JP4156647B2 - Multi-branch distribution phase shifter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a multi-branch distribution phase shifter, and more particularly to a multi-branch distribution phase shifter applied to a phase circuit or the like that controls the tilt angle of an array antenna.

In an array antenna for a mobile phone base station or the like, the tilt angle of the radiation beam radiated from the array antenna in each base station is controlled, for example, for the purpose of optimizing the service area of the base station. .
In order to change the tilt angle of the radiation beam, it is necessary to change the phase distribution of the excitation power supplied to each array antenna element by a phase shifter.
As this phase shifter, for example, a distributed phase shifter described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 below is known.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional distributed phase shifter.
The distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 7 includes an input-side strip conductor 3 and an annular output-side strip conductor 2 that is partially opened on a dielectric substrate 10. One end on the ring center (center axis is indicated by P) side is arranged at the center of the ring of the output side strip conductor 2.
Moreover, it has a sliding part (5a, 5b) which slides on the output side strip conductor 2, The length is (lambda) / 4 on either side, and both ends of the output side strip conductor 2 are Each becomes an output end. Further, one end of the arm portion 5c on the center side of the ring is arranged at the center of the ring.
Then, a high dielectric constant insulator (4a, 4b), which is an insulating material of a general high-frequency electric wire such as polyfluorinated ethylene, is output to the arm portion 5c, the input side strip conductor 3, and the sliding portion (5a, 5b). They are respectively interposed between the side strip conductors 2.
In the distributed phase shifter shown in FIG. 7, the high frequency signal input from the input side strip conductor 3 is coupled to the arm portion 5c through the high dielectric constant insulator 4a, and passes through this to the left and right sliding portions at the tip. (5a, 5b) is reached. The left and right sliding portions (5a, 5b) are coupled to the output side strip conductor 2 via the high dielectric constant insulator 4b.
Then, by rotating the arm portion, it is possible to give a predetermined phase difference between the excitation power output from both ends of the output side strip conductor 2.

As prior art documents related to the invention of the present application, there are the following.
JP-A-5-121915 JP 2000-196302 A

However, as can be seen from FIG. 7, the distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 7 can only distribute the input high-frequency signal into two.
Therefore, a multi-branch distribution phase shifter as shown in FIG. 8 is used to distribute an input high-frequency signal by three or more distributions and to obtain an output having a predetermined phase difference.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a conventional multi-branch distribution phase shifter. In FIG. 8, 30a, 30b, and 30c are distribution phase shifters shown in FIG. 7, 31 is a 3-distributor, and 32 is a link mechanism (or gear mechanism).
In the multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 8, the input high frequency signal is divided into three by the three distributor 31, and the three distributed high frequency signals are respectively distributed to the distribution phase shifters (30a, 30b, 30c). By inputting and rotating the conductor slider in synchronization with the link mechanism (or gear mechanism) 32, a desired phase difference is provided between the distribution phase shifters (30a, 30b, 30c), and each distribution is performed. Excitation power having a predetermined phase difference between the outputs of the phase shifters (30a, 30b, 30c) can be obtained.
However, the multi-branch distribution phaser shown in FIG. 8 requires a link mechanism (or gear mechanism) 32 together with the distributor 31, has a complicated configuration, has a large area, and has a large number of parts, so that the cost is high. There was a problem.
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a multi-branch distribution phase that is simple in configuration, small in area, and further capable of reducing cost. To provide a vessel.
The above and other objects and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

Of the inventions disclosed in this application, the outline of typical ones will be briefly described as follows.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a dielectric substrate and annulus (n ≧ 2) formed on the dielectric substrate and arranged concentrically around an arbitrary point. Assuming that the first to n-th rings from the smallest radius among the (n ≧ 2) rings are part of the first to n-th rings, respectively. A first to n-th output-side strip conductor having an arc shape and having both ends as output ends; and an input-side strip conductor formed on the dielectric substrate and having one end positioned at the center of the ring 1st to nth sliding portions each having a circular arc shape that constitutes a part of the 1st to nth annular rings and shorter in length than the output side strip conductor, and the 1st to nth The sliding part of the ring rotates around the center of the ring And a capacity of the arm portion, the arm portion is at one end of the center side of the circular ring, which has a conductor formed ring-shaped to surround the center of the ring, one end conductor of the ring-shaped To the other end side and having the first to nth arc-shaped sliding portions on the other end side, the first to nth output side strip conductors, and the first In addition, an insulator is interposed between the n-th arc-shaped sliding portion and between the input-side strip conductor and the arm portion .

The effects obtained by the representative ones of the inventions disclosed in the present application will be briefly described as follows.
According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a multi-branch distribution phase shifter having a simple configuration, a small area, and capable of reducing cost.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, parts having the same functions are given the same reference numerals, and repeated explanation thereof is omitted.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a multi-branch distribution phase shifter according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The multi-branch distribution phase shifter of this embodiment includes three arc-shaped output side strip conductors (2a, 2b, 2c) partially opened on the dielectric substrate 10, the input side strip conductor 3, Is placed. A ground conductor (not shown) is formed on the back surface of the dielectric substrate 10.
Here, assuming three circular rings arranged concentrically with an arbitrary point as the center (the central axis is indicated by P), the first to third of the three circular rings having the smallest diameter The output side strip conductor (2a) constitutes a part of the first ring, and the output side strip conductor (2b) constitutes a part of the second ring, The side strip conductor (2c) constitutes a part of the third annular ring, and both ends of each output side strip conductor (2a, 2b, 2c) are respectively connected to output ends (here, six output ends). )
Also, sliding portions (7a, 7b, 7c) are provided on the output side strip conductors (2a, 2b, 2c), respectively. Each sliding part (7a, 7b, 7c) slides on each output side strip conductor (2a, 2b, 2c), and the length of the arc shape of each sliding part (7a, 7b, 7c) is , Λo / 2 (λo is the design center frequency) or less.

Each sliding portion (7a, 7b, 7c) can be rotated around the center of the ring (center axis P in FIG. 1) by an arm portion having a first line 6b and a second line 6c. Is done.
As shown in FIG. 2, the arm portion has a ring-shaped conductor 6 a formed at one end on the center side of the ring so as to surround the center of the ring. The input-side strip conductor 3 also has a ring-shaped conductor 3a formed so as to surround the center of the ring, and the ring-shaped conductor 3a of the input-side strip conductor 3 and the ring-shaped conductor 6a of the arm portion. Between the two, an insulator 4a is disposed.
The insulator 4b is also disposed between each sliding portion (7a, 7b, 7c) and each output side strip conductor (2a, 2b, 2c). Here, the insulators (4a, 4b) are made of, for example, an insulating material for a general high-frequency electric wire such as polyfluorinated ethylene.
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the first line 6b and the second line 6c are arranged at equal intervals (T1 = T2) from the center of each sliding portion (7a, 7b, 7c). Connected to the moving parts (7a, 7b, 7c).

Also in the distributed phase shifter of the present embodiment, the high frequency signal input from the input side strip conductor 3 reaches the ring-shaped conductor 3a, and the ring-shaped conductor 6a of the arm portion via the high dielectric constant insulator 4a. Combined, passes through the first line 6b and the second line 6c, reaches each sliding part (7a, 7b, 7c), and the high dielectric constant insulator at each sliding part (7a, 7b, 7c) The output side strip conductors (2a, 2b, 2c) are coupled to each other through 4b.
Then, by inserting a rotation shaft into the center of the ring (P in FIG. 1) and rotating the rotation shaft to rotate the arm portion, that is, by rotating each sliding portion (7a, 7b, 7c), The excitation power output from both ends of each output side strip conductor (2a, 2b, 2c) has a desired phase difference between each output side strip conductor (2a, 2b, 2c), and each output side Excitation power having a predetermined phase difference can be obtained between the terminals of the strip conductors (2a, 2b, 2c).
In addition, between the ring-shaped conductor 6a of the arm portion and the first sliding portion 7a, or the line width of the first line 6b and the second line 6c between the sliding portions is reduced. By changing the characteristic impedances of the first line 6b and the second line 6c reaching the sliding parts (7a, 7b, 7c) by the method, the respective output side strip conductors (2a, 2b, 2c) It is possible to change the amplitude ratio of the high-frequency signal output from.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a modified example of the multi-branch distribution phase shifter according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 4 is different from the multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 1 in that the output-side strip conductor is composed of two output-side strip conductors (2a, 2b). However, since the other configuration is the same as that of the multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 1, detailed description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 5 is a graph showing simulation results of distribution loss characteristics and return loss characteristics of an example of the multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG.
The graph shown in FIG. 5 is a graph showing the results of calculation with the characteristic impedance of the input side strip conductor 3 and each output side strip conductor (2a, 2b) as 50Ω.
In the graph of FIG. 5, the horizontal axis is frequency, one scale is 0.5 GHz, the vertical axis is attenuation, and one scale is (−5 dB).

A curve indicated by A in FIG. 5 indicates the return loss of the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4). Further, the curve shown in FIG. 5B shows the distribution loss from the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (O2 in FIG. 4), and the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (in FIG. 4). The distribution loss to O3) is shown.
Further, the curve shown in FIG. 5C shows the distribution loss from the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (O4 in FIG. 4) and the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (in FIG. 4). The distribution loss to O5) is shown.
The distribution loss from the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (O2 in FIG. 4) and the distribution loss from the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (O3 in FIG. 4) are almost the same. In FIG. 5, the curve B is drawn as a single curve.
Similarly, the distribution loss from the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (O4 in FIG. 4) and the distribution loss from the input terminal (O1 in FIG. 4) to the output terminal (O5 in FIG. 4) In order to show substantially the same characteristics, the curve C is drawn as a single curve in FIG.
As can be seen from the distribution loss characteristics (B, C) shown in FIG. 5, in the multi-branch distribution phase shifter of the present embodiment, the distribution loss has a substantially constant value.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a modified example of the multi-branch distribution phase shifter according to the embodiment of the present invention.
The multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 6 is different from the multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG. 1 in that the arm portion is composed of a single first line 6b. Since this is the same as the multi-branch distribution phase shifter shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the arm portion is composed of the first line 6b and the second line 6c. As shown in FIG. 6, the arm portion is composed of a single first line 6b. The phase of the broadband high-frequency signal can be varied as compared with the case of doing so.
In the above description, the length of the arc shape of each sliding portion (7a, 7b, 7c) has been described in the case of λo / 2, but the arc shape of each sliding portion (7a, 7b, 7c) The length of is (2 × λo) / 5 ≦ Lo ≦ (3 × λo) / 5, more preferably, where Lo is the length of the arc shape of each sliding portion (7a, 7b, 7c). It is desirable that (9 × λo) / 20 ≦ Lo ≦ (11 × λo) / 20.
As mentioned above, the invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the above embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Of course.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the multibranch distribution phase shifter of the Example of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between the arm part of the multibranch distribution phase shifter of the Example of this invention, and an input side strip conductor. It is a figure for demonstrating the relationship between the sliding part of the distribution phase shifter of the Example of this invention, and a 1st track | line and a 2nd track | line. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the modification of the multi-branch distribution phase shifter of the Example of this invention. It is a graph which shows the simulation result of the distribution loss characteristic and return loss characteristic of an example of the multi-branch distribution phase shifter of the Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the modification of the multi-branch distribution phase shifter of the Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the conventional distribution phase shifter. It is a top view which shows an example of the conventional multibranch distribution phase shifter.

Explanation of symbols

2, 2a, 2b, 2c Output side strip conductor 3 Input side strip conductor 3a, 6a Ring-shaped conductor 4a, 4b High dielectric constant insulator 5a, 5b, 7a, 7b, 7c Sliding part 5c Arm part 6b First Line 6c Second line 10 Dielectric substrate 11 Rotating substrate 30a, 30b, 30c Distribution phase shifter 31 3 Divider 32 Link mechanism (or gear mechanism)

Claims (1)

A dielectric substrate ;
Assuming (n ≧ 2) rings that are formed on the dielectric substrate and arranged concentrically around an arbitrary point, the radius among the (n ≧ 2) rings is assumed. When the first to n-th rings are selected from the smallest, the first to n-th rings have arc shapes that form part of the first to n-th rings, and both ends are output ends. The output side strip conductor,
An input-side strip conductor formed on the dielectric substrate and having one end positioned at the center of the ring;
First to nth sliding portions each having an arc shape that constitutes a part of the first to nth annular rings and shorter in length than the output side strip conductor;
The first to nth sliding portions, and an arm portion rotatable around the center of the ring,
The arm portion has a ring-shaped conductor formed at one end on the center side of the ring so as to surround the center of the ring,
A first line and a second line having one end connected to the ring-shaped conductor and the other end side having the first to n-th arc-shaped sliding portions;
Insulators are interposed between the first to nth output side strip conductors and the first to nth arcuate sliding portions, and between the input side strip conductors and the arm portions. A multi-branch distribution phase shifter characterized by that.

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