for processing the digital control requests received from the interface and distributing them to the various modules for execution.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, a signal splitting unit 500 is further provided between the control module 400, the single-frequency antenna 200, and the combined RF link 820 and the power amplifier 700. The signal splitting unit 500 includes a first filter, a second filter, a third filter, and a duplexer. The power amplifier 700, the first filter, and the control module 400 are connected in sequence; the power amplifier 700, the duplexer, the second filter, and the array antenna are connected in sequence; and the power amplifier 700, the duplexer, the third filter, and the single-frequency antenna 200 are connected in sequence. The low-frequency digital signal transmitted by the digital and RF merging interface is separated by the first filter circuit and then transmitted to the control module 400. However, RF signals of different frequency bands transmitted by the interface are separated by a duplexer and then passed through their respective second and third filters to reduce mutual interference between different frequency bands.

[0052] In one specific embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the low-frequency digital signal transmitted by the digital and RF merging interface is separated by a low-pass LC filter circuit before being transmitted to the control module 400. RF signals of different frequency bands transmitted by the interface are separated by a duplexer and then pass through their respective LC filter circuits. The use of the duplexer and LC filter reduces mutual interference between different frequency bands. One of the two RF signals is connected to the phased array antenna, and the other is connected to the omnidirectional antenna.

[0053] In some embodiments of this application, the combining RF link 820 is divided into two types, as shown in Figure 6: (a) has TDD transmit / receive switching, gain adjustment, line loss detection, and filtering functions; (b) can only receive, with only gain adjustment and filtering. Here, TX represents the transmitter and RX represents the receiver. The main function of the combining RF link 820 is gain adjustment, amplifying the transmit and receive signals to improve signal coverage distance. The tributary RF link 810, as shown in Figure 7, has TDD switching, amplitude and phase modulation (AM / P / P) capabilities, and anti-interference capabilities. The tributary RF link 810 mainly performs AM / P / P / P to achieve beamforming and beam switching functions.

[0054] In some embodiments of this application, as shown in Figure 8, the control module 400 includes several On-Off Keying (OOK) chips, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Microcontroller Units (MCUs), Electrically Programmable Logic Devices (EPLDs), and memory units. The digital control signals of the interface are processed and converted in the digital control module 400 to form different instructions, which are then sent to various modules of the system to achieve control of multiple functions, including but not limited to: TDD control, gain adjustment, amplitude modulation and phase modulation, detection, power detection, temperature detection, and alarm reporting. Here, URAT represents a Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter. As shown in Figure 9, the detection network 850 includes line loss detection for the combining RF link 820, specifically divided into horizontal and vertical polarization, and also includes branch RF links 810, with different polarizations and transmit / receive power detection. The main functions of the detection network 850 include, but are not limited to, channel self-testing, power monitoring, and power amplifier protection.

[0055] As shown in Figure 10, an embodiment of the third aspect of this application provides a communication method applied to the airborne communication system provided in the second aspect embodiment above. The communication method of this application embodiment includes, but is not limited to, steps S100 and S200.

[0056] Step S100: Obtain frequency band selection information.

[0057] Step S200: Select the corresponding target antenna element from the antenna device according to the frequency band selection information, and perform communication processing with the ground base station according to the target antenna element, wherein the target antenna element includes at least one of an array antenna and a single-frequency antenna.

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, during communication based on an airborne communication system, frequency band selection information can be obtained first. Then, a corresponding target antenna element can be selected from the antenna device according to the frequency band selection information, and communication processing can be performed with the ground base station based on the target antenna element. The target antenna element includes at least one of an array antenna and a single-frequency antenna. Through this method, corresponding antennas can be selected from the antenna device to operate according to different frequency band selection information, making signal coverage and transmission more precise and flexible.

[0059] As shown in Figure 11, step S200 may include, but is not limited to, steps S210 and S220.

[0060] Step S210: When the frequency of the radio frequency signal, as indicated by the frequency band selection information, is in the C-band, select an array antenna from the antenna device and perform communication processing with the ground base station based on the array antenna.

[0061] Step S220: When the frequency band selection information indicates that the frequency of the radio frequency signal is in the L-band or S-band, select an array antenna and a single-frequency antenna from the antenna device, and perform communication processing based on the array antenna and the single-frequency antenna.

[0062] In some embodiments of this application, when the frequency band selection information indicates that the frequency of the radio frequency signal is in the C-band, an array antenna is selected from the antenna device, and communication processing is performed with the ground base station based on the array antenna; when the frequency band selection information indicates that the frequency of the radio frequency signal is in the L-band or S-band, an array antenna and a single-frequency antenna are selected from the antenna device, and communication processing is performed based on the array antenna and the single-frequency antenna; based on the above technical solutions, different antennas can be controlled to work according to different frequency band requirements, improving the flexibility of signal transmission.

[0063] In one specific embodiment, as shown in Figure 12, the first step is to select the frequency band. If operator A is selected, C-band RF signals need to be transmitted and received. A phased array antenna is used for beamforming and scanning to align the main beam with a suitable base station location. If operator B is selected, two omnidirectional antennas are used for transmission, sending L-band and S-band RF signals, while a phased array antenna is used for reception. An additional uplink path from the phased array antenna is used to detect the location of a suitable base station in the next communication area. Once the aircraft enters the next coverage area, the service channel automatically adjusts the beam to the appropriate base station, ensuring uninterrupted service. Using a combination of omnidirectional and phased array antennas enables precise scanning and wide-area coverage. Phased array antennas have gain adjustment modules, resulting in a larger dynamic range for transmission and reception, allowing for more flexible application in various scenarios. Various methods are employed to reduce self-interference between different frequency bands: RF links include, but are not limited to, filters, in-phase duplexers, and LC filter circuits to reduce self-interference; different antennas employ methods including, but not limited to, orthogonal placement and the addition of reflectors to reduce spatial coupling. Each antenna element also includes a filter to reduce self-interference and mutual interference with other airborne equipment.

[0064] Figure 13 illustrates a beam scanning diagram based on an airborne communication system. Within the coverage area of ​​a base station, the main beam is always pointed at the ground station as the aircraft moves, adjusting the beam scanning angle. To better achieve this goal, the antenna needs to be able to scan from 0-90° in elevation and from 0-360° in horizontal direction.

[0065] Additionally, as shown in Figure 14, one embodiment of this application also provides an electronic device 900, which includes:

[0066] The memory 920, the processor 910, and the computer program stored on the memory 920 and capable of running on the processor 910.

[0067] The processor 910 and memory 920 can be connected via a bus or other means.

[0068] It should be noted that the electronic device 800 in this embodiment and the signal loading method in the above embodiments belong to the same inventive concept. Therefore, these embodiments have the same implementation principle and technical effect, which will not be described in detail here.

[0069] The non-transient software program and instructions required to implement the signal loading method of the above embodiments are stored in the memory 920. When executed by the processor 910, the signal loading method of the above embodiments is executed.

[0070] Furthermore, one embodiment of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that are executed by a processor 910, for example, by a processor 910 in the above-described electronic device 800 embodiment, causing the processor 910 to perform the signal loading method in the above-described embodiment.

[0071] Furthermore, one embodiment of this application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program or computer instructions, the computer program or computer instructions being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, a processor of a computer device reading the computer program or computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executing the computer program or computer instructions to cause the computer device to perform the signal loading method described in the above embodiment.

[0072] The embodiments of this application include: an antenna device including an array antenna, wherein the array antenna includes a first antenna subarray and a second antenna subarray distributed along a first horizontal direction, and a third antenna subarray and a fourth antenna subarray distributed along a second horizontal direction, the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction being perpendicular to each other; through the above settings, the antenna can achieve omnidirectional signal coverage, improving the applicability of the scenario.

[0073] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps and systems in the methods disclosed above can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. Some or all of the physical components can be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software can be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which can include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transient media). As is known to those skilled in the art, the term computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data). Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disc storage, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired information and is accessible to a computer. Furthermore, as is known to those skilled in the art, communication media typically contain computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in modulated data signals such as carrier waves or other transmission mechanisms, and may include any information delivery medium.

[0074] The above describes several embodiments of this application in detail, but this application is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the scope of this application, and these equivalent modifications or substitutions are all included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An antenna device, comprising: An array antenna, comprising a first antenna subarray and a second antenna subarray distributed along a first horizontal direction, and a third antenna subarray and a fourth antenna subarray distributed along a second horizontal direction, wherein the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction are perpendicular to each other.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein, The antenna device further includes multiple single-frequency antennas. The first antenna subarray, the second antenna subarray, the third antenna subarray, and the fourth antenna subarray form a placement space, and the multiple single-frequency antennas are disposed in the placement space.

3. The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein, A reflector is provided between the first antenna subarray, the second antenna subarray, the third antenna subarray, and the fourth antenna subarray and the single-frequency antenna.

4. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein, The first antenna subarray, the second antenna subarray, the third antenna subarray, and the fourth antenna subarray all include horizontally polarized antenna elements and vertically polarized antenna elements, which are orthogonal to each other.

5. An airborne communication system, comprising the antenna device of claim 1, and further comprising a control module, wherein, The control module is connected to the antenna device.

6. The airborne communication system according to claim 5, wherein, The antenna device also includes a branch radio frequency link, and the control module is connected to the array antenna via the branch radio frequency link.

7. The airborne communication system according to claim 6, wherein, The antenna device further includes a combining RF link and a power divider network; the combining RF link is connected to the branch RF link through the power divider network, and the combining RF link is connected to the control module.

8. The airborne communication system according to claim 5, wherein, The antenna device further includes a combining radio frequency link, which is connected to the branch radio frequency link.

9. The airborne communication system according to claim 5, wherein, The airborne communication system also includes a power detection unit and a detection network, and the control module, the power detection unit, the detection network and the array antenna are connected in sequence.

10. The airborne communication system according to claim 7, wherein, The airborne communication system also includes a single-frequency antenna, a signal repeater, and a power amplifier. The signal repeater and the power amplifier are connected. The control module, the single-frequency antenna, and the combining radio frequency link are all connected to the power amplifier in sequence.

11. The airborne communication system according to claim 10, wherein, A signal splitting unit is also provided between the control module, the single-frequency antenna, and the combined RF link and the power amplifier. The signal splitting unit includes a first filter, a second filter, a third filter, and a duplexer. The power amplifier, the first filter, and the control module are connected in sequence. The power amplifier, the duplexer, the second filter, and the array antenna are connected in sequence. The power amplifier, the duplexer, the third filter, and the single-frequency antenna are connected in sequence.

12. A communication method applied to the airborne communication system according to any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein, The communication method includes: Obtain frequency band selection information; According to the frequency band selection information, a corresponding target antenna element is selected from the antenna device, and communication processing is performed with the ground base station based on the target antenna element, wherein the target antenna element includes at least one of an array antenna and a single-frequency antenna.

13. The communication method according to claim 12, wherein, The step of selecting a corresponding target antenna element from the antenna device based on the frequency band selection information, and performing communication processing with the ground base station based on the target antenna element, includes: When the frequency band selection information indicates that the frequency of the radio frequency signal is in the C-band, the array antenna is selected from the antenna device, and communication processing is performed with the ground base station based on the array antenna; When the frequency band selection information indicates that the frequency of the radio frequency signal is in the L-band or S-band, the array antenna and the single-frequency antenna are selected from the antenna device, and communication processing is performed based on the array antenna and the single-frequency antenna.

14. An electronic device comprising: At least one processor; At least one memory for storing at least one program; wherein, The communication method as described in any one of claims 12 to 13 is implemented when at least one of the programs is executed by at least one of the processors.

15. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, wherein, The computer-executable instructions are used to execute the communication method according to any one of claims 12 to 13.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer program or computer instructions, wherein, The computer program or the computer instructions are stored in a computer-readable storage medium, the processor of the computer device reads the computer program or the computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executes the computer program or the computer instructions to cause the computer device to perform the communication method as described in any one of claims 12 to 13.

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