EP4046241B1 - Grupenantennen - Google Patents

Grupenantennen Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4046241B1
EP4046241B1 EP20793760.8A EP20793760A EP4046241B1 EP 4046241 B1 EP4046241 B1 EP 4046241B1 EP 20793760 A EP20793760 A EP 20793760A EP 4046241 B1 EP4046241 B1 EP 4046241B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
line
delay
excitation
eij
array antenna
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP20793760.8A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP4046241A1 (de
Inventor
Juan Duran
Cédric MARTEL
Gaëtan PRIGENT
Olivier Pascal
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Office National dEtudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales ONERA
Original Assignee
Office National dEtudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales ONERA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Office National dEtudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales ONERA filed Critical Office National dEtudes et de Recherches Aerospatiales ONERA
Publication of EP4046241A1 publication Critical patent/EP4046241A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP4046241B1 publication Critical patent/EP4046241B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
    • H01Q13/00—Waveguide horns or mouths; Slot antennas; Leaky-waveguide antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/20—Non-resonant leaky-waveguide or transmission-line antennas; Equivalent structures causing radiation along the transmission path of a guided wave
    • H01Q13/206—Microstrip transmission line antennas
    • 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
    • H01Q21/061—Two dimensional planar arrays
    • H01Q21/065—Patch antenna array
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01Q3/30—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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array
    • H01Q3/34—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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means
    • H01Q3/36—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 varying the relative phase between the radiating elements of an array by electrical means with variable phase-shifters
    • 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
    • H01Q1/28—Adaptation for use in or on aircraft, missiles, satellites, or balloons

Definitions

  • the present description relates to an array antenna, which can be particularly adapted to establish a radio link in at least one of the Ku and Ka frequency bands, between a mobile carrier and a geostationary satellite.
  • the mobile carrier may be a land vehicle, a maritime vessel or an aircraft, in particular an airplane or a drone.
  • SATCOM On-The-Move a radio-type communication link between a mobile carrier and a geostationary satellite.
  • the mobile carrier may be a land vehicle, a maritime vessel or an aircraft, in particular an airplane or a drone.
  • a system can provide an internet connection to passengers of the carrier, including access to messaging services, television services, etc.
  • military applications it can provide a continuous communications link between an aircraft and troops on the ground, or between an aircraft and an operational mission control station.
  • frequency bands Ku, between 12 GHz (gigahertz) 18 GHz, and Ka, between 26.5 GHz and 40 GHz, for such systems provides communication link rates which are higher, compared to other frequency bands previously used.
  • the Ku and Ka frequency bands require that the antennas which are used on board the carriers have sufficiently high gains, in particular gain values which are greater than 30 dBi, where dBi denotes the unit of gain, in decibels per compared to an antenna which would radiate uniformly in all directions of space, or “decibels relative to isotropic” in English.
  • the carrier which is equipped with the antenna being mobile, it is necessary for the antenna to be able to produce an azimuth shift from 0° (degree) to 360°, and a sufficiently significant elevation shift, for example from 0 ° to 60°.
  • Such offsets are measured relative to a reference direction of the antenna which can be intended to be substantially parallel to the vertical direction of the location where the carrier, the azimuth relating to a rotation around the reference direction, and the elevation an angle which is measured from this reference direction in a meridian plane.
  • the gain of the antenna must have different values depending on the polarization, with a rejection rate which is sufficiently high for the polarization orthogonal to that used to make a communication link.
  • the relevant radiation polarizations may be, for example, the right and left circular polarizations, or two linear polarizations which are oriented perpendicular to each other.
  • the thickness of the antenna is an additional constraint, in particular when the antenna is intended to be fixed on the fuselage of an aircraft, in order to reduce air flow disturbances that can cause the antenna.
  • thickness values that are less than a few centimeters are required for such applications on board an aircraft.
  • antennas with entirely mechanical shifting including antennas with mixed shifting, that is to say partially by orientation movement and partially by network effect with variable phase shift, antennas with a two-dimensional array of radiating elements, antennas with an array of reflecting elements, antennas with reconfigurable materials, for example based on ferrites or liquid crystals, etc.
  • all these antennas only partially meet all the existing constraints, including constraints of fragility, in particular when the antenna has moving parts, constraints of bulk, constraints of gain which is sufficiently high, constraints cost, operating temperature constraints, etc.
  • EP3 010 086 B1 discloses an antenna array which includes radiating element lines, delay lines and a control unit.
  • an aim of the present invention is to propose a new antenna which satisfies at least one of the aforementioned constraints to an improved extent, or which provides a compromise between certain of these constraints which is improved compared to antennas existing.
  • the invention may aim to propose such an antenna which is suitable for providing communication links radio in the Ku and/or Ka frequency band(s), between a mobile carrier and a geostationary satellite.
  • a first aspect of the invention proposes an array antenna according to claim 1.
  • the control unit is adapted to transmit to the at least one control input of each line pattern, an individual command which determines a value of the delay which is produced by this line pattern for the electromagnetic signal, so that the The control unit determines, via individual commands, a direction of radiation emission by the array antenna.
  • each line pattern comprises at least one delay cell unit, this delay cell unit comprising at least one first capacitor with variable capacitance, and at least one conductive track meander which is combined with a second variable capacitor to produce a variable value of inductance. Then, the line pattern is arranged so that the individual command which is transmitted by the control unit to the control input of this line pattern determines capacitance values of the first and second capacitors.
  • the antenna which is proposed by the invention is of the array antenna type, the direction of transmission or reception of which is selected by the individual command which is transmitted by the control unit to each delay line pattern .
  • the antenna may therefore have no moving part, and may also be particularly thin, in particular with a thickness of a few centimeters or less.
  • an antenna according to the invention can be manufactured using known, reliable and inexpensive technologies, such as printed circuit technologies, or PCB for “printed circuit board” in English.
  • coplanar printed circuit technology where a metallized surface which serves as a ground plane is coplanar with metallized portions which are intended to transmit useful signals, can be used.
  • the absence of reconfigurable materials such as ferrites or liquid crystals, and the absence of moving parts in the antenna ensure that it is functional in a wide temperature range.
  • the architecture of the antenna based on at least one delay line for which the delays which are produced by the line patterns are variable, implements a structure for addressing the electromagnetic signals to the radiating elements which Is simple.
  • the array antenna further comprises a shielding structure which is arranged near the delay line, so as to at least partially obscure the radiation which is produced by the line patterns thereof, without significantly obscuring the emission radiations which are produced by the radiating elements coupled to the line patterns.
  • a shielding structure which is arranged near the delay line, so as to at least partially obscure the radiation which is produced by the line patterns thereof, without significantly obscuring the emission radiations which are produced by the radiating elements coupled to the line patterns.
  • the array antenna may comprise several juxtaposed lines of radiating elements, so as to form a matrix of radiating elements, each line of the radiating elements being associated with at least one delay line which is dedicated to this line of radiating elements so as to form an antenna line separated from the other antenna lines.
  • the network antenna further comprises a phase shifter assembly which is adapted to transmit the same signal to be transmitted to the feed ends of all the delay lines, in accordance with variable phase shift values which are individually assigned to the lines delayed by the control unit.
  • a second aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle which comprises a network antenna conforming to the first aspect of the invention, this network antenna being installed on board the vehicle.
  • a vehicle may be, in particular, a land vehicle, a ship or an aircraft, in particular an airplane, a helicopter or a drone, including a fixed wing drone or a multicopter type drone.
  • microstrip printed circuit technology or “microstrip” in English, can also be used.
  • microstrip printed circuit technology or “microstrip” in English, can also be used.
  • the use of such printed circuit technologies is particularly suitable and economical, other manufacturing technologies can still be used alternatively.
  • the array antenna of the invention is formed from at least one, but preferably several antenna lines which are juxtaposed parallel to each other within a plane of the antenna.
  • Each antenna line is formed from a delay line, the latter consisting of a rectilinear chain of line patterns, all identical within a single delay line and also identical between all lines antenna.
  • the line patterns are arranged in the antenna plane according to a two-dimensional matrix, preferably square, one direction of which is the direction of length of the antenna lines, and the other direction is that of juxtaposition of the antenna lines.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view of such an antenna array structure according to the invention.
  • L1, L2, L3 and L4 designate four delay lines which are neighbors in the antenna array 100
  • M11, M12 and M13 designate three first successive line patterns of the delay line L1, M21, M22 and M23 designate three first successive line patterns of the delay line L2
  • M31, M32 and M33 designate three first successive line patterns of the delay line L3
  • M41, M42 and M43 designate three first successive line patterns of the line delay L4.
  • each delay line may contain 41 line patterns
  • the antenna array 100 may contain 42 delay lines.
  • Each delay line is associated with a line of radiators to form an antenna line, with a separate radiator associated with each line pattern of the delay line.
  • the radiating element Eij is supplied with an excitation signal from the line pattern Mij, where i is an integer index which identifies the delay line, that is to say Li, and j is another integer index which is equal to the order number of the line pattern Mij inside the delay line Li.
  • An excitation link Lij then connects an output side of the line pattern Mij to the element radiating Eij, to transmit to the latter the excitation signal which comes from the line pattern Mij.
  • All the radiating elements Eij can be identical to each other, as can all the excitation connections Lij.
  • the upper part of [ Fig. 2 ] shows a delay cell unit, and the lower part of the same figure shows the electrical diagram which is equivalent to this delay cell unit.
  • M1 and M2 designate two metallized portions which are electrically connected to each other and to an electrical ground of the array antenna 100.
  • the portions M1 and M2 are arranged on opposite sides of metallized portions P1, P2 and P2', while being electrically insulated therefrom.
  • the portions P1, P2 and P2' are intended to transmit an electromagnetic signal between the left and right edges of [ Fig. 2 ], by applying a transmission delay to this signal.
  • the electromagnetic signal propagates along the delay line which is constituted by the sequence of delay cell units.
  • the portion P2' which is on the right edge of the delay cell unit shown extends continuously into the portion P2 which is on the left edge of the following delay cell unit in the line direction L.
  • the portion P2' extends continuously to the left edge of a segment of the delay line which is dedicated to the connection of one of the excitation links to the output of the delay cell unit shown.
  • the insulation intervals between the portions M1, M2 on the one hand and the portions P1, P2 on the other hand, as well as the insulation interval between the portions P1 and P2, as well as that between the portions P1 and P2', with the shape of these intervals determine the electrical characteristics of the delay cell unit, and consequently the value of the delay produced by this delay cell unit when it transmits the electromagnetic signal from its left edge to its right edge. More precisely, the width S of the insulation interval between each of the portions P1 and P2 on the one hand and each of the portions M1 and M2 on the other hand, and the track width W, determine the characteristic impedance of sections of transmission lines T of the delay cell unit.
  • the corresponding lengths of insulation intervals between the portions M1/M2 and P1/P2, or P1/P2' determine the phase variations to be produced equivalently by the transmission line sections T, and consequently the values of length to be assigned to these sections T. Furthermore, the width g of the insulation intervals between the portions P1 and P2/P2', as well as their length W, determine the capacitance values C se . In addition, the length I s of meanders of the portion P1 projecting into the portions M1, M2, and the width S s of the insulation interval in these meanders, determine an inductance value L sh .
  • the short-circuit connections m1 and m2 ensure continuity of electrical mass function to the metallized portions M1 and M2 through the meanders which constitute the inductance L sh .
  • varactors V1 and V2 can be arranged to create bridges between the portions P1 and P2/P2'.
  • varactors V3 and V4 make it possible to make the value of the inductance L sh variable and controllable.
  • their connections and control devices are not shown.
  • the value of the capacitances C se of a delay cell unit which is thus constituted can be varied by a control unit 1, denoted CTRL in [ Fig.
  • each CRLH cell in the direction L can be 2.7 mm (millimeter), for example.
  • the maximum delay which is necessary between the excitation signals which are transmitted to two successive radiating elements Eij and Ei j+1 can be obtained from four CRLH cells as described previously.
  • These four delay cell units are arranged in series within the delay line Li, to form the line pattern Mij as considered above.
  • Such a line pattern Mij which consists of several delay cell units can also be called a macrocell of the delay line. Only one of the delay cell units of each line pattern is coupled to a radiator through the excitation line which is dedicated to that line pattern.
  • a condition of homogeneity of each delay line is that the length of each unit of delay cell in this delay line is less than a quarter of the wavelength of the emitted radiation. Such a condition is verified for the digital values of the example described, the wavelength associated with the frequency of 14 GHz being equal to 21.4 mm.
  • FIG. 3a shows another printed circuit of coplanar technology, which constitutes the radiating element Eij and the excitation connection Lij.
  • the radiating element Eij it can be constituted by a metallized pellet, or “pad” in English, for example in the shape of a disc 3 mm in diameter.
  • the diameter of the metallized pellet can be between 0.25 ⁇ /n and 0.50 ⁇ /n, where ⁇ designates the wavelength of the emitted radiation, and n is the refractive index of the dielectric material of the printed circuit.
  • the value of 3 mm for the diameter of the metallized pellet corresponds to 0.347 ⁇ ⁇ /n.
  • the metallized pellet can also be in the shape of a square, for example with a side of 3 mm again for the value of 14 GHz of the frequency of the emitted radiation.
  • the metallized portions Q1 and Q2 are arranged in series, the portion Q2 being intermediate between the portion Q1 and the radiating element Eij and continues with the latter, to constitute the excitation connection Lij.
  • the metallized portion M laterally surrounds the portions Q1 and Q2.
  • the two printed circuits of [ Fig. 2 ] And [ Fig. 3a ] can be rotated in the same direction, so that the printed circuit substrate of [ Fig. 3a ] is intermediate between its metallized portions and those of the printed circuit of [ Fig. 2 ]. Then the conductive connection X 1 connects the metallized portion Q1 to the metallized portion P2'.
  • the conductive connections X 2 and X 5 connect the metallized portion M to the metallized portion M1, and the conductive connections X 3 and Another varactor, designated by V5, can connect the metallized portions Q1 and Q2 to each other within the excitation connection Lij to adjust an amplitude of the excitation signal which is transmitted from the line pattern Mij to the radiating element Eij.
  • Each V5 varactor has an appropriate control device, and is connected so that its capacitance value is adjusted by the control unit 1.
  • [ Fig. 4 ] shows schematically the antenna line which is thus constituted from the delay line L1.
  • the reference 2 designates the dielectric substrate of the printed circuit in which the line patterns are formed, for example as illustrated by [ Fig. 1 ] and when each line motif consists of four CRLH cells and a connecting segment to an excitation link.
  • Line patterns M11, M12 and M13 are shown, with associated radiating elements E11, E12 and E13.
  • a strip of the printed circuit which contains the delay line L1 can be enclosed in an electrically conductive casing, to shield any radiation that the delay line L1 could emit.
  • the conductive formwork of the delay line L1 can be composed of two formwork parts, a formwork part 21 which is arranged on the substrate 2, and a formwork part 22 which is arranged under the substrate 2, in alignment with the formwork part 21.
  • the radiating elements are located outside these formwork parts 21 and 22, so that the radiation which is emitted by these radiating elements is not obscured.
  • the formwork parts 21 and 22 thus form a shielding structure which is selectively effective for the delay line L1. Openings can be provided in the formwork part 21, especially so that the shielding structure does not hinder the electrical operation of the excitation connections: the opening O11 is dedicated to the excitation connection L11, the opening 012 to the excitation connection L12, the opening 013 to the excitation connection L13...
  • the formwork parts 21 and 22 can advantageously be electrically connected to the electrical ground of the network antenna 100, and in particular the part formwork 21 can be in direct contact with the metallized portions M1, M2 and M. Possibly, the formwork parts 21 and 22 can be made of copper, and also be made from printed circuits. In this case, additional printed circuit substrates which are dedicated to the formwork parts 21 and 22 can be arranged on either side of the substrate 2, forming a compact stack. Metallized strips can in particular form the surfaces of the formwork parts 21 and 22 which are parallel to the substrates, and metal studs which are arranged across the substrates can act as surfaces oriented perpendicular to the substrates for the formwork parts 21 and 22.
  • the contours which are indicated in broken lines in [ Fig. 4 ] show the locations of the shield structures which are dedicated to the delay lines L2 and L3.
  • the latter can be produced in the form of metallized pellets which are located on the same face of the printed circuit substrate 2 as the line patterns Mij of the lines to be delay Li. These pellets are aligned in the direction L, with a line of pellets between two delay lines Li which are neighboring.
  • the pellets are electrically isolated from each other, and electrically isolated from all the metallized portions which constitute the delay lines (P1 and P2/P2' in [ Fig. 2 ]) as well as metallized portions of electrical mass (M1 and M2 in [ Fig. 2 ]). [ Fig.
  • the metallized portion Q2 of [ Fig. 3a ] can be extended in the form of a metallized line QL2, until it projects beyond the edge of the metallized patch of the radiating element Eij.
  • the previously described assembly of the substrate of [ Fig. 2 ] with that of [ Fig. 3a ] can be used for the substrate of [ Fig. 3b ], so that the metallized line QL2 influences at a distance, by electromagnetic interaction through the substrate of the printed circuit of the excitation link Lij (that of [ Fig. 3b ]), the pellet of the radiating element Eij.
  • the position of the pad of the radiating element Eij, as effective when the substrates are assembled by the connections X 1 -X 5 , with respect to the metallized line QL2, is indicated in broken lines in [ Fig. 3b ].
  • each metallized portion Q1 can be connected to one of the metallized portions P1 or P2/P2' by an electrical connection which passes through the printed circuit substrate 2, or via a wired electrical connection and a metallized track which are added to pass above one of the metallized portions M1 and M2.
  • Such connection modes are commonly referred to as “back biased circuits” and “top biased circuits”, respectively.
  • each radiating element Eij can be constituted by several metallized pellets of different sizes, for example five pellets Eij 0 to Eij 4 , which are superimposed from one of them forming a basic metallized pellet, as shown in [ Fig. 5 ]. All the metallized pellets of each radiating element Eij can be electrically isolated from each other.
  • the base pad, Eij 0 can be coupled by the excitation bond Lij to the line pattern Mij in one of the ways illustrated by [ Fig. 3a ] And [ Fig. 3b ].
  • the upper pellets, Eij 1 to Eij 4 in the example shown, can be supplied with an excitation signal from the base pellet Eij 0 , remotely by electromagnetic interaction.
  • each pellet of the same radiating element Eij has resonant frequencies which are different, due to their respective different sizes, so that each composite radiating element which is thus constituted can be effective in emitting in a widened frequency band.
  • each pellet can be made on the surface of a different printed circuit substrate, and all the substrates are stacked on top of each other so as to superimpose the pellets in the direction perpendicular to the substrates.
  • Such stacks dedicated to forming the radiating elements Eij can be housed between the formwork parts 21 which are dedicated to delay lines Li which are neighboring. For the example illustrated by [ Fig.
  • the pellet Eij° is in the shape of a disc and carried by the substrate 2
  • the pellet Eij 1 also in the shape of a disc, is carried by the substrate 21
  • the pellet Eij 2 still in the shape of a disc, is carried by the substrate 22
  • the pellet Eij 3 still in the shape of a disc, is carried by the substrate 23
  • the pellet Eij 4 still in the shape of a disc, is carried by the substrate 24.
  • the respective diameters of all these pellets Eij 0 -Eij 4 can be between 0.25 ⁇ /n and 0.50 ⁇ /n.
  • each metallized pad and the edge of that of the printed circuit surfaces in which it is located are represented with lines of the same type.
  • [ Fig. 6a ] And [ Fig. 6b ] show two possible architectures for the signal supply of the delay lines by the control unit 1.
  • a power supply end of each delay line is connected by a phase shifter assembly 3 to a signal output of the control unit.
  • ⁇ designates the phase of the electromagnetic signal as it arrives at the input of this phase shifter assembly 3.
  • [ Fig. 6a ] corresponds to a parallel type architecture for the phase shifter assembly 3, in order to apply an identical phase shift ⁇ between any two delay lines Li which are neighboring in the array antenna 100.
  • the phase shift value ⁇ determines the depointing of the radiation which is emitted by the array antenna 100 in a plane which is perpendicular to the lines of radiating elements.
  • each impedance adaptation cell Mi0 can be produced with the same technology as that used for the line patterns Mij, but by appropriately adapting the electrical parameters of this cell Mi0 in relation to those of the line patterns Mij .
  • the impedance adaptation cell Mi0 and all the line patterns Mij, j ⁇ 0, can be produced simultaneously on the same printed circuit substrate.
  • the impedance adaptation cell Mi0 can have a structure of the same type as the CRLH cells, but with dimensions of metallized portions and widths of intervals between these portions which are different.
  • each delay line Li can be terminated by a final cell MiC.
  • this final cell MiC is adapted to have an input impedance which is equal to the characteristic impedance of the chain of line patterns Mij.
  • the impedance matching cells Mi0 the final cells MiC can advantageously be produced with the same technology as that used for the line patterns Mij, but by appropriately adapting the electrical parameters of this cell MiC with respect to those of the Mij line patterns.
  • each antenna line is made up of two delay lines which are associated with the same line of radiating elements.
  • the radiating elements Eij are simultaneously supplied with an excitation signal from the two delay lines Li and Li'.
  • each radiating element Eij is connected to the line pattern Mij of the delay line Li by the excitation connection Lij, and also connected to the line pattern Mij' of the delay line Li' by the excitation connection Lij '.
  • the radiating element Eij can be constituted by at least one metallized disc-shaped pellet, and the excitation connections Lij and Lij' reach the circumference of the disc at two locations which are spaced angularly apart from the center of the disc. Then, excitation signals which are transmitted respectively by the excitation links Lij and Lij', and which are identical while being phase shifted by an angle controlled by the control unit 1, cause an emission of radiation which is distributed between the two left and right circular polarizations. In particular, it is possible to produce the radiation exclusively with a left or right circular polarization, when the phase shift angle is equal to the angle between the excitation connections Lij and Lij' at the level of the edge of the disk of the element radiating Eij, or equal to the opposite of this angle.
  • the phase shift angle which is controlled by the control unit 1 is applied between the signals which are transmitted to the delay lines Li and Li', at the power ends thereof.
  • These delay lines Li and Li' can be arranged on either side of the line of the radiating elements Eij, as shown in [ Fig. 7a] and [Fig. 7b ]. Alternatively, they can be superimposed on one another on the same side of the line of radiating elements Eij. In both cases, the delay lines Li and Li' are preferably housed separately in respective shielding structures. [ Fig. 7b ] is equivalent to [ Fig. 7a ], for the embodiment of the excitation connections of [ Fig. 3b ].
  • FIG. 8 is a diagram which shows the variations in the power density which is radiated by the array antenna 100 in a meridian plane, for two elevation values of the transmission-reception direction: 0° (thin line curve ) and -60° (curve in thick lines).
  • the horizontal axis marks the values of the elevation angle, denoted ⁇ and measured relative to the direction perpendicular to the antenna plane, and the vertical axis marks the values of the radiated power density, denoted D and expressed in dB (decibel). Both curves show that a directivity value of at least 33 dBi is obtained in each case.
  • the directivity is defined as the maximum value of transmission power density per unit of solid angle, corresponding to the pointing direction of the array antenna 100, divided by the average value of this power density emission over the entire solid angle interval, that is to say over 4 ⁇ steradians.
  • FIG. 9 shows the array antenna 100 attached to the fuselage of an aircraft 101, with the printed circuit substrate 2 which is parallel to the outer surface of the fuselage at the location of the array antenna 100.
  • the antenna- network 100 can then be used for data links between the aircraft 101 and a radio communication satellite 102, in particular to establish internet communication links.
  • a data link may conform to the communications system which is known as “SATCOM On-The-Move”.

Landscapes

  • Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
  • Radio Relay Systems (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Gruppenantenne (100), umfassend:
    - wenigstens eine Zeile von Strahlungselementen (Eij), wobei jedes Strahlungselement dazu ausgebildet ist, individuell eine Sendestrahlung aus einem elektrischen Anregungssignal zu erzeugen, das von dem Strahlungselement empfangen wird;
    - eine Steuereinheit (1), die als Strahlformer dient;
    - wenigstens eine Verzögerungszeile (Li), die aus einer seriellen Anordnung von Zeilenmustern (Mij) besteht, wobei jedes Zeilenmuster dazu ausgebildet ist, ein elektromagnetisches Signal, das initial von dem Zeilenmuster erfasst wird, mit einer variablen Verzögerung an das nächste Zeilenmuster innerhalb der Verzögerungszeile weiterzuleiten, so dass das elektromagnetische Signal eine geführte Wanderwelle bildet, die sich entlang der Verzögerungszeile von einem Einspeisungsende der Verzögerungszeile aus ausbreitet, und wobei jedes Zeilenmuster mit wenigstens einem Steuereingang versehen ist, der es erlaubt, die Verzögerung zu variieren, die von dem Zeilenmuster für das elektromagnetische Signal erzeugt wird; und
    - Anregungsverbindungen (Lij), die jedes Zeilenmuster (Mij) der Verzögerungszeile (Li) eins zu eins mit einem der Strahlungselemente (Eij) der Strahlungselementzeile koppeln, wobei jede Anregungsverbindung dazu ausgebildet ist, zu dem zugehörigen Strahlungselement als elektrisches Anregungssignal für das Strahlungselement ein elektrisches Signal zu übertragen, das einer Phase der geführten Wanderwelle entspricht, wie sie an dem Zeilenmuster vorhanden ist, das durch die Anregungsverbindung gekoppelt ist, wobei die derart miteinander gekoppelte Strahlungselementzeile und Verzögerungszeile eine Antennenzeile bilden, wobei die Steuereinheit dazu ausgebildet ist, an den wenigstens einen Steuereingang jedes Zeilenmusters einen individuellen Befehl zu senden, der einen Wert der Verzögerung bestimmt, die von dem Zeilenmuster für das elektromagnetische Signal erzeugt wird, so dass die Steuereinheit über die individuellen Befehle eine Richtung der Aussendung von Strahlung durch die Gruppenantenne (100) bestimmt,
    wobei jedes Zeilenmuster (Mij) wenigstens eine Verzögerungszelleneinheit umfasst, wobei die Verzögerungszelleneinheit wenigstens einen ersten Kondensator (V1, V2) mit variabler Kapazität und wenigstens eine Leiterbahnschleife umfasst, die mit einem zweiten Kondensator mit variabler Kapazität (V3, V4) verbunden ist, um einen variablen Induktivitätswert zu erzeugen, und das Zeilenmuster derart angeordnet ist, dass der individuelle Befehl, der von der Steuereinheit (1) an den Steuereingang des Zeilenmusters gesendet wird, Kapazitätswerte des ersten und des zweiten Kondensators bestimmt,
    wobei die Gruppenantenne (100) dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass sie ferner eine Abschirmstruktur (21, 22) umfasst, die in der Nähe der Verzögerungszeile (Li) angeordnet ist, um Strahlung, die von den Zeilenmustern (Mij) der Verzögerungszeile erzeugt wird, wenigstens teilweise abzuschirmen, ohne die Sendestrahlung, die von den mit den Zeilenmustern gekoppelten Strahlungselementen (Eij) erzeugt wird, signifikant abzuschirmen.
  2. Gruppenantenne (100) nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich jede Anregungsverbindung (Lij) durch eine Öffnung (Oij) der Abschirmstruktur (21, 22) erstreckt, wobei die Öffnung zwischen dem Zeilenmuster (Mij) und dem Strahlungselement (Eij) angeordnet ist, die durch die Anregungsverbindung miteinander gekoppelt sind.
  3. Gruppenantenne (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Verzögerungszeile (Li) in wenigstens einer metallisierten Oberfläche eines Trägers einer Leiterplatte (2) ausgebildet ist, insbesondere durch eine koplanare Leiterplattentechnologie, wobei eine Spur für den Transport eines elektrischen Signals und eine Spur für die elektrische Masse in derselben metallisierten Oberfläche ausgebildet sind.
  4. Gruppenantenne (100) nach Anspruch 3, wobei die Strahlungselemente (Eij), die über die Anregungsverbindungen (Lij) mit den Zeilenmustern (Mij) der Verzögerungszeile (Li) verbunden sind, von demselben Träger der Leiterplatte (2) getragen werden wie die Verzögerungszeile.
  5. Gruppenantenne (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei wenigstens einige der Anregungsverbindungen (Lij) jeweils wenigstens ein variables Kopplungselement (V5) aufweisen, wobei das variable Kopplungselement einen Steuereingang umfasst, der dazu ausgebildet ist, ein Kopplungsintensitätssignal zu empfangen, das von der Steuereinheit (1) ausgegeben wird, und dazu angeordnet ist, eine Intensität des elektrischen Erregungssignals, wie es von dem Strahlungselement (Eij) empfangen wird, das durch die Erregungsverbindung gekoppelt ist, in Bezug auf das elektromagnetische Signal, wie es in der Verzögerungszeile (Li) durch das Zeilenmuster (Mij) übertragen wird, das durch die gleiche Erregungsverbindung gekoppelt ist, zu variieren.
  6. Gruppenantenne (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei jedes Strahlungselement (Eij) wenigstens ein metallisiertes oder metallisches Oberflächenelement umfasst, das durch eine kontinuierliche elektrische Verbindung oder durch elektromagnetische Wechselwirkung ferngekoppelt mit dem entsprechenden Zeilenmuster (Mij) gekoppelt ist, um die Anregungsverbindung (Lij) zwischen dem strahlenden Element und dem Zeilenmuster zu bilden.
  7. Gruppenantenne (100) nach Anspruch 6, wobei jedes Strahlungselement (Eij) mehrere metallisierte oder metallische Oberflächenelemente (Eij0-Eij4) umfasst, die übereinander angeordnet und alle mit der Anregungszeile (Lij) des strahlenden Elements gekoppelt sind und die unterschiedliche Abmessungen aufweisen, um Strahlungsemissionseffizienzen zu erzeugen, die bei Strahlungsfrequenzwerten, die zwischen wenigstens zwei der Oberflächenelemente eines strahlenden Elements unterschiedlich sind, maximal sind.
  8. Gruppenantenne (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine gleiche Strahlungselementzeile zwei Verzögerungszeilen (Li, Li') zugeordnet ist, so dass jedes Strahlungselement (Eij) der Strahlungselementzeile gekoppelt ist, um ein erstes elektrisches Anregungssignal von einem Zeilenmuster (Mij) zu empfangen, das zu einer ersten (Li) der beiden Verzögerungszeilen gehört, und um gleichzeitig ein zweites elektrisches Anregungssignal von einem anderen Zeilenmuster (Mil) zu empfangen, das zu der anderen (Li') der beiden Verzögerungszeilen gehört, so dass eine Phasendifferenz zwischen dem ersten und dem zweiten elektrischen Anregungssignal, die von einem gleichen Strahlungselement empfangen werden, eine Polarisation der Sendestrahlung bestimmt, die von dem Strahlungselement erzeugt wird.
  9. Gruppenantenne (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend mehrere nebeneinander liegende Strahlungselementzeilen (Eij), um eine Matrix von Strahlungselementen zu bilden, wobei jede Strahlungselementzeile mit wenigstens einer Verzögerungszeile (Li) verbunden ist, die der Strahlungselementzeile zugeordnet ist, um eine Antennenzeile zu bilden, die von den anderen Antennenzeilen getrennt ist,
    wobei die Gruppenantenne (100) ferner eine Phasenverschiebungsanordnung (3) umfasst, die dazu ausgebildet ist, ein gleiches zu sendendes Signal an die Einspeisungsenden aller Verzögerungszeilen (Li) gemäß variablen Phasenverschiebungswerten zu übertragen, die den Verzögerungszeilen von der Steuereinheit (1) individuell zugewiesen sind.
  10. Gruppenantenne (100) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei eine Schrittlänge der Strahlungselemente (Eij), gemessen zwischen zwei beliebigen Strahlungselementen, die innerhalb der Gruppenantenne benachbart sind, kleiner oder gleich einem Wert der kleinsten Wellenlänge in einem Übertragungsband der Gruppenantenne ist, geteilt durch den Term (1+sin(Θmax)), wobei Θmax ein maximaler Wert des Elevationswinkels der Antennenausrichtung ist.
  11. Fahrzeug (101), umfassend eine Gruppenantenne, die einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche entspricht und die an Bord des Fahrzeugs installiert ist, wobei das Fahrzeug insbesondere ein Landfahrzeug, ein Schiff oder ein Flugzeug sein kann.
EP20793760.8A 2019-10-16 2020-10-07 Grupenantennen Active EP4046241B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1911539A FR3102311B1 (fr) 2019-10-16 2019-10-16 Antenne-reseau
PCT/FR2020/051764 WO2021074505A1 (fr) 2019-10-16 2020-10-07 Antenne-reseau

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4046241A1 EP4046241A1 (de) 2022-08-24
EP4046241B1 true EP4046241B1 (de) 2023-11-29

Family

ID=69810952

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20793760.8A Active EP4046241B1 (de) 2019-10-16 2020-10-07 Grupenantennen

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4046241B1 (de)
FR (1) FR3102311B1 (de)
WO (1) WO2021074505A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN115037348A (zh) * 2022-05-11 2022-09-09 中国人民解放军陆军装甲兵学院 一种具有印刷阵子天线的双频段通信模拟转发器

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3010086B1 (de) * 2014-10-13 2017-11-29 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Phasengesteuerte Gruppenantenne
US10014585B2 (en) * 2015-07-08 2018-07-03 Drexel University Miniaturized reconfigurable CRLH metamaterial leaky-wave antenna using complementary split-ring resonators

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4046241A1 (de) 2022-08-24
FR3102311B1 (fr) 2022-06-24
WO2021074505A1 (fr) 2021-04-22
FR3102311A1 (fr) 2021-04-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2532050B1 (de) Bordinterne direktionale flachplattenantenne, fahrzeug mit einer solchen antenne und satellitentelekommunikationssystem mit einem solchen fahrzeug
EP0372451B1 (de) Multifrequenz-Strahlungsvorrichtung
EP2532046B1 (de) Flachplatten-abtastantenne für landfahrzeuganwendung, fahrzeug mit einer solchen antenne und satellitentelekommunikationssystem mit solch einem fahrzeug
CA2243603C (fr) Structure rayonnante
FR2810164A1 (fr) Perfectionnement aux antennes source d'emission/reception d'ondes electromagnetiques pour systemes de telecommunications par satellite
FR2810163A1 (fr) Perfectionnement aux antennes-sources d'emission/reception d'ondes electromagnetiques
FR2863111A1 (fr) Antenne en reseau multi-bande a double polarisation
EP2654126A1 (de) Mobile Richtantenne mit Polarisierungsschaltung durch Bewegung der Strahlungspaneele
EP3179557B1 (de) Elementare mehrfachband-strahlungszelle
EP3179559A1 (de) Aktive modulare dualband-antenne
EP4046241B1 (de) Grupenantennen
EP3175509B1 (de) Logarithmisch-periodische antenne mit breitem frequenzband
EP0520908B1 (de) Lineare Gruppenantenne
FR3101486A1 (fr) Antenne multi-bande
CA2808511C (fr) Antenne plane pour terminal fonctionnant en double polarisation circulaire, terminal aeroporte et systeme de telecommunication par satellite comportant au moins une telle antenne
EP3900113A1 (de) Elementare mikrostreifenantenne und gruppenantenne
FR3104353A1 (fr) Émetteur sans fil réalisant un multiplexage en fréquence de canaux
EP3902059B1 (de) Breitband-richtantenne mit longitudinalwellen-übertragung
EP3506429A1 (de) Quasioptischer strahlformer, entsprechende elementarantenne und plattform, entsprechendes antennensystem und kommunikationsverfahren
EP2889955B1 (de) Kompaktantennenstruktur für Telekommunikationen über Satelliten
EP3155690A1 (de) Flachantenne zur satellitenkommunikation
FR2952759A1 (fr) Antenne a reflecteurs et reseau focal
FR3034268A1 (fr) Emetteur-recepteur ehf multicouches a empreinte adaptee pour communication a tres haute capacite
FR2535120A1 (fr) Antenne, notamment pour satellite de telecommunications

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20220419

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20230620

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: PASCAL, OLIVIER

Inventor name: PRIGENT, GAETAN

Inventor name: MARTEL, CEDRIC

Inventor name: DURAN, JUAN

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602020022013

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

Free format text: LANGUAGE OF EP DOCUMENT: FRENCH

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20231129

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240301

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240329

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231129

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231129

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231129

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240329

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240301

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231129

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240229

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1637080

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20231129

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20231129