The present international application claims priority of JP 2017-085399 filed at the Japanese Patent Office on Apr. 24, 2017 and JP 2017-166031 filed at the Japanese Patent Office on Aug. 30, 2017, and the entire contents of JP 2017-085399 and JP 2017-166031 are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to an antenna device formed using a dielectric substrate.
An antenna formed on a dielectric substrate is used, for example, for a radar in a moving body such as a vehicle or an airplane, the radar monitoring surroundings of the vehicle or the airplane. As is known, in such an antenna, a surface wave propagating over a substrate surface causes, at a substrate end or the like, radiation different from a main antenna radiation, leading to disturbed directionality.
A conventional technique is known which suppresses disturbance of directionality by forming, on the substrate, a structure with a bandgap inhibiting propagation of a surface wave with the operating frequency of an antenna (hereinafter referred to as an EBG structure). EBG is an abbreviation for Electromagnetic Band Gap.
However, the inventors' detailed examinations have found that the above technique encounters the following problems.
The EBG includes small hexagonal metal plates two-dimensionally periodically disposed on a front surface of the substrate and a metal plate formed on a back surface of the substrate and connected to the small metal plates via through-holes formed of metal. Accordingly, the utilization of the EBG requires formation of the through-holes in the substrate, thus complicating the structure of the substrate.
An aspect of the preset disclosure provides a technique using a simple configuration to suppress disturbance of antenna characteristics caused by a surface wave propagating over the substrate.
An antenna device according to the aspect of the present disclosure includes a dielectric substrate, a ground plane, an antenna unit, and an additional functional unit.
The dielectric substrate includes a plurality of pattern formation layers. The ground plane is formed on a first pattern formation layer included in the plurality of pattern formation layers, and acts as an antenna grounding surface. The antenna unit is formed on a pattern formation layer that is included in the plurality of pattern formation layers and that is different from the first pattern formation layer. The antenna unit includes one or more antenna patterns configured to act as radiation elements. The additional functional unit includes one or more parasitic patterns provided on a propagation path for a surface wave propagating over the dielectric substrate, and causes the surface wave to generate a radiation wave with polarization different from polarization of a radio wave transmitted and received by the antenna unit.
According to such a configuration, the surface wave is converted into a radio wave by the parasitic patterns belonging to the additional functional unit, the radio wave having polarization different from polarization of a radio wave transmitted and received by the antenna unit. In other words, not only does the surface wave attenuate in accordance with the propagation, but a radiation wave resulting from the surface wave is prevented from interfering with the radio wave transmitted and received by the antenna unit, allowing suppression of disturbance of antenna directionality based on the surface wave.
Note that parenthesized reference signs recited in claims indicate a correspondence relationship with specific means described in embodiments as an aspect, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.
An antenna device 1 is used, for example, as a millimeter-wave radar configured to detect various objects present around a vehicle.
As illustrated in
The antenna device 1 includes a ground plane 3, an antenna unit 4, and additional functional units 3. The ground plane 3 is made as a copper pattern covering the whole of the substrate back surface 2b and functions as an antenna grounding surface. The antenna unit 4 is fabricated on a central area of the substrate front surface 2a. The additional functional units 3 are disposed on both sides of the substrate front surface 2a across the antenna unit 4 in the x-axis direction.
The antenna unit 4 includes a plurality of array antennas arranged along the x-axis direction. Each array antenna includes a plurality of antenna patterns 41 disposed along the y-axis direction and each shaped like a rectangle, and feeder lines 42 through which power is fed to the antenna patterns 41. The antenna unit 4 is configured such that a polarization direction of a radio wave transmitted and received by the antenna unit 4 aligns with the x-axis direction.
Each of the additional functional units 5 includes a plurality of parasitic patterns 51 disposed two-dimensionally. As illustrated in
Here, a method for designing the sizes U and V of the sides of the parasitic pattern 51 will be described.
In the antenna device 1 configured as described above, as illustrated in
Additionally, in the antenna device 1, the resonant frequency corresponding to the average size of both sides of the parasitic pattern 51 is set lower than the operating frequency of the antenna device 1. Thus, as illustrated in
The embodiment described above in detail produces the following effects.
(1a) In the antenna device 1, each of the parasitic patterns 51 belonging to the additional functional unit 5 generates a radiation wave with polarization different from the polarization of the radio wave transmitted and received by the antenna, thus attenuating the surface wave. As a result, the antenna device 1 suppresses unwanted radiations from the substrate ends, allowing implementation of directionality with ripples suppressed.
(1b) In the antenna device 1, the resonant frequency of the parasitic pattern 51 is set lower than the operating frequency of the parasitic pattern 51. This, as demonstrated in
In the above-described embodiment, the parasitic pattern 51 is disposed such that each side is inclined at 45° with respect to the x-axis. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, effects similar to those of the above-described embodiment can be produced as long as the inclination of each side of the parasitic pattern 51 is in the range of 45°±10°, that is, approximately from 35° to 55°, as illustrated in
In the above-described embodiment, the pattern shape of the parasitic pattern 51 is a rectangle. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as in a parasitic pattern 51a illustrated in
Additionally, for example, as in a parasitic pattern 51c illustrated in
Additionally, for example, as in a parasitic pattern 51d illustrated in
The parasitic pattern is not limited to the above-described pattern shapes. Any pattern shape may be used as long as the pattern shape allows resonance to occur at two positions and enables the resonant phase difference to be adjusted. For example, the parasitic pattern may be implemented by adjusting the resonant phase difference to 180° rather than to 90° according to well-known pattern shapes causing circular polarization.
In the above-described embodiment, the parasitic pattern 51 is configured to emit a radiation wave having a polarization direction different from that of the surface wave by 90°. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. The parasitic pattern 51 may have any configuration as long as the polarization direction of the surface wave does not align with the polarization direction of the radiation wave. For example, the parasitic pattern 51 may be configured such that the radiation wave corresponds to circular or elliptic polarization.
A second embodiment is basically configured similarly to the first embodiment, and thus, differences will be described. Note that the same reference signs as those in the first embodiment denote the same components and that the above description of these components will be referenced.
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of an antenna unit 7, the arrangement of an additional functional unit 8, and the shape of parasitic patterns 81 belonging to the additional functional unit 8.
As illustrated in
The antenna unit 7 includes two array antennas 7a and 7b arranged along the x-axis direction. Each of the array antennas 7a and 7b includes a plurality of antenna patterns 71 disposed along the y-axis direction and each shaped like rectangle. The array antennas 7a and 7b are disposed such that the antenna patterns 71 belonging to each array antenna are aligned with one another along the x-axis direction. Additionally, although not illustrated, power feeding for the antenna patterns 71 is performed such that the polarization direction of a transmitted and received radio wave aligns with the x-axis direction. Each of the array antennas 7a and 7b is hereinafter referred to as a channel. One of the channels may be used for transmission and the other may be used reception, or both of the channels may be used for transmission or reception.
The additional functional unit 8 is disposed between the two array antennas 7a and 7b. The additional functional unit 8 includes a plurality of parasitic patterns 81 disposed two-dimensionally. Each of the parasitic patterns 81 includes two copper patterns linearly formed (hereinafter referred to as linear patterns) coupled together at an angle of 90° in an L-shape. Each linear pattern is disposed to incline at 45° from the x-axis. The two linear patterns are different from each other in longitudinal size. The longer linear pattern is hereinafter referred to as a long side, and the shorter linear pattern is hereinafter referred to as a short side. The size U of the long side and the size V of the short side are set such that the phase difference between resonance at the long side and resonance at the short side (hereinafter referred to as resonant phase difference) corresponds to opposite phases, that is, the phase differs between the long side and the short side by 180°.
Additionally, in the additional functional unit 8, the plurality of parasitic patterns 81 provided along the x-axis direction are disposed such that coupling portions each between the two linear patterns face in the same direction. Additionally, the plurality of parasitic patterns 81 provided along the y-axis direction are disposed such that the direction of the coupling portion alternately changes. Furthermore, the plurality of parasitic patterns 81 provided along the x-axis direction are disposed such that the coupling portions are positioned on a line connecting the centers of the antenna patterns 71 aligned with each other in the x-axis direction.
In the antenna device 6 configured as described above, when a surface wave propagating between the array antennas 7a and 7b enters each of the parasitic patterns 81, the parasitic pattern 81 resonates at the two linear patterns, that is, both at the long side and at the short side. Since the phases between the long side and the short side are 180° out of phase with each other (i.e., in opposite phases) at the time of resonance, the parasitic pattern 81 radiates a radio wave having polarization oriented in the y-axis direction. The radiation attenuates the surface wave. Additionally, the radiated wave differs from a transmitted or received wave in polarization plane by 90°, the transmitted or received wave being a radio wave transmitted or received by the antenna unit 7, thus resulting in no interference of the radiated wave with the transmitted or received wave.
The second embodiment described above in detail produces the following effects.
(2a) In the antenna device 6, the parasitic patterns 81 belonging to the additional functional unit 8 attenuate the surface wave propagating between the array antennas 7a and 7b, thus allowing inter-channel isolation to be improved.
As illustrated in
In the additional functional unit 8 in the antenna device 6, the parasitic patterns 81 arranged in the y-axis direction are disposed such that the direction of the coupling portion alternately changes. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this.
For example, as in an additional functional unit 8a illustrated in
Additionally, as in an additional functional unit 8b illustrated in
Additionally, as illustrated in
In the above-described antenna device 6, as the additional functional unit 8, the parasitic patterns 81 each with the L pattern shape are used. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this.
For example, as in an additional functional unit 8d illustrated in
Additionally, as in an additional functional unit 8e illustrated in
Various embodiments of the present disclosure have been discussed. The present disclosure is, however, not limited to the above-described embodiments and may be variously modified for implementation.
(3a) In the examples in the above-described embodiments, the single-layer dielectric substrate 2 is used. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this, and a multilayer dielectric substrate 9 may be used. In this case, for example, as illustrated in
(3b) In the above-described embodiments, the parasitic patterns 51 and 51a to 51d are illustrated in the first embodiment, and the parasitic patterns 81, 82a, 82b, and 83 are illustrated in the second embodiment. However, the parasitic patterns 81, 82a, 82b, or 83 may be used for the first embodiment, and the parasitic patterns 51, 51a, 51b, 51c, or 51d may be used for the second embodiment.
(3c) A plurality of functions of one component in the above-described embodiments may be implemented by a plurality of components or one function of one component may be implemented by a plurality of components. Additionally, a plurality of functions of a plurality of components may be implemented by one component or one function provided by a plurality of components may be implemented by one component. In addition, a part of the configuration of each of the above-described embodiments may be omitted. Additionally, at least a part of the configuration of each of the above-described embodiments may be added to or replaced with the configuration of any other of the above-described embodiments. Note that all aspects included in technical concepts identified by the language recited in claims are embodiments of the present disclosure.
(3d) Besides the above-described antenna device, the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms such as a system including the antenna device as a component and a method for adjusting antenna directionality.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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JP2017-085399 | Apr 2017 | JP | national |
JP2017-166031 | Aug 2017 | JP | national |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200052396 A1 | Feb 2020 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2018/016299 | Apr 2018 | US |
Child | 16659914 | US |