EP2215687A1

EP2215687A1 - Microwave antenna for the wireless networking of devices in automation technology

Info

Publication number: EP2215687A1
Application number: EP08855130A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alois Ineichen; Thorsten Godau
Original assignee: Pilz GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Pilz GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2007-11-26
Filing date: 2008-11-15
Publication date: 2010-08-11
Also published as: DE102007058257A1; US8232929B2; US20110043432A1; WO2009068197A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a microwave antenna for the wireless networking of devices in automation technology, comprising a first printed circuit board (48), on which a first conductor loop (52) is arranged as a conductor track. A second printed circuit board (50) with a second conductor loop (64) in the form of a conductor track is arranged transversely to the first printed circuit board (48) and is fastened thereon. The conductor loops (52, 64) are connected to a common feeder connection (94). A phasing line (110) connects an end each of the first and second conductor loops (52, 64).

Description

Microwave antenna for wireless networking of automation technology devices

The present invention relates to a microwave antenna for wireless networking of devices of automation technology, in particular for networking remote sensors, actuators and a central control unit, comprising a first conductor loop having a first and a second end, with a second conductor loop, the third and has a fourth end with a bypass line connecting the second and fourth ends, and a common supply terminal for the first and second conductor loops.

Such an antenna is known under the name "Eggbeater antenna" and described for example in a construction manual, which is published on the Internet at the address http://davehouston.net/eggbeater.htm.

In the industrial production of products, there has been a desire for many years to automate the processes more and more. This leads to an increasing interconnectedness of devices and components used at the production Processes are involved. Typically, these are sensors for detecting plant or process conditions, actuators that cause a change in the plant or process conditions, and control units for generating control signals, with which the actuators are driven in response to the sensor signals. For small systems, the sensors and actuators can be connected directly to the control unit. For larger and larger plants, which require a large number of sensors and actuators, communication networks have been used for many years to network the sensors, actuators and control units. A typical example of such communication networks are the so-called fieldbuses. These are communication networks adapted to the specific requirements for such applications, in particular with regard to the harsh environmental conditions and the typical communication requirements between control units and remote sensors and actuators. Well-known fieldbuses are the so-called Profibus, the so-called Interbus and the so-called CAN bus. Typically, these field buses use electrical and / or optical lines for networking the connected devices.

In addition, there have been efforts for some years to realize the networking of devices of automation technology based on the known Ethernet standard, which has prevailed in the networking of personal computers in home and office applications. In this context, there are also efforts to realize the connection between the devices wirelessly, which is often the case for home and office networks using WLAN. For example, in its Factory Line product line, Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG offers WLAN communication devices for the wireless networking of automation technology devices. However, home and office network technology is not readily transferable to industrial production environment applications because of the different communication needs and environmental conditions. In factories, there are typically a large number of metallic objects and moving objects that can greatly affect the propagation of radio waves. On the other hand, the communication between the control units and the sensors and actuators often has to be carried out in very narrow, cyclically recurring time intervals are made in order to enable a continuous and trouble-free production process. In addition, there are increased demands on the reliability of the communication link when security-relevant data to be transmitted, on which the reliability of an automated system depends. For example, many production facilities perform dangerous movements that must be stopped immediately when an operator approaches the facility. In such a case, the signal from a photocell that detects the person must be quickly transmitted to the central control unit, and the shutdown command must reach the correct drive of the system within a defined and guaranteed period of time. In contrast to home and office networks, fractions of seconds are often required.

Given the difficult transmission conditions in factory halls, the known devices from Phoenix have two rod antennas, which are arranged in different positions and in different orientations (horizontal and vertical). In each case the antenna is used which finds better reception conditions. Instead of rod antennas, which have at least approximately an omnidirectional characteristic, directional antennas can in principle also be connected to the Phoenix devices whose transmission and reception properties are optimized for one or more spatial directions and which have very poor transmission and reception properties in other spatial directions.

The use of directional antennas may be useful for specific applications. However, it is at the expense of flexibility in the networking of devices of automation technology. In addition, the effort in planning and installation increases in comparison to antennas with an omnidirectional characteristic. On the other hand, the results obtained with simple rod antennas in factories and other industrial environments are far from optimal.

There are also a variety of antenna types and forms for various applications in the field of satellite communications, mobile communications, location, etc. An example is the Eggbeater antenna mentioned above. This has two circular conductor loops whose ends are connected via a detour line, wherein the length of the Umwegleitung corresponds approximately to a quarter of the wavelength of the radio signals to be received. The two conductor loops are connected to a common feed point, at which the antenna signals can be coupled or decoupled. Such an antenna can expect a good omnidirectional characteristic. However, it is only partially suitable for the harsh environmental conditions of an industrial production plant.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost microwave antenna for wireless networking of devices of automation technology, which can be used flexibly and enables stable radio transmissions under the difficult transmission conditions of an industrial environment.

This object is achieved according to one aspect of the invention by an antenna of the type mentioned, with a first circuit board on which the first conductor loop is arranged as a printed conductor, and with a second circuit board on which the second conductor loop is arranged as a printed conductor, wherein the first circuit board further comprises the common supply terminal, and wherein the second circuit board is arranged transversely to the first circuit board.

Thus, the new microwave antenna uses (at least) two conductor loops arranged transversely to one another, which are connected via a detour line and have a common feed point. In contrast to the known Eggbeater antenna, the two conductor loops are realized here in the form of printed conductor tracks. The term "printed circuit board" in this context refers to conductive (in particular metallic) tracks, which are fixedly arranged as thin layers on a carrier plate of an insulating material. In preferred embodiments, the circuit boards are made of a glass fiber fabric which is bonded with epoxy resin (so-called FR4 printed circuit boards). Alternatively, the printed circuit boards may be made of PTFE, ceramic or other insulating synthetic and / or composite Materials such as Rexolite® 1422 or Noryl. In preferred embodiments, the traces are copper deposited on the plates by appropriate coating techniques. In principle, use is made of production methods used for producing printed circuit boards for other purposes, such as circuit boards for use with electrical and / or electronic components.

The new microwave antenna has (at least) two printed circuit boards, which are arranged transversely to each other. In preferred embodiments, the new microwave antenna has two printed circuit boards arranged orthogonal to one another. Preferably, the second circuit board has been subsequently attached to the first circuit board, i. after the tracks have been made on the separate circuit boards. In principle, however, the production of the "crossed" printed circuit boards could also take place before the production of the printed conductors.

In all cases, the first circuit board carries not only the first conductor loop, but also the second circuit board with the second conductor loop, and advantageously also the feed terminal and the bypass line, so that the first circuit board is supplemented by the second circuit board to the new microwave antenna. Although the first circuit board with the first conductor loop per se could already be used as a microwave antenna. However, the addition of the second circuit board gives the new microwave antenna a total radiation characteristic that is nearly optimal for wireless networking of devices in industrial environments. The two conductor loops together produce a horizontal radiation characteristic which is nearly optimally circular for horizontal polarization. Also for vertical polarization one can speak with a good approximation of a circular radiation characteristic in the horizontal plane. In addition, the new antenna also has an omnidirectional characteristic in the vertical plane with good approximation, both for horizontal polarization and for vertical polarization. This seems surprising at first, considering that the conductor loops themselves are horizontally polarized. Due to the detour line, however, the two conductor loops are phase-shifted operated, which is about 90 ° in the preferred exemplary embodiments (λ / 4- detour line). Due to this phase shift creates a circular polarization, ie a rotating polarization containing vertical polarization components.

The new microwave antenna therefore enables good reception or good radiation in virtually all spatial directions and in all polarization planes. As a result, the new microwave antenna can be used very flexibly and largely without special planning and installation work.

In addition, the universal transmit and receive characteristics of the new microwave antenna are of great benefit for use in industrial work environments, such as factory floors, where moving machines and numerous other metallic structures are encountered. Many of these structures have vertical edges, which is disadvantageous for vertical polarization transmission. Vertical polarization is also a disadvantage for the penetration of walls. However, vertical polarization has advantages in cross-floor communication. The new microwave antenna can be operated largely independently of the environmental conditions in the field because it works with both horizontal and vertical polarization. In contrast, conventional rod antennas are only optimal for one of the two types of polarization.

Furthermore, the new microwave antenna can be manufactured very simply and with small tolerances due to the printed circuit board technology, and it is very robust, compact and stable. It is therefore suitable for use in harsh industrial environments. Furthermore, it can be produced inexpensively in the high volumes typically required for such use.

Another advantage of the new microwave antenna is that the different polarizations can be used for decoupling compared to other radio services. For example, conventional WLAN radio networks and Bluetooth usually work with vertical polarization, so that the good transmission and reception properties Shafts of the new antenna with horizontal polarization can expect lower interference from such radio networks. Nevertheless, the new antenna is compatible with the conventional systems.

The above object is therefore completely solved.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the circuit boards has a slot into which the other circuit board is inserted. In preferred exemplary embodiments, the first and the second printed circuit board each have a slot, and they are inserted with their slots into one another. Furthermore, it is preferable if the slot in the second circuit board is very long compared to the slot in the first circuit board, so that the second circuit board is largely "on" the first circuit board.

These embodiments allow a very simple, inexpensive and stable installation of the new microwave antenna. The two printed circuit boards can be manufactured separately using conventional technology. Subsequently, the second circuit board is placed on the first circuit board. Due to the slots, the conductor loops can be positioned at a largely equal height. A long slot in the second circuit board allows both conductor loops to be closed except for the respective ends. Such largely closed conductor loops simplify the preferred omnidirectional characteristic of the new antenna.

In a further embodiment, at least one first metal surface is arranged on the first printed circuit board, and at least one second metal surface is arranged on the second printed circuit board, wherein the first and second metal surfaces are insulated from the conductor loops and soldered to one another. Preferably, the first and second metal surfaces are soldered directly to each other, ie the solder connects the metal surfaces directly and without additional metal pins or the like. This design ensures high stability of the new microwave antenna and it relieves the electrical solder joints between the conductor loops. On the other hand, the metal surfaces can be very easily and inexpensively manufactured together with the conductor loops, and also the soldering of the metal surfaces is simple and inexpensive.

In a further refinement, at least one of the metal surfaces is a through-contacted double surface which has a front metal surface on a front side of the printed circuit board and a rear metal surface on a rear side of the printed circuit board.

In this embodiment, at least one of the metal surfaces is arranged both on the front side and on the rear side of the respective printed circuit board. This allows a very simple and inexpensive way a multiple solder joint and as a result, a very stable connection of the circuit boards. The via prevents the opposing metal surfaces on the front and back from acting as a plate capacitor. As a result, the through-contacts contribute to the good antenna characteristics.

In a further embodiment, the detour line is a printed conductor track, which is arranged on the first printed circuit board. Preferably, the detour line is a stripline which generates a 90 ° phase shift and which is soldered to the fourth end (on the second circuit board).

This embodiment enables a very simple and cost-effective production of the detour line.

In a further embodiment, the first and the third end are soldered without detour line. In this embodiment, the Umwegleitung connects only one end of the two conductor loops, while the other ends are connected directly. An electrically short line piece may be provided to connect the other ends to compensate for height and / or position differences. The new microwave antenna of this embodiment differs from the Eggbeater antenna mentioned above in the electrical connection of the four conductor ends. In view of this, it can be assumed that this embodiment advantageously contributes to the very uniform omnidirectional characteristic which the exemplary embodiments described below have.

In a further embodiment, the new microwave antenna has a further printed conductor track which is arranged on the first printed circuit board and which conductively connects the feed connection and the first end.

In this embodiment, the first circuit board is the main circuit board on which all the essential antenna elements (preferably including the detour line) are arranged. It is then sufficient that the second circuit board has the second conductor loop and insulated metal surfaces for mechanical attachment. This embodiment allows a very cost-effective production, since the second circuit board can be used for different types of the new microwave antenna, as explained below with reference to preferred embodiments. Furthermore, the assembly of the second circuit board on the first circuit board is simplified due to this configuration.

In another embodiment, the further printed circuit trace has a front trace on a front side of the first printed circuit board and a back trace on a rear side of the first printed circuit board, wherein the feed terminal is a coaxial terminal with an inner conductor and an outer conductor, wherein the front conductor track the outer conductor and the first end conductively connects, and wherein the backside trace electrically connects the inner conductor and the second end. Preferably, the front and back conductor tracks are arranged one above the other so that they form a substantially symmetrical stripline. This embodiment also contributes to a cost-effective production of the new microwave antenna. The line connection between the feed terminal and the conductor loops is integrated here in a cost effective manner on the first circuit board.

In a further embodiment, the front conductor track in the region of the feed connection has a large conductor track width, which tapers symmetrically towards the first end. In a preferred embodiment, the front trace tapers at a radius of about λ / 6, where λ denotes the wavelength of the antenna radiation. The rear conductor track preferably has a substantially constant width.

In this embodiment, the further strip conductors form a so-called balun. This balun is a very simple, cost-effective and highly accurate reproducible way to adapt a conventional, coaxial feed connection to the conductor loops of the new antenna.

In a further embodiment, the first conductor loop is arranged approximately halfway on the front side and about halfway on the rear side of the first printed circuit board.

This embodiment allows a very simple and efficient connection of the conductor loops to the feed line.

In a further embodiment, the conductor loops are rectangular, in particular square. Preferably, the edge length of the square conductor loops is about λ / 4. In other embodiments, the conductor loops are rectangular with an aspect ratio of 2: 1. Also in this case, the total length of the conductor loops is preferably substantially equal to the wavelength of the transmit or receive signals. In principle, the conductor loops could also be circular, elliptical or otherwise shaped. However, it has been shown that rectangular and in particular square conductor loops noticeably contribute to the good antenna characteristics of the new microwave antenna. Perhaps this is due to the fact that the corners of the conductor loops cause partial radiation, which leads to low interference.

In a further embodiment, the conductor loops run on the edge of the printed circuit boards. It is particularly advantageous if the printed circuit boards also have recesses, so that the conductor loops are partially or largely free inside.

This refinement also advantageously contributes to the good antenna characteristics of the new microwave antenna and its high suitability for use in factory halls or the like.

In a further embodiment, a third conductor loop is arranged as a printed conductor on the first circuit board, wherein the first and the third conductor loop lie in one plane and are offset in two directions within the plane. In preferred embodiments, the first and third conductor loops are offset laterally by about λ / 4 and in height by about λ / 2.

This embodiment integrates a second loop antenna on the first circuit board. Due to the staggered arrangement, this embodiment allows a very simple, cost-effective and compact multiple antenna for diversity operation.

In a further embodiment, the new microwave antenna has a third printed circuit board with a fourth conductor loop, wherein the third printed circuit board is attached to the first printed circuit board transversely to the third conductor loop. In this embodiment, both diversity antennas are realized according to the basic idea of the present invention. Advantageously, the second and the third circuit board are the same, which allows a very simple and inexpensive production. Regardless, this embodiment provides a very compact multiple antenna for an advantageous diversity operation.

In a further embodiment, the new microwave antenna has an antenna switching unit, which is designed to selectively connect the feed connection to the first or the third conductor loop, the antenna switching unit being arranged on the first printed circuit board.

In this embodiment, an antenna switching unit for diversity operation is integrated into the microwave antenna. The integration of the antenna switching unit in the microwave antenna allows a very flexible use, because no changes to the transmitting and receiving devices are necessary, to which the new antenna is connected.

In a further embodiment, the new microwave antenna has a - preferably plate-shaped - reflector which is attached to the first circuit board.

Such a reflector is particularly advantageous when the new microwave antenna is formed as a diversity antenna with integrated Antennenumschalteinheit, because the reflector can shield the antenna switching unit advantageous in this case. In addition, the reflector can further improve the antenna characteristics for applications in workshops or the like, since a radiation vertically downwards usually makes little sense if the antenna is arranged on or directly to the device to be networked.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained not only in the combination specified, but can also be used in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

1 is a schematic representation of an automated system with microwave antennas according to an embodiment of the invention,

2 shows a preferred embodiment of the new microwave antenna in a perspective view,

3 - 6, the microwave antenna of Fig. 2 in four side views,

Fig. 7 shows a second preferred embodiment of the new microwave antenna in a side view, and

Fig. 8 shows the microwave antenna of Fig. 7 in a perspective view.

In Fig. 1, a system in which embodiments of the new microwave antenna are used, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The system 10 has a control unit 12 and a plurality of remote I / O (input / output) units 14, 16, 18. An electrical drive 20 is connected to the I / O unit 16. For example, this is a drive for a robot or another machine for the automated machining of workpieces (not shown here). The drive 20 is powered by the I / O unit 16 and therefore can be turned off by the I / O unit 16. To the I / O units 14 and 18, a photocell 22 is connected in each case. The light barriers 22 secure the robot or the electrical machine against dangerous intervention from the outside. The light barriers 22 are typical examples of sensors whose signal supply be read by the control unit 12 in response to generate control signals with which the drive 20 can be turned off.

The control unit 12 and the I / O units 14, 16, 18 together form a safety-relevant control system in the sense of the standards EN 954-1, IEC 61508 and / or EN ISO 13849-1. In preferred exemplary embodiments, the control unit 12 and the I / O units 14, 16, 18 are each failsafe in the sense of category 3 and higher of EN 954-1. To achieve this, the safety-related parts of the control unit 12 and the I / O units 14, 16, 18 are of redundant construction and perform regular functional tests to ensure that the drive 20 is switched off even if a fault occurs. In addition, in particularly preferred embodiments, the control unit 12 also includes the operational control of the drive 20, i. the control of the normal working movements of the robot or the machine. In principle, the control unit 12 could also be a pure operation control, and the safety-relevant control functions could be controlled by a further control unit (not shown here), which is installed, for example, in the control cabinet of the robot or the machine.

In the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 12 has a signal and data processing part 24, which is constructed redundantly. The signal and data processing part 24 has two processors 26a, 26b, which operate redundantly to each other and monitor each other. The processors 26a, 26b can access a memory 28 in which the control program for the system 10 is stored.

The control unit 12 further has a communication interface 30, which is here connected to two microwave antennas 32a, 32b according to an embodiment of the invention. In a preferred exemplary embodiment, the two antennas 32a, 32b are integrated in a diversity antenna, which is described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The signal and data processing part 24 communicates via the communication interface 30 and the antennas 32a, 32b with the remote I / O units 14, 16, 18 to read the signal states of the sensors 22 and output the control commands for the drive 20.

Each I / O unit 14, 16, 18 has an antenna 36 and a communication interface 38. The I / O units 14, 16, 18 communicate with the control unit 12 via the antenna 36 and communication interface 38 to transmit the sensor signals and receive the control commands. For this purpose, the communication interfaces 30, 38 transmit and receive high-frequency radio signals 40, 42. In one embodiment, the frequency of the radio signals 40, 42 is about 2.4 GHz. Each radio signal consists of a large number of time-sequential signal bursts (so-called bursts), between which there are temporal pauses. With the high-frequency signal packets so-called telegrams 46 are transmitted, in which the data is encoded, which are exchanged between the control unit 12 and the I / O units 14, 16, 18.

Figs. 2 to 6 show a first embodiment of the new microwave antenna in the form of a single antenna 36. Like reference numerals denote like elements.

The antenna 36 has a first circuit board 48 and a second circuit board 50. On the first circuit board 48, a first conductor loop 52 having a first end 54 and a second end 56 is arranged. As can be seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the first conductor loop 52 extends halfway on the front 58 and the other half on the back 60 of the first circuit board 48. In the upper part of the first circuit board 48 are through holes, with which the first conductor loop 52 is guided from the front 58 to the back 60.

On the second circuit board 50, a second conductor loop 64 is arranged, which has a third end 66 and a fourth end 68. The ends 66, 68 of the second conductor loop 64 are guided via plated-through holes 70, 72 on the back side 74 of the second printed circuit board 50. Incidentally, the second conductor loop 64 runs completely on the front side 76 of the second printed circuit board 50. As can be seen in Figs. 4 and 6, the second circuit board 50 is square and the second conductor loop 64 extends at the edge 78 of the circuit board 50. Accordingly, the second conductor loop 64 is here a square conductor loop. The edge length is chosen to be about λ / 4 of the radio waves to be transmitted or received. At the four corners of the circuit board 50 L-shaped slots 80 are arranged so that the second conductor loop 64 is also partially released on its inside. It could also be said that the second circuit board 50 has an outer frame on which the second conductor loop in the form of a conductive layer (for example made of copper) is arranged over the entire surface. Within the frame is a central circuit board area 82, which is connected via four cross-shaped webs arranged with the outer frame. In this central printed circuit board area 82 through-plated double-sided metal surfaces 86a, 86b are arranged. The metal surfaces 86 are insulated from the conductor loops 52, 64. They merely serve as solder surfaces to which the first and second circuit boards 48, 50 are soldered in order to obtain a mechanical, stable connection.

The first printed circuit board 48 is substantially larger than the second printed circuit board 50. However, it has a square printed circuit board area 84 whose size is equal to the second printed circuit board 50. The first conductor loop 52 extends at the edge of the square printed circuit board area 84. On the inside of the first conductor loop 52, L-shaped slots 80 are arranged, with which the first conductor loop 52 is at least partially exposed.

The first printed circuit board 48 still has a second and a third printed circuit board area 88, 90 which are offset from the square printed circuit board area 84 by means of slots 87. The second circuit board area 88 is a relatively small strip located above the circuit board area 84. The printed circuit board area 88 serves essentially to form a slot-shaped receptacle 92 into which the second printed circuit board 50 is inserted from above. The second printed circuit board 50 is held slightly above the square printed circuit board region 84 by means of the printed circuit board region 88, so that the first conductor loop 52 is guided under the second conductor loop 64. The third circuit board area 90 forms the foot of the antenna 36. It carries a coaxial plug 94, which forms a common feed connection for the two conductor loops 52, 64. The plug 94 is soldered in the lower part of the printed circuit board area 90. It has an outer conductor 96 and an inner conductor 98. The outer conductor 96 is soldered to a conductor 100 which is arranged on the front side of the third printed circuit board region 90. The inner conductor 98 is soldered to a conductor 102 which extends on the back of the third circuit board portion 90. The interconnects 100, 102 together form an (at least partially symmetrical) stripline, via which the plug 94 is electrically connected to the first end 54 and the second end 56 of the first conductor loop 52. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the front trace 100 in the region of the plug 96 has a large trace width, which tapers symmetrically towards the first end 54. The width of the front trace 100 decreases with a curve whose radius 104 is about λ / 6. In contrast, the rear conductor 102 has a substantially constant width, apart from a short piece in the region of the plug 94, which is required for electrical connection of the inner conductor 98.

The decreasing width of the front trace 100, together with the back trace 102, form a balun that matches the coaxial (unbalanced) tail line 106 of the antenna to the symmetrical stripline that connects the front and back traces 100, 102 in the region of the first and second Conductor loop 52, 64 form.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, the first end 54 of the first conductor loop 52 and the third end 66 of the second conductor loop 64 are connected almost directly to one another by soldering the first end 54 and the third end 66 in the region of the through-connection 72 are. Only a very short strip conductor 108 is required here in order to compensate for the small height offset between the first and second conductor loop 52, 64. The length of the conductor piece 108 corresponds approximately to the width of the first conductor loop 52. In contrast, the second end 56 and the fourth end 68 are not connected directly, but via a detour line 110. The detour line 110 generates a phase shift of approximately 90 ° between the first and second conductor loops 52, 64. Due to this phase shift, a transmission wave with a circular polarization, which is radiated substantially upwards and downwards, is produced during transmission. Furthermore, the antenna 36 is capable of receiving electromagnetic radio waves having different polarization directions.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the second circuit board 50 has a long slot 112 which divides the second circuit board 50 into two halves and extends almost over the entire second circuit board 50. The slot 112 terminates at the upper end of the second circuit board 50 in an oval opening 114. The second circuit board 50 is fitted with the slot 112 on the first circuit board 48, wherein the remaining web of the second circuit board 50 above the slot 112 in the slot-shaped receptacle 92nd engages the circuit board portion 88 of the first circuit board 48. The printed circuit boards 48 and 50 terminate flush at the upper end of the antenna 36 and form a symmetrical cross in plan view. Typically, the new microwave antenna 36 is used such that the first circuit board 48 is vertically disposed and the symmetrical cross forms the upper end of the antenna 36. In preferred embodiments, the new antenna 36 is mounted perpendicular to a cabinet of steel or other metallic body. But you can also arrange the antenna 36 in a horizontal position or at an angle. Preferably, the antenna 36 is protected with a radome (not shown). In preferred embodiments, each I / O unit 14, 16, 18 of the system 10 has such an antenna 36.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a preferred embodiment for the diversity antenna 32 of the control unit 12. Like reference numerals denote the same elements as before.

In the antenna 32, the first circuit board 48 has a third conductor loop 120, which is formed as the first conductor loop 52. The first conductor loop 52 and the third conductor loop 120 lie in a common plane 121. However, they are offset within the plane 121 laterally and in height. The lateral distance di is about λ / 4. The distance d ₂ in height is about λ / 2.

Furthermore, a third printed circuit board 122 is plugged onto the first printed circuit board 48 in the region of the third conductor loop 120. The third circuit board 122 is identical to the second circuit board 50 and has a fourth conductor loop 124. The third conductor loop 120 and the fourth conductor loop 124 together form a second antenna 32b which is laterally and vertically offset from the first antenna 32a.

Reference numeral 126 denotes an automatic antenna switching unit which is arranged at the lower end 127 of the first printed circuit board 48. The antenna switching unit 126 includes semiconductor switches, such as PIN diode switches 128, with which the connection between the common supply terminal 94 and the conductor loops 52/64 and 120/124 can be switched. A preferred embodiment of the automatic switching unit 126 is described in a further patent application of the applicant entitled "Apparatus and method for wireless networking of devices of automation technology", which was deposited at the same time as the present application. The content of this co-pending patent application is incorporated herein by reference.

The reference numeral 130 denotes a reflector which is arranged transversely to the first printed circuit board 48 and attached to the first printed circuit board 48. The reflector 130 is here a largely circular printed circuit board with a conductive coating. The reflector 130 is disposed between the antenna switching unit 126 and the conductor loops 52, 64, 120, 124 so as to shield the antenna switching unit 126 from the transmission radiation of the sub antennas 32a, 32b. In principle, such a reflector 130 could also be used on the individual antenna 36, which is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6

Claims

claims

1. Microwave antenna for wireless networking of devices of automation technology, in particular for networking of remote sensors (22),

Actuators (20) and a central control unit (12) having a first conductor loop (52) having first and second ends (54, 56) and a second conductor loop (64) having third and fourth ends (64). 66, 68), having a detour line (110) which conductively connects the second and fourth ends (56, 58) and a common feed terminal (94) for the first and second conductor loops (52, 64) by a first printed circuit board (48), on which the first conductor loop (52) is arranged as a printed conductor, and a second printed circuit board (50), on which the second conductor loop (64) is arranged as a printed conductor, wherein the first printed circuit board (48 ) further comprises the common supply terminal (94), and wherein the second circuit board (50) is arranged transversely to the first circuit board (48).

2. microwave antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the circuit boards (48, 50) has a slot (92, 112), in which the other circuit board is inserted.

3. microwave antenna according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the first circuit board (48) at least a first metal surface (85) is arranged and on the second circuit board (50) at least a second metal surface (86) is arranged, wherein the first and second metal surfaces (85, 86) are insulated from the conductor loops (52, 64) and soldered together.

4. A microwave antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of the metal surfaces (85, 86) is a plated-through double surface comprising a front metal surface (86a) on a front surface (76) of the printed circuit board and a back metal surface (86b) on a rear surface (74) of the printed circuit board.

5. microwave antenna according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detour line (110) is a printed conductor track, which is arranged on the first circuit board (48).

6. microwave antenna according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first and the third end (54, 66) are soldered without detour line.

7. A microwave antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by a further printed conductor track (100, 102) which is arranged on the first printed circuit board (48) and the feed terminal (94) and the first end (54) conductively connects.

8. Microwave antenna according to claim 7, characterized in that the further printed interconnect a front trace (100) on a front side (58) of the first circuit board (48) and a backside trace (102) on a back side (60) of the first circuit board ( 48), wherein the feed terminal (94) is a coaxial terminal having an inner conductor (98) and an outer conductor (96), wherein the front conductor (100) conductively connects the outer conductor (96) and the first end (54), and wherein the backside trace (102) conductively connects the inner conductor (98) and the second end (56).

9. microwave antenna according to claim 8, characterized in that the front conductor track (100) in the region of the feed connection (94) has a large conductor track width, which tapers symmetrically towards the first end (54).

10. Microwave antenna according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first conductor loop (52) about half on the front side (58) and about half on the back (60) of the first circuit board (48) is arranged.

11. Microwave antenna according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the conductor loops (52, 64) are rectangular, in particular square.

12. Microwave antenna according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the conductor loops (52, 64) on the edge (78) of the printed circuit boards run.

13. Microwave antenna according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that on the first printed circuit board (48) a third conductor loop (120) is arranged as a printed conductor, wherein the first and the third conductor loop (52, 120) in a plane ( 121) and are offset within the plane (121) in two directions.

14. A microwave antenna according to claim 13, characterized by a third printed circuit board (122) having a fourth conductor loop (124), wherein the third printed circuit board (122) is fixed transversely to the third conductor loop (120) on the first printed circuit board (48).

15. Microwave antenna according to claim 13, characterized by an antenna switching unit (126) which is designed to connect the feed connection (94) optionally to the first or to the third conductor loop (52, 120), wherein the antenna switching unit (126) is arranged on the first circuit board (48).

16. A microwave antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by a reflector (130) which is fixed to the first circuit board (48).