CN114006167A - Liquid crystal phased array antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a liquid crystal phased array antenna. In the liquid crystal phased array antenna that this application embodiment provided, through setting up the orthographic projection of first transmission line and second transmission line at first base plate, all with move the unit with the distance between the orthographic projection of first base plate in first distance within range, thereby can reduce move unit and first transmission line, move unit and second transmission line and produce the size of induced current or can reduce the induced current that probably produces greatly, can reduce the size that produces the induced current in first transmission line and/or the second transmission line, and then can reduce and move the unit with the influence to first transmission line and/or second transmission line, can ensure liquid crystal phased array antenna's normal work.

Description

Liquid crystal phased array antenna

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of wireless communication, in particular to a liquid crystal phased array antenna.

Background

With the development of communication technology, the variety of antennas is increasing, and at present, the liquid crystal phased array antenna is one of important research and development directions in the field of wireless communication. The liquid crystal phased array antenna is an antenna which utilizes the dielectric anisotropy of liquid crystal, provides deflection voltage for the upper part and the lower part of a liquid crystal layer through a transmission line, and controls the deflection direction of the liquid crystal to change the phase shift of a phase shifter so as to adjust the alignment direction of the phased array antenna.

The liquid crystal phased array antenna comprises a plurality of transmission lines, and in the liquid crystal phased array antenna applied at present, the transmission lines and the phase shifting units are easy to form parasitic capacitance through the coupling gap units, so that the transmission lines generate induced current, and the normal work of the liquid crystal phased array antenna is influenced.

Disclosure of Invention

This application is to the shortcoming of current mode, provides a liquid crystal phased array antenna for solve among the prior art transmission line of liquid crystal phased array antenna and produce induced current easily, influence the technical problem of liquid crystal phased array antenna normal work.

In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a liquid crystal phased array antenna, including: the phase-shifting circuit comprises a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a first substrate, a phase-shifting unit and a second substrate which are stacked;

the phase shift unit comprises a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer and a second electrode which are laminated; the first transmission line is arranged on the same layer as the first electrode and is electrically connected with the first electrode; the distance between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line on the first substrate and the orthographic projection of the phase shifting unit on the first substrate is within a first distance range;

the second transmission line is arranged on the same layer as the second electrode and is electrically connected with the second electrode; the distance between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line on the first substrate and the orthographic projection of the phase shifting unit on the first substrate is within a first distance range.

The beneficial technical effects brought by the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the application comprise:

in the liquid crystal phased-array antenna provided by the embodiment of the application, by setting the orthographic projections of the first transmission line and the second transmission line on the first substrate, the distances between the orthographic projections of the first substrate and the phase shifting unit are within a first distance range, so that the probability of induction current generation between the phase shifting unit and the first transmission line and between the phase shifting unit and the second transmission line or the induction current generation possibility can be greatly reduced, the probability of induction current generation in the first transmission line and/or the second transmission line can be reduced, the influence of the phase shifting unit on the first transmission line and/or the second transmission line can be reduced, and the normal work of the liquid crystal phased-array antenna can be guaranteed.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present application 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 present application.

Drawings

The foregoing and/or additional aspects and advantages of the present application 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 circuit connection diagram of a first transmission line and a phase shifting unit in a first liquid crystal phased array antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic circuit connection diagram of a second transmission line and a phase shift unit in a first liquid crystal phased array antenna according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a phase shifting unit, and a slot subunit in a first liquid crystal phased array antenna according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 4 is an enlarged schematic diagram of a position a in the first liquid crystal phased array antenna shown in fig. 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a second liquid crystal phased array antenna provided in an embodiment of the present application, except for a first transmission line and a second transmission line;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a first substrate, a phase shift unit, and a second substrate in a third liquid crystal phased array antenna provided in this embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic top view of a phase shifting unit in the liquid crystal phased array antenna shown in fig. 6 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Description of reference numerals:

101-a first transmission line; 1011-a first transmission line segment;

102-a second transmission line; 1021-a second transmission line segment;

10-a first substrate;

20-a second substrate;

30-a phase shift unit; 31-a first electrode; 311-a third transmission line; 3111-a third sub-transmission line of the third transmission line 311; 3112-a third sub-transmission line of the third transmission line 311; 32-a second electrode; 33-a liquid crystal layer;

40-a radiating element; 41-a slot subunit; 42-a third electrode; 43-a third substrate; 44-fourth electrode.

Detailed Description

Reference will now be made in detail to the present application, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar parts or parts having the same or similar functions throughout. In addition, if a detailed description of the known art is not necessary for illustrating the features of the present application, it is omitted. The embodiments described below with reference to the drawings are exemplary only for the purpose of explaining the present application and are not to be construed as limiting the present application.

It will be understood by those within 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 application 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.

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" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes all or any element and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The phase shifting unit of the liquid crystal phased array antenna comprises two substrates which are oppositely arranged, liquid crystal is injected into a space formed by the two substrates, and a liquid crystal box is formed after the two substrates are aligned. The liquid crystal phased-array antenna comprises a phase-shifting unit, a metal ground (including a slot structure), a dielectric substrate and a metal radiation patch. The working principle of the liquid crystal phased array antenna is briefly described as follows: the deflection state of the liquid crystal is controlled by applying different voltage signals, when electromagnetic wave signals are radiated outwards through the adjusted liquid crystal box, the phase shifter units corresponding to different phase delays are shifted under the different voltage signals, and the electromagnetic waves are coupled with each other in an outer space by controlling phase delay parameters to form a main beam in a target direction so as to finish the emission of the electromagnetic signals; in addition, external electromagnetic waves pass through the radiation patch, the metal ground gap structure and the adjusted liquid crystal box, and different voltages are applied to control the deflection state of the liquid crystal, so that signal processing of different phase delays of the external electromagnetic waves is realized, signals transmitted from an external space are comprehensively received, and the reception of electromagnetic signals is completed.

The inventor of the present application has conducted research and found that, when a plurality of transmission lines are included in a liquid crystal phased array antenna, in a currently applied liquid crystal phased array antenna, the transmission lines are prone to form parasitic capacitances with adjacent components, for example, the transmission lines and adjacent wires of a phase shifting unit or a metal ground gap structure form parasitic capacitances, so that the transmission lines are prone to generate induced currents, and normal operation of the liquid crystal phased array antenna is affected.

The application provides a liquid crystal phased array antenna, aims at solving prior art technical problem as above.

The following describes the technical solutions of the present application and how to solve the above technical problems with specific embodiments.

The embodiment of the application provides a liquid crystal phased array antenna, wherein the schematic circuit connection diagram of a first transmission line and a phase shifting unit in the liquid crystal phased array antenna is shown in fig. 1, the schematic circuit connection diagram of a second transmission line and the phase shifting unit in the liquid crystal phased array antenna is shown in fig. 2, the schematic structural diagram of the first transmission line, the second transmission line, the phase shifting unit and a slot sub-unit in the liquid crystal phased array antenna is shown in fig. 3, and the schematic enlarged diagram at a position in the first liquid crystal phased array antenna shown in fig. 3 is shown in fig. 4; fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of another liquid crystal phased array antenna provided in the embodiment of the present application, except for a first transmission line and a second transmission line. The liquid crystal phased array antenna includes: a first transmission line 101, a second transmission line 102, and a first substrate 10, a phase shift unit 30, and a second substrate 20, which are laminated.

The phase shift unit 30 includes a first electrode 31, a liquid crystal layer 33, and a second electrode 32, which are laminated; a first transmission line 101 disposed in the same layer as the first electrode 31 and electrically connected thereto; the distance d1 between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line 101 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range.

A second transmission line 102 disposed on the same layer as the second electrode 32 and electrically connected thereto; the distance d2 between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range.

In the liquid crystal phased-array antenna provided by the embodiment of the application, by setting the orthogonal projections of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10, the distance between the orthogonal projections of the phase shifting unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range, so that the probability of generating parasitic capacitance between the phase shifting unit 30 and the first transmission line 101, and between the phase shifting unit 30 and the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, or the parasitic capacitance which may be generated can be greatly reduced, the probability of generating induced current in the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, further, the influence of the phase shifting unit 30 on the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, and the normal operation of the liquid crystal phased-array antenna can be ensured.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 5, the liquid crystal phased array antenna includes a first substrate 10, a phase shift unit 30, and a second substrate 20, which are laminated. The phase shift unit 30 includes a first electrode 31, a liquid crystal layer 33, and a second electrode 32, which are laminated.

It is understood by those skilled in the art that the liquid crystal phased array antenna provided in the embodiments of the present application includes a plurality of phase shift units 30, the plurality of phase shift units 30 are disposed between the first substrate 10 and the second substrate 20, and only one phase shift unit 30 is shown in fig. 5 for simplifying the structure of the liquid crystal phased array antenna. The first electrode 31 of each phase shift unit 30 is electrically connected to the first transmission line 101, and the second electrode 32 of each phase shift unit 30 is electrically connected to the second transmission line 102, so as to realize individual control of each phase shift unit 30.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, in order to facilitate showing the circuit connection structure of the phase shift unit 30 and the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102, the first substrate 10, the second substrate 20, and the liquid crystal layer 33 of the phase shift unit 30 are removed in fig. 1 to 3. In the embodiment of the present application, four phase shift units 30 are included in fig. 3.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first transmission line 101 and the first electrode 31 are disposed on the same layer and electrically connected, and optionally, the first transmission line 101 may be disposed on a side of the first substrate 10 close to the phase shift unit 30 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like. As shown in fig. 1, the minimum distance d1 between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line 101 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range.

In the embodiment of the present application, the second transmission line 102 and the second electrode 32 are disposed on the same layer and electrically connected, and optionally, the second transmission line 102 may be disposed on a side of the second substrate 20 close to the phase shift unit 30 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like. As shown in fig. 2, the minimum distance d2 between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range.

In the embodiment of the application, because the distances between the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 and the adjacent phase shifting unit 30 meet the set requirement, the probability of generating parasitic capacitance between the phase shifting unit 30 and the first transmission line 101 and between the phase shifting unit 30 and the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, the probability of generating induced current in the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, the influence of the phase shifting unit 30 on the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, and the normal operation of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be guaranteed.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first distance is in the range of 0.25 to 0.75 times the first dimension of the first electrode 31. The first dimension of the first electrode 31 is the width of the first electrode 31. Optionally, the first distance range includes 0.25 times the first size of the first electrode 31 and 0.75 times the first size of the first electrode 31.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the lower limit of the first distance range is 0.5 times the width of the first electrode 31, that is, the distance between the first transmission line 101 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is not less than 0.5 times the width of the first electrode 31, and the distance between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is not less than 0.5 times the width of the first electrode 31. The width of the first electrode 31 is the dimension of the first electrode 31 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first electrode 31. Alternatively, for existing liquid crystal phased array antennas, the upper limit of the first distance range depends on the operating frequency of the liquid crystal phased array antenna, typically around 2-15 mm.

It should be further noted that, as shown in fig. 1 to fig. 3, in the actual liquid crystal phased array antenna, the widths of the first electrodes 31 in the phase shift units 30 are not the same everywhere, and accordingly, the distances from the first transmission lines 101 to the same phase shift units 30 are also different, so that the minimum distance d1 between the orthographic projection of the first transmission lines 101 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift units 30 on the first substrate 10 in the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be ensured to be within the first distance range. Similarly, in the liquid crystal phased array antenna, the minimum distance d2 between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is within the first distance range.

In the embodiment of the present application, one end of the first transmission line 101 is electrically connected to the first electrode 31, and the other end of the first transmission line is connected to an external voltage source in a connection manner such as COF (Chip On Film) or FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit). One end of the second transmission line 102 is electrically connected to the second electrode 32, and the other end is also connected to an external voltage source in a COF (Chip On Film) or FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit). Different voltages are applied to the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 through an external voltage source, so that an adjustable voltage difference exists between the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102, the liquid crystal bias state of the middle position of the metal structure is changed, liquid crystal materials with different dielectric constants and loss tangents are obtained, the phase difference of electromagnetic signals occurs, and different phase shift control is achieved.

In one embodiment of the present application, the liquid crystal phased array antenna further includes a radiation unit 40 disposed on a side of the second substrate 20 away from the first substrate 10; the radiation unit 40 comprises a third electrode 42 and a slit subunit 41 arranged on the third electrode 42, wherein the third electrode 42 is arranged on one side of the second substrate 20 far away from the first substrate 10; in the direction parallel to the first substrate 10, the distance between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line 101 on the radiating element 40 and the orthographic projection of the second transmission line 102 on the radiating element 40 and the slot subunit 41 is within a second distance range.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 3 and 5, the liquid crystal phased array antenna includes a radiation unit 40, and the radiation unit 40 is disposed on a side of the second substrate 20 away from the first substrate 10. The radiating element 40 includes a slot subunit 41, and as shown in fig. 4, the first transmission line 101 has a distance d3 from the slot subunit 41, and the second transmission line 102 has a distance d4 from the slot subunit 41, in the embodiment of the present application, the distance d3 and the distance d4 are both within a second distance range.

In the embodiment of the present application, in order to facilitate the structure of the phase shift unit 30, the first transmission line 101, the second transmission line 102, and the like in the liquid crystal phased array antenna to be shown in fig. 3, the third electrode 42 of the radiation unit 40 is processed by perspective, and the size of the third electrode 42 is also only schematic, and does not represent that the phase shift unit 30 is not completely covered by the third electrode 42 in the actual liquid crystal phased array antenna. In fig. 4, the phase shift unit 30 is removed in order to show the distances between the slot subunit 41 and the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102.

In the embodiment of the present application, the second distance range is 0.5-2.5 times the first size of the slit subunit 41. The first dimension of the slot subunit 41 is the width of the slot subunit 41. Optionally, the second distance range includes 0.5 times the first size of the slit subunit 41 and 2.5 times the first size of the slit subunit 41.

It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, the lower limit of the second distance range is 1 time of the width of the slot subunit 41, that is, the distance between the orthogonal projection of the first transmission line 101 on the radiating element 40 and the slot subunit 41 is not less than 1 time of the width of the slot subunit 41, and the distance between the orthogonal projection of the second transmission line 102 on the radiating element 40 and the slot subunit 41 is not less than 1 time of the width of the slot subunit 41. The width of the slot subunit 41 is the dimension of the slot subunit 41 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the slot subunit 41. Alternatively, for existing liquid crystal phased array antennas, the upper limit value of the second distance range also depends on the operating frequency of the liquid crystal phased array antenna.

In the embodiment of the application, by setting the orthogonal projection of the first transmission line 101 on the radiating element 40 and the orthogonal projection of the second transmission line 102 on the radiating element 40, and setting the distance between the slot subunit 41 and the slot subunit, the probability that the slot subunit 41 in the radiating element 40 generates parasitic capacitance with the first transmission line 101 and the phase shifting unit 30 generates parasitic capacitance with the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, the probability that induced current is generated in the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, the influence of the radiating element 40 on the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, and the normal operation of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be further ensured.

Alternatively, the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 33 in the phase shift unit 30 is 10.6 μm, and the operating bandwidth of the corresponding phase shift unit 30 is not less than 19.5 ghz and not more than 20 ghz. Alternatively the size of the liquid crystal phased array antenna element may be 8 mm by 8 mm and the width of the slot sub-element 41 may be 0.35 mm, e.g. equivalent to 10 to 235 micron weak conductivity wires for the first 101 and second 102 transmission lines, the distance between the first 101 and second 102 transmission lines and the slot sub-element 41 being at least 0.45 mm. Alternatively, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 near the slot subunit 41 may be provided in a circular curve shape having a diameter of 2.4 mm.

In one embodiment of the present application, the first transmission line 101 includes a first transmission line segment 1011, and the second transmission line 102 includes a second transmission line segment 1021; in a direction parallel to the first substrate 10, the extending direction of the first transmission line segment 1011 and the extending direction of the second transmission line segment 1021 both intersect with the extending direction of the slot subunit 41.

In the embodiment of the present application, in order to further reduce the influence of the radiating element 40 on the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102, as shown in fig. 3, the first transmission line 101 includes a first transmission line segment 1011, the second transmission line 102 includes a second transmission line segment 1021, the first transmission line segment 1011 is a portion of the first transmission line 101 close to the slot subunit 41, and the second transmission line segment 1021 is a portion of the second transmission line 102 close to the slot subunit 41.

In the embodiment of the present application, by setting the extending direction of the first transmission line segment 1011 and the extending direction of the second transmission line segment 1021 to intersect with the extending direction of the slot subunit 41, that is, by avoiding the extending direction of the first transmission line segment 1011 and the extending direction of the second transmission line segment 1021 to be parallel to the extending direction of the slot subunit 41, the probability of generating parasitic capacitance between the first transmission line segment 1011 and the slot subunit 41 and between the second transmission line segment 1021 and the slot subunit 41 can be reduced, so that the probability of generating parasitic capacitance between the slot subunit 41 and the first transmission line 101 and between the phase shift unit 30 and the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, the probability of generating induced current in the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, and further the influence of the radiation unit 40 on the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, the normal work of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be further guaranteed.

In one embodiment of the present application, the radiation unit 40 further includes: a third substrate 43 and a fourth electrode 44.

A third substrate 43 disposed on a side of the third electrode 42 away from the second substrate 20; and the fourth electrode 44 is arranged on the side of the third substrate 43 far away from the second substrate 20, and the orthogonal projection of the fourth electrode 44 on the third electrode 42 covers the slit subunit 41.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 5, the third electrode 42 of the radiation unit 40 is disposed on a side of the second substrate 20 away from the first substrate 10, and the slot sub-unit 41 of the radiation unit 40 is opened on the third electrode 42; optionally, the third electrode 42 is a metal ground. The third substrate 43 is disposed on a side of the third electrode 42 away from the second substrate 20; optionally, the third substrate 43 is a dielectric substrate. And the fourth electrode 44 is arranged on the side of the third substrate 43 far away from the second substrate 20, and the orthogonal projection of the fourth electrode 44 on the third electrode 42 covers the slit subunit 41.

It should be noted that in the embodiment of the present application, each phase shift unit 30 in the liquid crystal phased array antenna is provided with one radiation unit 40, and specifically, each phase shift unit 30 in the liquid crystal phased array antenna is provided with one slot subunit 41.

In one embodiment of the present application, an orthogonal projection of the first transmission line 101 on the first substrate 10 is separated from an orthogonal projection of the adjacent second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 in a direction parallel to the first substrate 10.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 3, in the liquid crystal phased array antenna, an orthographic projection of a first transmission line 101 on a first substrate 10 is separated from an orthographic projection of an adjacent second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10, so that a certain distance is provided between the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 adjacent to the first transmission line 101, and thus the first transmission line 101 and the adjacent second transmission line 102 can be prevented from being aligned, the probability of generating a parasitic capacitance between the first transmission line 101 and the adjacent second transmission line 102 can be reduced, the probability of generating an induced current in the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, and the normal operation of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be further ensured.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, due to design requirements of an actual product, in the liquid crystal phased array antenna, since the number of the second transmission lines 102 of the first transmission line 101 is large, and the extension lengths of the second transmission lines 102 of the first transmission line 101 are both long, in order to reduce structural design difficulty of the liquid crystal phased array antenna and reduce production cost of the liquid crystal phased array antenna, a person skilled in the art may set, according to actual requirements, a partial overlapping area between an orthographic projection of the first transmission line 101 on the first substrate 10 and an orthographic projection of an adjacent second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 to exist, and it is sufficient to ensure that an area of the overlapping area of the orthographic projections of the two is within an allowable range.

In one embodiment of the present application, the first transmission line 101 includes a plurality of first sub-transmission line segments connected in sequence, and an angle between two adjacent first sub-transmission line segments is greater than 90 °; the second transmission line 102 includes a plurality of second sub-transmission line segments connected in sequence, and an angle between two adjacent second sub-transmission line segments is greater than 90 °.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 3, the first transmission line 101 includes a plurality of first sub-transmission segments connected in sequence, and in the plurality of first sub-transmission segments of the first transmission line 101, an angle between two adjacent first sub-transmission segments is greater than 90 °. Therefore, the right-angle bent part in the first transmission line 101 can be avoided, the facing area between the first transmission line 101 and other layer parts in the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be reduced, the probability of parasitic capacitance generated between the first transmission line 101 and other layer parts can be reduced, the probability of induced current generated in the first transmission line 101 can be further reduced, and the normal work of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be further ensured.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 2 and fig. 3, the second transmission line 102 includes a plurality of second sub-transmission segments connected in sequence, and in the plurality of second sub-transmission segments of the second transmission line 102, an angle between two adjacent second sub-transmission segments is greater than 90 °. Therefore, the second transmission line 102 can be prevented from being bent at a right angle, the facing area between the second transmission line 102 and other layer parts in the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be reduced, the probability of parasitic capacitance generated between the second transmission line 102 and other layer parts can be reduced, the probability of induced current generated in the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, and the normal work of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be further ensured.

In addition, the orthographic projection overlapping area of the first transmission line 101 and the adjacent second transmission line 102 can be reduced, so that the probability of generating parasitic capacitance between the first transmission line 101 and the adjacent second transmission line 102 can be reduced, the probability of generating induced current in the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be further reduced, and the normal operation of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be further ensured.

In one embodiment of the present application, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 each comprise a curved segment.

In this embodiment of the application, the first transmission line 101 may include a curved segment, and optionally, under the condition that the design meets the requirement, the first transmission line 101 may be set to be curved, so that the facing area between the first transmission line 101 and other layer components in the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be reduced, the probability that parasitic capacitance is generated between the first transmission line 101 and other layer components can be reduced, the probability that induced current is generated in the first transmission line 101 can be further reduced, and the normal operation of the liquid crystal phased array antenna can be further ensured.

Similarly, the second transmission line 102 may include a curved section, and optionally, the second transmission line 102 may be disposed in a curved shape.

In one embodiment of the present application, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are made of a material including at least one of indium tin oxide, silver, and graphene.

In the embodiment of the present application, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are made of a material including one of indium tin oxide, silver, and graphene, and/or two or more of indium tin oxide, silver, and graphene.

Optionally, in this embodiment of the application, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are made of ITO (Indium Tin Oxide), and the first transmission line 101 may be disposed on one side of the first substrate 10 close to the phase shift unit 30 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like. The second transmission line 102 may be disposed on a side of the second substrate 20 close to the phase shift unit 30 by sputtering, vapor deposition, or the like.

Alternatively, for the existing process to use ITO to fabricate the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102, the thickness of a single first transmission line 101 or second transmission line 102 may be not less than 0.05 micrometers and not more than 0.07 micrometers; the width may be 10 microns; the distance between adjacent first and second transmission lines 101 and 102 may be 5 micrometers. In the embodiment of the application, the width of a single first transmission line 101 or second transmission line 102 is limited to be not less than 10 micrometers, and the distance between adjacent first transmission lines 101 and second transmission lines 102 is not less than 5 micrometers, so that the probability of breakage of the first transmission lines 101 and second transmission lines 102 can be reduced. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the thickness, width and spacing of the first transmission line 101 or the second transmission line 102 can be appropriately enlarged according to the design requirements, the limitations of the production equipment, etc., so as to further reduce the probability of breakage of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other conductive materials may be used to form the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102. Optionally, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 are made of nano-silver, the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 have higher light transmittance by using the nano-silver, and the conductivity of the nano-silver is higher than that of ITO, so that the widths of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, which is beneficial to reducing the size of the liquid crystal phased array antenna. In the embodiment of the present application, the width of the first transmission line 101 is a dimension perpendicular to the extending direction of the first transmission line 101, and the width of the second transmission line 102 is a dimension perpendicular to the extending direction of the second transmission line 102.

In one embodiment of the present application, the first electrode 31 includes a third transmission line 311, and the first transmission line 101 and the third transmission line 311 are disposed on the same layer and electrically connected; the distance between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line 101 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the third transmission line 311 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range; the distance between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the second electrode 32 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the first electrode 31 includes a third transmission line 311, the third transmission line 311 is disposed on one side of the first substrate 10, and the first transmission line 101 and the third transmission line 311 are disposed on the same layer and electrically connected. The distance between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line 101 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the third transmission line 311 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range, in the embodiment of the application, the first transmission line 101 is not shown in fig. 6 and 7, and the position of the first transmission line 101 can be referred to as the position shown in fig. 1 to 3.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the second electrode 32 is disposed on a side of the second substrate 20 close to the first substrate 10, an orthogonal projection of the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range from an orthogonal projection of the second electrode 32 on the first substrate 10. In the embodiment of the present application, the second transmission line 102 is not shown in fig. 6 and fig. 7, and the position where the second transmission line 102 is disposed may refer to the position shown in fig. 1 to fig. 3.

In one embodiment of the present application, the phase shift unit 30 includes a plurality of second electrodes 32, at least two adjacent second electrodes 32 are parallel to each other; the third transmission line 311 includes two third sub-transmission line segments parallel to each other, and an orthographic projection of the second electrode 32 on the first substrate 10 and an orthographic projection of the two third sub-transmission line segments on the first substrate 10 both overlap.

In the embodiment of the present application, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the third transmission line 311 includes a third sub-transmission line segment 3111 and another third sub-transmission line segment 3112, and the third sub-transmission line segment 3111 and the another third sub-transmission line segment 3112 are parallel to each other. The orthographic projection of the plurality of second electrodes 32 of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of one third sub transmission line segment 3111 on the first substrate 10 are overlapped; the orthographic projection of the plurality of second electrodes 32 of the phase shift unit 30 on the first substrate 10 and the orthographic projection of the other third sub transmission line segment 3112 on the first substrate 10 are overlapped. So that one third sub-transmission line segment 3111 and the other third sub-transmission line segment 3112 of the third transmission line 311 and the second electrode 32 drive the liquid crystal layer 32 between the second electrode 32 and the third transmission line 311 in common.

By applying the embodiment of the application, at least the following beneficial effects can be realized:

in the liquid crystal phased-array antenna provided by the embodiment of the application, by setting the orthogonal projections of the first transmission line 101 and the second transmission line 102 on the first substrate 10, the distance between the orthogonal projections of the phase shifting unit 30 on the first substrate 10 is within a first distance range, so that the probability of generating parasitic capacitance between the phase shifting unit 30 and the first transmission line 101, and between the phase shifting unit 30 and the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, or the parasitic capacitance which may be generated can be greatly reduced, the probability of generating induced current in the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, further, the influence of the phase shifting unit 30 on the first transmission line 101 and/or the second transmission line 102 can be reduced, and the normal operation of the liquid crystal phased-array antenna can be ensured.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the various operations, methods, steps in the processes, acts, or solutions discussed in this application can be interchanged, modified, combined, or eliminated. Further, other steps, measures, or schemes in various operations, methods, or flows that have been discussed in this application can be alternated, altered, rearranged, broken down, combined, or deleted. Further, steps, measures, schemes in the prior art having various operations, methods, procedures disclosed in the present application may also be alternated, modified, rearranged, decomposed, combined, or deleted.

In the description of the present application, it is to be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on those shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience in describing the present application and simplifying the description, but do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed in a particular orientation, and be operated, and thus should not be construed as limiting the present application.

The terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more unless otherwise specified.

In the description of the present application, it is to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; they may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood in a specific case by those of ordinary skill in the art.

In the description herein, particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

The foregoing is only a partial embodiment of the present application, and it should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several modifications and decorations can be made without departing from the principle of the present application, and these modifications and decorations should also be regarded as the protection scope of the present application.

Claims (12)

1. A liquid crystal phased array antenna, comprising: the phase-shifting circuit comprises a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a first substrate, a phase-shifting unit and a second substrate which are stacked;

the phase shift unit comprises a first electrode, a liquid crystal layer and a second electrode which are laminated; the first transmission line is arranged on the same layer as the first electrode and is electrically connected with the first electrode; the distance between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line on the first substrate and the orthographic projection of the phase shifting unit on the first substrate is within a first distance range;

the second transmission line is arranged on the same layer as the second electrode and is electrically connected with the second electrode; the distance between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line on the first substrate and the orthographic projection of the phase shifting unit on the first substrate is within a first distance range.

2. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 1, further comprising: the radiation unit is arranged on one side of the second substrate, which is far away from the first substrate;

the radiation unit comprises a third electrode and a slit subunit arranged on the third electrode, and the third electrode is arranged on one side of the second substrate far away from the first substrate; in a direction parallel to the first substrate, the distance between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line on the radiating element and the orthographic projection of the second transmission line on the radiating element and the slot subunit is within a second distance range.

3. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 2, wherein the first transmission line comprises a first transmission line segment and the second transmission line comprises a second transmission line segment;

in a direction parallel to the first substrate, the extending direction of the first transmission line segment and the extending direction of the second transmission line segment are both intersected with the extending direction of the slit subunit.

4. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 2, characterized in that the radiating element further comprises:

the third substrate is arranged on one side, far away from the second substrate, of the third electrode;

and the fourth electrode is arranged on one side of the third substrate, which is far away from the second substrate, and the orthographic projection of the fourth electrode on the third electrode covers the gap subunit.

5. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 2, wherein the second distance range is 0.5-2.5 times the first dimension of the slot sub-element.

6. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the first distance ranges from 0.25 to 0.75 times the first electrode first dimension.

7. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein an orthographic projection of the first transmission line on the first substrate is separated from an orthographic projection of the adjacent second transmission line on the first substrate in a direction parallel to the first substrate.

8. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the first transmission line comprises a plurality of first sub-transmission line segments connected in series, and an angle between two adjacent first sub-transmission line segments is greater than 90 °;

the second transmission line comprises a plurality of second sub-transmission line segments which are connected in sequence, and the angle between every two adjacent second sub-transmission line segments is larger than 90 degrees.

9. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line each comprise a curved segment.

10. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the first transmission line and the second transmission line are each made of a material comprising at least one of indium tin oxide, silver, and graphene.

11. The liquid crystal phased array antenna of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a third transmission line, the first transmission line and the third transmission line being disposed in a same layer and electrically connected; the distance between the orthographic projection of the first transmission line on the first substrate and the orthographic projection of the third transmission line on the first substrate is within a first distance range;

the distance between the orthographic projection of the second transmission line on the first substrate and the orthographic projection of the second electrode on the first substrate is within a first distance range.

12. The liquid crystal phased array antenna as claimed in claim 11, wherein said phase shift unit comprises a plurality of said second electrodes, at least two adjacent ones of said second electrodes being parallel to each other;

the third transmission line comprises two third sub-transmission line segments which are parallel to each other, and the orthographic projection of the second electrode on the first substrate and the orthographic projection of the two third sub-transmission line segments on the first substrate are overlapped.

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