CN112805878A

CN112805878A - Broadband vertical polarization end-fire antenna

Info

Publication number: CN112805878A
Application number: CN201980066590.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄薇; 施平; 何小寅
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-10
Filing date: 2019-04-29
Publication date: 2021-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-29
Also published as: CN112805878B; WO2020073643A1

Abstract

An antenna, comprising: two floor panels spaced apart in a first direction; a three-dimensional (3D) cavity slot located between the two floor panels, wherein the 3D cavity slot includes an aperture in the first direction; and an antenna feed for exciting an antenna within the 3D cavity slot, wherein the antenna feed is shorted to the 3D cavity slot, the antenna feed and the 3D cavity slot forming a closed loop capable of generating a magnetic field around the closed loop that excites an unbalanced TE20 mode within the 3D cavity slot.

Description

Broadband vertical polarization end-fire antenna

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/743,587 filed on 10/2018 and U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/766,602 filed on 12/14/2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a broadband vertical polarization end-fire antenna (end-fire antenna), which can be used for 5G millimeter wave communication.

Background

Various emerging applications, such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), big data Analytics (AI), three-dimensional (3D) media, ultra-high-definition video transmission, etc., have enabled a large increase in the amount of data in wireless communication networks. 5G extends the spectrum usage below 6GHz and above 24GHz (i.e., millimeter waves) and opens up a large amount of bandwidth to achieve high data rates and large capacity.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates to a broadband vertical polarized (V-pol) endfire antenna.

In a first aspect, an antenna for wireless communication is provided, the antenna comprising: two floor panels spaced apart in a first direction; a three-dimensional (3D) cavity slot located between the two floor panels, wherein the 3D cavity slot includes an aperture in the first direction; an antenna feed for exciting an antenna within the 3D cavity slot, wherein the antenna feed is shorted to the 3D cavity slot, the antenna feed and the 3D cavity slot forming a closed loop capable of generating a magnetic field around the closed loop that excites an unbalanced TE20 mode within the 3D cavity slot. Therefore, a broadband vertically polarized endfire antenna that can be used for 5G millimeter wave communication can be realized.

Such an antenna is advantageous for realizing an efficient scheme for wireless communication, particularly 5G millimeter wave communication, by realizing a high data rate and a large bandwidth of a large capacity. The antenna has good linearity for millimeter wave communication, and can improve the transmission capability of a Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) diversity system of a 5G mobile device.

According to a first implementation of the apparatus provided by the first aspect, the antenna feed comprises a loop antenna feed that provides an efficient scheme of generating an unbalanced TE20 mode and generating a second resonant frequency to achieve large bandwidth and good linearity for the radiation pattern of the antenna.

In a second implementation form of the apparatus according to the first aspect as such or any of the preceding implementation forms of the first aspect, the loop antenna feed comprises: a first portion substantially parallel to at least one of the two floor panels; a second portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels; a third portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels, wherein the second portion is closer to the aperture than the third portion. Thus, in some cases, the loop antenna feed may be easier to implement or manufacture than other types of antenna feeds, such as L-shaped antenna feeds.

According to a third implementation of the apparatus provided in the first aspect or any implementation of the first aspect as such, the second portion is substantially close to the aperture. Thus, the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode within the 3D cavity slot, achieving vertical polarization.

According to a fourth implementation form of the apparatus provided by the first aspect or any implementation form of the first aspect as such, the aperture has a length λ₁/2, wherein λ₁Representing a first resonance frequency f with said antenna₁The corresponding wavelength.

According to a fifth implementation form of the apparatus provided by the first aspect or any implementation form of the first aspect as such, the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode and at a first resonant frequency f of the antenna along the first direction₁E-field is generated to achieve vertical polarization of the antenna.

The first aspect of the device provided in the first aspectIn six implementations or any implementation of the first aspect, the aperture has a width w that is substantially less than λ₁/10. Thus, the antenna can be implemented in a thinner vertical dimension and achieve stronger vertical polarization under end-fire/side-fire coverage.

According to a seventh implementation form of the apparatus provided by the first aspect or any implementation form of the first aspect as such, the distance between the antenna feed and one end of the aperture is λ₂/4, wherein λ₂Representing a second resonance frequency f with said antenna₂The corresponding wavelength. Thus, the bandwidth of the antenna can be configured by configuring the distance of the antenna feed relative to one end of the aperture.

According to an eighth implementation of the apparatus provided by the first aspect or any implementation of the first aspect as such, the two floors are composed of a first layer and a second layer of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and the antenna feed is composed of a third layer or more of the PCB and one or more vias of the PCB. Thus, the antenna may be implemented by a PCB.

According to a ninth implementation form of the apparatus provided by the first aspect or any implementation form of the first aspect, the antenna has a vertical polarization along the first direction, and the first direction is a thickness direction of the PCB. Thus, the antenna can be realized by a PCB having a thin vertical dimension.

In a second aspect, a wireless device for wireless communication, the wireless device comprising an antenna, the antenna comprising: two floor panels spaced apart in a first direction; a three-dimensional (3D) cavity slot located between the two floor panels, wherein the 3D cavity slot includes an aperture in the first direction; an antenna feed for exciting an antenna within said 3D cavity slot, the antenna feed being shorted to said 3D cavity slot, said antenna feed and said 3D cavity slot forming a closed loop capable of generating a magnetic field around said closed loop that excites an unbalanced TE20 mode within said 3D cavity slot. Therefore, a broadband vertically polarized endfire antenna that can be used for 5G millimeter wave communication can be realized.

Such a wireless device is advantageous for realizing an efficient scheme for wireless communication, particularly 5G millimeter wave communication, through a large bandwidth for realizing a high data rate and a large capacity. The antenna has good linearity for millimeter wave communication, and can improve the transmission capability of a Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) diversity system of a 5G mobile device.

A first implementation of the wireless apparatus provided in accordance with the second aspect, the antenna feed comprises a loop antenna feed that provides an efficient scheme of generating an unbalanced TE20 pattern and generating a second resonant frequency to achieve large bandwidth and good linearity for the radiation pattern of the antenna.

In a second implementation form of the wireless device according to the second aspect as such or any implementation form of the second aspect above, the loop antenna feed comprises: a first portion substantially parallel to at least one of the two floor panels; a second portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels; a third portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels, wherein the second portion is closer to the aperture than the third portion. Thus, in some cases, the loop antenna feed may be easier to implement or manufacture than other types of antenna feeds, such as L-shaped antenna feeds.

In accordance with a third implementation of the wireless device provided in the second aspect or any implementation of the second aspect as such, the second portion is substantially proximate to the aperture. Thus, the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode within the 3D cavity slot, achieving vertical polarization.

In a fourth implementation form of the wireless device according to the second aspect as such or any of the preceding implementation forms of the second aspect, the aperture has a length λ₁/2, wherein λ₁Representing a first resonance frequency f with said antenna₁The corresponding wavelength.

Fifth implementation manner of the wireless device according to the second aspect or the second aspectIn either implementation, the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode and at a first resonant frequency f of the antenna along the first direction₁E-field is generated to achieve vertical polarization of the antenna.

In a sixth implementation form of the wireless device according to the second aspect as such or any of the preceding implementation forms of the second aspect, the aperture has a width w, which is substantially smaller than λ₁/10. Thus, the antenna can be implemented in a thinner vertical dimension and achieve stronger vertical polarization under end-fire/side-fire coverage.

In a seventh implementation form of the wireless device according to the second aspect as such or any of the previous implementation forms of the second aspect, the antenna feed is at a distance λ from an end of the aperture₂/4, wherein λ₂Representing a second resonance frequency f with said antenna₂The corresponding wavelength. Thus, the bandwidth of the antenna can be configured by configuring the distance of the antenna feed relative to one end of the aperture.

In an eighth implementation form of the wireless device according to the second aspect as such or any of the preceding implementation forms of the second aspect, the two floors are composed of a first layer and a second layer of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and the antenna feed is composed of a third layer or more of the PCB and one or more vias of the PCB. Thus, the antenna may be implemented by a PCB.

According to a ninth implementation form of the wireless device provided by the second aspect or any implementation form of the second aspect as such, the antenna has a vertical polarization along the first direction, and the first direction is a thickness direction of the PCB. Thus, the antenna can be realized by a PCB having a thin vertical dimension.

A third aspect relates to an antenna array for wireless communication, the antenna array comprising a plurality of antennas, wherein each antenna comprises: two floor panels spaced apart in a first direction; a three-dimensional (3D) cavity slot located between the two floor panels, wherein the 3D cavity slot includes an aperture in the first direction; an antenna feed for exciting an antenna within the 3D cavity slot, the antenna feed shorted to the 3D cavity slot, the antenna feed and the 3D cavity slot forming a closed loop capable of generating a magnetic field around the closed loop that excites an unbalanced TE20 mode within the 3D cavity slot. Therefore, a broadband vertically polarized endfire antenna that can be used for 5G millimeter wave communication can be realized.

Such an antenna array is advantageous for realizing an efficient scheme for wireless communication, especially 5G millimeter wave communication, through a large bandwidth for realizing a high data rate and a large capacity. The antenna has good linearity for millimeter wave communication, and can improve the transmission capability of a Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) diversity system of a 5G mobile device.

In a first implementation of the apparatus provided in the third aspect, the antenna feed comprises a loop antenna feed that provides an efficient scheme of generating an unbalanced TE20 mode and generating a second resonant frequency to achieve large bandwidth and good linearity for the radiation pattern of the antenna.

According to a second implementation form of the antenna array provided by the third aspect or any implementation form of the above third aspect, the loop antenna feed comprises: a first portion substantially parallel to at least one of the two floor panels; a second portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels; a third portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels, wherein the second portion is closer to the aperture than the third portion. Thus, in some cases, the loop antenna feed may be easier to implement or manufacture than other types of antenna feeds, such as L-shaped antenna feeds.

According to a third implementation of the antenna array provided in the third aspect or any implementation of the third aspect as such, the second portion is substantially close to the aperture. Thus, the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode within the 3D cavity slot, achieving vertical polarization.

A fourth implementation of the antenna array provided according to the third aspect orIn a third aspect of any of the above implementations, the aperture has a length λ₁/2, wherein λ₁Representing a first resonance frequency f with said antenna₁The corresponding wavelength.

According to a fifth implementation form of the antenna array provided by the third aspect or any implementation form of the third aspect as such, the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode and at a first resonant frequency f of the antenna along the first direction₁E-field is generated to achieve vertical polarization of the antenna.

According to a sixth implementation form of the antenna array provided by the third aspect or any implementation form of the third aspect as such, the aperture has a width w, and w is substantially smaller than λ₁/10. Thus, the antenna can be implemented in a thinner vertical dimension and achieve stronger vertical polarization under end-fire/side-fire coverage.

According to a seventh implementation form of the antenna array provided by the third aspect or any implementation form of the third aspect as such, the distance between the antenna feed and one end of the aperture is λ₂/4, wherein λ₂Representing a second resonance frequency f with said antenna₂The corresponding wavelength. Thus, the bandwidth of the antenna can be configured by configuring the distance of the antenna feed relative to one end of the aperture.

In an eighth implementation form of the antenna array provided by the third aspect or any implementation form of the third aspect as such, the two floors are composed of a first layer and a second layer of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and the antenna feed is composed of a third layer or more of the PCB and one or more vias of the PCB. Thus, the antenna may be implemented by a PCB.

According to a ninth implementation form of the antenna array provided by the third aspect or any implementation form of the third aspect, the antenna has a vertical polarization along the first direction, and the first direction is a thickness direction of the PCB. Thus, the antenna can be realized by a PCB having a thin vertical dimension.

The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter of this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

Drawings

FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams provided for one implementation illustrating an exemplary process of configuring a slot antenna by folding a floor;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary process of configuring a three-dimensional (3D) cavity slot;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram provided by one implementation illustrating portions of an exemplary broadband vertically polarized (V-pol) antenna;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary return loss of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary electric field (E-field) of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in the TE10 mode;

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary E-field of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in the TE20 mode;

FIG. 6B is a diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary magnetic field (H-field) of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in the TE20 mode;

FIG. 6C is a schematic diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary balanced TE20 pattern with oppositely directed and approximately equal electric fields;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary E-field of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in the TE10 mode;

FIG. 7B is a diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary E-field of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in an unbalanced TE20 mode;

FIG. 7C is a diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary H-field of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in the TE10 mode;

FIG. 7D is a diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary H-field of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in an unbalanced TE20 mode;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating portions of another exemplary 3D slot antenna;

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram provided in one implementation illustrating an exemplary return loss of another exemplary 3D slot antenna;

FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating portions of yet another exemplary 3D slot antenna;

fig. 9B is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary return loss of yet another exemplary 3D slot antenna;

FIGS. 10A and 10B provide schematic diagrams illustrating gain diagrams of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300, according to one implementation;

FIGS. 11A and 11B provide schematic diagrams illustrating gain and angle plots at a first resonant frequency for an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in the E-plane and H-plane, respectively, for one implementation;

FIGS. 12A and 12B provide schematic diagrams illustrating gain and angle plots for an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna at a second resonant frequency in the E-plane and H-plane, respectively, for one implementation;

fig. 13 is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating exemplary array gains for an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna array.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

Detailed Description

A broadband vertically polarized (V-pol) endfire antenna is described in detail below to enable one skilled in the art to implement and use the disclosed subject matter in the context of one or more particular implementations.

Various modifications, changes, and arrangements to the disclosed implementations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined may be applied to other implementations and applications without departing from the scope of the invention. In certain instances, details that are not necessary to obtain an understanding of the subject matter may be omitted to avoid obscuring one or more of the described implementations with unnecessary detail because such details are within the skill of one of ordinary skill in the art. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the implementations described or illustrated, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described.

In wireless communication systems, especially in 5G systems operating at high frequency bands (e.g., the millimeter wave band in 5G systems), high signal attenuation limits the radio link budget during propagation over the air interface. Therefore, an intelligently designed beamforming algorithm for a multi-array antenna is needed to improve space division multiplexing gain in a Multiple Input and Multiple Output (MIMO) system, especially when a millimeter wave mobile terminal is in a channel condition in an unpredictable direction. For example, beam polarization may be dynamically adapted to the real channel environment, thereby increasing or maximizing efficiency. In some implementations, two separate linear polarizations (horizontal and vertical) are required, thereby enabling both base-station and mobile-terminal phased arrays to improve capacity in MIMO diversity systems under line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions.

Linearly polarized antenna elements with vertical sections with small electrical dimensions are complex to implement. As consumer terminals become smaller in size, antennas need to be designed in small sizes. Again, for a dipole antenna, the antenna size depends on the operating frequency. Therefore, it is not easy to reduce the antenna size in the 5G system operating in the millimeter wave band.

In some implementations, horizontal polarization may be achieved by a typical planar dipole or yagi antenna. If the horizontal dipole is rotated only 90 degrees to the vertical direction, the horizontal dipole of the original half-wave size is not sufficiently small in electrical size. In addition, interference with linearity and polarization isolation also needs to be carefully considered and addressed when polarized antenna elements coexist in the same or similar space.

The present invention provides an antenna system to solve the above problems. The antenna system may support vertical polarization under end-fire coverage with a vertical profile that is electrically small for millimeter wave communications. The antenna system can support dual polarization under end-fire/side-fire coverage with small vertical dimensions. The antenna system enables millimeter wave antennas within compact mobile devices, for example, to boost the capacity of a MIMO diversity system for 5G mobile devices.

Fig. 1A and 1B provide a schematic diagram of one implementation illustrating an exemplary process 100 for configuring a slot antenna by folding a floor (ground plane). FIG. 1A shows a floor 110 with a slotted aperture 150. The floor 110 may be a conductive material. For example, the floor 110 may be a planar metal plate. The slot aperture 150 has a length L ═ λ/2 and a width w, where λ denotes a wavelength corresponding to the first resonant frequency of the slot antenna. The slot aperture 150 has two

longitudinal edges

101 and 103.

In some implementations, to achieve a vertical profile with small dimensions (e.g., less than λ)₀/10, wherein λ₀Representing a wavelength corresponding to the first resonant frequency of the corresponding antenna), the floor 110 may be folded along the two

fold lines

102 and 104. The two

fold lines

102 and 104 are in line with or along the two

longitudinal edges

101 and 103 of the slot aperture 150, respectively. By folding, the two

sides

112 and 114 of the floor panel 110 may form two opposing floor panels, e.g., forming a U-shape as shown in the U-shaped configuration 215 of FIG. 2.

Fig. 2 provides a schematic diagram of one implementation illustrating an exemplary process 200 for configuring a three-dimensional (3D) cavity slot 210. As shown in fig. 2, the 3D cavity slot 210 may be configured by folding a planar slot antenna 205 that includes a floor 220 with a slot aperture 250. The slot aperture 250 has a length λ/2 in the horizontal direction and a width w in the vertical direction. The floor 220 and the slot aperture 250 can be, for example, the floor 110 and the slot aperture 150, respectively, shown in FIG. 1.

The floor 220 may be folded along both longitudinal edges of the slot aperture 250 to form a U-shaped structure 215, for example, in a manner similar to that described in fig. 1. Thus, the U-shaped structure 215 has two floors, e.g., 222 and 224, that are substantially parallel, where "substantially parallel" includes parallel or functionally equivalent to parallel, so long as functionality (e.g., structural functionality or electrical functionality) is retained. For example, if the relative angle of the two

floor panels

222 and 224 is less than 1 or 2 degrees, the two

floor panels

222 and 224 are considered to be substantially parallel to each other.

A back cavity 255 may be added to the U-shaped structure 215 forming the 3D cavity slot 210 with the slot aperture 250 described above. Thus, as shown in fig. 2, the 3D cavity slot 210 has a length L ═ λ/2, a width w, and a depth D. The slot aperture 250 radiates in the thickness direction of the U-shaped structure 215 (i.e., the width or vertical dimension of the slot aperture 250, denoted by w in fig. 2).

As shown in fig. 2, the 3D cavity slot 210 is box-shaped. The 3D cavity slot 210 may be a cuboid, cube, or other shape having six sides or faces 202, 204, 232, 234, 242, and 244. In some implementations, each of the six

sides

202, 204, 232, 234, 242, and 244 is substantially rectangular. In some implementations, the slot aperture 250 is formed or located at the leading or outer side 244 of the 3D cavity slot 210 (facing outward to the viewer as shown in fig. 2), while the other five

sides

202, 204, 232, 234, 242 are made of an electrically conductive material.

Of the six sides, the top side 202 and the bottom side 204 are substantially parallel or planar with the

floor panels

222 and 224, respectively. For example, the top side 202 and the bottom side 204 may be two conductive planes formed by portions of the

floor panels

222 and 224, respectively. The top side 202 and the bottom side 204 are substantially parallel and are separated by a distance w, which is the width of the slot aperture 250. As shown in fig. 2, each of the

sides

202 and 204 is rectangular with dimensions L x D, where D is the depth of the 3D cavity slot 210 described above.

The 3D cavity slot 210 also has two

sides

232 and 234. The side edges 232 and 234 may be two conductive planes made of the same or different materials as the

floor panels

222 and 224 described above. The

sides

232 and 234 are substantially parallel and spaced apart by a distance L, which is the length of the slot aperture 250. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the

sides

232 and 234 is rectangular and has a dimension D w, where D is the depth of the 3D cavity slot 210.

The 3D cavity slot 210 also has an inner or posterior side 242 and an outer or anterior side 244. The inner side 232 may be a conductive plane made of the same or different material as the

floor panels

222 and 224 described above. The outer side 232 is comprised of the slot aperture 250 described above. The inner side 242 and the outer side 244 are substantially parallel and spaced apart a distance D, which is the depth of the 3D cavity slot 210. As shown in fig. 2, each of the inner side 242 and the outer side 244 is rectangular with dimensions L x w, where w is the width of the 3D cavity slot 210 described above.

In some implementations, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) may be used to form the 3D cavity slot 210 using the multilayer and via structure of the PCB. For example, the two

floors

222 and 224 of the 3D cavity slot 210 described above, as well as the top and

bottom sides

202 and 204 of the 3D cavity slot 210, may be configured by two layers of PCB. The

sides

232 and 234 and the inner side 242 may be configured by Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) vias (shorting walls) of the PCB. The space between the two layers of the PCB and the corresponding vias may define the slot aperture 250 described above.

In some implementations, the 3D cavity slot 210 itself can be used as a cavity slot antenna with vertical polarization (taken along the PCB thickness direction for example) as shown by the arrow in fig. 2. However, the bandwidth of such a 3D cavity slot antenna is limited. For example, the 3D cavity slot antenna supports only approximately 7% of the bandwidth. Whereas for 5G communications over the B257(26.5 to 29.5GHz) band, the antenna needs to support at least 12% of the bandwidth.

To support 5G broadband communications, a broadband vertically polarized (V-pol) antenna may be configured based on the structure of the 3D cavity slot 210 described above. In some implementations, the depth and length of the 3D cavity slot 210 both affect the resonant frequency of the broadband V-pol antenna.

Fig. 3 provides a schematic diagram of an implementation illustrating portions of an exemplary wideband vertically polarized (V-pol) antenna 300. The exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 includes two

floors

312 and 314 spaced apart in a first direction (e.g., a vertical or elevation direction indicated by h in fig. 3); a 3D cavity slot 310 located between two

floors

312 and 314; an antenna feed 320 within the 3D cavity slot 310. The two

floors

312 and 314 may be examples of the two

floors

222 and 224 described in FIG. 2. For example, the two

floor panels

312 and 314 may be formed by folding a planar metal plate. The 3D cavity slot 310 may be an example of the 3D cavity slot 210 described in fig. 2.

The 3D cavity slot 310 has a length L ═ λ₁And/2, the width or height is h, and the depth is d. For example, the 3D cavity slot 310 may be a cuboid and defined by six sides or faces 302, 304, 332, 334, 342, and 344 that correspond to the six

sides

202, 204, 232, 234, 242, and 244, respectively, of the 3D cavity slot 210 described above. The 3D cavity slot 310 includes a slot aperture 350 on the outside 344, while the other five sides are made of conductive material. The slot aperture 350 may be of length L ═ λ₁A vertical slot aperture of width or height h,/2.

Of the six sides, the top side 302 and the bottom side 304 are substantially parallel or planar with the

floor panels

312 and 314, respectively. For example, the top side 302 and the bottom side 304 may be two conductive planes formed by portions of the

floor

312 and 314, respectively. The top side 302 and the bottom side 304 are substantially parallel and spaced apart by a distance h, which is the width or vertical height of the slot aperture 350. In some implementations, the width or height h of the slot aperture 350 (and the 3D cavity slot 310 described above) is configured to be less than 1/10 λ₀To achieve the small size vertical profile of the wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the

sides

302 and 304 has a side dimension of L D, where L is the length of the 3D cavity slot 310And D is the depth of the 3D cavity slot 310.

The 3D cavity slot 310 also has two

sides

332 and 334. The side edges 332 and 334 may be two conductive planes made of the same or different materials as the

floor panels

312 and 314 described above. The

sides

332 and 334 are substantially parallel and are spaced apart a distance L, which is the length of the slot aperture 350. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the sides 333 and 334 has a side dimension D h, where D is the depth of the 3D cavity slot 310.

The 3D cavity slot 310 also has an inner side 342 and an outer side 344. The inner side 342 may be a conductive plane made of the same or different material as the

floor panels

312 and 314 described above. The outer side 344 is comprised of the slot aperture 350 described above. The inner side 342 and outer side 344 are substantially parallel and spaced apart a distance D, which is the depth of the 3D cavity slot 310. As shown in fig. 3, each of the medial side 342 and lateral side 344 has a side dimension L x h, where h is the height of the 3D cavity slot 310.

The exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 includes the antenna feed 320 (e.g., feed line) for exciting the 3D cavity slot 310 within the 3D cavity slot 310. The antenna feed 320 is used to excite the TE10 mode and at a first resonant frequency f of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 along the first direction₁An electric field (E-field) is generated to achieve vertical polarization of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300.

The antenna feed 320 is shorted to the 3D cavity slot 310, and thus, the antenna feed 320 and the 3D cavity slot 310 form a closed loop capable of generating a magnetic field around the closed loop that excites an unbalanced TE20 mode within the 3D cavity slot 310.

In some implementations, the antenna feed 320 can be ring-shaped, including a horizontal portion 322 along a horizontal or depth direction of the 3D cavity slot 310, and two

vertical portions

324 and 326 along a vertical or height direction of the 3D cavity slot 310. In some implementations, the horizontal portion 322 is substantially parallel to the

floor panels

312 and 314 described above, while the vertical portion 324 is substantially perpendicular to the

floor panels

312 and 314, where "substantially perpendicular" includes perpendicular or functionally equivalent to perpendicular, so long as functionality (e.g., structural or electrical functionality) is retained. For example, if the relative angle of the vertical portion 324 to the two

floor panels

312 and 314 is 88 to 92 degrees, the vertical portion 324 and the two

floor panels

312 and 314 are considered to be substantially perpendicular.

As shown in fig. 3, horizontal portion 322 of the antenna feed 320 is shorted to one side of the 3D cavity slot 310 (e.g., inner side 342 of the 3D cavity slot 310). In some implementations, the horizontal portion 322 of the antenna feed 320 is connected to the inner side 342 of the 3D cavity slot 310 and extends outward to the outer side 344 as close as possible to the slot aperture 350. The horizontal portion 322 has a dimension L₁×d₁Wherein L is₁<L，d₁D is less than or equal to d. In some implementations, L₁Substantially less than L (e.g., less than 1/5 or 1/10 of L), d₁Substantially equal to d such that the horizontal portion 322 extends substantially proximal to the slot aperture 350 on the outer side 344, wherein "substantially equal" includes being equal to, or slightly greater than or less than (e.g., within an acceptable range of 5% or 10%), so long as functionality is preserved; "substantially close" includes distances that are short or negligible (e.g., the distances are less than 1 millimeter or even 0.1 millimeter) as long as functional performance is retained.

Between the two

vertical portions

324 and 326, the vertical portion 324 is closer to the slot aperture 350 on the outer side 344 and the vertical portion 326 is closer to the outer side 342. In some implementations, the two

vertical portions

324 and 326 are substantially parallel to each other. One end of each of the two

vertical portions

324 and 326 is shorted to the horizontal portion 322 of the antenna feed 320, and the other end of each of the two

vertical portions

324 and 326 is shorted to a side of the 3D cavity slot 310 (e.g., the top side 302 or the bottom side 304 of the 3D cavity slot 310).

For example, in some implementations, one end of the vertical portion 324 extends from or is connected to the horizontal portion 322 at or near an outer end of the horizontal portion 322 that is closer to the outer side 344; one end of the vertical portion 326 extends from or connects to the horizontal portion 322 at or near the inner end closer to the inner side 342. As shown in FIG. 3, the other end of vertical portion 324 and the other end of vertical portion 324 are both shorted to bottom side 304 of 3D cavity slot 310. In some implementations, the other end of vertical portion 324 and the other end of vertical portion 324 can both be shorted to top side 302 of 3D cavity slot 310. In other words, while fig. 3 illustrates the

vertical portions

324 and 326 extending heightwise from the horizontal portion 322 down toward the bottom side 304, in other implementations, the

vertical portions

324 and 326 may extend heightwise from the horizontal portion 322 up toward the top side 302.

In some implementations, the

vertical portions

324 and 326 can have the same or different shapes and sizes. For example, the vertical portion 324 can have a dimension h₂×L₂Wherein h is₂≤h，L₂≤L₁. The vertical portion 326 may have a dimension h₃×L₃Wherein h is₃≤h，L₃≤L₁. In some implementations, L₂And L₃Are all substantially equal to L₁，h₂And h₃Are substantially equal. h is₂And h₃Depending on the relative position of the horizontal portion 322 and the top side 302 or the bottom side 304 of the 3D cavity slot 310. For example, if the horizontal portion 322 is spaced apart from the top side 304 by a distance or height h₁Then h is₂＝h₃＝h–h₁。

In some implementations, the antenna feed 320 described above can be configured with a coaxial feed or stripline feed with the vertical portion 324 located at or as close as possible to the slot aperture 350 of the 3D cavity slot 310 and shorted to one side of the 3D cavity slot 310 (e.g., the top side 302 or the bottom side 304) to achieve strong vertical polarization. For example, in some implementations, the

vertical portions

324 and 326 can be constructed by bending or folding the antenna feed 320 up or down along the height direction of the 3D cavity slot 310. In some implementations, the antenna feed 320 can be a 50Ohm CPW line embedded between the top side 302 or bottom side 304 (in some implementations, also folded floors 312 and 314) of the 3D cavity slot 310 and shorted to the bottom side 304.

In some implementations, the antenna feed 320 can be configured through one or more layers of a PCB to form the horizontal portion 322 and one or more vias of the PCB, further forming the

vertical portions

324 and 326. In some implementations, the antenna feed 320 can be configured in other ways. For example, the antenna feed 320 may be configured in an L-shape including the horizontal portion 322 and the vertical portion 324, but not including the vertical portion 326, wherein the horizontal portion 322 and the vertical portion 324 are shorted to the 3D cavity slot 310. Thus, the antenna feed 320 and the 3D cavity slot 310 form a closed loop capable of generating a magnetic field around the closed loop that excites an unbalanced TE20 mode within the 3D cavity slot 310. As an example, in an L-shaped configuration, the antenna feed 320 may short the horizontal portion 322 to the inside 342 of the 3D cavity slot 310 and the vertical portion 324 to the bottom side 304 of the 3D cavity slot 310. Thus, the antenna feed 320 and the 3D cavity slot 310 form the closed loop.

In some implementations, the antenna feed 320 excites the center of the 3D cavity slot 310 to the 3D cavity slot 310. Thus, the antenna feed 320 may be referred to as an out-of-focus antenna feed. In some implementations, the location of the antenna feed 320 relative to

sides

332 or 334 of the 3D cavity slot 310 may be configured, for example, to match impedances, achieve a desired return loss or gain pattern, or for other purposes. As shown in FIG. 3, the antenna feed 320 is spaced λ from the side 334 of the 3D cavity slot 310₂/4, wherein λ₂Representing a second resonant frequency f with the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300₂The corresponding wavelength. In some implementations, the antenna feed 320 can be placed in other locations to excite the 3D cavity slotsAnd (4) a slot 310.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary return loss 400 of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna (e.g., the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above). The exemplary return loss 400 may be an exemplary pattern analysis result of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300. As shown in FIG. 4, the return loss (or reflection coefficient represented by S11) of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 is approximately-10 dB at both 26.3GHz and 29.9GHz frequencies. Thus, the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 has a large bandwidth and may support the 26.5Ghz to 29.5Ghz band of a 5G system.

Fig. 5 provides a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary electric field (E-field) 500 of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna (e.g., the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above) in the TE10 mode, according to one implementation. In this example, the E-field500 is at a first resonant frequency or radiation frequency f₁Measured at 26.5 GHz. As shown in fig. 5, the

vertical portions

324 and 326 of the antenna feed 320 excite the TE10 mode. Thus, as noted by arrow 510, the resulting E-field500 is vertical and aligned everywhere along the height or width direction of the slot aperture 350 (as well as the thickness or height direction of the 3D cavity slot 310) to achieve vertical polarization of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300.

Fig. 6A provides a schematic diagram for one implementation illustrating an exemplary E-field600 of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna (e.g., the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above) in the TE20 mode. In this example, the E-field600 is at a second resonant frequency or radiation frequency f₂Measured at 29.4 GHz. Fig. 6B is a schematic diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary magnetic field (E-field) 650 of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna (e.g., the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above) in the TE20 mode. In this example, the H-field is measured at a frequency of 29.4 Ghz.

As shown in fig. 6B, the horizontal portion 322 of the antenna feed 320 is shorted to the inside 342 of the 3D cavity slot 310 and the

vertical portions

324 and 326 of the antenna feed 320 are shorted to the bottom side 304 of the 3D cavity slot 310, forming a loop feed structure. As shown in fig. 6A, the loop feed structure corresponds to a magnetic dipole generated around the loop feed structure that excites the H-field626 of the unbalanced TE20 mode within the 3D cavity slot 310.

In the unbalanced TE20 mode described above as shown in fig. 6A, there is a stronger E-field620 at one end of the antenna feed 320 and a weaker E-field610 at the other end, as compared to the typical balanced TE20 mode with oppositely directed, approximately

equal E-fields

602 and 604 as shown in fig. 6C. The stronger E-field620 and the weaker E-field610 are both perpendicular, but in different directions. Due to the imbalance, the stronger E-field620 acts primarily on the radiation and enhances the vertical polarization under end-fire coverage. As shown in fig. 11A and 11B and fig. 12A and 12B described below, there is still a main beam with good linearity in its radiation pattern.

Fig. 7A provides a schematic diagram for one implementation illustrating an exemplary E-field700 of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna (e.g., the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above) in the TE10 mode. In this example, the E-field500 is at a first resonant frequency or radiation frequency f₁Measured at 26.5 GHz. Fig. 7B is a diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary E-field730 of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 in the unbalanced TE20 mode described above. In this example, the E-field is at a second resonant frequency or radiation frequency f₂Measured at 29.5 GHz.

Fig. 7C is a diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary H-field760 of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 in the TE10 mode described above. In this example, the E-field500 is at a first resonant frequency or radiation frequency f₁Measured at 26.5 GHz. Fig. 7D is a diagram provided by one implementation illustrating an exemplary H-field790 of an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 in the unbalanced TE20 mode described above. In this example, the E-field is at a second resonant frequency or radiation frequency f₂Measured at 29.5 GHz.

Fig. 8A is a schematic diagram provided in one implementation illustrating portions of another exemplary 3D slot antenna 800. The exemplary 3D slot antenna 800 includes: two

floor panels

812 and 814; a 3D cavity slot 810 formed between the

floor panels

812 and 814; an antenna feed 820 within the 3D cavity slot 810. The 3D cavity slot 810 may have the same structure as the 3D cavity slot 310 of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above. The antenna feed 820 is a probe feed that is shorted to the

floors

812 and 814. The antenna feed 820 may be offset and located a relative distance feed x from the side 834 of the 3D cavity slot 810. However, unlike the antenna feed 320 of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300, which would form a loop feed structure (e.g., through the L-shaped antenna feed 320) that can excite an unbalanced TE20 mode, the probe antenna feed 820 does not generate a second resonant frequency to achieve the large bandwidth of the exemplary 3D slot antenna 800.

Fig. 8B is a schematic diagram provided in one implementation illustrating an exemplary return loss 850 of another exemplary 3D slot antenna 800. The exemplary return loss 850 represents: the shorted detector antenna feed 820 does not generate the second resonant frequency even if the offset distance feed x is different. Accordingly, the exemplary 3D slot antenna 800 does not have a large bandwidth to support wideband communication for 5G systems over the 26.5GHz to 29.5GHz band.

Fig. 9A provides a schematic diagram of an implementation showing portions of yet another exemplary 3D slot antenna 900. The exemplary 3D slot antenna 900 includes: two

floor panels

912 and 914; a 3D cavity slot 910 formed between the

floor panels

912 and 914; an antenna feed 920 within the 3D cavity slot 910. The 3D cavity slot 910 may have the same structure as the 3D cavity slot 310 of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above. The antenna feed 920 is an open ended L-shaped probe feed that is neither shorted or connected to either of the

floor

912 and 914, nor to the inside 942 of the 3D cavity slot 910. The antenna feed 920 may be offset and at a relative distance feed _ x from side 934 of the 3D cavity slot 910. However, unlike the antenna feed 320 of the exemplary broadband V-pol antenna 300, which is a closed-ended antenna feed due to two ends shorted to or connected to the inside 342 and bottom side 304 of the 3D cavity slot 310 (and also the

floors

312 and 314 described above), respectively, the open-ended L-shaped probe antenna feed 920 does not generate a second resonant frequency to achieve the large bandwidth of the exemplary 3D slot antenna 900.

Fig. 9B is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary return loss 950 of yet another exemplary 3D slot antenna 900. The exemplary return loss 950 represents: the open ended L-shaped detector antenna feed 920 does not generate the second resonant frequency even if the offset distance feed x is different. Accordingly, the exemplary 3D slot antenna 900 does not have a large bandwidth to support wideband communication for 5G systems over the 26.5GHz to 29.5GHz band.

Fig. 10A and 10B provide schematic diagrams illustrating gain diagrams of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 described above for one implementation. In particular, fig. 10A shows a gain diagram 1000 for the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 at 26.5GHz supported by the TE10 mode. The main lobe direction (maximum gain direction) 1010 is Theta 92 ° and Phi 84 °, pointing substantially in the vertical direction (i.e., Z-axis shown in fig. 10A). As shown in fig. 10A, the vertical direction is the height or thickness direction of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300, perpendicular to the above-described

floors

312 and 314 in the directions shown by the X-axis and Y-axis.

Fig. 10B shows a gain diagram 1050 for the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 at 29.5GHz supported by the unbalanced TE20 mode. The main lobe direction (maximum gain direction) 1015 is Theta 102 ° and Phi 74 °, slightly offset from the vertical direction (i.e., Z-axis shown in fig. 10B).

Fig. 11A and 11B provide schematic diagrams 1100 and 1150, respectively, illustrating gain and angle plots at a first resonant frequency for an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 in the E-plane and H-plane, respectively, for one implementation. Specifically, fig. 11A shows E-plane co-polarization (co-pol) 1110 and cross-polarization (x-pol) 1120 of the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 at a first resonant frequency of 26.5GHz and Phi 90 °. Fig. 11B shows the H-plane co-polarization (co-pol) 1130 and cross-polarization (x-pol) 1140 of the exemplary broadband V-pol antenna 300 at 26.5GHz and Phi 90 °. The low cross polarization in both the E-plane and the H-plane indicates that the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 provides good linearity at the first resonant frequency of 26.5 GHz.

Fig. 12A and 12B provide schematic diagrams 1200 and 1250, respectively, illustrating gain and angle plots for an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna in the E-plane and H-plane at a second resonant frequency, for one implementation. Specifically, fig. 12A shows E-plane co-polarization (co-pol) 1210 and cross-polarization (x-pol) 1220 of the exemplary broadband V-pol antenna 300 at a second resonant frequency of 29.5GHz and Phi 90 °. Fig. 12B shows H-plane co-polarization (co-pol) 1230 and cross-polarization (x-pol) 1240 of the exemplary broadband V-pol antenna 300 at 29.5GHz and Phi 90 °. The low cross polarization in both the E-plane and the H-plane indicates that the exemplary wideband V-pol antenna 300 provides good linearity at the second resonant frequency of 29.5 GHz.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram provided by an implementation illustrating an exemplary array gain 1300 for an exemplary wideband V-pol antenna array. The exemplary wideband V-pol antenna array includes four exemplary wideband V-pol antennas 300. The exemplary array gain 1300 represents the direction in which the maximum gain direction 1310 is aligned with the Y-axis direction, i.e., the direction when Phi is 90 deg..

Implementations of the subject matter and the functional operations described herein may be implemented as digital electronic circuitry, tangible computer software or firmware, computer hardware, including the structures disclosed herein and their structural equivalents, or as combinations of one or more of them. Implementations of the subject matter described herein may be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively or additionally, the program instructions may be encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal (e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal) that is used to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus for execution by data processing apparatus. The computer storage medium may be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory device, or a combination of computer storage media.

The terms "data processing apparatus," "computer," or "electronic computer device" (or equivalents thereof as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art) refer to data processing hardware and include all apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus may also, or alternatively, comprise dedicated logic circuitry, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In some implementations, the data processing apparatus or dedicated logic circuit (or a combination of the data processing apparatus and dedicated logic circuit) may be hardware or software based (or a combination of hardware and software based). The apparatus can optionally include code that creates an execution environment for the computer program, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of execution environments. The present invention contemplates the use of data processing apparatus with or without a conventional operating system such as Linux, Unix, Windows, MAC OS, Android, iOS or any other suitable conventional operating system.

A computer program, which can also be referred to or described as a program, software, a software application, a module, a software module, a script, or code, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that includes other programs or data, such as in a markup language document, in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in one or more scripts of a multiple coordinated file (e.g., a file that stores one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network. While the various parts of the program in the various figures are shown as separate modules implementing the various features and functions through various objects, methods, or other processes, the program may also include multiple sub-modules, three-way services, components, libraries, etc., as the case may be. Rather, the features and functions of the various components described may be combined into a single module, as the case may be. The threshold for the computational determination may be static, dynamic, or both static and dynamic.

The various methods, processes, or logic flows described herein can be performed by one or more programmable computers executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The methods, processes, or logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., a CPU, FPGA, or ASIC.

A computer suitable for executing a computer program may be based on a general purpose and/or special purpose microprocessor, as well as any other type of CPU. Typically, a CPU receives instructions and data from a read-only memory (ROM) and/or a Random Access Memory (RAM). The computer element includes: a CPU to run or execute instructions; one or more memory devices to store instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks; or a computer suitably coupled to receive data from and/or transfer data to the one or more mass storage devices. However, a computer does not require such a device. In addition, the computer may be embedded in another device, for example, a mobile phone, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile audio-video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive, etc.

Computer-readable media (transitory or non-transitory, as appropriate) suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include various forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks or removable magnetic disks or magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM, DVD +/-R, DVD-RAM and DVD-ROM disks. The memory may store various objects or data, including caches, classes, frames, applications, backup data, functions, web pages, web page templates, database tables, repositories storing dynamic information, and any other suitable information, including any parameters, variables, algorithms, instructions, rules, constraints, or references thereto. Further, the memory may include any other suitable data, such as logs, policies, security or access data, reporting files, and other data. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, implementations of the subject matter described herein can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), LED (light emitting diode), or plasma monitor, that displays information to the user and the user can provide a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse, a trackball, or a trackpad, to the computer for input. Touch screens may also be used to provide input to the computer, for example, the touch screen may be a tablet surface with pressure sensitivity, a multi-touch screen using capacitive or inductive types, or other types of touch screens. Other types of devices may also be used to provide for interaction with the user. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. In addition, the computer may interact with the user by sending files to and receiving files from a device used by the user, for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on the user's client device in response to requests received from the web browser.

A "graphical user interface" or "GUI" may be used in one or more contexts to describe one or more graphical user interfaces and each display of a particular graphical user interface. Thus, the GUI may represent any graphical user interface, including but not limited to a web browser, touch screen, or Command Line Interface (CLI) for processing information and efficiently displaying information results to a user. In general, a GUI may include a plurality of User Interface (UI) elements, such as interaction fields, drop down lists, buttons, which are partially or fully associated with a web browser. The above and other UI elements may relate to or represent functions of the web browser.

Implementations of the subject matter described herein may be implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a web browser through which a user interacts with an implementation of the subject matter described herein, or any combination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of wired or wireless digital data communication (or combination of data communication), e.g., a communication network. Examples of such communication networks include a Local Area Network (LAN), a Radio Access Network (RAN), a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), e.g., using 802.11a/b/g/n or 802.20 (or a combination of 802.11x and 802.20, or other protocols consistent with the present invention), all or a portion of the internet, or any other communication system or system (or combination of communication networks) at one or more locations. For example, the network may communicate appropriate information (or combination of communication types) between network protocol (IP) packets, frame relay frames, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) cells, voice, video, data, or other network addresses.

The computing system may include clients and servers. In general, a client and server are remote from each other, and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

While this document contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or of the claims, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. In the context of separate implementations, certain features described herein can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Furthermore, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Specific implementations of the present subject matter have been described. Other implementations, modifications and arrangements to the above described implementations are within the scope of the following claims and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Although various operations may be described in the drawings or claims in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed (some operations may be considered optional) to achieve desirable results. In some cases, multitasking or parallel processing (or a combination of multitasking and parallel processing) may be advantageous, as such execution is deemed appropriate.

Moreover, the separation or integration of various system modules and components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation or integration among all implementations, nor should the program components and systems generally be integrated or packaged into multiple software products in a single software product.

Accordingly, the exemplary implementations described above do not define or limit the invention. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

In addition, any claimed implementation is considered applicable to: at least one computer-implemented method; a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions for performing the computer-implemented method; a computer system comprising computer memory interoperably coupled with a hardware processor for performing the computer-implemented method or the instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

two floor panels spaced apart in a first direction;

a three-dimensional (3D) cavity slot located between the two floor panels, wherein the 3D cavity slot includes an aperture in the first direction;

an antenna feed for exciting an antenna within the 3D cavity slot, wherein the antenna feed is shorted to the 3D cavity slot, the antenna feed and the 3D cavity slot forming a closed loop capable of generating a magnetic field around the closed loop that excites an unbalanced TE20 mode within the 3D cavity slot.

2. The antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna feed comprises a loop antenna feed.

3. The antenna of claim 2, wherein the loop antenna feed comprises:

a first portion substantially parallel to at least one of the two floor panels;

a second portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels;

a third portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels, wherein the second portion is closer to the aperture than the third portion.

4. An antenna according to claim 3, wherein the second portion is substantially adjacent the aperture.

5. An antenna as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the aperture has a length λ₁/2, wherein λ₁Representing a first resonance frequency f with said antenna₁The corresponding wavelength.

6. The antenna of claim 5, wherein the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode and at a first resonant frequency f of the antenna along the first direction₁E-field is generated to achieve vertical polarization of the antenna.

7. An antenna according to claim 5, wherein the aperture has a width w, said w being substantially less than λ₁/10。

8. An antenna as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the antenna feed is spaced from one end of the aperture by a distance λ₂/4, wherein λ₂Representing a second resonance frequency f with said antenna₂The corresponding wavelength.

9. The antenna of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the two floors are comprised of first and second layers of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and the antenna feed is comprised of a third or more layers of the PCB and one or more vias of the PCB.

10. The antenna of claim 8, wherein the antenna has vertical polarization along the first direction, the first direction being a thickness direction of the PCB.

11. A wireless apparatus, comprising:

an antenna, comprising:

two floor panels spaced apart in a first direction;

12. The wireless apparatus of claim 11, wherein the antenna feed comprises a loop antenna feed.

13. The wireless apparatus of claim 12, wherein the loop antenna feed comprises:

a first portion substantially parallel to at least one of the two floor panels;

a second portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels;

14. The wireless device of claim 13, wherein the second portion is substantially proximate to the aperture.

15. A wireless device according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the aperture has a length λ₁/2, wherein λ₁Representing a first resonance frequency f with said antenna₁The corresponding wavelength.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode and at a first resonant frequency f of the antenna along the first direction₁E-field is generated to achieve vertical polarization of the antenna.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the aperture has a width w that is substantially less than λ₁/10。

18. A wireless device according to any of claims 11 to 17, wherein the antenna feed is located at a distance λ from an end of the aperture₂/4, wherein λ₂Representing a second resonance frequency f with said antenna₂The corresponding wavelength.

19. The wireless device of any of claims 11-18, wherein the two floors are comprised of first and second layers of a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and wherein the antenna feed is comprised of a third or more layers of the PCB and one or more vias of the PCB.

20. The wireless device of claim 19, wherein the antenna has vertical polarization along the first direction, and wherein the first direction is a thickness direction of the PCB.

21. An antenna array, comprising:

a plurality of antennas, wherein each antenna comprises:

two floor panels spaced apart in a first direction;

22. An antenna array according to claim 21 wherein the antenna feeds comprise loop antenna feeds.

23. An antenna array according to claim 22 wherein the loop antenna feed comprises:

a first portion substantially parallel to at least one of the two floor panels;

a second portion substantially perpendicular to one of the two floor panels;

24. An antenna array according to claim 23 wherein the second portion is substantially proximate the aperture.

25. An antenna array according to any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the aperture has a length λ₁/2, wherein λ₁Representing a first resonance frequency f with said antenna₁The corresponding wavelength.

26. An antenna array according to claim 25 wherein the antenna feed excites the TE10 mode and at a first resonant frequency f of the antenna along the first direction₁E-field is generated to achieve vertical polarization of the antenna.

27. An antenna array according to claim 25 wherein the aperture has a width w, said w being substantially less than λ₁/10。

28. An antenna array as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 27, wherein the antenna feed is spaced from one end of the aperture by a distance λ₂/4, wherein λ₂Representing a second resonance frequency f with said antenna₂The corresponding wavelength.

29. An antenna array according to any of claims 21 to 28, wherein the two ground planes are comprised of first and second layers of Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), and the antenna feed is comprised of a third or more layers of the PCBs and one or more vias of the PCBs.

30. An antenna array according to claim 29 wherein each antenna has a vertical polarization along the first direction, the first direction being the thickness direction of the PCB.