EP1033773A1 - Ultrabreitbandiger elektromechanischer Phasenschieber - Google Patents

Ultrabreitbandiger elektromechanischer Phasenschieber Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1033773A1
EP1033773A1 EP00301381A EP00301381A EP1033773A1 EP 1033773 A1 EP1033773 A1 EP 1033773A1 EP 00301381 A EP00301381 A EP 00301381A EP 00301381 A EP00301381 A EP 00301381A EP 1033773 A1 EP1033773 A1 EP 1033773A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
signal
signal line
phase shifter
board
input
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00301381A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Li-Chung Chang
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nokia of America Corp
Original Assignee
Lucent Technologies Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Lucent Technologies Inc filed Critical Lucent Technologies Inc
Publication of EP1033773A1 publication Critical patent/EP1033773A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01P—WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE
    • H01P1/00—Auxiliary devices
    • H01P1/18—Phase-shifters
    • H01P1/184—Strip line phase-shifters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to antenna technology, and more particularly to electromechanical phase shifter antenna technology.
  • a base station antenna needs to be downtilted from the horizon to reduce intercell interference among antenna beams.
  • Current practice to configure antenna beams involves adjusting downtilt angles of the antennas via their mechanical mountings. The configuration of the antennas is dependent upon a cell installer's experience. Such antenna adjustment is costly, time-consuming and inaccurate.
  • the downtilt angles of the antennas are adjusted by the cell installer, the downtilt angles will not be re-adjusted.
  • the downtilt angles and the antenna beams are typically fixed. Fixed antenna beams makes it near impossible to optimize system performance when thee are variations in environmental conditions, such as seasonal traffic changes and network growth.
  • One manner for resolving this dilemma involves employing steerable phased-array antennas. Such antennas allows for remote manipulation of the antenna beams.
  • Steerable phased-array antennas are directive antenna comprising a group of individual, properly distributed and oriented radiators in a one or two-dimensional spatial configuration.
  • the phase associated with each radiator can be individually excited using phase shifters to form a desired radiation pattern in space. This allows for the positioning of antenna beams by varying the relative phase associated with the excitations being applied to the individual radiators.
  • beam steering in the azimuth or beam tilting in the elevation can be accomplished without re-adjusting the downtilt angle of the antennas via manipulating the mechanical mountings.
  • phase shifters for generating differential phases among the radiators.
  • the first category employs switchable delay lines having different lengths, wherein phases are linearly adjusted by varying the distance signals travel. This category of phase shifters are usually big and expensive.
  • the second category utilizes wild state hybrid coupled diodes that initiate phase shifting based on different bias voltages. This category of phase shifters suffer from non-linearity (between current and voltage in high power circuitry/devices) and high insertion loss.
  • the third category of phase shifters uses ferromagnetic material, such as ferrite. These phase shifters shift phases by varying the permeability of the ferromagnetic material using an applied DC magnetic field. Due to the permeability change, the phase associated with an electromagnetic wave traveling through the ferromagnetic material is changed. Ferromagnetic material, however; are large, heavy and expensive.
  • the fourth category of phase shifters involves the introduction of dielectric material in the signal path to cause phase delay. This category, however, has associated impedance mismatch causing high return loss, therefore degrading performance.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a trombone phase shifter 10 comprising an input coaxial cable 12, an output coaxial cable 14 and an trombone arm 16.
  • Coaxial cables 12, 14 comprise cables 18, 20 and shielding 22, 24.
  • Trombone arm 16 is preferable constructed using a solid metal piece and configured to slidably fit between cables 18, 20 and shielding 22, 24 in order to complete a signal trace between input and output coaxial cables 18, 20.
  • the phase of a signal traveling though trombone phase shifter 10 is linearly adjusted by sliding trombone arm 16. Trombone phase shifter 10, however, suffers from some drawbacks.
  • the trombone phase shifter since the trombone phase shifter is manufactured to make sure to have a good metallic contact to minimize the insertion and return loss, the trombone arm 16 must be precisely constructed to fit provide sufficient electrical coupling with cables 18, 20 while minimizing friction with cables 18, 20.
  • the trombone arm 16 must be precisely constructed to fit provide sufficient electrical coupling with cables 18, 20 while minimizing friction with cables 18, 20.
  • such precise construction increase the cost significantly and make this approach become uneconomical for the commercial applications.
  • this type of configuration is meant to be metallic contact, it suffers from corrosion and metallic contact problems over time.
  • phase shifter that does not have the drawbacks associated with the above prior art phase shifters. Specifically, there is a need for a phase shifter that can provide extremely linear performance (in high power circuitry/devices) over a very broad bandwidth, while still maintaining lightweight and inexpensive with minimal insertion and return losses. There also exists a need for a phase shifter with little or no metal contact and not subject to corrosion.
  • the present invention is a phase shifter that does not suffer from metallic contact and corrosion problems and that is linear (in high power circuitry/devices), light weight and inexpensive with minimal insertion and return losses over a very broad bandwidth.
  • the present invention phase shifter is constructed using a stripline structure.
  • the present invention comprises a first signal board having an input signal line and an output signal line and a second signal board having a U-shaped signal line.
  • the U-shaped signal line being configured to complete a signal trace between the input signal line and the output signal line when the second signal board is positioned a distance D over the first signal board with an overlap OD.
  • the distance D and overlap OD being a distance sufficient to enable electrical coupling between the U-shaped signal line and the input and output signal lines.
  • the first and/or second signal boards are mounted using a slidable mounting system such that the length of signal trace may be varied by moving the first and/or second signal board - that is, the phase of a signal is varied by varying the distance the signal travels from the input signal line to the U-shaped signal line to the output signal line.
  • the present invention does not require a metallic contact.
  • the two signal boards are separated by the distance D in order to make sure no friction exist during the moving process. Since there is no metallic contact between the signal boards, consequently, there is no fiction or corrosion problem.
  • FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a phase shifter 26 in accordance with the present invention.
  • Phase shifter 26 is a stripline structure comprising top plate 28, bottom plate 30, a slidable mounting system 31, input/output signal board 34 and U-shaped signal board 36.
  • Top and bottom plates 28, 30 are ground plates and are preferably constructed using metal.
  • Signal boards 34 and 36 are mounted to bottom and top plates 28, 30, respectively, using slidable mounting system 31.
  • slidable mounting system 31 comprises a plurality of spacers 32 and a moving slide 29. Spacers 32 are used to mount input/output signal board 34 to bottom plate 30, and to mount U-shaped signal board 36 to moving slide 29, as shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 2a which depicts a cross-sectional view of phase shifter 26 having this embodiment of slidable mounting system 31.
  • Moving slide 29 is slidably mourned within a channel in top plate 28, thus allowing for U-shaped signal board 36 to slide over input/output signal board 34.
  • input/output signal board 34 is mounted in a fixed position.
  • input/output signal board 34 is mounted to moving slide 29 and U-shaped signal board 36 is mounted in a fixed position, or both signal boards 34, 36 are mounted to different moving slides.
  • Spacers 32 are constructed using conductive or non-conductive material, such as metal and nylon.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 depict top views of input/output signal boards 34 and U-shaped signal board 36, respectively.
  • input/output signal board 34 is a planar circuit board 44 having an input signal line 40 and an output signal line 42
  • U-shaped signal board 36 is a planar circuit board 46 having a U-shaped signal line 48, wherein the U-shaped signal line has legs 50, 52 and an arc 54.
  • the signal lines 40, 42, 48 are preferably etched onto circuit boards 44, 46 and configured into a transmission line structure. Possible transmission line structures include, but are not limited to, microstrip line, stripline and finline. If thin film technology is applied to signal boards 34, 36, circuit boards 44, 46 can be structured to comply with specified geometry or curved surfaces (and may not be planar).
  • Input and output signal lines 40, 42 are etched parallel to each other onto circuit board 44, wherein the space between input and output signal lines 40, 42 is equal to the space between legs 50, 52 of U-shaped signal line 48.
  • Input, output and U-shaped signal lines 40, 42, 48 preferably having a same thickness.
  • U-shaped signal board 36 When U-shaped signal board 36 is positioned over input/output signal board 34 such that U-shape signal line 48 overlaps a minimum amount OD with input and output signal lines 40, 42, a complete signal trace is formed from input signal line 40 to U-shaped signal line 48 to output signal line 42, or vice versa, where OD is a minimum overlap/overlay amount between the input/output signal board and U-shaped signal board that allows for sufficient electrical coupling between the input/output signal lines and the U-shaped signal line.
  • OD is a minimum overlap/overlay amount between the input/output signal board and U-shaped signal board that allows for sufficient electrical coupling between the input/output signal lines and the U-shaped signal line.
  • the value of OD being dependent upon the circuit board material, the stripline structure dimensions (i.e., distance between the top and bottom plates), and the signal line widths. See FIG. 5.
  • U-shaped is used to describe the shape of the signal line etched onto circuit board 46 (and not for describing the shape of circuit board 46). Further note that the present invention should not be construed as limited to a U-shaped signal line etched on circuit board 46. For purposes of this application, the term “U-shaped” should be construed to describe any shape for a signal line etched on circuit board 46 that will allow for a complete signal trace to be formed when circuit board 46 is positioned over circuit board 44.
  • U-shaped signal board 36 is configured using spacers 32 such that U-shape signal board 36 can slide over input/output signal board 34.
  • U-shaped signal board 36 slides along its slidably mount (via spacers 32) over input/output signal board 34, the distance a signal traveling from input signal line 40 to output signal line 42 (via U-shaped signal board 46) varies, thus causing the phase of the signal to shift at the output signal line.
  • Signal boards 34, 36 are spaced a maximum distance D apart from each other, wherein D represents a maximum distance that enables sufficient electrical coupling between input and output signal lines 40, 42 with U-shaped signal line 48 while avoiding friction between signal boards 44, 46.
  • the distance D being dependent upon the circuit board material, the stripline structure dimensions (i.e., distance between the top and bottom plates), and the signal line widths.
  • phase shifter in accordance with the present invention.
  • the phase shifter is a stripline structure with the two metallic plates (top and bottom plates) being spaced 332 mil apart.
  • the circuit boards used for etching the input/output signal lines and the U-shape signal line are Rogers 4003 32 mil laminated with a dielectric constant of 3.38 and loss tangent of 0.002. Under such stripline dimension and material used, the signal line width would be 425 mil.
  • a return loss of less than -20 dB and an insertion loss of less than 0.2 dB over a 50% frequency bandwidth can be obtained if the circuit board spacing and signal line overlap dimension are less than 10 mil and more than 2",respectively.
  • Phase shifters of the present invention may be incorporated into steerable phasedarray antennas. This will allow transmitting entities, such as base stations, to form desired radiation patterns without re-adjusting the downtilt of their antennas.
  • phase shifter may have a double U-shaped signal line, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present invention should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

Landscapes

  • Waveguide Switches, Polarizers, And Phase Shifters (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
  • Constitution Of High-Frequency Heating (AREA)
EP00301381A 1999-03-02 2000-02-22 Ultrabreitbandiger elektromechanischer Phasenschieber Withdrawn EP1033773A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US26011399A 1999-03-02 1999-03-02
US260113 1999-03-02

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1033773A1 true EP1033773A1 (de) 2000-09-06

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EP00301381A Withdrawn EP1033773A1 (de) 1999-03-02 2000-02-22 Ultrabreitbandiger elektromechanischer Phasenschieber

Country Status (5)

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EP (1) EP1033773A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2000261203A (de)
KR (1) KR20000062689A (de)
AU (1) AU1844300A (de)
CA (1) CA2298326A1 (de)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003036759A1 (en) * 2001-10-22 2003-05-01 Qinetiq Limited Apparatus for steering an antenna system
WO2004004059A1 (en) * 2002-06-29 2004-01-08 Alan Dick & Company Limited A phase shifting device
CH694950A5 (de) * 2001-02-21 2005-09-30 Shenzhen Aginitrust Electric C Phasenschieber fuer eine Mobilfunkantenne.
US7142165B2 (en) 2002-01-29 2006-11-28 Era Patents Limited Waveguide and slotted antenna array with moveable rows of spaced posts
GB2426635A (en) * 2005-05-27 2006-11-29 Alan Dick & Company Ltd Phase shifting arrangement
US10199702B2 (en) 2014-09-09 2019-02-05 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Phase shifter comprising a cavity having first and second fixed transmission lines with slots therein that engage a slidable transmission line
CN110504511A (zh) * 2018-05-16 2019-11-26 康普技术有限责任公司 用于移相器组件的联动机构
WO2020093696A1 (zh) * 2018-11-09 2020-05-14 京信通信技术(广州)有限公司 天线及移相器
CN112751148A (zh) * 2020-12-24 2021-05-04 京信通信技术(广州)有限公司 移相器及电调天线
CN113889720A (zh) * 2021-11-08 2022-01-04 华南理工大学 移相装置、天线及基站
WO2022104630A1 (en) * 2020-11-19 2022-05-27 Nokia Shanghai Bell Co., Ltd. Phase shifter and antenna device
DE112005003860B4 (de) 2004-02-25 2023-02-23 Jaybeam Wireless Sas Antenne

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101080893B1 (ko) * 2009-06-25 2011-11-09 주식회사 에이스테크놀로지 엔포트 피딩 시스템 및 이에 포함된 페이즈 쉬프터, 지연 소자
KR101083027B1 (ko) 2011-07-14 2011-11-16 주식회사 감마누 빔 틸트를 위한 위상가변기

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2961620A (en) * 1955-10-06 1960-11-22 Sanders Associates Inc Phase shifter for high frequency transmission line
JPS5943602A (ja) * 1982-09-03 1984-03-10 Nec Corp 可変位相器
JPS59117301A (ja) * 1982-12-23 1984-07-06 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 位相調整装置
EP0743695A1 (de) * 1995-05-16 1996-11-20 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Mechanisch abgleichbare Leiterstruktur
JPH104305A (ja) * 1996-06-18 1998-01-06 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The 電力分配型移相器

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2961620A (en) * 1955-10-06 1960-11-22 Sanders Associates Inc Phase shifter for high frequency transmission line
JPS5943602A (ja) * 1982-09-03 1984-03-10 Nec Corp 可変位相器
JPS59117301A (ja) * 1982-12-23 1984-07-06 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 位相調整装置
EP0743695A1 (de) * 1995-05-16 1996-11-20 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Mechanisch abgleichbare Leiterstruktur
JPH104305A (ja) * 1996-06-18 1998-01-06 Furukawa Electric Co Ltd:The 電力分配型移相器

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1998, no. 5 30 April 1998 (1998-04-30) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 8, no. 131 (E - 251) 19 June 1984 (1984-06-19) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 8, no. 235 (E - 275) 27 October 1984 (1984-10-27) *

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH694950A5 (de) * 2001-02-21 2005-09-30 Shenzhen Aginitrust Electric C Phasenschieber fuer eine Mobilfunkantenne.
WO2003036759A1 (en) * 2001-10-22 2003-05-01 Qinetiq Limited Apparatus for steering an antenna system
US7142165B2 (en) 2002-01-29 2006-11-28 Era Patents Limited Waveguide and slotted antenna array with moveable rows of spaced posts
US7253782B2 (en) 2002-06-29 2007-08-07 Alan Dick & Company Limited Phase shifting device
GB2390231B (en) * 2002-06-29 2005-12-28 Alan Dick & Company Ltd A phase shifting device
WO2004004059A1 (en) * 2002-06-29 2004-01-08 Alan Dick & Company Limited A phase shifting device
DE112005003860B4 (de) 2004-02-25 2023-02-23 Jaybeam Wireless Sas Antenne
GB2426635A (en) * 2005-05-27 2006-11-29 Alan Dick & Company Ltd Phase shifting arrangement
US10199702B2 (en) 2014-09-09 2019-02-05 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Phase shifter comprising a cavity having first and second fixed transmission lines with slots therein that engage a slidable transmission line
CN110504511A (zh) * 2018-05-16 2019-11-26 康普技术有限责任公司 用于移相器组件的联动机构
WO2020093696A1 (zh) * 2018-11-09 2020-05-14 京信通信技术(广州)有限公司 天线及移相器
WO2022104630A1 (en) * 2020-11-19 2022-05-27 Nokia Shanghai Bell Co., Ltd. Phase shifter and antenna device
CN112751148A (zh) * 2020-12-24 2021-05-04 京信通信技术(广州)有限公司 移相器及电调天线
CN112751148B (zh) * 2020-12-24 2022-01-28 京信通信技术(广州)有限公司 移相器及电调天线
CN113889720A (zh) * 2021-11-08 2022-01-04 华南理工大学 移相装置、天线及基站

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1844300A (en) 2000-09-07
KR20000062689A (ko) 2000-10-25
JP2000261203A (ja) 2000-09-22
CA2298326A1 (en) 2000-09-02

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