JPH06326501A - Distribution variable phase shifter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a distribution variable phase shifter which can distribute the electric power and then can continuously vary the phase of distributed signals in a simple and highly reliable constitution. CONSTITUTION:A rotary substrate 1 can relatively turn to a fixed substrate 2 and is provided with input strip lines 7 and 8 to distribute the high frequency signals received through an input terminal A into two groups. Meanwhile the substrate 2 is provided with arc-shaped slot lines 15 and 16 of different radiuses, and the output strip lines 21, 22, 23 and 24 are connected to both ends of lines 15 and 16 respectively. The high frequency signals supplied through the terminal A are distributed to the output terminals E1-E4. When the substrate 1 is turned, the lengths of transmission lines led to the terminals E1-E4 from the terminal A are continuously varied. Therefore the phase shifted variable is continuously varied. Furthermore the signals of difference phases are taken out of the terminals E1-E4 and at the same time the phase differences can be varied among the signals in accordance with turning of the substrate 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variable distribution phase shifter capable of distributing power of a high frequency signal and continuously changing the phase of the distributed signal. By using this variable distribution phase shifter, for example, the beam tilt angle of the array antenna used in the mobile communication base station can be electrically changed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to change the beam tilt angle of an array antenna, the length of a cable that feeds a high frequency signal distributed by a power distributor to each array antenna element is changed so that the high frequency current supplied to the array antenna is A power supply device that changes the phase distribution is used.

[0003]

In such a power feeding device, the amount of phase shift of the high frequency signal is set depending on the length of the cable. For example, when the amount of phase shift is changed, the cable is disconnected from the connector. The complicated work of removing and replacing the cable with a different length or shortening the cable itself and reattaching the connector is required. In particular, when the power supply device is installed outdoors, the connector part is waterproofed, and therefore the work of removing and installing the waterproofing part must also be performed.

In order to change the beam tilt angle of the array antenna, a cable having the same length and a phase shifter interposed between the power distributor and the array antenna is also used. In this configuration, if it is attempted to change the phase continuously or at a fine pitch, a large number of switches and cables are required, which increases the size of the power supply device and also increases the cost. Moreover, since the switch has mechanical contacts, it may cause contact failure due to aging, which may cause intermodulation and noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, to distribute power by a simple and highly reliable structure, and to continuously change the phase of a distributed signal. It is to provide a variable distribution phase shifter capable of

[0006]

The variable distribution phase shifter according to claim 1 for achieving the above object comprises a first substrate and a first substrate which can be relatively rotated about a predetermined axis. A variable distribution phase shifter having two substrates, wherein the first substrate has an input end provided on the axis and n (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ... ..) input striplines, the second substrate is coupled to the n striplines, and has n arcuate shapes sharing a center on the predetermined axis. It is characterized in that it has a slot line and 2n output strip lines respectively coupled to both ends of the n arc-shaped slot lines.

According to this structure, when a high frequency signal is applied to the input end of the first substrate, the high frequency signal is distributed to n input strip lines and then formed on the second substrate.
Applied to the arcuate slot lines of the book, and further to the output striplines connected to the ends of each arcuate slot line. As a result, the input high frequency signal is distributed by 2n.

When the first substrate and the second substrate are relatively rotated about a predetermined axis, the transmission path length from the input end to the output strip line is determined by the rotated angle and the radius of the arc-shaped slot line. Changes in response to and. Since the phase shift amount of the high frequency signal is set according to the transmission path length, the phase shift amount can be continuously changed by relatively rotating the first substrate and the second substrate. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the variable variable phase shifter according to the second aspect.
The arc-shaped slot lines of the book are characterized by having different radii. According to this configuration, since the n arc-shaped strip lines have different radii from each other, the change in the transmission path length due to the relative rotation of the first substrate and the second substrate is: Different for each output stripline. Therefore, the phase difference between the signals extracted from the 2n output strip lines can be continuously changed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the variable variable phase shifter according to the third aspect.
The arc-shaped slot lines of the book have a radius ratio of 1: 3: 5 :.
...: It is characterized in that it is formed to be (2n-1). With this configuration, the amount of change in the transmission path length from the input end to each output stripline due to the relative rotation of the first substrate and the second substrate can be set in a tapered shape. That is, the high frequency signal applied to the input terminal can be distributed to 2n signals having a Taber-like phase difference.

As described in claim 4,
It is preferable to provide a rotary joint that couples the input end and the power supply line in a state in which relative rotation around the predetermined axis is allowed. Further, as described in claim 5, a rotation mechanism for relatively rotating the first substrate and the second substrate around the predetermined axis,
It is preferable to provide an operating unit for applying a rotational force to the rotating mechanism.

Further, in order to match the impedance between the input end and the output end at the end of the output strip line, an impedance converter is provided on the input strip line, the output strip line or the arcuate slot line. Alternatively, an impedance matching circuit may be provided at the input end (claim 7).

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a variable distribution phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention. This variable distribution phase shifter includes a rotating substrate 1 as a first substrate and a fixed substrate 2 as a second substrate. The fixed substrate 2 is fixed to a shield case 3 shown by an imaginary line, and the rotating substrate 1 is attached to the fixed substrate 2 so as to be rotatable about a predetermined axis 5.

The rotary substrate 1 is made of an insulating material, and on its surface, input strip lines 7 and 8 extending in a direction away from the axis 5 are formed. A high frequency signal is fed to the input strip lines 7 and 8 from an input end A via an input section 10 provided behind the fixed substrate 2.
No conductor is formed on the back surface of the rotating substrate 1. The rotary substrate 1 has a gear portion 9 around the axis 5. The gear portion 9 includes a gear 11 that is rotatably held on the fixed substrate 2.
Is in mesh with. A knob 13 is fixed to the gear 11 as an operating portion protruding outside the shield case 3. By rotating the knob 13, the rotary substrate 1 can be rotated. That is, the gear unit 9 and the gear 11
The rotation mechanism is configured by the above.

The fixed substrate 2 is made of an insulating material, and a conductor is formed on almost the entire back surface of the fixed substrate 2. A pair of slot lines 15 and 16 are formed by removing a part of this conductor in an arc shape. The arcuate slot lines 15 and 16 share the center on the axis 5, and are formed in an arcuate shape so that the radius ratio is 3: 1. The input strip lines 7 and 8 provided on the rotating substrate 1 have the slot lines 1 at the respective tip portions.
It is connected to 5,16. That is, the input strip lines 7 and 8 are set so that the length ratio is approximately 3: 1. Specifically, the input strip lines 7 and 8
Is λ / 4 longer than the slot lines 15 and 16 at the tip.
It is formed so that (λ is the wavelength of the radio wave to be fed) to a position separated from the axis 5.

On the surface of the fixed substrate 2, four output strip lines 21, 24; 22, 23 which are respectively coupled to both ends of the slot lines 7, 8 are formed.
More specifically, the output stripline 21,
24; 22 and 23 are slot lines 7 and 8 at positions inside by λ / 4 from both ends of the slot lines 7 and 8, respectively.
It is almost orthogonal to 8. Output strip line 21,2
2, 23 and 24 have the same length.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a coupling state of the input strip line 7 formed on the front surface of the rotary substrate 1 and the arcuate slot line 15 formed on the rear surface of the fixed substrate 2. The rotating substrate 1 and the fixed substrate 2 are in sliding contact with each other, and the input strip line 7 and the arc-shaped slot line 15 are interposed via the substrates 1 and 2 composed of these two insulators.
Has been achieved. Reference numeral 18 is a conductor formed on the back surface of the fixed substrate 2. Input stripline 8
The same applies to the connection between the slot line 16 and the slot line 16.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the section line III-III in FIG. 1, showing the structure of the input section 10 for supplying a high frequency signal to the input strip lines 7 and 8. Back surface of rotating substrate 1 (surface in sliding contact with fixed substrate 2)
A cylindrical coupling member 25 is fixed along the axis 5, and the coupling member 25 is electrically connected to the input strip lines 7 and 8 via a connecting member 26 such as solder. The coupling member 25 has a hole 27 formed in the fixed substrate 2.
Rotatably inserted through the shield case 3
It is exposed to the outside from the hole 29 formed in the. A connector 33 for connecting a connector 31 connected to a coaxial cable as a power supply line is attached to the edge of the hole 29. When the outer conductor 31e of the connector 31 on the coaxial cable side is fitted into the connector 33, the connector 31
The inner conductor 31i of the above enters the inner space of the cylindrical coupling member 25. A gap 35 is formed between the inner conductor 31i and the coupling member 25.

With this structure, a high frequency signal given through the connector 31 is supplied to the coupling member 25 and the connection member 26.
The input striplines 7, 8 can be fed via. Moreover, as the rotating substrate 1 rotates, the connecting member 2
Even if 5 rotates, the coupling state between the inner conductor 31i of the connector 31 and the coupling member 25 is maintained unchanged, so that noise or the like does not occur during the rotation. In this way, the cylindrical coupling member 25 and the internal conductor 31i of the connector 31 constitute a so-called rotary joint.

In the above configuration, when a high frequency signal is fed from the input section 10, this signal is distributed to the input strip lines 7 and 8 in two, and the slot line 15 and
16 through output striplines 21, 2 respectively
4; 22, 23 divided into 2 parts. As a result, the input high frequency signal is output to the output strip lines 21, 22, 2
The output terminals E1, E2, E3, and E4 of 3 and 24 are divided into four and taken out.

For example, when the rotary substrate 1 is rotated counterclockwise by the angle θ by rotating the knob 13, the transmission path length from the input section 10 to the output ends E1, E2, E3, E4 is as follows. It changes as follows. That is, each transmission path length is set in a tapered shape. The radius of the arcuate slot line 15 is 3r (r is a constant), and the radius of the arcuate slot line 16 is r.

E1 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ -3rθ E2 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ -rθ E3 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ rθ E4 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ 3rθ Therefore, each output end A signal having a tapered phase difference is extracted from E1 to E4. Since the angle θ can be continuously changed by rotating the knob 13, the phases of the signals extracted from the output terminals E1 to E4 can be continuously changed, and the phase between the signals can be changed. The phase difference can also be changed continuously.

Next, impedance matching will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the characteristic impedance of each part. That is, the widths of the input strip lines 7 and 8 are selected so that the characteristic impedance is 100Ω.
The widths of the slot lines 15 and 16 are set so that the characteristic impedance is 200Ω, and the widths of the output strip lines 21, 22, 23 and 24 are selected so that the characteristic impedance is 200Ω. In this case, the impedance at the input end A is 50Ω, and the impedance at the output ends E1, E2, E3, E4 is 2
It becomes 00Ω, and impedance matching can be achieved.

FIG. 5 shows an input terminal A and output terminals E1 to E4.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a simplified configuration example for making all impedances of 100 Ω match 100 Ω. That is, the characteristic impedances of the input strip lines 7, 8, the slot lines 15, 16 and the output strip lines 21, 22, 23, 24 are all set to 100Ω. Then, √ (50 × 10
0) Ω quarter wavelength impedance converters are provided. As a result, the input end A and the output ends E1 to E4 are
The impedance of can be made 100Ω.

As shown in FIG. 6, the slot line 1
A half-wavelength impedance converter of √ (50 × 100) Ω is provided in the middle of 5, 16 or the middle of each of the output strip lines 21, 22, 23, 24 as shown in FIG. By inserting a quarter wavelength impedance converter of √ (50 × 100) Ω into
Set the impedance of the input terminal A and the output terminals E1 to E4 to 1
Can be matched to 00Ω. However, in FIGS. 6 and 7, it is assumed that the characteristic impedance of each part is set in the same manner as in FIG.

Further, as shown in a simplified manner in FIG. 8, by connecting to the input strip lines 7 and 8 to form a stub 30 as an impedance matching circuit,
Impedance matching may be achieved. The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the input high frequency signal is divided into four has been described, but the input strip lines extending from the axis 5 are 1, 3, 4, .... By doing so, 2 distribution, 6 distribution, and 8 distribution are possible, respectively. In this case, the ratio of the lengths of the n strip lines is approximately 1: 3 :.
5: ...: (2n-1), and n arc-shaped slot lines coupled to the n strip conductors may be formed on the fixed substrate 2. At this time, the n arc-shaped slot lines may be formed so as to share the center on the axis 5 and have a radius ratio of 1: 3: 5: ...: (2n-1). preferable. By doing so, it is possible to extract a signal having a tapered phase difference from the output strip line coupled to both ends of each slot line.

In the above embodiment, the input strip line is formed on the rotating substrate, and the arcuate slot line and the output strip line are formed on the fixed substrate.
While forming the input strip line on the fixed substrate,
Arc-shaped slot lines and output strip lines may be formed on the rotating substrate. Further, both the first substrate on which the input strip line is formed and the second substrate on which the arcuate slot line is formed may be rotated in opposite directions.

In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the distribution variable phase shifter can be constructed by using the strip line or the like, the construction is simplified, the size and the weight can be reduced, and the manufacturing is possible. It will be easier. Further, since the power distribution and the phase shift can be performed with the same configuration, the number of parts is smaller and the reliability is higher than when they are performed separately. Further, since there is no metal contact, contact failure is less likely to occur.

Further, since the number of outputs can be easily changed by changing the number of input strip lines, when applied to a power feeding device such as an array antenna, the number of antenna elements can be flexibly changed. Can respond. Further, since the phase shift amount of the input signal can be easily variably set, it is extremely effective when applied to a power supply device of an array antenna, such as an antenna of a mobile communication base station, whose service area needs to be changed at any time. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a variable distribution phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupled state of an input strip line and a slot line.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an input unit to which a high frequency signal is fed.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative view for explaining impedance matching.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing another configuration example for achieving impedance matching.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view showing still another configuration example for achieving impedance matching.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative view showing still another configuration example for achieving impedance matching.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative view showing a configuration in which an impedance matching circuit is provided at an input end.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Rotating substrate 2 Fixed substrate 7,8 Input stripline 15,16 Arc slot line 21,22,23,24 Output stripline

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A variable distribution phase shifter having a first substrate and a second substrate that can be relatively rotated about a predetermined axis, wherein the first substrate is provided on the axis. Input terminal and n branched from this input terminal (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, ...)
Input striplines, the second substrate is coupled to the n striplines, and has n arcuate slotlines sharing a center on the predetermined axis. A variable distribution phase shifter having 2n output strip lines respectively coupled to both ends of the n arc-shaped slot lines. 2. The distributed variable phaser according to claim 1, wherein the n arcuate slot lines have different radii from each other. 3. The n arc-shaped slot lines are formed such that the ratio of radii is 1: 3: 5: ... :( 2n-1). The variable distribution phase shifter according to claim 2. 4. The rotary joint according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary joint for connecting the input end and the power supply line in a state in which relative rotation around the predetermined axis is allowed. The variable distribution phase shifter according to any one of the claims. 5. A rotation mechanism for relatively rotating the first substrate and the second substrate around the predetermined axis, and an operation portion for applying a rotation force to the rotation mechanism. The variable distribution phase shifter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is characterized in that. 6. The variable distribution phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein an impedance converter is provided on the input strip line, the output strip line or the arcuate slot line. vessel. 7. The variable distribution phase shifter according to claim 1, wherein an impedance matching circuit is provided at the input end.