TWM460422U - Size reduced butler matrix - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided by the utility model is a Butler matrix that comprises N input ports, multi-stage 3-dB couplers, multi-stage phase shifters, multi-stage crossover overlines, and N output ports. And the N is a value equal to the mth power of two, wherein the m is an integer greater than 1. The multi-stage 3-dB couplers include N/2 Mth-stage 3-dB couplers, wherein M is an odd number greater than or equal to 1; and the input ports are respectively and electrically connected with the first-stage 3-dB couplers. Each of the Mth-stage 3-dB couplers includes four top points and four extending portions; and each of the extending portions corresponds to one of the top points and each of the top points is extended towards the inner side of each Mth-stage 3-dB coupler. The multi-stage phase shifters have N/2 M+1th phase shifters; the multi-stage crossover overlines have one or more M+1-stage crossover overlines; and the multi-stage phase shifters, the multi-stage crossover overlines and the multi-stage 3-dB couplers are connected in series in a staggered mode. According to the Butler matrix, because of the extending portions of the 3-dB couplers, the sizes of the 3-dB couplers are reduced and thus the size of the matrix is reduced, thereby lowering the manufacturing cost of the Butler matrix.

Description

Reduced Butler Matrix

This work is about branch-line couplers, especially the reduced-type Butler matrix.

An array antenna utilizes a plurality of antennas arranged in a specific periodicity and shapes the radiation beam of the antenna array by adjusting the input phase of the antenna array. Therefore, antenna arrays are often used for military scanning and tracking positioning. In order to control the orientation of the radiation beam, the conventional method is to use a mechanical turntable to control, but the disadvantage is that the rotational speed of the mechanical turntable is slow and the mechanical loss of the turntable is large. Therefore, an electronic beamformer is developed later, and the electronic beamformer converts the direction of the radiation beam faster, and the mechanical loss is relatively small. The Butler Matrix is a switched beamformer proposed by Butler in 1961. The Butler matrix has the advantages of simple structure and easy circuit integration.

However, like the traditional branch coupler, the size and area occupied by the Butler matrix are mainly determined by the wavelength of the RF band used, so the traditional wavelength is used for the design wavelength (or RF frequency). The size of the Butler matrix is usually of a fixed size.

The present creative embodiment provides a reduced Butler matrix to reduce the size and occupied area (or space) of the Butler matrix.

The present embodiment provides a reduced Butler matrix comprising N input 埠, complex 3-dB couplers, complex phase shifters, complex numbers Level crossover and N output ports. N is the mth power of 2, and m is an integer greater than 1. The complex-level 3-dB coupler has N/2 M-stage 3-dB couplers, and M is an odd number greater than or equal to 1, wherein the input turns are electrically connected to the first stage in groups of two One of the 3-dB couplers. Each M-th stage 3-dB coupler has four vertices and four extensions, each extension corresponding to one of the vertices and extending from each vertex to the inside of the M-stage 3-dB coupler. The complex stage phase shifter has N/2 M+1 stage phase shifters, the complex stage crossover line has 1 or a plurality of M+1th stage crossover lines, and the complex stage phase shifter and complex crossover line And the plurality of 3-dB couplers are connected in series with each other, wherein the M+1th phase shifter and the crossover line are electrically connected to the Mth stage 3-dB coupling respectively One of the devices. The N outputs are electrically coupled to the last stage of the complex stage phase shifter, the complex stage crossover line, and the complex stage 3-dB coupler in a staggered series.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, each of the M-th order 3-dB couplers is a microstrip line.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the M+1th phase shifters is a microstrip line having a plurality of bends.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the M+1th level crossing jumpers is a microstrip line in which two 3-dB couplers are serially combined.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the extension is a conductive flat plate having a substantially square shape.

The present embodiment provides a fourth-order reduced Butler matrix, including a first 3-dB coupler, a second 3-dB coupler, a first phase shifter, a second phase shifter, and a third 3-dB. A coupler, a fourth 3-dB coupler, a first crossover jumper and a second crossover jumper. First 3-dB coupler The first input 埠 and the second input 性 are connected. The second 3-dB coupler is electrically connected to the third input port and the fourth input port. The first phase shifter is electrically connected to the first 3-dB coupler. The second phase shifter is electrically connected to the second 3-dB coupler. The third 3-dB coupler is electrically connected to the first phase shifter, the first output port, and the second output port. The fourth 3-dB coupler is electrically connected to the second phase shifter, the third output port, and the fourth output port. The first crossover jumper is electrically connected to the first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the third 3-dB coupler, and the fourth 3-dB coupler. The first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the third 3-dB coupler and the fourth 3-dB coupler each have four vertices and four extensions, each extension corresponding to each The apex, each extension extends from the corresponding apex to the inside of the first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the third 3-dB coupler, or the fourth 3-dB coupler.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter are 45 degree phase shifters.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the third 3-dB coupler, and the fourth 3-dB coupler are microstrip lines.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter are microstrip lines having a plurality of bends.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first crossover is a microstrip line in which two 3-dB couplers are serially combined.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the extension is a conductive flat plate having a substantially square shape.

In summary, the reduced Butler matrix provided by the present embodiment reduces the size of the 3-dB coupler by extending the extension of the 3-dB coupler. And further reduce the size of the matrix, thereby reducing the associated costs of making a Butler matrix. At the same time, the reduced Butler matrix can achieve the same signal transmission effect as the traditional Butler matrix.

In order to further understand the features and technical contents of this creation, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of this creation, but these descriptions and drawings are only used to illustrate this creation, not the right to this creation. The scope is subject to any restrictions.

[Embodiment of Reduced Butler Matrix]

The Butler Matrix consists of three components: (1) 3-dB Coupler (also known as branch-line coupler); (2) Crossover (Crossover); (3) Fixed phase shifter (Phase shifter). The N-order Butler matrix can provide N sets of different output phases, enabling the antenna array to switch N sets of main beams in space, where N is a natural number. The following is an example of a 4th-order Butler matrix.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a fourth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment. The fourth-order Butler matrix 1 includes a first 3-dB coupler 11a, a second 3-dB coupler 11c, a first phase shifter 13a, a second phase shifter 13b, a third 3-dB coupler 11b, The fourth 3-dB coupler 11d, the first crossover line 12a and the second crossover line 12b. The first input 埠P1, the second input 埠P2, the third input 埠P3, and the fourth input 埠P4 are configured to receive an external signal feed, the first output 埠PA, the second output 埠PB, the third output 埠PC, The fourth output port PD is used to connect an antenna unit (not shown) of the antenna array, and usually the number of antenna units is equal to the number of output ports Similarly, for example, when there are four antenna units, each antenna unit is separately connected to one of the output ports. However, this creation does not limit the correspondence and connection mode of the antenna unit and the output port. The correspondence and connection mode of the antenna unit and the output port can be adjusted according to design specifications.

The first 3-dB coupler 11a is electrically connected to the first input port P1 and the second input port P2. The second 3-dB coupler 11c is electrically connected to the third input port P3 and the fourth input port P4. The first phase shifter 13a is electrically connected to the first 3-dB coupler 11a. The second phase shifter 13b is electrically connected to the second 3-dB coupler 11c. The third 3-dB coupler 11b is electrically connected to the first phase shifter 13a and the first output port PA. The fourth 3-dB coupler 11d is electrically connected to the second phase shifter 13b and the fourth output 埠PD. The first crossover line 12a is electrically connected to the first 3-dB coupler 11a, the second 3-dB coupler 11c, the third 3-dB coupler 11b, and the fourth 3-dB coupler 11d. The second crossover line 12b is electrically connected to the third 3-dB coupler 11b, the fourth 3-dB coupler 11d, the second output 埠PB, and the third output 埠PC.

The first phase shifter 13a and the second phase shifter 13b are 45 degree phase shifters. The first crossover line 12a and the second crossover line 12b are respectively formed by two 3-dB couplers in series, and the second crossover line 12b may be non-essential, only for the second output end PB and the third The phase ordering of the output PC is used. If the second crossover line 12b is removed, the third 3-dB coupler 11b is electrically connected to the second output 埠PB, and the fourth 3-dB coupler 11d is electrically connected to the third output 埠PC.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 at the same time. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the angle of the main beam of the array antenna using the N-stage Butler matrix in the present embodiment. When determining the nth main beam on the left and right sides of the antenna array, the phase difference of each output signal is defined as φ _n . .

Where n is 1~N/2. When φ _n is a negative value, the main beam of the antenna array faces the right side, and when φ _n is a positive value, the main beam of the antenna array faces the left side. Therefore, the position angle α of the main beam of the antenna array can be expressed as Where d is the spacing of the antenna elements.

Please refer to FIG. 2A. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the fourth-order Butler matrix input by the first input 埠 in the present embodiment. The signal of the first output 埠PA is passed through the first phase shifter 13a, and the first phase shifter produces a phase shift of 45 degrees such that the signal of the first output 埠PA has a phase of -45 degrees. The signal of the second output 埠PB is obtained through the first 3-dB coupler 11a, the first crossover line 12a and the second crossover line 12b, and thus has a phase of -90 degrees (the signal crosses the first 3-dB coupling) The device 11a produces a phase difference of -90 degrees). The signal of the third output 埠PC is obtained by the first phase shifter 13a (which produces a phase shift of -45 degrees) and the third 3-dB coupler 11b (which produces a phase shift of -90 degrees), thus having a phase of -135 degrees. The signal of the fourth output 埠PD is obtained by the first 3-dB coupler 11a (generating phase shift -90 degrees) and the fourth 3-dB coupler 11d (generating phase shift -90 degrees), thus having -180 degrees The phase.

Please refer to FIG. 2B. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the fourth-order Butler matrix input by the second input 本 in the present embodiment. Similarly, when the signal is input by the second input 埠P2, the output signal of the first output 埠PA has a phase of -135 degrees, the output signal of the second output 埠PB has a phase of 0 degrees, and the output of the third output 埠PC The signal has a phase of -225 degrees, and the output signal of the fourth output 埠PD has a phase of -90 degrees.

Referring to FIG. 2C, FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the fourth-order Butler matrix input by the third input 本 in the present embodiment. Similarly, when the signal is input with the third input 埠P3, the output signal of the first output 埠PA has -90 The phase of the second output 埠PB has a phase of -225 degrees, the output signal of the third output 埠PC has a phase of 0 degrees, and the output signal of the fourth output 埠PD has a phase of -135 degrees.

Please refer to FIG. 2D. FIG. 2D is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the fourth-order Butler matrix input by the fourth input 本 in the present embodiment. Similarly, when the signal is input with the fourth input 埠P4, the output signal of the first output 埠PA has a phase of -180 degrees, the output signal of the second output 埠PB has a phase of -135 degrees, and the output of the third output 埠PC The output signal has a phase of -90 degrees, and the output signal of the fourth output 埠PD has a phase of -45 degrees.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 at the same time. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment. The fourth-order Butler matrix 1' includes a first 3-dB coupler 11a, a second 3-dB coupler 11c, a first phase shifter 13a, a second phase shifter 13b, and a third 3-dB coupler 11b. The fourth 3-dB coupler 11d and the first crossover line 12a. The first crossover line 12a is implemented by an architecture in which two 3-dB couplers are connected in series. The second crossover line 12b is not used. The fourth-order Butler matrix 1' is implemented in the form of a microstrip line. That is, the 3-dB coupler may be a microstrip line, and the 3-dB coupler is a four-turn structure formed by four microstrip lines having an equivalent electrical length of a quarter wavelength. The phase shifter can be a microstrip line having a plurality of bends. The substrate 10 is a structure carrying a microstrip line, and the back surface of the substrate 10 has a metal layer (not shown). The structure of the microstrip line can be formed on the substrate 10 by using a printed circuit board. The substrate 10 can be a glass fiber. The substrate is, for example, an FR4 substrate which is often used.

Please refer to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 at the same time. FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth-order reduced Butler matrix according to the present embodiment. The fourth-order reduced Butler matrix 2 includes a first 3-dB coupler 21a and a second 3-dB coupler 21c, a first phase shifter 23a, a second phase shifter 23b, a third 3-dB coupler 21b, a fourth 3-dB coupler 21d and a first crossover line 22. Compared with the fourth-order Butler matrix 1', the first 3-dB coupler 21a, the second 3-dB coupler 21c, and the third 3-dB coupler 21b of the fourth-order reduced Butler matrix 2 And the fourth 3-dB coupler 21d respectively have four vertices a, b, c, d and four extensions 201, and each extension 201 corresponds to each vertex (a or b or c or d), each The extension portion 201 extends from the corresponding vertex to the inner side of the first 3-dB coupler 21a, the second 3-dB coupler 21c, the third 3-dB coupler 21b, or the fourth 3-dB coupler 21d. In addition, since the first crossover line 22 is implemented in an architecture in which two 3-dB couplers are connected in series, the first crossover line 22 also has an extension 201.

The extension portion 201 may be a conductive plate having a substantially square shape, and the area of the 3-dB coupler may further shrink as the area of the conductive plate representing the extension portion 201 increases.

[Another embodiment of the reduced Butler matrix]

Please refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a design architecture diagram of an N-stage Butler matrix of the present embodiment. The number of rows 1 to 16 represents the number of input turns, and the number of columns represents the 3-dB coupler and phase shifter of each stage which are interleaved with each other in series. In this embodiment, only the series of up to 16 output turns and 6 stage 3-dB couplers and phase shifters are listed. The series of more series and the form of more inputs 可以 can be deduced by analogy. The N-order Butler matrix includes N input turns, a complex-level 3-dB coupler, a complex-stage phase shifter, a complex-level crossover line, and N output ports. For the implementation of a common antenna array, N is the m-th power of 2, and m is an integer greater than one. Complex 3-dB coupler There are N/2 M-stage 3-dB couplers, and M is an odd number greater than or equal to 1, wherein the input turns are electrically connected to the first-stage 3-dB coupler in two groups. one.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, each M-th order 3-dB coupler has four vertices and four extensions, each extension corresponding to one of the vertices and from each vertex to the M-th order 3-dB coupling The inside of the device extends. Regarding the description of the extension portion, please refer to the description of the embodiment of FIG. 8, and the architecture of the N-stage Butler matrix will be further described below.

The complex stage phase shifter has N/2 M+1 stage phase shifters, the complex stage crossover line has 1 or a plurality of M+1th stage crossover lines, and the complex stage phase shifter and complex crossover line And the plurality of 3-dB couplers are connected in series with each other, wherein the M+1th phase shifter and the crossover line are electrically connected to the Mth stage 3-dB coupling respectively One of the devices. The N outputs are electrically coupled to the last stage of the complex stage phase shifter, the complex stage crossover line, and the complex stage 3-dB coupler in a staggered series.

In more detail, please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 at the same time. FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an eighth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment. The eighth-order Butler matrix 3 includes a 3-dB coupler 31, a crossover line 32, a phase shifter 33, a first input port P1, a second input port P2, a third input port P3, a fourth input port P4, The fifth input port P5, the sixth input port P6, the seventh input port P7, the eighth input port P8, and the output ports P9, P10, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16. The architecture of the eighth-order Butler Matrix 3 is designed in accordance with the 8 rows (eight input ports) and the five columns (the five-level series connection of the 3-dB coupler and the phase shifter) corresponding to the architecture of FIG. . Each M+1 stage phase shifter can be a microstrip line having a plurality of bends. In addition, with reference to the embodiment and figure of FIG. The architecture of 6 is the fourth-order Butler matrix 1' of Figure 4, which is a 4-row and 3-column architecture as shown in Figure 6, that is, a 4-stage 3-dB coupler with four input ports and a series connection, and a second Stage phase shifter, second stage crossover line, third stage 3-dB coupler.

Please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 at the same time. FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an eight-stage reduced Butler matrix according to the present embodiment. The eight-step reduced Butler matrix 4 includes a 3-dB coupler 41, a crossover line 42, a phase shifter 43, a first input 埠P1, a second input 埠P2, a third input 埠P3, and a fourth input 埠P4, fifth input port P5, sixth input port P6, seventh input port P7, eighth input port P8, and output ports P9, P10, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16. The eight-step reduced Butler matrix 4 has a structure of the extension portion 401 with respect to the eighth-order Butler matrix 3 of FIG. Each 3-dB coupler has four vertices (such as vertices a, b, c, d of FIG. 5) and four extensions 401, each extension 401 corresponding to one of the vertices and 3-dB from each vertex The inside of the coupler extends. In the present embodiment, the extension portion 401 is a conductive flat plate having a substantially square shape.

[Possible effects of the examples]

According to the presently-created embodiment, the reduced Butler matrix described above reduces the size of the 3-dB coupler through the extension of the 3-dB coupler and further reduces the size of the matrix, thereby reducing the associated cost of making the Butler matrix. At the same time, the reduced Butler matrix can achieve the same signal transmission effect as the traditional Butler matrix.

The above description is only an embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the patent of the present invention.

1, 1'‧‧‧ fourth-order Butler matrix

2‧‧‧Four-step reduced Butler matrix

10‧‧‧Substrate

11a, 21a‧‧‧ first 3-dB coupler

11c, 21c‧‧‧second 3-dB coupler

11b, 21b‧‧‧ third 3-dB coupler

11d, 21d‧‧‧4th 3-dB coupler

31, 41‧‧‧dB coupler

12a, 22‧‧‧ first crossover

12b‧‧‧Second crossover

32, 42‧‧‧ crossover

13a, 23a‧‧‧ first phase shifter

13b, 23b‧‧‧ second phase shifter

33, 43‧‧‧ phase shifter

P1‧‧‧First Input埠

P2‧‧‧second input埠

P3‧‧‧ Third Input埠

P4‧‧‧ fourth input埠

P5‧‧‧ fifth input埠

P6‧‧‧ sixth input埠

P7‧‧‧ seventh input埠

P8‧‧‧ eighth input埠

a, b, c, d‧‧‧ nodes

201‧‧‧Extension

PA‧‧‧First Output埠

PB‧‧‧second output埠

PC‧‧‧ Third Output埠

PD‧‧‧fourth output埠

P9, P10, P12, P13, P14, P15, P16‧‧‧ output埠

3‧‧‧8-order Butler Matrix

4‧‧‧8-step reduced Butler matrix

1 is a circuit diagram of a fourth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment.

2A is a schematic diagram showing the phase of a fourth-order Butler matrix input with a first input 本 in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the fourth-order Butler matrix input by the second input 本 in the present embodiment.

2C is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the fourth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment with a third input 埠 input.

2D is a schematic diagram showing the phase of the fourth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment with the fourth input 埠 input.

3 is a schematic perspective view of a main beam of an array antenna using an N-th order Butler matrix in the present embodiment.

4 is a schematic structural view of a fourth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural view of a fourth-order reduced Butler matrix of the present embodiment.

6 is a design architecture diagram of an N-stage Butler matrix of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an eighth-order Butler matrix of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an eight-step reduced Butler matrix of the present embodiment.

2‧‧‧Four-step reduced Butler matrix

21a‧‧‧First 3-dB coupler

21c‧‧‧Second 3-dB coupler

21b‧‧‧3rd 3-dB coupler

21d‧‧‧Fourth 3-dB coupler

22‧‧‧First crossover

23a‧‧‧First phase shifter

23b‧‧‧Second phase shifter

P1‧‧‧First Input埠

P2‧‧‧second input埠

P3‧‧‧ Third Input埠

P4‧‧‧ fourth input埠

a, b, c, d‧‧‧ nodes

201‧‧‧Extension

PA‧‧‧First Output埠

PB‧‧‧second output埠

PC‧‧‧ Third Output埠

PD‧‧‧fourth output埠

Claims (11)

A reduced Butler matrix comprising: N input 埠, N is 2 m power, m is an integer greater than 1; a complex 3-dB coupler having N/2 M-level 3-dB couplers M is an odd number greater than or equal to 1, wherein the input turns are electrically connected to one of the first-stage 3-dB couplers in two groups, wherein each of the M-th stages is 3-dB. The coupler has four vertices and four extensions, each of the extensions corresponding to each of the vertices, and each of the extensions extends from the corresponding apex to the inner side of the M-th order 3-dB coupler; Stage phase shifter having N/2 M+1 stage phase shifters; complex stage crossover line having 1 or a plurality of M+1th level crossover lines, the complex stage phase shifter, the complex level crossing The cross-line and the complex-level 3-dB coupler are connected in series with each other in an interleaved manner, wherein the M+1-th phase shifters and the cross-over-line are electrically connected to the M-th stage respectively One of the dB couplers; and the N output ports are electrically connected to the complex stage phase shifter and the last stage of the complex stage 3-dB coupler that are alternately connected in series with each other. The reduced Butler matrix of claim 1, wherein each of the M-stage 3-dB couplers is a microstrip line. The reduced type Butler matrix according to claim 1, wherein each of the M+1th phase shifters is a microstrip line having a plurality of bends. The reduced type Butler matrix according to claim 1, wherein each of the M+1th level crossings is a microstrip line in which two 3-dB couplers are serially combined. The reduced type Butler matrix of claim 1, wherein the extensions are conductive plates having a substantially square shape. A fourth-order reduced Butler matrix includes: a first 3-dB coupler electrically connected to a first input port and a second input port; a second 3-dB coupler electrically connected a third input 埠 and a fourth input 埠; a first phase shifter electrically connected to the first 3-dB coupler; a second phase shifter electrically connected to the second 3-dB coupler; a third 3-dB coupler electrically connected to the first phase shifter, a first output port, and a second output port; a fourth 3-dB coupler electrically connected to the second phase shifter, a third output 埠 and a fourth output 埠; and a first crossover line electrically connected to the first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the third 3-dB coupler, and the a fourth 3-dB coupler; wherein the first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the third 3-dB coupler, and the fourth 3-dB coupler each have four a vertex and four extensions, each of the extensions corresponding to each of the vertices, each of the extensions being corresponding to the vertex to the first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the first Three 3-dB coupling Inside or the fourth 3-dB coupler extends. A fourth-order reduced Butler matrix as described in claim 6 wherein the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter are 45 degree phase shifters. The fourth-order reduced Butler matrix according to claim 6, wherein the first 3-dB coupler, the second 3-dB coupler, the third 3-dB coupler, and the first The four 3-dB coupler is a microstrip line. A fourth-order reduced Butler matrix as described in claim 6 wherein the first phase shifter and the second phase shifter are microstrip lines having a plurality of bends. A fourth-order reduced Butler matrix as described in claim 6 wherein the first crossover is a microstrip line in which two 3-dB couplers are serially combined. A fourth-order reduced Butler matrix as described in claim 6 wherein the extensions are electrically conductive plates having a substantially square shape.