CN118117321A - Amplitude and phase regulator suitable for mobile communication antenna - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of mobile communication, and discloses an amplitude and phase regulator suitable for a mobile communication antenna, which comprises a fixed substrate, an inner plate and an outer plate; the outer plate is above the fixed substrate; the inner plate is arranged above the outer plate, and the outer plate of the inner plate is circular and has the same circle center. The inner plate is used for amplitude adjustment of the wave beam, and the bottom surface of the inner plate is provided with a plurality of ports and wires, and each group of ports corresponds to different amplitudes. The outer plate is used for adjusting the phase of the wave beam, and the bottom surface of the outer plate is provided with a plurality of ports and wires, and each group of ports corresponds to a different phase. The phase shifter can simultaneously adjust the amplitude and the phase, is suitable for different phased array application scenes, has universality and flexibility, and is a competitive phase shifter scheme. The invention has the advantages of simple structure and low cost.

Description

Amplitude and phase regulator suitable for mobile communication antenna

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of mobile communication, and particularly relates to an amplitude and phase adjuster suitable for a mobile communication antenna.

Background

In the mobile communications industry, wireless network coverage and service areas are critical to mobile network operators. In the 4G/3G/2G age, the base station and the antenna equipment are independent, and signal transmission between the user and the base station is realized together. In the field of 5G mobile communications, MIMO antenna arrays are integrated into 5G RUs (radio units). However, for flexible deployment purposes, both the base station antennas and the MIMO antenna arrays should have the ability to adjust the coverage area in the field.

In theory, there are two ways to change the coverage area of an antenna: in method 1, the declination angle (θ) of the beam may be changed by varying the phase offset of the signal transmitted or received by each antenna radiator. In general, this approach can adjust the distance (D) between the coverage area and the antenna. Method 2, changing the beam width, the beam width (B) may be changed by a different amplitude of the signal transmitted or received by each antenna radiator. In general, this approach allows for adjustment of the size (L) of the coverage area.

Although there are many antennas on the market that can adjust the phase of a signal through a phase shifter and achieve the purpose of controlling the downtilt angle (θ), they cannot adjust the amplitude of the signal, and in some cases, the flexibility is not very good, and the function of amplitude phase adjustment in a phased array cannot be satisfied.

In the prior art, the antenna can only adjust the angle through the phase shifter, but cannot adjust the amplitude of the signal. A typical architecture of a 5G radio unit is a 5G MIMO antenna classical architecture model.

Conventional phase shifters are mainly of two types, but they can only adjust the phase.

Sliding medium phase shifters these phase shifters are mechanically controlled by external devices. The sliding medium phase shifter transmits radio frequency signals in a PCB (Printed Circuit Board ), and the upper surface and the lower surface of the PCB are tightly covered by two dielectric plates. Both the PCB and the dielectric sheet are placed in a metal housing. The PCB board is fixed in a metal housing in which the dielectric sheet can slide. As the dielectric sheet slides, the phase of the RF signal changes.

Variable electrical length phase shifters these phase shifters are mechanically controlled by external devices. There are microstrip lines on both different PCBs (PCB 1 and PCB 2). The two PCBs are in close contact, so that the microstrip lines can be in face-to-face close connection. The PCB 2 is fixed and the PCB 1 can slide horizontally within the range of al. As the PCB 1 moves, RF signals are input from the "input" port and transmitted to the "output" port after having a different phase shift. In the case where β (propagation constant) is a constant, the value of the phase shift depends on the difference in the electrical length of the RF signal transmission. In other words, the amount of phase shift is based on the maximum sliding distance between the two PCBs. Furthermore, the maximum sliding distance Δl depends on the wavelength at which the signal is transmitted in the microstrip line. Higher frequencies mean shorter wavelengths and smaller Δl. In our practical product, the required maximum sliding distance is 12.5mm in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, and small errors in the sliding distance will significantly deteriorate the performance of the antenna array, so the structure faces many challenges in mechanical design and fabrication. Furthermore, in a millimeter wave RU, the required sliding distance is shorter than the product, and thus the solution is hardly applied to a millimeter wave radio unit.

Disclosure of Invention

Aiming at the problems existing in the prior art, the invention provides an amplitude and phase adjuster suitable for a mobile communication antenna.

The invention is realized in such a way that an amplitude and phase adjuster suitable for a mobile communication antenna comprises a fixed substrate, an inner plate and an outer plate;

the outer plate is above the fixed substrate;

The inner plate is arranged above the outer plate, and the inner plate and the outer plate are all round and have the same circle center.

Further, the inner plate is used for amplitude adjustment of the wave beam, and the bottom surface of the inner plate is provided with a plurality of ports and wires, and each group of ports corresponds to different amplitudes.

Further, the outer plate is used for adjusting the phase of the wave beam, and the bottom surface of the outer plate is provided with a plurality of ports and wires, and each group of ports corresponds to a different phase.

Further, the inner and outer plates are driven by a motor to perform a rotational movement about a center on the upper surface of the base plate.

Further, the bottom surface of the outer plate is closely attached to the top surface of the substrate, and the port of the outer plate is in contact with and communicates with the port of the substrate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for implementing the amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna, the method comprising the steps of:

S1: setting a coverage area by an operator;

s2: calculating tilt angle and beam width using control software to match coverage requirements; and calculating the amplitude and phase;

s3: generating a configuration table according to the amplitude and phase information, and selecting a corresponding amplitude phase group based on the configuration table;

s4: the motor works;

S5: the inner plate and the outer plate rotate;

S6: the amplitude phase changes accordingly.

In combination with the technical scheme and the technical problems to be solved, the technical scheme to be protected has the following advantages and positive effects:

Firstly, the phase shifter can adjust amplitude and phase simultaneously, is used for adapting to different phased array application scenes, has universality and flexibility, and is a competitive phase shifter scheme.

The invention has the advantages of simple structure and low cost.

Second, the design of the beamforming device provided by the present invention represents several significant technical advances, focusing mainly on the field of antenna technology, especially in terms of improving flexibility, accuracy and efficiency of the wireless communication system. The following key technical progress points of the invention are:

1) Dynamic beamforming capability: by the unique design of the inner and outer substrates, the device is able to dynamically adjust the direction and tilt angle of the beam, achieving highly flexible signal coverage. This capability is particularly important to accommodate varying communication environments and user requirements, such as in mobile and satellite communication systems, where the beam can be dynamically adjusted according to the location of the target to optimize signal strength and coverage.

2) Highly integrated antenna system design: the integration of the beam forming device directly into the antenna device significantly improves the integration level and compactness of the system by means of a elaborate substrate design and wire layout. This not only reduces the physical size and weight of the system, but also helps to reduce production costs and improve the reliability of the system.

3) Accurate power allocation and phase shift control: accurate power distribution and phase shift control are achieved through the wire sets of different widths on the inner substrate and the wire sets of different lengths on the outer substrate. This is important for realizing specific beam shape and direction, and can accurately adjust beam characteristics according to specific communication requirements or interference conditions, thereby improving signal effectiveness and communication quality.

4) The adaptability and the versatility of the system are improved: by allowing the inner and outer substrates to rotate relative to the substrate, the apparatus can flexibly adjust the beam configuration according to different coverage requirements and environmental conditions. The design enables the antenna system to adapt to static application scenes and effectively cope with dynamically changing environments, such as wireless network coverage in urban and rural areas or aviation communication systems under different weather conditions.

5) Optimized signal processing path: by means of finely designed input and output ports and wires connecting these ports, an optimized signal processing path is achieved. Thus, the signal transmission efficiency is improved, the signal attenuation and interference are reduced, and the high-quality communication performance is ensured.

These technological advances together constitute the core innovation of the beamforming device, providing a new solution for the wireless communication field, especially in applications requiring highly flexible and accurate control of beam characteristics, such as 5G networks, satellite communications, wireless sensor networks, radar systems, etc.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a top view of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of the operation of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a substrate structure of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of an inner plate structure of an amplitude and phase adjuster suitable for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of different vertical beamwidths of a rotating inner plate of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an outer plate structure of an amplitude and phase adjuster applicable to a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic view of beams with different inclination angles of a rotating outer plate of an amplitude and phase adjuster suitable for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 11 is a transparent top view of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of an example 1 model of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of an example 1 beam of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of an example 2 model of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of an example 2-beam of an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure: 1. amplitude and phase adjusters adapted for use with mobile communications antennas; 2. a substrate; 3. an inner plate; 4. an outer plate; 21. a top surface; 22. an input port; 23. an intermediate port 1; 24. an intermediate port 2; 25. an intermediate port 3; 26. an output port; 27. a wire; 31. a bottom surface; 32. a first port group; 33. a second port group; 34. a wire set; 41. a bottom surface; 42. a first port group; 43. a second port group; 44. and (5) assembling wires.

Detailed Description

The present invention will be described in further detail with reference to the following examples in order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

The present invention provides a complex beamforming device integrated in an antenna device for flexible signal coverage and transmission. This device consists of three main parts: a base plate, an inner base plate (inner plate), and an outer base plate (outer plate).

Basic structure and function:

1) A substrate: as part of the antenna board, the substrate supports the integration of functional circuitry. It includes a top surface, input/output ports, and wires connecting the ports. The substrate may be made of PCB, metallized plastic or other material, the design of which ensures efficient transmission of RF signals between the beamforming device and the antenna.

2) An inner plate: the inner plates are designed to achieve different beam patterns by varying the power distribution ratio. In particular, the different sets of wire width variations on the inner plate result in different power distributions, allowing beams of different directions to be formed by selecting different power distribution sets.

3) An outer plate: the design of the outer plates allows the beam tilt to be adjusted by varying the phase shift of the RF signal. The group of wires on the outer plate realizes phase shift through wires with different lengths, thereby realizing different inclination angles of the wave beam.

Working principle:

1) Signal input and output: the RF signal enters the device through the input port and is processed through the filter module (although the filter module is not shown). The signal is then transmitted between the substrate, the inner plate, and the outer plate through a series of wires, and finally integrated into the antenna network through the output ports.

2) Beamforming and adjustment: by selecting different power distribution groups on the inner plate, different beam patterns can be realized. For example, turning off a particular radiator can significantly increase the beamwidth and coverage area of the antenna device. Similarly, by rotating the outer plate to select different wire sets, adjustment of the beam tilt can be achieved, thereby changing the direction of coverage of the signal.

3) Multi-beam generation: when the inner plate or the outer plate rotates, various types of beams can be formed by selecting different port and wire combinations so as to adapt to different coverage requirements. This design provides a very high flexibility, enabling the antenna device to adjust the beam characteristics according to different application scenarios.

4) Interconnection of ports and wires: the ports and wires on the substrate, inner plate, and outer plate are interconnected to ensure that RF signals can be freely transmitted between the input port and the output port while also supporting complex signal processing paths within the beamforming device.

The design of such a beam forming device allows the antenna device to flexibly adjust the beam characteristics, including the direction, width and tilt angle of the beam, according to different application requirements. This highly flexible and configurable design is particularly important for modern wireless communication systems requiring accurate control signal coverage, such as 5G networks, satellite communication, and radar systems. Such devices can provide varied beamforming capabilities to accommodate complex and dynamically changing communication environments by elaborate internal and external board designs and precise wire configurations on the substrate.

The invention proposes an amplitude and phase adjuster 1 suitable for a mobile communication antenna, as shown in fig. 1, which is a structural diagram of the invention, and fig. 2, which is a plan view of the invention, comprising a fixed base plate 2, an inner plate 3 and an outer plate 4.

The inner plate 3 and the outer plate 4 provided by the invention have the following characteristics:

The inner plate 3 and the outer plate 4 are both circular and have the same center.

They are not shown driven by a motor to perform a rotational movement about a center on the upper surface of the base plate 2.

The bottom surface of the outer plate 4 is closely attached to the top surface of the substrate 2, and its port can be in contact with and communicate with the port of the substrate 2.

The inner plate 3 is used for amplitude adjustment of the beam, and has ports and wires on the bottom surface, and each port corresponds to a different amplitude.

The outer plate 4 is used for phase adjustment of the beam, and has ports and wires on the bottom surface, each set of ports corresponding to a different phase.

The working flow of the invention is shown in fig. 3, the amplitude phase corresponding to the phase shifter is determined according to the antenna required to be used, and the amplitude phase information is input into the control device of the invention to generate the configuration table shown in table 1.

The inner plate 3 has m sets of different mappings and the outer plate 4 has n sets of different mappings, so there are m x n sets of different amplitude phase values in the software.

TABLE 1

As shown in fig. 4, the beam forming device 1 may be designed as a separate product or module, which device is placed between the antenna and the filter. The input port 22 is connected to the filter and the output port 26 is connected to the antenna.

As shown in fig. 5, the beamforming device 1 may be integrated into an antenna device. The substrate 2 is part of an antenna board or its functional circuitry may be printed on the antenna board. This inner substrate 3 and outer substrate 4 are connected to the antenna substrate. The input port 22 is connected to a filter. The output port is integrated into the antenna network not shown.

As shown in fig. 6, the substrate 2 includes: a top surface 21; an input port 22, which is connected to the filter module not shown, through which the transmitted RF signal passes between the filter module and the beam forming device 1; at least two output ports 26 through which rf signals are transmitted between the antenna and the beam forming device 1 via a series of wires 27; intermediate port 23, port 24, port 25; a series of wires for electrically connecting the input port 22 and the intermediate port 23; and some wire sets for electrically connecting intermediate ports 24 and 25. The substrate 2 may be made of PCB, metallized plastic or other material with ports 23, 24, 25, 26 on the top surface 21.

As shown in fig. 7, the inner panel 3 includes: a bottom surface 31; some of the first port groups 32; some of the second port groups 33; and a number of conductor sets 34 configured to electrically connect the first port, and the second port. All ports 3233 and wires 34 are grouped on the bottom surface 31. For the purposes of fig. 7, they are arranged in four groups. The right side group includes two first group ports, two second ports and two wires, and the other group includes four first ports, four second ports and four wires. The widths of the lines in each set are different or equal. This different width will result in a different power distribution, for example, for the lower group, the power split rate between the four ports is 1:2:2:1, and the power split rate for the upper group is 1:1:1:1. Specifically, the power split ratio of the right group is 0:1:1:0, i.e. zero power means that both antenna radiators are disconnected. Furthermore, different power distribution rates result in different amplitudes between the signals, and then different beam patterns are formed in the antenna arrangement. In other words, the antenna device may be formed to select an appropriate group by rotating the inner plate 3. Referring specifically to fig. 8, if two radiators are turned off, the beam width will increase significantly and the coverage area L of the antenna device will also increase.

As shown in fig. 9, the outer panel 4 includes: the bottom surface 41, some of the first port groups 42, some of the second port groups 43, and some of the sets of wires 44 are configured to electrically connect the first ports and the second ports. All ports 4243 and wires 44 are grouped on the bottom surface 41. For example, in fig. 4, they are arranged in 6 groups. Each group includes 4 first ports, 4 second ports, and 4 wires. The lengths of the lines in a group are different or equal. Different lengths may result in different phase shifts of the radio frequency signal and tilt θ of the beam, see fig. 10. Furthermore, the antenna device can select an appropriate group by rotating the outer plate 4, thereby forming different beam inclinations.

For ease of description, fig. 11 shows a transparent top view showing all ports and wires of the substrate 2, the inner plate 3 and the outer plate 4. In this case ports 23 and 32 are connected, similarly 24 and 32, 25 and 42, 26 and 43 are all connected to each other. In other words, the input port 22 and the output port 26 are in communication, and thus, RF signals radio frequency signals may be transmitted from the input port 22 to the output port 26 or vice versa from the output port 26 to the input port 22.

In addition, when the inner plate 3 or the outer plate 4 rotates, the antenna device may form various types of beams to accommodate different coverage scenes.

For example, fig. 12 shows a case where two radiators are turned off and there is no phase shift, in which case the beam see fig. 13 has a wide width and the preset tilt angle is based on the antenna design or specification.

For example, fig. 14 shows another case, i.e., equal power distribution and phase shift, where the beam (see fig. 15 with narrow width and large tilt angle).

Further, the above description and description of the present invention assumes that ports on the inner and outer plates are grouped into 4 groups and 6 groups. In fact, they may be divided into any number of groups, more or less, according to detailed designs or specifications.

In addition, to reduce the size, the inner and outer plates may be designed as a multi-layer PCB, and the wires may be printed on different layers.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of specific embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto, but any modifications, equivalents, improvements and alternatives falling within the spirit and principles of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. An amplitude and phase adjuster suitable for a mobile communication antenna is characterized by comprising a fixed substrate, an inner plate and an outer plate;

the outer plate is above the fixed substrate;

The inner plate is arranged above the outer plate, and the outer plate of the inner plate is circular and has the same circle center.

2. An amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claim 1, wherein the inner plate is adapted for amplitude adjustment of the beam, and has ports and conductors on its bottom surface, each set of ports corresponding to a different amplitude.

3. An amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claim 1, wherein the outer plate is adapted for phase adjustment of the beam and has ports and conductors on its bottom surface, each set of ports corresponding to a different phase.

4. An amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer plates are driven by a motor for rotational movement about a centre on the upper surface of the base plate.

5. The amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the outer plate is in close proximity to the top surface of the substrate and the ports of the outer plate are in contact with and communicate with the ports of the substrate.

6. An amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claim 1, comprising:

A substrate comprising a top surface, at least one input port for connection to a filter module for transmitting Radio Frequency (RF) signals, and at least two output ports connected to an antenna network by a series of wires;

At least one inner substrate connected to the substrate, the inner substrate comprising a bottom surface, at least one set of first ports and at least one set of second ports, and at least one set of wires configured to electrically connect the first port set and the second port set to achieve different power distribution ratios to form beams in different directions;

At least one outer substrate connected to the substrate, the outer substrate comprising a bottom surface, at least one set of first ports and at least one set of second ports, and at least one set of wires configured to electrically connect the first port set and the second port set to achieve a phase shift of the RF signal to adjust the beam tilt.

7. The amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claim 1, wherein the wire widths on the inner substrate are different to achieve different power distribution ratios, wherein the power distribution ratios are adjusted by selecting different wire combinations to form a desired beam pattern; and the lengths of the wires on the outer substrate are different to achieve a phase shift of the RF signal, wherein the phase shift is adjusted by selecting different wire combinations to form the desired beam tilt angle.

8. The amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claim 1, wherein the substrate, inner substrate and outer substrate are each made of PCB, metallized plastic or other suitable material and the ports are disposed on a top surface of the substrate; wherein the inner and outer substrates are rotatable relative to the substrate.

9. A method of implementing an amplitude and phase adjuster for a mobile communication antenna according to claims 1-8, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

S1: setting a coverage area;

s2: calculating tilt angle and beam width using control software to match coverage requirements; and calculating the amplitude and phase;

s3: generating a configuration table according to the amplitude and phase information, and selecting a corresponding amplitude phase group based on the configuration table;

s4: the motor works;

S5: the inner plate and the outer plate rotate;

S6: the amplitude phase changes accordingly.