EP4046241B1 - Antenna array - Google Patents
Antenna array Download PDFInfo
- 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
Links
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 claims description 76
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 30
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 230000010287 polarization Effects 0.000 claims description 12
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000010363 phase shift Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000873 masking effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 27
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 description 26
- 238000009415 formwork Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000001934 delay Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000003989 dielectric material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004973 liquid crystal related substance Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910000859 α-Fe Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 241000897276 Termes Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 235000021183 entrée Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010603 pastilles Nutrition 0.000 description 1
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
- H01Q13/26—Surface waveguide constituted by a single conductor, e.g. strip conductor
-
- 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
- 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
-
- 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
- H01Q1/34—Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01Q—ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS
- H01Q21/00—Antenna arrays or systems
- H01Q21/0006—Particular feeding systems
- H01Q21/0075—Stripline fed arrays
-
- 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
- H01Q3/2682—Time delay steered arrays
-
- 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
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Astronomy & Astrophysics (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Remote Sensing (AREA)
- Variable-Direction Aerials And Aerial Arrays (AREA)
- Radio Relay Systems (AREA)
Description
La présente description concerne une antenne-réseau, qui peut être particulièrement adaptée pour établir une liaison radio dans l'une au moins des bandes de fréquence Ku et Ka, entre un porteur mobile et un satellite géostationnaire.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.
Les systèmes de communication désignés par «SATCOM On-The-Move» permettent d'établir une liaison de communication de type radio entre un porteur mobile et un satellite géostationnaire. Le porteur mobile peut être un véhicule terrestre, un navire maritime ou un aéronef, notamment un avion ou un drone. Pour des applications civiles, un tel système peut permettre de procurer une liaison internet à des passagers du porteur, y compris l'accès à des services de messagerie, des services télévisuels, etc. Pour des applications militaires, il peut procurer une liaison continue de communication entre un aéronef et des troupes au sol, ou entre un aéronef et un poste de contrôle de mission opérationnelle.Communication systems designated as “SATCOM On-The-Move” make it possible to establish 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. For civilian applications, such a system can provide an internet connection to passengers of the carrier, including access to messaging services, television services, etc. For 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.
L'utilisation des bandes de fréquence Ku, entre 12 GHz (gigahertz) 18 GHz, et Ka, entre 26,5 GHz et 40 GHz, pour de tels systèmes procure des débits de liaison de communication qui sont supérieurs, par rapport à d'autres bandes de fréquence utilisées antérieurement. Toutefois, les bandes de fréquence Ku et Ka nécessitent que les antennes qui sont utilisées à bord des porteurs aient des gains suffisamment élevés, notamment des valeurs de gain qui soient supérieures à 30 dBi, où dBi désigne l'unité de gain, en décibels par rapport à une antenne qui rayonnerait uniformément dans toutes les directions de l'espace, ou «decibels relative to isotropic» en anglais.The use of 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. However, 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.
Par ailleurs, le porteur qui est équipé de l'antenne étant mobile, il est nécessaire que l'antenne puisse produire un dépointage en azimut de 0° (degré) à 360°, et un dépointage en élévation suffisamment important, par exemple de 0° à 60°. De tels dépointages sont mesurés par rapport à une direction de référence de l'antenne qui peut être destinée à être sensiblement parallèle à la direction verticale du lieu où se trouve le porteur, l'azimut concernant une rotation autour de la direction de référence, et l'élévation un angle qui est mesuré à partir de cette direction de référence dans un plan méridien.Furthermore, 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.
En outre, il peut être utile qu'une telle antenne soit sélective en fonction de la polarisation du rayonnement émis ou reçu. Pour cela, le gain de l'antenne doit posséder des valeurs différentes en fonction de la polarisation, avec un taux de réjection qui est suffisamment élevé pour la polarisation orthogonale à celle utilisée pour effectuer une liaison de communication. Les polarisations de rayonnement concernées peuvent être, par exemple, les polarisations circulaires droite et gauche, ou deux polarisations linéaires qui sont orientées perpendiculairement l'une à l'autre.In addition, it may be useful for such an antenna to be selective depending on the polarization of the radiation emitted or received. For this, 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.
Enfin, pour certaines applications, l'épaisseur de l'antenne est une contrainte supplémentaire, notamment lorsque l'antenne est destinée à être fixée sur le fuselage d'un avion, afin de réduire des perturbations d'écoulement aéraulique que peut provoquer l'antenne. Typiquement, des valeurs d'épaisseur qui sont inférieures à quelques centimètres sont requises pour de telles applications à bord d'un avion.Finally, for certain applications, 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. Typically, thickness values that are less than a few centimeters are required for such applications on board an aircraft.
De nombreux types d'antennes ont déjà été proposés, y compris des antennes à dépointage entièrement mécanique, des antennes à dépointage mixte, c'est-à-dire partiellement par mouvement d'orientation et partiellement par effet de réseau à déphasage variable, des antennes à réseau bidimensionnel d'éléments rayonnants, des antennes à réseau d'éléments réfléchissants, des antennes à matériaux reconfigurables, par exemple à base de ferrites ou de cristaux liquides, etc. Mais toutes ces antennes ne répondent que partiellement à l'ensemble des contraintes existantes, y compris des contraintes de fragilité, notamment lorsque l'antenne possède des parties mobiles, des contraintes d'encombrement, des contraintes de gain qui soit suffisamment élevé, des contraintes de coût, des contraintes de température de fonctionnement, etc.
A partir de cette situation, un but de la présente invention est de proposer une nouvelle antenne qui satisfasse l'une au moins des contraintes précitées dans une mesure améliorée, ou qui procure un compromis entre certaines de ces contraintes qui soit amélioré par rapport aux antennes existantes. En particulier, l'invention peut viser à proposer une telle antenne qui soit appropriée pour fournir des liaisons de communication radio dans la (les) bande(s) de fréquence Ku et/ou Ka, entre un porteur mobile et un satellite géostationnaire.From this situation, 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. In particular, 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.
Pour atteindre l'un au moins de ces buts ou un autre, un premier aspect de l'invention propose une antenne-réseau selon la revendication 1.To achieve at least one of these goals or another, a first aspect of the invention proposes an array antenna according to
L'unité de contrôle est adaptée pour transmettre à l'au moins une entrée de commande de chaque motif de ligne, une commande individuelle qui détermine une valeur du retard qui est produit par ce motif de ligne pour le signal électromagnétique, de sorte que l'unité de contrôle détermine, par l'intermédiaire des commandes individuelles, une direction d'émission de rayonnement par l'antenne-réseau.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.
Dans l'antenne-réseau de l'invention, chaque motif de ligne comprend au moins une unité de cellule à retard, cette unité de cellule à retard comprenant au moins un premier condensateur à capacité variable, et au moins un méandre de piste conductrice qui est combiné avec un second condensateur à capacité variable pour produire une valeur variable d'inductance. Alors, le motif de ligne est agencé de sorte que la commande individuelle qui est transmise par l'unité de contrôle à l'entrée de commande de ce motif de ligne détermine des valeurs de capacité des premier et second condensateurs.In the array antenna of the invention, 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.
Ainsi, l'antenne qui est proposée par l'invention est de type antenne-réseau, dont la direction d'émission ou de réception est sélectionnée par la commande individuelle qui est transmise par l'unité de contrôle à chaque motif de ligne à retard. L'antenne peut donc ne posséder aucune partie mobile, et peut en outre être particulièrement mince, notamment avec une épaisseur de quelques centimètres ou moins. Par ailleurs, une antenne conforme à l'invention peut être fabriquée en utilisant des technologies connues, fiables et peu onéreuses, telles que des technologies de circuit imprimé, ou PCB pour «printed circuit board» en anglais. En particulier, la technologie de circuit imprimé coplanaire, où une surface métallisée qui sert de plan de masse est coplanaire avec des portions métallisées qui sont destinées à transmettre des signaux utiles, peut être utilisée. Enfin, l'absence de matériaux reconfigurables tels que des ferrites ou des cristaux liquides, et l'absence de parties mobiles dans l'antenne assurent qu'elle soit fonctionnelle dans un large domaine de température.Thus, 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. Furthermore, 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. In particular, 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. Finally, 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.
Enfin, l'architecture de l'antenne, à base d'au moins une ligne à retard pour laquelle les retards qui sont produits par les motifs de ligne sont variables, met en oeuvre une structure d'adressage des signaux électromagnétiques aux éléments rayonnants qui est simple.Finally, 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.
Selon l'invention, l'antenne-réseau comprend en outre une structure de blindage qui est disposée à proximité de la ligne à retard, de façon à occulter au moins partiellement des rayonnements qui sont produits par les motifs de ligne de celle-ci, sans occulter significativement les radiations d'émission qui sont produites par les éléments rayonnants couplés aux motifs de ligne. Ainsi, des contributions parasites aux signaux radio émis par l'antenne-réseau, qui seraient produites par les motifs de ligne de chaque ligne à retard, sont réduits. De cette façon, la qualité des signaux de communication qui sont émis et/ou reçus par l'antenne-réseau est supérieure. Pour cela, chaque liaison d'excitation peut s'étendre à travers une ouverture de la structure de blindage, cette ouverture étant située entre le motif de ligne et l'élément rayonnant qui sont couplés l'un à l'autre par la liaison d'excitation correspondante.According to the invention, 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. Thus, spurious contributions to the radio signals transmitted by the antenna array, which would be produced by the line patterns of each delay line, are reduced. In this way, the quality of the communication signals that are transmitted and/or received by the network antenna is higher. For this, each excitation connection can extend through an opening in the shielding structure, this opening being located between the line pattern and the radiating element which are coupled to each other by the connection d corresponding excitement.
Pour obtenir une directivité d'émission-réception pour l'antenne-réseau en azimut et en élévation, l'antenne-réseau peut comprendre plusieurs lignes juxtaposées d'éléments rayonnants, de façon à former une matrice d'éléments rayonnants, chaque ligne d'éléments rayonnants étant associée avec au moins une ligne à retard qui est dédiée à cette ligne d'éléments rayonnants de façon à former une ligne d'antenne séparée des autres lignes d'antenne. Dans ce cas, l'antenne-réseau comprend en outre un ensemble déphaseur qui est adapté pour transmettre un même signal à émettre aux extrémités d'alimentation de toutes les lignes à retard, conformément à des valeurs variables de déphasage qui sont affectées individuellement aux lignes à retard par l'unité de contrôle.To obtain a transmission-reception directivity for the array antenna in azimuth and elevation, 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. In this case, 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.
Dans des modes préférés de réalisation de l'invention, l'une au moins des caractéristiques additionnelles suivantes peut être reproduite optionnellement, seule ou en combinaison de plusieurs d'entre elles :
- la ligne à retard peut être formée dans au moins une surface métallisée d'un support de circuit imprimé, ou «PCB», notamment par une technologie coplanaire de circuit imprimé selon laquelle une piste de transport de signal électrique et une piste de masse électrique sont formées dans une même surface métallisée. Dans ce cas, l'antenne-réseau ainsi constituée peut avoir une épaisseur qui est inférieure à 10 cm, de préférence inférieure à 5 cm, mesurée perpendiculairement au support de circuit imprimé. En outre, des configurations particulièrement robustes et compactes peuvent être obtenues pour l'antenne-réseau, lorsque les éléments rayonnants qui sont connectés aux motifs de ligne de la ligne à retard par les liaisons d'excitation, sont portés par le même support de circuit imprimé que celui de la ligne à retard;
- certaines au moins des liaisons d'excitation peuvent comporter chacune au moins un élément de couplage variable, cet élément de couplage variable ayant une entrée de commande adaptée pour recevoir un signal d'intensité de couplage qui est délivré par l'unité de contrôle. L'élément de couplage variable est alors agencé pour varier une intensité du signal électrique d'excitation tel que reçu par l'élément rayonnant qui est couplé par la liaison d'excitation, par rapport au signal électromagnétique tel que transmis dans la ligne à retard par le motif de ligne qui couplé par la même liaison d'excitation ;
- chaque motif de ligne peut comprendre plusieurs unités de cellule à retard, par exemple quatre unités de cellule à retard, qui sont assemblées en série. Alors, la liaison d'excitation qui est couplée à ce motif de ligne peut être connectée électriquement à la ligne à retard entre deux des unités de cellule à retard qui sont successives dans le motif de ligne, ou entre la dernière des unités de cellule à retard du motif de ligne et la première des unités de cellule à retard du motif de ligne suivant dans la ligne à retard ;
- chaque élément rayonnant peut comprendre au moins un élément de surface, aussi appelé pastille ou «pad» en anglais, qui est métallisé ou métallique, et qui est couplé par liaison électrique continue ou couplé à distance par interaction électromagnétique au motif de ligne correspondant, de façon à former la liaison d'excitation entre cet élément rayonnant et ce motif de ligne. Eventuellement, chaque élément rayonnant peut comprendre plusieurs éléments de surface métallisés ou métalliques, qui sont superposés et tous couplés à la ligne d'excitation de cet élément rayonnant, et qui ont des dimensions différentes de façon à produire des efficacités d'émission de rayonnement qui sont maximales pour des valeurs de fréquence du rayonnement qui sont différentes entre au moins deux des éléments de surface d'un même élément rayonnant;
- une même ligne d'éléments rayonnants peut être associée à deux lignes à retard, de sorte que chaque élément rayonnant de la ligne des éléments rayonnants soit couplé pour recevoir un premier signal électrique d'excitation de la part d'un motif de ligne qui appartient à une première des deux lignes à retard, et pour recevoir simultanément un second signal électrique d'excitation de la part d'un autre motif de ligne qui appartient à l'autre des deux lignes à retard. Ainsi, une différence de phase entre les premier et second signaux électriques d'excitation qui sont reçus par le même élément rayonnant détermine une polarisation de la radiation d'émission qui est produite par cet élément rayonnant ;
- une longueur de pas des éléments rayonnants, mesurée entre deux éléments rayonnants quelconques qui sont voisins à l'intérieur de l'antenne-réseau, peut être inférieure ou égale à une valeur de longueur d'onde la plus petite dans une bande de transmission de l'antenne-réseau, divisée par le terme (1 +sin(θmax)), où θmax est une valeur maximale d'angle d'élévation du pointage de l'antenne. Le signal d'émission radio qui est produit par l'antenne-réseau possède alors une bonne homogénéité, sans lobes de réseau qui seraient dus à des repliements de spectre ; et
- chaque ligne à retard peut s'étendre entre son extrémité d'alimentation et une extrémité terminale de cette ligne à retard, l'extrémité d'alimentation étant pourvue d'une cellule d'adaptation d'impédance, et l'extrémité terminale étant pourvue d'une cellule de terminaison qui possède une valeur d'impédance sensiblement égale à une valeur d'impédance caractéristique de la ligne à retard. Dans ce cas, et lorsque qu'une technologie de circuit imprimé est utilisée pour fabriquer l'antenne-réseau, la cellule d'adaptation d'impédance et la cellule de terminaison de chaque ligne à retard peuvent être formées dans la même surface métallisée de circuit imprimé que les motifs de ligne de cette ligne à retard.
- the delay line can be formed in at least one metallized surface of a printed circuit support, or "PCB", in particular by a coplanar printed circuit technology according to which an electrical signal transport track and an electrical ground track are formed in the same metallized surface. In this case, the network antenna thus formed may have a thickness which is less than 10 cm, preferably less than 5 cm, measured perpendicular to the printed circuit support. Furthermore, particularly robust and compact configurations can be obtained for the antenna array, when the radiating elements which are connected to the line patterns of the delay line by the excitation links, are carried by the same circuit support printed as that of the delay line;
- At least some of the excitation connections may each comprise at least one variable coupling element, this variable coupling element having a control input adapted to receive a coupling intensity signal which is delivered by the control unit. The variable coupling element is then arranged to vary an intensity of the electrical excitation signal as received by the radiating element which is coupled by the excitation connection, relative to the electromagnetic signal as transmitted in the delay line by the line pattern which is coupled by the same connection excitement;
- each line pattern may include several delay cell units, for example four delay cell units, which are assembled in series. Then, the excitation link which is coupled to this line pattern can be electrically connected to the delay line between two of the delay cell units which are successive in the line pattern, or between the last of the cell units at delay of the line pattern and the first of the delay cell units of the next line pattern in the delay line;
- each radiating element may comprise at least one surface element, also called a pad or “pad” in English, which is metallized or metallic, and which is coupled by continuous electrical connection or remotely coupled by electromagnetic interaction to the corresponding line pattern, so as to form the excitation connection between this radiating element and this line pattern. Optionally, each radiating element may comprise several metallized or metallic surface elements, which are superimposed and all coupled to the excitation line of this radiating element, and which have different dimensions so as to produce radiation emission efficiencies which are maximum for radiation frequency values which are different between at least two of the surface elements of the same radiating element;
- the same line of radiating elements can be associated with two delay lines, so that each radiating element of the line of radiating elements is coupled to receive a first electrical excitation signal from a line pattern which belongs to a first of the two delay lines, and to simultaneously receive a second electrical excitation signal from another line pattern which belongs to the other of the two delay lines. Thus, a phase difference between the first and second electrical excitation signals which are received by the same radiating element determines a polarization of the emission radiation which is produced by this radiating element;
- a pitch length of the radiating elements, measured between any two radiating elements which are neighbors inside the array antenna, may be less than or equal to a smallest wavelength value in a transmission band of the array antenna, divided by the term (1 +sin(θ max )), where θ max is a maximum value of the antenna pointing elevation angle. The radio broadcast signal which is produced by the array antenna then has good homogeneity, without array lobes which would be due to aliasing; And
- each delay line can extend between its supply end and a terminal end of this delay line, the supply end being provided with an impedance matching cell, and the terminal end being provided of a termination cell which has an impedance value substantially equal to an impedance value characteristic of the delay line. In this case, and when a printed circuit technology is used to manufacture the array antenna, the impedance matching cell and the termination cell of each delay line can be formed in the same metallized surface of circuit board as the line patterns of this delay line.
Enfin, un second aspect de l'invention concerne un véhicule qui comprend une antenne-réseau conforme au premier aspect de l'invention, cette antenne-réseau étant installée à bord du véhicule. Un tel véhicule peut être, en particulier, un véhicule terrestre, un navire ou un aéronef, notamment un avion, un hélicoptère ou un drone, y compris un drone à voilure portante fixe ou un drone de type multicoptère.Finally, 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. Such 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.
Les caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention apparaîtront plus clairement dans la description détaillée ci-après d'exemples de réalisation non-limitatifs, en référence aux figures annexées parmi lesquelles :
- [
Fig. 1 ] est une vue en plan simplifiée d'une antenne-réseau conforme à l'invention ; - [
Fig. 2 ] est une vue en plan d'une unité de cellule à retard qui peut être utilisée dans une antenne-réseau conforme à l'invention, avec le schéma électrique qui est équivalent à cette cellule ; - [
Fig. 3a ] est une vue en plan d'un mode de réalisation possible pour une liaison d'excitation et un élément rayonnant, destinés à être couplés à une unité de cellule à retard conforme à [Fig. 2 ] ; - [
Fig. 3b ] correspond à [Fig. 3a ] pour une variante de réalisation ; - [
Fig. 4 ] est une vue en perspective d'une ligne d'antenne faisant partie d'une antenne-réseau conforme à [Fig. 1 ]-[Fig. 3b ] ; - [
Fig. 5 ] est une vue en perspective d'un élément rayonnant composite qui peut être utilisé dans l'antenne-réseau de [Fig. 1 ] ; - [
Fig. 6a ] montre un mode de connexion possible pour l'alimentation en signal électromagnétique des lignes à retard d'une antenne-réseau conforme à l'invention ; - [
Fig. 6b ] montre un autre mode de connexion aussi possible pour l'alimentation en signal électromagnétique des lignes à retard d'une antenne-réseau conforme à l'invention ; - [
Fig. 7a ] montre une autre configuration qui peut être utilisée pour l'antenne-réseau de [Fig. 1 ], afin d'obtenir une émission de rayonnement qui soit sélective en fonction de la polarisation, pour le mode de réalisation des liaisons d'excitation de [Fig. 3a ] ; - [
Fig. 7b ] correspond à [Fig. 7a ], pour le mode de réalisation des liaisons d'excitation de [Fig. 3b ] ; - [
Fig. 8 ] est un diagramme de rayonnement obtenu pour une antenne-réseau conforme à l'invention ; et - [
Fig. 9 ] illustre une utilisation possible d'une antenne-réseau conforme à l'invention.
- [
Fig. 1 ] is a simplified plan view of an array antenna according to the invention; - [
Fig. 2 ] is a plan view of a delay cell unit which can be used in an antenna array according to the invention, with the electrical diagram which is equivalent to this cell; - [
Fig. 3a ] is a plan view of a possible embodiment for an excitation link and a radiating element, intended to be coupled to a delay cell unit conforming to [Fig. 2 ] ; - [
Fig. 3b ] correspond to [Fig. 3a ] for an alternative embodiment; - [
Fig. 4 ] is a perspective view of an antenna line forming part of an antenna array conforming to [Fig. 1 ]-[Fig. 3b ] ; - [
Fig. 5 ] is a perspective view of a composite radiator that can be used in the array antenna of [Fig. 1 ] ; - [
Fig. 6a ] shows a possible connection mode for supplying an electromagnetic signal to the delay lines of an array antenna according to the invention; - [
Fig. 6b ] shows another mode of connection also possible for supplying an electromagnetic signal to the delay lines of an array antenna according to the invention; - [
Fig. 7a ] shows another configuration that can be used for the antenna array of [Fig. 1 ], in order to obtain radiation emission which is selective as a function of polarization, for the embodiment of the excitation links of [Fig. 3a ] ; - [
Fig. 7b ] correspond to [Fig. 7a ], for the embodiment of the excitation connections of [Fig. 3b ] ; - [
Fig. 8 ] is a radiation pattern obtained for an array antenna according to the invention; And - [
Fig. 9 ] illustrates a possible use of an array antenna according to the invention.
Pour raison de clarté, les dimensions des éléments qui sont représentés dans ces figures ne correspondent ni à des dimensions réelles, ni à des rapports de dimensions réels. En outre, certains de ces éléments ne sont représentés que symboliquement, et des références identiques qui sont indiquées dans des figures différentes désignent des éléments identiques ou qui ont des fonctions identiques.For reasons of clarity, the dimensions of the elements which are represented in these figures correspond neither to real dimensions nor to real dimensional ratios. Furthermore, some of these elements are only represented symbolically, and identical references which are indicated in different figures designate identical elements or which have identical functions.
L'invention est maintenant décrite en référence à une réalisation de celle-ci en technologie de circuit imprimé coplanaire, étant entendu qu'une technologie de circuit imprimé à microbande, ou «microstrip» en anglais, peut aussi être utilisée. Bien que l'utilisation de telles technologies de circuit imprimé soit particulièrement adaptée et économique, d'autres technologies de fabrication peuvent encore être utilisées alternativement.The invention is now described with reference to an embodiment thereof in coplanar printed circuit technology, it being understood that microstrip printed circuit technology, or “microstrip” in English, can also be used. Although the use of such printed circuit technologies is particularly suitable and economical, other manufacturing technologies can still be used alternatively.
L'antenne-réseau de l'invention, désignée par la référence 100, est formée à partir d'au moins une, mais de préférence plusieurs lignes d'antenne qui sont juxtaposées parallèlement les unes aux autres à l'intérieur d'un plan de l'antenne. Chaque ligne d'antenne est formée à partir d'une ligne à retard, cette dernière étant constituée d'une chaîne rectiligne de motifs de ligne, tous identiques à l'intérieur d'une même ligne à retard et aussi identiques entre toutes les lignes d'antenne. Les motifs de ligne sont agencés dans le plan d'antenne selon une matrice bidimensionnelle, de préférence carrée, dont une direction est la direction de longueur des lignes d'antenne, et l'autre direction est celle de juxtaposition des lignes d'antenne. [
Chaque ligne à retard est associée à une ligne d'éléments rayonnants pour former une ligne d'antenne, avec un élément rayonnant séparé qui est associé à chaque motif de ligne de la ligne à retard. Ainsi, de façon générale, l'élément rayonnant Eij est alimenté en signal d'excitation à partir du motif de ligne Mij, où i est un indice entier qui identifie la ligne à retard, c'est-à-dire Li, et j est un autre indice entier qui est égal au numéro d'ordre du motif de ligne Mij à l'intérieur de la ligne à retard Li. Une liaison d'excitation Lij connecte alors un côté de sortie du motif de ligne Mij à l'élément rayonnant Eij, pour transmettre à ce dernier le signal d'excitation qui est issu du motif de ligne Mij. Tous les éléments rayonnants Eij peuvent être identiques entre eux, de même que toutes les liaisons d'excitation Lij.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. Thus, in general, 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.
On décrit maintenant des modes de réalisation possibles pour les composants de l'antenne-réseau 100 qui viennent d'être introduits : une structure possible de motif de ligne, plusieurs modèles possibles d'élément rayonnant, puis deux modèles possibles de liaison d'excitation.We now describe possible embodiments for the components of the
La partie supérieure de [
De façon connue, les intervalles d'isolation entre les portions M1, M2 d'une part et les portions P1, P2 d'autre part, ainsi que l'intervalle d'isolation entre les portions P1 et P2, de même que celui entre les portions P1 et P2', avec la forme de ces intervalles, déterminent les caractéristiques électriques de l'unité de cellule à retard, et par suite la valeur du retard que produit de cette unité de cellule à retard lorsqu'elle transmet le signal électromagnétique de son bord gauche à son bord droit. Plus précisément, la largeur S de l'intervalle d'isolation entre chacune des portions P1 et P2 d'une part et chacune des portions M1 et M2 d'autre part, et la largeur de piste W, déterminent l'impédance caractéristique de tronçons de lignes de transmission T de l'unité de cellule à retard. Les longueurs correspondantes d'intervalles d'isolation entre les portions M1/M2 et P1/P2, ou P1/P2', déterminent les variations de phase à produire de façon équivalente par les tronçons de lignes de transmission T, et par suite les valeurs de longueur à attribuer à ces tronçons T. Par ailleurs, la largeur g des intervalles d'isolation entre les portions P1 et P2/P2', ainsi que leur longueur W, déterminent des valeurs de capacités Cse. En outre, la longueur Is de méandres de la portion P1 en saillance dans les portions M1, M2, et la largeur Ss de l'intervalle d'isolation dans ces méandres, déterminent une valeur d'inductance Lsh. Les liaisons de court-circuit m1 et m2 assurent une continuité de fonction de masse électrique aux portions métallisées M1 et M2 à travers les méandres qui constituent l'inductance Lsh. Pour rendre variables et contrôlables les valeurs des capacités Cse, des varactors V1 et V2 peuvent être disposés pour créer des ponts entre les portions P1 et P2/P2'. De même, des varactors V3 et V4 permettent de rendre variable et contrôlable la valeur de l'inductance Lsh. Le fonctionnement des composants varactors étant bien connu, leurs connexions et dispositifs de contrôle ne sont pas représentés. Typiquement, la valeur des capacités Cse d'une unité de cellule à retard qui est ainsi constituée peut être variée par une unité de contrôle 1, notée CTRL dans [
Pour obtenir une amplitude de variation de +/-60° pour la direction d'émission de l'antenne-réseau 100, dans un plan qui contient la direction L et qui est perpendiculaire au plan de l'antenne, pour une fréquence du rayonnement émis qui est égale à 14 GHz dans la bande Ku, le retard maximal qui est nécessaire entre les signaux d'excitation qui sont transmis à deux éléments rayonnants successifs Eij et Ei j+1 peut être obtenu à partir de quatre cellules CRLH telles que décrites précédemment. Ces quatre unités de cellule à retard sont agencées en série au sein de la ligne à retard Li, pour former le motif de ligne Mij tel que considéré plus haut. Un tel motif de ligne Mij qui est constitué de plusieurs unités de cellule à retard peut aussi être appelé macrocellule de la ligne à retard. Une seule des unités de cellule à retard de chaque motif de ligne est couplée à un élément rayonnant par la ligne d'excitation qui est dédiée à ce motif de ligne. La longueur de chaque motif de ligne à quatre cellules CRLH, selon la direction L, est alors 4 x 2,7 mm = 10,8 mm. Une condition d'homogénéité de chaque ligne à retard est que la longueur de chaque unité de cellule à retard dans cette ligne à retard soit inférieure au quart de la longueur d'onde du rayonnement émis. Une telle condition est vérifiée pour les valeurs numériques de l'exemple décrit, la longueur d'onde associée à la fréquence de 14 GHz étant égale à 21,4 mm.To obtain a variation amplitude of +/-60° for the direction of emission of the
[
[
Pour un mode de réalisation alternatif des liaisons d'excitation Lij et des éléments rayonnants Eij, ces derniers peuvent être réalisés sous forme de pastilles métallisées qui sont situées sur la même face du substrat de circuit imprimé 2 que les motifs de ligne Mij des lignes à retard Li. Ces pastilles sont alignées selon la direction L, avec une ligne de pastilles entre deux lignes à retard Li qui sont voisines. Les pastilles sont isolées électriquement les unes des autres, et isolées électriquement de toutes les portions métallisées qui constituent les lignes à retard (P1 et P2/P2' dans [
D'autres modes de réalisation peuvent encore être utilisés pour réaliser les liaisons d'excitation Eij. En particulier, chaque portion métallisée Q1 peut être connectée à l'une des portions métallisées P1 ou P2/P2' par une connexion électrique qui traverse le substrat de circuit imprimé 2, ou par l'intermédiaire d'une connexion électrique filaire et d'une piste métallisée qui sont ajoutées pour passer au-dessus de l'une des portions métallisées M1 et M2. De tels modes de connexion sont couramment désignés par «back biased circuits en anglais et «top biased circuit», respectivement.Other embodiments can still be used to produce the excitation connections Eij. In particular, 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
Possiblement, chaque élément rayonnant Eij peut être constitué par plusieurs pastilles métallisées de tailles différentes, par exemple cinq pastilles Eij0 à Eij4, qui sont superposées à partir de l'une d'elles formant pastille métallisée de base, comme représenté dans [
[
Enfin, pour éviter un brouillage du signal radio émis par l'antenne-réseau 100, qui serait causé par une réflexion du signal électromagnétique transmis le long de chaque ligne à retard sur l'extrémité de celle-ci qui est opposée à son extrémité d'alimentation, chaque ligne à retard Li peut être terminée par une cellule finale MiC. De façon connue, cette cellule finale MiC est adaptée pour posséder une impédance d'entrée qui est égale à l'impédance caractéristique de la chaîne des motifs de ligne Mij. Comme pour les cellules d'adaptation d'impédance Mi0, les cellules finales MiC peuvent avantageusement être réalisées avec la même technologie que celle utilisée pour les motifs de ligne Mij, mais en adaptant de façon appropriée les paramètres électriques de cette cellule MiC par rapport à ceux des motifs de ligne Mij.Finally, to avoid jamming of the radio signal emitted by the
Les modes de réalisation de [
[
Enfin, [
Il est entendu que l'invention peut être reproduite en modifiant des aspects secondaires des modes de réalisation qui ont été décrits en détail ci-dessus, tout en conservant certains au moins des avantages cités. Notamment, les modes de réalisation alternatifs qui ont été décrits pour certains composants d'une antenne-réseau conforme à l'invention, peuvent être combinés entre eux de multiples façons entre des composants différents. En outre, toutes les valeurs numériques qui ont été citées ne l'ont été qu'à titre d'illustration, et peuvent être changées en fonction de l'application considérée. En particulier, elles peuvent être adaptées sans difficulté pour un fonctionnement de l'antenne dans la bande de fréquence Ka.It is understood that the invention can be reproduced by modifying secondary aspects of the embodiments which have been described in detail above, while retaining at least some of the advantages cited. In particular, the alternative embodiments which have been described for certain components of an antenna array according to the invention can be combined together in multiple ways between different components. Furthermore, all numerical values that have been cited are for illustration purposes only, and may be changed depending on the application considered. In particular, they can be adapted without difficulty for operation of the antenna in the Ka frequency band.
Claims (11)
- An array antenna (100) comprising:- at least one row of radiating elements (Eij), each radiating element being adapted for individually producing emission radiation from an electrical excitation signal received by said radiating element;- a control unit (1) acting as a beamformer;- at least one delay line (Li), which is comprised of a serial assembly of line patterns (Mij), each line pattern being adapted for retransmitting an electromagnetic signal received at input by said line pattern, with a variable delay to the next line pattern within the delay line, so that the electromagnetic signal constitutes a guided traveling wave which propagates along the delay line from a feed end of said delay line, and each line pattern being provided with at least one control input making it possible to vary the delay produced by said line pattern for the electromagnetic signal; and- excitation links (Lij), coupling each line pattern (Mij) of the delay line (Li) one-to-one to one of the radiating elements (Eij) of the row of radiating elements, each excitation link being adapted for transmitting to the corresponding radiating element, as an electrical excitation signal for said radiating element, an electrical signal which corresponds to a phase of the guided traveling wave as existing at the line pattern coupled by said excitation link, the row of radiating elements and the delay line thus coupled to each other forming an antenna line,the control unit being adapted for transmitting to the at least one control input of each line pattern, an individual command which determines a value of the delay produced by said line pattern for the electromagnetic signal, so that the control unit determines, by means of the individual commands, a direction of emission of radiation by the array antenna (100), wherein each line pattern (Mij) comprises at least one delay cell unit, said delay cell unit comprising at least one first capacitor of variable capacitance (V1, V2), and at least one conducting track meander line which is combined with a second capacitor of variable capacitance (V3, V4), in order to produce a variable inductance value, and said line pattern is arranged so that the individual command that is transmitted by the control unit (1) to the control input of said line pattern determines capacitance values of said first and second capacitors,the array antenna (100) being characterized in that it further comprises a shielding structure (21, 22) arranged near the delay line (Li), so as to at least partially mask radiations produced by the line patterns (Mij) of said delay line, without significantly masking the emission radiations produced by the radiating elements (Eij) coupled to said line patterns.
- The array antenna (100) according to claim 1, wherein each excitation link (Lij) extends through an opening (Oij) in the shielding structure (21, 22), said opening being located between the line pattern (Mij) and the radiating element (Eij) which are coupled to each other by said excitation link.
- The array antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the delay line (Li) is formed in at least one metalized surface of a printed circuit board (2), in particular by a coplanar printed circuit technology in which an electrical signal carrier track and an electrical ground track are formed in a same metalized surface.
- The array antenna (100) according to claim 3, wherein the radiating elements (Eij) connected to the line patterns (Mij) of the delay line (Li) by the excitation links (Lij) are carried by the same printed circuit board (2) as that of the delay line.
- The array antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the excitation links (Lij) each comprise at least one variable coupling element (V5), said variable coupling element having a control input adapted for receiving a coupling intensity signal which is delivered by the control unit (1), and being arranged to vary an intensity of the electrical excitation signal as received by the radiating element (Eij) coupled by said excitation link, with respect to the electromagnetic signal as transmitted in the delay line (Li) by the line pattern (Mij) coupled by the same excitation link.
- The array antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each radiating element (Eij) comprises at least one metalized or metallic surface element, which is coupled by a continuous electrical connection or remotely coupled by electromagnetic interaction to the corresponding line pattern (Mij), so as to form the excitation link (Lij) between said radiating element and said line pattern.
- The array antenna (100) according to claim 6, wherein each radiating element (Eij) comprises several metalized or metallic surface elements (Eij0-Eij4) which are superimposed and all coupled to the excitation line (Lij) of said radiating element, and which have different dimensions so as to produce maximal radiation emission efficiencies for frequency values of the radiation which differ between at least two of the surface elements of a same radiating element.
- The array antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a same row of radiating elements is associated with two delay lines (Li, Li'), so that each radiating element (Eij) of the row of radiating elements is coupled to receive a first electrical excitation signal from a line pattern (Mij) which belongs to a first (Li) of said two delay lines, and simultaneously to receive a second electrical excitation signal from another line pattern (Mij') which belongs to the other (Li') of said two delay lines, so that a phase difference between the first and second electrical excitation signals received by a same radiating element determines a polarization of the emission radiation produced by said radiating element.
- The array antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising several juxtaposed rows of radiating elements (Eij) so as to form a matrix of radiating elements, each row of radiating elements being associated with at least one delay line (Li) dedicated to said row of radiating elements so as to form an antenna line separate from the other antenna lines,
the array antenna (100) further comprising a phase shifter assembly (3) adapted for transmitting a same signal to be emitted to the feed ends of all the delay lines (Li), in accordance with variable phase shift values individually assigned to the delay lines by the control unit (1). - The array antenna (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pitch length of the radiating elements (Eij), measured between any two neighboring radiating elements within said array antenna, is less than or equal to a smallest wavelength value within a transmission band of the array antenna, divided by the term (1+sin(θmax)), where θmax is a maximum value of an elevation angle of the antenna pointing.
- A vehicle (101), comprising an array antenna that is in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, and which is installed on board said vehicle, said vehicle possibly being in particular a land vehicle, a ship or an aircraft.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FR1911539A FR3102311B1 (en) | 2019-10-16 | 2019-10-16 | ANTENNA-NETWORK |
PCT/FR2020/051764 WO2021074505A1 (en) | 2019-10-16 | 2020-10-07 | Array antenna |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP4046241A1 EP4046241A1 (en) | 2022-08-24 |
EP4046241B1 true EP4046241B1 (en) | 2023-11-29 |
Family
ID=69810952
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP20793760.8A Active EP4046241B1 (en) | 2019-10-16 | 2020-10-07 | Antenna array |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US12034211B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4046241B1 (en) |
FR (1) | FR3102311B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021074505A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN115037348B (en) * | 2022-05-11 | 2024-07-23 | 中国人民解放军陆军装甲兵学院 | Dual-band communication analog repeater with printed array antenna |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3010086B1 (en) * | 2014-10-13 | 2017-11-29 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Phased array antenna |
US10014585B2 (en) * | 2015-07-08 | 2018-07-03 | Drexel University | Miniaturized reconfigurable CRLH metamaterial leaky-wave antenna using complementary split-ring resonators |
WO2018152439A1 (en) * | 2017-02-17 | 2018-08-23 | Space Exploration Technologies Corp. | Distributed phase shifter array system and method |
-
2019
- 2019-10-16 FR FR1911539A patent/FR3102311B1/en active Active
-
2020
- 2020-10-07 WO PCT/FR2020/051764 patent/WO2021074505A1/en active Application Filing
- 2020-10-07 EP EP20793760.8A patent/EP4046241B1/en active Active
- 2020-10-07 US US17/769,271 patent/US12034211B2/en active Active
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US12034211B2 (en) | 2024-07-09 |
EP4046241A1 (en) | 2022-08-24 |
US20240235047A9 (en) | 2024-07-11 |
US20240136729A1 (en) | 2024-04-25 |
FR3102311A1 (en) | 2021-04-23 |
WO2021074505A1 (en) | 2021-04-22 |
FR3102311B1 (en) | 2022-06-24 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP2532050B1 (en) | On-board directional flat-plate antenna, vehicle comprising such an antenna, and satellite telecommunication system comprising such a vehicle | |
EP2532046B1 (en) | Flat-plate scanning antenna for land mobile application, vehicle comprising such an antenna, and satellite telecommunication system comprising such a vehicle | |
EP0372451B1 (en) | Multifrequency radiating device | |
CA2243603C (en) | Radiating structure | |
FR2810164A1 (en) | IMPROVEMENT TO ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE EMISSION / RECEPTION SOURCE ANTENNAS FOR SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS | |
FR2810163A1 (en) | IMPROVEMENT TO ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE EMISSION / RECEPTION SOURCE ANTENNAS | |
FR2863111A1 (en) | Multi-band aerial with double polarization includes three sets of radiating elements including crossed dipoles for maximum polarization decoupling | |
EP2654126A1 (en) | Directive mobile antenna with polarisation switching by moving radiant panels | |
EP3503431B1 (en) | Method for multi-beam coverage by grouping basic beams of the same colour, and telecommunications payload for implementing such a method | |
EP3179557B1 (en) | Multi-band elementary radiating cell | |
EP3179559A1 (en) | Dual-band modular active antenna | |
EP4046241B1 (en) | Antenna array | |
CA2808511C (en) | Flat antenna for a terminal operating in dual circular polarisation, airborne terminal and satellite telecommunication system featuring at least one antenna | |
EP3175509B1 (en) | Log-periodic antenna with wide frequency band | |
EP0520908B1 (en) | Linear antenna array | |
FR3104353A1 (en) | Wireless transmitter performing frequency multiplexing of channels | |
FR3101486A1 (en) | MULTI-BAND ANTENNA | |
EP3902059B1 (en) | Directional broadband antenna with longitudinal transmission | |
EP3900113A1 (en) | Elementary microstrip antenna and array antenna | |
EP3506429A1 (en) | Quasi-optical beam former, basic antenna, antenna system, associated telecommunications platform and method | |
EP2889955B1 (en) | Compact antenna structure for satellite telecommunication | |
EP3155690A1 (en) | Flat antenna for satellite communication | |
FR3034268A1 (en) | EHF MULTILAYER RECEIVER RECEIVER WITH ADAPTED FOOTPRINT FOR VERY HIGH CAPACITY COMMUNICATION | |
FR2535120A1 (en) | Antenna, in particular for telecommunications satellite. |
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 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE 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: RS 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: PL 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: NO 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 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 Ref country code: LV 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: HR 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: DK 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: CZ 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: AT 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: SK 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: SM 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: SK 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: RO 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: EE 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: DK 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: CZ 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: AT 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: PT 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: 20240401 |