17 results about "Butler matrix" patented technology

A Butler matrix includes non-aperture couplers and phase shifters on a first substrate, non-aperture couplers and phase shifters on a second substrate, and a ground plane separating the first substrate from the second substrate. The non-aperture couplers and the phase shifters on the first substrate are connected to the non-aperture couplers and the phase shifters on the second substrate using vias extending from the first substrate to the second substrate and passing through the ground plane. The Butler matrix is a 2N×2N matrix, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 4.

A coupler of a coupled line type having a multilayer structure in which a plurality of conductor layers are laminated, the coupler being provided with a first line and a second line formed in the conductor layers that are different from each other, the first line being formed in the plurality of conductor layers with the conductor layer in which the second line is formed therebetween, and the second line being formed in the plurality of conductor layers with the conductor layer in which the second line is formed therebetween. The first line and the second line at least partially overlap in a stacking direction of the conductor layer.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to beam steering at a multi-antenna device. The device receives an activation signal to activate one or more input ports of a Butler matrix and outputs signals from all output ports of the Butler matrix based on the activation of the one or more input ports. The signals output from the output ports have varying phase shifts relative to one another. Further, the device phase shifts the signals output from the output ports via a plurality of phase shifters respectively coupled to the output ports. The phase shifted signals also have varying phase shifts relative to one another and also have phase differences between adjacent phase shifted signals. Each of a plurality of antenna elements at the device receives a phase shifted signal from an associated phase shifter and outputs a beam based on the phase shifted signal received from the associated phase shifter.

This invention belongs to the field of multi-beam antenna arrays and discloses a filtered multi-beam array and method based on a four-channel filter jumper. By integrating a microstrip-to-substrate integrated waveguide structure, a filter Butler matrix containing a four-channel filter jumper, and an antenna array on a first metal layer, a filtered multi-beam array based on a multi-layer planar structure is constructed. The four-channel filter jumper utilizes multiple resonant cavities and coupling structures, and by precisely controlling the coupling phase between the resonant cavities, a preset phase shift is directly introduced while achieving the filtering response, thus integrating filtering and phase-shifting functions into a single device. This design avoids the complex structure of filter couplers and the additional losses of filter phase shifters in traditional integrated schemes, significantly simplifying the device architecture, reducing transmission loss, improving system integration and beamforming accuracy, and effectively meeting the urgent needs of 5G and future 6G communication systems for high performance, low loss, and high integration.

Antennas are provided. An antenna includes an antenna array having a plurality of sub-arrays that each include a plurality of radiating elements. Moreover, the antenna includes a multi-stage beamforming network having a first stage including a plurality of first Butler matrices and a second stage including a plurality of second Butler matrices that are coupled between the first Butler matrices and the sub-arrays. The first Butler matrices are each coupled to each of the second Butler matrices. The second Butler matrices are coupled to the sub-arrays, respectively, without any cables between the second Butler matrices and the sub-arrays.

The invention discloses a planar miniaturized Butler matrix design method based on an odd-even mode theory, and belongs to the technical field of network communication, and the method comprises the steps: designing a novel Butler matrix with a central symmetry characteristic based on the fundamental limitation of a conventional Butler matrix on the structure; performing dimension reduction on the novel Butler matrix with the central symmetry characteristic by adopting a two-stage progressive odd-even mode decomposition method to obtain a sub-network after dimension reduction and scattering parameters of the network; and decomposing the sub-network after dimension reduction into cascade connection of a multi-port network and a multi-port open-short circuit state network with four states, simplifying scattering parameters of the cascaded sub-network, and further reducing the dimension of the novel Butler matrix into a plurality of low-dimensional matrixes. According to the method, the cross knot of the traditional Butler matrix is eliminated, the compact and miniaturized structure is realized, and the analysis and design process is greatly simplified.

The invention provides a filtering antenna array based on a 3 * 4 Butler matrix. The filtering antenna array comprises a 3 * 4 Butler matrix network and a four-unit filtering antenna array. When the three input ports of the 3 * 4 Butler matrix are respectively excited, equal-amplitude output signals can be obtained at the four output ports, and the phase differences between the adjacent ports are respectively 0 degree,-90 degrees and + 90 degrees. When an antenna array arranged in a 1 * 4 form is excited through a Butler matrix network, three high-gain wave beams with different directions and filtering characteristics can be generated; when an antenna array arranged in a 2 * 2 form is excited, three orbital angular momentum wave beams with different modes and filtering characteristics can be generated. The invention realizes multifunctional beam output, has the advantages of compact structure, easy integration, good filtering performance and the like, and has important application prospects in the fields of millimeter wave communication and the like.

The technology described herein is directed towards Butler matrix that can be implemented in a monolithic planar structure design for low-cost and scalable manufacturing. One implementation design is for a device that integrates the quadrature couplers, crossover couplers, and fixed phase-shift meandered lines of the Butler matrix, with a switch and an antenna array in a planar layout that eliminates the need for multiple layers of metallization. The implementation uses monolithic nonvolatile phase change material-based radio frequency (RF) switch elements for dynamic beamforming, by routing RF signals through the Butler matrix based on controlling conductive and nonconductive states of the phase change material corresponding to selectable switch ports. This facilitates dynamic, power-efficient reconfiguration within the Butler Matrix for flexible beam steering. Also described are ultra-wideband quadrature couplers and crossover couplers with parametric design optimization variables, which facilitates ultra-compact device designs.

The application provides a two-dimensional multi-beam antenna, and belongs to the technical field of radio frequency communication, comprising: four orthogonal couplers, input ports of the four orthogonal couplers being used for receiving input signals; four phase shifters, inputs of the four phase shifters being connected with output ports of the four orthogonal couplers; two one-dimensional 4*4 Butler matrices, inputs of the two one-dimensional 4*4 Butler matrices being connected with outputs of the phase shifters, the two one-dimensional 4*4 Butler matrices being symmetrically placed along an x axis; an antenna array, the antenna array being connected with outputs of the two one-dimensional 4*4 Butler matrices; the orthogonal couplers and the phase shifters are used for providing a fixed phase difference between adjacent output ports in a y direction, and the two one-dimensional 4*4 Butler matrices are used for providing a fixed phase difference between adjacent output ports in an x direction, so that a beam forming network in two dimensions is realized. The application can realize as many beams as possible in two dimensions with a simple network structure, and the freedom of beam pointing is improved.

This invention discloses a dual-frequency filtering 4×4 Butler matrix based on a spur-loaded resonator, comprising a first dual-frequency filtering 180° coupler, a second dual-frequency filtering 180° coupler, a first broadband 90° coupler, a second broadband 90° coupler, a first broadband 90° phase shifter, a second broadband 90° phase shifter, and a third broadband 90° phase shifter, all placed on the top layer of a dielectric substrate; a metal base plate on the bottom layer of the dielectric substrate; and eight disks connected to SMP (Short-Side Multi-Pack) devices, with each disk corresponding to an input / output port on the top layer of the dielectric substrate. Based on the modified Butler matrix topology, a dual-frequency filtering 180° coupler is designed, enabling the Butler matrix to achieve dual-frequency filtering functionality. This invention exhibits excellent dual-frequency bandpass filtering characteristics and has the advantages of being single-layered, small in size, simple in structure, and easy to fabricate.

This invention relates to the field of antenna equipment technology, and particularly to an integrated beamforming network and vibrator assembly and a multi-beam antenna. The assembly includes a three-beamforming network integrated on a circuit board. A vibrator array is mounted on the circuit board via mounting interfaces. Each row of the vibrator array includes five vibrator elements. The three-beamforming network includes a first 3×5 Butler matrix module and a second 3×5 Butler matrix module. Each output port of the first and second 3×5 Butler matrix modules is connected to a corresponding vibrator element. The first 3×5 Butler matrix module serves as the +45° polarization network of the three-beamforming network, and the second 3×5 Butler matrix module serves as the -45° polarization network. This invention can reduce the material cost and weight of the antenna, and the simplified connection improves the efficiency and pass rate of antenna production.

This invention provides a broadband three-dimensional Butler matrix for generating vortex waves, comprising eight dielectric substrates, microstrip lines, a metal ground plane, 3dB directional couplers, phase shifters, and SMA connectors. A metal ground plane lies between two dielectric substrate layers, with trace layers above and below, each composed of microstrip lines, 3dB directional couplers, and phase shifters connected in a specific order. Four dielectric substrates are placed horizontally, and four are placed vertically, connected by SMA connectors. Blind slots are provided near the SMA connectors on the dielectric substrates to facilitate SMA connector grounding. The coupler of this invention achieves cross-layer coupling and exhibits broadband characteristics. The large number of ports and the three-dimensional structure avoid complex connections between components, facilitating design, fabrication, and assembly.

The invention discloses a radio frequency multi-beam antenna design method based on multi-objective optimization. The radio frequency multi-beam antenna design method comprises the following steps: S1, setting design demand parameters of a spaceborne antenna system; s2, establishing an antenna structure and electromagnetic performance parameter model, and constructing a corresponding beam forming network model; s3, an array configuration mode is determined, series feed and parallel feed are combined, and phase synthesis of the sub-arrays is realized through a Butler matrix; s4, constructing a multi-objective optimization model, wherein an objective function covers gain, interval, coverage, coupling and deployability; s5, sub-array layout and feed configuration parameters are calculated, and preliminary design is completed; s6, designing an expandable mechanism to ensure folding before launching and on-orbit unfolding locking; s7, electromagnetic simulation is carried out, and beam performance is verified; and S8, evaluating a simulation result, if the simulation result is not met, returning to optimization, and if the simulation result is met, outputting a final design scheme. According to the invention, a multi-objective optimization and unfolding structure is integrated, and efficient design and deployment of the microsatellite multi-beam antenna are realized.

This invention relates to the field of signal transmission technology, and more particularly to a chip-integrated multi-beam antenna array. The chip-integrated multi-beam antenna array includes a Butler matrix feed network and antenna elements. The Butler matrix feed network adopts a three-layer structure of substrate-integrated waveguides, comprising, from bottom to top: a bottom metal layer, an intermediate dielectric layer, and a top metal layer. The intermediate dielectric layer contains multiple metal walls, and the bottom metal layer, the top metal layer, and the metal walls together form a closed waveguide structure. The Butler matrix feed network is used to perform phase shifting and power division processing on the input port feed, and the output port forms different amplitude and phase distributions among the antenna elements, thereby generating beams pointing at different angles. By realizing a Butler matrix and integrating the antenna array on a chip substrate, it features low profile, small area, and the ability to be co-integrated with transceiver links, enabling the antenna array to have beam scanning capability in terahertz communication.

The invention discloses an ultra-wideband compact beam forming network device and system and communication equipment. The device comprises a laminated structure, a plurality of coupler units and a vertical interconnection structure. The laminated structure comprises at least two circuit layers and an interlayer dielectric layer and is used for providing an integrated platform and electromagnetic shielding, and the coupler unit comprises 90-degree, 22.5-degree, 45-degree and 67.5-degree couplers which are respectively formed on the circuit layers and are used for carrying out coupling and phase conversion on input signals. And the vertical interconnection structure penetrates through the dielectric layer to realize electrical connection between the coupler units on different circuit layers, so that an N * N Butler matrix is formed by interconnection. Through compact layout and vertical interconnection on a multi-layer circuit, the device can work in an ultra-wideband of 2.4 GHz to 8GHz, has the advantages of high amplitude flatness, small phase deviation, high integration level and the like, and can be widely applied to multi-beam generation scenes such as a 5G base station, satellite communication and a radar system.

The application provides a four-channel OAM antenna for millimeter wave close-range communication, which comprises a microstrip antenna array structure layer, a Butler matrix phased network structure layer, a SICL-based phase delay network structure layer and a quasi-coaxial via hole conversion structure, the quasi-coaxial via hole conversion structure comprises a first feed hole and a second feed hole; the Butler matrix phased network structure layer, the SICL-based phase delay network structure layer and the microstrip antenna array structure layer are sequentially stacked; the end of the microstrip line in the Butler matrix phased network structure layer corresponds to one end of the first feed hole, the first feed hole is vertically extended from the Butler matrix phased network structure layer and corresponds to one end of the substrate integrated coaxial line in the SICL-based phase delay network structure layer; the microstrip antenna array structure layer is provided with microstrip patch antennas, each antenna corresponds to a second feed hole, and the second feed hole is vertically extended and corresponds to the other end of the substrate integrated coaxial line in the SICL-based phase delay network structure layer.

Provided is a Butler matrix, comprising: a non-perforated coupler and a phase shifter on a first substrate; a non-perforated coupler and a phase shifter on the second substrate; and a ground plane separating the first substrate from the second substrate. The non-holed coupler and the phase shifter on the first substrate are connected to the non-holed coupler and the phase shifter on the second substrate using a via hole that extends from the first substrate to the second substrate and through the ground plane. The Butler matrix is a 2N * 2N matrix, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 4.