JP2017188748A - Antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antenna device capable of suppressing increase in the number of components of a connection member connecting first to third conductive plates and in man-hours for assembly while consisting a transmission line of multiple layers of triplate lines in which first and second signal conductors are disposed among the first to third conductive plates.SOLUTION: An antenna device 1 comprises: first to third ground plates 21-23; first and second signal conductors 31 and 32; and a connection member 4 connecting the first to third ground plates 21-23. The connection member 4 includes: a first conductive spacer 41 between the first ground plate 21 and the second ground plate 22; a second conductive spacer 42 between the second ground plate 22 and the third ground plate 23; a first bolt 43 including a shank 431 which is threaded into a screw hole 410 of the first conductive spacer 41; and a second bolt 44 including a shank 441 which penetrates a through-hole 420 of the second conductive spacer 42 and is threaded into a screw hole 410 of the first conductive spacer 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an antenna device is known that includes a transmission line having a triplate structure in which a central conductor is sandwiched between a pair of plate conductors and a plurality of antenna elements that can transmit a high-frequency signal distributed by the transmission line. (See Patent Document 1).

  The antenna device described in Patent Document 1 includes a plate-like first outer conductor, a plate-like second outer conductor arranged at a predetermined interval from the first outer conductor, and a first outer conductor and a second outer conductor. And a plurality of (eight) antenna elements. The central conductor branches sequentially from the input side and is divided into eight terminals on the output side, and an antenna element is connected to each terminal. When a high frequency signal is supplied to the input side, radio waves corresponding to the high frequency signal are radiated from the plurality of antenna elements.

  Thus, by configuring the transmission line of the high-frequency signal with a triplate line, it is possible to reduce the dielectric loss as compared with, for example, a case where a coaxial cable is used.

JP, 2014-110557, A

  In recent years, for example, a base station antenna for a mobile phone is required to support a plurality of frequency bands, and the configuration of the transmission line is complicated. As described above, when the transmission line of the antenna device having a complicated configuration is configured by the triplate line in which the center conductor is sandwiched between the pair of outer conductors as described above, the area of the outer conductor increases, and as a result, the antenna device. Will lead to an increase in size.

  Therefore, the present inventors consider using a first to third conductive plate as an outer conductor and first and second signal conductors as central conductors to form a multilayer triplate line. It was. In this case, the first to third conductive plates are stacked in parallel to each other, the first signal conductor is disposed between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate, and the second conductive plate and the third conductive plate are arranged. A second signal conductor is disposed between the conductive plate and the second conductive plate. The first and second conductive plates and the first signal conductor, and the second and third conductive plates and the second signal conductor constitute a triplate line, respectively. If the triplate line is formed in multiple layers as described above, it is possible to cope with a complicated transmission line while suppressing an increase in the size of the antenna device.

  However, in the multi-layered transmission line as described above, it is necessary to electrically connect the first to third conductive plates to each other at a plurality of locations. In performing this connection, for example, if the connection between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate and the connection between the second conductive plate and the third conductive plate are performed by separate connection members, respectively. The number of parts and assembly man-hours increase.

  Therefore, the present invention provides the first to third conductive plates while the transmission line is constituted by a multi-layer triplate line in which the first and second signal conductors are arranged between the first to third conductive plates. It is an object of the present invention to provide an antenna device capable of suppressing an increase in the number of parts of connecting members to be connected and the number of assembly steps.

  The present invention is an antenna device including a transmission line and a plurality of antenna elements capable of transmitting a high-frequency signal transmitted by the transmission line for the purpose of solving the above-described problem, First to third conductive plates stacked in parallel to each other; a first signal conductor disposed between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate; and the second conductive plate; A second signal conductor disposed between the first conductive plate and the third conductive plate; and a connection member that electrically connects the first to third conductive plates to each other. Thru | or the screw hole which opens to the both ends of the lamination direction of a 3rd electroconductive board, The 1st electroconductive spacer arrange | positioned between the said 1st electroconductive board and the said 2nd electroconductive board, The said, A through-hole penetrating in the stacking direction of the first to third conductive plates is provided, and the second conductive plate And a third conductive plate, a second conductive spacer disposed between the first conductive spacer, a shaft portion screwed into the screw hole of the first conductive spacer, and the first conductive spacer. A first bolt having a head sandwiching the first conductive plate therebetween and the through hole of the second conductive spacer are threaded into the screw hole of the first conductive spacer. Provided is an antenna device having a shaft and a second bolt having a head sandwiching the third conductive plate between the second conductive spacer.

  According to the antenna device of the present invention, the transmission line is constituted by a multi-layer triplate line in which the first and second signal conductors are arranged between the first to third conductive plates. It is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts and assembly man-hours of the connecting member that connects the conductive plates.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the external appearance of a frequency sharing antenna apparatus. It is a block diagram which shows the inside of the radome of a frequency sharing antenna apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the some antenna element arrange | positioned in a radome. It is a perspective view which shows a part of 1st signal conductor. It is a perspective view which shows a part of 2nd signal conductor. (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the fixing structure of the 1st thru | or 3rd ground board by the connection member of a transmission line, and the support structure of a 1st thru | or 2nd board | substrate. (A) is a perspective view which shows a 1st electroconductive spacer. (B) is a perspective view which shows a 2nd electroconductive spacer.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of a frequency sharing antenna device as one aspect of the antenna device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This frequency sharing antenna apparatus is used as a base station antenna for a mobile phone. In the following description, the case where the frequency sharing antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment is used for transmission of a high frequency signal will be described, but this frequency sharing antenna apparatus can also be used for reception.

(Overall configuration of frequency sharing antenna device)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an external appearance of the frequency sharing antenna apparatus. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the inside of the radome of the frequency sharing antenna apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a plurality of antenna elements arranged in the radome.

  The frequency sharing antenna apparatus 1 includes a transmission line 10 that transmits a high-frequency signal, a plurality of antenna elements 11 that can transmit a high-frequency signal transmitted through the transmission line 10, and a fiber reinforced FRP (fiber reinforced) housing the plurality of antenna elements 11. a radome 12 made of an insulating resin such as plastics) and a drive mechanism 13 for a dielectric insertion type phase shifter.

  When the frequency sharing antenna device 1 transmits a high-frequency signal, the transmission line 10 distributes the signal output from the transmitter to the plurality of antenna elements 11 via, for example, a coaxial cable. When the frequency sharing antenna apparatus 1 receives a high-frequency signal, the transmission line 10 collects signals received by the plurality of antenna elements 11 and outputs the signals to a receiver via, for example, a coaxial cable.

  The frequency sharing antenna device 1 can transmit high-frequency signals of 1.5 to 2 GHz band horizontal and vertical polarizations and 700 to 800 MHz horizontal and vertical polarizations. Hereinafter, the 1.5 to 2 GHz band is the first frequency band, and the 700 to 800 MHz band is the second frequency band.

  The radome 12 has a cylindrical shape whose both ends are closed by an antenna cap (not shown), and is attached to the antenna tower or the like by a pair of mounting brackets 14 so that the longitudinal direction thereof is the vertical direction. The transmission line 10, the plurality of antenna elements 11, and the drive mechanism 13 are disposed in the radome 12. The length of the radome 12 in the central axis direction is, for example, 1.0 to 2.7 m.

  The transmission line 10 has a multi-layer triplate line structure in which a signal conductor is sandwiched between a plurality of pairs of conductive plates. In the present embodiment, the transmission line 10 includes first to third ground plates 21 to 23 as first to third conductive plates, and between the first ground plate 21 and the second ground plate 22. The first signal conductor 31 disposed in the second ground conductor 22, the second signal conductor 32 disposed between the second ground plate 22 and the third ground plate 23, and the first to third ground plates 21 to 21. And a connection member 4 (described later) for electrically connecting the two to each other. The first and second ground plates 21 and 22 and the first signal conductor 31, and the second and third ground plates 22 and 23 and the second signal conductor 32 constitute a triplate line, respectively. In FIG. 2, illustration of the connection member 4 and the dielectric plate driven by the drive mechanism 13 is omitted.

  The drive mechanism 13 includes a moving member 132 that moves in the central axis direction of the radome 12 by a moving force obtained by converting the rotational force of the electric motor 131, and a plurality of driving rods 133 that are connected to the moving member 132. . The drive rod 133 is an unillustrated dielectric plate disposed to face the first signal conductor 31 or the second signal conductor 32 through insertion holes formed in the first and second ground plates 21 and 22. It is connected to. When the electric motor 131 rotates, the dielectric plate moves in the direction of the central axis of the radome 12 and the phases of signals transmitted from the plurality of antenna elements 11 are adjusted.

  The first to third ground plates 21 to 23 are stacked in parallel to each other and are electrically grounded by a ground wire (not shown). The first ground plate 21 and the third ground plate 23 are located in the outermost layers, respectively, and the second ground plate 22 is located between the first ground plate 21 and the third ground plate 23. Yes. The first to third ground plates 21 to 23 have a long plate shape having a longitudinal direction in the central axis direction of the radome 12.

  Fixing brackets 15 for fixing the first ground plate 21 to the radome 12 are fixed to both ends of the first ground plate 21 in the longitudinal direction. The fixing metal 15 sandwiches the radome 12 between the fixing metal 15 and is fastened to the radome 12 by bolts 16.

  The plurality of antenna elements 11 are printed dipole antennas composed of a printed circuit board in which unillustrated wiring patterns each functioning as a radiating element are formed on a plate-like dielectric. The plurality of antenna elements 11 includes a first horizontal polarization antenna element 11A capable of transmitting a first polarization in the first frequency band and a first vertical polarization capable of transmitting a first polarization in the first frequency band. The polarization antenna element 11B, the second horizontal polarization antenna element 11C capable of transmitting the horizontal polarization of the second frequency band, and the second vertical polarization capable of transmitting the vertical polarization of the second frequency band It comprises a polarization antenna element 11D.

  These antenna elements 11 are fixed vertically to the third ground plate 23 by L-shaped mounting brackets 19 fixed to the third ground plate 23 by bolts 17 and nuts 18.

  Further, the plurality of antenna elements 11 are provided with convex portions (not shown) that pass through the openings formed in the third ground plate 23, and a wiring pattern that functions as a radiating element is provided through the convex portions. The signal conductor 32 is electrically connected.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the first signal conductor 31. The first signal conductor 31 is formed of a metal foil such as copper provided as a wiring pattern on the surface of the first substrate 310 made of an electrically insulating resin (dielectric material) such as glass epoxy.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the second signal conductor 32. Similarly to the first signal conductor 31, the second signal conductor 32 is also copper or the like provided as a wiring pattern on the surface of the second substrate 320 made of an electrically insulating resin (dielectric) such as glass epoxy. The metal foil is formed. The first signal conductor 31 and the second signal conductor 32 are appropriately connected at a plurality of locations by unillustrated pins that pass through insertion holes formed in the second ground plate 22.

  The wiring pattern as the first signal conductor 31 may be provided on both surfaces of the first substrate 310, or may be provided on only one surface. Similarly, the wiring pattern as the second signal conductor 32 may be provided on both surfaces of the second substrate 320, or may be provided on only one surface. In the present embodiment, the first signal conductor 31 is provided on both surfaces of the first substrate 310, and the second signal conductor 32 is provided on both surfaces of the second substrate 320.

(Configuration of connecting member)
6A and 6B illustrate a fixing structure of the first to third ground plates 21 to 23 by the connection member 4 of the transmission line 10 and a support structure of the first to second substrates 310 and 320. FIG. It is explanatory drawing for doing. 6A shows a state before the transmission line 10 is assembled, and FIG. 6B shows a state after the transmission line 10 is assembled.

  The connection member 4 includes first and second conductive spacers 41 and 42 and first and second bolts 43 and 44. The first and second conductive spacers 41 and 42 and the first and second bolts 43 and 44 are made of, for example, copper-plated or tin-plated brass and have conductivity.

  The first conductive spacer 41 is disposed between the first ground plate 21 and the second ground plate 22, and the second conductive spacer 42 is the second ground plate 22 and the third ground plate. 23. The first conductive spacer 41 has one axial end face 41 a in contact with the first ground plate 21 and the other axial end face 41 b in contact with the second ground plate 22. The second conductive spacer 42 has one axial end surface 42 a in contact with the second ground plate 22 and the other axial end surface 42 b in contact with the third ground plate 23.

  FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing the first conductive spacer 41. The first conductive spacer 41 has a hexagonal column shape, and is provided with screw holes 410 that open at both ends in the stacking direction of the first to third ground plates 21 to 23. The screw hole 410 penetrates between the axial end faces 41 a and 41 b of the first conductive spacer 41. The first substrate 310 is formed with an insertion hole 310 a through which the first conductive spacer 41 is inserted.

  FIG. 7B is a perspective view showing the second conductive spacer 42. The second conductive spacer 42 has a cylindrical shape, and a through hole 420 that penetrates in the stacking direction of the first to third ground plates 21 to 23 is provided at the center thereof. The through hole 420 penetrates between both axial end faces 42 a and 42 b of the second conductive spacer 42. The second substrate 320 is formed with an insertion hole 320a through which the second conductive spacer 42 is inserted. In FIG. 6, the screw holes 410 of the first conductive spacer 41 and the through holes 420 of the second conductive spacer 42 are indicated by broken lines.

  The first bolt 43 has a shaft portion 431 on which a male screw is formed, and a head portion 432 having a larger diameter than the shaft portion 431. The shaft portion 431 is inserted through the insertion hole 21 a formed in the first ground plate 21 and is screwed into the screw hole 410 of the first conductive spacer 41 from the one axial end surface 41 a side. The head portion 432 sandwiches the first ground plate 21 between the first conductive spacer 41.

  The second bolt 44 has a shaft portion 441 on which a male screw is formed, and a head portion 442 having a diameter larger than that of the shaft portion 441. The shaft portion 441 is inserted through the insertion hole 23 a formed in the third ground plate 23, the through hole 420 of the second conductive spacer 42, and the insertion hole 22 a formed in the second ground plate 22. Is screwed into the screw hole 410 of the first conductive spacer 41 from the axial end face 41b side. The third ground plate 23 is sandwiched between the head 432 and the second conductive spacer 42. The inner diameter of the through hole 420 of the second conductive spacer 42 is formed larger than the nominal diameter of the shaft portion 441 of the second bolt 44.

  A second ground plate 22 is sandwiched between the first conductive spacer 41 and the second conductive spacer 42. With the above configuration, the first to third ground plates 21 to 23 are electrically connected via the first and second conductive spacers 41 and 42.

  The connection members 4 including the first and second conductive spacers 41 and 42 and the first and second bolts 43 and 44 are disposed at a plurality of locations on the first to third ground plates 21 to 23, and The third to third ground plates 21 to 23 are electrically connected, and the first to third ground plates 21 to 23 have a constant interval.

  A pair of non-magnetic resin spacers 51 and 52 for maintaining a distance from the first ground plate 21 and the second ground plate 22 are fixed to the first substrate 310. One resin spacer 51 is fixed to the surface of the first substrate 310 facing the first ground plate 21, and the other resin spacer 52 is the surface of the first substrate 310 facing the second ground plate 22. It is fixed to. These resin spacers 51 and 52 are fixed to a portion of the surface of the first substrate 310 where the first signal conductor 31 is not formed, for example, by adhesion.

  In addition, a pair of resin spacers 53 and 54 are fixed to the second substrate 320 to maintain a distance from the second ground plate 22 and the third ground plate 23. One resin spacer 53 is fixed to the surface of the second substrate 320 facing the second ground plate 22, and the other resin spacer 54 is the surface of the second substrate 320 facing the third ground plate 23. It is fixed to. The resin spacers 53 and 54 are fixed to a portion of the surface of the second substrate 320 where the second signal conductor 32 is not formed, for example, by adhesion.

  The resin spacers 51 to 54 have, for example, a columnar shape and are disposed in the vicinity of the connection member 4.

(Transmission line assembly procedure)
The assembly of the transmission line 10 using the connection member 4 can be performed by the following procedure. Note that the following procedure is shown as an example, and the assembly can be performed without necessarily following this procedure. The resin spacers 51 to 54 are fixed to the first and second substrates 310 and 320 in advance.

  First, the shaft portion 431 of the first bolt 43 is inserted into the insertion hole 21 a of the first ground plate 21, and the screw hole 410 of the first conductive spacer 41 is opposed to the tip portion of the shaft portion 431. Then, the first bolt 43 and the first conductive spacer 41 are relatively rotated, and the shaft portion 431 of the first bolt 43 is screwed into the screw hole 410 of the first conductive spacer 41.

  Next, the first conductive spacer 41 is inserted into the insertion hole 310a of the first substrate 310, and the second ground plate is opened in the opening on the axial end face 41b side of the screw hole 410 in the first conductive spacer 41. The 22 insertion holes 22a are communicated.

  Next, the shaft portion 441 of the second bolt 44 is inserted into the insertion hole 23 a of the third ground plate 23, and the shaft portion 441 is further inserted into the through hole 420 of the second conductive spacer 42. Then, the second conductive spacer 42 is inserted through the insertion hole 320 a of the second substrate 320. Thereafter, the tip of the shaft portion 441 protruding from the axial end surface 42 a of the second conductive spacer 42 is screwed into the screw hole 410 of the first conductive spacer 41 through the insertion hole 22 a of the second ground plate 22. Combine.

  As described above, the transmission line 10 in which the first to third ground plates 21 to 23 are electrically connected by the connecting member 4 is assembled. As described above, since the connection member 4 is disposed at a plurality of locations of the first to third ground plates 21 to 23, each of the above steps is performed in parallel with respect to each connection member 4. .

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the embodiment described above, the transmission line 10 is configured by a multi-layer triplate line in which the first and second signal conductors 31 and 32 are disposed between the first to third ground plates 21 to 23. However, it is possible to suppress an increase in the number of parts and assembly man-hours of the connecting member 4 that connects the first to third ground plates 21 to 23.

(Summary of embodiment)
Next, the technical idea grasped from the embodiment described above will be described with reference to the reference numerals in the embodiment. However, each reference numeral in the following description does not limit the constituent elements in the claims to members or the like specifically shown in the embodiment.

[1] An antenna device (frequency sharing antenna device 1) comprising a transmission line (10) and a plurality of antenna elements (11) capable of transmitting a high-frequency signal transmitted through the transmission line (10), The transmission line (10) includes first to third conductive plates (first to third ground plates 21 to 23) stacked in parallel to each other, the first conductive plate (21) and the second conductive plate. A first signal conductor (31) disposed between the second conductive plate (22) and the third conductive plate (23). Two signal conductors (32) and a connection member (4) for electrically connecting the first to third conductive plates (21 to 23) to each other, the connection member (4) being the first Or screw holes (410) that open at both ends in the stacking direction of the third conductive plates (21 to 23). The first conductive spacer (41) disposed between the first conductive plate (21) and the second conductive plate (22), and the first to third conductive plates (21 to 21). 23), a through hole (420) penetrating in the stacking direction, and a second conductive spacer (23) disposed between the second conductive plate (22) and the third conductive plate (23). 42), a shaft portion screwed into the screw hole of the first conductive spacer, and a head sandwiching the first conductive plate (21) between the first conductive spacer (41) The first bolt (43) having (432) and the threaded hole (41) of the first conductive spacer (41) through the through hole (420) of the second conductive spacer (42). 410) and the third conductive plate between the shaft portion (441) screwed into the second conductive spacer (42). And a second bolt (44) having a head (442) sandwiching the 23),
Antenna device.

[2] The first signal conductor (31) is a first substrate (310) made of a dielectric disposed between the first conductive plate (21) and the second conductive plate (22). ), And the second signal conductor (32) is a dielectric disposed between the second conductive plate (22) and the third conductive plate (23). A metal foil formed on the surface of a second substrate (320) made of a body, and the first conductive spacer (41) is an insertion hole (310a) provided in the first substrate (310). The antenna device (1) according to [1], wherein the second conductive spacer (42) is inserted through an insertion hole (320a) provided in the second substrate (320). .

[3] Non-magnetic spacers (51, 52) for holding a gap between the first and second conductive plates (21, 22) are fixed to the first substrate (310), and [2] The non-magnetic spacers (53, 54) for holding a distance from the second and third conductive plates (22, 23) are fixed to the second substrate (320). The antenna device (1) described in 1.

  While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments described above do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, it should be noted that not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Frequency sharing antenna apparatus 10 ... Transmission line 11 ... Antenna element 21-23 ... 1st thru | or 3rd ground board (1st thru | or 3rd electrically conductive board)
31, 32 ... first and second signal conductors 310, 320 ... first and second substrates 310a, 320a ... insertion holes 4 ... connection members 41, 42 ... first and second conductive spacers 410 ... screw holes 420 ... through holes 43, 44 ... first and second bolts 431,441 ... shaft portions 432,442 ... heads 51-54 ... resin spacers

Claims (3)

An antenna device comprising a transmission line and a plurality of antenna elements capable of transmitting a high-frequency signal transmitted by the transmission line,
The transmission line includes first to third conductive plates stacked in parallel to each other, a first signal conductor disposed between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate, A second signal conductor disposed between the second conductive plate and the third conductive plate, and a connection member that electrically connects the first to third conductive plates to each other,
The connecting member is
A first conductive spacer that is provided between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate and has screw holes that are open at both ends in the stacking direction of the first to third conductive plates. When,
A through hole penetrating in the stacking direction of the first to third conductive plates, a second conductive spacer disposed between the second conductive plate and the third conductive plate;
A first bolt having a shaft portion screwed into the screw hole of the first conductive spacer, and a head portion sandwiching the first conductive plate between the first conductive spacer;
A shaft portion that passes through the through hole of the second conductive spacer and is screwed into the screw hole of the first conductive spacer, and the third conductive member between the second conductive spacer and the second conductive spacer. A second bolt having a head sandwiching the plate,
Antenna device. The first signal conductor is a metal foil formed on a surface of a first substrate made of a dielectric disposed between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate;
The second signal conductor is a metal foil formed on the surface of a second substrate made of a dielectric disposed between the second conductive plate and the third conductive plate,
The first conductive spacer is inserted through an insertion hole provided in the first substrate,
The second conductive spacer is inserted through an insertion hole provided in the second substrate.
The antenna device according to claim 1. A nonmagnetic spacer for holding a gap between the first and second conductive plates is fixed to the first substrate.
A non-magnetic spacer for holding a gap between the second and third conductive plates is fixed to the second substrate.
The antenna device according to claim 2.

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