TWI763460B - Antenna unit pair and 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 Element Groups and Antenna Arrays

The present invention relates to an antenna unit group and an antenna array.

Products using wireless communication technology can be seen everywhere in modern life. For example, current smart phones are usually attached with Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), Digital Television Broadcasting (Digital Television Broadcasting) System, DTV), satellite positioning and navigation system (Global Positioning System, GPS), wireless communication area network system (Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN), near field communication transmission system (Near Field Communication, NFC), long-range evolution system (Long Term Evolution, LTE) and Wireless Personal Network (Wireless Personal Network, WLPN) and other systems using wireless communication technology. In addition, in many important cities or public spaces, the wireless local area network environment is already one of the necessary elements. Even, many people will set up a wireless local area network in their own home.

A wireless communication device transmits or receives wireless signals through an antenna device located therein. In order to enable the antenna device to generate sufficient radiation intensity, there is currently a technology that integrates a plurality of antenna units into an antenna array. by many The electromagnetic waves generated by the antenna elements are superimposed on each other to change the magnitude and directionality of the radiated field.

The present invention provides an antenna unit group and an antenna array.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an antenna unit group is provided, which includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first antenna unit, a second antenna unit, and a feeding signal line. 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 electrode element and the second electrode element are on the second substrate. The first tunable dielectric element and the second tunable dielectric element are controlled independently of each other, and are located between the first board surface of the first substrate and the second substrate. The feeding signal line is on the second board surface of the first substrate. The incoming signal line is configured in series or parallel configuration.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, an antenna array is provided, which includes a plurality of antenna element groups and feeding signal lines. The feeding signal line includes a plurality of phase delay structures respectively corresponding to the antenna unit groups.

In order to have a better understanding of the above-mentioned and other aspects of the present invention, the following specific examples are given and described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:

67: accommodating 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-7,100 B-8: Antenna Unit Group

200: First substrate

201: First board surface

202: Second board surface

300: Second substrate

301: Third board surface

302: Fourth plate surface

400, 401, 402: Ring electrodes

450, 451, 452: Tunable Dielectric Elements

500A, 500B: Feed signal line

510,550: Node

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

540: meandering line segment

590: Signal input terminal

600, 601, 602: Auxiliary electrodes

700, 701, 702: Electrode Components

800: dielectric layer

900, 901, 902: Antenna unit

912A, 912B: Cell spacing

d: structure spacing

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

T: There is a difference between the phase differences

W: Equivalently fed guided wave

X: first direction

Y: the second direction

Z: vertical direction

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an antenna unit group in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the antenna unit group in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of an antenna unit group in another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of an antenna array in an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic top view of an antenna array in another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of an antenna array in yet another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of an antenna array in yet another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of an antenna array in yet another embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates the arrangement concept of the antenna array with the phase delay structure in the embodiment.

Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are the antenna signal patterns of the antenna array in which the antenna element group is arranged in a 1x8 array.

Figures 12 and 13 are the antenna signal patterns of the antenna array in which the antenna element group is arranged in an 8x8 array.

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

It will be understood that, although the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, and/or or parts shall not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. therefore, "A first element," "component," "region," "layer" or "section" discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms including "at least one" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. "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 will also be understood that, when used in this specification, the terms "comprising" and/or "comprising" designate the stated feature, region, integer, step, operation, presence of an element and/or part, but do not exclude one or more The presence or addition of other features, entireties of regions, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the related art and the present invention, and are not to be construed as idealized or excessive Formal meaning, unless expressly defined as such herein.

Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments. Thus, variations in the shapes of the illustrations as a result of, for example, manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions as shown herein, but rather include deviations in shapes resulting from, for example, manufacturing. For example, shown or described as flat Regions can often have rough and/or nonlinear features. Additionally, the acute angles shown may be rounded. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

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

The first substrate 200 has a first plate surface 201 and a second plate surface 202 opposite to each other. The second substrate 300 has opposite third plate surfaces 301 and fourth plate surfaces 302 . The annular electrode 400 is arranged on the first plate surface 201 of the first substrate 200 . The ring electrode 400 may include a ring electrode 401 (eg, a first ring electrode) and a ring electrode 402 (eg, a second ring electrode). The feeding signal line 500A is disposed on the second board surface 202 of the first substrate 200 . The 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 (eg, a first auxiliary electrode) and an auxiliary electrode 602 (eg, a second auxiliary electrode). The electrode element 700 is provided on the third plate surface 301 of the second substrate 300 . The dielectric layer 800 is sandwiched between the first plate surface 201 of the first substrate 200 and the third plate surface 301 of the second substrate 300 .

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the annular electrode 400 , the feeding signal line 500A, the auxiliary electrode 600 , the electrode element 700 and the dielectric layer 800 of the antenna unit group 100A of FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 can correspond to the structural part of the section line AA in FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , the electrode element 700 and the auxiliary electrode 600 are electrically isolated from each other by the accommodating space 67 . The accommodating space 67 overlaps the annular electrode 400 in the vertical direction Z (eg, the Z-axis direction). Dielectric layer 800 or other dielectric materials The material layer can fill the accommodating space 67 . The ring-shaped electrode 400 is not limited to the elliptical ring shape as shown in FIG. 1 , and may be other suitable shapes such as a rectangular ring shape.

Figures 1 and 2 show two antenna units 900, ie, antenna unit 901 (eg, the first antenna unit) and antenna unit 902 (eg, the second antenna unit). The antenna unit 901 and the antenna unit 902 each include an electrode element 700 (including the electrode element 701 (eg, the first electrode element) of the antenna unit 901 , the electrode element 702 (eg, the second electrode element) of the antenna unit 902 ), the annular electrode 400 ( For example, the first ring electrode 401 of the antenna unit 901, the second ring electrode 402 of the antenna unit 902, etc.), the auxiliary electrodes 600 (eg, the first auxiliary electrode 601 of the antenna unit 901, the second auxiliary electrode 602 of the antenna unit 902, etc.) ).

In the embodiment, the antenna unit group 100A is a planar wireless radio frequency antenna unit group with an intensity modulation function. The dielectric layer 800 includes liquid crystal. The orientation of the liquid crystal guide axis of the liquid crystal can be changed by a bias voltage applied between the ring electrode 400 and the auxiliary electrode 600 , thereby changing the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal. Therefore, the portion of the dielectric layer 800 between the annular electrode 400 and the auxiliary electrode 600 may function as the tunable dielectric element 450 of the antenna unit 900 (including the tunable dielectric element 451 of the antenna unit 901 (for example, the first variable tunable dielectric element), the tunable dielectric element 452 of the antenna unit 902 (eg, the second tunable dielectric element)). The tunable dielectric element 451 of the antenna unit 901 and the tunable dielectric element 452 of the antenna unit 902 can be controlled independently of each other. In this way, the antenna unit 901 and the antenna unit 902 can be turned on (ON) state or off (OFF) state independently at the same time. In some embodiments, by the superposition or cancellation of the magnetic dipoles of the antenna unit 900 and the opening and closing of the adjustable dielectric element 450, the antenna unit group 100A can achieve a good electromagnetic wave intensity switching effect, providing an antenna The device has a high gain and a clear radiation signal.

In one embodiment, the electrode elements 700 of the antenna units 900 are a common electrode element, for example, the electrode element 701 and the electrode element 702 are a common ground electrode layer. The electrode element 700 and the auxiliary electrode 600 may be the same conductive layer.

In this embodiment, the feeding signal line 500A for forming the feeding guided wave is configured in a series connection. That is to say, when the input signal line 500A, the adjustable dielectric element 451 and the adjustable dielectric element 452 are projected onto a base plane in a vertical direction Z, the projection of the signal line from the input signal line 500A is In the transmission direction of the electrical signal (such as alternating current), it sequentially passes through the projections of the tunable dielectric element 451 and the tunable dielectric element 452 , or sequentially passes through the first variable dielectric element 450 for defining the tunable dielectric element 450 . The projections of the annular electrode 401 and the second annular electrode 402 may pass through the projections of the first auxiliary electrode 601 and the second auxiliary electrode 602 for defining the variable dielectric element 450 in sequence. For example, when the first board surface 201 of the first substrate 200 is used as the base surface, the projection of the signal line fed into the signal line 500A to the first board surface 201 of the first substrate 200 depends on the transmission direction of the electrical signal. The tunable dielectric element 451 and the tunable dielectric element 452 are sequentially passed through. Other interpretations of the configuration of the feeding signal line 500A in the series connection can be deduced in this way. The electrical signal fed into the signal line 500A is, for example, a current signal or a voltage signal. In this embodiment, the feed-in signal line 500A is configured in series with straight line segments 520 . There is an element spacing 912A between the antenna element 901 and the antenna element 902 (FIG. 1). When the electrode spacing between the first annular electrode 401 and the second annular electrode 402 is larger, so that the coupling degree between them is lower, the controllable dielectric element 451 and the adjustable dielectric element can be better controlled. Element 452 switches. The cell spacing 912A is the cycle of the wavelength of the incoming signal. For example, the cell pitch 912A ranges from 0.4 times the wavelength of the incoming signal To 0.4+m times, m=1,2,3 and other positive integers. However, a larger electrode spacing will occupy a larger layout area, which hinders the miniaturization of the device. In the embodiment, on the premise of balancing the coupling effect and the layout area, when the feeding signal lines 500A are configured in series, the cell spacing 912A is preferably 0.4 to 1.5 times the wavelength of the feeding signal. The air wavelength can be about twice the wavelength of the incoming signal.

The antenna unit 900 is a microstrip-fed antenna. The electromagnetic signal is formed by the electric field and the magnetic field mainly distributed between the feeding signal line 500A and the electrode element 700 , the signal is transmitted to the antenna unit 900 , and electromagnetic waves are emitted through electromagnetic induction.

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which shows a schematic top view of the annular electrode 400 , the feeding signal line 500B, the auxiliary electrode 600 , the electrode element 700 and the dielectric layer 800 of the antenna unit group 100B in another embodiment. FIG. 1 can correspond to the structural part of the section line AA in FIG. 3 . The difference between the antenna element group 100B of FIG. 3 and the antenna element group 100A of FIG. 1 is explained as follows. In this embodiment, the feeding signal line 500B is configured in a parallel configuration. That is to say, when the input 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 projection of the signal line from the input signal line 500B is at From the node 510 to the opposite direction of electrical signal transmission through the projection of the adjustable dielectric element 451 and the adjustable dielectric element 452 respectively, or from the node 510 to the opposite direction of electrical signal transmission through the first ring electrode respectively The projections of 401 and the second annular electrode 402, or from the node 510 to the opposite direction of electrical signal transmission, respectively pass through the projections of the first auxiliary electrode 601 and the second auxiliary electrode 602. For example, when the first board surface 201 (FIG. 1) of the first substrate 200 is used as the base surface, the projection of the signal line feeding the signal line 500B to the first board surface 201 of the first substrate 200 is from the node 510 respectively passes through the tunable dielectric element 451 and the tunable dielectric element 452 in opposite directions of electrical signal transmission. Other possible interpretations of the feed signal line 500B in the parallel configuration can be deduced in this way. In this embodiment, the feed-in signal line 500B is configured in parallel with the straight line segment 520 and the straight line segment 530 arranged in a T-shape. Node 510 is located at the intersection of straight line segment 520 and straight line segment 530 . Node 510 may be between tunable dielectric element 451 and tunable dielectric element 452 .

When the electrode spacing between the first annular electrode 401 and the second annular electrode 402 is larger, so that the coupling degree between them is lower, the controllable dielectric element 451 and the adjustable dielectric element can be better controlled. Element 452 switches. The cell spacing 912B is based on the wavelength of the incoming signal as a period. For example, the cell spacing 912B ranges from 0.2 times the wavelength of the incoming signal to 0.2+m times, where m=1, 2, 3, and other positive integers. However, a larger electrode spacing will occupy a larger layout area, which hinders the miniaturization of the device. In the embodiment, under the premise of balancing the coupling effect and the layout area, when the feeding signal line 500B is configured in a parallel configuration, the unit spacing 912B between the antenna unit 901 and the antenna unit 902 is preferably 0.1 of the wavelength of the feeding signal. times to 1.5 times. The air wavelength can be about twice the wavelength of the incoming signal.

Please refer to FIG. 4 , which is a schematic top view of an antenna array in an embodiment. The feeding signal line 500A includes a straight line segment 520-1 to a straight line segment 520-8, respectively corresponding to the antenna element group 100A-1 (eg, the first antenna element group) and the antenna element group 100A-2 (eg, the second antenna element group) Element group) ... to the antenna element 901 and the antenna element 902 of the antenna element group 100A-8 are arranged in series. Alternatively, the antenna array has the arrangement of the antenna element group 100A described with reference to FIG. 2 . In the embodiment, the antenna array is not limited to the group of 8 antenna elements arranged in a 1x8 array as shown in the figure, but may have antenna elements with other numbers and/or other arrangements. Tuples, such as groups of 64 antenna elements arranged in an 8x8 array, etc. The feeding signal line 500A may further include other possible or suitable conductive structures to be electrically connected between the straight line segment 520 (eg, the straight line segment 520 - 1 to the straight line segment 520 - 8 ) and the signal input end 590 . In an embodiment, the antenna array is a planar wireless radio frequency antenna array.

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which shows a schematic top view of an antenna array in another embodiment. The differences between the antenna array of FIG. 5 and the antenna array of FIG. 4 are explained below. In this embodiment, the feeding signal line 500A further includes a phase delay structure PD which is respectively disposed corresponding to the antenna unit group 100A. For example, the phase delay structure PD includes a phase delay structure PD-1 (eg, a first phase delay structure) corresponding to the antenna element group 100A-1, a phase delay structure PD-2 (eg, a second phase delay structure) corresponding to the antenna element group 100A-2 phase delay structure), etc. The phase delay structures PD corresponding to different antenna element groups 100A may have serpentine line segments 540 with different lengths (microstrip feed line lengths), so that the feeding signal line 500A can provide feedback to the antenna element group 100A-1 to the antenna element Groups 100A-8 provide feed signals (electrical signals) with phase differences. In the embodiment, the straight line segment 520 and the meandering line segment 540 of the delay structure PD do not overlap each other in the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. The straight line segment 520 and the serpentine line segment 540 of the delay structure PD may be the same conductive layer. A node 550 (eg, a signal feeding node) is located between adjacent phase delay structures PD. The meandering line segment 540 of the phase delay structure PD is electrically connected between the node 550 and the straight line segment 520 . The feeding signal line 500A may further include other possible or suitable conductive structures to be electrically connected between the node 550 and the signal input end 590 .

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

Please refer to FIG. 7 , which is a schematic top view of an antenna array in yet another embodiment. The differences between the antenna array of FIG. 7 and the antenna array of FIG. 5 are explained below. The antenna array has the antenna element group 100B described with reference to FIG. 3, including an antenna element group 100B-1 (eg, a first antenna element group), an antenna element group 100B-2 (eg, a second antenna element group) . . . to the antenna element group 100B-8. The feeding signal line 500B further includes a connecting line segment 560 . The connection line segment 560 may include a straight line segment 530 and a straight line segment 570 in an L-shaped configuration. There is a node 510 between the straight line segment 520 and the straight line segment 530 connecting the line segment 560 . The straight line segment 570 of the connecting line segment 560 is electrically connected between the straight line segment 530 and the meandering line segment 540 . In the embodiment, the straight line segment 520 , the straight line segment 530 , the straight line segment 570 and the meandering line segment 540 of the delay structure PD do not overlap each other in the vertical direction Z. The straight line segment 520 , the straight line segment 530 , the straight line segment 570 and the meandering line segment 540 may be the same conductive layer.

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

，其中n為在天線介質中傳輸的饋入波的等效折射率，π是圓周率，λ是自由空間中的輻射電磁波長。實施例中，具有相延遲結構PD的天線陣列是具有高增益單一主瓣的波束引導(beam-steering)技術，如第10圖至第13圖所示。第10圖與第11圖為天線單元組1x8陣列排列的天線陣列的天線信號圖形。第12圖與第13圖為天線單元組8x8陣列排列的天線陣列的天線信號圖形。 Please refer to FIG. 9 , which illustrates an arrangement concept of an antenna array with a phase delay structure PD in an embodiment. The antenna array has an energy modulation function, wherein the feed signals (high-frequency signals) provided by the feed signal lines (such as the feed signal line 500A and the feed signal line 500B) with the phase delay structure PD exist between the antenna unit group 100 The phase difference Δ (such as the phase difference Δ1 to the phase difference Δ8 as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7), and form the feeding guided wave of the antenna plane. The phase difference Δ of the corresponding two adjacent antenna element groups 100 can be determined by the optical path difference value T of the equivalent fed guided wave W and the incident direction θ of the equivalent fed guided wave W. FIG. That is, Δn-Δn-1=Δ. For example, the feed signal in FIG. 5 has a difference Δ between the phase difference Δ2 corresponding to the antenna element group 100A-2 and the phase difference Δ1 corresponding to the antenna element group 100A-1. The relationship between the phase difference Δ1 to the phase difference Δ8 can be deduced in the same way. The antenna unit groups 100 have a structural distance d in the first direction X (eg, the X-axis direction) (also shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 ). The transmission direction of the equivalent feeding guided wave W deviates from the second direction Y (eg, the Y-axis direction) by an angle θ (eg, an acute angle), and the angle θ can range from 0 degrees to 90 degrees. The first direction X and the second direction Y are perpendicular to each other. In the embodiment, the optical path difference value T=nd*sinθ, the phase difference

, where n is the equivalent refractive index of the feed wave propagating in the antenna medium, π is the pi, and λ is the radiated electromagnetic wavelength in free space. In the embodiment, the antenna array with the phase delay structure PD is a beam-steering technique with a high gain single main lobe, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13 . Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 are the antenna signal patterns of the antenna array in which the antenna element group is arranged in a 1x8 array. Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 are the antenna signal patterns of the antenna array in which the antenna element group is arranged in an 8x8 array.

To sum up, although the present invention has been disclosed by the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various 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.

100B: Antenna unit group

400, 401, 402: Ring electrodes

450, 451, 452: Tunable Dielectric Elements

500B: Feed into the signal line

510: Node

520,530: Straight line segment

600: auxiliary electrode

601,602: Auxiliary electrodes

700: Electrode element

800: dielectric layer

900, 901, 902: Antenna unit

912B: Cell Spacing

Claims (3)

An antenna unit group, comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate; a first antenna unit, including a first adjustable dielectric element and a first electrode element; a second antenna unit, including a A second adjustable dielectric element and a second electrode element, wherein the first electrode element and the second electrode element are on the second substrate, the first adjustable dielectric element and the second adjustable dielectric element The dielectric elements are controlled independently of each other, and between a first board surface of the first substrate and the second substrate, there is a unit spacing between the first antenna unit and the second antenna unit; and a A feed-in signal line, on a second board surface of the first substrate, wherein the feed-in signal line is arranged in a series type or a parallel type, when the feed-in signal line is arranged in the series type, The unit spacing is 0.4 times to 1.5 times the wavelength of the feed signal. When the feed signal line is configured in the parallel configuration, the unit spacing is 0.1 times to 1.5 times the wavelength of the feed signal. The antenna unit set according to claim 1, wherein, in the series connection type, the signal line projection of the feeding signal line on the surface of the first board is to sequentially pass through the first board in an electrical signal transmission direction a tunable dielectric element and the second tunable dielectric element, In the parallel configuration, the signal line is projected from a node to the opposite electrical signal transmission direction through the first adjustable dielectric element and the second adjustable dielectric element respectively. The antenna unit set of claim 2, wherein the feeding signal line is configured in the parallel configuration, and the node is between the first adjustable dielectric element and the second adjustable dielectric element.

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