KR101600831B1 - Phase shifter - Google Patents

Abstract

A phase shifter with reduced size is disclosed. The phase shifter includes a first signal line, a second signal line arranged outside the first signal line while being spaced apart from the first signal line, and a power supply element arranged to cross the signal lines. Here, the power supply element includes first and second conductor lines spaced apart from each other.

Description

PHASE SHIFTER

The present invention relates to a phase shifter.

A phase shifter is an element used for phase shifting in an antenna, and generally has the structure shown in Fig.

1 is a view schematically showing a structure of a general phase shifter.

Referring to FIG. 1, a phase shifter has a feed line 104 formed across signal lines 100 and 102, and a conductive line 106 is formed under a feed line 104.

In the phase shifter of FIG. 1, the feed line 104 is formed in a straight line shape and the conductive line 106 is formed in a straight line from the center to the second signal line 102, so that the size of the phase shifter can not be reduced .

Korean Patent Publication No. 2002-0096092 (Disclosure Date: December 31, 2002)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a reduced-size phase shifter.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phase shifter including: a first signal line; A second signal line arranged outside the first signal line while being spaced apart from the first signal line; And a power supply element arranged to cross the signal lines. Here, the power supply element includes first and second conductor lines spaced apart from each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phase shifter including: a first signal line; A second signal line arranged outside the first signal line while being spaced apart from the first signal line; And a first feeding element and a second feeding element arranged to cross the signal lines. The first feed element includes a first conductor line extending from a specific point to the first signal line. The second feed element includes a first conductor line extending from the first signal line to the second signal line, 2 conductor lines.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a phase shifter including: a first signal line; A second signal line arranged outside the first signal line while being spaced apart from the first signal line; A first conductor line formed from a specific point to the first signal line; And a second conductor line formed from the first signal line to the second signal line. Here, the conductor lines are spaced apart from each other.

The phase shifter according to the present invention can reduce the size through the design of the bent structure and consequently the conductor line.

1 is a view schematically showing a structure of a general phase shifter.
2 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The present invention relates to a phase shifter used for varying the phase of an RF signal in an antenna, in particular, a base station antenna, and a phase shifter having a reduced size in comparison with a conventional phase shifter.

According to one embodiment, the phase shifter of the present invention may have a power supply element of a structure different from that of the prior art.

Hereinafter, various structures and operations of the phase shifter of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 (A), the phase shifter of the present embodiment may include a dielectric substrate (not shown), signal lines 200 and 202, a rotation axis 204, and a power supply element 206.

The dielectric substrate is made of a dielectric material, and a ground plate can be formed under the dielectric substrate.

The first signal line 200 is formed of a conductive material as a transmission path of an RF signal (electric power), and may be formed on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate. According to one embodiment, the first signal line 200 may have a curved shape, and the terminations may be electrically connected to the corresponding radiator 210, respectively.

The second signal line 202 may be formed of a conductive material as a transmission path of an RF signal, and may be spaced apart from the first signal line 200 on the upper surface of the dielectric substrate. According to one embodiment, the second signal line 202 may have a curved shape and be arranged outside the first signal line 200, and the terminations may be electrically connected to the corresponding radiator 210, respectively. Also, the arc length of the second signal line 202 may be greater than the arc length of the first signal line 200.

The rotation axis 204 serves to rotate the power supply element 206. For example, when the direction of the beam output from the antenna is to be changed, the rotation axis 204 can be rotated according to external control.

The power feeding element 206 is arranged in a direction intersecting with the signal lines 200 and 202 to transmit a power (RF signal), and may be implemented, for example, in the form of a line. The power feeding element 206 can rotate in accordance with the rotation of the rotating shaft 204.

According to one embodiment, the power feeding element 206 has a bent shape and includes a dielectric portion made of a dielectric material as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and conductor lines (not shown) formed on the lower surface of the dielectric portion 208a and 208b.

At this time, the conductor lines 208a and 208b may be separated from each other. Specifically, the first conductor line 208a is connected to the first signal line 200 at a point (hereinafter, referred to as " input tap ") which corresponds to the rotation axis 204 of the power supply element 206 And the second conductor line 208b is formed to a point corresponding to the first signal line 200 spaced apart from the tab A of the power supply element 206 by a predetermined distance , "Tab B") to the point where the second signal line 202 meets. That is, the conductor lines 208a and 208b are not formed along the signal line 200 or 202, but are formed between the rotation axis 204 and the first signal line 200 and between the signal lines 200 and 202 .

In this structure, the transmission process of the RF signal will be described.

An RF signal input in the direction of the rotation axis 204 through an input line (not shown) is transmitted along the first conductor line 208a of the power feeding element 206. [ In practice, the RF signal is transmitted along the first conductor line 208a through the dielectric layer between the first conductor line 208a and the ground plate formed on the lower surface of the dielectric substrate.

Then, the RF signal is transmitted from the tap A to the first signal line 200 through a coupling method, and the transmitted RF signal is transmitted to the tap A of the first signal line 200 To the two sides. That is, a part of the RF signal is transmitted to the radiator 210 through the first signal line 200, and the remaining RF signal is transmitted to the tap B along the first signal line 200. At this time, the RF signal is transmitted through the dielectric layer between the first signal line 200 and the ground plate.

Subsequently, the RF signal is branched at a point corresponding to the tab B of the first signal line 200. Part of the RF signal is transmitted to the corresponding radiator 210 along the first signal line 200 and the remaining RF signal is coupled to the second conductor line 208b of the power supply element 206 through a coupling method. .

Subsequently, the RF signal is transmitted to a point (hereinafter referred to as "tab C") corresponding to the second signal line 202 of the power feeding element 206 through the second conductor line 208b.

Subsequently, the RF signal is transmitted from the tap C to the second signal line 202 through a coupling method.

Then, the RF signal is branched to both sides of the second signal line 202, and the branched RF signals are transmitted to the corresponding radiator 210.

In short, the power feeding element 206 has a bent shape, and the RF signal is transmitted along the path of the arrow shown in FIG. 2 (C) in the power feeding element 206.

Since the feed element 206 has a bent shape and the transmission path of the RF signal has the structure of FIG. 2C, the electrical length of the RF signal transmission path from the input tap to the second signal line 202 is It may be longer than the electrical length of the technology or the size of the phase shifter may be reduced.

Specifically, in the prior art, the feed element 104 has a straight line shape, whereas the phase shifter of the present invention has a shape in which the feed element 206 is bent. If the electrical length of the RF signal transmission path in the power feeding element 206 of the present invention is designed to be the same as the electrical length of the RF signal transmission path in the prior art, due to the structural difference of such phase shifters, The straight line distance to the end of the power feeding element 206 can be made smaller than the straight line distance from the rotation axis of the prior art to the end of the power feeding element 104. [ That is, the distance between the rotation axis 204 of the present invention and the second signal line 202 may be smaller than the distance between the rotation axis of the prior art and the second signal line 102. As a result, the size of the phase shifter of the present invention can be smaller than the size of the phase shifter of the prior art.

In other respects, if the linear distance from the rotation axis 204 of the present invention to the terminating end of the power feeding element 206 is designed to be the same as the straight line distance from the rotating shaft of the prior art to the terminating end of the power feeding element 104, The electrical length of the RF signal transmission path in the element 206 may be longer than the electrical length of the RF signal transmission path in the prior art. As a result, the phase shifter of the present invention can realize a larger phase shift than the phase shifter of the prior art.

3 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the phase shifter of this embodiment may include a dielectric substrate, three signal lines 300, 302 and 304 formed on the dielectric substrate, a rotation axis 306, and a power supply element 308.

The feed element 308 is connected to the tab corresponding to the rotation axis 306 and the tab corresponding to the first signal line 300. [ A second conductor line 310b and a tab D positioned between the tap B and the tab C corresponding to the second signal line 302, And a third conductor line 310c positioned between the second signal line 304 and the tab E corresponding to the third signal line 304. At this time, the tabs A and B are separated from each other, the tabs C and D are also separated from each other, and the power supply element 308 is divided into tabs A, B, C, D).

Since the process of transmitting an RF signal in this structure is similar to that in the first embodiment, the description will be omitted.

In summary, the present embodiment includes three signal lines 300, 302, and 304, unlike the first embodiment including two signal lines 200 and 202. Therefore, the power supply element 308 may have a structure in which the power supply element 308 is folded four times in accordance with the signal lines 300, 302, and 304.

4 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the phase shifter of this embodiment may include a dielectric substrate, three signal lines 400, 402 and 404 formed on the dielectric substrate, a rotation axis 406, and a power supply element 408.

However, unlike in the second embodiment, the power feeding element 408 of this embodiment may have a structure that is folded twice. For example, the power supply element 408 may have a structure that is folded twice in the first signal line 400. The first conductor line 410a is formed between the rotation axis 406 and the first signal line 400 and the second conductor line 410b is formed between the first signal line 400 and the third signal line 404 As shown in Fig.

Since the process of transmitting an RF signal in this structure is similar to that in the first embodiment, the description will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the power supply element 408 may be bent twice at portions corresponding to the second signal line 402 rather than the first signal line 400.

2 through 4, the phase shifter may include two or more signal lines, and the power supply element may be designed according to the structure of the signal lines. At this time, the power feeding element may have a bent structure and may include a plurality of mutually separated conductor lines.

5 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

5, the phase shifter of this embodiment includes a dielectric substrate, signal lines 500, 502, 504 and 506 arranged on the dielectric substrate, a rotation axis 508 and power feed elements 510 and 512 can do.

The signal lines 504 and 506 may be arranged symmetrically with the signal lines 500 and 502 with respect to the rotation axis 508. [

The power feeding elements 510 and 512 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis 508. The first feed element 510 is formed for the signal lines 500 and 502 and the second feed element 512 is formed for the signal lines 504 and 506.

The first feed element 510 is connected to the first conductor line 520a located between the rotation axis 508 and the first signal line 500 and the second conductor line 520b located between the first signal line 500 and the second signal line 502 And a second conductor line 520b.

The first feed element 512 is disposed between the third conductor line 522a located between the rotation axis 508 and the third signal line 504 and between the third signal line 504 and the fourth signal line 506 And a fourth conductor line 520b.

Since the process of transmitting an RF signal in this structure is similar to that in the first embodiment, the description will be omitted.

On the other hand, the number and arrangement of signal lines and the structure and arrangement of the power supply elements are not limited to the structure of FIG. 5, and can be variously modified.

6 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B, the phase shifter of the present embodiment includes a dielectric substrate, signal lines 600 and 602 arranged on the dielectric substrate, a rotation axis 604, and power supply elements 606 and 604. [ 608 < / RTI >

Unlike the first to fourth embodiments in which one power feeding element is arranged to be crossed with signal lines arranged in the same direction with respect to the rotation axis, in the present embodiment, the plurality of power feeding elements 606 and 608 are connected to the rotation axis And the signal lines 600 and 602 arranged in the same direction with respect to the signal line 604.

Unlike the first to fifth embodiments in which one power feeding element includes a plurality of conductor lines, the power feeding elements 606 and 608 of this embodiment each have one conductor line 610 or 612 .

The first feed element 606 extends from the rotation axis 604 to the first signal line 600 and the first conductor line 610 also extends from the rotation axis 604 to the first signal line 600. As a result, the RF signal (power) is transmitted from the rotation axis 604 to the first signal line 600.

The second power feeding element 608 extends from the rotation axis 604 to the second signal line 602 and the second conductor line 612 extends from the first signal line 600 to the second signal line 602 . The RF signal transmitted to the first signal line 600 through the first feed element 608 is transmitted to the second feed element 608 and the first signal line 600 along the first signal line 600 And is coupled from the point to the second feed element 608 and then transmitted to the second signal line 602 through the second feed element 608. [

That is, although the structure of the power feeding elements 606 and 608 of this embodiment is different from the power feeding element 206 of the first embodiment, the transmission path of the RF signal in this embodiment is different from that of the transmission path of the RF signal in the first embodiment . ≪ / RTI >

7 is a view showing a structure of a phase shifter according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

7, the phase shifter of the present embodiment includes a dielectric substrate, signal lines 700 and 702 arranged on the dielectric substrate, a power supply element 706 having a rotation axis 704 and conductor lines 708a and 708b ).

That is, the structure of the phase shifter of this embodiment is similar to that of the phase shifter of the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, a comb line including the stubs 710 may be formed in the first signal line 700. [

When such a comb line is formed in the first signal line 700, the phase velocity of the RF signal traveling through the first signal line 700 becomes slow. As a result, the phase change per unit length of the first signal line 700 in which the comb line is formed can be larger than the phase variation per unit length of the signal line in which the comb line is not formed.

That is, the phase shifter of this embodiment can control the phase variable range by forming the stubs 710. In particular, if the same phase variable range is designed, the size of the phase shifter in which the comb line is formed can be smaller than the size of the phase shifter without comb line. Of course, considering the same size, a phase shifter in which a comb line is formed can realize a wider phase range than a phase shifter without a comb line.

In summary, the phase shifter of this embodiment can further reduce its size by using a combline.

In FIG. 7, a comb line is formed in only the first signal line 700, but a comb line may be formed in the second signal line 702. In addition, a comb line may not be formed in the first signal line 700 and a comb line may be formed in the second signal line 702 alone.

Meanwhile, the interval between the stubs 710, the length and width of the stubs 710, and the like can be varied according to the design purpose.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Should be regarded as belonging to the following claims.

Signal lines 200, 202, 300, 302, 304, 400, 402, 404, 500, 502, 504, 506, 600, 602, 700, 702
Feed elements: 206, 308, 408, 510, 512, 606, 608, 706
Conductor lines 208a, 208b, 310a, 310b, 310c, 410a, 410b, 520a, 520b, 522a, 522b, 610, 612, 708a, 708b
Rotation shafts 204, 306, 406, 508, 604, 704

Claims (11)

A first signal line;
A second signal line arranged outside the first signal line while being spaced apart from the first signal line; And
And a power supply element arranged to cross the signal lines,
Wherein the power supply element includes a first conductor line and a second conductor line spaced apart from each other. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor line is formed from a first tab corresponding to a rotation axis to a second tab where the power supply element meets the first signal line, 1 to a fourth tap where the power supply element and the second signal line meet,
And the second tab and the third tab are spaced apart from each other. The phase shifter of claim 2, wherein the power supply element is bent at the second tab and the third tab. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the RF signal is transmitted to the second signal line via the first tap, the second tap, the third tap, and the fourth tap,
Wherein the RF signal is transmitted to the first signal line through a coupling scheme in the second tap and is transmitted through the first signal line between the second tap and the third tap, Ring signal is transmitted from the first signal line to the power supply element, and the fourth tap is transmitted from the power supply element to the second signal line through a coupling method. The phase shifter of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal lines is formed with stubs forming a comb line. A first signal line;
A second signal line arranged outside the first signal line while being spaced apart from the first signal line; And
A first feeding element and a second feeding element arranged to cross the signal lines,
Wherein the first feed element includes a first conductor line extending from a specific point to the first signal line and the second feed element includes a second conductor extending from the first signal line to the second signal line, Line,
The RF signal is transmitted in a coupling manner to the first signal line through the first feeding element and then moves along the first signal line and is coupled to the second feeding element through the coupling method And then transmitted to the second signal line through the second feed element. 7. The feed element according to claim 6, wherein the specified point corresponds to a rotation axis, the first feed element and the second feed element are coupled to the rotation shaft and simultaneously rotate in response to rotation of the rotation shaft, And the second feed element are spaced apart from each other on the first signal line. delete 7. The phase shifter of claim 6, wherein at least one of the signal lines is formed with stubs constituting a comb line. A first signal line;
A second signal line arranged outside the first signal line while being spaced apart from the first signal line;
A first conductor line formed from a specific point to the first signal line; And
And a second conductor line formed from the first signal line to the second signal line,
Wherein the conductor lines are spaced apart from each other. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein an RF signal is transmitted in a coupling manner to the first signal line through the first feed element and then moves along the first signal line, and in the first signal line, To the second signal line through the second feeding element.

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