LCD electric-controlled zero scan leaky-wave antenna excessively based on pectinate line waveguide
Technical field
The invention belongs to microwave antenna field of engineering technology.Modern wireless mobile communications, satellite can be widely applied to lead to
Believe in communication in moving and various radar systems.
Background technology
Since leaky-wave antenna is proposed the forties from eighties of last century by W.W.Hansen, its unique radiation characteristic and excellent
Lobe scan characteristic so that leaky-wave antenna is always the focus of field of antenna research.Initial leaky-wave antenna is by the rectangle that cracks
What waveguide was constituted, its essence is can showing to space radiation part electromagnetic wave when the electromagnetic wave propagated on waveguiding structure is fast wave
As.Nearest decades, the research of leaky-wave antenna is developed rapidly, and particularly plane leaky-wave antenna has obtained widely studied, because
Can directly it be processed on printed circuit board (PCB) (PCB) for plane leaky-wave antenna, with low section, easy processing, simple in construction, feed
Easily, the advantages of high directivity, and beam scanning characteristic.Therefore, frequency range of the leaky-wave antenna more than microwave and microwave is obtained
Extensive concern, is particularly needing the occasion of beam scanning, leaky-wave antenna has unrivaled advantage, possesses good hair
Exhibition prospect.
Leaky-wave antenna has the change of the wave frequency with feed-in, the frequency that antenna main lobe beam direction can also change
Scan characteristic.The frequency of leaky-wave antenna sweeps characteristic relatively broad application in the past, but this frequency is swept characteristic and often occupied
Continuous band resource one section wider.Now, with the explosive growth of radio communication, originally limited frequency spectrum resource seems
Increasingly congestion, and it is clearly contradiction that the frequency of traditional leaky-wave antenna, which sweeps characteristic to improve pursuing for the availability of frequency spectrum with modern communicationses,
Therefore in order to solve this contradiction, the concept of fixed frequency scanning leaky-wave antenna starts to be suggested.
Traditional frequency scanning antenna of determining typically is controlled using phase shifter to antenna element phase different in aerial array
System, it is this to determine frequency scanning antenna and be also known as phased array antenna so as to realize the scanning of antenna beam, be in modern radar system most
For a kind of conventional scanning antenna.But phased array antenna is there is also the problem of oneself, and the introducing of phase shifter often causes antenna
Cost improve, volume becomes big, and with the increase of phased array antenna array element, the complexity of phase shifter control network will be in
Geometry magnitude increases, and this also just constrains phased array antenna, i.e. tradition and determines the development of frequency scanning antenna.
Because leaky-wave antenna in itself there is frequency to sweep characteristic, the actual requirement for determining frequency scanning, fixed frequency scanning leaky wave are considered further that
Antenna arises at the historic moment.Electric-controlled switch is usually loaded on leaky-wave antenna for fixed frequency scanning leaky-wave antenna or electricity adjusts medium, by outer
Making alive come change switch on-off or medium electromagnetic property, with some fixation frequency on change leaky-wave antenna wave beam side
To frequency beam scanning is determined in realization.This fixed frequency scanning leaky-wave antenna is also referred to as automatically controlled scanning leaky-wave antenna, most typical automatically controlled to sweep
Retouch leaky-wave antenna and be based on varactor.But due to varactor parasitic parameter and the influence of loss, this automatically controlled scanning leakage
Wave antenna has the low shortcoming of working frequency range, in the Modern wireless communication that frequency range is improved constantly, using receiving great limitation.
Based on liquid crystal material determine frequency it is automatically controlled scanning leaky-wave antenna can be operated in the high frequency band of microwave.Liquid crystal material can be additional
Under the control of magnetic field or electric field, change the dielectric constant of itself, this characteristic is applied in antenna structure, it is possible to realize leakage
The frequency of determining of wave antenna is scanned.However, it is existing it is LCD electric-controlled scanning leaky-wave antenna generally have the shortcomings that it is as follows:First, it is necessary to
The directional diagram of antenna is coordinated to scan using additional controllable magnetic field, so as to cause the controlling organization of antenna complicated;Second, in order to be able to
The dielectric constant of liquid crystal is enough set to be changed in the presence of extra electric field, it is necessary to be the extra biasing circuit of Antenna Design, and
This biasing circuit can cause the electromagnetic coupled between low frequency or DC circuit and radio circuit, enter but the radiation characteristic of antenna
Deteriorate.3rd, available liquid crystal leaky-wave antenna is realizing direction (the crossing zero scan) side of radiation beam sensing perpendicular to antenna surface
Face, relatively difficult, even if being realized reluctantly by methods such as impedance matchings, the bandwidth of operation for also eventually resulting in antenna narrows.
The content of the invention
The invention aims to solve traditional automatically controlled scanning leaky wave based on the tradition electricity tune element such as varactor
Antenna is difficult to work in microwave high-frequency wave band and the automatically controlled fixed frequency scanning leaky-wave antenna of available liquid crystal is not easy to realize zero scan
And zero scan leaky wave day is crossed there is provided a kind of LCD electric-controlled based on pectinate line waveguide the problem of need to be specifically designed biasing circuit
Line.
LCD electric-controlled zero scan leaky-wave antenna excessively of the present invention based on pectinate line waveguide, it includes top medium plate
Layer, metal level, liquid crystal layer and bottom waveguide groove;
Metal level is provided between top medium flaggy and bottom waveguide groove, bottom waveguide groove is opened for the upper surface of rectangular slab
There is longitudinal slot structure;
By being machined mode, electro-plating method, hot-press method or microelectronics work between top medium flaggy and metal level
Skill is closely as one;
Bottom waveguide groove is provided with longitudinal slot structure for the upper surface of rectangular slab, and liquid is filled up between the cannelure and metal level
Brilliant material, so as to form liquid crystal layer;
Metal level is pectination cable architecture, and metal level intermediate region is provided with rectangle pectinate line housing, the rectangle pectinate line
Longitudinally disposed two row broach in housing region, the long l of broachcTake λg/ 4, the wide w of broachcTake much smaller than λg, rectangle pectinate line housing
Width a2Take λgTo 3 λg/ 2, wherein λgTo transmit the waveguide wavelength of electromagnetic wave in waveguide under target operating frequency;
N number of periodicity slot element is provided between the two row broach in the pectination cable architecture, N number of periodicity gap is single
A conduction band, overall antenna length degree L are set respectively between member and the first wave guide port and second waveguide port at two endsm=N*p+
2lcs, wherein lcsFor the length of conduction band, conduction band width a1Take λg/ 3 to 2 λg/3;
N number of periodicity slot element includes two groups of longitudinal joint row and one group of transverse joint row, and transverse joint row are located between two groups of longitudinal joint row,
Two groups of longitudinal joints are set along longitudinally displaced;Every group of longitudinal joint is classified as m longitudinal joint and is uniformly arranged along longitudinal direction, and it is vertical that transverse joint is classified as 2m transverse joint edge
To being uniformly arranged;Each periodicity slot element is included between 2 longitudinal joints and 2 transverse joints, two neighboring periodicity slot element
Spacing p take λg/ 4 to λg, the length l of longitudinal joint1Take λg/ 3 to λg, the length l of transverse joint2Take λg/ 10 to λg/ 4, between transverse and longitudinal is stitched
Horizontal spacing dsTake λg/ 10 to λg/ 6, the gap width w of longitudinal joint1With the gap width w of transverse joint2Equal value is much smaller than l1;
Equivalent string when periodicity transverse joint on metal level will be such that the electromagnetic wave is propagated between bottom waveguide groove and metal level
Join inductance increase, equivalent parallel when periodicity longitudinal joint therein will be such that the electromagnetic wave is propagated between bottom waveguide groove and metal level
Electric capacity increase.
Advantages of the present invention:The present invention devises a kind of automatically controlled scanning wave guide wave leakage antenna based on liquid crystal, and traditional
Frequency scanning leaky-wave antenna of determining based on varactor is compared, and has the advantages that microwave high-frequency wave band can be operated in.And compared to
Surely frequency scans leaky-wave antenna to current existing liquid crystal, and the advantage of this antenna is then four aspects:First, this antenna realizes scanning
Mode is automatically controlled scanning, has the advantages that controlling organization is simple, light and handy compared to existing magnetic control scan mode;Second, this hair
Based on bright use waveguiding structure, the convenient perfusion liquid crystal of this structure, and also stabilized structure, the low, power capacity of loss are big;The
Three, when needing to apply the bias voltage of direct current or low frequency to the liquid crystal material in this antenna, without for Antenna Design, processing
Extra biasing circuit, it is only necessary to which the bias device for increasing a commercialization in the input port of antenna just can be with.This is for antenna
Performance be very favorable because extra biasing circuit often has a negative impact to antenna performance.4th, the antenna
Radiation beam can be easily achieved to point to perpendicular to the direction (crossing zero scan) of antenna surface.5th, the antenna need not be
Insulating cement is placed between metal level and bottom waveguide groove, the leakage of electromagnetic wave is reduced, the radiation efficiency of antenna is improved.
As a special case, a liquid crystal pectinate line substrate integration wave-guide for working in 13.3GHz is given in the present invention
Transverse and longitudinal stitches the automatically controlled scanning antenna of leaky wave, and antenna is stitched double leaky wave structure types of mixing using transverse and longitudinal, increased to phase constant β's
Control, passes through optimization design, it is possible to achieve still possess good matching and radiation characteristic during antenna beam scanning zero passage.Pass through
Applied voltage 0V to 20V is adjusted, antenna radiation pattern main lobe wave beam can be made to realize and swept by the zero passage of -8.0 ° to+8.3 ° continuously smooths
Retouch, total scanning angle reaches 16.3 °, during whole electric scanning, antenna match is good, and S11 is below -10dB, antenna
Actual gain be changed to 11.41dB from 10.79dB.Than traditional automatically controlled scanning antenna, the integrated ripple of pectinate line substrate should be based on
The LCD electric-controlled zero scan leaky-wave antenna of crossing led realized the characteristic of zero scan, and gain is big and gain floating is small.
Brief description of the drawings
Fig. 1 is that leaky-wave antenna crosses zero scan schematic diagram;
Fig. 2 is the LCD electric-controlled hierarchy signal for crossing zero scan leaky-wave antenna of the present invention based on pectinate line waveguide
Figure;
Fig. 3 is the metal-layer structure schematic diagram of antenna;Represent to represent second waveguide port, C at first wave guide port, B at A
Place represents to represent pectinate texture at the leaky wave structure of periodicity transverse and longitudinal seam, D.Antenna is fed using wave band port at two ends,
When first wave guide port is fed, the load of second waveguide port matching connection, conversely, during the feed of second waveguide port, first wave guide
Port matching connection load;To ensure that feed-in Electromagnetic Wave Propagation is good, it is all provided with first wave guide port and second waveguide port
Put the conduction band 2-3 of certain distance length.
Fig. 4 is the metal level leaky wave structural representation of antenna;
Fig. 5 is the LCD electric-controlled zero scan leaky-wave antenna transverse sectional view excessively of the present invention based on pectinate line waveguide;
Fig. 6 is operate on the 13.3GHz LCD electric-controlled scanning leaky-wave antenna metal level dimensional drawing of comb-like waveguide;
Fig. 7 is operate on the 13.3GHz LCD electric-controlled scanning leaky-wave antenna sectional dimension figure of comb-like waveguide;
Fig. 8 is that liquid crystal molecule is arranged with voltage change schematic diagram, wherein (a) liquid crystal molecule is in original arrangement state (orientation
State), (b) liquid crystal molecule is in and direction of an electric field identical posture arrangement (bias state);
Fig. 9 is the S11 parameter curves of antenna;
Figure 10 is the S21 parameter curves of antenna;
Figure 11 is antenna main lobe direction with frequency variation curve;
Figure 12 is antenna actual gain with frequency variation curve;
Figure 13 is antenna under five kinds of bias voltages2D directional diagrams on face.
Embodiment
Embodiment one:Illustrate present embodiment with reference to Fig. 2 to Fig. 5, pectination is based on described in present embodiment
The LCD electric-controlled of line waveguide crosses zero scan leaky-wave antenna, and it includes top medium flaggy 1, metal level 2, liquid crystal layer 3 and bottom ripple
Guide groove 4;
Metal level 2 is provided between top medium flaggy 1 and bottom waveguide groove 4, bottom waveguide groove 4 is the upper table of rectangular slab
Face is provided with longitudinal slot structure;
By being machined mode, electro-plating method, hot-press method or microelectronics between top medium flaggy 1 and metal level 2
Technique is closely as one;
Bottom waveguide groove 4 is provided with longitudinal slot structure for the upper surface of rectangular slab, is filled up between the cannelure and metal level 2
Liquid crystal material, so as to form liquid crystal layer 3;
Metal level 2 is pectination cable architecture, and the intermediate region of metal level 2 is provided with rectangle pectinate line housing, the rectangle pectination
Longitudinally disposed two row broach in line housing region, the long l of broachcTake λg/ 4, the wide w of broachcTake much smaller than λg, outside rectangle pectinate line
Width of frame a2Take λgTo 3 λg/ 2, wherein λgTo transmit the waveguide wavelength of electromagnetic wave in waveguide under target operating frequency;
N number of periodicity slot element is provided between the two row broach in the pectination cable architecture, N number of periodicity gap is single
A conduction band 2-3, overall antenna length degree L are set respectively between member and the first wave guide port and second waveguide port at two endsm=N*p
+2lcs, wherein lcsFor conduction band 2-3 length, conduction band width a1Take λg/ 3 to 2 λg/3;
N number of periodicity slot element includes two groups of longitudinal joint row and one group of transverse joint row, and transverse joint row are located between two groups of longitudinal joint row,
Two groups of longitudinal joints are set along longitudinally displaced;Every group of longitudinal joint is classified as m longitudinal joint 2-1 and is uniformly arranged along longitudinal direction, and transverse joint is classified as 2m transverse joint
2-2 is uniformly arranged along longitudinal direction;Each periodicity slot element includes 2 longitudinal joint 2-1 and 2 transverse joint 2-2, two neighboring periodicity
Spacing p between slot element takes λg/ 4 to λg, longitudinal joint 2-1 length l1Take λg/ 3 to λg, transverse joint 2-2 length l2Take λg/10
To λg/ 4, transverse and longitudinal seam between horizontal spacing dsTake λg/ 10 to λg/ 6, longitudinal joint 2-1 gap width w1With transverse joint 2-2 slit width
Spend w2Equal value is much smaller than l1;
It is equivalent when periodicity transverse joint on metal level 2 will be such that the electromagnetic wave is propagated between bottom waveguide groove 4 and metal level 2
Series inductance increase, it is equivalent when periodicity longitudinal joint therein will be such that the electromagnetic wave is propagated between bottom waveguide groove 4 and metal level 2
Shunt capacitance increase.
By Fig. 2, antenna body structure can be divided into 4 layer materials --- top medium flaggy 1, metal level 2, by machining or
Person electroplate or microelectronic technique means make bottom metal bottom waveguide groove 4, be filled between waveguide slot and metal level
Liquid crystal (liquid crystal layer 3).
By Fig. 3, the metal level under the single face medium plate of aerial head is initially formed pectination cable architecture, then the shape in this structure
The leaky wave structure of mixing is stitched into periodicity transverse and longitudinal, antenna is fed using waveguide port at two ends, first wave guide port feed
When, the load of second waveguide port matching connection, conversely, during the feed of second waveguide port, the load of first wave guide port matching connection.
To ensure that feed-in Electromagnetic Wave Propagation is good, the conduction band of certain distance length is respectively provided with first wave guide port and second waveguide port
2-3。
The antenna provided in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, present embodiment is made up of N number of periodicity slot element, top medium flaggy
1 is microwave board, relative dielectric constant εrBetween 2 to 10, losstangenttanδ<0.01, thickness d2<5mm, metal layer thickness
Less than 1mm.The dimensional parameters of antenna are relevant with the electromagnetic wavelength under target operating frequency, it is assumed that target operating frequency is f, this
When electromagnetic wavelength be λ, in waveguide transmit electromagnetic wave waveguide wavelength be λg, then this liquid crystal leaky wave scanning antenna design parameter
It can be expressed as follows by these parameters:Unit spacing p takes λg/ 4 to λg, the wide a of conduction band1Take λg/ 3 to 2 λg/ 3, now overall antenna length degree be
Lm=N*p+2lcs.Longitudinal joint length l1Take λg/ 3 to λg, transverse joint length l2Take λg/ 10 to λg/ 4, transverse and longitudinal seam spacing dsTake λg/ 10 to
λg/6.The long l of broach in pectination cable architecturecIt is approximately equal to λg/ 4, the wide w of broachcTake much smaller than λg, the outer width of frame a of pectinate line2Take λgTo 3
λg/ 2, pectinate line developed width acIt is slightly less than outer width of frame.
The appearance and size of bottom waveguide groove 4 is not limited, and the cannelure on bottom waveguide groove 4 is to utilize machining side
The L that method, microelectronic technique or electroplating technology makem×aLC×dLCCell body, takes groove width aLC>λ/2, λ is operation wavelength, groove depth
dLC<0.4 millimeter.The appearance and size of bottom waveguide groove 4 is not limited.Liquid crystal is filled complete between bottom waveguide groove 4 and metal level 2
Portion space, so as to form liquid crystal layer 3.The top of liquid crystal layer 3 is metal level 2 and medium flaggy 1 successively.Bottom waveguide groove 4 with
And the surface that metal level 2 is contacted with liquid crystal layer 3 will carry out orientation processing, it is ensured that the major axis of liquid crystal material molecules can not apply electricity
Z directions in the case of pressure in Fig. 3.It is metal level above liquid crystal, because the width of pectination cable architecture is than waveguide slot
Width is small, so be galvanically isolated between metal level and waveguide slot, therefore metal level and waveguide connection do not need insulating cement straight
Connect and seal in succession.
Embodiment two:Illustrate present embodiment with reference to Fig. 6 to Figure 13, present embodiment combines specific implementation
Example is described further to the antenna structure of embodiment one.
As a special case, it is automatically controlled that Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 give the liquid crystal waveguide transverse and longitudinal for working in a 13.3GHz seam leaky wave
The specific design parameter of scanning antenna.By Fig. 6, antenna top layer dielectric-slab selects microwave base plate, relative dielectric constant εr=4, damage
Angle tangent tan δ=0.004 is consumed, thickness is d2=1mm, metal layer thickness is 0.017mm.Antenna is by N=14 periodicity gap
Unit is constituted, unit spacing p=7mm, conduction band length lc=10.5mm.Longitudinal joint radiating element length is l1=10mm, plays matching and makees
Transverse joint length l2=1mm, transverse and longitudinal seam spacing ds=2mm, gap width is w1=w2=1mm.Broach is long in pectination cable architecture
lc=4mm, the wide w of broachc=2mm, the outer width of frame a of pectinate line2=15mm, pectinate line developed width ac=16.0mm.By Fig. 7 days
Line schematic cross-section, bottom liquid crystal cell body selects aluminum, and bottom liquid crystal cell body is to mill out one in the middle of one piece of aluminium cuboid block
Individual 15.9mm × 118mm × 0.254mm cell body.
The on-load voltage between the upper bottom crown of liquid crystal, by adjusting this voltage, thus it is possible to vary the arrangement of liquid crystal molecule, such as
Shown in Fig. 8.And then, the relative dielectric constant ε in liquid crystal all directions can be achievedrLCChange.
The liquid crystal selected in present embodiment is in applied voltage V=0V, and relative dielectric constant is ε on action directionr=
2.5;During applied voltage V=20V (bias state), relative dielectric constant is ε on action directionr=3.3.I.e. liquid crystal is powered up outside
When being pressed in 0V to 20V and changing, relative dielectric constant can be continuously adjusted between 2.5 to 3.3, so that leaky-wave antenna directional diagram ripple
Beam can be in the range of certain angle continuous scanning, finally realize to the automatically controlled of leaky-wave antenna pattern beam.In addition, such a
Liquid crystal is stable in microwave band loss angle tangent, is tan δ=0.006.
During work, electromagnetic wave is via a bias device from the feed-in of first wave guide port, and second waveguide port connects matched load,
Due to being insulated between metal level 2 and bottom waveguide groove 4, so and need not be the Antenna Design, the extra biasing circuit of processing,
Only need to low frequency bias voltage can be just applied on liquid crystal layer 4 by the bias device connected at port 1, so as to change liquid crystal
Effective dielectric constant.From first wave guide port feed-in electromagnetic wave, second waveguide port connects matched load, obtained antenna S ginsengs
Number such as Fig. 9, shown in Figure 10.Obtained Antenna Far Field major lobe of directional diagram direction with frequency change as shown in figure 11, antenna it is remote
Field pattern main lobe gain is as shown in figure 12 with the change of frequency.By Fig. 9, Figure 10 can see no matter V=0V (orientation state)
Or in V=20V (bias state), the 2GHz bandwidth ranges near 13.3GHz.Antenna S11 is always below -10dB, S21
Between -4.85 to -5.47dB, in order to reduce antenna size, special case given here only has 14 units, according to reason above
By can easily make S21 further reduce by increasing unit quantity N.By Figure 11, at 13.3GHz, in applied voltage
During 0 changes to 20V, antenna main lobe direction is from -8.0 ° of scannings to+8.3 °, and total scanning angle reaches 16.3 °.By Figure 12,
At 13.3GHz, the electric scanning process of antenna, the actual gain of antenna is changed to 11.41dB from 10.79dB, and gain is big always
In 10dB.Than traditional automatically controlled scanning leaky-wave antenna, the antenna realized zero scan, and gain is big and gain stabilization.