Patent Application
20210194151
This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0169658, filed on Dec. 18, 2019 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to an antenna array and vehicle including the same, and more specifically, to an antenna array and vehicle comprising a plurality of independent single antennas.
Existing commercial WiFi, Bluetooth, WiMax, IEEE 80211p-based short-range communication and 4G technology are limited in bandwidth. Therefore, there is a problem because it is difficult to process a large amount of data without delay, such as autonomous vehicle communication and three-dimensional and high-definition images of vehicle sensor systems.
Therefore, next-generation millimeter wave-based wireless communication technology with high transmission speed, object communication, and high reliability features is being applied to cellular-V2X communication to deliver a large amount of data without delay during autonomous vehicle driving. In particular, research on connected cars is actively conducted in the 28 GHz band.
Since the path loss is large in the millimeter wave band, it is necessary to develop an antenna having high gain characteristics.
In general, an antenna is a converter for transmitting or receiving electromagnetic waves in a specific area. The antenna converts and transmits an electric signal of an electromagnetic frequency band to an electromagnetic wave and vice versa.
Antennas are widely used in radio and television radios, radio and two-way communication devices, and radar and space probe radio telescopes.
Physically, an antenna is an arrangement of conductors that radiates the electromagnetic field into free space, which occurs when a voltage is applied with a modulated current. Alternatively, currents and voltages induced in the antenna are generated by the influence of electromagnetic fields.
Antennas may be classified into a dipole antenna, a monopole antenna, a patch antenna, a parabolic antenna, a helical antenna, a yagi antenna, a slot antenna, and an array antenna according to the shape thereof. In some occasions a required radiation pattern may not be obtained by a single antenna.
If a radiation pattern that cannot be obtained by a single antenna is required, an array antenna in which pluralities of independent single antennas are arranged in a specific pattern may be used. By using such an array antenna, directivity is provided.
Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an array antenna that has a wideband high gain characteristic.
Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an antenna array that includes: a dielectric; a loop provided on a first surface of the dielectric that has a first slot and a second slot; a first feed pin provided at a position corresponding to the first slot on a second surface of the dielectric; a second feed pin provided at a position corresponding to the second slot on the second surface of the dielectric; and a divider provided between the first feed pin and the second feed pin, and electrically connected to the loop.
The divider may include: a stub provided between the first feed pin and the second feed pin on the second surface of the dielectric; and via holes that extend from both ends of the stub to the loop through the dielectric.
The loop may include a partition that partitions the first slot and the second slot.
The stub may be provided at a position corresponding to the partition.
The first feed pin may extend from a first point corresponding to the loop toward center of the first slot. The second feed pin may extend from a second point corresponding to the loop toward center of the second slot.
The first feed pin and the second feed pin may be disposed in parallel with each other.
The divider may include a stub provided in parallel with the first feed pin and the second feed pin.
It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an antenna array. The antenna array includes a dielectric, a first antenna, and a second antenna. The first antenna includes a first loop provided on a lower surface of the dielectric and having a first slot formed thereon and includes a first feed pin provided on an upper surface of the dielectric and provided at a position corresponding to the first slot. The second antenna includes a second loop provided on a lower surface of the dielectric and having a second slot formed thereon and includes a second feed pin provided on an upper surface of the dielectric and provided at a position corresponding to the second slot. The antenna array also includes a divider that separates the first antenna and the second antenna. At least a portion of the first loop may be shared with at least a portion of the second loop.
The divider may include: a stub provided between the first feed pin and the second feed pin on the second surface of the dielectric; and via holes that extend from both ends of the stub to the loop through the dielectric.
The stub may be provided at a position where the first loop and the second loop are shared.
The first feed pin may extend from a first point corresponding to the loop toward center of the first slot. The second feed pin may extend from a second point corresponding to the loop toward center of the second slot.
The first feed pin and the second feed pin may be disposed in parallel with each other.
The divider may include a stub provided in parallel with the first feed pin and the second feed pin.
It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle including a vehicle body and an antenna array spaced apart from the vehicle body by a predetermined distance. The antenna array may include: a dielectric; a loop provided on a first surface of the dielectric and having a first slot and a second slot; a first feed pin provided at a position corresponding to the first slot on a second surface of the dielectric; a second feed pin provided at a position corresponding to the second slot on the second surface of the dielectric; and a divider provided between the first feed pin and the second feed pin, and electrically connected to the loop.
The divider may include: a stub provided between the first feed pin and the second feed pin on the second surface of the dielectric; and via holes extending from both ends of the stub to the loop through the dielectric.
The loop may include a partition that partitions the first slot and the second slot.
The stub may be provided at a position corresponding to the partition.
The first feed pin may extend from a first point corresponding to the loop toward center of the first slot. The second feed pin may extend from a second point corresponding to the loop toward center of the second slot.
These and/or other aspects of the disclosure should become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Hereinafter, the operating principles and embodiments of the disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Further, when an element in the written description and claims is described as being “for” performing or carry out a stated function, step, set of instructions, or the like, the element may also be considered as being “configured to” do so.
Referring to
The loop 110 has a substantially rectangular (or square) shape as shown in
The width W and the length L of the loop 110 may depend on the frequency f or the wavelength λ of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the first slot loop antenna 101. For example, the width W and the length L of the first slot loop antenna 101 designed to radiate electromagnetic waves of approximately 28 Gigahertz (GHz) may be approximately 7.5 millimeter (mm) and approximately 6.7 mm.
The loop 110 may be made of a conductive material in which an electric field is generated and a current flows when a voltage is applied.
The dielectric 130 is provided between the feed pin 121 and the loop 110 as shown in
The thickness T of the dielectric 130 may depend on the wavelength λ. For example, the thickness T of the dielectric 130 of the first slot loop antenna 101 designed to radiate electromagnetic waves of approximately 28 GHz may be 1 mm.
In the dielectric 130, electromagnetic waves may be generated by the feed pin 121 and the loop 110. Electromagnetic waves generated in the dielectric 130 may radiate into free space.
The dielectric 130 may be composed of a dielectric material in which an electric field is generated and no current flows when a voltage is applied. The dielectric 130 may be, for example, a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of 2.2.
The feed pin 121 has a shape of a substantially pole-shaped monopole antenna.
The feed pin 121 is provided on the upper surface (opposite the loop) of the dielectric 130. The feed pin 121 is provided with a loop 110 on one surface of both surfaces of the dielectric 130.
The feed pin 121 extends from the edge of the loop 110 toward the center of the loop 110 (center of the slot) as shown in
The feed pin 121 may be formed of a conductive material in which an electric field is formed and a current flows when a voltage is applied.
The first slot loop antenna 101 may operate in two modes of operation. For example, the first slot loop antenna 101 may operate in a loop mode at approximately 28 GHz. In addition, the first slot loop antenna 101 may operate in a slot mode at approximately 38 GHz.
As shown in
Referring to
The second slot loop antenna 201 includes: a loop 210 in which a slot 211 is formed; a feed pin 221 extending toward the center of the slot 211 at one side of the loop 210; a loop 210; and a dielectric 230 provided between the feed pin 221 and a loop 210. The loop 210, the slot 211, the feed pin 221 and the dielectric 230 may be identical to the loop 110, the slot 111, the feed pin 121 and the dielectric 130 shown in
The reflecting plate 202 is provided in parallel with the second slot loop antenna 201 as shown in
The reflecting plate 202 is provided closer to the loop 210 than to the feed pin 221. In other words, the reflecting plate 202 is provided on the loop 210 side around the dielectric 230.
The reflecting plate 202 may be made of a conductive material in which an electric field is generated and a current flows when a voltage is applied.
The reflecting plate 202 may be connected to ground. Alternatively, the reflecting plate 202 may not have a potential. In other words, the reflecting plate 202 may not be electrically connected to the second antenna assembly 200.
The reflecting plate 202 may reflect electromagnetic waves emitted from the second slot loop antenna 201. As the reflecting plate 202 reflects the electromagnetic waves, the electromagnetic waves may be radiated more strongly toward the second slot loop antenna 201 based on the reflecting plate 202.
The reflecting plate 202 may be a structure separate from the second slot loop antenna 201.
For example, when the second slot loop antenna 201 is installed in a vehicle, the vehicle body of the vehicle may be a reflecting plate 202. When the second slot loop antenna 201 is installed in the door of the vehicle, the door of the vehicle may be a reflecting plate 202. When the second slot loop antenna 201 is installed in the roof of the vehicle, the loop of the vehicle may be a reflecting plate 202.
The return loss S11 of the second antenna assembly 200 is illustrated in
The second antenna assembly 200 having the second slot loop antenna 201 and the reflecting plate 202 may reduce the bandwidth while improving the directivity of beamforming by the reflecting plate 202.
Referring to
The third slot loop antenna array 301 includes: a loop 310 in which a first slot 311 and a second slot 312 are formed; a first feed pin 321 that extends toward the center of the first slot 311 at one side of the loop 310; a second feed pin 322 that extends toward the center of the second slot 312 at one side of the loop 310; and a dielectric 330 provided between the first feed pin 321 and the second feed pin 322 and the loop 310.
The loop 310 has a substantially rectangular (or square) shape as shown in
The partition 310a may be manufactured integrally with the loop 310 and may be provided at approximately the center of the loop 310. Due to the partition 310a, the loop 310 has a shape in which pair of rectangular rings shares one side. Specifically, due to partition 310a, the loop 310 has a shape that approximates the digital number “8”.
The slot is partitioned into a first slot 311 and a second slot 312 by the partition 310a. The first slot 311 and the second slot 312 are provided on the same plane. The first slot 311 and the second slot 312 may have the same size.
The partition 310a and the loop 310 may be made of a conductive material in which an electric field is generated and a current flows when a voltage is applied.
The dielectric 330 is provided between the first feed pin 321 and the second feed pin 322 and the loop 310 as shown in
The first feed pin 321 and the second feed pin 322 are provided on the dielectric 330. The first feed pin 321 and the second feed pin 322 each have a substantially rod-shaped monopole antenna shape.
The first feed pin 321 is provided at a position corresponding to the first slot 311 as shown in
The second feed pin 322 is provided at a position corresponding to the second slot 312 as shown in
The first feed pin 321 and the second feed pin 322 are arranged in parallel.
The first feed pin 321 and the second feed pin 322 may be formed of a conductive material in which an electric field is formed and a current flows when a voltage is applied.
As such, the third slot loop antenna array 301 may be a combined 1×2 antenna array with a single slot loop antenna composed of a first slot 311 and a first feed pin 321 and a single slot loop antenna composed of a second slot 312 and a second feed pin 322.
The reflecting plate 302 is provided in parallel with the third slot loop antenna array 301. The reflecting plate 302 is spaced apart from the third slot loop antenna array 301 by a predetermined distance D. The reflecting plate 302 is provided on the loop 310 side with respect to the dielectric 330. The reflecting plate 302 may reflect electromagnetic waves emitted from the third slot loop antenna array 301.
Referring to
The fourth slot loop antenna array 401 includes a loop 410 in which a first slot 411 and a second slot 412 are formed by a partition 410a, a first feed pin 421, and a second feed pin 422, a dielectric 430, and a divider 441.
The partition 410a, the first slot 411, the second slot 412, the loop 410, the first feed pin 421, the second feed pin 422, the dielectric 430; and the partition 310a, the first slot 311, the second slot 312, the loop 310, the first feed pin 321, the second feed pin 322, and the dielectric 330 illustrated in
The divider 441 includes a stub 441a provided on the dielectric 430. The stub 441a may be provided on the same surface as the first and the second feed pins 421 and 422.
The stub 441a may be provided at a position corresponding to the partition 410a of the loop 410. Specifically, the partition 410a partitions the first slot 411 from the second slot 412 at the bottom surface of the dielectric 430. The stub 441a may partition the first feed pin 421 from the second feed pin 422 on the top surface of the dielectric 430. The stub 441a is provided in parallel with the first feed pin 421 and the second feed pin 422.
The stub 441a may be formed of a conductive material in which an electric field is formed and a current flows when a voltage is applied.
Both ends of the stub 441a are provided with via holes 441b extending from the stub 441a to the loop 410 through the dielectric 430. The interior of the via holes 441b is filled or coated with a conductive material. Thus, the stub 441a may be electrically connected to the loop 410 through the via holes 441b.
The divider 441 comprising the stub 441a may isolate a slot loop antenna including a first feed pin 421 and a first slot 411 from the slot loop antenna composed of the second feed pin 422 and the second slot 412. In other words, the divider 441 may isolate the single slot antennas of the 1×2 antenna array from each other.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the transfer coefficient between the single slot antennas included in the fourth slot loop antenna array 401.
As shown in
Compared with the bandwidth, the transfer coefficient S12 of the fourth antenna assembly 400 is smaller than the transfer coefficient S12 of the third antenna assembly 300 at most frequencies. For example, at 28 GHz, the transfer coefficient S12 of the fourth antenna assembly 400 is approximately −13 dB, while the transfer coefficient S12 of the third antenna assembly 300 is approximately −15 dB.
Larger transmission coefficients indicate greater interference between single antennas. Smaller transmission coefficients indicate that the single antennas are isolated from each other. If the isolation degree of single antennas is high, the directivity of the antenna array can be improved.
Thus, the directivity of the fourth antenna assembly 400 including the divider 441 may be improved over the directivity of the third antenna assembly 300 not including the divider.
Referring to
The fifth slot loop antenna array 501 includes a loop 510, first to eighth feed pins 521-528, and a dielectric.
First to eighth slots 511-518 are formed inside the loop 510. The first to eighth slots 511-518 are partitioned by the first to seventh partitions 510a-510g. In detail, the interior of the loop 510 is partitioned into first to eighth slots 511-518 by the first to seventh partitions 510a-510g. The first to eighth slots 511-518 may have the same size.
Although not shown in the drawings, a dielectric is provided between the feed pins 521-528 and the loop 510.
First to eighth feed pins 521-528 are provided on the dielectric. Each of the first to eighth feed pins 521-528 has a shape of a substantially monopole antenna.
The first to eighth feed pins 521-528 are provided at positions corresponding to the first to eighth slots 511-518, respectively.
As such, the fifth slot loop antenna array 501 may be a 1×8 antenna array having first to eighth feed pins 521-528 and first to eighth slots 511-518.
Referring to
The sixth slot loop antenna array 601 includes a loop 610, first to eighth feed pins 621-628, a dielectric, and first to seventh dividers 641-647.
First to eighth slots 611-618 are formed inside the loop 610. The first-eighth slots 611-618 are partitioned by the first to seventh partitions.
The first to eighth feed pins 621-628 are provided on the dielectric. Each of the first to eighth feed pins 621-628 is provided at a position corresponding to the first to eighth slots 611-618.
The sixth slot loop antenna array 601 may be a 1×8 antenna array that has first to eighth feed pins 621-628 and first to eighth slots 611-618.
The first to seventh dividers 641-647 are provided on the dielectric, respectively, and are provided between the feed pins 621-628.
The first to seventh dividers 641-647 each include stubs provided on the dielectric and via holes that extend from the end of the stubs to the loop 610 through the dielectric. The stubs may be electrically connected to the loop 610 through via holes.
The first to seventh dividers 641-647 may isolate the single slot antennas of the 1×8 antenna array from each other.
Thereby, the transmission coefficient between the single slot antenna included in the sixth slot loop antenna array 601 can be reduced.
As shown in
As shown in
Larger transmission coefficients indicate greater interference between single antennas. Smaller transmission coefficients indicate that the single antennas are isolated from each other. If the isolation degree of single antennas is high, the directivity of the antenna array can be improved.
Accordingly, the directivity of the sixth antenna assembly 600 including the first to seventh dividers 641-647 may be best improved than the directivity of the fifth antenna assembly 500 including no divider.
The vehicle 1 has a chassis which forms its exterior and contains a vehicle body 10 for accommodating the driver and/or baggage. The chassis comprises components of the vehicle 1 other than the vehicle body 10 and electric devices that protect and provide convenience to the driver.
The vehicle body 10 of the vehicle 1 is provided with a 1×8 slot loop antenna array 701. The slot loop antenna array 701 includes a divider.
A 1×8 slot loop antenna array 701 may be installed in the door 11 to communicate with a communication infrastructure installed on the side of the lane. In addition, a 1×8 slot loop antenna arrangement 701 may be installed in front and/or rear of the vehicle body 10 to communicate with the preceding and/or trailing vehicles of the vehicle 1.
The 1×8 slot loop antenna array 701 may use the door 11 or the vehicle body 10 of the vehicle 1 as a reflector. The 1×8 slot loop antenna array 701 is spaced apart from the door 11 or the vehicle body 10 by a predetermined distance.
As is apparent from the above, an antenna array can provide a wideband high gain characteristic.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2019-0169658 | Dec 2019 | KR | national |
