The present disclosure in some embodiments relates to an antenna apparatus.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and do not necessarily constitute prior art.
Wireless communication technology, for example, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology utilizes multiple antennas to dramatically increase data transmission capacity. With such an antenna system, the more the channel capacity, the more data transmission and reception are achieved.
An accordingly increased number of both transmit and receive antennas leads to increased channel capacity for transmitting more data. For example, 10 fold more antennas can secure a channel capacity of about 10 times more for the same frequency band used as compared to employing a single antenna system.
In MIMO technology, as the number of antennas increases, so do the numbers of transmitters and filters. Meanwhile, high power is required to extend the coverage of the MIMO antenna, which causes power consumption and heat generation as negative factors in reducing weight and spacing.
In particular, where limited space is available for installing a MIMO antenna with a stacked structure of radio frequency (RF) devices and digital devices implemented in modules, there is a need for a more compact and miniaturized antenna architecture to maximize installation ease and space utilization. Additionally, the antenna compactification and miniaturization require an effective heat dissipation structure for dissipating heat generated from the antenna components.
Accordingly, the present disclosure seeks to provide a MIMO antenna apparatus having excellent heat dissipation characteristics.
The problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the issues mentioned above, and other unmentioned problems will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.
At least one aspect of the present disclosure provides an antenna apparatus including a lower housing, a middle housing, a first accommodation space, at least one first heat-generating element, one or more heat dissipation supports, and an antenna module. The middle housing is disposed on the lower housing and has one surface formed with one or more first heat dissipation fins. The first accommodation space is formed by the lower housing and the middle housing. The least one first heat-generating element is disposed in the first accommodation space. The one or more heat dissipation supports are each disposed on the middle housing and have at least one surface formed with one or more second heat dissipation fins. The antenna module is supported on one or more heat dissipation supports.
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, like reference numerals preferably designate like elements, although the elements are shown in different drawings. Further, in the following description of some embodiments, a detailed description of related known components and functions when considered to obscure the subject of the present disclosure will be omitted for the purpose of clarity and for brevity.
Additionally, alphanumeric code such as first, second, i), ii), (a), (b), etc., in numbering components are used solely for the purpose of differentiating one component from the other but not to imply or suggest the substances, the order or sequence of the components. Throughout this specification, when a part “includes” or “comprises” a component, the part is meant to further include other components, not excluding thereof unless there is a particular description contrary thereto.
To avoid confusion in understanding the present disclosure, ‘upper’ or ‘upward’ refers to the direction in which a radome 190 (see
In the present disclosure, the ‘first direction’ means a direction from a lower position upward. The ‘second direction’ refers to a direction different from the first direction, preferably a direction perpendicular to the first direction. Additionally, the ‘third direction’ refers to a direction different from the first direction and the second direction, preferably a direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. The present disclosure, although not limited thereto, assumes that the second direction is the width direction of a middle housing 140 and the third direction is the longitudinal direction of the middle housing 140. As described above, the terminology related to the direction is only for the convenience of explanation and to prevent confusion of understanding, which should not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Additionally, since the circuits shown in the drawings of the present disclosure are not equivalent to the essential content of the present disclosure and is only abstractly expressed for understanding, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited thereby.
As shown in
The lower housing 110 is located at the lowermost side of the antenna apparatus 100. As shown in
The heat dissipation bottom 112 may be in the form of a heat sink with one or more heat dissipation fins arranged to be spaced apart and extending outwardly of the antenna apparatus 100 from one surface of the lower housing 110. However, the heat dissipation bottom 112 may have an appropriate shape, such as a curved shape in a meandering pattern, if necessary.
The heat dissipation bottom 112 may be integrally extruded together with the lower housing 110 in manufacture. However, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the heat dissipation bottom 112 is separately manufactured and detachably attached to the lower housing 110.
The middle housing 140 may be disposed on the lower housing 110 and may have at least a portion that is in contact with the lower housing 110 to form the first accommodation space 120. At this time, the middle housing 140 and the lower housing 110 may be joined by press-fitting.
The middle housing 140 has one surface that includes one or more first heat dissipation fins 142 protruding in the second direction. The specific structure and benefit of the first heat dissipation fin 142 will be detailed when discussing
The first accommodation space 120 is a space formed by the coupling between the lower housing 110 and the middle housing 140. The first heat-generating elements 122 and a digital board 130 may be disposed in the first accommodation space 120.
The first heat-generating elements 122 may include a substrate and a power supply unit (PSU) mounted on the substrate. In this case, the substrate may be implemented as a printed circuit board (PCB). The PSU is configured to provide operating power to electrical components including a plurality of communication components. The PSU may be provided with docking protrusions (not shown) so that they can be docked through docking holes (not shown) formed on the inner surface of the lower housing 110, to which the present disclosure is not limited. Meanwhile, heat generated during the operation of the PSU may be transferred to one or more of the lower housing 110 and the middle housing 140 through the docking protrusions and the docking holes. The transfer of heat generated from the PSU to the lower housing 110 causes heat radiation to the outside through the heat dissipation bottom 112, allowing the first accommodation space 120 to be properly cooled.
When transferred to the middle housing 140, the heat generated from the PSU is radiated through the first heat dissipation fins 142, allowing the first accommodation space 120 to be properly cooled.
The digital board 130 has a digital processing circuit formed thereon. Specifically, the digital board 130 converts digital signals received from a base station into analog radio frequency (RF) signals, converts and transmits the analog RF signals received from the antenna module 160 into digital signals to the base station.
One or more heat dissipation supports 150 are disposed on the middle housing 140. The heat dissipation supports 150 each have one end supported by one surface of the middle housing 140 and the other end electrically connected at least in part to the antenna module 160.
One or more heat dissipation supports 150 protrude along the first direction and extend along the third direction. Meanwhile, with multiple heat dissipation supports 150, at least some of them may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the second direction. Additionally, with multiple heat dissipation supports 150 provided, at least some of them may be arranged to be in contact with each other between single surfaces. This allows space-efficient integration of the heat dissipation supports 150.
The heat dissipation supports 150 are preferably arranged side by side with each other. This can form a space between the adjacent heat dissipation supports 150, and air may flow therethrough. Accordingly, heat generated by the electrical components may be radiated to the outside of the antenna apparatus 100 through airflow paths through the space. However, the heat dissipation supports 150 according to the present disclosure are not necessarily limited to this example, and the plurality of heat dissipation supports 150 may be alternately arranged in a V-shape between adjacent heat dissipation supports 150.
The cross-section of the heat dissipation support 150 may be a rectangle, but it is not a requirement, and the heat dissipation support 150 may have at least one end reduced in height to take a trapezoidal shape.
The heat dissipation support 150 may include one or more second heat dissipation fins 154 that each protrude from at least one side surface in the second direction and protrude in a row along the first direction. The specific configuration and benefit of the second heat dissipation fins 154 will be detailed when discussing
The antenna module 160 includes communication components mounted on the antenna substrate 162, for example, antenna elements 164. The antenna substrate 162 may be implemented as a printed circuit board (PCB). On the rear surface of the antenna substrate, cavity filters (not shown) may be disposed as many as the number of antenna elements 164, and related substrates (not shown) may be sequentially stacked thereon.
A blower fan module 170 may be provided on at least one side of the antenna apparatus 100. The blower fan module 170 is configured to cool the antenna apparatus 100 by supplying cold air to the inside thereof. To this end, the blower fan module 170 is disposed adjacent to single ends of the heat dissipation supports 150 extending in the third direction.
In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the blower fan module 170 is shown to be disposed on only one side of the antenna apparatus 100. However, the present disclosure envisions alternatives, including another blower fan module 170 to be disposed on the other side of the antenna apparatus 100. In other words, multiples of the blower fan module 170 may be disposed adjacent to one end and the other end of the heat dissipation support 150 extending in the third direction, respectively.
On the other hand, the specific configuration of the blower fan module 170 will be described when discussing
The antenna apparatus 100 may further include mesh members 180. The mesh members 180 are disposed on the other side of the antenna apparatus 100 to be adjacent to the other end of the heat dissipation support 150 extending in the third direction. Cool air may be sucked in or discharged through the mesh members 180. This allows the heated air inside the antenna apparatus 100 to be discharged to the outside to properly cool the antenna apparatus 100.
The mesh member 180 includes one or more perforations which may be in the form of a regular hexagon. Such perforated mesh members can provide structural stability of the antenna apparatus 100 and cost reduction of materials. However, the present disclosure includes other embodiments for providing one or more perforations with various shapes and sizes.
The antenna apparatus 100 may further include a radome 190. The radome 190 is disposed on the antenna module 160 and is configured to cover at least a portion of the antenna module 160. The radome 190 serves to protect the antenna module 160 from external wind pressure.
By referring to
The first heat dissipation fins 142 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the second direction between each two adjacent heat dissipation supports 150. The first heat dissipation fins 142 extend in a direction parallel to the airflow paths formed by the plurality of heat dissipation supports 150. Therefore, when cold air is supplied through the airflow paths, no resistance occurs in the direction opposite to the flow direction of the cold air. This allows an efficient dissipation of heat.
The first heat dissipation fins 142 may include two or more heat dissipation fins 142a having a first height. Additionally, the first heat dissipation fins 142 may include two or more heat dissipation fins 142b having a second height greater than the first height between the two or more heat dissipation fins 142a. Further, the first heat dissipation fins 142 may include one or more heat dissipation fins 142c having a third height greater than the second height between the two or more heat dissipation fins 142b. However, the first heat dissipation fin 142 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to this example, and may further include a heat dissipation fin having a fourth height greater than the third height. In this case, the first to fourth heights mean the heights of the first heat dissipation fins 142 at their points most spaced apart from the one surface of the middle housing 140.
As shown in
On the other hand, the heat dissipation fins having the greatest height directly overlie the electrical components that are arranged along the length of the same highest heat dissipation fins in the first accommodation space 120. Accordingly, heat dissipation is best achieved at portions closest to the heat-generating components, thereby maximizing heat dissipation efficiency.
Meanwhile,
The heat dissipation support 150 includes one or more second heat dissipation fins 154 protruding in the second direction from at least one side surface of the heat dissipation support 150. The second heat dissipation fins 154 extend along the third direction.
The second heat dissipation fins 154 may include a plurality of second heat dissipation fins 154a, 154b, and 154c arrayed in parallel in the first direction.
The second heat dissipation fins 154 may include two or more heat dissipation fins 154a having a first width. Additionally, the second heat dissipation fins 154 may include two or more heat dissipation fins 154b having a second width greater than the first width between the two or more heat dissipation fins 154a. Further, the second heat dissipation fins 154 may include one or more heat dissipation fins 154c having a third width greater than the second width between the two or more heat dissipation fins 154b. However, the second heat dissipation fin 154 according to at least one embodiment is not necessarily limited to this example, and may further include a heat dissipation fin having a fourth width greater than the third width. In this case, the first to fourth widths are equivalent to the widths of the second heat dissipation fins 154 at their points farthest from one surface of the heat dissipation support 150.
As shown in
As shown in
The heat dissipation support 150 has a second accommodation space 151 therein. Electrical components may be disposed in the second accommodation space 151. Accordingly, the antenna apparatus 100 can efficiently hold an integration of electrical components internally, and at the same time efficiently dissipate heat. Hereinafter, the internal structure of the heat dissipation support 150 in
As shown in
The second accommodation space 151 is a space formed inside the heat dissipation support 150. The second heat-generating elements 153 may be disposed in the second accommodation space 151.
The second heat-generating elements 153 may be, for example, an FPGA module. The FPGA module may include an FPGA substrate 153a disposed in the second accommodation space 151 and a plurality of FPGAs 153b installed on the FPGA substrate 153a.
The FPGA 153b is a kind of electrical component and corresponds to an electrical device that requires heat dissipation. In the antenna apparatus 100 according to at least one embodiment, as shown in
The one or more RF signal connection units 155 are disposed on at least one surface of the heat dissipation support 150 and can transmit electrical signals generated from electrical components disposed in the second accommodation space 151 to the antenna module 160. This allows the heat dissipation support 150 to electrically connect the electrical components disposed in the first accommodation space 120 to the antenna module 160. To this end, at least a portion of the RF signal connection unit 155 may be formed of metal.
In the second accommodation space 151, not only the FPGA 153b, but also a multi-band filter (MBF) may be further disposed.
Additionally, a power amplifier may be disposed in the second accommodation space 151.
As shown in
The blower fan module 170 may include one or more blade sets 172, a blowing fan housing 174, a blowing fan cover 176, and protection protrusions 178.
The one or more blade sets 172 when rotated in a predetermined direction supply cold air into the antenna apparatus 100.
The blower fan housing 174 is configured to surround at least a portion of one or more blade sets 172. The blower fan housing 174 may be formed along the length of at least one surface of the antenna apparatus 100.
The blowing fan cover 176 is coupled to the blowing fan housing 174, and is configured to accommodate one or more blade sets 172 in cooperation with the blowing fan housing 174.
The protective protrusions 178 protrude toward the outside of the antenna apparatus 100 from at least some portion of the blower fan cover 176. The protective protrusions 178 most protrude from one surface on which the blower fan module 170 is disposed. This can prevent a port disposed on one surface of the antenna apparatus 100 from being damaged from external impact. For example, when the antenna apparatus 100 is overturned due to drafts or the like, the protective protrusions can prevent the port from colliding with the ground.
As shown in
By placing the mesh member 280 on the other sides in addition to one side of the antenna apparatus 200, a larger volume of cool air may be supplied. Accordingly, the mesh member covering more of the antenna apparatus can save a placement of another blower fan module 270 by radiating heat from the inside of the antenna apparatus 200 more efficiently.
As shown in
Additionally, the second heat dissipation fins 254 may include a plurality of second heat dissipation fins 254a and 254b arrayed in parallel in the first direction.
The second heat dissipation fins 254 may include two or more heat dissipation fins 254a having a first width. Additionally, the second heat dissipation fins 254 may include two or more heat dissipation fins 254b having a second width greater than the first width between the two or more heat dissipation fins 254a. Further, the second heat dissipation fins 254 may further include one or more heat dissipation fins (not shown) having a third width greater than the second width between the two or more heat dissipation fins 254b. In this case, the first to third widths refer to the widths of the heat dissipation fins 254 at their points farthest from one surface of each heat dissipation support 250.
As shown in
As shown in
The grip members 378 are each configured to protrude from at least a portion of a blower fan module 370 externally of the antenna apparatus 300, and they may be configured in a substantially handle shape. The grip members 378 protrude more than ports disposed on one surface of the antenna apparatus 300 on which the blower fan module 370 is disposed. The grip members can protect the ports from external impact.
The grip members 378 are preferably formed so that the user can easily hold them by hand. Accordingly, when moving the antenna apparatus 300, the user can hold the same by the grip members 378 conveniently.
As shown in
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of second heat dissipation fins 354 includes two or more heat dissipation fins 354a having a first width. Additionally, the second heat dissipation fins 354 may include two or more heat dissipation fins 354b having a second width greater than the first width between the two or more heat dissipation fins 354a. Further, the second heat dissipation fins 354 may include one or more heat dissipation fins (not shown) having a third width greater than the second width between the two or more heat dissipation fins 354b. In this case, the first to third widths refer to the widths of the heat dissipation fins 354 at their points farthest from one surface of each heat dissipation support 350.
Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions, and substitutions are possible, without departing from the idea and scope of the claimed invention. Therefore, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described for the sake of brevity and clarity. The scope of the technical idea of the embodiments of the present disclosure is not limited by the illustrations. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill would understand the scope of the claimed invention is not to be limited by the above explicitly described embodiments but by the claims and equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2019-0077894 | Jun 2019 | KR | national |
10-2020-0005720 | Jan 2020 | KR | national |
This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/KR2020/007769, filed Jun. 16, 2020, which claims priority to and benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2019-0077894, filed on Jun. 28, 2019 and 10-2020-0005720, filed on Jan. 16, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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International Search Report dated Sep. 24, 2020 for International Application No. PCT/KR2020/007769 and its English translation. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220115760 A1 | Apr 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/KR2020/007769 | Jun 2020 | US |
Child | 17555454 | US |