CN220797080U - Antenna module - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model discloses an antenna module, which comprises a body, wherein a low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit, a millimeter wave side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna array and a millimeter wave side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna array are arranged on the body, the low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit is positioned between the millimeter wave side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna array and the millimeter wave side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna array, the millimeter wave side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna array comprises a plurality of side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna units which are arranged in a row, and the millimeter wave side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna array comprises a plurality of side-shooting dielectric resonator antenna units which are arranged in a row. The antenna module is novel and compact in structure, can cover the medium-low frequency N78 frequency band and the 5GmmWave frequency band of the 5G terminal, and has the advantages of high isolation, high gain, large scanning angle and the like.

Description

Antenna module

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to the field of antenna technologies, and in particular, to an antenna module.

Background

According to the 3GPP TS 38.101-2G terminal radio frequency technical specification and the TR38.817 terminal radio frequency technical report, the 5 GmmmWave antenna needs to cover N257 (26.5-29.5 GHz), N258 (24.25-27.25 GHz), N260 (37-40 GHz) and N261 (27.5-28.35 GHz), and the 5G terminal needs to consider the traditional low frequency SUB-6 antenna, if the low frequency antenna and the mmWave antenna are designed separately, good effect can be achieved, but a large area is occupied, and the development trend of miniaturization of the antenna module cannot be satisfied. Therefore, the two are integrated together to be a good solution, but the prior art lacks an antenna module capable of covering the low-frequency N78 frequency band and the 5 GmmmmmmAve frequency band in the 5G terminal.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical problems solved by the utility model are as follows: the antenna module can cover the low-frequency N78 frequency band and the 5 GmmmmWave frequency band in the 5G terminal.

In order to solve the technical problems, the utility model adopts the following technical scheme: the antenna module comprises a body, wherein a low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit, a millimeter wave side-emission medium resonator antenna array and a millimeter wave end-emission medium resonator antenna array are arranged on the body, the low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit is positioned between the millimeter wave side-emission medium resonator antenna array and the millimeter wave end-emission medium resonator antenna array, the millimeter wave side-emission medium resonator antenna array comprises a plurality of side-emission medium resonator antenna units which are arranged in a row, and the millimeter wave end-emission medium resonator antenna array comprises a plurality of end-emission medium resonator antenna units which are arranged in a row.

In an embodiment, the body is provided with a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a third metal layer and a fourth metal layer which are sequentially arranged at intervals from top to bottom, the first metal layer is arranged on the top surface of the body, the fourth metal layer is arranged on the bottom surface of the body, the fourth metal layer is communicated with the third metal layer through a plurality of grounding posts, and the grounding posts are arranged in the body; the first metal layer comprises a top layer rectangular patch, the top layer rectangular patch is positioned in the middle of the top surface of the body, a plurality of first conducting columns are arranged in the body, the plurality of first conducting columns are distributed in a concave shape along the edge of the top layer rectangular patch, the first conducting columns are connected with the third metal layer and the top layer rectangular patch, and the first conducting columns are not arranged on one side, close to the millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator antenna array, of the top layer rectangular patch; the bottom of the body is provided with a first feed port connected with the top rectangular patch.

In an embodiment, the first metal layer further includes a plurality of top layer separation patches arranged at intervals in a row, the top layer separation patches are located at one side of the top layer rectangular patches and connected with the top layer rectangular patches, a second conducting column is arranged in the body, the top layer separation patches are connected with the second metal layer through the plurality of second conducting columns, the second metal layer is conducted with the third metal layer, a plurality of coupling gaps are arranged on the second metal layer, and the coupling gaps are arranged corresponding to areas between two adjacent top layer separation patches; the third metal layer is provided with a window arranged corresponding to the area between two adjacent top separation patches, and a feed sheet coupled with the coupling gap is arranged in the window; the bottom of the body is provided with a second feed port connected with the feed piece.

In an embodiment, the second conductive via connects the third metal layer.

In an embodiment, a plurality of groups of isolation structures are arranged on one side, far away from the millimeter wave side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array, of the body, the plurality of groups of isolation structures are arranged in a row along the length direction of the top rectangular patch, the end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna units are formed between two adjacent groups of isolation structures, and a third feed port for feeding the end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna units is arranged at the bottom of the body.

In one embodiment, the isolation structure includes a plurality of air isolation apertures arranged in an array.

In an embodiment, a plurality of avoidance ports are formed in one side, far away from the edge-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit, of the fourth metal layer, the third feed port is arranged corresponding to the avoidance ports, and the grounding columns are respectively arranged on two sides of the avoidance ports.

In an embodiment, the body includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a third substrate that are sequentially arranged from top to bottom, the first metal layer is disposed on the bottom surface of the first substrate, the top surface of the second metal layer is connected with the bottom surface of the first substrate, the bottom surface of the second metal layer is connected with the top surface of the second substrate, the top surface of the third metal layer is connected with the bottom surface of the second substrate, the bottom surface of the third metal layer is connected with the top surface of the third substrate, and the fourth metal layer is provided with the bottom surface of the third substrate.

In an embodiment, the first substrate includes a first dielectric plate and a second dielectric plate connected to each other, the first dielectric plate is located above the second dielectric plate, the first metal layer is disposed on a top surface of the first dielectric plate, the top surface of the second metal layer is connected to a bottom surface of the second dielectric plate, and a dielectric constant of the first dielectric plate is different from a dielectric constant of the second dielectric plate.

In an embodiment, the third substrate includes a fourth dielectric plate and a fifth dielectric plate connected to each other, the fourth dielectric plate is located above the fifth dielectric plate, the bottom surface of the third metal layer is connected to the top surface of the fourth dielectric plate, the fourth metal layer is located on the bottom surface of the fifth dielectric plate, and the dielectric constant of the fourth dielectric plate is different from the dielectric constant of the fifth dielectric plate.

The utility model has the beneficial effects that: the antenna module is novel and compact in structure, can cover the medium-low frequency N78 frequency band and the 5 GmmmmmAve frequency band of the 5G terminal, and has the advantages of high isolation, high gain, large scanning angle and the like.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings that are required in the embodiments or the description of the prior art will be briefly described, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and other drawings may be obtained according to the structures shown in these drawings without inventive effort for a person skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an overall structure of an antenna module according to a first embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 2 is a diagram of an antenna module according to an embodiment of the utility model a structural schematic diagram of another view of the overall structure;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an antenna module with a hidden body and a first metal layer according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram (another view) of the antenna module with the hidden body and the first metal layer according to the first embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing S-parameter-gain of a low frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit in an antenna module according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

fig. 6 is an S-parameter-gain curve diagram of a millimeter wave side-fire dielectric resonator antenna array in an antenna module according to an embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 7 is an S-parameter-gain curve diagram of a millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator antenna array in an antenna module according to an embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 8 is a scanning angle diagram of an antenna array of a millimeter wave side-fire dielectric resonator in an antenna module according to an embodiment of the utility model;

fig. 9 is a scanning angle diagram of an antenna array of a millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator in an antenna module according to an embodiment of the utility model.

Reference numerals illustrate:

1. a body; 11. a first dielectric plate; 12. a second dielectric plate; 13. a third substrate; 14. a fourth dielectric plate; 15. a fifth dielectric plate;

2. a low frequency magnetic dipole antenna element; 21. a first feed port;

3. a millimeter wave side-firing dielectric resonator antenna array; 31. an edge-fire dielectric resonator antenna unit; 32. a second feed port;

4. a millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator antenna array; 41. an end-fire dielectric resonator antenna unit; 42. an isolation structure; 421. an air isolation hole; 43. a third feed port;

51. a first metal layer; 511. a top rectangular patch; 512. a first conductive pillar; 513. a top layer separating the patches; 514. a second conductive pillar; 52. a second metal layer; 521. a coupling slit; 53. a third metal layer; 531. windowing; 532. a feeding sheet; 54. a fourth metal layer; 541. an avoidance port; 55. and a grounding column.

Detailed Description

The achievement of the objects, functional features and advantages of the present utility model will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in conjunction with the embodiments.

The following description of the embodiments of the present utility model will be made clearly and fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is evident that the embodiments described are only some, but not all embodiments of the utility model. All other embodiments, which can be made by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the utility model without making any inventive effort, are intended to be within the scope of the utility model.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present utility model, directional indications such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear … … are referred to, and the directional indication is merely used to explain the relative positional relationship, movement conditions, and the like between the components in a specific posture such as that shown in the drawings, and if the specific posture is changed, the directional indication is changed accordingly.

In addition, if there is a description of "first", "second", etc. in the embodiments of the present utility model, the description of "first", "second", etc. is for descriptive purposes only and is not to be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defining "a first" or "a second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature.

In addition, if the meaning of "and/or" is presented throughout this document to include three parallel schemes, taking "and/or" as an example, including a scheme, or a scheme that is satisfied simultaneously. In addition, the technical solutions of the embodiments may be combined with each other, but it is necessary to base that the technical solutions can be realized by those skilled in the art, and when the technical solutions are contradictory or cannot be realized, the combination of the technical solutions should be considered to be absent and not within the scope of protection claimed in the present utility model.

In this application, unless specifically stated and limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly, and may be, for example, fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally formed; can be mechanically or electrically connected; can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and can be communicated with the inside of two elements or the interaction relationship of the two elements. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

Example 1

Referring to fig. 1 to 9, a first embodiment of the present utility model is as follows: the antenna module is particularly suitable for 5G mobile terminal equipment.

As shown in fig. 1, the antenna module includes a body 1, a low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit 2, a millimeter wave side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 3 and a millimeter wave end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 4 are disposed on the body 1, the low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit 2 is located between the millimeter wave side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 3 and the millimeter wave end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 4, the millimeter wave side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 3 includes a plurality of side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna units 31 disposed in a row, and the millimeter wave end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 4 includes a plurality of end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna units 41 disposed in a row.

In this embodiment, the number of the edge-emitting dielectric resonator antenna units 31 and the number of the end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna units 41 are seven, that is, the millimeter wave edge-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 3 is a 1x7 array, and the millimeter wave end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 4 is a 1x7 array. In other embodiments, the number of the edge-emitting dielectric resonator antenna units 31 may be other numbers, not necessarily seven, and may be specifically set according to practical situations; similarly, the number of the end-fire dielectric resonator antenna units 41 may be other numbers, and not necessarily seven.

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, the body 1 has a first metal layer 51, a second metal layer 52, a third metal layer 53 and a fourth metal layer 54 sequentially disposed at intervals from top to bottom, the first metal layer 51 is disposed on the top surface of the body 1, the fourth metal layer 54 is disposed on the bottom surface of the body 1, the fourth metal layer 54 is in conduction with the third metal layer 53 through a plurality of grounding posts 55, and the grounding posts 55 are disposed in the body 1; the first metal layer 51 includes a top rectangular patch 511, the top rectangular patch 511 is located in the middle of the top surface of the body 1, a plurality of first conductive columns 512 are disposed in the body 1, the plurality of first conductive columns 512 are arranged in a concave shape along the edge of the top rectangular patch 511, the first conductive columns 512 connect the third metal layer 53 and the top rectangular patch 511, and one side of the top rectangular patch 511 close to the millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator antenna array 4 is not provided with the first conductive columns 512; the bottom of the body 1 is provided with a first feeding port 21 connected to the top rectangular patch 511. It can be seen that this section discloses the structure of the low frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit 2 in this antenna module. The first via post 512 and the ground post 55 may be a metallized hole, a metal post, a conductive via paste, etc.

The first metal layer 51 further includes a plurality of top separation patches 513 disposed at intervals in a row, the top separation patches 513 are located at one side of the top rectangular patches 511 and are connected to the top rectangular patches 511, a second conductive column 514 is disposed in the body 1, the top separation patches 513 are connected to the second metal layer 52 through a plurality of second conductive columns 514, the second metal layer 52 is conductive to the third metal layer 53, a plurality of coupling slits 521 are disposed on the second metal layer 52, and the coupling slits 521 are disposed corresponding to regions between two adjacent top separation patches 513; the third metal layer 53 is provided with a window 531 corresponding to the area between two adjacent top separation patches 513, and a feeding sheet 532 coupled with the coupling gap 521 is disposed in the window 531; the bottom of the body 1 is provided with a second feeding port 32 connected to the feeding tab 532. The present disclosure discloses a structure of the side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit 31 in the antenna module, specifically, the second metal layer 52, the second conductive post 514, the first conductive post 512 and the first metal layer 51 isolate a dielectric resonator region of the side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit 31 on the body 1, and the dielectric resonator region of the side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit 31 is fed through slot coupling by matching a feeding sheet 532 and a coupling slot 521. In this embodiment, nine second conductive pillars 514 are connected to each top separation patch 513, and the nine second conductive pillars 514 are arranged in a rectangular array.

To further improve the isolation between two adjacent side-fire dielectric resonator antenna elements 31, preferably, the second via 514 is connected to the third metal layer 53.

As shown in fig. 4, it is further preferable that the periphery of the opening 531 is closed, and the feeding strip 532 is located in the opening 531 with the periphery closed, so that not only the interference of external signals received by the feeding strip 532 can be reduced, but also the leakage of the transmission signals on the feeding strip 532 can be reduced. It is easily understood that the feeding tab 532 may be formed of a partial region of the third metal layer 53.

As shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, a plurality of groups of isolation structures 42 are disposed on a side of the body 1 away from the millimeter wave side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array 3, the plurality of groups of isolation structures 42 are disposed in a row along the length direction of the top rectangular patch 511, the end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit 41 is formed between two adjacent groups of isolation structures 42, and a third feed port 43 for feeding the end-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit 41 is disposed at the bottom of the body 1.

In this embodiment, the isolation structure 42 includes a plurality of air isolation holes 421 arranged in an array, and the air isolation holes 421 are communicated with the top surface and the bottom surface of the body 1.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, optionally, a plurality of avoidance ports 541 are provided on a side of the fourth metal layer 54 away from the edge-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit 31, the third feed port 43 is disposed corresponding to the avoidance ports 541, and the grounding columns 55 are respectively disposed on two sides of the avoidance ports 541.

As shown in fig. 1, in detail, the body 1 includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate 13 sequentially disposed from top to bottom, the first metal layer 51 is disposed on a bottom surface of the first substrate, a top surface of the second metal layer 52 is connected to the bottom surface of the first substrate, a bottom surface of the second metal layer 52 is connected to the top surface of the second substrate, a top surface of the third metal layer 53 is connected to the bottom surface of the second substrate, a bottom surface of the third metal layer 53 is connected to the top surface of the third substrate 13, and a fourth metal layer 54 is disposed on the bottom surface of the third substrate 13.

In more detail, the first substrate includes a first dielectric plate 11 and a second dielectric plate 12 connected to each other, the first dielectric plate 11 is located above the second dielectric plate 12, the first metal layer 51 is disposed on the top surface of the first dielectric plate 11, the top surface of the second metal layer 52 is connected to the bottom surface of the second dielectric plate 12, and the dielectric constant of the first dielectric plate 11 is different from the dielectric constant of the second dielectric plate 12; the third substrate 13 includes a fourth dielectric plate 14 and a fifth dielectric plate 15 connected to each other, the fourth dielectric plate 14 is located above the fifth dielectric plate 15, the bottom surface of the third metal layer 53 is connected to the top surface of the fourth dielectric plate 14, the fourth metal layer 54 is disposed on the bottom surface of the fifth dielectric plate 15, and the dielectric constant of the fourth dielectric plate 14 is different from that of the fifth dielectric plate 15. In this embodiment, the first dielectric plate 11 is a Rogers 4350 plate with a thickness equal to 1mm, the second dielectric plate 12 is a Rogers 4450 plate with a thickness equal to 0.2mm, the second substrate is a Rogers 4350 plate with a thickness equal to 0.335mm, the fourth dielectric plate 14 is a Rogers 4450 plate with a thickness equal to 0.2mm, and the fifth dielectric plate 15 is a Rogers 4350 plate with a thickness equal to 0.75 mm.

Fig. 5 is an S-parameter-gain curve diagram of a low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit in the antenna module of the present embodiment, and as can be seen from fig. 5, it can cover the N78 (3.3-3.8 GHz) frequency band, which illustrates that the antenna module is a typical wideband antenna; the gain curve exhibits high gain in the N78 band, indicating that it is a high gain antenna.

Fig. 6 is an S-parameter-gain curve diagram of a millimeter wave side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array in the antenna module according to the present embodiment, and as can be seen from fig. 6, the antenna module can cover an N257 frequency band and has a higher gain in the covered frequency band.

Fig. 7 is an S-parameter-gain curve diagram of a millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator antenna array in the antenna module according to the present embodiment, and as can be seen from fig. 7, the antenna module can cover an N257 frequency band and has a higher gain in the covered frequency band.

Fig. 8 is a scanning angle diagram of the millimeter wave side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna array in the antenna module of the present embodiment, and as can be seen from fig. 8, the scanning angle is ±50 degrees or more, which indicates that the antenna can perform a spatial large-angle scanning coverage.

Fig. 9 is a scanning angle diagram of the millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator antenna array in the antenna module of the present embodiment, and as can be seen from fig. 9, the scanning angle is more than ±40 degrees, which illustrates that the antenna can perform a spatial large-angle scanning coverage.

The foregoing description is only of the optional embodiments of the present utility model, and is not intended to limit the scope of the utility model, and all the equivalent structural changes made by the description of the present utility model and the accompanying drawings or the direct/indirect application in other related technical fields are included in the scope of the utility model.

Claims (10)

1. Antenna module, its characterized in that: the millimeter wave side-emission dielectric resonator antenna comprises a body, wherein a low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit, a millimeter wave side-emission dielectric resonator antenna array and a millimeter wave side-emission dielectric resonator antenna array are arranged on the body, the low-frequency magnetic dipole antenna unit is positioned between the millimeter wave side-emission dielectric resonator antenna array and the millimeter wave side-emission dielectric resonator antenna array, the millimeter wave side-emission dielectric resonator antenna array comprises a plurality of side-emission dielectric resonator antenna units which are arranged in a row, and the millimeter wave side-emission dielectric resonator antenna array comprises a plurality of side-emission dielectric resonator antenna units which are arranged in a row.

2. An antenna module according to claim 1, characterized in that: the body is provided with a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a third metal layer and a fourth metal layer which are sequentially arranged at intervals from top to bottom, the first metal layer is arranged on the top surface of the body, the fourth metal layer is arranged on the bottom surface of the body, the fourth metal layer is communicated with the third metal layer through a plurality of grounding posts, and the grounding posts are arranged in the body; the first metal layer comprises a top layer rectangular patch, the top layer rectangular patch is positioned in the middle of the top surface of the body, a plurality of first conducting columns are arranged in the body, the plurality of first conducting columns are distributed in a concave shape along the edge of the top layer rectangular patch, the first conducting columns are connected with the third metal layer and the top layer rectangular patch, and the first conducting columns are not arranged on one side, close to the millimeter wave end-fire dielectric resonator antenna array, of the top layer rectangular patch; the bottom of the body is provided with a first feed port connected with the top rectangular patch.

3. An antenna module according to claim 2, characterized in that: the first metal layer further comprises a plurality of top layer separation patches which are arranged at intervals in a row, the top layer separation patches are positioned on one side of the top layer rectangular patches and are connected with the top layer rectangular patches, a second conducting column is arranged in the body, the top layer separation patches are connected with the second metal layer through a plurality of second conducting columns, the second metal layer is conducted with the third metal layer, a plurality of coupling gaps are formed in the second metal layer, and the coupling gaps are arranged corresponding to the area between two adjacent top layer separation patches; the third metal layer is provided with a window arranged corresponding to the area between two adjacent top separation patches, and a feed sheet coupled with the coupling gap is arranged in the window; the bottom of the body is provided with a second feed port connected with the feed piece.

4. An antenna module according to claim 3, characterized in that: the second conducting post is connected with the third metal layer.

5. An antenna module according to claim 2, characterized in that: the body is kept away from one side of millimeter wave limit penetrates the dielectric resonator antenna array is equipped with multiunit isolation structure, and the quantity is multiunit isolation structure is followed the length direction of top layer rectangle paster is one row setting, and two adjacent sets of between the isolation structure form the dielectric resonator antenna unit is penetrated to the end, the bottom of body is equipped with and is used for the third feed port that dielectric resonator antenna unit was penetrated to the end feeds.

6. The antenna module of claim 5, wherein: the isolation structure includes a plurality of air isolation apertures arranged in an array.

7. The antenna module of claim 5, wherein: the side of the fourth metal layer, which is far away from the side-emitting dielectric resonator antenna unit, is provided with a plurality of avoidance ports, the third feed port is arranged corresponding to the avoidance ports, and the two sides of the avoidance ports are respectively provided with the grounding columns.

8. An antenna module according to claim 2, characterized in that: the body comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and a third substrate which are sequentially arranged from top to bottom, the first metal layer is arranged on the bottom surface of the first substrate, the top surface of the second metal layer is connected with the bottom surface of the first substrate, the bottom surface of the second metal layer is connected with the top surface of the second substrate, the top surface of the third metal layer is connected with the bottom surface of the second substrate, the bottom surface of the third metal layer is connected with the top surface of the third substrate, and the fourth metal layer is provided with the bottom surface of the third substrate.

9. The antenna module of claim 8, wherein: the first substrate comprises a first dielectric plate and a second dielectric plate which are connected, the first dielectric plate is located above the second dielectric plate, the first metal layer is arranged on the top surface of the first dielectric plate, the top surface of the second metal layer is connected with the bottom surface of the second dielectric plate, and the dielectric constant of the first dielectric plate is different from that of the second dielectric plate.

10. The antenna module of claim 8, wherein: the third substrate comprises a fourth dielectric plate and a fifth dielectric plate which are connected, the fourth dielectric plate is located above the fifth dielectric plate, the bottom surface of the third metal layer is connected with the top surface of the fourth dielectric plate, the fourth metal layer is arranged on the bottom surface of the fifth dielectric plate, and the dielectric constant of the fourth dielectric plate is different from that of the fifth dielectric plate.