EP4589774A1

EP4589774A1 - Antenna, control method and related device

Info

Publication number: EP4589774A1
Application number: EP22960036.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maomao ZHU; Ming Zhou; Qing Liang; Qing Zhu
Original assignee: Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-09-29
Filing date: 2022-09-29
Publication date: 2025-07-23
Also published as: WO2024065399A1; CN118120111A; EP4589774A4

Abstract

An antenna, a control method, and a related device are provided. The antenna includes a substrate, a parasitic element, a radiating element, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit. The substrate is provided with a feed terminal, a first ground terminal, and a second ground terminal. Two ends of the parasitic element are connected to the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal. One end of the radiating element is connected to the feed terminal. The first switch unit and the second switch unit are disposed on the parasitic element. According to implementation of the technical solutions provided in this application, a polarization manner and a pattern of an antenna can be changed by controlling operation of the first switch unit and the second switch unit, so that the antenna has different operating modes, and the different operating modes can adapt to different antenna application scenarios.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of antennas, and in particular, to an antenna, a control method, and a related device.

BACKGROUND

An antenna is a key component for implementing intelligent network connection functions such as radio communication, wireless networks, and satellite positioning, and plays a key role in transmitting and receiving signals in a communication system. Antenna polarization means a direction of strength of an electric field formed during antenna radiation. An antenna pattern is a graphical representation in which relative field strength of a radiation field varies with a direction at a specific distance from an antenna. Further, an onboard antenna is an antenna that directly uses a printed circuit board (Printed Circuit Board, PCB) as a medium for implementing the antenna by using a PCB process. Such a PCB onboard antenna is widely used in wireless modules such as Wi-Fi modules, Bluetooth modules, and ZigBee modules.
With continuous advancement of intelligent and connected vehicles, vehicles are no longer simply a combination of mechanical industry products. Sometimes, the vehicle is more like a running wireless communication node. The antenna is a front-end component of the entire communication system, and location data and communication data usually require positioning and transmission through the antenna. Therefore, quality of the antenna directly affects performance of an entire intelligent connected vehicle system. Intelligent network connections have intelligent requirements of unmanned driving and an advanced driver assistance system (Advanced Driver Assistance System, ADAS) as well as information network connection requirements between people, vehicles, and roads, for example, unmanned delivery vehicles, self-driving trucks, self-driving buses, self-driving taxis, passenger vehicle ADASs, and roadside units (Road Side Units, RSUs).
Intelligent vehicles, new energy vehicles, or domain control units (Domain Control Units, DCUs), body control modules (Body Control Modules, BCMs), or head units of vehicles, portable devices, intelligent locks, or the like have onboard antennas. However, the onboard antenna is usually fastened on a circuit board, and a polarization manner and a pattern are unchangeable. Therefore, antenna performance may be affected probably due to installation positions, space limitation, metal obstruction, and the like, resulting in poor signals in some areas and affecting user experience.

SUMMARY

This application provides an antenna, a control method, and a related device, to change a polarization manner and a pattern of an antenna, and improve antenna performance.
According to a first aspect, this application provides an antenna, including a substrate, a parasitic element, a radiating element, a first switch unit, and a second switch unit.
The substrate is provided with a feed terminal, a first ground terminal, and a second ground terminal. Two ends of the parasitic element are connected to the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal. One end of the radiating element is connected to the feed terminal. The first switch unit and the second switch unit are disposed on the parasitic element.
In this solution, the first switch unit and the second switch unit may control an on/off state of a circuit, and may change a polarization manner and a pattern of the antenna, so that the antenna has different operating modes. The different operating modes may adapt to different antenna application scenarios, improving antenna performance.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, the parasitic element includes a first parasitic sub-element, a second parasitic sub-element, and a third parasitic sub-element.
One end of the first parasitic sub-element is connected to the first ground terminal, and the other end of the first parasitic sub-element is connected to one end of the second parasitic sub-element through the first switch unit. The other end of the second parasitic sub-element is connected to one end of the third parasitic sub-element through the second switch unit. The other end of the third parasitic sub-element is connected to the second ground terminal.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, a difference between an equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element and an equivalent electrical size of the radiating element is within a first range.
A specific value of the first range may be set based on an actual situation, provided that the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element is comparable to the equivalent electrical size of the radiating element. In this way, the antenna may form a horizontally polarized antenna by controlling operation of the first switch unit and the second switch unit.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, an equivalent electrical size of the second parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element is greater than the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element.
In this solution, the equivalent electrical size of the second parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element is set to be greater than the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element, to ensure a directive gain of the antenna.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, both a length of the first parasitic sub-element and a length of the third parasitic sub-element are within a second range.
In this solution, a specific value of the second range may be set based on an actual situation, provided that the first parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element are separately grounded and then do not affect a signal of the radiating element.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, a distance from the first ground terminal to the feed terminal is within a third range.
In this solution, when the first switch unit is turned on and the second switch unit is turned off, the first parasitic sub-element and a parallel part of the radiating element form balanced feed terminals. Current amplitudes are equal and phases are opposite on the balanced feed terminals. A spacing between the balanced feed terminals affects antenna impedance, thereby affecting antenna efficiency. Therefore, the spacing needs to be controlled within a specific range, that is, within the third range.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, a difference between a distance from the second ground terminal to the feed terminal and a quarter of a dielectric wavelength is within a fourth range.
In this solution, an antenna gain is affected if the distance from the second ground terminal to the feed terminal is not close to a quarter of the dielectric wavelength. A larger difference between the distance from the second ground terminal to the feed terminal and a quarter of the dielectric wavelength indicates a smaller antenna gain. Therefore, the difference between the distance from the second ground terminal to the feed terminal and a quarter of the dielectric wavelength needs to be within the fourth range. A specific value of the fourth range may be set based on an actual situation.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, when both the first switch unit and the second switch unit are turned off, the antenna forms a vertically polarized antenna. In this case, the second parasitic sub-element is in a suspended state, and the first parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element do not affect a signal of the radiating element due to a size limitation. The radiating element forms the vertically polarized antenna.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, when the first switch unit is turned on, and the second switch unit is turned off, the antenna forms a horizontally polarized antenna. In this case, the third parasitic sub-element is grounded. However, the third parasitic sub-element does not affect a signal of the radiating element due to a size limitation. In this case, the first parasitic sub-element and a part of the radiating element are designed symmetrically, and can cancel a radiation field of the radiating element, so that the radiating element, the first parasitic sub-element, and the second parasitic sub-element form the horizontally polarized antenna.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, when the first switch unit is turned off and the second switch unit is turned on, the antenna forms a vertically polarized antenna. In this case, the first parasitic sub-element is grounded. However, the first parasitic sub-element does not affect a signal of the radiating element due to a size limitation. In this case, however, a current phase of the second parasitic sub-element, the second switch unit, and the third parasitic sub-element as a whole is 90° ahead of that of the radiating element. Therefore, the whole becomes a reflector, and the reflector reflects a signal of the radiating element. In this case, the antenna forms the vertically polarized antenna.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are diodes, transistors, field-effect transistors, or the like.
In this solution, when the first switch unit and the second switch unit are diodes, transistors, or field-effect transistors, a polarization manner and a pattern of the antenna may be controlled to adapt to different antenna application scenarios, and flexibility is high.
With reference to the first aspect, in an implementation, the first switch unit or the second switch unit or both are zero-ohm resistors.
In this solution, the first switch unit and/or the second switch unit may be directly set to a zero-ohm resistor, and a polarization manner and a pattern of the antenna may be directly customized as required, or dynamic adjustment modes are reduced. In this case, costs of the antenna are relatively low, and the antenna may be directly customized for a required scenario.
According to a second aspect, this application further provides a control method, used to control the antenna in the first aspect.
The control method includes: determining an operating mode of the antenna; and controlling the first switch unit and the second switch unit based on the operating mode. When the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be on, and the second switch unit is controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be off, and the second switch unit is controlled to be on.
According to a third aspect, this application further provides a controller, used to control the antenna in the first aspect.
The controller includes a determining module and a control module.
A determining module is configured to determine an operating mode of the antenna.
A control module is configured to control the first switch unit and the second switch unit based on the operating mode. When the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be on, and the second switch unit is controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be off, and the second switch unit is controlled to be on.
According to a fourth aspect, this application further provides a controller. The controller includes one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute a computer program stored in one or more memories, so that the controller implements the control method according to the second aspect.
According to a fifth aspect, this application further provides a communication device, including the controller according to the third aspect or the fourth aspect and the antenna according to the first aspect.
According to a sixth aspect, this application further provides a transportation means, including the communication device according to the fifth aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a diagram of a structure of an antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 1B is a diagram of a structure of another antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 1C is a diagram of a structure of another antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 1D is a diagram of a structure of another antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 1E is a diagram of a structure of another antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 2A is a diagram of connection and disconnection of an antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 2B is an antenna pattern corresponding to FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3A is a diagram of connection and disconnection of another antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 3B is an antenna pattern corresponding to FIG. 3A;
FIG. 4A is a diagram of connection and disconnection of another antenna according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 4B is an antenna pattern corresponding to FIG. 4A;
FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a control method according to an embodiment of this application;
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a structure of a controller according to an embodiment of this application; and
FIG. 7 is a diagram of a structure of another controller according to an embodiment of this application.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Terms used in the following embodiments of this application are merely intended to describe specific embodiments, but are not intended to limit this application. Terms "one", "a", "the", "the foregoing", "this", and "the one" of singular forms used in this specification and the appended claims of this application are also intended to include plural forms, unless otherwise specified in the context clearly. It should be further understood that the term "and/or" used in this application means and includes any one or all possible combinations of one or more listed items.
The following terms "first" and "second" are merely intended for a purpose of description, and shall not be understood as an indication or implication of relative importance or an implicit indication of a quantity of indicated technical features. Therefore, a feature limited by "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more such features. In the descriptions of embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, "a plurality of" means two or more.
For ease of understanding, related terms and concepts in embodiments of this application are first described below.

(1) Antenna polarization

Antenna polarization means a direction of strength of an electric field formed during antenna radiation. Horizontal polarization means that an instantaneous direction of an electric field vector of an electric wave is parallel to the ground during space propagation of the electric wave. Vertical polarization means that an instantaneous direction of an electric field vector of an electric wave is perpendicular to the ground during space propagation of the electric wave.

(2) Non-fed element

An element herein is usually an antenna element. The antenna element is a component on an antenna, and has functions of guiding and amplifying an electromagnetic wave, to make an electromagnetic signal received by the antenna stronger.
A non-fed element is an element whose feed signal is not directly transmitted through a transmission line.

(3) Reflector

A reflector is a non-fed element that reflects a beam.

(4) Printed circuit board (PCB)

A printed circuit board is usually referred to as a rigid board.

(5) Flexible printed circuit (Flexible Printed Circuit, FPC)

A flexible printed circuit is a printed circuit made of a flexible insulating substrate (such as polyester film or polyimide). The flexible printed circuit is also referred to as a flex board.
The foregoing descriptions of the technical terms may be applied in the following.
An embodiment of this application provides an antenna. A polarization manner and a pattern of the antenna may change, to adapt to different antenna application scenarios, improving communication stability of the antenna and user experience.
The following specifically describes the antenna provided in this application.
FIG. 1A is a diagram of a structure of an antenna according to an embodiment of this application. The antenna includes a substrate 101, a parasitic element, a radiating element 102, a first switch unit 103, and a second switch unit 104.
The substrate is provided with a feed terminal A, a first ground terminal B, and a second ground terminal C. Two ends of the parasitic element are connected to the first ground terminal B and the second ground terminal C. One end of the radiating element 102 is connected to the feed terminal A. The first switch unit 103 and the second switch unit 104 are disposed on the parasitic element.
In this solution, a polarization manner and a pattern of the antenna may be changed by controlling on/off states of the first switch unit and the second switch unit, so that the antenna has different operating modes, and the different operating modes may adapt to different antenna application scenarios, thereby effectively improving user experience of a communication device.
The antenna is disposed, for example, on a vehicle. For different vehicle models and different antenna installation positions, a pattern and polarization of the antenna may be adjusted by controlling on/off states of a first switch unit and a second switch unit, to implement high-performance coverage of an antenna signal, effectively reduce a requirement on an installation position of the antenna, facilitate normalization design of the vehicle, and reduce a vehicle modification risk.
Optionally, the substrate may be a printed circuit board (Printed Circuit Board, PCB), a flexible printed circuit (Flexible Printed Circuit, FPC), or the like. Further, optionally, an outer edge of the substrate may be in any shape such as a rectangle, a square, a parallelogram, or a circle. For example, refer to FIG. 1A. The outer edge of the substrate 101 is rectangular.
In a possible implementation, a metal ground is disposed on the PCB, that is, the PCB has a metal ground layer. The first ground terminal B and the second ground terminal C are connected to the metal ground layer to implement grounding.
In a possible implementation, the radiating element 102 is connected to a feed source through a feed terminal. The feed source is a microwave circuit network that is capable of feeding a highfrequency signal to the radiating element 102 based on specific amplitude and/or phase distribution. Optionally, the radiating element 102 may be implemented by using a feed element, and the feed element is, for example, a monopole (Monopole) antenna.
In a possible implementation, the parasitic element includes a first parasitic sub-element, a second parasitic sub-element, and a third parasitic sub-element.
One end of the first parasitic sub-element is connected to the first ground terminal, and the other end of the first parasitic sub-element is connected to one end of the second parasitic sub-element through the first switch unit. The other end of the second parasitic sub-element is connected to one end of the third parasitic sub-element through the second switch unit. The other end of the third parasitic sub-element is connected to the second ground terminal.
In a possible solution, the parasitic element may be implemented by using a metal stub. Refer to FIG. 1A. A metal stub includes a first substub 105 (corresponding to the first parasitic sub-element), a second substub 106 (corresponding to the second parasitic sub-element), and a third substub 107 (corresponding to the third parasitic sub-element). One end of the first substub 105 is connected to the first ground terminal, and the other end of the first substub 105 is connected to one end of the second substub 106 through the first switch unit 103. The other end of the second substub 106 is connected to one end of the third substub 107 through the second switch unit 104. The other end of the third substub 107 is connected to the second ground terminal.
In a possible solution, the radiating element 102 has a longer side and a shorter side. For example, refer to FIG. 1A. The radiating element 102 is L-shaped, one side of L is a longer side, and the other side is a shorter side.
To save space, the radiating element 102 may be miniaturized in a manner such as winding. For example, the longer side may be a bent side. Refer to FIG. 1B (the longer side is a right-angled bent side) and FIG. 1C (the longer side is a bent side with curvature). Alternatively, the longer side may be an arc-shaped side, as shown in FIG. 1D.
Optionally, directions of the shorter side and the longer side may change. As a direction of the shorter side, the shorter side of the radiating element 102 is symmetric to the first substub 105.
In a possible implementation, refer to FIG. 1A. The radiating element 102 may be disposed (as shown in FIG. 1A) symmetric or disposed asymmetric (for example, FIG. 1B, FIG. 1C, and FIG. 1D) to a part formed by the first substub 105 and the second substub 106.
When the radiating element 102 is symmetric to the part formed by the first substub 105 and the second substub 106, the shorter side of the radiating element is parallel to the first substub 105, and the longer side of the radiating element points to an opposite direction to the second substub 106, so that the part formed by the first substub 105 and the second substub 106 forms a dipole antenna with the radiating element 102.
In another possible implementation, a difference between an equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element and an equivalent electrical size of the radiating element is within a first range. The electrical size is a ratio of an actual size to an operating wavelength. In other words, the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element and the equivalent electrical size of the radiating element are approximately consistent with each other, and an error between the two equivalent electrical sizes is within a tolerable range, where the tolerable range is the first range. In other words, a difference between an equivalent electrical size D1 of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element and an equivalent electrical size K of the radiating element is within the first range, that is, |D1-K| is within the first range, and ∥ indicates an absolute value.
It should be noted that a specific value of the first range may be set based on an actual situation, provided that the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element is approximately consistent with the equivalent electrical size of the radiating element. In this way, the antenna may form a horizontally polarized antenna by controlling operation of the first switch unit and the second switch unit. Further, FIG. 1A is used as an example. A difference between an equivalent electrical size of the first substub 105 and the second substub 106 and the equivalent electrical size of the radiating element 102 is within the first range. For example, the first range is 0 to 0.2λ, the first range includes two endpoints: 0 and 0.2λ, and λ indicates a dielectric wavelength. For another example, the first range is 0 to 0.05λ, and the first range includes two endpoints: 0 and 0.05λ. In this case, differential effect of a differential structure formed by the radiating element 102, the first substub 105, and the second substub 106 is better.
The dielectric wavelength is an electromagnetic wave wavelength corresponding to a center frequency of an operating band (Operating Band) of the radiating element in embodiments of this application. λ is related to a dielectric constant. When the radiating element is printed on a surface of a medium, a dielectric constant corresponding to λ is related to both a dielectric constant of the medium and a dielectric constant of air. For example, the dielectric constant corresponding to λ is an average value of the dielectric constant of the medium and the dielectric constant of air.
In some possible designs, because the operating band of the radiating element is a range and may include a plurality of channels, and a length of the radiating element is a fixed value, it is difficult for the radiating element to achieve optimal resonance on an electromagnetic wave at an operating frequency. Therefore, the length of the radiating element does not need to be accurately 1/4λ. The length of the radiating element only needs to be close to 1/4λ. For example, the length of the radiating element is about 0.2λ to 0.3λ.
In another possible implementation, an equivalent electrical size of the second parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element is greater than the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element. The equivalent electrical size of the second parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element is set to be greater than the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element, so that a directive gain of the antenna can be ensured.
Specifically, the equivalent electrical size D2 of the second parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element only needs to be slightly greater than the equivalent electrical size D1 of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element, that is, a difference obtained by D2-D1 is within an acceptable range. The range may be 0 to 0.1λ, and the range does not include an endpoint 0, but includes an endpoint 0.1λ. For another example, the range may be 0 to 0.05λ. Similarly, the range does not include an endpoint 0, but includes an endpoint 0.05λ. When the range is used, a gain of a directional antenna is greater.
In another possible implementation, both a length of the first parasitic sub-element and a length of the third parasitic sub-element are within a second range.
It should be noted that, a specific value of the second range may be set based on an actual situation, provided that the first parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element are separately grounded and then do not affect a signal of the radiating element. For example, the second range is 0 to 0.1λ, and includes two endpoints: 0 and 0.1λ. FIG. 1E is a diagram of a structure of another antenna according to an embodiment of this application. In FIG. 1E, a length of the first substub 105 (namely, the first parasitic sub-element) is 0. In this case, the first switch unit 103 is connected to the first ground terminal B.
It can be learned from the foregoing descriptions that specific positions of the first switch unit 103 and the second switch unit 104 are not fixed, and are not limited to the positions shown in any one of the diagrams in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1E, and may be adjusted based on an actual situation.
In a possible example, with reference to FIG. 1A, a distance from the first ground terminal B to the feed terminal A is within a third range. Specifically, when the first switch unit is turned on and the second switch unit is turned off, the first parasitic sub-element and a parallel part of the radiating element form balanced feed terminals. Current amplitudes are equal and phases are opposite on the balanced feed terminals. A spacing between the balanced feed terminals affects antenna impedance, thereby affecting antenna efficiency. Therefore, the distance from the first ground terminal B to the feed terminal A is controlled within a specific range, that is, in the third range, impact on the antenna impedance can be mitigated, and the antenna efficiency can be improved.
For example, the third range is 0 to 0.1λ, and does not include an endpoint 0, but includes an endpoint 0.1λ.
In another possible example, a distance from the second ground terminal C to the feed terminal A is close to a quarter of a dielectric wavelength, to improve an antenna gain. A larger difference between the distance from the second ground terminal C to the feed terminal A and a quarter of the dielectric wavelength indicates a smaller antenna gain. Therefore, with reference to FIG. 1A, the difference between the distance from the second ground terminal C to the feed terminal A and a quarter of the dielectric wavelength is within a fourth range. That is, an error between the distance from the second ground terminal C to the feed terminal A and a quarter of the dielectric wavelength is within a tolerable range, where the tolerable range is the fourth range. Specifically, the distance from the second ground terminal C to the feed terminal A is a straight-line distance D_AC between the second ground terminal C and the feed terminal A. D_AC is approximately 1/4λ, that is, |D_AC-1/4λ| is within the fourth range, and ∥ indicates an absolute value.
For example, the fourth range is 0 to 0.1λ, and includes an endpoint 0 and an endpoint 0.1λ. For another example, the fourth range is 0 to 0.05λ, and includes an endpoint 0 and an endpoint 0.05λ.
In a possible design, FIG. 1A is used as an example. When both the first switch unit 103 and the second switch unit 104 are turned off, an antenna status is shown in FIG. 2A. The second substub 106 is a suspended metal stub and is not grounded. Because sizes of the first substub 105 and the third substub 107 are small (lengths of the first substub 105 and the third substub 107 are within the second range), the first substub 105 and the third substub 107 do not affect a pattern of the antenna. In this case, the antenna forms a vertically polarized antenna. For a corresponding pattern of the antenna, refer to FIG. 2B.
In another possible design, FIG. 1A is used as an example. When the first switch unit 103 is turned on and the second switch unit 104 is turned off, an antenna status is shown in FIG. 3A. Because a size of the third substub 107 is small, the third substub 107 does not affect a pattern of the antenna. The first substub 105 and a part of the radiating element 102 are symmetrically designed, and may cancel a part of a radiation field of the radiating element 102, so that the radiating element 102, the first substub 105, and the second substub 106 form a horizontal polarization dipole (Dipole) antenna. For a corresponding antenna pattern, refer to FIG. 3B.
Further, the first substub 105 and the second substub 106 may form a design symmetric to the radiating element 102, so that polarization performance of the antenna can be optimized.
In another possible design, FIG. 1A is used as an example. When the first switch unit 103 is turned off and the second switch unit 104 is turned on, an antenna status is shown in FIG. 4A. Because a size of the first substub 105 is small, the first substub 105 does not affect a pattern of the antenna. However, a current phase of the second substub 106, the second switch unit 104, and the third substub 107 as a whole is 90° ahead of that of the radiating element 102. Therefore, the whole becomes as a reflector, and the reflector reflects a signal of the radiating element 102. In this case, the antenna forms a vertically polarized antenna. For a corresponding antenna pattern, refer to FIG. 4B.
For example, in this embodiment of this application, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are diodes, transistors, metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors, MOSFETs, field-effect transistor for short), or the like.
The transistor includes an NPN-type transistor or a PNP-type transistor, and the metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor is referred to as a MOS transistor for short. An on/off state of a controllable switch such as a diode, a transistor, or a MOS transistor may be controlled by outputting a control signal by a controller. For example, for a diode or a transistor, the controller outputs a high level or a low level to control an on/off state. In this case, the antenna has a dynamic adjustment capability, and has a plurality of dynamic adjustment modes (as shown in FIG. 2B, FIG. 3B, or FIG. 4B), which can adapt to different antenna application scenarios, and flexibility is high.
In another implementation, the first switch unit, or the second switch unit, or both may be directly set to zero-ohm resistors, and the zero-ohm resistor is equivalent to a switch that is turned on. In this case, a polarization manner and a pattern of the antenna are directly customized as required, or dynamic adjustment modes are reduced. In comparison with the foregoing controllable switch, in this case, costs of the antenna are relatively low, and the antenna may be directly customized for a required scenario.
Specifically, when the first switch unit or the second switch unit is in an on state, the first switch unit or the second switch unit may be the zero-ohm resistor. The antenna is disposed, for example, on a vehicle. Antenna modes (that is, FIG. 2B, FIG. 3B, or FIG. 4B) corresponding to the antenna in different vehicle models and different locations may be determined through testing. An on/off state corresponding to each of the first switch unit and the second switch unit is determined, that is, an installation position of a zero-ohm resistor is determined. A switch unit in an on state is implemented by a zero-ohm resistor, and a position of a switch unit in an off state is left unoccupied and unconnected, and in this case, the antenna has low costs and meets a customization requirement.
In the foregoing example description, two substubs (FIG. 1E) or three substubs (FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D) are used as examples. Alternatively, effects of embodiments of this application may be achieved in a case in which a quantity of substubs is greater than 3. This case is not detailed and also falls within the protection scope of this application. In addition, in the foregoing example description, two switch units (FIG. 1A to FIG. 1E) are used as an example. Alternatively, a quantity of switch units may be three or greater than three, and effects of embodiments of this application may also be implemented. This case is not detailed and also falls within the protection scope of this application.
The following describes a control method according to an embodiment of this application.
FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a control method according to an embodiment of this application. The control method is used to control the foregoing antenna, and the control method includes the following steps.
501: Determine an operating mode of the antenna.
502: Control the first switch unit and the second switch unit based on the operating mode.
When the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be on, and the second switch unit is controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be off, and the second switch unit is controlled to be on.
An embodiment of this application further provides a controller 600, configured to control the foregoing antenna.
FIG. 6 is a diagram of a structure of a controller according to an embodiment of this application. The controller 600 includes a determining module 601 and a control module 602.
The determining module 601 is configured to determine an operating mode of an antenna.
The control module 602 is configured to control a first switch unit and a second switch unit based on the operating mode. When the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be on, and the second switch unit is controlled to be off. Alternatively, when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be off, and the second switch unit is controlled to be on.
An embodiment of this application further provides a controller. FIG. 7 is a diagram of a structure of another controller according to an embodiment of this application. An embodiment of this application further provides a controller 700.
The controller 700 includes a memory 701, a processor 702, a communication interface 704, and a bus 703. The memory 701, the processor 702, and the communication interface 704 implement communication connections with each other through the bus 703. There may be one or more memories 701, and one or more processors 702.
For example, the controller 700 may be a chip or a chip system.
The memory 701 may be a read-only memory (Read Only Memory, ROM), a static storage device, a dynamic storage device, or a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM). The memory 701 may store a program. When the program stored in the memory 701 is executed by the processor 702, the processor 702 is configured to perform the steps of the control method in any one of the foregoing embodiments.
The processor 702 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (Central Processing Unit, CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC), a graphics processing unit (Graphics Processing Unit, GPU), or one or more integrated circuits, and is configured to execute a related program, to implement the control method in any one of the foregoing embodiments.
The processor 702 may alternatively be an integrated circuit chip, and has a signal processing capability. During implementation, the steps of the control method in any one of embodiments of this application may be completed by using an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor 702 or by using instructions in a form of software. The processor 702 may alternatively be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (Digital Signal Processor, DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (Field Programmable Gate Array, FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, or a discrete hardware component. The processor 702 may implement or perform the methods, the steps, and logical block diagrams that are disclosed in embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like. The steps of the control method provided with reference to any one of embodiments of this application may be directly performed by a hardware decoding processor, or may be performed by using a combination of hardware and software modules in the decoding processor. The software module may be located in a mature storage medium in the art, such as a random access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory, an electrically erasable programmable memory, or a register. The storage medium is located in the memory 701. The processor 702 reads information in the memory 701, and completes the control method according to any one of the foregoing embodiments in combination with hardware of the processor 702.
The communication interface 704 uses a transceiver apparatus, for example, but not limited to, a transceiver, to implement communication between the controller 700 and another device or another communication network.
The bus 703 may include a path for transmitting information between components (such as the memory 701, the processor 702, and the communication interface 704) of the controller 700.
It should be noted that although only the memory, the processor, and the communication interface are shown in the controller 700 in FIG. 7, during specific implementation, a person skilled in the art should understand that the controller 700 further includes another component required for normal operation. In addition, based on a specific requirement, a person skilled in the art should understand that the controller 700 may further include a hardware component for implementing another additional function. In addition, a person skilled in the art should understand that the controller 700 may include only a component necessary for implementing embodiments of this application, and does not need to include all the components shown in FIG. 7.
An embodiment of this application provides a communication device. The communication device includes the foregoing controller and the foregoing antenna.
An embodiment of this application provides a transportation means. The transportation means includes the foregoing communication device.
The transportation means in this application may include road transportation, water transportation, air transportation, an industrial device, an agricultural device, an entertainment device, or the like. For example, the transportation means may be a vehicle. The vehicle is a vehicle in a broad sense, and may be transportation (for example, a commercial vehicle, a passenger vehicle, a motorcycle, a flight vehicle, or a train), an industrial vehicle (for example, a pallet truck, a trailer, or a tractor), an engineering vehicle (for example, an excavator, a bulldozer, or a crane), an agricultural device (for example, a lawn mower or a harvester), an entertainment device, or a toy vehicle. A type of the vehicle is not specifically limited in embodiments of this application. For another example, the transportation means may be transportation such as an aircraft or a ship.
In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, the foregoing apparatus embodiments are merely examples. For example, division of the units is merely logical function division and may be other division during actual implementation. For example, a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed. In addition, the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented through some interfaces. The indirect couplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.
The units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected based on actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of embodiments.
In addition, functional units in embodiments of this application may be integrated into one processing unit, each of the units may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.
All or some of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented by software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof. When software is used to implement embodiments, all or some of the embodiments may be implemented in a form of a computer program product. The computer program product includes one or more computer instructions. When the computer program instructions are loaded and executed on a computer, the procedures or functions according to embodiments of this application are all or partially generated. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, a computer network, or another programmable apparatus. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or may be transmitted from a computer-readable storage medium to another computer-readable storage medium. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from a website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center in a wired (for example, a coaxial cable, an optical fiber, or a digital subscriber line) or wireless (for example, infrared, radio, or microwave) manner. The computer-readable storage medium may be any usable medium accessible by the computer, or a data storage device, for example, a server or a data center, integrating one or more usable media. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, a DVD), a semiconductor medium (for example, a solid-state drive), or the like.
In conclusion, the foregoing embodiments are merely intended for describing the technical solutions of this application, but not for limiting this application. Although this application is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, a person of ordinary skill in the art should understand that modifications may still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or equivalent replacements are made to some technical features thereof, without departing from the scope of the technical solutions of embodiments of this application.

Claims

An antenna, comprising:
a substrate, wherein the substrate is provided with a feed terminal, a first ground terminal, and a second ground terminal;

a parasitic element, wherein two ends of the parasitic element are connected to the first ground terminal and the second ground terminal;

a radiating element, wherein one end of the radiating element is connected to the feed terminal; and

a first switch unit and a second switch unit, disposed on the parasitic element.
The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the parasitic element comprises a first parasitic sub-element, a second parasitic sub-element, and a third parasitic sub-element, wherein
one end of the first parasitic sub-element is connected to the first ground terminal, the other end of the first parasitic sub-element is connected to one end of the second parasitic sub-element through the first switch unit, the other end of the second parasitic sub-element is connected to one end of the third parasitic sub-element through the second switch unit, and the other end of the third parasitic sub-element is connected to the second ground terminal.
The antenna according to claim 2, wherein a difference between an equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element and an equivalent electrical size of the radiating element is within a first range.
The antenna according to claim 2 or 3, wherein an equivalent electrical size of the second parasitic sub-element and the third parasitic sub-element is greater than the equivalent electrical size of the first parasitic sub-element and the second parasitic sub-element.
The antenna according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein both a length of the first parasitic sub-element and a length of the third parasitic sub-element are within a second range.
The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a distance from the first ground terminal to the feed terminal is within a third range.
The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a difference between a distance from the second ground terminal to the feed terminal and a quarter of a dielectric wavelength is within a fourth range.
The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the first switch unit and the second switch unit are both turned off, the antenna forms a vertically polarized antenna; or
when the first switch unit is turned on, and the second switch unit is turned off, the antenna forms a horizontally polarized antenna; or

when the first switch unit is turned off, and the second switch unit is turned on, the antenna forms a vertically polarized antenna.
The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first switch unit and the second switch unit are diodes, transistors, or field-effect transistors.
The antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first switch unit or the second switch unit or both are zero-ohm resistors.
A control method, used to control the antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the method comprises:
determining an operating mode of the antenna; and

controlling the first switch unit and the second switch unit based on the operating mode, wherein

when the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are controlled to be off; or

when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be on, and the second switch unit is controlled to be off; or

when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be off, and the second switch unit is controlled to be on.
A controller, configured to control the antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the controller comprises:
a determining module, configured to determine an operating mode of the antenna; and

a control module, configured to control the first switch unit and the second switch unit based on the operating mode, wherein

when the operating mode is a first vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit and the second switch unit are controlled to be off; or

when the operating mode is a horizontal polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be on, and the second switch unit is controlled to be off; or

when the operating mode is a second vertical polarization mode, the first switch unit is controlled to be off, and the second switch unit is controlled to be on.
A controller, wherein the controller comprises one or more processors, and the one or more processors are configured to execute a computer program stored in one or more memories, so that the controller implements the control method according to claim 11.
A communication device, comprising the controller according to claim 12 or 13 and the antenna according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
A transportation means, comprising the communication device according to claim 14.