This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to an antenna and a base station.
As a capacity requirement of a communication network increases, a base station antenna needs to be designed to support a plurality of frequency bands. There are generally three methods for designing a multi-band base station antenna. Two frequency bands are used as an example. In a first method, two radiating elements operating in different frequency bands are used, and space of the radiating elements operating in different frequency bands is designed separately. In a second method, a multi-band combiner is integrated into an antenna. In a third method, two radiators for filtering are designed in a coaxial manner, and two radiators operating in different frequency bands are placed at a same position, to implement dual-band operation. A radiator in one frequency band has a specific filtering suppression effect on a radiator in another frequency band. The foregoing several methods have problems such as a large size of an antenna, a high requirement on antenna space, high costs, or difficulty in mass production.
This application provides an antenna and a base station, to reduce a volume of a multi-band antenna, reduce antenna space occupied by the antenna, and reduce antenna costs. According to a first aspect, this application provides an antenna. The antenna includes a reflection panel, a radiating element, and a resonator group. The resonator group includes a plurality of coupled resonators, and the resonator group is disposed between the reflection panel and the radiating element. Specifically, the resonator group includes a first resonator, a second resonator, and a third resonator. The third resonator has a first connection portion and a second connection portion. The first connection portion and the second connection portion are located at at least one open-circuit end of the third resonator. The first resonator is coupled to the first connection portion. The second resonator is coupled to the second connection portion. To be specific, the first resonator and the second resonator are separately coupled to the open-circuit end of the third resonator, so that a signal can be transmitted between the first resonator and the third resonator, and a signal can be transmitted between the second resonator and the third resonator. The third resonator is further coupled to the radiating element, so that a signal can be transmitted between the third resonator and the radiating element. Therefore, the first resonator, the third resonator, and the radiating element form a signal transmission path, and the second resonator, the third resonator, and the radiating element may also form a signal transmission path. In a specific technical solution, the first resonator is configured to transmit a signal in a first frequency band. To be specific, the first resonator is equivalent to a filter, and only the signal in the first frequency band can be transmitted through the first resonator. The second resonator is configured to transmit a signal in a second frequency band. To be specific, the second resonator is also equivalent to a filter, and only the signal in the second frequency band can be transmitted through the second resonator. The first frequency band is different from the second frequency band. Therefore, the radiating element in this technical solution may be configured to transmit signals in at least two different frequency bands, and the antenna is at least a dual-band antenna.
When the antenna transmits a signal, the third resonator receives the signal in the first frequency band from the first resonator, receives the signal in the second frequency band from the second resonator, combines the signal in the first frequency band and the signal in the second frequency band into one channel of signal, and sends the channel of signal to the radiating element. Then, the signal is transmitted through the radiating element. When the antenna receives a signal, the third resonator splits the signal received by the radiating element into the signal in the first frequency band and the signal in the second frequency band, sends the signal in the first frequency band to the first resonator, and sends the signal in the second frequency band to the second resonator. The first resonator and the second resonator are separately connected to an input/output port of the antenna, and the signal received by the radiating element may be sent to a signal processing unit such as a remote radio unit through the input/output port.
In the technical solution of this application, the third resonator may be implemented as a transmission line, and therefore, a size of the third resonator is small. The third resonator may have two open-circuit points. In other words, two ends of the third resonator are open-circuit ends. Therefore, there may be more space for disposing other structures such as the first resonator and the second resonator, so that cabling is facilitated, a size of the antenna is reduced, and a signal loss is reduced. In addition, a coupling of the plurality of resonators further helps implement a wide bandwidth of the antenna, and improves a pattern effect of the antenna. In conclusion, combined feeding of signals in different frequency bands can be implemented through the resonator group disposed between the radiating element and the reflection panel, and a structure is simple, so that the antenna has a small size and occupies small antenna space. In addition, a signal loss of the antenna is low, and the antenna is applicable to a multi-band transmit-receive separation architecture, and is applicable to a wide range of application scenarios. Certainly, according to an actual product form, when the third resonator has one open-circuit point, that is, when the third resonator has one open-circuit end, a technical objective of this application may also be achieved.
A specific structure shape of the third resonator is not limited in embodiments of this application. For example, the third resonator may be of a sheet structure, or may be of a three-dimensional structure. The structure shape of the third resonator is specifically designed and selected based on an actual requirement.
In a specific technical solution, the radiating element may be a single-polarization radiating element, or may be a dual-polarization radiating element. This is not limited in this application. When the radiating element is the dual-polarization radiating element, the dual-polarization radiating element includes a first polarization direction and a second polarization direction. The first polarization direction may be different from the second polarization direction. For example, the first polarization direction may be perpendicular to the second polarization direction. The antenna includes two resonator groups, and each of the two resonator groups has one third resonator. In other words, the two resonator groups include two third resonators. The two third resonators extend in the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction respectively. In other words, an extension direction of the third resonator is the same as a corresponding polarization direction.
When the third resonator is specifically disposed, orthographic projection of a center point of the third resonator on the reflection panel overlaps orthographic projection of a center point of the radiating element on the reflection panel. In this solution, signal transmission symmetry can be improved, and communication performance of the antenna can be improved.
An electrical length a of the third resonator and a wavelength λ corresponding to a center frequency of an operating frequency band of the radiating element satisfy: a=½λ. In this solution, signal transmission in the third resonator can be facilitated, so that a signal transmitted by the radiating element is transmitted better in the third resonator.
The open-circuit end of the third resonator is specifically an end part of the third resonator close to the open-circuit point. A length L1 of an open-circuit end in a first direction and a length L of the third resonator in the first direction satisfy: L1≤⅛L. The first direction is the extension direction of the third resonator. In this solution, a coupling between the third resonator and the first resonator and a coupling between the third resonator and the second resonator are facilitated.
The third resonator is located between the radiating element and the reflection panel. Specifically, a distance M1 between the third resonator and the radiating element in a second direction and the wavelength λ corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element satisfy: M1≤¼λ. The second direction is a direction perpendicular to the reflection panel. In this solution, the antenna can obtain a good pattern. In addition, this helps increase a bandwidth that can be used by the antenna to propagate a signal, and transmission of a signal of a high frequency band is facilitated.
In addition, a distance M2 between the third resonator and the reflection panel in the second direction and the wavelength λ corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element satisfy: M2≤ 1/10λ. Similarly, the second direction is the direction perpendicular to the reflection panel. In this solution, interference radiation generated by the third resonator can be reduced, and interference to a radiation signal of the radiating element is low, to help improve a radiation capability of the antenna.
From another perspective, the distance MI between the third resonator and the radiating element in the second direction and the distance M2 between the third resonator and the reflection panel in the second direction satisfy: M2<M1. In other words, the third resonator is disposed closer to the reflection panel.
In a further technical solution, the antenna further includes at least one fourth resonator. The fourth resonator is located on a side of the third resonator facing the radiating element. In other words, the fourth resonator is located between the third resonator and the radiating element.
In a specific technical solution, the antenna may include one fourth resonator. In this case, a side of the fourth resonator is coupled to the third resonator, and another side of the fourth resonator is coupled to the radiating element. The radiating element resonates a signal by using a multi-level resonator, and a coupling degree is low. In this case, sensitivity of the signal is reduced, and the signal is not easily interfered, so that a radiation pattern of the entire antenna is better, and this helps implement better cross-polarization performance in a wider bandwidth.
In another specific technical solution, the antenna may include at least two fourth resonators. A fourth resonator adjacent to the third resonator is coupled to the third resonator. A fourth resonator adjacent to the radiating element is coupled to the radiating element. Two adjacent fourth resonators are coupled.
When the fourth resonator is specifically disposed, orthographic projection of a center point of the fourth resonator on the reflection panel overlaps the orthographic projection of the center point of the radiating element on the reflection panel. In this solution, signal transmission symmetry can be improved, and communication performance of the antenna can be improved.
When the fourth resonator is specifically disposed, the fourth resonator may be disposed in parallel with the third resonator, or the fourth resonator may be disposed perpendicular to the third resonator. This is not limited in this application. In a specific technical solution, the fourth resonator may extend in the second direction. The second direction is the direction perpendicular to the reflection panel.
An electrical length b of the fourth resonator and the λ corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element satisfy: b=½λ. In this solution, a signal transmitted by the radiating element can be transmitted better in the fourth resonator.
The antenna in the technical solution of this application further includes a transmission line. The transmission line is connected between the first resonator and the second resonator. Specifically, the transmission line may be directly connected to the first resonator and the second resonator separately, or may be coupled to the first resonator and the second resonator, provided that a signal can be transmitted. In addition, the transmission line is further connected to an input/output port of the antenna. In this solution, an entire radio frequency link can be simplified, and signals in two frequency bands can be transmitted through one input/output port, to help reduce a quantity of input/output ports.
According to a second aspect, this application further provides a base station. The base station includes a mounting support and the antenna in the first aspect. The antenna is installed on the mounting support. The antenna in the base station can support signal transmission in a plurality of frequency bands, and a volume of the antenna is small, to help improve density of antennas in a base station layout, and improve utilization of antenna space.
To facilitate understanding of a communication apparatus and a base station provided in embodiments of this application, the following describes an application scenario of the communication apparatus and the base station.
A base station is equipped with an antenna to implement signal transmission in space.
In a specific technical solution, the antenna 1 may further include a radome 11. The radome 11 has a good electromagnetic wave penetration characteristic in terms of electrical performance, and can withstand impact of an external harsh environment in terms of mechanical performance, so that the radome 11 can protect the antenna 1 from being affected by an external environment.
In addition, the base station may further include a remote radio unit 3 and a baseband processing unit 4. As shown in
In a possible embodiment, as shown in
More specifically, refer to
For an antenna in the conventional technology, to implement transmission of a dual-band or multi-band signal, several antenna implementation methods are developed. However, different methods have different problems. Two frequency bands are used as an example. In a first method, two radiating elements operating in different frequency bands are used, and space of the two radiating elements operating in different frequency bands is designed separately, to form high space isolation. However, this causes a large size of an antenna, and poses a great challenge to a limited size of an antenna aperture. In a second method, a multi-band combiner is integrated into an antenna. In this method, a loss, a weight, and costs caused by the combiner are introduced because the combiner is used. In a third method, two radiators for filtering are designed in a coaxial manner, and two radiators operating in different frequency bands are placed at a same position, to implement dual-band operation. A radiator in one frequency band has a specific filtering suppression effect on a radiator in another frequency band, and specific isolation is achieved. This design method has a high requirement on a material process, to achieve a stable filtering suppression effect. In a scenario in which a frequency spacing is short, mass production is difficult to be implemented. Therefore, this application provides an antenna to resolve the foregoing problems.
The antenna in this embodiment of this application may be an active antenna, or may be a passive antenna. This is not limited in this application.
Still refer to
It should be noted that “transmission” of a signal in embodiments of this application means signal transmission in two directions: sending and/or receiving. In other words, “transmission” in embodiments of this application may specifically mean sending a signal, or may mean receiving a signal, or may mean sending a signal and receiving a signal. In addition, a “coupling” in embodiments of this application means that energy can be transmitted or exchanged between two components. An example in which two transmission lines are coupled is used. In one case, the two transmission lines are not directly connected in a physical structure. However, energy may be transmitted or exchanged between the two transmission lines provided that a distance between the two transmission lines is short enough, and there is no interference from another medium or conductor between the two transmission lines. A connection between the two transmission lines is referred to as a coupling.
The radiating element in this application includes a dual-polarization radiating element, a single-polarization radiating element, and the like. To simplify the accompanying drawings and clearly express points of this application, in the accompanying drawings of the following embodiments, an example in which the radiating element 12 is a single-polarization radiating element 12 is first used to describe the technical solutions of this application. Subsequently, how to obtain a dual-polarization radiating element based on a technical solution of a single-polarization radiating element is described.
Specifically, when the antenna 1 transmits a signal, the signal that needs to be transmitted is sent to the first resonator 141 and the second resonator 142 from the input/output ports through the signal processing unit such as the remote radio unit. The first resonator 141 performs filtering on the signal in the first frequency band, so that the signal in the first frequency band is sent to the third resonator 143 through the first resonator 141. The second resonator 142 performs filtering on the signal in the second frequency band, so that the signal in the second frequency band is sent to the third resonator 143 through the second resonator 142. The third resonator 143 combines the received signal in the first frequency band and the received signal in the second frequency band into one channel of signal, and sends the channel of signal to the radiating element 12. Then, the signal is transmitted through the radiating element 12. It should be noted that an operating frequency band of the third resonator includes the first frequency band and the second frequency band. In a specific embodiment, a lowest operating frequency of the third resonator may be at most a lower one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, and a highest operating frequency of the third resonator may be at least a higher one of the first frequency band and the second frequency band. In other words, both the signal in the first frequency band and the signal in the second frequency band can be transmitted through the third resonator. When the antenna 1 receives a signal, the third resonator 143 splits the signal received by the radiating element 12 into the signal in the first frequency band and the signal in the second frequency band, sends the signal in the first frequency band to the first resonator 141, and sends the signal in the second frequency band to the second resonator 142. The signals are received through the first resonator 141 and the second resonator 142. After receiving the signals, the first resonator 141 and the second resonator 142 may send the signals to the signal processing unit such as the remote radio unit through the input/output port, to perform communication.
The following describes an example of an “open-circuit end” in this application.
In this embodiment of this application, the third resonator 143 may be implemented as a transmission line, and therefore, a size of the third resonator 143 is small. The third resonator 143 may have two open-circuit points. In other words, two ends of the third resonator 143 are open-circuit ends. Therefore, there may be more space for disposing other structures such as the first resonator 141 and the second resonator 142, so that cabling is facilitated, and a size of the antenna 1 is reduced, thereby reducing a requirement on a size of an antenna aperture of the antenna 1. In addition, if the size of the third resonator 143 is small, a loss of a signal transmitted by the antenna is small, costs are low, and a weight of the antenna is small. In addition, a coupling of a plurality of resonators further helps implement a wide bandwidth of the antenna 1, and improves a pattern effect of the antenna 1. In conclusion, combined feeding of signals in different frequency bands can be implemented through the resonator group 14 disposed between the radiating element 12 and the reflection panel 13, and a structure is simple, so that the antenna 1 has a small size, and the loss of the signal is low, and the antenna is applicable to a multi-band transmit-receive separation architecture, and is applicable to a wide range of application scenarios. In addition, the implementation of the solution is simple, and it is beneficial to implement mass production.
The first resonator 141 may be a half-wavelength resonator, or may be a quarter-wavelength resonator that is short-circuited at one end. A wavelength herein is a wavelength corresponding to a center frequency of the first frequency band. In addition, the first resonator 141 may be a single-mode resonator, or may be a multimode resonator. This is not limited in this application. Similarly, the second resonator 142 may be a half-wavelength resonator, or may be a quarter-wavelength resonator that is short-circuited at one end. A wavelength herein is a wavelength corresponding to a center frequency of the second frequency band. In addition, the second resonator 142 may be a single-mode resonator, or may be a multimode resonator. This is not limited in this application.
In a specific embodiment, the first resonator 141 may alternatively be of a conductor structure of any dielectric carrier, for example, may be a transmission line, a metal conductor, a slot line, a strip line, a circuit board microstrip, a dielectric substrate microstrip, a dielectric waveguide, or the like. This is not limited in this application. Similarly, the second resonator 142 may also be of a conductor structure of any dielectric carrier, for example, may be a metal wire, a metal conductor, a slot line, a strip line, a circuit board microstrip, a dielectric substrate microstrip, a dielectric waveguide, or the like. This is not limited in this application.
Similarly, in a specific embodiment, the third resonator 143 may also be of a conductor structure of any dielectric carrier, for example, may be a transmission line, a metal conductor, a slot line, a strip line, a circuit board microstrip, a dielectric substrate microstrip, a dielectric waveguide, or the like. This is not limited in this application. Specifically, the third resonator 143 may be a half-wavelength transmission line.
Transmission line forms of the first resonator 141, the second resonator 142, and the third resonator 143 may be the same or different. In other words, the first resonator 141, the second resonator 142, and the third resonator 143 may be of conductor structures of a same dielectric carrier or conductor structures of different dielectric carriers. When the transmission line forms of the first resonator 141, the second resonator 142, and the third resonator 143 are the same, it is convenient to manufacture the first resonator 141, the second resonator 142, and the third resonator 143, and the resonators may be formed through one process, to reduce manufacturing costs, so as to reduce manufacturing costs of the antenna 1.
Still refer to
The third resonator 143 is located below the radiating element 12. In addition, a distance M1 between the third resonator 143 and the radiating element 12 in the second direction Z and the wavelength λ corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element 12 satisfy: M1≤¼λ. The distance M1 is a distance, in the second direction Z, between a geometric center of a surface of the third resonator 143 facing the radiating element 12 and a surface of the radiating element 12 facing the third resonator 143. In this solution, the antenna 1 can obtain a good pattern. In addition, this helps increase a bandwidth that can be used by the antenna 1 to propagate a signal, and transmission of a signal of a high frequency band is facilitated.
In another embodiment, a distance M2 between the third resonator 143 and the reflection panel 13 in the second direction Z and the wavelength λ corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element 12 satisfy: M2≤ 1/10λ. The distance M2 is a distance, in the second direction Z, between a geometric center of a surface of the third resonator 143 facing the reflection panel 13 and a surface of the reflection panel 13 facing the third resonator 143. A shorter distance M2 between the third resonator 143 and the reflection panel 13 in the second direction Z indicates less interference radiation generated by the third resonator 143, and less interference to a radiation signal of the radiating element 12, to help improve a radiation capability of the antenna 1.
Still refer to
Still refer to
The first resonator 141 may be formed by coupling a plurality of resonators that are configured to perform transmission in the first frequency band, or may be of a single structure. Similarly, the second resonator 142 may be formed by coupling a plurality of resonators that are configured to perform transmission in the second frequency band, or may be of a single structure.
When the third resonator 143 is specifically disposed, a relationship between an electrical length a of the third resonator 143 and the wavelength λ corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element 12 satisfies: a=½λ. In this solution, a signal transmitted by the radiating element 12 is transmitted better in the third resonator 143. Specifically, to make the solution clearer, the following describes a concept of the electrical length. First, in an extension direction of a component, the component has a first end and a second end, and a length of an extended track from the first end to the second end may be a physical length of the component. The physical length of the component may correspond to an electrical length of the component, that is, dI=d0*T/T0, where dI represents the electrical length of the component, d0 represents the physical length of the component, T represents propagation time of an electromagnetic wave through the component, and T0 represents propagation time of the electromagnetic wave in free space over an equal propagation distance. In some embodiments, one component may include a plurality of parts with different extension directions. A physical length of the component may be a sum of physical lengths of the plurality of parts. An electrical length of the component may be a sum of electrical lengths of the plurality of parts.
In the foregoing embodiment, only an example in which the antenna 1 is a dual-band combining and filtering antenna 1 is used for description. In other words, an operating frequency band of the antenna 1 includes the first frequency band and the second frequency band. During actual application, the antenna 1 may alternatively include more operating frequency bands, and signals in different frequency bands correspond to different resonators. However, the signals in different frequency bands may be combined and split through third resonators 143 coupled to the corresponding resonators. For example,
In the embodiment shown in
When the fourth resonator 144 is specifically disposed, a relationship between an electrical length b of the fourth resonator 144 and the wavelength λ corresponding to the center frequency of the operating frequency band of the radiating element 12 satisfies: b=½λ. The electrical length is a length that is actually used by the fourth resonator 144 to transmit a signal, and is irrelevant to an actual physical length. A concept of the electrical length b herein is the same as the concept of the electrical length a of the third resonator 143. Details are not described herein again. In this solution, a signal transmitted by the radiating element 12 can be transmitted better in the fourth resonator 144.
Refer to
In some other embodiments, the orthographic projection of the center point of the third resonator 143 on the reflection panel 13, orthographic projection of a center point of the fourth resonator 144 on the reflection panel 13, and the orthographic projection of the center point of the radiating element 12 on the reflection panel 13 overlap. It may also be understood that “overlapping” is an ideal case in a design process. A specific error, for example, a deviation of approximately 5%, is allowed in an actual manufacturing and application process. Details are not described herein.
Refer to
Still refer to
In embodiments in the foregoing accompanying drawings, an example in which the radiating element 12 is a single-polarization radiating element 12 is used for description. The following describes, with reference to an accompanying drawing, an implementation when the radiating element 12 in the technical solutions of this application is a dual-polarization radiating element.
In addition, polarization directions in the accompanying drawings in embodiments of this application are all 45° polarization. However, the polarization direction is not limited in this application. For example, the polarization direction may be 0° polarization or 90° polarization. In conclusion, a polarization manner of the radiating element 12 is not limited in this application.
Terms used in the foregoing embodiments are merely intended to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit this application. As used in the specification and the appended claims of this application, the singular expressions “a/an”, “one”, “said”, “the foregoing”, “the”, and “this” are intended to also include such expressions as “one or more”, unless otherwise clearly indicated in the context.
Reference to “an embodiment” or “a specific embodiment” or the like described in the specification means that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described with reference to this embodiment. The terms “include”, “have”, and their variants all mean “include but are not limited to”, unless otherwise specifically emphasized in another manner.
The foregoing embodiments may be independent embodiments, or may be combined. For example, technical features in at least two of embodiments are combined to form a new embodiment. This is not limited in this application.
The foregoing descriptions are merely specific implementations of this application, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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202210604355.6 | May 2022 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2023/094153, filed on May 15, 2023, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202210604355.6, filed on May 30, 2022. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2023/094153 | May 2023 | WO |
Child | 18961843 | US |