JP2017188749A - Phase shifter and antenna device with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a phase shifter capable of easily adjusting relative positions of a driving body that moves a dielectric plate forwards and backwards, and the dielectric plate, and provide an antenna device comprising the phase shifter.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a phase shifter 10 comprising a first dielectric plate 51 disposed between a first ground plate 31 and a signal conductor 2 and a moving mechanism 4 for moving the first dielectric plate 51 in a predetermined direction in parallel with the first ground plate 31, and configured to change a phase of a signal by moving the first dielectric plate 51. The moving mechanism 4 includes: a driving body 45; an actuator for moving the driving body 45 in a predetermined direction; and a connection shaft 46 connecting the driving body 45 with the first dielectric plate 51. In the driving body 45, first to third engage parts 451-453 to which the connection shaft 46 can be engaged are provided at multiple positions in the predetermined direction, and the first dielectric plate 51 is capable of adjusting a position in the predetermined direction relative to the driving body 45 by selecting one engage part to which the connection shaft 46 is engaged, from among the first to third engage parts 451-453.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a phase shifter capable of changing the phase of a signal, and an antenna device including the phase shifter.

  Conventionally, a phase shifter capable of adjusting the phase of a signal transmitted or received via a plurality of antenna elements has been used in, for example, an antenna device for a base station for a mobile phone (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  The phase shifter described in Patent Document 1 is provided on a triplate line formed by sandwiching a signal conductor constituting a transmission line of a signal transmitted via a plurality of antenna elements between a first ground plate and a second ground plate. A dielectric plate is disposed between the signal conductor and the first ground plate and between the signal conductor and the second ground plate. Both of these dielectric plates can move back and forth in the longitudinal direction, and the overlapping area with the signal conductor changes with the movement in the longitudinal direction. The effective dielectric constant in the triplate line changes due to the change in the overlapping area, and the electric line length changes accordingly, so that the phase of the signal propagating through the signal conductor changes.

  In addition, dielectric plate pairs including a pair of dielectric plates sandwiching the signal conductor are provided at a plurality of locations of the antenna device. And when electromagnetic waves are radiated | emitted from several antenna elements, the phase difference of the electromagnetic waves radiated | emitted from each antenna element is adjusted with a phase shifter. Thereby, the directivity of the antenna device, specifically, the radiation direction of the main beam can be made variable.

JP 2014-158188 A

  In the phase shifter configured as described above, the amount of phase change caused by each pair of dielectric plates may differ from the intended one due to manufacturing errors such as variations in dielectric thickness. In such a case, it is desirable that the amount of phase change can be easily adjusted. In order to adjust the directivity, it is necessary to advance or delay only the phase of electromagnetic waves radiated from some of the antenna elements with respect to electromagnetic waves radiated from other antenna elements. It may become.

  Therefore, the present inventors diligently studied and obtained the knowledge that if the relative position between the driving body for moving the dielectric plate back and forth and the dielectric plate can be adjusted, the above-described demand can be met. It was.

  The present invention has been made on the basis of this finding, and the object thereof is to provide a phase shifter capable of easily adjusting the relative position between a driver and a dielectric plate for moving the dielectric plate forward and backward, and An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna device provided with this phase shifter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a signal conductor that is arranged in parallel with an electrically grounded conductive plate and constitutes a transmission line of a signal transmitted through an antenna element, the conductive plate, A dielectric plate made of a dielectric disposed between the signal conductor and a moving mechanism for moving the dielectric plate in a predetermined direction parallel to the conductive plate, the dielectric plate being in the predetermined direction The phase shifter changes the phase of the signal propagating through the transmission line by changing the opposed area between the signal conductor and the dielectric plate by moving to the conductive plate, and the moving mechanism is opposed to the conductive plate. And a connecting shaft that connects the driving body and the dielectric plate. The driving body includes the connecting shaft. The engaging portion that can engage is aligned along the predetermined direction. The dielectric plate is configured to select the one engaging portion with which the connecting shaft engages among the engaging portions provided at the plurality of locations, thereby the predetermined body with respect to the driving body. There are provided a phase shifter capable of adjusting the position in the direction and an antenna device including the phase shifter.

  According to the phase shifter and the antenna device including the phase shifter according to the present invention, the relative position between the driving body for moving the dielectric plate forward and backward and the dielectric plate can be easily adjusted. It is possible to adjust the amount of change in signal phase caused by.

It is a block diagram which shows the antenna apparatus provided with the phase shifter which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an antenna apparatus, Comprising: (a) is a whole perspective view which shows an external appearance, (b) is a perspective view which shows the structure on the 2nd ground board which removed the radome of (a). It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of the moving mechanism of the phase shifter arrange | positioned inside the radome on the opposite side to the eight antenna element side. It is a perspective view which shows a part of board | substrate with which the wiring pattern which comprises a signal conductor was formed. It is a figure which shows a phase shift part, (a) abbreviate | omits a 1st ground board and a top view which shows a part of 1st dielectric plate and a board | substrate, (b) shows the board | substrate in (a) partially. It is a top view. (A) is sectional drawing of the phase-shift part along the AA line of Fig.5 (a). (B) is a perspective view showing a first dielectric plate, a second dielectric plate, a pair of connecting members, and a connecting shaft that connects the driving body and the first dielectric plate. The first dielectric plate of the phase shift portion, a connecting shaft fixed to the first dielectric plate, a part of the first ground plate in which a long hole through which the connecting shaft is inserted, and the engagement area of the driver FIG. (A) is a perspective view which shows the drive body which concerns on the 2nd form of this invention, a 1st ground board, a connection shaft, and a 1st dielectric material board. (B) is a top view which shows the drive body which concerns on a 2nd form. (C) is an end elevation which shows the front end surface which looked at the connecting shaft which concerns on a 2nd form from the center axis line direction.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a phase shifter of the present invention and an antenna device including the same will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. The antenna device 11 is installed at a high place in a building such as an antenna tower or a building, and is used as a base station antenna for a mobile phone. In the following description, a case where the antenna device 11 according to the present embodiment is used for transmission of a high-frequency signal will be described, but the antenna device 11 can also be used for reception.

(Configuration of antenna device)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the antenna device 11. The antenna device 11 includes a phase shifter 10, an input terminal 12 to which a high-frequency signal is input, a first distribution line 14a that distributes a signal input to the input terminal 12, and a signal distributed by the first distribution line 14a. A second distribution line 14b that further distributes the signal, a third distribution line 14c that further distributes the signal distributed by the second distribution line 14b, and an antenna element 13 that is connected to a terminal portion of the third distribution line 14c. I have. Each distribution line 14a-14c has a 1-input / 2-output line configuration, and a total of eight antenna elements 13 (13a-13h) are connected to the terminal portion of the third distribution line 14c, respectively.

  The eight antenna elements 13 (13a to 13h) are arranged in the vertical direction, and the antenna element 13a is disposed at the top and the antenna element 13h is disposed at the bottom. The other antenna elements 13 (13b to 13g) are arranged on the upper side in the vertical direction as the antenna element 13 shown on the upper side (antenna element 13a side) in FIG. The signal phase of each antenna element 13 is adjusted so that the signal phase of the lower antenna element 13 is delayed by the difference in line length of the first to third distribution lines 14a to 14c.

  The first to third distribution lines 14a, 14b, and 14c are included in the transmission line 1 for signals transmitted through the antenna element 13 (13a to 13h). Phase shift portions 10a to 10f of the phase shifter 10 are provided between the first distribution line 14a and the second distribution line 14b and between the second distribution line 14b and the third distribution line 14c, respectively. . Here, a total of six phase shifters 10a to 10 are provided at two locations between the first distribution line 14a and the second distribution line 14b and at four locations between the second distribution line 14b and the third distribution line 14c. 10f is provided. The phase shifter 10 is a dielectric insertion type phase shifter in which a dielectric is inserted between a signal conductor constituting the transmission line 1 and a ground plate described later, and has a large area where the signal conductor and the dielectric overlap. The phase of the signal is delayed as much as possible.

  In the antenna device 11, the directivity (beam tilt angle) of the radio waves radiated from the antenna elements 13a to 13h can be adjusted in the vertical direction by changing the phase of the signal by the phase shift units 10a to 10f. . Specifically, the phase lag amounts of the antenna elements 13a to 13d are reduced by the phase shift portions 10a, 10c, and 10d, and the phase lag amounts of the antenna elements 13e to 13h are increased by the phase shift portions 10b, 10e, and 10f. The directivity of radio waves can be directed downward (ground side). Further, the phase lag amount of the antenna elements 13a to 13d is increased by the phase shift portions 10a, 10c, and 10d, and the phase lag amount of the antenna elements 13e to 13h is decreased by the phase shift portions 10b, 10e, and 10f. Directivity can be directed upwards (sky side). In addition, although the case where the eight antenna elements 13 (13a to 13h) and the six phase shift portions 10a to 10f are used has been described here, the number of antenna elements and phase shift portions is an example. It is not limited to things.

  2A and 2B are perspective views showing a specific configuration example of the antenna device 11, where FIG. 2A shows an appearance and FIG. 2B shows an arrangement state of a plurality of antenna elements 13. As shown in FIG. 2A, the antenna device 11 includes a transmission line 1 including first to third distribution lines 14a, 14b, and 14c in a cylindrical radome 30, eight antenna elements 13, and the like. It is configured to accommodate. The transmission line 1 is constituted by a wiring pattern made of a highly conductive metal such as copper formed in a predetermined pattern on a substrate, and serves as an inner conductor of the triplate line.

  Both ends of the radome 30 are closed by antenna caps 301 and 302, and the radome 30 is attached to a high place such as an antenna tower by mounting brackets 303 and 304 so that the center axis direction is a vertical direction. Coaxial cable adapters 305 and 306 functioning as the input terminal 12 (see FIG. 1) are attached to the antenna cap 302 disposed below the vertical direction. A first ground plate 31 and a second ground plate 32 that are electrically grounded by a ground wire (not shown) are fixed in the radome 30. In FIG. 2 (b), the second ground plate 32 is illustrated together with the eight antenna elements 13.

  The plurality of antenna elements 13 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the radome 30 and are fixed to the second ground plate 32. Each antenna element 13 has a horizontally polarized antenna element 131 and a vertically polarized antenna element 132 arranged so as to cross each other in a cross shape. The second ground plate 32 has a function as a reflection plate that reflects electromagnetic waves radiated from the horizontal polarization antenna element 131 and the vertical polarization antenna element 132.

  The horizontally polarized antenna element 131 and the vertically polarized antenna element 132 are printed dipole antennas made of a printed circuit board in which a not-illustrated wiring pattern that functions as a radiating element is formed on a plate-like dielectric. The horizontal polarization antenna element 131 and the vertical polarization antenna element 132 are provided with an unillustrated convex portion that passes through the opening formed in the second ground plate 32, and the wiring that functions as a radiating element through the convex portion. The pattern is electrically connected to the terminal portion of the third distribution line 14c (see FIG. 1) in the transmission line 1.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the moving mechanism 4 of the phase shifter 10 disposed on the side opposite to the eight antenna element 13 sides inside the radome 30. The moving mechanism 4 is provided on the first ground plate 31 arranged in parallel with the second ground plate 32 to which the eight antenna elements 13 are fixed. The first ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32 are flat conductive plates made of a conductive metal such as stainless steel or aluminum, and are electrically grounded. Further, the first ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32 have a long plate shape whose longitudinal direction is along the central axis direction of the radome 30 and constitute an outer conductor of the triplate line. The first ground plate 31 is an embodiment of the conductive plate of the present invention.

  The moving mechanism 4 includes a first dielectric plate 51 and a second dielectric plate 52 (see FIG. 6) of the phase shifter 10, which will be described later, in parallel with the first ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32, and the first The ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32 are moved forward and backward in a predetermined direction along the longitudinal direction. Hereinafter, this predetermined direction is referred to as a moving direction A. In FIG. 3, this moving direction A is shown by a double arrow.

  The moving mechanism 4 includes an electric motor 41, a rotation / linear motion conversion unit 42 that converts the rotational force of the electric motor 41 into a linear moving force, a support plate 43 fixed to the first ground plate 31, and a support plate 43. A linear portion 44 having a shaft portion 441 inserted through an insertion hole 430 formed in the shaft 441, and an arm portion 442 fixed to the shaft portion 441 and extending in the short direction of the first ground plate 31, and the first ground plate 31 And a connecting shaft 46 (described later) for connecting the driving body 45 and the first dielectric plate 51 to each other.

  The rotation / linear motion conversion unit 42 moves the shaft portion 441 of the linear motion member 44 in the longitudinal direction of the first ground plate 31 by meshing the pinion gear and the rack shaft constituting the rack and pinion mechanism, for example. The pair of drive bodies 45 are rod-shaped members that extend in the longitudinal direction of the first ground plate 31 and are arranged in parallel to each other. The pair of drive bodies 45 are respectively fixed to the arm portions 442 of the linear motion member 44 in a part in the longitudinal direction, and move forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the first ground plate 31 together with the linear motion member 44.

  The electric motor 41, the rotation / linear motion conversion unit 42, and the linear motion member 44 constitute an actuator that moves the drive body 45 along the movement direction A. On the first ground plate 31, a control unit 40 that receives an instruction signal from the outside and controls the electric motor 41 is disposed. In addition, a pair of guide members 35 that guide the drive body 45 are fixed to the first ground plate 31.

  Cutouts 31b are formed at both ends of the first ground plate 31 in the short direction, and a horizontal polarization coaxial cable 33 and a vertical polarization coaxial cable 34 are inserted through the cutout 31b. Then, the transmission signal is supplied to the first distribution line 14a (see FIG. 1) in the transmission line 1. The other ends of the horizontally polarized coaxial cable 33 and the vertically polarized coaxial cable 34 are connected to coaxial cable adapters 305 and 306.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the substrate 20 that is sandwiched between the first ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32 and on which a wiring pattern constituting the signal conductor 2 described later is formed. The substrate 20 is a solid substrate made of an epoxy resin reinforced with glass fiber, for example, and wiring patterns are formed on both surfaces thereof. The wiring patterns are provided symmetrically on both surfaces of the substrate 20 so that the same wiring pattern is formed on the back side of the wiring pattern formed on one surface of the substrate 20. The first to third distribution lines 14a to 14c are formed by this wiring pattern.

  In the present embodiment, the signal conductor 2 is composed of a wiring pattern formed on both surfaces of the substrate 20 made of glass epoxy or the like. However, the signal conductor 2 is not limited to this, and copper or the like is used as the signal conductor 2. It may be configured using a plate-like member made of a conductor, and when a film-like substrate is used as the dielectric substrate, it is constituted by a wiring pattern formed on one surface of the film-like substrate. Also good.

  In the region P, the signal conductor 2 has a straight portion 2a and a connecting portion 2b, and long holes 20a extending along the moving direction A are formed on both sides thereof. The substrate 20 is provided with six such regions P. In FIG. 4, two regions P are illustrated.

(Configuration of phase shift section)
5A and 5B are diagrams showing the phase shift portion 10a. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a part of the first dielectric plate 51 and the substrate 20 with the first ground plate 31 omitted, and FIG. 2 is a plan view partially showing the substrate 20 in FIG. Fig.6 (a) is sectional drawing of the phase shift part 10a along the AA line of Fig.5 (a). FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing the first dielectric plate 51, the second dielectric plate 52, the pair of connecting members 53, and the connecting shaft 46 that connects the driving body 45 and the first dielectric plate 51. is there. In addition, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, about the other phase shift parts 10b-10f, it is comprised similarly to the phase shift part 10a. The pair of drive bodies 45 are formed with engagement regions 45a to 45f (see FIG. 3) with which the respective connecting shafts 46 of the phase shift portions 10a to 10f are engaged. The configuration of the engagement regions 45a to 45f will be described later.

  The substrate 20 is disposed in parallel between the first ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32 at equal intervals. The wiring pattern of the substrate 20 and the first ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32 form a triplate line that constitutes the transmission line 1. The phase shift unit 10 a includes a first dielectric plate 51 disposed between the first ground plate 31 and the substrate 20, and a second dielectric plate 52 disposed between the second ground plate 32 and the substrate 20. And a pair of connecting members 53 that connect the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52.

  The first dielectric plate 51 is connected to the driving body 45 by the connecting shaft 46 and moves along the moving direction A together with the driving body 45. One end of the connecting shaft 46 is fixed to the first dielectric plate 51 by bonding, for example. Further, since the second dielectric plate 52 is connected to the first dielectric plate 51 by a pair of connecting members 53, when the driving body 45 is driven by the actuator, the moving direction A together with the first dielectric plate 51. Move along. The connecting member 53 is inserted into a long hole 20 a formed in the substrate 20, and one end is fixed to the first dielectric plate 51 and the other end is fixed to the second dielectric plate 52.

  The signal conductor 2 in the region P sandwiched between the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 has two linear portions 2a arranged in parallel to each other, and tip portions of the linear portions 2a (see FIG. 5 (b) and a connecting portion 2b for connecting the right end portions), and is formed in a substantially U shape in plan view as a whole. The connecting portion between the straight line portion 2a and the connecting portion 2b has a chamfered shape.

  The first dielectric plate 51 has a flat plate-like first plate-like portion 510 made of a dielectric at least partially facing the signal conductor 2 (the linear portion 2a and the connecting portion 2b on one surface side of the substrate 20), A pair of first outer protrusions 511 protruding from the first plate-like portion 510 toward the first ground plate 31 side, and a pair of first inner protrusions 512 protruding from the first plate-like portion 510 toward the substrate 20 side are provided. Yes. Similarly, the second dielectric plate 52 is a flat plate-like second plate-like portion made of a dielectric at least partially facing the signal conductor 2 (the straight portion 2a and the connecting portion 2b on the other surface side of the substrate 20). 520, a pair of second outer protrusions 521 that protrude from the second plate-shaped portion 520 to the second ground plate 32 side, and a pair of second inner protrusions 522 that protrude from the second plate-shaped portion 520 to the substrate 20 side. Have.

  In the present embodiment, the first plate-like portion 510 is made of a dielectric that is integral with the pair of first outer protrusions 511 and the pair of first inner protrusions 512. The second plate-like portion 520 is made of a dielectric that is integral with the pair of second outer protrusions 521 and the pair of second inner protrusions 522.

  The dielectric material of the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 is not particularly limited. For example, LCP (liquid crystal polymer), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), POM (polyacetal), PPS (polyphenylene) Sulfide), PC (polycarbonate), PPE (polyphenylene ether) can be used.

  The moving mechanism 4 moves the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 in parallel with the substrate 20. In the present embodiment, the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 are rectangular in a plan view as viewed from the direction perpendicular to the substrate 20, and the moving direction of the moving mechanism 4 is the longitudinal direction. It is arranged to become.

  When the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 move along the moving direction A, the signal conductor 2 (the straight portion 2a and the connecting portion 2b), the first plate-like portion 510, and the second plate-like portion. The area facing 520 changes, and the phase of the signal propagating through the signal conductor 2 changes. As a result, the effective dielectric constant of the triplate line changes, and the electric line length changes accordingly, so that the phase of the signal propagating through the transmission line 1 changes.

  One end of each of the pair of connecting members 53 is fitted into a fitting hole 510 a formed in the first plate-like portion 510 of the first dielectric plate 51, and the other end thereof is the second dielectric plate 52. The two plate-like portions 520 are fitted into fitting holes 520a. Note that both ends of the connecting member 53 may be fixed by close fitting into the fitting holes 510a and 520a, or may be fixed by an adhesive.

  The first dielectric plate 51 is configured such that a distance between the first plate-like portion 510 and the signal conductor 2 is maintained by a pair of first inner protrusions 512, and the first plate-like portion 510 and the first first protrusions 511 The distance from the ground plate 31 is maintained. In addition, the second dielectric plate 52 has a pair of second inner protrusions 522 that keep the distance between the second plate-like portion 520 and the signal conductor 2, and the pair of second outer protrusions 521 and the second plate-like portion 520. The distance from the second ground plate 32 is maintained.

  Hereinafter, a portion where the signal conductor 2 and the first plate-like portion 510 and the second plate-like portion 520 in the phase shifter 10 overlap is referred to as an overlapping portion 61, and a portion where the signal conductor 2 does not overlap is referred to as a non-overlapping portion 62. The non-overlapping portion 62 is a portion where the signal conductor 2 and the first and second ground plates 31 and 32 face each other with an air layer interposed therebetween.

  The phase shifter 10 changes the phase of the signal transmitted through the signal conductor 2 by moving the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 by the driving body 45 and changing the area of the overlapping portion 61. Let The phase of the signal is delayed as the area of the overlapping portion 61 increases, and progresses as the area of the overlapping portion 61 decreases. Accordingly, in FIG. 5A, the phase of the signal is changed to the reference position by moving the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 from a certain reference position to the left side of the figure (the base end side of the linear portion 2a). The phase of the signal can be advanced from the phase at the reference position by moving the dielectric from the reference position to the right side of the figure (the tip side of the straight line portion 2a, the connection portion 2b side).

  Further, the phase shifter 10 includes transformer parts 7A and 7B for matching impedance between the overlapping part 61 and the non-overlapping part 62 (see FIG. 5A). Here, the transformer part 7A is formed at the signal input side and output side ends (the base end side of the straight part 2a) of the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52, and a straight line Since the moving mechanism 4 is configured to move the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 along the longitudinal direction of the portion 2a, the transformer unit 7A includes the first dielectric plate 51 and the first dielectric plate 51. Even if the two-dielectric plate 52 is moved in the horizontal direction in the figure, it is always located at the signal input side and output side ends.

  In the phase shifter 10, the transformer parts 7A and 7B are provided on the high impedance part 7a provided on the overlapping part 61 side and on the non-overlapping part 62 side of the high impedance part 7a, and have a characteristic impedance higher than that of the high impedance part 7a. Is provided with a low impedance portion 7b. The effective dielectric constant between the signal conductor 2 and the first ground plate 31 and the second ground plate 32 in the high impedance portion 7a is effective between the signal conductor 2 and the first and second ground plates 31 and 32 in the low impedance portion 7b. Lower than dielectric constant.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the lengths La ₁ and La ₂ along the signal conductor 2 of the high impedance portion 7a and the lengths Lb ₁ and Lb ₂ along the signal conductor 2 of the low impedance portion 7b are The length is adjusted so that the impedance can be matched between the overlapping portion 61 and the non-overlapping portion 62.

In the phase shifter 10 illustrated in FIG. 4, the characteristic impedance of the overlapping part 61 is 21Ω, the characteristic impedance of the non-overlapping part 62 is 50Ω, and the characteristic impedance of the high impedance part 7a of the transformer parts 7A and 7B is 50Ω. The characteristic impedance of the impedance unit 7b is 21Ω. The first transformer section 7A adjusts the lengths La ₁ and Lb ₁ of the impedance sections 7a and 7b to thereby adjust the characteristic impedance (intermediate between the non-overlapping section 62 and the overlapping section 61 and the non-overlapping section 62. (Referred to as characteristic impedance). The second transformer section 7B is configured to impedance match the intermediate characteristic impedance and the overlapping section 61 by adjusting the lengths La ₂ and Lb ₂ of the impedance sections 7a and 7b. That is, in the phase shifter 10, the transformer units 7 </ b> A and 7 </ b> B are configured to perform impedance matching between the overlapping portion 61 and the non-overlapping portion 62 in two stages.

(Operation of antenna device equipped with phase shifter)
When the antenna device 11 is installed on the antenna tower, the control unit 40 drives the electric motor 41 according to a necessary beam tilt angle. When the electric motor 41 is driven, the linear motion member 44 is moved by the movement force converted by the rotation / linear motion conversion unit 42, and the movement force is transferred through the drive body 45 and the connecting shaft 46. It is applied to the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 of the phase portions 10a to 10f. Then, as the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 move along the moving direction A, the area of the overlapping portion 61 is adjusted according to the beam tilt angle in the phase shift portions 10a to 10f. .

  In the present embodiment, the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 have opposite longitudinal directions in the phase shift portions 10a, 10c, 10d and the phase shift portions 10b, 10e, 10f. In addition, a first dielectric plate 51 and a second dielectric plate 52 are arranged. As a result, when the amount of phase shift of the phase shift portions 10a, 10c, and 10d increases due to the advance / retreat movement of the driver 45, the amount of phase shift of the phase shift portions 10b, 10e, and 10f decreases. As described above, the antenna device 11 moves the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 of each of the phase shift portions 10a to 10f by the moving mechanism 4 to move the antenna device 11 from the antenna element 13 at a desired beam tilt angle. It is possible to radiate signal waves.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the relative position of the moving direction A with respect to the drive body 45 of the 1st dielectric plate 51 and the 2nd dielectric plate 52 in each phase shift part 10a-10f is adjustable. Hereinafter, a configuration for adjusting the positions of the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate 52 with respect to the driver 45 in the phase shifter 10a will be described.

  FIG. 7 shows the first ground plate 31 in which the first dielectric plate 51 of the phase shift portion 10a, the connecting shaft 46 fixed to the first dielectric plate 51, and the long hole 31a through which the connecting shaft 46 is inserted. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of the engagement area 45a and an engagement region 45a of the drive body 45. FIG.

  In the engagement region 45 a of the drive body 45, engagement portions that can engage the connecting shaft 46 are provided at a plurality of locations along the movement direction A. In the present embodiment, first to third engaging portions 451 to 453 are provided side by side along the movement direction A. In the present embodiment, the connecting shaft 46 has a quadrangular prism shape, and the first to third engaging portions 451 to 453 are formed by fitting holes having a rectangular cross section into which one end of the connecting shaft 46 is fitted. ing. In other words, the driving body 45 is formed with three fitting holes into which one end of the connecting shaft 46 is fitted as first to third engaging portions 451 to 453.

  The connecting shaft 46 is inserted through the long hole 31 a formed in the first ground plate 31 along the moving direction A and is engaged with any of the first to third engaging portions 451 to 453. The first dielectric plate 51 selects the one engaging portion with which the connecting shaft 46 is engaged among the first to third engaging portions 451 to 453, so that the position in the moving direction A with respect to the driving body 45 is set. It can be adjusted. For example, when the position of the first dielectric plate 51 when the connecting shaft 46 is engaged with the second engaging portion 452 is the reference position, the connecting shaft 46 is engaged with the first engaging portion 451. When the first dielectric plate 51 is located above the reference position (on the antenna cap 301 side) and the connecting shaft 46 is engaged with the third engagement portion 453, the first dielectric plate 51 is Located below the reference position (on the antenna cap 302 side). Thereby, the amount of phase change is adjusted.

  The length of the long hole 31 a in the longitudinal direction of the first ground plate 31 is the distance from the first engaging portion 451 to the third engaging portion 453 in addition to the amount of movement of the first dielectric plate 51 by the moving mechanism 4. It is determined in consideration of distance.

  Although not shown, the first to third engagement portions 451 to 453 are formed in the other engagement regions 45b to 45f as well as the engagement region 45a. The connecting shaft 46 fixed to the first dielectric plate 51 of the phase shift portions 10b to 10f is engaged with any of the engaging portions 451 to 453. Thereby, also about the phase shift parts 10b-10f, the position of the 1st dielectric board 51 of the moving direction A with respect to the drive body 45 is adjustable similarly to the phase shift part 10a.

  Adjustment of the position of the first dielectric plate 51 with respect to the driver 45 is performed based on the measurement result of the radiation direction of the electromagnetic wave radiated from each antenna element 13 (radiation direction of the main beam), for example. That is, as a result of the measurement of the radiation direction of the electromagnetic wave, if it is determined that the position of the first dielectric plate 51 with respect to the driving body 45 needs to be adjusted in any of the phase shift portions 10a to 10f, the driving of the moving mechanism 4 is performed. The body 45 is removed from the first ground plate 31, the position of the first dielectric plate 51 is adjusted by shifting the position of the connecting shaft 46 protruding from the long hole 31a, and then the drive body 45 is assembled again. Thereby, the amount of phase change is adjusted, and the radiation direction of the electromagnetic wave can be brought close to a desired direction.

  According to the first embodiment described above, the relative position between the driver 45 and the first dielectric plate 51 can be easily adjusted, and thus the first dielectric plate 51 and the second dielectric plate can be adjusted. It is possible to adjust the amount of change in signal phase caused by the body plate 52.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, the first to third engagement portions 451 to 453 are provided in the engagement region 45a of the drive body 45, and the connecting shaft 46 has a quadrangular prism shape. In the embodiment, first to fifth engaging portions 451 to 455 are provided in the engaging region 45a of the driving body 45A, and the shape of the connecting shaft 46A is different from that of the first embodiment. Since other configurations are the same, this difference will be described mainly.

  FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing the driving body 45A, the first ground plate 31, the connecting shaft 46A, and the first dielectric plate 51 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8B is a plan view showing the driving body 45A. FIG. 8C is an end view showing the distal end surface of the connecting shaft 46A viewed from the central axis direction.

  The first to fifth engaging portions 451 to 455 have a rectangular shape whose opening is the long side direction in the width direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the driving body 45A. Further, the first to fifth engaging portions 451 to 455 are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the driving body 45A.

  The connecting shaft 46 </ b> A includes a columnar base 461 whose base end is fixed to the first dielectric plate 51, and a protrusion 462 that protrudes from the distal end surface 461 a of the base 461 to the opposite side of the first dielectric plate 51. Is integrated. The protrusion 462 has a flat plate shape, and the shape of the protrusion 462 in a cross section orthogonal to the central axis of the connecting shaft 46A is such that the moving direction of the first dielectric plate 51 (longitudinal direction of the driving body 45A) is the short side direction. It is rectangular.

  The protrusion 462 at one end of the connecting shaft 46A is fitted into any of the first to fifth engaging portions 451 to 455, and moves together with the driving body 45A. That is, in the driving body 45A, fitting holes into which the protrusions 462 of the connecting shaft 46A are fitted are formed as first to fifth engaging portions 451 to 455, and the first to fifth engaging portions 451 to 455 are formed. The position of the first dielectric plate 51 with respect to the driving body 45A can be adjusted by selecting one engaging portion with which the connecting shaft 46A is engaged.

  As shown in FIG. 8C, the width w in the short side direction of the protrusion 462 is narrower than the diameter D of the base 461. That is, the connecting shaft 46 </ b> A has a width in the moving direction at one end (projecting portion 462) that fits in any of the first to fifth engaging portions 451 to 455, as compared with the first dielectric plate 51. It is narrower than the width in the moving direction at the side portion (base portion 461).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the adjustment pitch P of the position of the first dielectric plate 51 in the moving direction with respect to the driving body 45A is set to two engaging portions (for example, the first dielectric plate 51) adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction of the driving body 45A. 1 is an interval between the central portions of the first engaging portion 451 and the second engaging portion 452). In the present embodiment, the adjustment pitch P is narrower than the diameter D of the base portion 461.

  The operation of the antenna device including the driving body 45A and the connecting shaft 46A configured as described above and the adjustment of the change amount of the signal phase are performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Further, according to the present embodiment, the adjustment pitch P of the position of the first dielectric plate 51 with respect to the driving body 45A can be made narrower than in the first embodiment, so that the amount of change in the signal phase can be adjusted. It becomes possible to carry out with higher accuracy.

(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] A signal conductor (2) which is arranged in parallel with an electrically grounded conductive plate and constitutes a transmission line (1) of a signal transmitted via an antenna element (13), and the conductive plate (first 1 ground plate 31) and a dielectric plate (first dielectric plate 51) made of a dielectric disposed between the signal conductor (2) and the dielectric plate (51) as the conductive plate (31). ) And a moving mechanism (4) that moves in a predetermined direction (moving direction A), and when the dielectric plate (51) moves in the predetermined direction, the signal conductor (2) and the dielectric A phase shifter (10) in which an area facing the body plate (51) changes and a phase of a signal propagating through the transmission line (1) changes, wherein the moving mechanism (4) includes the conductive plate ( 31) and the driving body (45 / 45A) disposed opposite to the driving body (45) Actuator (electric motor 41, rotation / linear motion conversion unit 42, and linear motion member 44) that moves in the direction, and a connecting shaft (46 / 46A) that connects the driving body (45) and the dielectric plate (51). The drive body (45 / 45A) includes an engagement portion (first to third engagement portions 451 to 453 / first to fifth) with which the connecting shaft (46 / 46A) can be engaged. Engaging portions 451-455) are provided at a plurality of locations along the predetermined direction, and the dielectric plate (51) is provided at the engaging portions (451-453 / 451-455) provided at the plurality of locations. ), The position in the predetermined direction with respect to the driving body (45 / 45A) can be adjusted by selecting one engaging portion with which the connecting shaft (46 / 46A) engages. (10).

[2] The connecting shaft (46 / 46A) is inserted through the long hole (31a) formed in the conductive plate (31) along the predetermined direction, and the engaging portion (451-453 / 451). 455). The phase shifter (10) according to the above [1].

[3] In the driving body (45 / 45A), a fitting hole into which one end portion of the connecting shaft (46 / 46A) is fitted is formed as the engaging portion (451 to 453/451 to 455). The phase shifter (10) according to [1] or [2].

[4] In the connecting shaft (46A), the width (w) in the predetermined direction at the one end (projection 462) that fits into the fitting hole is larger than that at the one end. The phase shifter (10) according to the above [3], which is narrower than the width (D) in the predetermined direction at the side portion.

[5] The adjustment pitch (P) of the position of the dielectric plate (51) in the predetermined direction with respect to the driving body (45A) is more than the one end (462) of the connecting shaft (46A). The phase shifter (10) according to the above [4], which is narrower than the width (D) in the predetermined direction in the part (base 461) on the plate (51) side.

[6] An antenna device (11) including the phase shifter (10) according to any one of [1] to [5].

  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 ... Transmission line 10 ... Phase shifter 11 ... Antenna apparatus 13 ... Antenna element 2 ... Signal conductor 31 ... 1st ground board (conductive board)
31a ... long hole 32 ... ground plate 33 ... horizontal polarization coaxial cable 34 ... vertical polarization coaxial cable 35 ... guide member 4 ... moving mechanism 41 ... electric motor (actuator)
42 ... Rotational linear motion conversion part (actuator)
44 ... Linear motion member (actuator)
45, 45A ... driving bodies 451-455 ... first to fifth engaging portions 46, 46A ... connecting shaft 51 ... first dielectric plate

Claims (6)

A signal conductor disposed in parallel with the electrically grounded conductive plate and constituting a transmission line of a signal transmitted through the antenna element;
A dielectric plate made of a dielectric disposed between the conductive plate and the signal conductor;
A moving mechanism for moving the dielectric plate in a predetermined direction parallel to the conductive plate,
The phase shifter in which the opposing area of the signal conductor and the dielectric plate changes as the dielectric plate moves in the predetermined direction, and the phase of the signal propagating through the transmission line changes,
The moving mechanism is
A driving body disposed opposite to the conductive plate;
An actuator for moving the driver in the predetermined direction;
A connecting shaft that connects the driver and the dielectric plate;
The drive body is provided with engaging portions engageable with the connecting shaft at a plurality of locations along the predetermined direction,
The dielectric plate can be adjusted in position in the predetermined direction with respect to the driving body by selecting one engaging portion with which the connecting shaft engages among the engaging portions provided at the plurality of locations. Is,
Phase shifter. The connecting shaft is inserted through a long hole formed in the conductive plate along the predetermined direction to engage with the engaging portion.
The phase shifter according to claim 1. In the drive body, a fitting hole into which one end portion of the coupling shaft is fitted is formed as the engaging portion.
The phase shifter according to claim 1 or 2. The connecting shaft has a width in the predetermined direction at the one end that is fitted into the fitting hole, which is narrower than a width in the predetermined direction at a portion on the dielectric plate side than the one end.
The phase shifter according to claim 3. The adjustment pitch of the position of the dielectric plate in the predetermined direction with respect to the driving body is narrower than the width of the predetermined direction in the portion on the dielectric plate side than the one end of the connecting shaft.
The phase shifter according to claim 4. The phase shifter according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided.
Antenna device.

Images