EP1956675A1 - Système de décalage de phase pour éléments de radiation d'une antenne - Google Patents

Système de décalage de phase pour éléments de radiation d'une antenne Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1956675A1
EP1956675A1 EP08101406A EP08101406A EP1956675A1 EP 1956675 A1 EP1956675 A1 EP 1956675A1 EP 08101406 A EP08101406 A EP 08101406A EP 08101406 A EP08101406 A EP 08101406A EP 1956675 A1 EP1956675 A1 EP 1956675A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
phase
sections
dielectric
feed line
antenna
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP08101406A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1956675B1 (fr
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Harel
Nicolas Cojean
René Grone
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.)
Alcatel Lucent SAS
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Alcatel Lucent SAS
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Publication of EP1956675A1 publication Critical patent/EP1956675A1/fr
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    • 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 to a device for longitudinally displaced phase-shifting, including a dielectric material, used for phase-shifting radiating elements, or groups of radiating elements.
  • the invention is intended to particularly be used for radiating elements that belong to antennas for base stations of cellular communication networks (GSM, UMTS, etc.), but also for any other type of application that implements phase-shifters.
  • the purpose of phase-shifting is to adjust the direction of an antenna's main lobe, thereby attaining dynamic-tilt antennas, otherwise known as "adjustable-tilt antennas.”
  • Phase-shifters are passive systems, meaning that they do not include electronic components, enabling them to apply a relative shift in phases between different access points of a radio frequency feed network.
  • phase-shifting systems There are several major families of phase-shifting systems, depending on their mechanical operation method.
  • transverse movement systems such as described in EP1215752
  • a material with a high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss is used to create relative phase-shifting between two radiating elements.
  • the feed lines for radiating elements are installed serially. The movement is transversal with respect to the feed lines of the various radiating elements. Each phase shift is added to the total, until the final radiating element is being fed.
  • phase-shifters should be set in motion, although they are fairly distant physically from one another. Furthermore, these phase-shifters are placed along the primary longitudinal axis of the antenna, and the splitters are interspersed between them, which leads to the system being very long, particularly when significant phase-shifting is sought for the antenna (especially to 20° and beyond). This length makes it difficult to comply with the required tolerance.
  • WO/2002/035651 describes a monoblock phase-shifter, which moves as one piece and is made up of a single part made of dielectric material; it is given holes suitable for various conductive lines. This device does not allow the various conductive lines to be controlled independently.
  • the goal of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages found in the prior art, and particularly to disclose a low-loss longitudinal-movement phase-shifting system that is mechanically compact and stable, and that enables continuously varying phase-shifting.
  • the subject of the present invention is a phase-shifting system containing at least:
  • the device includes at least two distinct sections made of dielectric material, which are capable of moving independently along the longitudinal axis.
  • each section has areas located respectively at each end of the section, enabling impedance transformation.
  • the impedance transformation areas possess recesses.
  • the impedance transformation areas are separated by a central area made completely of dielectric material.
  • the central areas of the sections have different lengths.
  • the dielectric material selected is either a plastic material or a ceramic material.
  • the movement of the sections is achieved using a gear or a pivoting rod.
  • the system of the invention may additionally comprise a means for guiding the longitudinal movement of the sections.
  • the feed line further includes a first portion for impedance transformation, and a second portion for dividing the current, with these portions being connected to the segments.
  • Another subject of the invention is an antenna that includes a phase-shifting system based on one of the preceding claims.
  • phase-shifting system of the invention is a system that is passive (meaning that it contains no active electrical components) and reciprocal, meaning that it is suitable for functioning as either a "splitter” or a “combiner” with respect to the various access points.
  • the main advantage of the present invention is the ability to independently control the phase shifts between two radiating elements of an antenna.
  • the system of the invention is thereby applicable to an unlimited number of radiating elements. Furthermore, it allows for the ability to attain non-linear phase shifts between the elements, meaning ensuring independent control of the phase shifts that are applied in pairs to the radiating elements.
  • Another advantage of the invention is that it makes possible a broad range of values for the antenna's inclination. In the system of the invention, it is even possible to attain high antenna beam inclinations, which may reach and even exceed 20°.
  • this system has the advantage of being modifiable, so that it can be adapted to be used along different frequency bands.
  • the possible range of inclinations for the antenna's beam are limited only by the dielectric material used (the higher the material's dielectric constant, the wider the range of inclinations) and by the length of the antenna, which is naturally significant for panel antennas.
  • Figure 1 shows the phase-shifting system of the invention, including one electrical feed line 11 placed between two dielectric devices 12, with the entire assembly being placed between two conductive bodies 13.
  • the phase-shifting system includes the following components, overlaid along a direction A-A :
  • the body 21, in the embodiment depicted in Figure 4 is made up of a conductive material, at least on its surface.
  • the body is equipped with two parallel conductive planes 21a and 21b; for a "microstrip” construction, a conductive line and a conductive plan acting as a "ground plane” are sufficient.
  • the body 21 is constructed in the form of an aluminum block, which may have been bent, molded, or machined. The body may just as easily be created from other materials, such as brass, copper, or any other alloy with similar properties. The body may also be constructed in shapes other than the one depicted here.
  • the body 21 has an input 23 and outputs 24a-24e and 25a-25e linked to a feed line 22.
  • the access points are shown here in the form of several connectors 24a-24e and 25a-25e, but they may also be constructed in the form of direct links to the radiating elements using coaxial cables, or by lengthening the segments of the "microstrip" or “stripline” feed line.
  • the input 23 is depicted here in the central position, but it may also be placed on one of the sides of the body 21.
  • the minimum number of access points is therefore three, and only physical form-factor constraints may limit the number of them, except that this number is additionally limited to being an even or odd number.
  • the "stripline" electrical feed line 22, depicted in Figure 5 is constructed as a single part, and is made up of several conductive segments 22a-22e.
  • the feed line 22 is obtained by perforating a brass plate 1 mm thick, but it may also be constructed with a different material with good electrical conductivity, as well as in the form of a printed circuit board.
  • the input 23 of the feed line 22 communicated with an access point area 50.
  • the portion 51 is extended by portion 52, which is used to enable the splitting or combining of current for the various access points 50, 53a-53e and 54a-54e.
  • the conductive segments 22a-22e do not necessarily have the same operating amplitude.
  • the outputs 53a-53, 54-54e all have different amplitudes.
  • the conductive segments 22a-22e are arranged in a rectilinear fashion, and are parallel to one another. During construction, an effort will be made to spread apart the segments 22a-22e if possible, so as to minimize coupling between them.
  • the width of the conductive segments 22a-22e is suitable for attaining the desired input and output impedance, which is generally 60 Ohms.
  • the conductive segments 22a-22e may be about 7.35 mm wide for a thickness of 1 mm, when the "stripline" feed line 22 is etched between two ground planes 21a and 21b spaced 7 mm apart.
  • Figure 6 depicts the device 26 made entirely of dielectric material, which includes a fixed portion 60, placed above the portion 51 of the electrical feed line 22, and several sections 26a-26e which are movable and can move independently of one another.
  • Each dielectric section 26a-26e includes a central area 61 made entirely of dielectric material; the central areas are identical, except for their length.
  • the sections 26a-26e are constructed of plastic, such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS RYTON ⁇ ), which has a dielectric constant of about 4 to 6. Although it is more expensive and requires greater precision, a ceramic material may also be used as a dielectric material whose dielectric constant ⁇ r is about 10.
  • Each dielectric section 26a-26e includes two areas 62a and 62b, respectively located at each end of the sections 26a-26e, which serve to transform impedance along the "stripline" feed line 22. Impedance transition must occur between the part of the feed line 22 which is exposed to air and the part where the feed line 22 is completely between the body 21 and the central area 61 of one section 26a-26e of the dielectric device 26.
  • the impedance transformation function is handled by the creation of recesses 63 in the dielectric material at the end areas 62a, 62b of each section 26a-26e of the dielectric device 26.
  • recesses 63 have been depicted here as rectangular holes, but they may naturally have any other form depending on the discounted result.
  • the appropriate modification of the dielectric material of the sections 26a-26e may be determined through calculation or simulation, based off an equivalence of the dielectric material made up of localized components, i.e. foreseen as the succession of discrete RLC components.
  • the areas 62a, 62b that handle impedance transition may be achieved using quarter-wave sections with different thicknesses, thereby allowing impedance transition between the part of the feed line 2 located in an environment made up of air, and the part of that line 2 whose environment is filled with dielectric material.
  • phase-shifting system's dielectric device is made up by means of several sections 26a-26e.
  • the movement of each of these sections may be controlled separately, and in this manner, phase-shifting between elements is achieved at least for pairs of antenna radiating elements.
  • the guiding means 27 are made of a dielectric material, particularly the same material as that used for the dielectric device 26, so that the conductive sections 26a-26e of the electrical feed line 22 that they cross do not suffer any change of medium whatsoever. These means 27 may be constructed in multiple ways. In the embodiment disclosed here, struts 27a-27e are used in order to guide the sections 26a-26e when they slide longitudinally. A gear or rod, for example, may help the sections move; in this case, the speeds at which the linked sections move are identical. Another solution is to move the sections completely independently, such as by using stepper motors or independent linear actuators.
  • the dielectric sections 26a-26e above the conductive segments 22a-22e move while obeying rules that depend on the usage of the phase-shifting system In one specific situation, in which linear, progressive phase-shifting between the radiating elements of an antenna is necessary, such as 10°, then 20°, then 50°, etc., the sections 26a-26e move independently, while maintaining a constantly moving distance between one another. For example, if section 26a moves 20 mm, section 26b must move 40 mm, section 26c 60 mm, and so on.
  • the dielectric sections 26a-26e may be moved in various ways.
  • the dielectric sections 26a-26e may, in particular, be moved in a synchronized fashion by means of a gear that includes an even number of toothed wheels, or by means of a pivoting rod.
  • Gear-based movement 70 is depicted in Figure 7 . Shown here is a gear-based system 70, comprising two toothed wheels 70a and 70b for moving the dielectric sections 71, 72 with respect to one another. A main dielectric section 71 is moved in one direction 73, while a related section 72 moves in parallel with the section 71 and in the same direction 74 owing to the gears 70.
  • Pivoting-rod-based movement is depicted in Figure 8 .
  • a rod 80 pivots along a direction of rotation 81 around a mechanical axle 82, which is not fixed onto the dielectric device 26.
  • Each dielectric section 83a-83d of the phase-shifting system is linked to the rod 80 by means of a pivot 84a-84d.
  • the pivots 84a-84d must be capable of sliding to accompany the rotational movement of the rod 80. This solution is simple to implement mechanically, but it may require that oblong holes be present in the body 1 so that the pivots 84a-84d can slide.
  • phase-shifting system of the invention has been studied in two different mechanical configurations:
  • phase-shifting system of the present invention may advantageously be incorporated into a full antenna concept, to attain the same level of performance under current conditions of use, and furthermore, with the ability to reach antenna inclination angles much greater than current solutions.

Landscapes

  • Waveguide Switches, Polarizers, And Phase Shifters (AREA)
  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
EP20080101406 2007-02-08 2008-02-08 Système de décalage de phase pour éléments de radiation d'une antenne Not-in-force EP1956675B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0753135A FR2912557B1 (fr) 2007-02-08 2007-02-08 Systeme de dephasage pour elements rayonnants d'une antenne

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1956675A1 true EP1956675A1 (fr) 2008-08-13
EP1956675B1 EP1956675B1 (fr) 2014-07-16

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EP20080101406 Not-in-force EP1956675B1 (fr) 2007-02-08 2008-02-08 Système de décalage de phase pour éléments de radiation d'une antenne

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EP (1) EP1956675B1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2912557B1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3252865A1 (fr) * 2016-06-03 2017-12-06 Alcatel- Lucent Shanghai Bell Co., Ltd Appareil formant un décaleur de phase et une antenne

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB767067A (en) * 1955-01-26 1957-01-30 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Microwave transmission line phase shifter
JPH09246846A (ja) 1996-03-08 1997-09-19 Denki Kogyo Co Ltd 非接触形結合回路
US5949303A (en) 1995-05-24 1999-09-07 Allgon Ab Movable dielectric body for controlling propagation velocity in a feed line
DE19911905A1 (de) * 1998-03-18 1999-10-21 Alcatel Sa Phasenschieber für Antennen
WO2002035651A1 (fr) 2000-10-27 2002-05-02 Allgon Ab> Dispositif de reglage de faisceaux
EP1215752A1 (fr) 2000-12-08 2002-06-19 Alcatel Circuit déphaseur
WO2004008568A1 (fr) * 2002-07-11 2004-01-22 Finglas Technologies Limited Dephaseur pour antenne
US6850130B1 (en) 1999-08-17 2005-02-01 Kathrein-Werke Kg High-frequency phase shifter unit having pivotable tapping element

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB767067A (en) * 1955-01-26 1957-01-30 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Microwave transmission line phase shifter
US5949303A (en) 1995-05-24 1999-09-07 Allgon Ab Movable dielectric body for controlling propagation velocity in a feed line
JPH09246846A (ja) 1996-03-08 1997-09-19 Denki Kogyo Co Ltd 非接触形結合回路
DE19911905A1 (de) * 1998-03-18 1999-10-21 Alcatel Sa Phasenschieber für Antennen
US6850130B1 (en) 1999-08-17 2005-02-01 Kathrein-Werke Kg High-frequency phase shifter unit having pivotable tapping element
WO2002035651A1 (fr) 2000-10-27 2002-05-02 Allgon Ab> Dispositif de reglage de faisceaux
EP1215752A1 (fr) 2000-12-08 2002-06-19 Alcatel Circuit déphaseur
WO2004008568A1 (fr) * 2002-07-11 2004-01-22 Finglas Technologies Limited Dephaseur pour antenne

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3252865A1 (fr) * 2016-06-03 2017-12-06 Alcatel- Lucent Shanghai Bell Co., Ltd Appareil formant un décaleur de phase et une antenne

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1956675B1 (fr) 2014-07-16
FR2912557B1 (fr) 2009-04-03
FR2912557A1 (fr) 2008-08-15

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