TWI767699B - Antenna array device - Google Patents

Abstract

An antenna array device is provided, which includes a substrate, multiple antenna elements, a metal ground plate, and a first isolation element pair. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface; the multiple antenna elements are arranged on the first surface, where the multiple antenna elements have a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction opposite to the first polarization direction, and each of the multiple antenna elements has a first via; the metal ground plate is arranged on the second surface; and the first isolation element pair is arranged between the two adjacent antenna units, where an arrangement direction of the first isolation element pair is perpendicular to the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction; the first isolation element pair is two adjacent isolation elements, each of the two isolation elements includes an outer end and an inner end opposite to the outer end which is connected to the metal ground plate through a second via.

Description

Antenna array device

The present invention relates to the technology of the fifth generation new radio (5G new radio, 5G NR), and in particular, to an antenna array device.

In the fifth generation of new radio (5G new radio, 5G NR) millimeter wave (mmWave) antenna array (antenna array), the scanning angle (steering angle) is a measure of the scanning range that the antenna beam (antenna beam) can achieve. Currently, patch antennas are widely used in current 5G NR mmWave antenna arrays. However, due to the coupling effect between the patch antennas, their scanning angles tend to be affected. Therefore, how to reduce the coupling effect between the patch antennas to increase the scanning angle is a problem that those skilled in the art are eager to solve.

The present invention provides an antenna array device, which includes a substrate, a plurality of antenna units, a metal ground plate and a first isolation unit group. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of antenna elements are arranged on the first surface, wherein the plurality of antenna elements have a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction opposite to the first polarization direction, and the plurality of antenna elements have a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction opposite to the first polarization direction. There is a first through hole respectively; the metal ground plate is arranged on the second surface; and the first isolation unit group is arranged between two adjacent antenna units, wherein the arrangement direction of the first isolation unit group is perpendicular to the first pole polarization direction and second polarization direction, wherein the first isolation unit group is two adjacent isolation units, each of the two isolation units includes an outer end and an inner end opposite to the outer end, and the inner end passes through the second The holes are connected to the metal ground plane.

Based on the above, in the antenna array device provided by the present invention, an isolation unit can be arranged between two antenna units to increase the isolation between the antenna units, thereby increasing the scanning angle of the antenna units. In addition, the scanning angle of the antenna unit can be further greatly increased by increasing the number of isolation units between the two antenna units.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an antenna array device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1 is a top view on an x-y plane. FIG. 2 is a top view of a part SP of the antenna array device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2 is a top view on the x-y plane. FIG. 3 shows a side view of a part SP of the antenna array device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 3 is a top view on the x-z plane. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 at the same time, the antenna array device 100 may include a substrate M, a first antenna array P1 , a second antenna array P2 and a metal ground plate G.

Furthermore, the substrate M may include a first surface SF1 and a second surface SF2 corresponding to each other. The first antenna array P1 may include a plurality of antenna elements (eg, the antenna element 110a shown in FIG. 1 ), wherein the plurality of antenna elements in the first antenna array P1 may be disposed on the first surface SF1 , and these antennas The cells may have a first polarization direction (eg, the -x direction).

In addition, the second antenna array P2 may also include multiple antenna elements (eg, the antenna element 110b shown in FIG. 1 ), wherein the multiple antenna elements in the second antenna array P2 may also be disposed on the first surface SF1 , and these antenna elements may have a second polarization direction (eg, the x-direction) opposite to the first polarization direction described above.

It is worth noting that although the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 in FIGS. 1 to 3 have horizontal polarization directions (ie, the -x direction and the x direction), the first antenna The array P1 and the second antenna array P2 may also have vertical polarization directions (for example, when the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 in FIGS. 1 to 3 are rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, The polarization direction of the first antenna array P1 and the polarization direction of the second antenna array P2 are the -y direction and the y direction, respectively).

Furthermore, the metal ground plate G can be disposed on the second surface SF2. In some embodiments, the plurality of antenna elements in the first antenna array P1 and the plurality of antenna elements in the second antenna array P2 can pass through respective vias (eg, the antenna array in FIG. 2 ). The first through hole via1) in the part SP of the device 100 is connected to the antenna feed point.

In addition, the first antenna array P1 may further include multiple isolation element groups (eg, the isolation element group 120 a in FIG. 1 ), and the second antenna array P2 may also include multiple isolation element groups (eg, FIG. 1 ) the isolation unit group 120b). Further, the isolation unit group may be arranged between two adjacent antenna units (that is, an isolation unit may be arranged between two adjacent antenna units), wherein the arrangement direction of the isolation unit group is perpendicular to the first A polarization direction and a second polarization direction (for example, when the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction are the -x direction and the x direction respectively, the arrangement direction of the isolation unit group is the y direction).

In this embodiment, the isolation unit group may be two adjacent isolation units (eg, the isolation unit strip in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 in FIG. 2 ), wherein each of the two isolation units It may include an outer end (eg, the outer end on the isolation element strip in a part SP of the antenna array device 100 of FIG. 2 ) and an inner end opposite to the outer end (eg, the antenna array device 100 of FIG. 2 ) the inner end on the isolation unit strip in a part of SP, and the inner end passes through the through hole (for example, the second through hole on the isolation unit strip in the part SP of the antenna array device 100 in FIG. 2 ) via2) can be connected to the metal ground plate G.

In some embodiments, the substrate M may be a printed circuit board (printed circuit board, PCB) made of an insulating material, wherein the material of the substrate M may be Teflon (PTFE) or epoxy resin (FR4) and other materials commonly used in the manufacture of PCBs. In this way, the first antenna array P1, the second antenna array P2 and the isolation unit group can be directly arranged on the substrate M by printing (for example, a plurality of patch antennas can be printed on the substrate M as the first The line array P1 and the second antenna array P2, and a plurality of metal strips (strips) can be printed on the substrate M as isolation units in the isolation unit group). In addition, the metal ground plate G may be made of a metal material such as copper foil.

In some embodiments, the lengths of the isolation units in the isolation unit group (for example, the length L1 in the part SP of the antenna array device 100 in FIG. 2 ) may be the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna A quarter wavelength of the center frequency of the resonant frequency band of the array P2.

In some embodiments, the distances between the isolation units in the isolation unit group (eg, the distance D1 in the part SP of the antenna array device 100 in FIG. 2 ) may be smaller than the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P1 One-twentieth wavelength of the center frequency of the resonant frequency band of the antenna array P2.

In some embodiments, the distance between the first through holes of two adjacent ones of the above-mentioned antenna elements (ie, all the antenna elements in the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 ) (for example, The distance D2) in a part SP of the antenna array device 100 in FIG. 2 is one-half wavelength of the center frequency of the resonance frequency band of the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2.

In some embodiments, the antenna elements in both the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2 may include two edges (eg, edge E1 and edge E1 in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 of FIG. 2 ) E2), where the lengths of the two edges (eg, length L2 in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 of FIG. 2) may be equal. In a further embodiment, the distance between the antenna elements and adjacent groups of isolated elements (eg, the distance D3 in a portion SP of the antenna array device 100 of FIG. 2 ) may be one third of the aforementioned edge times the length.

In some embodiments, the isolation unit group can resonate with the above-mentioned antenna units through respective through holes, so as to isolate the signals between the antenna units. In other words, a part of the signal generated by the antenna unit can interfere with the adjacent antenna units through the positions of the through holes of the isolation unit group. Therefore, these through holes can be used to resonate with it to prevent a part of the signal generated by the antenna unit. copy interferes with adjacent antenna elements. In this way, the isolation between these antenna elements can be greatly increased, so as to increase the scanning angle (steering angle) of each antenna element.

Based on the above, the above-mentioned antenna array device 100 can utilize an isolation unit group disposed between two adjacent antenna units to increase the isolation between the antenna units, thereby greatly increasing the scanning range of each antenna unit.

It is worth noting that, in addition to one isolation unit group, a second isolation unit group may be provided between two adjacent antenna units. Therefore, an embodiment in which two isolation element groups are arranged between two adjacent antenna elements is proposed below.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the antenna array device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4 is a top view on the x-y plane. FIG. 5 is a top view of a portion SP' of the antenna array device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 5 is a top view on the x-y plane. FIG. 6 shows a top view of a part of SP' in the antenna array device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 6 is a top view on the x-z plane. Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6 at the same time, the antenna array device 200 can adopt a configuration similar to that of the antenna array device 100 in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the difference between the two is only in the difference between the two adjacent antenna elements. The number of the isolation element groups set is different between the two (that is, the antenna array device 200 adopts the setting method of two isolation element groups, while the antenna array device 100 adopts the setting method of one isolation element group). Therefore, only the differences are described here, and the remaining similarities will not be repeated.

In detail, in the antenna array device 200, between two adjacent antenna elements in the first antenna array P1 and the second antenna array P2, in addition to one isolation element group (for example, the isolation element in FIG. 4) Groups 120a and 120b), and another isolation unit group (eg, another isolation unit group 130a and 130b in FIG. 4) may be provided. In other words, another isolation unit group is respectively adjacent to the isolation unit group and disposed between two adjacent antenna units, wherein the arrangement direction of the other isolation unit groups is parallel to the arrangement direction of the isolation unit groups respectively.

In some embodiments, the distance between another isolation element group and an adjacent isolation element group (eg, the distance D1 in a portion SP' of the antenna array device 200 in FIG. 5 ) may be smaller than the first antenna One-twentieth wavelength of the center frequency of the resonance frequency band of the array P1 and the second antenna array P2.

In some embodiments, the respective through holes of the two isolation unit groups disposed between two adjacent antenna units may resonate with the above-mentioned antenna units, so as to isolate the signals between the antenna units. In other words, a part of the signal generated by one of the antenna units can interfere with the adjacent antenna units through the positions of the through holes of the two isolation unit groups. Therefore, these through holes can be used to resonate with it to prevent the antenna unit from being Part of the generated signal interferes with adjacent antenna elements. In this way, the isolation between these antenna units can be further increased (this isolation will be better than the isolation of only a single isolation unit set between two adjacent antenna units), thereby increasing the isolation of each antenna unit. Scan range.

It should be noted that the other isolation unit group may have the same structure as that of the isolation unit group, so it will not be repeated here.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the resonance frequency band and isolation (coupling coefficient (s-parameter) and frequency) of a part of SP' in the antenna array device 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7 at the same time, the resonance frequency band op of a part of SP' in the antenna array device 200 is about 27.08 GHz to 29.93 GHz (the frequency band less than -10 dB), and its center frequency is about 28 GHz. In this way, the isolation iso of a part of SP' in the antenna array device 200 is about -25dB. In other words, the isolation iso of a part of SP' in the antenna array device 200 can meet the isolation requirement of the fifth generation new radio (5G new radio, 5G NR) standard (ie, less than -20dB).

Based on the above, the above-mentioned antenna array device 200 can further increase the isolation between the antenna elements by using the two isolation element groups disposed between two adjacent antenna elements, thereby greatly increasing the scanning angle of each antenna element.

To sum up, the antenna array device of the present invention can greatly increase the isolation of the antenna elements by using the above-mentioned arrangement of the isolation elements. In this way, when the isolation of each antenna unit is greatly increased, the scanning angle of the antenna unit can be further increased without causing a coupling effect.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above by the embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, The protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the appended patent application.

100, 200: Antenna array device 110a, 110b: Antenna unit 120a, 120b: isolation unit group 130a, 130b: another isolation unit group P1: The first antenna array P2: Second Antenna Array M: substrate G: Metal ground plate SP, SP': part of an antenna array device D1~D3: Distance L1~L2: length via1~via2: The first and second through holes outer: outer end inner: inner end E1~E2: Edge strip: isolation unit SF1: first surface SF2: Second surface op: resonance frequency band iso: isolation

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an antenna array device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a top view of a portion of an antenna array device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a side view of a portion of an antenna array device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a top view of an antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a portion of an antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a side view of a portion of an antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating the resonance frequency band and isolation of a part of the antenna array device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

100: Antenna Array Device

110a, 110b: Antenna unit

120a, 120b: isolation unit group

P1: The first antenna array

P2: Second Antenna Array

M: substrate

SP: part of an antenna array device

Claims (9)

An antenna array device, comprising: a substrate including a first surface and a second surface; a plurality of patch antenna units disposed on the first surface, wherein the patch antenna units have a first horizontal polarization direction and a second horizontal polarization direction opposite to the first horizontal polarization direction, the patch antenna units respectively have a first through hole; a metal ground plate disposed on the second surface; and a first isolation A unit group, arranged between two adjacent patch antenna units, wherein the arrangement direction of the first isolation unit group is perpendicular to the first horizontal polarization direction and the second horizontal polarization direction, wherein the first The isolation unit group is two adjacent isolation units, each of the two isolation units includes an outer end and an inner end opposite to the outer end, and the inner end is connected to the metal connection through a second through hole. floor. The antenna array device according to claim 1, further comprising a second isolation unit group, the second isolation unit group is respectively adjacent to the first isolation unit group, and is disposed on two of the adjacent patch antennas between units. The antenna array device according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement direction of the second isolation element group is parallel to the arrangement direction of the first isolation element group, wherein the patch antenna elements are connected to the antennas through the respective first through holes feed point. The antenna array device according to claim 3, wherein the distance between the first through holes of the two adjacent patch antenna units is half of the center frequency of the resonant frequency band of the patch antenna units double the wavelength. The antenna array device according to claim 2, wherein the first isolation unit group and the second isolation unit group are respectively disposed between every two patch antenna units of the patch antenna units. The antenna array device of claim 1, further comprising: a third isolation unit group; and a fourth isolation unit group, wherein the first patch antenna unit is respectively disposed between every two patch antenna units of the patch antenna units Three isolation unit groups and the fourth isolation unit group. The antenna array device of claim 1, wherein the two isolation units are composed of two metal strips, and the length of the metal strips is a quarter wavelength of the center frequency of the resonant frequency band of the patch antenna units . The antenna array device of claim 1, wherein the distance between the two isolation units is less than one-twentieth wavelengths of the center frequency of the resonant frequency band of the patch antenna units. The antenna array device of claim 1, wherein each of the patch antenna units includes an edge, wherein the patch antenna units and the first isolation unit groups have a plurality of separation distances, the separation distances The length of the distance is one-third the length of the edge.

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