EP4040598A1 - Directional antenna, and vehicle comprising such directional antenna - Google Patents
Directional antenna, and vehicle comprising such directional antenna Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4040598A1 EP4040598A1 EP22151929.1A EP22151929A EP4040598A1 EP 4040598 A1 EP4040598 A1 EP 4040598A1 EP 22151929 A EP22151929 A EP 22151929A EP 4040598 A1 EP4040598 A1 EP 4040598A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- supply circuit
- directional antenna
- radiating
- input
- antenna
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Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
- H01Q21/06—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart
- H01Q21/08—Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/36—Structural form of radiating elements, e.g. cone, spiral, umbrella; Particular materials used therewith
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/12—Supports; Mounting means
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
- H01Q1/32—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q1/00—Details of, or arrangements associated with, antennas
- H01Q1/27—Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies
- H01Q1/32—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles
- H01Q1/3208—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used
- H01Q1/3233—Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles characterised by the application wherein the antenna is used particular used as part of a sensor or in a security system, e.g. for automotive radar, navigation systems
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q3/00—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system
- H01Q3/26—Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna system varying the relative phase or relative amplitude of energisation between two or more active radiating elements; varying the distribution of energy across a radiating aperture
- H01Q3/2605—Array of radiating elements provided with a feedback control over the element weights, e.g. adaptive arrays
- H01Q3/2611—Means for null steering; Adaptive interference nulling
- H01Q3/2617—Array of identical elements
- H01Q3/2623—Array of identical elements composed of two antennas
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q9/00—Electrically-short antennas having dimensions not more than twice the operating wavelength and consisting of conductive active radiating elements
- H01Q9/04—Resonant antennas
- H01Q9/30—Resonant antennas with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole
Definitions
- the present invention relates in general to a directional antenna, in particular for a vehicle, and to a vehicle comprising such directional antenna.
- the directional antenna according to the present invention is especially suitable for use in vehicles, in particular to realize V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communications preferably operating at frequencies around 5.9Ghz, and will be described in the following making reference to such applications without intending to limit in any way the possible fields of application.
- V2X Vehicle to Everything
- V2V Vehicle to Vehicle
- V2I Vehicle to Infrastructure
- V2P Vehicle to Pedestrian
- This coverage can be obtained either with a single antenna or by placing several antennas in different positions of the vehicle.
- the vehicle itself is composed mainly of metal parts that by their nature interact with the electromagnetic waves emitted by the antenna, depending on the position of an antenna, the radiation pattern can be differently deformed.
- an antenna positioned towards the rear of a car may not be able to radiate electromagnetic power towards the front of the car itself and to compensate for this effect it is often necessary to install a second antenna on the front of the car, for example at the rear-view mirrors.
- the antennas positioned in different points of the vehicle it is possible to manipulate the radiation pattern of the antennas to avoid dispersing electromagnetic power in directions not of interest, or, in the case of an antenna installed inside the car in positions such as the rearview mirror, to make sure to correctly transmit the electromagnetic field towards the outside of the vehicle (forward and towards the sides) where it is more likely there are devices with which to exchange communications, and not towards its occupants (rear).
- antennas that, in order to obtain the desired deformation of the radiation pattern, use a single radiating element combined with the directing effect of a screen of conductive material placed at a controlled distance from the radiating element itself.
- an antenna coupled to a shield presents a control of the radiation pattern not entirely optimal, in particular with regard to the coverage of intermediate angles transversal to the ideal axis that joins the direction of the maximum radiation to the direction of the minimum.
- a main aim of the present invention is to provide a directional antenna, in particular for V2X type communications, which, compared to known solutions, enables improving the control of the radiation pattern and is easy to be realized.
- another scope of the present invention is to provide a directional antenna that allows ensuring a greater bandwidth with respect to known solutions, in particular greater than those using a shielded antenna.
- a further scope of the present invention is to provide a solution for a directional antenna that is easy to implement and relatively inexpensive, and that can be easily installed in the most varied types of vehicles both of road type, such as cars, buses, commercial vehicles of various types, and railway type, such as trams, trains, et cetera.
- FIGS 1-5 schematically illustrate a possible embodiment of a directional antenna according to the invention, indicated globally by the reference number 100.
- the antenna 100 comprises a plurality of radiating elements, i.e. at least two, and a supply circuit which is connected to the radiating elements and is suitable for feeding them appropriately with a feed signal to be radiated.
- said first and second radiating elements and said supply circuit are configured and operatively connected among them so as to generate a combined irradiation pattern which presents, on a horizontal plane, a signal reduction in a selected direction substantially equal to one quarter of a round angle and an increase distributed in a substantially uniform manner in the remaining three quarters of the round angle.
- the antenna 100 allows, once the directions where the maximum and minimum of the irradiated signal is desired have been selected, for example forward and respectively backward relative to a vehicle on which the antenna 100 is installed, to widen the irradiated beam as much as possible towards the intermediate directions.
- the antenna 100 comprises at least:
- the supply circuit 5 is configured so that the signal to be radiated fed in input to the first radiating element 1 is offset in time by a first predefined value ⁇ with respect to the same signal to be radiated fed in input to the second radiating element 2.
- the supply circuit 5 is configured so that the signal fed in input into the first radiant element 1 is out of phase in time with respect to the signal fed in input into the second radiant element 2 by a first value comprised between thirty and one-hundred-and-twenty sexagesimal degrees.
- the supply circuit 5 is conveniently configured so that the signal fed in input into the first radiant element 1 is out of phase in time with respect to the signal fed in input into the second radiant element 2 of a first value comprised between fifty and seventy sexagesimal degrees, preferably equal to sixty sexagesimal degrees.
- the supply circuit 5 comprises at least one conducting element 5a having a first end 5b connected to the first radiating element 1 and a second end 5c connected to the second radiating element 2, said at least one conducting element 5a having, with reference to the nominal operating frequency of the antenna 100, a predefined electrical length "d" measured between said first and second ends 5b, 5c.
- the supply circuit 5 carries the electromagnetic waves in input/output at a connection 6, for example from/to the electronics of a vehicle on which the antenna 100 is installed, indicated in the figures 9 and 10 by the reference number 200.
- the predefined electrical length "d" is comprised between one fifth of a wave and three quarters of a wave, of the signal S i carried by the circuit 5.
- the predefined electrical length "d" is comprised between two fifths of a wave and three fifths of a wave, more preferably it is equal to one half of a wave.
- the conductor element 5a is formed by a broken line having three substantially straight sections forming an overall U- or C-shaped path, wherein the electrical distance is substantially given by the sum of the electrical lengths of the three rectilinear sections di, d 2 , d 3 .
- the supply circuit 5, and in particular its part 5a that interconnects the two radiating elements 1 and 2 can be differently configured in order to obtain similarly the same technical results in terms of modification of the radiation pattern of the antenna 100.
- the supply circuit 5 comprises at least one conducting element 5a having a first end 5b connected to the first radiating element 1, a second end 5c connected to the second radiating element 2, and a supporting element, for example a strip made of a dielectric material, which is mechanically connected at least to said conducting element 5a and acts as a mechanical support for the same, also contributing to obtain the desired phase shift ⁇ .
- a conducting element 5a having a first end 5b connected to the first radiating element 1, a second end 5c connected to the second radiating element 2, and a supporting element, for example a strip made of a dielectric material, which is mechanically connected at least to said conducting element 5a and acts as a mechanical support for the same, also contributing to obtain the desired phase shift ⁇ .
- This support element can be shaped for example replicating the shape and following the physical path of the supply circuit 5 or only of its part 5a, or even have a different shape as long as suitable to support the circuit 5 itself, and in particular its part 5a, and to contribute to the achievement of the desired phase shift ⁇ .
- the support element may be realized by a body made of a dielectric material that replicates at least in part the path of the microstrip, in particular with respect to at least its part 5a.
- the signal supply circuit 5, and in particular at least its part 5a is made for example by a coaxial cable, then the cable can also be mechanically released from the support that holds the radiating elements and have as its only points of contact the ends 5b and 5c.
- the supply circuit 5 comprises at least one lumped constants component (altenrative defined as component with concentrated constants) disposed between said first and second radiating elements 1 and 2.
- component schematically illustrated in figure 2 by the dashed box 30, may be consitituted for example by a capacitor or an inductance.
- the supply circuit 5, or at least its part interposed between and interconnecting the two radiating elements 1 and 2 may comprise or be constituted by a "T" or "pi"(pi greek) network of combinations of inductors or capacitors, which realize the desired phase shift, without having to resort to a binding physical spacing between the input ports of the radiating elements 1 and 2.
- a "T" or "pi"(pi greek) network of combinations of inductors or capacitors which realize the desired phase shift, without having to resort to a binding physical spacing between the input ports of the radiating elements 1 and 2.
- there is a greater degree of freedom regarding the spacing between the same radiating elements 1 and 2 which can thus be chosen to a degree less dependent on the physical architecture of the supply network 5 itself.
- the directional antenna 100 further comprises a support element 3 on which said first and second radiating elements 1 and 2 and the supply circuit 5 are at least partially arranged or connected to.
- said support element 3 has a substantially planar development and the radiating elements 1 and 2 and the supply circuit 5 may be arranged on opposite faces of said planar element 3, as in the examplary embodiment illustrated by figures 3 and 4 , or on the same face as illustrated in the examplary embodiments of figures 1 , 2 and 5 .
- one or more of said power supply circuit 5, and first and second radiating elements 1 and 2, preferably each of them, comprises a respective metal conductor connected to a grounding element fixed to the support element 3 or formed by the support element 3 itself.
- grounding element can be formed then by the same support element 3 which in this case is substantially made of conductive material.
- the support member 3 may be made of a dielectric material and the grounding element comprises at least one conductive surface, that covers at least partially one face of the support member 3 (see Figure 5 ), or is arranged on both faces of the support member 3 so as to at cover least partially them (see Figures 3 and 4 ).
- each grounding element comprises a conducting foil made of copper having a substantially planar development and indicated in Figures 3-5 by the reference number 4.
- This grounding element 4 is sized to have a surface suitably greater than that of the radiating elements so as to modify, typically for lowering or for raising, the elevation of the maximum of the radiated signal illustrated in figure 7 .
- the radiating elements 1 and 2 are realized using PCB (from the English Printed Circuit Board) technology and are formed, for example, of copper traces deposited on a dielectric support 7.
- the shape and size of the copper traces forming the two radiating elements 1 and 2 are selected to obtain a resonance of the antenna 100 around the operating frequency, for example around 5.9GHz. Furthermore, in order to improve the adaptation of the antenna, in such examplary embodiment a corresponding branch 8 and respectively 9 is provided for each radiating element 1 and 2, the two branches 8 and 9 being connected to a common grounding element 4.
- the supply circuit 5 is realized in this example on the face of the support element 3 opposite to that where there are the radiating elements 1 and 2, and may also be implemented using PCB technology.
- the circuit 5 may comprise a waveguide known as a microstrip.
- a waveguide is formed by a copper trace and a grounding element divided by a dielectric thickness.
- the width of the copper trace is appropriately sized to have, for example, a characteristic impedance of the microstrip equal to 50 ⁇ . Narrowed or widened parts 11 of the microstrip may be made to improve the overall adaptation of the antenna 100.
- holes 10 may be drilled inside which the PCBs of the radiating elements 1 and 2 are inserted to be subsequently connected by soldering to the supply circuit 5.
- the radiating elements 1 and 2 are made from folded sheets. Compared to PCB technology, this solution allows, for example, to exploit more efficiently the available space by developing the radiating elements three-dimensionally, and in many cases allows to optimize, i.e. to reduce, the production cost of the radiating elements themselves.
- the supply circuit 5 is realized on the same side of the radiating elements 1 and 2 always using for example a microstrip.
- two connection points to the grounding plane 4 have been added to the radiating elements 1 and 2, indicated by the reference numbers 12 and 13 respectively.
- the dielectric support 7 is positioned directly over the grounding element 4, i.e. it is formed by one single dieletric substantially planar area or by two separated planar areas laid within the grounding element 4; in this embodiment, the radiating elements 1 and 2 with their respective metal connectors or connecting branches 8 and 9 are shaped like in figure 3 and are positioned over the dielectric area (or over the respective dieletric areas) and connected to the supply circuit 5 which is placed on the opposite face of the support 3, as shown in figure 4 .
- the antenna 100 it is possible to use radiating elements differently configured, as well as a larger number of radiating elements.
- a third radiating element 20 spaced from the first radiating element 1 of a predetermined second distance D2, and spaced from the second radiating element 2 of a predetermined third distance D3.
- Said third radiating element 20 may be suitably arranged to realize a triangular configuration, as for example illustrated in figure 2 , or may be arranged aligned with the two radiating elements 1 and 2 so as to form a linear configuration.
- the supply circuit 5 is connected to and is suitable for supplying also the third radiating element 20 with the feed signal S i to be radiated.
- the supply circuit 5 is configured so that the signal to be radiated S i fed at the input of the third radiating element 20 is time-shifted by a second predefined value with respect to the signal fed at the input of the first radiating element 1 and by a third predefined value with respect to the signal fed at the input of the second radiating element 2.
- the values indicated for the electrical distance "d” and the phase shift between the first radiating element 1 and the second radiating element 2 are applicable to each pair of radiating elements, and therefore in the case of the third radiating element 20 to the pair first-third radiating elements 1 and 20, and respectively to the pair second-third radiating elements 2 and 20.
- each of the physical distances D1, D2 and D3 between pairs of elements is illustrated measured between two nearest surfaces facing each other; alternatively, it is possible to define each distance in another way, for example in the case of radiating elements of symmetrical shape, by calculating it as the distance between the respective axes of symmetry, or in another way still suitable for sizing the antenna according to the invention.
- the antenna 100 comprises for example a housing made of dielectric material, schematically illustrated only in Figure 2 by the reference number 50.
- Such housing 50 allows to further deform and in a controlled manner the overall radiation pattern.
- the directional antenna 100 allows to fulfill the predetermined aim as it allows to obtain a control of the radiation pattern significantly improved compared to known solutions, and in particular to expand to the maximum the azimuthal angle of coverage that with the known solutions does not reach three quarters of the angle circle, obtaining a greater coverage of the intermediate angles transversal to the ideal axis that joins the direction of the maximum radiation to the direction of the minimum.
- Figures 6 , 7 and 8 An example to this end is illustrated in Figures 6 , 7 and 8 , where the results shown are obtained by means of the embodiment of the antenna 100 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 .
- these results were obtained by imposing a phase shift of 60° and a physical distance D1 of about 12.7mm, consequently sizing the length of the suppy circuit 5 according to the previously indicated equation.
- the figures 6 and 7 refer respectively to the irradiation diagram on the horizontal and vertical planes; with the definition of horizontal and vertical planes is meant, for example, those illustrated in figures 9 and 10 where are highlighted the sectors, angle ⁇ for the horizontal and angle ⁇ for the vertical, in which is radiated most of the power.
- Figure 8 also shows the reflection coefficient obtained for the antenna 100 taken as an example.
- the antenna 100 thus conceived also allows to guarantee a greater bandwidth thanks to the particular feeding technique, allowing, if necessary, to use the same antenna also for transmissions in bands close to the one allocated to V2X communication, such as the WiFi band.
- the antenna 100 according to the invention can be used in principle in any type of vehicle, both road and rail, and can be easily installed both in new vehicles and, if desired, in vehicles already in use. Therefore, a further object of the present invention relates to a vehicle characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one directional antenna 100 according to what has been described above, and more particularly as defined in the appended claims.
- the device 30 or the housing 50 could be used in all or only in some of the embodiments disclosed.
- the shape of the described components or portions thereof may be suitably modified so long as it is compatible with the purpose and functionalities for which such components were conceived within the scope of the present invention.
- the radiating elements 1, 2 and 20, and/or the supply circuit 5 or part thereof may be made by metallization on dielectric materials, for example, plastics; such radiating elements may be shaped differently with respect to what illustrated in the examples and may be arranged in a position other than the substantially vertical position shown in the accompanying figures; the supply circuit 5 may have at least partially a path curved or mixed; there may be a single grounding element 4 for all the radiating elements, or one ground element may be used for each radiating element used, and the groundin elements may be electrically connected or not connected to each other; each ground element may be constituted by an element having not necessarily a planar development; the housing of dielectric material 50 may be replaced by bulky mechanical components, i.e. of dimensions comparable or larger than those of the radiating elements; et cetera.
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Abstract
- a first radiating element (1) and a second radiating element (2) arranged spaced apart from each other at a predetermined first distance (D1);
- a supply circuit (5) which is connected to and is adapted to supply said first and second radiating elements (1, 2) with a feeding signal to be radiated, wherein said supply circuit (5) comprises at least one conducting element (5a) having a first end (5b) connected to the first radiating element (1) and a second end (5c) connected to the second radiating element (2), said at least one conducting element (5a) having, with reference to the nominal operating frequency of the antenna (100), a predefined electrical length (d) measured between said first and second ends (5b, 5c) which is comprised between one fifth of a wave and three quarters of a wave, said supply circuit (5) being configured so that the signal fed in input into the first radiant element (1) is out of phase in time with respect to the signal fed in input into the second radiant element (2) by a first value comprised between thirty and one hundred and twenty sexagesimal degrees.
Description
- The present invention relates in general to a directional antenna, in particular for a vehicle, and to a vehicle comprising such directional antenna.
- The directional antenna according to the present invention is especially suitable for use in vehicles, in particular to realize V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communications preferably operating at frequencies around 5.9Ghz, and will be described in the following making reference to such applications without intending to limit in any way the possible fields of application.
- As is well known, over recent years there has seen the commercialization of increasingly connected vehicles that integrate many services ranging from entertainment, for example radio and/or television, to driver assistance, typically via satellite navigation systems.
- In this regard, in the field of telecommunications, in relation to vehicles it is indicated with V2V (Vehicle to Vehicle) the communication between vehicles, with V2I (Vehicle to Infrastructure) the communication between vehicles and infrastructure, and with V2P (Vehicle to Pedestrian) the communication between vehicles and pedestrians, and with the acronym V2X it is indicated the communication between a vehicle and everything that can be relevant.
- For this type of V2X communications, which can take place according to different standards (IEEE802.11p or CV2X), an international frequency band around 5.9 GHz has been allocated with small differences depending on the standardization body.
- As a consequence, it is necessary to install on modern vehicles antennas capable of operating at this frequency.
- Moreover, given the possible use of V2X communications for applications also related to security, it is often necessary that the antennas on the vehicle have a range of coverage as wide and adequate as possible.
- This coverage can be obtained either with a single antenna or by placing several antennas in different positions of the vehicle. In fact, since the vehicle itself is composed mainly of metal parts that by their nature interact with the electromagnetic waves emitted by the antenna, depending on the position of an antenna, the radiation pattern can be differently deformed.
- For example, depending on the curvature of the roof, an antenna positioned towards the rear of a car may not be able to radiate electromagnetic power towards the front of the car itself and to compensate for this effect it is often necessary to install a second antenna on the front of the car, for example at the rear-view mirrors.
- To make the antennas positioned in different points of the vehicle more efficient, it is possible to manipulate the radiation pattern of the antennas to avoid dispersing electromagnetic power in directions not of interest, or, in the case of an antenna installed inside the car in positions such as the rearview mirror, to make sure to correctly transmit the electromagnetic field towards the outside of the vehicle (forward and towards the sides) where it is more likely there are devices with which to exchange communications, and not towards its occupants (rear).
- In this regard, on the market there are antennas that, in order to obtain the desired deformation of the radiation pattern, use a single radiating element combined with the directing effect of a screen of conductive material placed at a controlled distance from the radiating element itself.
- The solutions nowadays known, while achieving appreciable results, are susceptible of further improvements.
- For example, the use of several antennas installed in different positions of a vehicle negatively affects the costs of production and installation.
- On the other hand, an antenna coupled to a shield presents a control of the radiation pattern not entirely optimal, in particular with regard to the coverage of intermediate angles transversal to the ideal axis that joins the direction of the maximum radiation to the direction of the minimum.
- Therefore, a main aim of the present invention is to provide a directional antenna, in particular for V2X type communications, which, compared to known solutions, enables improving the control of the radiation pattern and is easy to be realized.
- Within this main aim, another scope of the present invention is to provide a directional antenna that allows ensuring a greater bandwidth with respect to known solutions, in particular greater than those using a shielded antenna.
- A further scope of the present invention is to provide a solution for a directional antenna that is easy to implement and relatively inexpensive, and that can be easily installed in the most varied types of vehicles both of road type, such as cars, buses, commercial vehicles of various types, and railway type, such as trams, trains, et cetera.
- This main aim, as well as the aforementioned additional scopes and others that will result more from the following description, are achieved by a directional antenna whose characteristics are defined in
claim 1. - This main aim, as well as the aforementioned additional scopes, are also achieved by a
vehicle according claim 10. - Particular embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, the contents of which are intended to form an integral part of this description.
- Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description, made by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
Figure 1 schematically illustrates a possible embodiment of a directional antenna according to the present invention; -
Figure 2 schematically illustrates another possible embodiment of the antenna offigure 1 ; -
Figures 3 and4 schematically illustrate another possible embodiment of a directional antenna according to the present invention; -
Figure 5 schematically illustrates a further embodiment a directional antenna according to the present invention; -
Figure 6 shows the horizontal radiation pattern obtained using the antenna offigures 3 and4 ; -
Figure 7 shows the vertical radiation pattern obtained using the antenna offigures 3 and4 ; -
Figure 8 shows the reflection coefficient obtained using the antenna offigures 3 and4 ; -
Figure 9 illustrates a possible horizontal radiation angle θ obtainable using a directional antenna according to the invention positioned at the front of a vehicle; -
Figure 10 illustrates a possible vertical radiation angle ϕ obtainable using a directional antenna according to the invention positioned at the front of a vehicle. - It should be noted that in the detailed description that follows, identical or similar components, either from a structural and/or functional point of view, have the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the present disclosure.
- It should also be noted that in order to clearly and concisely describe the present invention, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the description may be shown in somewhat schematic form.
- Further, when the term "adapted" or "arranged" or "configured" or "shaped", or a similar term is used herein while referring to any component as a whole, or to any part of a component, or to a combination of components, it has to be understood that it means and encompasses correspondingly either the structure, and/or configuration and/or form and/or positioning.
- In addition, when the term "substantial" or "substantially" is used herein, it has to be understood as encompassing an actual variation of plus or
minus 5% with respect to an indicated reference value or position, and when the terms transversal or transversally are hereby used, they have to be understood as encompassing a direction non-parallel to the reference part(s) or direction(s)/axis they refer to, and perpendicularity has to be considered a specific case of transverse direction. - Finally, in the following description and claims, the numeral ordinals first, second, et cetera, will be used only for the sake of clarity of description and in no way they should be understood as limiting for whatsoever reason; in particular, the indication for example of a "first value..." or of a "first distance" does not imply necessarily the presence or strict need that there is a further "second distance" or "second value" or vice versa, unless such presence is clearly evident for the correct functioning of the embodiments described, nor that the order should be exactly the one described with reference to the illustrated exemplary embodiments.
-
Figures 1-5 schematically illustrate a possible embodiment of a directional antenna according to the invention, indicated globally by thereference number 100. - The
antenna 100 according to the invention comprises a plurality of radiating elements, i.e. at least two, and a supply circuit which is connected to the radiating elements and is suitable for feeding them appropriately with a feed signal to be radiated. - In particular, according to the realization embdiments that will result more in detail from the following description, said first and second radiating elements and said supply circuit are configured and operatively connected among them so as to generate a combined irradiation pattern which presents, on a horizontal plane, a signal reduction in a selected direction substantially equal to one quarter of a round angle and an increase distributed in a substantially uniform manner in the remaining three quarters of the round angle.
- In practice, the
antenna 100 according to the invention allows, once the directions where the maximum and minimum of the irradiated signal is desired have been selected, for example forward and respectively backward relative to a vehicle on which theantenna 100 is installed, to widen the irradiated beam as much as possible towards the intermediate directions. - More in details, as for example illustrated in the embodiments of
figures 1 ,3 ,4 and5 , theantenna 100 comprises at least: - a first radiating
element 1 and a second radiatingelement 2 arranged spaced apart from each other at a predetermined first distance D1; and - a supply circuit or
network 5 which is connected to and is suitable to supply said first and secondradiating elements - In particular, the
supply circuit 5 is configured so that the signal to be radiated fed in input to the first radiatingelement 1 is offset in time by a first predefined value Δφ with respect to the same signal to be radiated fed in input to the secondradiating element 2. - In a possible embodiment of the
directional antenna 100 according to the invention, thesupply circuit 5 is configured so that the signal fed in input into the firstradiant element 1 is out of phase in time with respect to the signal fed in input into the secondradiant element 2 by a first value comprised between thirty and one-hundred-and-twenty sexagesimal degrees. - In particular, according to a possible embodiment, the
supply circuit 5 is conveniently configured so that the signal fed in input into the firstradiant element 1 is out of phase in time with respect to the signal fed in input into the secondradiant element 2 of a first value comprised between fifty and seventy sexagesimal degrees, preferably equal to sixty sexagesimal degrees. - Usefully, according to a possible embodiment illustrated in the figures, the
supply circuit 5 comprises at least one conductingelement 5a having afirst end 5b connected to the firstradiating element 1 and asecond end 5c connected to the second radiatingelement 2, said at least one conductingelement 5a having, with reference to the nominal operating frequency of theantenna 100, a predefined electrical length "d" measured between said first andsecond ends - In practice, the
supply circuit 5 carries the electromagnetic waves in input/output at aconnection 6, for example from/to the electronics of a vehicle on which theantenna 100 is installed, indicated in thefigures 9 and10 by thereference number 200. In particular, in the case of a wave coming from theinput connetion 6 of theantenna 100 and traveling through thesupply network 5, thanks to the combination of the appropriately sized physical distance D1 between the tworadiating elements supply circuit 5, and in particular of itspart 5a included between the tworadiating elements radiating element 1, and then the most distant one, that is the secondradiating element 2, with a phase difference defined by the following equation:radiating element 1 and the signal of the same wave fed in input to the secondradiating element 2, "d" is the electrical length of the part of the supply network orcircuit 5 comprised between the two ends connected respectively to the first and secondradiating elements supply circuit 5. - In one possible embodiment, the predefined electrical length "d" is comprised between one fifth of a wave and three quarters of a wave, of the signal Si carried by the
circuit 5. - More in particular, according to a possible embodiment, the predefined electrical length "d" is comprised between two fifths of a wave and three fifths of a wave, more preferably it is equal to one half of a wave.
- In the embodiments illustrated in
Figures 3-4 and5 , theconductor element 5a is formed by a broken line having three substantially straight sections forming an overall U- or C-shaped path, wherein the electrical distance is substantially given by the sum of the electrical lengths of the three rectilinear sections di, d2, d3. - In practice, by imposing a different phase to the
radiating elements figures 7 and8 , which can be suitably calibrated according to the needs. - Clearly, the
supply circuit 5, and in particular itspart 5a that interconnects the tworadiating elements antenna 100. - For example, in a possible embodiment, the
supply circuit 5 comprises at least one conductingelement 5a having afirst end 5b connected to the firstradiating element 1, asecond end 5c connected to the second radiatingelement 2, and a supporting element, for example a strip made of a dielectric material, which is mechanically connected at least to said conductingelement 5a and acts as a mechanical support for the same, also contributing to obtain the desired phase shift Δφ. - This support element can be shaped for example replicating the shape and following the physical path of the
supply circuit 5 or only of itspart 5a, or even have a different shape as long as suitable to support thecircuit 5 itself, and in particular itspart 5a, and to contribute to the achievement of the desired phase shift Δφ. - For example, if the
signal supply circuit 5 is realized by means of a microstrip, the support element may be realized by a body made of a dielectric material that replicates at least in part the path of the microstrip, in particular with respect to at least itspart 5a. If instead thesignal supply circuit 5, and in particular at least itspart 5a, is made for example by a coaxial cable, then the cable can also be mechanically released from the support that holds the radiating elements and have as its only points of contact theends - In a further possible embodiment of the
directional antenna 100 according to the invention, thesupply circuit 5 comprises at least one lumped constants component (altenrative defined as component with concentrated constants) disposed between said first and secondradiating elements figure 2 by thedashed box 30, may be consitituted for example by a capacitor or an inductance. - In particular, according to this embodiment, the
supply circuit 5, or at least its part interposed between and interconnecting the tworadiating elements radiating elements radiating elements supply network 5 itself. - In a possible embodiment, and as illustrated in the examples of
Figures 1-5 , thedirectional antenna 100 further comprises asupport element 3 on which said first and secondradiating elements supply circuit 5 are at least partially arranged or connected to. - In the illustrated examples, said
support element 3 has a substantially planar development and theradiating elements supply circuit 5 may be arranged on opposite faces of saidplanar element 3, as in the examplary embodiment illustrated byfigures 3 and4 , or on the same face as illustrated in the examplary embodiments offigures 1 ,2 and5 . - In a possible embodiment, one or more of said
power supply circuit 5, and first and secondradiating elements support element 3 or formed by thesupport element 3 itself. - In particular, depending on the applications, such grounding element can be formed then by the
same support element 3 which in this case is substantially made of conductive material. - Alternatively, the
support member 3 may be made of a dielectric material and the grounding element comprises at least one conductive surface, that covers at least partially one face of the support member 3 (seeFigure 5 ), or is arranged on both faces of thesupport member 3 so as to at cover least partially them (seeFigures 3 and4 ). - In the embodiments illustrated, each grounding element comprises a conducting foil made of copper having a substantially planar development and indicated in
Figures 3-5 by thereference number 4. - This
grounding element 4 is sized to have a surface suitably greater than that of the radiating elements so as to modify, typically for lowering or for raising, the elevation of the maximum of the radiated signal illustrated infigure 7 . - In particular, in the examplary embodiment of
Figures 3 and4 , the radiatingelements dielectric support 7. - The shape and size of the copper traces forming the two radiating
elements antenna 100 around the operating frequency, for example around 5.9GHz. Furthermore, in order to improve the adaptation of the antenna, in such examplary embodiment acorresponding branch 8 and respectively 9 is provided for each radiatingelement branches common grounding element 4. - In turn, the
supply circuit 5 is realized in this example on the face of thesupport element 3 opposite to that where there are the radiatingelements circuit 5 may comprise a waveguide known as a microstrip. Such a waveguide is formed by a copper trace and a grounding element divided by a dielectric thickness. The width of the copper trace is appropriately sized to have, for example, a characteristic impedance of the microstrip equal to 50Ω. Narrowed or widenedparts 11 of the microstrip may be made to improve the overall adaptation of theantenna 100. To secure theradiating elements support element 3, holes 10 may be drilled inside which the PCBs of the radiatingelements supply circuit 5. - In the example shown in
Figure 5 , the radiatingelements supply circuit 5 is realized on the same side of the radiatingelements antenna 100, two connection points to thegrounding plane 4 have been added to theradiating elements reference numbers - In yet a further embodiment, similar to that of
figures 3 and4 (and not illustrated in details in the figures), thedielectric support 7 is positioned directly over thegrounding element 4, i.e. it is formed by one single dieletric substantially planar area or by two separated planar areas laid within thegrounding element 4; in this embodiment, the radiatingelements branches figure 3 and are positioned over the dielectric area (or over the respective dieletric areas) and connected to thesupply circuit 5 which is placed on the opposite face of thesupport 3, as shown infigure 4 . - Clearly, depending on the applications, in the
antenna 100 according to the invention it is possible to use radiating elements differently configured, as well as a larger number of radiating elements. - For example, as schematically illustrated in the examplary embodiment of
figure 2 , there is foreseen the use of at least athird radiating element 20 spaced from thefirst radiating element 1 of a predetermined second distance D2, and spaced from thesecond radiating element 2 of a predetermined third distance D3. Said third radiatingelement 20 may be suitably arranged to realize a triangular configuration, as for example illustrated infigure 2 , or may be arranged aligned with the two radiatingelements - In turn, the
supply circuit 5 is connected to and is suitable for supplying also thethird radiating element 20 with the feed signal Si to be radiated. In particular, thesupply circuit 5 is configured so that the signal to be radiated Si fed at the input of thethird radiating element 20 is time-shifted by a second predefined value with respect to the signal fed at the input of thefirst radiating element 1 and by a third predefined value with respect to the signal fed at the input of thesecond radiating element 2. - What has been previously described regarding the embodiments with only the two
radiant elements radiant element 20, as well as for any further radiant element. - In particular, the values indicated for the electrical distance "d" and the phase shift between the
first radiating element 1 and thesecond radiating element 2, are applicable to each pair of radiating elements, and therefore in the case of thethird radiating element 20 to the pair first-third radiating elements third radiating elements - Furthermore, in the illustrated examples, each of the physical distances D1, D2 and D3 between pairs of elements is illustrated measured between two nearest surfaces facing each other; alternatively, it is possible to define each distance in another way, for example in the case of radiating elements of symmetrical shape, by calculating it as the distance between the respective axes of symmetry, or in another way still suitable for sizing the antenna according to the invention.
- In a further possible embodiment, the
antenna 100 comprises for example a housing made of dielectric material, schematically illustrated only inFigure 2 by thereference number 50.Such housing 50 allows to further deform and in a controlled manner the overall radiation pattern. - In practice, it has been ascertained that the
directional antenna 100 according to the invention allows to fulfill the predetermined aim as it allows to obtain a control of the radiation pattern significantly improved compared to known solutions, and in particular to expand to the maximum the azimuthal angle of coverage that with the known solutions does not reach three quarters of the angle circle, obtaining a greater coverage of the intermediate angles transversal to the ideal axis that joins the direction of the maximum radiation to the direction of the minimum. - An example to this end is illustrated in
Figures 6 ,7 and8 , where the results shown are obtained by means of the embodiment of theantenna 100 illustrated inFigures 3 and4 . In particular, these results were obtained by imposing a phase shift of 60° and a physical distance D1 of about 12.7mm, consequently sizing the length of thesuppy circuit 5 according to the previously indicated equation. In particular, thefigures 6 and7 refer respectively to the irradiation diagram on the horizontal and vertical planes; with the definition of horizontal and vertical planes is meant, for example, those illustrated infigures 9 and10 where are highlighted the sectors, angle θ for the horizontal and angle ϕ for the vertical, in which is radiated most of the power.Figure 8 also shows the reflection coefficient obtained for theantenna 100 taken as an example. - The
antenna 100 thus conceived also allows to guarantee a greater bandwidth thanks to the particular feeding technique, allowing, if necessary, to use the same antenna also for transmissions in bands close to the one allocated to V2X communication, such as the WiFi band. - To achieve this, as previously illustrated, there are used components of easy construction and assembly and at low cost, which allow to properly calibrate the operation of the antenna itself, in particular playing appropriately on the mutual distance between the radiating elements and the electrical length of the part of the supply circuit or network that interconnects them and feeds them with the signal to be radiated.
- With further advantage, the
antenna 100 according to the invention can be used in principle in any type of vehicle, both road and rail, and can be easily installed both in new vehicles and, if desired, in vehicles already in use. Therefore, a further object of the present invention relates to a vehicle characterized by the fact that it comprises at least onedirectional antenna 100 according to what has been described above, and more particularly as defined in the appended claims. - Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the embodiments and details of realization may be widely varied with respect to what has been described and illustrated by way of preferred but not limiting examples only, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the present invention as defined in particular by the appended claims. For example, the previously described embodiments can be combined, even partially, by selecting for this purpose one or more of the features described with reference to a possible embodiment and using, where useful or possible each feature selected in one of the other described embodiments.
- For example, the
device 30 or thehousing 50 could be used in all or only in some of the embodiments disclosed. The shape of the described components or portions thereof may be suitably modified so long as it is compatible with the purpose and functionalities for which such components were conceived within the scope of the present invention. For example, the radiatingelements supply circuit 5 or part thereof may be made by metallization on dielectric materials, for example, plastics; such radiating elements may be shaped differently with respect to what illustrated in the examples and may be arranged in a position other than the substantially vertical position shown in the accompanying figures; thesupply circuit 5 may have at least partially a path curved or mixed; there may be asingle grounding element 4 for all the radiating elements, or one ground element may be used for each radiating element used, and the groundin elements may be electrically connected or not connected to each other; each ground element may be constituted by an element having not necessarily a planar development; the housing ofdielectric material 50 may be replaced by bulky mechanical components, i.e. of dimensions comparable or larger than those of the radiating elements; et cetera.
Claims (10)
- Directional antenna (100), characterized in that it comprises at least:- a first radiating element (1) and a second radiating element (2) arranged spaced apart from each other at a predetermined first distance (D1);- a supply circuit (5) which is connected to and is adapted to supply said first and second radiating elements (1, 2) with a feeding signal to be radiated, wherein said supply circuit (5) comprises at least one conducting element (5a) having a first end (5b) connected to the first radiating element (1) and a second end (5c) connected to the second radiating element (2), said at least one conducting element (5a) having, with reference to the nominal operating frequency of the antenna (100), a predefined electrical length (d) measured between said first and second ends (5b, 5c) which is comprised between one fifth of a wave and three quarters of a wave, said supply circuit (5) being configured so that the signal fed in input into the first radiant element (1) is out of phase in time with respect to the signal fed in input into the second radiant element (2) by a first value comprised between thirty and one hundred and twenty sexagesimal degrees.
- Directional antenna (100) according to claim 1, wherein said first and second radiating elements (1, 2) and said supply circuit (5) are configured and operatively connected among them so as to generate a combined irradiation pattern which presents, on a horizontal plane, a signal reduction in a selected direction substantially equal to one quarter of a round angle and an increase distributed in a substantially uniform manner in the remaining three quarters of the round angle.
- Directional antenna (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said supply circuit (5) comprises a support element mechanically connected at least to said conducting element (5a).
- Directional antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said supply circuit (5) comprises at least one lumped constants component (30) arranged between said first and second radiating elements (1, 2).
- Directional antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said predefined electrical length (d) is comprised between two fifths of a wave and three fifths of a wave.
- Directional antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said supply circuit (5) is configured so that the signal fed in input into the first radiant element (1) is out of phase in time with respect to the signal fed in input into the second radiant element (2) of a first value comprised between fifty and seventy sexagesimal degrees.
- Directional antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one support element (3) on which said first and second radiating elements (1, 2) and said supply circuit (5) are at least partially arranged or connected to.
- Directional antenna (100) according to claim 7, wherein one or more of said supply circuit (5), first and second radiating elements (1, 2) comprises a metal conductor connected to a grounding element (4) fixed to the support element (3) or constituted by the support element (3) itself.
- Directional antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a third radiating element (20) arranged spaced apart from said first radiating element (1) at a predetermined second distance (D2) and from said second radiating element (2) at a predetermined third distance (D3), and in which said supply circuit (5) is connected to and is adapted to supply said third radiating element (20) with said feeding signal to be radiated, in which said supply circuit (5) is configured in such a way that the signal to be radiated fed in input into the third radiant element (20) is out of phase in time by a second predefined value with respect to the signal fed in input into the first radiant element (1) and by a third predefined value with respect to the signal fed in input into the second radiant element (2).
- Vehicle (200) characterized in that it comprises at least one directional antenna (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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IT102021000000887A IT202100000887A1 (en) | 2021-01-19 | 2021-01-19 | BEAMING ANTENNA, AND VEHICLE INCLUDING SUCH BEAMING ANTENNA |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP4040598A1 true EP4040598A1 (en) | 2022-08-10 |
Family
ID=75252749
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP22151929.1A Pending EP4040598A1 (en) | 2021-01-19 | 2022-01-18 | Directional antenna, and vehicle comprising such directional antenna |
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EP (1) | EP4040598A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN114824751A (en) |
IT (1) | IT202100000887A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5367307A (en) * | 1990-10-03 | 1994-11-22 | Critt & Universite' De Rennes 1 | Microwave plate antenna printed on a substrate |
EP2058900A1 (en) * | 2007-04-10 | 2009-05-13 | NEC Corporation | Multibeam antenna |
US20100238067A1 (en) * | 2009-03-18 | 2010-09-23 | Denso Corporation | Array antenna and radar apparatus |
US20130234881A1 (en) * | 2010-09-14 | 2013-09-12 | Thomas Binzer | Radar sensor for motor vehicles, especially lca sensor |
US20130321196A1 (en) * | 2010-12-29 | 2013-12-05 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Radar sensor for motor vehicles |
-
2021
- 2021-01-19 IT IT102021000000887A patent/IT202100000887A1/en unknown
-
2022
- 2022-01-18 EP EP22151929.1A patent/EP4040598A1/en active Pending
- 2022-01-19 CN CN202210059910.1A patent/CN114824751A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5367307A (en) * | 1990-10-03 | 1994-11-22 | Critt & Universite' De Rennes 1 | Microwave plate antenna printed on a substrate |
EP2058900A1 (en) * | 2007-04-10 | 2009-05-13 | NEC Corporation | Multibeam antenna |
US20100238067A1 (en) * | 2009-03-18 | 2010-09-23 | Denso Corporation | Array antenna and radar apparatus |
US20130234881A1 (en) * | 2010-09-14 | 2013-09-12 | Thomas Binzer | Radar sensor for motor vehicles, especially lca sensor |
US20130321196A1 (en) * | 2010-12-29 | 2013-12-05 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Radar sensor for motor vehicles |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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IT202100000887A1 (en) | 2022-07-19 |
CN114824751A (en) | 2022-07-29 |
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