TWI801155B - Antenna array - Google Patents

Abstract

An antenna unit pair and an antenna array are provided. The antenna array includes antenna unit pairs and a feeding signal line. The feeding signal line includes phase delay structures arranged corresponding to the antenna unit pairs respectively.

Description

Antenna array

This invention relates to an antenna element group and an antenna array.

Wireless communication technology is ubiquitous in modern life. For example, current smartphones typically include systems using wireless communication technologies such as Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), Digital Television Broadcasting System (DTV), Global Positioning System (GPS), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Near Field Communication (NFC), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and Wireless Personal Network (WLPN). Furthermore, wireless LAN environments are essential in many major cities and public spaces. Many people even set up wireless LANs in their homes.

Wireless communication equipment transmits or receives wireless signals via antennas. To ensure sufficient radiation intensity, a technique exists that combines multiple antenna elements into an antenna array. The magnitude and directionality of the radiation field are altered by superimposing the electromagnetic waves generated by multiple antenna elements.

This invention provides an antenna unit group and an antenna array.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an antenna unit assembly is provided, comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, a first antenna unit, a second antenna unit, and feed signal lines. The first antenna unit includes a first adjustable dielectric element and a first electrode element. The second antenna unit includes a second adjustable dielectric element and a second electrode element. The first and second electrode elements are located on the second substrate. The first and second adjustable dielectric elements are independently controlled and are positioned between a first surface of the first substrate and the second substrate. The feed signal lines are located on the second surface of the first substrate. The feed signal lines are configured in series or parallel.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an antenna array is proposed, comprising several antenna element groups and feed signal lines. The feed signal lines include several phase delay structures corresponding to the antenna element groups.

To provide a better understanding of the above and other aspects of this invention, specific embodiments are given below, and detailed explanations are provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

67: Storage space

100, 100A, 100A-1, 100A-2, 100A-3, 100A-4, 100A-5, 100A-6, 100A-7, 100A-8, 100B, 100B-1, 100B-2, 100B-3, 100B-4, 100B-5, 100B-6, 100B-7, 100B-8: Antenna Units

200: First substrate

201: First plate surface

202: Second plate surface

300: Second substrate

301: Third plate surface

302: Fourth plate surface

400, 401, 402: Ring electrode

450, 451, 452: Adjustable dielectric elements

500A, 500B: Feed-in signal lines

510, 550: Nodes

520, 520-1, 520-2, 520-3, 520-4, 520-5, 520-6, 520-7, 520-8, 530: Straight line segment

540: Winding line segment

590: Signal Input Terminal

600, 601, 602: Auxiliary electrodes

700, 701, 702: Electrode components

800: Medium layer

900, 901, 902: Antenna Units

912A, 912B: Unit spacing

d: Structural spacing

PD, PD-1, PD-2: Phase Delay Structures

T: There is a difference between the phase differences.

W: Equivalent feed waveguide

X: First direction

Y: Second direction

Z: Vertical direction

△1, △2, △3, △4, △5, △6, △7, △8: Phase difference

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an antenna unit assembly in an embodiment.

Figure 2 shows a top view schematic diagram of the antenna unit assembly in the embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a top view schematic diagram of an antenna unit assembly in another embodiment.

Figure 4 shows a top view schematic diagram of an antenna array in one embodiment.

Figure 5 shows a top view schematic diagram of an antenna array in another embodiment.

Figure 6 shows a top view schematic diagram of an antenna array in another embodiment.

Figure 7 shows a top view schematic diagram of an antenna array in another embodiment.

Figure 8 shows a top view schematic diagram of an antenna array in another embodiment.

Figure 9 illustrates the arrangement concept of an antenna array with a phase delay structure in an embodiment.

Figures 10 and 11 show the antenna signal patterns of an antenna array with a 1x8 array of antenna elements.

Figures 12 and 13 show the antenna signal patterns of an antenna array with an 8x8 array of antenna elements.

The invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

It should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used in this text to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or parts, these elements, components, regions, and/or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or part from another. Therefore, the "first element," "component," "region," "layer," or "part" discussed below can be referred to as a second element, component, region, layer, or part without departing from the teaching of this text.

The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not restrictive. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms, including “at least one.” “Or” means “and/or.” As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It should also be understood that, when used in this specification, the terms “comprising” and/or “comprising” specify the presence and/or component of the stated features, areas, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and/or parts, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, areas, integrals, steps, operations, elements, parts, and/or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and this invention, and will not be interpreted as having an idealized or overly formal meaning, unless expressly defined herein.

This document describes exemplary embodiments with reference to cross-sectional views as schematic examples. Therefore, variations in shape in the illustrations can be expected as a result of, for example, manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances. Consequently, the embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the specific shapes of the areas shown herein, but rather include, for example, shape deviations caused by manufacturing processes. For example, areas shown or described as flat may generally have rough and/or nonlinear characteristics. Furthermore, the sharp angles shown may be rounded. Therefore, the areas shown in the figures are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to show the precise shape of the areas, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the claims.

Please refer to Figure 1, which shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an antenna unit 100A in an embodiment.

The first substrate 200 has opposing first plate surfaces 201 and second plate surfaces 202. The second substrate 300 has opposing third plate surfaces 301 and fourth plate surfaces 302. A ring electrode 400 is disposed on the first plate surface 201 of the first substrate 200. The ring electrode 400 may include a ring electrode 401 (e.g., a first ring electrode) and a ring electrode 402 (e.g., a second ring electrode). A feed signal line 500A is disposed on the second plate surface 202 of the first substrate 200. An auxiliary electrode 600 is disposed on the third plate surface 301 of the second substrate 300. The auxiliary electrode 600 may include an auxiliary electrode 601 (e.g., a first auxiliary electrode) and an auxiliary electrode 602 (e.g., a second auxiliary electrode). Electrode element 700 is disposed on the third surface 301 of the second substrate 300. Dielectric layer 800 is sandwiched between the first surface 201 of the first substrate 200 and the third surface 301 of the second substrate 300.

Figure 2 is a top view schematic diagram of the annular electrode 400, feed signal line 500A, auxiliary electrode 600, electrode element 700, and dielectric layer 800 of the antenna unit 100A in Figure 1. The structural components of Figure 1 correspond to the cross-sectional line AA in Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the electrode element 700 and the auxiliary electrode 600 are electrically isolated from each other by a housing space 67. The housing space 67 overlaps the annular electrode 400 in the vertical direction Z (e.g., the Z-axis direction). A dielectric layer 800 or other dielectric material layer may fill the housing space 67. The annular electrode 400 is not limited to an elliptical ring shape as shown in Figure 1, but may also be a rectangular ring or other suitable shapes.

Figures 1 and 2 show two antenna units 900, namely antenna unit 901 (e.g., the first antenna unit) and antenna unit 902 (e.g., the second antenna unit). Antenna units 901 and 902 each include electrode elements 700 (including electrode element 701 of antenna unit 901 (e.g., the first electrode element) and electrode element 702 of antenna unit 902 (e.g., the second electrode element)), ring electrodes 400 (e.g., the first ring electrode 401 of antenna unit 901, the second ring electrode 402 of antenna unit 902, etc.), and auxiliary electrodes 600 (e.g., the first auxiliary electrode 601 of antenna unit 901, the second auxiliary electrode 602 of antenna unit 902, etc.).

In this embodiment, antenna unit 100A is a planar radio frequency antenna unit with intensity modulation function. Dielectric layer 800 includes liquid crystal. The orientation of the liquid crystal's liquid crystal guide axis can be changed by applying a bias voltage between the annular electrode 400 and the auxiliary electrode 600, thereby changing the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal. Therefore, the portion of dielectric layer 800 between the annular electrode 400 and the auxiliary electrode 600 can function as a modulated dielectric element 450 of antenna unit 900 (including modulated dielectric element 451 of antenna unit 901 (e.g., a first modulated dielectric element) and modulated dielectric element 452 of antenna unit 902 (e.g., a second modulated dielectric element)). The adjustable dielectric element 451 of antenna unit 901 and the adjustable dielectric element 452 of antenna unit 902 can be controlled independently. Therefore, antenna units 901 and 902 can be simultaneously and independently in an ON or OFF state. In some embodiments, by the superposition or cancellation of the magnetic dipoles of antenna unit 900, and the on and off states of the adjustable dielectric element 450, antenna unit group 100A can achieve good electromagnetic wave intensity switching performance, providing the antenna device with a high-gain and clear radiated signal.

In one embodiment, the electrode elements 700 of each antenna unit 900 are shared electrode elements; for example, electrode elements 701 and 702 share a common ground electrode layer. Electrode elements 700 and the auxiliary electrode 600 may be on the same conductive layer.

In this embodiment, the feed signal line 500A used to form the feed waveguide is configured in series. That is, when the feed signal line 500A, the modulated dielectric element 451, and the modulated dielectric element 452 are projected onto a base plane in a vertical direction Z, the signal line projection from the feed signal line 500A passes sequentially through the projections of the modulated dielectric element 451 and the modulated dielectric element 452 in the direction of electrical signal (e.g., alternating current) transmission, or sequentially through the projections of the first annular electrode 401 and the second annular electrode 402 used to define the modulated dielectric element 450, or sequentially through the projections of the first auxiliary electrode 601 and the second auxiliary electrode 602 used to define the modulated dielectric element 450. For example, when the first surface 201 of the first substrate 200 is used as the base surface, the signal line 500A is projected onto the first surface 201 of the first substrate 200, passing sequentially through the modulated dielectric element 451 and the modulated dielectric element 452 in the direction of electrical signal transmission. Other interpretations of the configuration of the series-connected signal line 500A can be deduced similarly. The electrical signal of the feed signal line 500A is, for example, a current signal or a voltage signal. In this embodiment, the feed signal line 500A is configured in series as a straight line segment 520. Antenna unit 901 and antenna unit 902 have a unit spacing 912A (Figure 1). A larger electrode spacing between the first ring electrode 401 and the second ring electrode 402, resulting in lower coupling, allows for better control of the switching of the adjustable dielectric element 451 and the adjustable dielectric element 452. The element spacing 912A is periodicized based on the input signal wavelength. For example, the element spacing 912A ranges from 0.4 times the input signal wavelength to 0.4+m times, where m = 1, 2, 3, etc., positive integers. However, a larger electrode spacing occupies a larger footprint, hindering device miniaturization. In this embodiment, considering both coupling effect and layout area, when the 500A feed signal line is configured in series, the unit spacing (912A) is preferably 0.4 to 1.5 times the feed signal wavelength. The air wavelength can be approximately twice the feed signal wavelength.

Antenna unit 900 is a microstrip-fed antenna. Electromagnetic signals are generated by the electric and magnetic fields primarily distributed between the feed signal line 500A and the electrode element 700, transmitting the signal to antenna unit 900, where electromagnetic waves are emitted through electromagnetic induction.

Please refer to Figure 3, which shows a top view of the annular electrode 400, feed signal line 500B, auxiliary electrode 600, electrode element 700, and dielectric layer 800 of antenna unit 100B in another embodiment. Figure 1 corresponds to the structural portion of section AA in Figure 3. The differences between antenna unit 100B in Figure 3 and antenna unit 100A in Figure 1 are explained below. In this embodiment, the feed signal line 500B is configured in parallel. In other words, when the feed signal line 500B, the adjustable dielectric element 451, and the adjustable dielectric element 452 are projected onto a base plane in the vertical direction Z, the signal line projection from the feed signal line 500B passes through the projections of the adjustable dielectric element 451 and the adjustable dielectric element 452 respectively from node 510 in the opposite direction of electrical signal transmission, or passes through the projections of the first annular electrode 401 and the second annular electrode 402 respectively from node 510 in the opposite direction of electrical signal transmission, or passes through the projections of the first auxiliary electrode 601 and the second auxiliary electrode 602 respectively from node 510 in the opposite direction of electrical signal transmission. For example, when the first surface 201 (Figure 1) of the first substrate 200 is used as the base plane, the signal line 500B projected onto the first surface 201 of the first substrate 200 from node 510 in opposite electrical signal transmission directions, passing through the modulated dielectric element 451 and the modulated dielectric element 452 respectively. Other possible interpretations of the parallel-connected signal line 500B can be deduced by analogy. In this embodiment, the signal line 500B is configured in parallel as T-shaped straight segments 520 and 530. Node 510 is located at the intersection of straight segments 520 and 530. Node 510 can be located between the modulated dielectric element 451 and the modulated dielectric element 452.

A larger electrode spacing between the first ring electrode 401 and the second ring electrode 402, resulting in lower coupling, allows for better control of the switching of the adjustable dielectric element 451 and the adjustable dielectric element 452. The element spacing 912B is periodic based on the input signal wavelength. For example, the element spacing 912B ranges from 0.2 times to 0.2+m times the input signal wavelength, where m = 1, 2, 3, etc., positive integers. However, a larger electrode spacing occupies a larger layout area, hindering device miniaturization. In this embodiment, considering both coupling effect and layout area, when the feed signal line 500B is configured in parallel, the element spacing 912B between antenna unit 901 and antenna unit 902 is preferably 0.1 to 1.5 times the feed signal wavelength. The air wavelength can be approximately twice the feed signal wavelength.

Please refer to Figure 4, which shows a top view schematic of an antenna array in an embodiment. The feed line 500A includes straight segments 520-1 to 520-8, corresponding to antenna units 901 and 902 in series configuration of antenna unit groups 100A-1 (e.g., the first antenna unit), 100A-2 (e.g., the second antenna unit), ... to 100A-8. Alternatively, the antenna array may have antenna unit groups 100A arranged as described in Figure 2. In this embodiment, the antenna array is not limited to eight antenna units arranged in a 1x8 array as shown in the figure, but may have other numbers and/or other arrangements of antenna units, such as 64 antenna units arranged in an 8x8 array. The feed signal line 500A may further include other possible or suitable conductive structures electrically connected between the straight line segment 520 (e.g., straight line segments 520-1 to 520-8) and the signal input terminal 590. In this embodiment, the antenna array is a planar radio frequency antenna array.

Please refer to Figure 5, which shows a top view schematic of an antenna array in another embodiment. The differences between the antenna array in Figure 5 and the antenna array in Figure 4 are explained below. In this embodiment, the feed signal line 500A further includes phase delay structures PD corresponding to antenna unit groups 100A respectively. For example, the phase delay structures PD include phase delay structure PD-1 (e.g., a first phase delay structure) corresponding to antenna unit group 100A-1, and phase delay structure PD-2 (e.g., a second phase delay structure) corresponding to antenna unit group 100A-2, etc. The phase delay structure PDs corresponding to different antenna units 100A can have meandering line segments 540 of different lengths (microstrip line feed line lengths), thereby enabling the feed signal line 500A to provide feed signals (electrical signals) with phase differences to antenna units 100A-1 to 100A-8. In this embodiment, the straight line segment 520 and the meandering line segment 540 of the delay structure PD do not overlap in the vertical direction Z. The straight line segment 520 and the meandering line segment 540 of the delay structure PD can be conductive layers of the same layer. Adjacent phase delay structure PDs have nodes 550 (e.g., signal feed nodes). A meandering line segment 540 of the phase delay structure PD is electrically connected between node 550 and straight line segment 520. A feed signal line 500A, or other possible or suitable conductive structures, is electrically connected between node 550 and signal input terminal 590.

Please refer to Figure 6, which shows a top view schematic of an antenna array in another embodiment. The difference between the antenna array in Figure 6 and the antenna array in Figure 5 is that Figure 6 shows 16 antenna elements 100A arranged in a 4x4 array.

Please refer to Figure 7, which shows a top view schematic of an antenna array in another embodiment. The differences between the antenna array in Figure 7 and the antenna array in Figure 5 are explained below. The antenna array has antenna unit groups 100B as described in Figure 3, including antenna unit groups 100B-1 (e.g., the first antenna unit group), antenna unit groups 100B-2 (e.g., the second antenna unit group)... to antenna unit groups 100B-8. The feed signal line 500B further includes a connecting segment 560. The connecting segment 560 may include straight line segments 530 and 570 arranged in an L-shape. A node 510 is provided between the straight line segment 520 and the straight line segment 530 of the connecting segment 560. A straight line segment 570 of connecting segment 560 is electrically connected between straight line segment 530 and meandering line segment 540. In this embodiment, straight line segments 520, 530, and 570, and the meandering line segment 540 of the delay structure PD, do not overlap in the vertical direction Z. Straight line segments 520, 530, 570, and meandering line segment 540 can be the same conductive layer.

Please refer to Figure 8, which shows a top view schematic of an antenna array in another embodiment. The difference between the antenna array in Figure 8 and the antenna array in Figure 7 is that Figure 8 shows 16 antenna elements 100B arranged in a 4x4 array.

Please refer to Figure 9, which illustrates the arrangement concept of an antenna array with a phase delay structure (PD) in an embodiment. The antenna array has energy modulation capabilities, wherein the feed signal (high-frequency signal) provided by the feed signal lines with the phase delay structure (PD) (e.g., feed signal lines 500A and 500B) has a phase difference Δ (as shown in Figures 5 and 7, phase differences Δ1 to Δ8) between it and the antenna unit group 100, forming a feed guided wave in the antenna plane. The phase difference Δ between two adjacent antenna units 100 can be determined by the optical path difference T of the equivalent feed guided wave W and the incident direction θ of the equivalent feed guided wave W. That is, Δn - Δn-1 = Δ. For example, in Figure 5, the phase difference Δ2 of the feed signal corresponding to antenna unit 100A-2 has a difference Δ between it and the phase difference Δ1 of the corresponding antenna unit 100A-1. The relationship between phase differences Δ1 to Δ8 can be deduced similarly. Antenna units 100 have a structural spacing d in a first direction X (e.g., the X-axis direction) (also indicated in Figures 5 and 7). The transmission direction of the equivalent feed waveguide W is deviated from the second direction Y (e.g., the Y-axis direction) by an angle θ (e.g., an acute angle), where the angle θ can range from 0 to 90 degrees. The first direction X and the second direction Y are perpendicular to each other. In this embodiment, the optical path difference T = nd * sinθ, and the phase difference... Where n is the equivalent refractive index of the feed wave propagating in the antenna medium, π is pi, and λ is the radiated electromagnetic wavelength in free space. In the embodiment, the antenna array with a phase delay structure (PD) is a beam-steering technique with a high-gain single main lobe, as shown in Figures 10 to 13. Figures 10 and 11 show the antenna signal patterns of an antenna array with 1x8 arrays of antenna elements. Figures 12 and 13 show the antenna signal patterns of an antenna array with 8x8 arrays of antenna elements.

In conclusion, although the present invention has been disclosed above with examples, it is not intended to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains may make various modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of this invention shall be determined by the appended patent claims.

100B: Antenna Unit

400, 401, 402: Ring electrode

450, 451, 452: Adjustable dielectric elements

500B: Feed-in signal cable

510: Node

520, 530: Straight line segments

600: Auxiliary electrode

601, 602: Auxiliary electrodes

700: Electrode Components

800: Medium layer

900, 901, 902: Antenna Units

912B: Unit Spacing

Claims (3)

An antenna array includes: a plurality of antenna element groups; and a feed signal line including a plurality of phase delay structures respectively corresponding to the antenna element groups; wherein the antenna element groups include a first antenna element group and a second antenna element group, and the phase delay structures include a first phase delay structure and a second phase delay structure respectively corresponding to the first antenna element group and the second antenna element group, the first phase delay... A signal feed node is provided between the first phase delay structure and the second phase delay structure. The first antenna unit group includes a first antenna unit and a second antenna unit. The feed signal line further includes a straight line segment, which is configured in series with respect to the first and second antenna units. The first phase delay structure has a meandering line segment electrically connected between the signal feed node and the straight line segment. The antenna array as described in claim 1, wherein the feed signal line is used to provide a feed signal to the antenna elements and form several equivalent feed guides, corresponding to a phase difference Δ between two adjacent antenna elements, an optical path difference T between the equivalent feed guides, a structural spacing d in a first direction between the antenna elements, and the propagation direction of the equivalent feed guides being deviated from a second direction by an angle θ, the first direction and the second direction being perpendicular to each other, where n is the equivalent refractive index of the antenna medium, and T = nd * sinθ. π is the mathematical constant pi, and λ is the electromagnetic wavelength in free space. The antenna array as described in claim 1, wherein the feed signal line further includes a connecting segment, the straight segment and the connecting segment being configured in parallel with respect to the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit, the straight segment and the connecting segment having a junction point between the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit, and the connecting segment being electrically connected between the straight segment and the meandering segment.