CN113410593A

CN113410593A - Power distribution network, phase shifting device and antenna

Info

Publication number: CN113410593A
Application number: CN202110654622.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 江文; 苏国生; 黄明达
Original assignee: Comba Telecom Technology Guangzhou Ltd
Current assignee: Comba Telecom Technology Guangzhou Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-11
Filing date: 2021-06-11
Publication date: 2021-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-11
Also published as: CN113410593B

Abstract

The invention provides a power distribution network, a phase shifting device and an antenna, wherein the phase shifting device comprises a dielectric phase shifter and a power distribution network, the power distribution network comprises a common point end, conductor branches symmetrically arranged on two sides of the common point end and two independent ends formed at the tail ends of the conductor branches on the two sides, the common point end is used for receiving an external signal, the two independent ends are respectively used for feeding the external signal into two phase shifting transmission lines, each conductor branch comprises a first branch which forms an enclosed space with a notch together with the corresponding symmetrical part of the other conductor branch, and a second branch which is bent and routed from the tail end of the first branch to the enclosed space within a limited range; the power distribution network is arranged in a projection range limited by a fixed surface of a metal cavity of the dielectric phase shifter. The surrounding space limits the extending coverage range of the power distribution network, so that the coverage area of the whole power distribution network is controlled, and the miniaturization of the power distribution network, the phase shifting device and the applied antenna is realized.

Description

Power distribution network, phase shifting device and antenna

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of mobile communication, and particularly relates to a phase shifting device, an antenna provided with the phase shifting device and a power distribution network.

Background

With the continuous development of mobile communication networks, users have higher requirements on the performances of the mobile communication networks, such as transmission delay, transmission rate, stability, system capacity and the like, and a fifth generation mobile communication network is produced. At present, a continuously-built 5G communication network is gradually mature and put into commercial use, and a mobile communication base station antenna is used as a main carrier for signal receiving and transmitting in communication, so that the performance of the mobile communication base station antenna directly influences the overall performance of the communication network and the perception experience of users, and plays a crucial role in the mobile communication network.

In a mobile communication network, the electrically tunable antenna covers key equipment of the network, and the phase shifting device is a core device of the electrically tunable antenna. The electrically tunable antenna adjusts the phase distribution of each radiation unit in the radiation array through the phase shifting device so as to change the downward inclination angle of the main beam of the antenna, thereby changing the radiation coverage of the antenna and improving the communication quality in the area.

The radiating array is arranged on the front surface of the antenna reflecting plate of the electrically tunable antenna on a large scale, the phase shifting device is arranged on the back surface of the antenna reflecting plate, and the phase shifting device needs to be miniaturized in order to save the arrangement space of the electric elements on the back surface of the antenna reflecting plate, so that more electric elements can be arranged on the back surface of the antenna reflecting plate, and the wiring of the electrically tunable antenna is facilitated.

At present, in order to miniaturize the phase shifter in the industry, the metal cavity of the phase shifter, which accommodates various electrical components, is generally made to be more flat, so as to achieve the purpose of miniaturizing the phase shifter. But the phase shifter is only one of the components of the phase shifter, and the phase shifter further comprises a power division network, the phase shifter is arranged on the reverse side of the dielectric plate, and the power division network is arranged on the front side of the dielectric plate. As the antenna frequency is higher and smaller, the phase shifter has to be miniaturized to meet the space design requirement.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 shows an extended coverage path of a power dividing network 80 of a conventional phase shifter, 81 is a projection 81 of a metal cavity of a phase shifter of the phase shifter on a front surface of a dielectric plate. Therefore, it can be seen that the length direction of the metal cavity is the same as the length direction of the dielectric plate, the power distribution network 80 is disposed along the width direction of the metal cavity, and the width and length of the power distribution network 80 are much greater than the width of the metal cavity. Therefore, the power divider occupies a large space, which is not favorable for the power division network layout.

Disclosure of Invention

A first object of the present invention is to provide a miniaturized phase shifting device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a power distribution network, and an antenna.

The invention is suitable for the purpose of the invention and adopts the following technical scheme:

the first object of the present invention is to provide a phase shifter, which includes a dielectric phase shifter and a power dividing network, wherein the dielectric phase shifter has at least one pair of phase shifting transmission lines and a clamping movable mechanism for changing the phase of a signal flowing through the pair of phase shifting transmission lines;

the power distribution network comprises a common point end, conductor branches symmetrically arranged on two sides of the common point end and two independent ends formed at the tail ends of the conductor branches on the two sides, wherein the common point end is used for receiving an external signal, the two independent ends are respectively used for feeding the external signal into two phase-shifting transmission lines, each conductor branch comprises a first branch which forms an enclosure space with a gap together with the corresponding symmetric part of the other conductor branch, and a second branch which turns and routes from the tail end of the first branch to the range limited by the enclosure space;

the power distribution network is arranged in a projection range limited by a fixed surface of a metal cavity of the dielectric phase shifter.

Furthermore, the enclosed space enclosed by the first branches of the two conductor branches is rectangular/elliptical/circular with a gap.

Furthermore, the first branch node is sequentially divided into a first section, a second section and a third section from a common point end, the first section and the third section are arranged in parallel, and the second section is respectively vertical to the first section and the third section.

Preferably, the first branch is provided with a matching part for impedance matching, and the width of the matching part is different from the width of the other parts of the first branch.

Preferably, the first branch and/or the second branch have a winding portion thereon, and the winding portion is wavy or pulse wave-shaped.

Furthermore, the second branch node extends from the first branch node and is sequentially divided into a first branch and a second branch, and the first branch and the second branch are perpendicular.

Preferably, the orientation of the second branch of one of the conductor branches is the same as or different from that of the second branch of the other conductor branch.

Preferably, the ends of the first branches of the two conductor branches are connected in series with the same isolation resistor.

Further, the dielectric phase shifter includes:

the phase shifting circuit comprises a longitudinal circuit board and a plurality of phase shifting transmission lines arranged on at least one surface of the circuit board;

the medium moving mechanism comprises a clamping moving part and a pair of longitudinal medium clamping plates, the surfaces of the medium clamping plates are opposite to form a clamping space for clamping the phase-shifting circuit, and the clamping moving part is respectively connected with the two medium clamping plates;

the metal cavity is provided with a lengthwise cavity for accommodating the phase shift circuit and the medium moving mechanism, a sliding window for exposing the clamping moving part is arranged at the non-tail end position of the metal cavity, the phase shift circuit is fixedly arranged relative to the metal cavity, and the medium moving mechanism is arranged in a sliding mode relative to the metal cavity.

Furthermore, the left side and the right side of a center line perpendicular to the length direction of the circuit board are respectively provided with a phase-shifting transmission line.

The present invention provides a power division network, which includes a common end, two conductor branches symmetrically arranged on two sides of the common end, and two independent ends formed at the ends of the two conductor branches, wherein the common end is used for inputting/outputting signals, the two independent ends are respectively used for outputting/inputting signals to two phase-shift transmission lines, each conductor branch includes a first branch that forms an enclosure space with a gap together with another conductor branch, and a second branch that turns around and routes from the end of the first branch to the enclosure space.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an antenna, which includes a radiation array mounted on a front surface of a reflector plate and a plurality of phase shifting devices mounted on a back surface of the reflector plate, wherein the phase shifting devices are used for controlling phases of signals fed to radiation units, two paths of signals with different phases output after phase shifting are respectively output to corresponding radiation units, and the phase shifting devices are arranged on the back surface of the reflector plate in parallel corresponding to the corresponding radiation units.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following advantages:

firstly, the symmetrical first branches of the two conductor branches of the power division network of the phase shift device of the invention enclose a surrounding space with a gap together, the surrounding space is within the projection range defined by the fixed surface of the metal cavity, and the other extension lines of the power division network except the surrounding space are all within the surrounding space, so that the coverage range of the power division network is within the projection range defined by the fixed surface of the metal cavity, the coverage range of the power division network does not exceed the projection range defined by the fixed surface of the metal cavity, and the extension range of the power division network is limited, thereby facilitating the miniaturization of the power division network and further miniaturizing the phase shift device.

Secondly, the power distribution network of the phase shifting device of the invention forms an enclosure space with a gap by the symmetrical first branch of the two conductor branches, the rest extension lines of the power distribution network are arranged in the enclosure space, and the electrical performance of the power distribution network is not influenced by arranging the extension lines in the enclosure space.

Thirdly, the surrounding space of the power distribution network of the phase shifting device can be within the projection range defined by the fixed surface of the metal cavity, the fixed surface is arranged along the length direction of the metal cavity, and the surrounding space of the power distribution network can be arranged in an extending mode along the length direction of the fixed surface, so that an extending line with a certain length can be arranged in the surrounding space.

Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Drawings

The foregoing and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a common power distribution network.

Fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a power distribution network of the phase shifting device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a phase shifter according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the phase shifting device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the structure of a metal cover of the phase shifter of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a dielectric clamping plate of the phase shifter of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a phase shift circuit of the phase shift device of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the structure of the clamping moving member of the phase shifting device of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the back surface of a dielectric plate of the phase shift device of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a simulated standing wave pattern for a phase shifting device of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a graph of simulated losses for a phase shifting device of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a phase diagram of the simulation of two signal ports of the phase shifting device when the phase shifting device of the present invention shifts the phase and the clamping moving member is located in the middle of the sliding window.

FIG. 13 is a phase diagram of simulation of two signal ports of the phase shifting device when the phase shifting device of the present invention shifts the phase and the clamping moving element is respectively located at two ends of the sliding window.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like or similar reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar function throughout. The embodiments described below by referring to the drawings are exemplary only for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention.

As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", "the" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Further, "connected" or "coupled" as used herein may include wirelessly connected or wirelessly coupled. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes all or any element and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the prior art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The invention provides a phase-shifting device 10, and a power distribution network 30 provided by the invention is adopted in the phase-shifting device 10, so that the phase-shifting device 10 has a smaller volume; and the phase shifter 10 adopts the dielectric phase shifter 20 provided by the invention, so that the phase shifter 10 can stably perform phase shifting and has better phase shifting performance.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, referring to fig. 2 and fig. 3, the phase shifting apparatus 10 includes a dielectric phase shifter 20 and a power dividing network 30, the power dividing network 30 is configured to feed a signal to the dielectric phase shifter 20, and the dielectric phase shifter 20 is configured to shift the phase of the fed signal.

With reference to fig. 3 and 4, the dielectric phase shifter 20 includes a phase shift circuit 21, a dielectric moving mechanism, and a metal cavity 23, and the phase shift circuit 21 and the dielectric moving mechanism are disposed in the metal cavity 23.

The metal cavity 23 includes a metal cover 231 and a ground layer 2322 disposed on the reverse side of the dielectric board 232, the metal cover 231 is fixedly covered on the ground layer 2322, so that the metal cover 231 and the ground layer 2322 jointly define the metal cavity 23, and the metal cavity 23 extends along the length direction of the dielectric board 232, so that the metal cavity 23 can provide a longitudinal cavity for accommodating the phase shift circuit 21 and the dielectric moving mechanism.

Referring to fig. 5, the metal cover 231 includes two facing side cavity walls 2311 and a top cavity wall 2312 for connecting the two side cavity walls 2311. A plurality of fixing pins 2313 are arranged on the side cavity wall 2311, and fixing holes 2321 for inserting the fixing pins 2313 are correspondingly arranged on the dielectric slab 232, so that the metal cover 231 is fixedly inserted on the dielectric slab 232. The side cavity wall 2311 is further provided with a folded angle 2314, the folded angle 2314 is parallel to the dielectric plate 232, the folded angle 2314 is attached to the dielectric plate 232, and the folded angle 2314 and the dielectric plate 232 are fixed in a welding or threaded connection mode.

A sliding window 2315 is formed in the top cavity wall 2312 along the longitudinal direction of the metal cavity, and the sliding window 2315 is used for enabling the medium moving mechanism to slide on an extending path of the sliding window 2315 so as to change the medium distribution of the medium phase shifter 20 and further implement phase shifting. The two longitudinal sides of the sliding window 2315 and the side cavity wall 2311 connected with the sliding window respectively form sliding rails 2316, and the sliding rails 2316 are used for the sliding of the medium moving mechanism. The sliding window 2315 may be provided on the side chamber wall 2311 or the top chamber wall 2312 depending on the arrangement of the media activation mechanism. Further, the sliding window 2315 may be disposed at the middle or left or right side of the side cavity wall 2311, and the sliding window 2315 may be disposed at the middle or left or right side of the top cavity wall 2312.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the sliding window 2315 is disposed in the top cavity wall 2312. With reference to fig. 4, the medium moving mechanism includes a clamping moving member 221 and a pair of lengthwise medium clamping plates 222, the clamping moving member 221 is connected to the pair of medium clamping plates 222, and the clamping moving member 221 can drive the pair of medium clamping plates 222 to move along the length direction of the metal cavity 23.

The pair of dielectric clamping plates 222 are disposed in the metal cavity 23, the two dielectric clamping plates 222 face each other and are parallel to each other, a clamping space 2221 is disposed between the two dielectric clamping plates 222, the clamping space 2221 is used for accommodating the phase shift circuit 21, and a width of the clamping space 2221 (a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the metal cavity 23) is greater than a width of the phase shift circuit 21, so that when the two dielectric clamping plates 222 slide, the dielectric clamping plates 222 do not affect a fixed setting of the phase shift circuit 21, and do not drive the phase shift circuit 21 to move. The dielectric clamping plate 222 extends along the extending direction of the metal cavity 23, and the height of the dielectric clamping plate 222 (the thickness direction of the dielectric plate 232) is smaller than the height of the metal cavity 23. Because the metal cavity 23 is provided with the sliding window 2315, the tops of the two medium clamping plates 222 are exposed to the outside through the sliding window 2315, so that the clamping movable piece 221 can be connected with the two medium clamping plates 222 through the sliding window 2315.

The length of the medium clamping plate 222 is shorter than that of the metal cavity 23, and the medium clamping plate 222 moves in the metal cavity 23 along the length direction of the metal cavity 23. When the two ends of the metal cavity 23 in the length direction are not closed, if necessary, one end of the medium clamp plate 222 may extend out of the metal cavity 23 through the openings at the two ends of the metal cavity 23 in the length direction. Preferably, the length of the dielectric clamping plate 222 is one half or one third or one quarter of the length of the metal cover 231.

Referring to fig. 6, the medium clamping plate 222 further has a clamping groove 2222, and the clamping groove 2222 is formed by being recessed from the top (top cavity wall 2312 direction) of the medium clamping plate 222 to the bottom (medium plate 232 direction) of the medium clamping plate 222. The holding groove 2222 has at least one groove wall 2223, the groove wall 2223 is close to the side cavity wall 2311 adjacent to the medium clamping plate 222, and the groove wall 2223 is matched with the slide rail 2316, so that the movable member 221 is held while the groove wall and the slide rail 2316 are held, and the medium clamping plate 222 is driven to slide.

In one embodiment, the dielectric chuck 222 is provided with a notch (not shown) and/or an internal groove 2224, the notch and internal groove 2224 being used for impedance matching. The notch may be provided at the top or bottom of the media clamp 222. The interior slots 2224 may be provided on the sides of the media clamp 222. Multiple inner slots 2224 of different sizes may be provided on each side to improve impedance matching and to extend bandwidth.

The clamping movable piece 221 is disposed at the sliding window 2315, and at the sliding window 2315, the clamping movable piece 221 simultaneously clamps the two medium clamping plates 222 and slides along the sliding rail 2316, so as to change the medium distribution position of the medium phase shifter 20.

When the sliding window 2315 is disposed on the top cavity wall 2312 of the metal cover 231, the sliding window 2315 may be disposed at the middle, left side or right side of the length direction of the top cavity wall 2312 corresponding to the clamping movable member 221, so that the dielectric phase shifter 20 may control the distribution position of the dielectric clamping plates 222 in the metal cavity 23, thereby controlling the phase shifting performance of the dielectric phase shifter 20. When the sliding window 2315 is disposed at the middle position of the top cavity wall 2312 in the length direction, the sliding window 2315 is symmetrically disposed along the central line thereof (the central line is perpendicular to the length direction of the sliding window 2315), so that the clamping moving member can be disposed at the middle of the metal cavity 23.

With reference to fig. 8, the clamping moving member 221 includes a sliding arm 2211 disposed on both sides and a clamping arm 2213 disposed between the two sliding arms 2211, and the two sliding arms 2211 and the two clamping arms 2213 are sequentially disposed along the width direction of the metal cavity. A clamping sliding groove 2214 is formed between one sliding arm 2211 and the adjacent clamping arm 2213, and the clamping sliding groove 2214 can accommodate the groove wall 2223 of the clamping groove 2222 of one medium clamping plate 222 and the sliding rail 2316 of the metal cavity, so that the clamping movable member 221 can clamp one medium clamping plate 222. Therefore, the clamping movable member 221 forms two clamping sliding grooves 2214, and the two clamping sliding grooves 2214 respectively drive one medium clamping plate 222 to slide along the extending direction of the sliding window 2315, so that the two medium clamping plates 222 synchronously slide.

Specifically, the sliding arm 2211 holding the sliding groove 2214 is disposed outside the metal cavity 23, and the sliding arm 2211 is disposed on the sliding rail 2316, so that the sliding arm 2211 can move along the sliding rail 2316; the clamping arm 2213 of the clamping sliding slot 2214 extends into the metal cavity 23 through the sliding window 2315, the clamping arm 2213 can extend into the clamping slot 2222 of the medium clamping plate 222 in the metal cavity 23, and the clamping arm 2213 is far away from the corresponding sliding rail 2316 compared with the slot wall 2223 of the corresponding clamping slot 2222, so that the clamping sliding slot 2214 formed by the clamping arm 2213 and the sliding arm 2211 can simultaneously clamp the sliding rail 2316 and the slot wall 2223 of the clamping slot 2222, and the medium clamping plate 222 is driven to slide along the sliding rail 2316.

The clamping sliding groove 2214 accommodates one medium clamping plate 222 and the sliding rail 2316 adjacent to the medium clamping plate 222, and the two clamping sliding grooves 2214 of the clamping moving member 221 can respectively slide along the sliding rails 2316 on the two sides of the sliding window 2315, so that the clamping sliding grooves 2214 can drive the two medium clamping plates 222 to slide along the extending direction of the sliding window 2315, thereby changing the medium distribution of the medium phase shifter 20 and further outputting signals with different phases.

An avoiding gap 2215 is formed between the two clamping arms 2213 of the clamping moving piece 221, the avoiding gap 2215 is used for avoiding the phase shift circuit 21, when the clamping moving piece 221 drives the two medium clamping plates 222 to slide, the phase shift circuit 21 can be avoided through the avoiding gap 2215, and the phase shift circuit 21 cannot block the movement of the clamping moving piece 221.

The clamping movable member 221 further includes a driving portion 2216, the driving portion 2216 is disposed on the two sliding arms 2211 and the two clamping arms 2213, and an external force applying end can apply force to the clamping movable member 221 by connecting the driving portion 2216, so as to drive the clamping movable member 221 to move, and further drive the two medium clamping plates 222 to slide.

Referring to fig. 7, the phase shift circuit 21 includes a circuit board 211 having a longitudinal shape and a plurality of phase shift transmission lines 212 disposed on the circuit board 211.

The circuit board 211 is disposed in the clamping space 2221 formed by the two medium clamping plates 222 and the avoiding gap 2215 formed on the clamping movable member 221, so that the circuit board 211 can be fixedly disposed in the metal cavity 23. The bottom of the circuit board 211 is provided with a plug pin 213 for plugging in the dielectric plate 232, and the dielectric plate 232 is provided with a plug hole corresponding to the plug pin 213 for limiting; the top of the circuit board 211 is provided with a limiting protrusion 214, and the metal cover 231 is provided with a limiting hole 2317 corresponding to the limiting protrusion 214, so that the circuit board 211 is inserted into the limiting hole 2317 through the limiting protrusion 214 for limiting; the circuit board 211 can be stably fixed in the metal cavity 23 by the plug pins 213 and the limiting protrusions 214 on the circuit board 211.

The phase-shifting transmission line 212 is at least arranged on at least one surface of the circuit board 211, and external current flows into the phase-shifting transmission line 212, and moves the two dielectric clamping plates 222 positioned on the two sides of the circuit board 211 through the clamping movable piece 221, so that the dielectric distribution in the dielectric phase shifter 20 is changed, and the phase of a signal fed into the phase-shifting transmission line 212 is shifted.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the phase shift circuit 21 includes two phase shift transmission lines 212. The two phase-shift transmission lines 212 are respectively located on the left and right sides of one side of the circuit board 211 (the circuit board 211 is divided into the left and right sides along a virtual center line perpendicular to the length direction of the circuit board 211), and the two phase-shift transmission lines 212 are symmetrically arranged along the center line.

The feeding terminals 2121 of the two phase-shifting transmission lines 212 are both disposed close to the neutral line, the feeding terminal 2121 is electrically connected to the power distribution network 30 disposed on the dielectric board 232 through the circuit board 211, and the power distribution network 30 feeds a signal to the feeding terminal 2121 of the phase-shifting transmission line 212. The circuit board 211 is provided with a feeding pin 2122 corresponding to the feeding end 2121 of the phase-shift transmission line 212, the feeding pin 2122 is inserted into the independent end 31 of the power dividing network 30 disposed on the dielectric board 232, and the independent end 31 is a signal output port of the power dividing network 30, so that a signal on the power dividing network 30 is fed into the phase-shift transmission line 212 through the feeding end 2121.

The phase-shifting transmission line 212 extends from the middle of the circuit board 211 to the end of the circuit board 211 corresponding to the phase-shifting transmission line 212, the output end 2123 of the phase-shifting transmission line 212 is located at the end of the circuit board 211 corresponding to the phase-shifting transmission line 212, and the output end 2123 extends to the dielectric plate 232 through the circuit board 211, and outputs a phase-shifted signal to the outside through the dielectric plate 232. The circuit board 211 is provided with an output pin 2124 corresponding to the output end 2123 of the phase-shift transmission line 212, and the output pin 2124 is inserted into the dielectric plate 232 to facilitate the output of the signal of the phase-shift transmission line 212. For example, the phase-shifted transmission line 212 on the left side of one side of the circuit board 211 extends from a feeding end 2121 near the center line to an output end 2123 on the left side of the side to form a complete phase-shifted transmission line 212.

To facilitate the resolution of the two phase-shifting transmission lines 212, the phase-shifting transmission line 212 disposed on the left side of one side of the circuit board 211 is referred to as a first phase-shifting transmission line 2125, the phase-shifting transmission line 212 disposed on the right side of the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 is referred to as a second phase-shifting transmission line 2126, and the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 and the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126 are symmetrically disposed along the center line. Referring to fig. 9, the first phase-shifted transmission line 2125 and the second phase-shifted transmission line 2126 are respectively connected to an independent terminal 31 of the power dividing network 30, the independent terminal 31 connected to the first phase-shifted transmission line 2125 is referred to as a first independent terminal 311, the independent terminal 31 connected to the second phase-shifted transmission line 2126 is referred to as a second independent terminal 312, and the first independent terminal 311 and the second independent terminal 312 are different independent terminals 31. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the signal fed from the first isolated terminal 311 to the first phase-shifted transmission line 2125 is the same as the signal fed from the second isolated terminal 312 to the second phase-shifted transmission line 2126.

In the dielectric phase shifter 20, moving the dielectric clamping plate 222 will change the phase of the signal flowing through the dielectric phase shifter 20. Specifically, the dielectric phase shifter 20 of the present invention includes two independent phase-shifting transmission lines 212, the two phase-shifting transmission lines 212 are respectively fed with signals from two different independent ends 31 of the power dividing network 30, and the two dielectric clamping plates 222 are clamped by the clamping moving member 221 and move the two dielectric clamping plates 222, so as to relatively change the phases of the signals fed into the two phase-shifting transmission lines 212. The equivalent dielectric constant of each position in the metal cavity 23 is changed by clamping the movable element 221 and moving the two dielectric clamping plates 222, so that the propagation rate of the signals fed into the two phase-shifting transmission lines 212 is changed, the phases of the signals flowing through the two phase-shifting transmission lines 212 are relatively changed, and the phase difference of the two output signals is generated.

When the clamping moving element 221 drives the two dielectric clamping plates 222 to be disposed at the center of the metal cavity 23, the equivalent dielectric constants at the left and right sides of the circuit board 211 are equal, so that the propagation rates of the signals on the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 and the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126 are the same, and the phase of the signal output by the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 is the same as the phase of the signal output by the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126.

When the clamping moving element 221 drives the two dielectric clamping plates 222 to move to the left side of the sliding window 2315, most of the two dielectric clamping plates 222 are located at the left side of the metal cavity 23, so that the equivalent dielectric constant at the left side of the circuit board 211 is larger than that at the right side of the circuit board 211, and the propagation rates of signals on the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 and the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126 are relatively changed, so that the phase of the signal output by the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 is different from the phase of the signal output by the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126.

Regarding the phase shift principle when the clamping moving member 221 drives the two medium clamping plates 222 to move to the right side of the sliding window 2315, the phase shift principle can be analogized when the clamping moving member 221 drives the two medium clamping plates 222 to move to the left side of the sliding window 2315, which is not described herein for brevity.

Referring to fig. 10, in a wide frequency band from 3.3GHz to 4.2GHz, when the clamping moving element 221 of the phase shifter 10 drives the two dielectric clamping plates 222 to travel for 2mm, the standing-wave ratio is less than 1.25. Referring to fig. 11, when the clamping moving member 221 of the phase shifting device 10 drives the two medium clamping plates 222 to travel 2mm each time, the total loss is less than 0.8 dB. Referring to fig. 12, when the clamping moving member 221 of the phase shifting device 10 drives the two medium clamping plates to be located in the middle of the metal cavity 23, the phase shifting device 10 has high balance degree to the phases output from the two ends. Referring to fig. 13, when the clamping moving member 221 of the phase shifting device 10 drives the two medium clamping plates to be respectively located at the two ends of the metal cavity 23, the phase shifting device 10 has high balance degree to the phase outputted from the two ends. Therefore, the phase shifting device 10 can realize low standing wave, high amplitude consistency, low loss and large phase shifting quantity of 180 degrees in a wide frequency band of 3.3GHz-4.2GHz, has very compact size, can be applied to a 5G antenna system, and reduces the size and the weight of an antenna.

In one embodiment, the circuit board 211 has a first face 2111 on a side where the first phase-shift transmission line 2125 and the second phase-shift transmission line 2126 are provided, and a second face on a side opposite to the first face 2111. The left and right sides of the second surface of the circuit board 211 are respectively provided with a phase-shifting transmission line 212, the phase-shifting transmission line 212 arranged on the right side of the second surface is referred to as a third phase-shifting transmission line (not shown), the phase-shifting transmission line 212 arranged on the left side of the second surface is referred to as a fourth phase-shifting transmission line (not shown), and the third phase-shifting transmission line and the fourth phase-shifting transmission line are symmetrical relative to the central line.

A projection of the first phase-shift transmission line 2125 provided on the first surface 2111 of the circuit board 211 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 211 coincides with a projection of the third phase-shift transmission line provided on the second surface of the circuit board 211 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 211; the projection of the second phase-shift transmission line 2126 disposed on the first surface 2111 of the circuit board 211 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 211 coincides with the projection of the fourth phase-shift transmission line disposed on the second surface of the circuit board 211 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 211. That is, the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 and the third phase-shifting transmission line are located at the same position in the projection direction of the circuit board 211, and have the same shape and size; the second phase-shift transmission line 2126 and the fourth phase-shift transmission line are located at the same position in the projection direction of the circuit board 211, and have the same shape and size.

In order to enhance the phase shifting effect of the dielectric phase shifter 20, a plurality of metallized through holes 2113 are uniformly formed at the positions where the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 and the third phase-shifting transmission line of the circuit board 211 are located, so that the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 and the third phase-shifting transmission line are conducted with each other, and the first phase-shifting transmission line 2125 and the third phase-shifting transmission line form a first phase-shifting shunt with stronger conductivity; a plurality of metallized through holes 2113 are formed at the positions of the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126 and the fourth phase-shifting transmission line of the circuit board 211, so that the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126 and the fourth phase-shifting transmission line are conducted with each other, and the second phase-shifting transmission line 2126 and the fourth phase-shifting transmission line form a second phase-shifting shunt with stronger conductive capability. The phase shifting principle of the first phase shifting branch and the second phase shifting branch disposed on the circuit board 211 is the same as the phase shifting principle of the first phase shifting transmission line 2125 and the second phase shifting transmission line 2126 disposed on the circuit board 211, and therefore, for brevity, no further description is provided.

In one embodiment, the dielectric phase shifter 20 has a plurality of phase shift circuits 21, and a plurality of clamping spaces may be provided between two dielectric clamping plates 222 for respectively accommodating the circuit boards 211 of the plurality of phase shift circuits 21.

In one embodiment, referring to fig. 5, the side cavity wall 2311 of the metal cover 231 is further provided with an elastic limit protrusion 2318 facing the adjacent medium clamping plate 222. When the medium clamping plate 222 moves towards the direction of the adjacent side cavity wall 2311, the movement of the medium clamping plate 222 can be limited through the elastic limiting protrusion 2318, the elastic limiting protrusion 2318 has an elastic effect, and when the elastic limiting protrusion 2318 limits the medium clamping plate 222, hard contact cannot be generated, so that damage to the side cavity wall 2311 cannot be generated, the medium clamping plate can be ensured to clamp the phase-shifting circuit board all the time, and the phase consistency between the phase shifters is improved. Preferably, the elastic limiting protrusion 2318 is an elastic sheet formed by hollowing out the side cavity wall 2311. Forming the elastic sheet by hollowing the side cavity wall 2311 can avoid adding new parts on the side cavity wall 2311, avoid increasing the volume of the metal cavity 23, and facilitate the miniaturization of the dielectric phase shifter 20.

The medium phase shifter 20 of the phase shifting device 10 of the present invention has the sliding window 2315 disposed at the non-terminal position of the metal cavity 23, so that the clamping moving member 221 does not need to be connected to the end positions of the pair of medium clamping plates 222, and the pair of medium clamping plates 222 can be moved to perform phase shifting, and the distal end of the medium clamping plate 222 does not get far away from the clamping moving member 221, so that the clamping moving member 221 can control the vibration of the medium clamping plate 222, and the internal electrical performance of the medium phase shifter 20 is stable, and the severe fluctuation of the electrical performance due to the sliding of the medium clamping plates 222 is avoided, and the medium clamping plate 222 of the medium phase shifter 20 is in stable transition during phase shifting, so that the phase shifting performance of the medium phase shifter 20 is stable.

The metal cavity 23, the phase shift circuit 21 and the dielectric moving mechanism are disposed on the back surface 2323 of the dielectric board 232, the back surface 2323 of the dielectric board 232 is coated with copper to form a ground layer, and the power distribution network 30 is disposed on the front surface 2324 of the dielectric board 232. The area of the metal cover 231 covered on the back surface 2323 of the dielectric slab 232 is a fixed surface, the projection of the fixed surface on the front surface 2324 of the dielectric slab 232 is a fixed projection surface, and the power distribution network 30 is arranged in the fixed projection surface, so as to realize the miniaturization of the phase shifting device 10.

With reference to fig. 2, the power distribution network 30 includes a common point end 32, a conductor branch 33 symmetrically disposed on both sides of the common point end 32, and two independent ends 31 formed at the ends of the conductor branch 33. The common node 32 is used for receiving external signals, and the two independent nodes 31 are used for feeding signals to the two phase-shifting transmission lines 212, respectively.

The conductor branch 33 includes a first branch 331 and a second branch 332, the first branch 331 extends from the common point end 32 to the second branch 332, and the second branch 332 extends from the end of the first branch 331 to the independent end 31.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the power distribution network 30 includes two conductor branches 33, and the two conductor branches 33 are respectively called a first conductor branch 333 and a second conductor branch 334. Each conductor branch 33 includes a first branch 331 and a second branch 332.

First branch 3331 of first conductor branch 333 and first branch 3341 of second conductor branch 334 are symmetrical to each other, and first branch 3331 of first conductor branch 333 and first branch 3341 of second conductor branch 334 enclose an enclosure space with a gap. The surrounding space is of a symmetrical structure. Preferably, the enclosure space has a regular shape or an irregular shape such as a rectangular shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a triangular shape.

The surrounding space is disposed in the fixed projection plane, so that the two conductor branches 33 of the power distribution network 30 can be disposed in the projection range of the metal cover 231 in the thickness direction of the dielectric plate 232, the coverage range of the power distribution network 30 is limited by the fixed projection plane, and the miniaturization of the phase shift device 10 can be realized. The coverage area of the enclosure space defined by the power distribution network 30 is the maximum coverage area of the power distribution network 30, so that the enclosure space with the gap is formed by the first branch 3331 of the first conductor branch 333 and the first branch 3341 of the second conductor branch 334 which are matched with each other, which is convenient to define the coverage area of the power distribution network 30, and control the extension area of the power distribution network 30, so as to control the range of the dielectric plate 232 occupied by the power distribution network 30, and further realize the miniaturization of the phase shift device 10.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first branch 331 is divided into a first segment 3311, a second segment 3312 and a third segment 3313 in sequence from the common end 32. Preferably, the first, second and

third segments

3311, 3312 and 3313 are linear segments, the first and

third segments

3311, 3313 are parallel to each other, and the second and

third segments

3312, 3311 and 3313 are perpendicular to each other. In some embodiments, the first, second, and

third segments

3311, 3312, 3313 may also be curved segments.

Third section 3334 of first section 3331 of first conductor section 333 is opposite to third section 3344 of first section 3341 of second conductor section 334, so that first conductor section 333 and second conductor section 334 form a rectangular enclosure space with a gap. The rectangular surrounding space is disposed in the fixed projection plane, so that the two conductor branches 33 of the power dividing network 30 can be disposed in the space within the projection range of the metal cover 231, which facilitates miniaturization of the phase shifting device 10.

In one embodiment, the first branch 331 further has a winding portion (not shown) thereon, which is wavy or pulse-wave shaped, so as to extend the length of the first branch 331, thereby facilitating the branching operation of the power dividing network 30. Preferably, the wrap around portion may be disposed on the first branch 3311 and/or the second branch 3312 of the first branch 331.

In one embodiment, the first branch 331 further has a matching portion (not shown) for impedance matching, and the width of the matching portion is different from the width of the other portions of the first branch. The matching portion may be disposed on the first segment 3311 and/or the second segment 3312 and/or the third segment 3313 of the first segment 331.

In one embodiment, the end of the third section 3334 of the first section 3331 of the first conductor section 333 and the end of the third section 3344 of the first section 3341 of the second conductor section 334 are connected in series with an isolation resistor 34. Preferably, the isolation resistor 34 is a 100 ohm resistor.

The second branch 332 extends from the end of the first branch 331 toward the inside of the enclosure. The second branches 332 may have a regular shape or an irregular shape. In some embodiments, the second branch 332 has a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or an elliptical shape.

The second branch 332 is bent and routed to the enclosed space with the notch defined by the first branch 3331 of the first conductor branch 333 and the first branch 3341 of the second conductor branch 334 through the end of the first branch 331, so that the remaining extension circuits of the power distribution network 30 except the first branch 331 are all disposed in the enclosed space, thereby controlling the size of the coverage area of the dielectric plate 232 occupied by the power distribution network 30 without affecting the overall wiring of the power distribution network 30, improving the space utilization rate of the power distribution network 30, and facilitating the miniaturization of the power distribution network 30.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the second branch 332 comprises a first branch 3321 and a second branch 3322, the first branch 3321 is perpendicular to the third branch 3313 of the first branch 331, and the second branch 3322 is parallel to the third branch 3313 of the first branch 331. The first branch 3321 and the second branch 3322 are linear segments.

The first branch 3336 of the second branch 3335 of the first conductor branch 333 and the first branch 3346 of the second branch 3345 of the second conductor branch 334 are parallel to each other and have the same orientation, and the second branch 3337 of the second branch 3335 of the first conductor branch 333 and the second branch 3347 of the second branch 3345 of the second conductor branch 334 have the same or different orientations.

Preferably, the second section 3337 of the second branch 3335 of the first conductor branch 333 and the second section 3347 of the second branch 3345 of the second conductor branch 334 are oriented in the same direction, so that the first independent end 311 at the end of the second section 3337 of the second branch 3335 of the first conductor branch 333 and the second independent end 312 at the end of the second section 3347 of the second branch 3345 of the second conductor branch 334 can be adjacently disposed, so that the feeding end 2121 of the first phase-shift transmission line 2125 and the feeding end 2121 of the second phase-shift transmission line 2126 on the circuit board 211 which are adjacent to each other can be respectively connected to the two independent ends 31, thereby facilitating the wiring of the two phase-shift transmission lines 212 on the circuit board 211 and the power distribution network 30 on the front surface 2324 of the dielectric board 232, and improving the integration degree of the phase-shift device 10.

In one embodiment, the second branch 332 may also be provided with a winding portion, and the winding portion is wavy or pulse-wave shaped, so as to extend the length of the second branch 332, thereby facilitating the branch operation of the power dividing network 30. Preferably, the winding portion may be disposed on the first branch 3321 and/or the second branch 3322 of the second branch 332.

It can be seen that the power distribution network 30 implemented by the present invention is a special-shaped wilkinson power divider.

The dielectric phase shifter and the power division network of the phase shifting device of the present invention can be used independently, and thus, a dielectric phase shifter and a power division network are disclosed in the above paragraphs, which is for brevity and will not be described again.

In one embodiment, the power dividing network may also be used as a combiner, two independent ends of the power dividing network are used as signal input ports of the combiner, and a common point end of the power dividing network is used as a signal output port of the combiner, so that the power dividing network of the present invention may be used as a combiner.

The invention also provides an antenna which comprises a radiation array arranged on the front surface of the antenna reflector plate and a plurality of phase shifting devices arranged on the back surface of the antenna reflector plate. The radiation array comprises a plurality of radiation units, each phase shifting device correspondingly controls the phase shifting of a polarization signal of one radiation unit, the phase shifting device divides a signal fed into the phase shifting device into two paths of signals through a power distribution network, the two paths of signals are respectively input into phase shifting transmission lines of corresponding dielectric phase shifters, the phase shifting transmission lines shift the phase of the input signals, so that two signals with a certain phase difference are output, and the polarization signals are respectively output to the radiation units.

A plurality of radiation units of the radiation array are regularly and compactly arranged on the front surface of the antenna reflector, the range of the front surface of the antenna reflector covered by the radiation units is a mounting surface, the projection of the mounting surface on the back surface of the antenna reflector is a mounting projection surface, and the phase shifting device corresponding to the radiation units is arranged on the mounting projection surface.

The invention also provides a base station comprising the antenna.

In summary, the phase shifting apparatus of the present invention includes a dielectric phase shifter and a power dividing network. The top side wall of the metal cover of the medium phase shifter is provided with the sliding window, and the clamping moving part is arranged on the sliding window, so that the medium clamping plate can be controlled to move from the sliding window through the clamping moving part instead of being arranged in the extending direction of the metal cover, the medium clamping plate can be stably pulled by the clamping moving part arranged on the sliding window, and the problem of inaccurate phase shifting caused by shaking can be avoided.

The power division network limits the coverage range of the power division network by limiting the extension range of the power division network in an enclosed space with a gap, which is defined by the first medium of the first conductor branch and the first branch of the second conductor branch, so that the phase shift device is convenient to miniaturize.

The foregoing description is only exemplary of the preferred embodiments of the invention and is illustrative of the principles of the technology employed. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the scope of the invention according to the present invention is not limited to the specific combination of the above-mentioned features, but also encompasses other embodiments in which any combination of the above-mentioned features or their equivalents is possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the above features and (but not limited to) features having similar functions of the present invention are mutually replaced to form the technical solution.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A phase shifter comprises a dielectric phase shifter and a power dividing network, wherein the dielectric phase shifter is provided with at least one pair of phase shifting transmission lines and a clamping movable mechanism for changing the phase of a signal flowing through the pair of phase shifting transmission lines, and the phase shifter is characterized in that:

2. The phase shifting device of claim 1, wherein the enclosed space enclosed by the first branches of the two conductor branches has a rectangular/elliptical/circular shape with a notch.

3. The phase shifting device of claim 1, wherein the first branch segment is divided into a first segment, a second segment and a third segment in sequence from a common point end, the first segment is disposed parallel to the third segment, and the second segment is perpendicular to the first segment and the third segment, respectively.

4. The phase shifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first branch has a matching section for impedance matching, and the width of the matching section is different from the width of the other portions of the first branch.

5. The phase shifting device of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second branches have convolutions that are wavy or pulse-like.

6. The phase shifting device of claim 1, wherein the second branch extends from the first branch and is divided into a first branch and a second branch, and the first branch and the second branch are perpendicular to each other.

7. The phase shifting device of claim 6, wherein the second branch of one of the conductor sections is oriented in the same or a different direction than the second branch of the other conductor section.

8. The phase shifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ends of the first branches of the two conductor branches are connected in series to a common isolation resistor.

9. The phase shifting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the dielectric phase shifter comprises:

10. The phase shifting apparatus of claim 9, wherein one of said phase shifting transmission lines is provided along each of right and left sides of a center line perpendicular to a length direction of the circuit board.

11. A power distribution network is characterized by comprising a common-point end, conductor branches symmetrically arranged on two sides of the common-point end, and two independent ends formed at the tail ends of the conductor branches on the two sides, wherein the common-point end is used for inputting/outputting signals, the two independent ends are respectively used for outputting/inputting the signals to two phase-shifting transmission lines, each conductor branch comprises a first branch and a second branch, the first branch and the second branch surround the other conductor branch to form a surrounding space with a notch, and the second branch is bent and routed from the tail end of the first branch to the range limited by the surrounding space.

12. An antenna, comprising a radiation array mounted on the front surface of a reflector plate and a plurality of phase shifting devices according to any one of claims 1 to 10 mounted on the back surface of the reflector plate, wherein the phase shifting devices are used for controlling the phase of signals fed to radiation units, two paths of signals with different phases output after phase shifting are respectively output to corresponding radiation units, and the plurality of phase shifting devices are arranged on the back surface of the reflector plate in parallel corresponding to the corresponding radiation units.