The present invention relates to a broadband antenna structure and an antenna arrangement comprising the antenna structure and an electronic device, and is particularly, but not exclusively, suited to physically connecting an electronic device onto an exterior surface of an antenna and providing electrical coupling between the antenna and its associated control electronics.
Antennas are transducers designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves. Those used at cellular communications base stations are commonly located on top of buildings, towers or masts to maximise or control the geographic coverage area of the system. The antennas are typically connected with electronic devices such as amplifiers, filters, transceivers etc via one or more coaxial cables. To ease maintenance and historically because of their size, the electronic devices connected to the antennas are conventionally housed remotely from the antennas and are positioned on the ground or in a building. This arrangement has a number of drawbacks which include the high cost of coaxial cables of this type, the RF losses introduced by the cables which can compromise the system performance, possible failure of the cables or the connectors used to attach them to the antennas and equipment, passive inter-modulation distortion due to metal-to-metal contact in the connectors, lease costs associated with the space that the cables occupy, and lease costs associated with the large footprint of the building or of the cabinet housing the electronic device.
As is known, antennas include a feed layer comprising a radiating portion and a feed network. The feed layer in conventional arrangements is located inside the housing or radome of the antenna so as to protect the feed layer from the effects of environmental exposure including rain, wind, sand, UV, ice, etc, and mechanical damage. Such an arrangement is known from the applicant's co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/966,501, which describes a cavity-backed, slot-radiating type antenna. In this arrangement, an electrically conducting enclosure has an open or partially open end and a cover. The cover is configured with a slot which is positioned over the resonant cavity formed by the enclosure. The resonance cavity is then excited by or excites the feed layer located in between the enclosure and the cover, such that the higher the volume of the cavity, the greater the bandwidth that can be achieved. This arrangement is however constrained in bandwidth by the need to keep the cavity in the enclosure small, so that the sub-arrays may be arranged in an array at substantially half-wavelength spacing that is required for multi-element array antennas. Furthermore, this slot antenna design requires separate slots for each polarisation.
It would be desirable to provide a broadband antenna with reduced cost and weight that can be connected with (and removed from) an electronic device easily and preferably with the aim of avoiding at least some of the disadvantages associated with connecting an antenna with a remotely located electronic device as described above.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antenna arrangement comprising:
an antenna, said antenna comprising an antenna housing and a feed layer, said antenna housing having a surface and said surface comprising an opening; and
an electronic device, said electronic device comprising an electronic device housing,
wherein a portion of the feed layer protrudes outside of the antenna housing through the opening, said outside portion being within the electronic device housing of the electronic device.
Connecting the electronic device directly to the antenna according to embodiments of the invention reduces the amount of coaxial cables needed or eliminates the need for coaxial cables completely. As a result the costs associated with coaxial cables, the RF losses introduced by the cables which can compromise the system performance, possible failure of the cables, lease costs for the space the cables occupy and lease costs for large footprint of the building or cabinet housing the electronic device are substantially reduced or eliminated.
Whilst, as described above, it is normally not desirable to extend a portion of the feed layer outside of the antenna enclosure housing, configuring the feed layer in this way has the advantage of facilitating direct coupling between the feed layer and the electronic device track. Embodiments of the invention ensure feed layer protection by locating the outside portion of the feed layer within the electronic device housing of the electronic device which is connected with the antenna.
In embodiments of this aspect of the invention, the electronic device comprises an electrically conductive track, and the electronic device track is coupled to the feed layer of the antenna. In one arrangement, the electronic device track is coupled to the feed layer of the antenna by means of broadside coupling, preferably an overlay coupling. Using an overlay coupling instead of conventional connectors eliminates possible failure, losses and costs associated with the connectors and passive inter-modulation distortion due to metal-to-metal contact in the connectors.
In a preferred arrangement, the overlay coupling comprises two dielectric substrates, the feed layer being printed on a surface of one dielectric substrate, and the electronic device track being printed on a surface of the other dielectric substrate, wherein said two substrates are positioned such that a section of the feed layer is in registration with a section of the electronic device track.
Printing the feed layer and the electronic device track on two separate substrates means that the feed layer of the antenna and the electronic device track are not permanently connected and are thus easily separable, which simplifies maintenance and assembling of the antenna arrangement.
The aforementioned coupling of the feed layer and the electronic device by means of overlay coupling requires bringing the feed layer of the antenna and the electronic device track close together. This can be difficult to achieve in practice. The first difficulty to overcome is that, since the electronic device is normally populated with electronic components, it is not naturally in close enough proximity to the antenna feed layer. Secondly, the antenna feed layer outside the antenna enclosure may be at right angles to that of the electronic device track. Thirdly the antenna may use a triplate structure whereas the electronic device track is likely to use microstrip structure in the coupling region. Further aspects of the present invention address these problems.
The first problem is partly solved by extending only a portion of the feed layer outside of the antenna enclosure and bringing only this portion of the feed layer close to the electronic device track.
In some embodiments of the invention, the electrically conductive enclosure is substantially U-shaped and the feed layer is formed around an outer surface of the enclosure. The enclosure has a closed end without an opening and, unlike the prior art, slots are not provided in the enclosure. The enclosure can therefore be made of a continuous sheet of material which can be formed using an extrusion process or a folding process from a continuous sheet of material, both of which are relatively cheap and easy compared to the moulding process used in the prior art.
One advantage of the enclosure being substantially U-shaped is that it readily allows different track-to-ground-plane spacings to be used in the distribution network and microstrip patch antenna sections. Small ground plane spacings are advantageous for the distribution network as they allow narrow line widths to be used for the impedances typically required in such a network, while large ground plane spacings beneath the patch elements allow broadband element designs to be implemented. The transition from one type of spacing to another can conveniently occur at the corners of the U shaped enclosure.
In a preferred arrangement, the feed layer is substantially U-shaped so as to wrap around the corresponding U-shaped electrically conductive enclosure. This is desirable, especially when multiple dual polarization sub-arrays are provided, because U-shaped feed layers facilitate a simple dual polarized sub-array construction and simplifies the alignment of a plurality of closely spaced sub-arrays.
In one embodiment of the invention, the feed layer comprises a plurality of patch antenna elements, and is printed on a dielectric substrate. The use of patch antenna elements instead of a cavity-backed, slot-radiating type used in the prior art provides an increase in broadband performance.
In embodiments of the invention, the antenna comprises a ground plane for the feed layer within the antenna housing, and the electronic device comprises a ground plane for the electronic device track. In this arrangement, part of the portion of the feed layer extending outside of the antenna has a ground plane, which is electrically coupled to both the ground plane of the antenna and the ground plane of the electronic device. This arrangement provides a continuous ground plane for the feed layer inside and outside the antenna housing thus allowing a continuous transmission line. This in part solves the problem that the antenna uses a triplate structure whereas the electronic device track uses microstrip structure in the coupling region.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for connecting an electronic device with an antenna according to the appended claims.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antenna arrangement comprising:
an electrically conductive enclosure and a feed layer thereon, wherein the feed layer comprises a first electrically conductive track;
an electronic device, said electronic device comprising a second electrically conductive track; and
a substrate arranged to secure a section of the first electrically conductive track in registration with a section of the second electrically conductive track so as to facilitate electromagnetic coupling therebetween.
As mentioned above, using an overlay coupling instead of conventional connectors eliminates possible failure, losses and costs associated with the connectors and passive inter-modulation distortion due to metal-to-metal contact in the connectors.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antenna comprising:
an electrically conductive enclosure;
an non-electrically conductive layer comprising a portion covering at least part of a closed end of the enclosure; and
a feed layer located between the enclosure and said portion of the non-electrically conductive layer, the feed layer comprising a conductive antenna element and an electrically conductive track,
wherein said radiating portion and said portion of the non-electrically conductive layer provide a radiating element, and said radiating element is at least part aligned with the closed end.
In one arrangement, the conductive antenna element is a conductive patch antenna element.
The advantage of embodiments of this aspect of the invention is that the radiating element is inherently broader band (approx 25% of centre frequency compared to approx 15%) than are prior art antennas. The design described in U.S. patent application having U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/966,501 is constrained in bandwidth by the need to keep the cavity formed in the enclosure small, so that the column elements may be arranged in an array at substantially half-wavelength spacing. Antennas according to an embodiment of the invention suffer less compromise in terms of bandwidth in achieving the same size constraint.
This is achieved in part by the dielectric constant of the dielectric material of the non-electrically conductive cover reducing the required size of the conductive antenna element, compared to the size that would be required if the radiating portion were covered with a material with the dielectric constant of air. Another factor that affects the achievable bandwidth is the spacing between the electrically conductive enclosure and the feed layer, together with the dielectric beneath the patch antenna elements. In embodiments of the invention, there is a relatively large ground plane spacing between the middle surface of the electrically conductive enclosure and the feed layer, and the region beneath the patch antenna elements comprises an essentially air dielectric. This configuration affords the antenna a greater bandwidth of operability.
Unlike conventional arrangements, the bandwidth is not constrained by the volume occupied by the cavity formed by the enclosure because the resonance structure, which is excited by or excites the feed layer, is provided by the gap between the ground plane, i.e. the middle surface of the electrically conductive enclosure, and the feed layer, instead of a cavity in the present invention. In fact, using patch antenna elements as conductive antenna elements eliminates the need for a cavity completely, or enables the cavity to be filled, for example by an electronic device such as a beam former.
Preferably, the feed layer comprises the electrically conductive track and the feed layer is printed on a single substrate. The use of a single substrate reduces the cost and complexity of the design. The integrated feed network technology is also designed to permit ready integration of other RF elements that might for example be part of an integrated masthead cellular base station design, within the antenna housing.
Preferably, the enclosure comprises two closed sides, each side having two end portions, wherein one of said end portions of a first closed side is joined to one of the end portions of a second closed side by the closed end of the enclosure. Preferably, the enclosure also comprises two open sides and an open end.
Preferably the antenna comprises an electrically conductive layer covering, or providing, at least part of a closed side of the enclosure in the form of a ground plane. This ground plane forms an enclosed triplate transmission region which results in a well controlled distribution circuit and minimizes radiated and received interference. In addition, this isolates adjacent feed networks of adjacent sub-arrays and thereby minimizes interference between adjacent feed networks of different sub-arrays. In one embodiment, the triplate region is substantially air space e.g. by means of foam spacers so as to reduce costs.
In one embodiment, the antenna comprises a dielectric spacer between said closed end of the enclosure and the radiating portion. Preferably, the dielectric spacer is arranged to separate the feed layer from said closed end of the enclosure by a distance greater than a distance between said feed layer and a said closed side of the enclosure.
In one arrangement, the closed end can be provided by two sides.
In one embodiment a sub-array is implemented as a multi-antenna array, comprising:
a further electrically conductive enclosure, the further electrically conductive enclosure and the electrically conductive enclosure being located on two opposite sides of the electrically conductive layer, wherein the electrically conductive layer covering at least part of a closed side of the further electrically conductive enclosure;
a further non-electrically conductive layer comprising a portion covering at least part of a closed end of the further enclosure; and
a further feed layer located between the further enclosure and said portion of the further non-electrically conductive layer, the further feed layer comprising a further radiating portion comprising a conductive antenna element,
wherein said further radiating portion and said portion of the further non-electrically conductive layer provide a further radiating element, and at least part of said further radiating element is aligned with the closed end.
In one arrangement, the conductive antenna element is a conductive patch antenna element. In another arrangement, the non-electrically conductive layer and the further non-electrically conductive layer are provided as a single non-electrically conductive layer. Preferably, the further feed layer is located between the further enclosure and the electrically conductive layer.
In a dual polarized antenna embodiment, there is also provided:
a further electrically conductive cover covering at least part of the second side of the enclosure,
wherein the feed layer comprises two electrically conductive tracks, a first of the two tracks extending between the first side of the enclosure and the electrically conductive cover covering at least part of the first side, and a second of the two tracks extending between the second side of the enclosure and the further electrically conductive cover.
Another advantage of embodiments of this aspect of the invention is that the conductive antenna elements combine two polarisation elements in one patch, as opposed to the previous slot antenna design that required separate slots for each polarisation. As a result, a dual polarised vertical column sub-array with a given number of elements may be somewhat shorter in length. Furthermore, each polarization element is allotted almost twice the length along the longitudinal axis of the sub-array that would be allocated in the previous slot antenna design, allowing greater design freedom.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Several parts and components of the invention appear in more than one Figure; for the sake of clarity the same reference numeral will be used to refer to the same part and component in all of the Figures. In addition, certain parts are referenced by means of a number and one or more suffixes, indicating that the part comprises a sequence of elements (each suffix indicating an individual element in the sequence). For clarity, when there is a reference to the sequence per se the suffix is omitted, but when there is a reference to individual elements within the sequence the suffix is included.
As described above, embodiments of the invention are concerned with physically connecting an electronic device with an antenna to overcome some or all of the disadvantages associated with connecting an antenna with a remotely located electronic device. Specifically, embodiments of the invention provide a novel arrangement of an antenna structure and electronic components which interface with the antenna structure so as to input and output signals transceived therefrom.
In particular, embodiments of the invention are concerned with physically connecting an electronic device onto an exterior surface of an antenna and coupling an electrically conductive track of the electronic device with a feed layer of the antenna outside the antenna housing but inside the electronic device enclosure, preferably without metal-to-metal contact, thus minimizing passive inter-modulation distortion, reducing losses, increasing reliability and reducing cost.
The antenna in embodiments of this invention can form either a sub-array within a multi-element array antenna, or a stand-alone single-element or single sub-array antenna. A single sub-array can be used to form an antenna in its own right, for example suitable for use as a conventional tri-sectored masthead cellular base station antenna. A multi-element array antenna may be desirable for higher capacity and higher coverage cellsite antenna systems. Examples of an electronic device which may be desirably connected to the antenna in accordance with embodiments of the invention include an azimuth beam former, an amplifier or a transceiver.
Turning to
The electronic device 100 comprises an electronic device enclosure 101 and an electrically conductive track 104 therein. The electronic device enclosure 101 is shown in
The antenna 200 comprises an antenna housing 206 and a feed layer 202. The antenna housing has a surface 210 onto which the electronic device 100, specifically the outer surface 110, is connected. The surface 210 comprises an opening 212 through which a portion 201 of the feed layer extends outside of the antenna housing into the electronic device enclosure 101.
The antenna housing 206 such as a radome comprises a non-electrically conductive material, e.g. plastic or fiberglass. The material preferably allows a relatively unattenuated electromagnetic signal transmission between the antenna inside the antenna housing and outside equipment. The antenna housing 206 is shown to be rectangular; however other shapes are possible although the outer surface 210 onto which the electronic device is connected is preferably substantially flat.
The opening 212 in the surface 210 is arranged such that is big enough to allow a portion 201 of the feed layer to extend through but is preferably small enough to prevent undesirable movement of the feed layer once extended into the electronic device enclosure 101, to avoid weakening the carrier structure of the cover 220 unnecessarily, and to ensure that the cover 220 is as electrically continuous as possible to ensure a continuous ground plane structure. The opening 212 is preferably confined within the surface area 110 of the electronic device 100 which is connected to the surface 210 of the antenna 200, so that the antenna 200 and the portion 201 of the feed layer 202 is sealed against water and other environmental conditions.
The feed layer 202 is printed on a dielectric substrate which is preferably at least partly flexible. In this embodiment, the feed layer 202 is printed on a single film layer 215. A film is chosen over a solid dielectric substrate since it is likely to reduce cost, simplify the mechanical design and have a better high frequency performance.
The feed layer 202 comprises an array of conductive antenna elements 248 and one or more feed distribution networks 234a, 234b, each feed distribution network comprising one or more feed lines for every conductive antenna element as shown in
The feed lines for all conductive antenna elements 248 are combined and a resulting track extends away from the feed network, orthogonal to the length of the feed layer 202. As described above, a portion 201 of this resulting track then extends outside of the antenna housing 206, and is coupled to a section 111 of an electrically conductive track 104 of the electronic device 100 as shown in
As shown in
The feed layer 202 may be located between the two ground planes by means of mechanical spacers (not shown) such that the dielectric surrounding the feed layer is air. Alternatively, as shown in
In this embodiment, a first ground plane 216 is conveniently provided by an electrically conductive enclosure 208, which also provides mechanical support for the feed layer and a second 221 by an electrically conductive cover 220, which conveniently carries the enclosure 208 and the feed layer 202 wrapped around the enclosure 208. In this embodiment, the enclosure 208 is substantially U-shaped. The U-shaped structure is preferably mounted on or otherwise attached to the same surface 210 which is connected to the electronic device 100 but from inside of the antenna housing 206. The U-shaped enclosure 208, around part or all of the outer surface of which the feed layer 202 is wrapped, comprises a middle surface and two side surfaces, the angle between the middle surface and either of the two side surfaces being preferably 90 degrees. Wrapping the feed layer around the electrically conductive enclosure 208 forms a substantially U-shaped feed layer as shown in
When supported in this manner by the enclosure 208, the portion 201 of the feed layer 202 extends outside the antenna housing 206 and is coupled to the electronic device track 104 inside the electronic device enclosure 101.
The coupling might be achieved for example using a known radio frequency (RF) connector or any other suitable means. RF connectors introduce loss which degrades the receiver noise figure and reduces transmitted power. In the case of the receiver this impairs the system link budget; in the case of the transmitter it can either impact the link budget or require the transmitter to have a more powerful (and hence more expensive) power amplifier. Furthermore RF connectors and the associated jumper cables are expensive. It is therefore desirable to remove these from the system to reduce equipment costs. Since RF connectors and the associated jumper cables are a cause of system failures, it is desirable to remove these from the system to improve reliability and reduce operating expenses.
Accordingly, in one arrangement, the electronic device track 104 is coupled to the feed layer 202 of the antenna by means of overlay coupling as shown in
The configuration of the U-shaped enclosure 208 and the feed layer 202 is such that the portion 201 of the feed layer 202 extending outside of the antenna housing 206 is at 90 degrees to the surface 210 connected to the electronic device 100. Furthermore, as shown in
In this embodiment, a spacer 300, possibly in the form of a block of non-electrically conductive material as shown in
Once the portion 201 is secured, parallel, to the electronic device track 104, the combined arrangement forms an overlay coupler. The benefit of an overlay coupler is that it allows connection of two tracks without metal-to-metal contact, thus minimizing passive inter-modulation distortion reducing losses, increasing reliability and reducing cost. In order to achieve effective coupling, the feed layer section 211 and the electronic device track section 111 of the overlay coupling are both substantially a quarter wave length in the dielectric constant of the substrate in between them. The overlay coupling is preferably aligned with the longitudinal axis of the feed layer, and consequently, the portion 201 outside of the antenna housing 206 is bent around an axis perpendicular to both the longitudinal and the transverse axis of the feed layer by 90 degrees as shown in
The overlay coupling can be achieved using known one piece overlay coupling e.g. known broadside coupling, wherein the feed layer 202 and the electronic device track 104 are printed on opposite sides of a dielectric substrate so that a section of the feed layer 202 is at least partially aligned with a section of the electronic device track 104. However, use of such a one piece overlay coupling arrangement means that the feed layer 202 of the antenna and the electronic device track 104 are permanently connected, which can be impractical and undesirable for maintenance and assembling.
In a preferred arrangement a two piece overlay coupling arrangement is used. In a general sense, a suitable overlay coupling 500 comprises two dielectric substrates, the feed layer 202 being printed on a surface of one dielectric substrate, and the electronic device track 104 being printed on a surface of the other dielectric substrate 103; the two substrates are positioned such that a section of the feed layer 202 is in registration with a section of the electronic device track 104. A dielectric substrate is located between a section 203 of the portion 201 of the feed layer 202 and a section 111 of the electronic device track. Preferably at least one of the two dielectric substrates, i.e. either or both the two dielectric substrates is located between the two sections of tracks. It is appreciated that this coupling arrangement of an electrically conductive track carried by the feed layer and an electrically conductive track of the electronic device provides a novel antenna arrangement comprising an antenna and an electronic device.
In a preferred arrangement of the overlay coupling, and as shown in
A ground plane is required for the overlay coupling 500. In this embodiment, the ground plane 105 for the electronic device track 104 acts as the ground plane for the overlay coupling forming a microstrip transmission line structure for the coupling 500 as shown in
The ground planes 216, 221 of the feed layer 202 inside the antenna housing 206 need to be electrically coupled to the ground plane 105 of the electronic device track 104 to allow a continuous transmission line. Electronic coupling may be achieved by direct physical connection or through an intermediary e.g. via electrical wires. Direct physical coupling could be selected, for example, if the whole of the portion 201 of the feed layer 202 outside the antenna housing 206 is coupled to the electronic device track 104, in which case the ground plane for the electronic device track 104 can act as the ground plane 105 for the entire portion 201 of feed layer 202.
However, when only a section 203 of the portion 201 of the feed layer is coupled to the electronic device track 104 as shown in
In this embodiment, two ground planes, for example two blades of material, are provided for the part 203 of the feed layer 202, one on each side of the part 203 of the portion 201 of the feed layer 202. The part may be located between the two ground planes 400, 404 by means of mechanical spacers (not shown). Alternatively, two layers of dielectric material such as foam 450, 452, similar to the arrangement for the triplate region of the feed layer inside the antenna housing 206 as discussed above. Alternatively one of the two ground planes can be provided by a side surface of a U-shaped metal layer comprising two side surfaces and a middle surface. The U-shaped metal layer is preferably wrapped around the spacer 300, with the middle surface connected to the antenna housing 206.
Preferably the cover 220, also acting as a carrier for the enclosure 208 as well as the second ground plane for the feed layer 202 inside the antenna housing, is V-shaped or T-shaped (shown as T-shaped in
The conductive antenna elements 248 transceiving electromagnetic waves need to be protected by a non-electrically conductive material, which allows a relatively unattenuated electromagnetic signal transmission between the antenna inside the antenna housing 206 and outside equipment. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the conductive antenna elements are placed on top of the middle surface of the U-shaped enclosure 208, surrounded by the non-electrically conductive material, and located away from the surface 201, which is not covered by the non-electrically conductive material.
The conductive antenna elements excited by the feed layer can for example be of a cavity-backed, slot-radiating type as discussed in the prior art. In another arrangement, the conductive antenna elements of the feed layer comprise an array of patch antenna elements 248, as shown in
Unlike the prior art, slots are not provided in the enclosure 208. The enclosure 208 can therefore be made of a continuous sheet of material which can be formed using an extrusion process or a folding process from a continuous sheet of material, which is relatively cheap and easy compared to the moulding process used in the prior art. A flat sheet of material can be made then folded to form an enclosure 208 as described above. Alternatively a folded enclosure 208 can be formed using an extrusion process directly. Opening portions can be made on the side surfaces of the enclosure 208 if desirable.
The middle and two side surfaces of the U-shaped enclosure 208 may form a cavity; unlike conventional arrangements, the bandwidth is not constrained by the volume occupied by the cavity because the resonant structure, that is excited by or excites the feed layer, is provided by the gap between the ground plane, i.e. the middle surface of the electrically conductive enclosure 208, and the feed layer, instead of a cavity. In fact, using patch antenna elements 248 can eliminate the need for a cavity completely, or enables the cavity to be filled, for example by an electronic device such as a beam former.
In another arrangement, the electronic device track 104 may be carried by a PCB 106, said PCB being located within the antenna housing 206, possibly within the cavity of the enclosure 208. A section 111 of the electronic device track 104 can then be coupled to a section 203 of the feed layer 202 inside the antenna housing 206 as described above. In this arrangement, the electronic device 100 of the antenna arrangement can have an enclosure 101 as described above. Alternatively, the electronic device 100 might not have an enclosure 101.
In this embodiment, a second ground plane is not provided along the middle surface of the enclosure 208 above the middle portion 232 of the feed layer 202, this comprising the patch antenna elements 248. Instead, a non-electrically conductive cover 250 such as a polycarbonate sheet is provided on top of the middle portion 232 of the feed layer 202 to reduce the resonant frequency for the patch antenna elements as shown in
A foam layer 226, or air with mechanical spacers, is provided between the middle surface of the enclosure 208 and the middle portion 232 of the feed layer 202. Generally the greater the distance between the middle surface of the electrically conductive enclosure 208 and the conductive antenna elements of the feed layer is and the lower permittivity of any intervening dielectric material, the greater the bandwidth that can be achieved. It is desirable that the same radiation characteristics are obtained over the whole band of interest, so that the antenna pattern generated over the band of interest is substantially constant. The upper limit to the spacing may be considered to have been reached when different resonant modes are excited at different parts of the band, unwanted levels of surface wave radiation is generated or when the impendence characteristic varies excessively. A different dielectric substrate and more than one dielectric substrate layer may be used instead. However, an increase in broadband performance is achieved by the combination of a relatively large ground plane spacing between the middle surface of the electrically conductive enclosure 208 and the conductive antenna elements of the feed layer, an essentially air dielectric (i.e. with low permittivity) beneath the conductive antenna elements 248, and using patch antenna elements as conductive antenna elements.
As mentioned above, embodiments of the invention can also be used for a multi-element array antenna, e.g. a multi-beam antenna, addressing the problem of the interface between the individual sub-arrays and an electronic device such as an azimuth beam former in particular, because overlay coupling is used instead of connectors, metal to metal contact and cost are reduced. Furthermore, it is easier to assemble the electronic device with the antenna this way since cable connections are not used. This is particularly significant for multi-element array antennas where more than one feed layers are connected to electronic device track(s). The embodiments shown in
A second ground plane 221 may not be provided for the feed network regions of the feed layer 202 along the side surfaces 216a, 216b of the enclosure 208 inside the antenna housing 206, thereby forming a microstrip transmission region. However, for multi-element array antennas, a second ground plane 220 is desirable because, together with the enclosure 208, it forms an enclosed triplate transmission line structure which results in a well controlled distribution circuit; in addition it isolates adjacent feed networks along adjacent side surfaces 216a, 216b of the enclosures 208a, 208b of adjacent sub-arrays so as to minimize interference between adjacent feed networks of different sub-arrays.
As mentioned above, it is desirable to space antenna elements 248 no more than approximately a half wavelength apart in azimuth at a given cover frequency to avoid generating grating lobes in the antenna pattern with associated unwanted nulls. Therefore the outer middle surface 217 of the enclosure 208 can be of any arbitrary length depending on the size and number of the conductive antenna elements but preferably only less than or equal to half the cover frequency wavelength. Limiting the width in this fashion allows closely spaced sub-arrays to be built by positioning multiple electrically conductive enclosures 208 each carrying a feed layer 202 side by side. Furthermore, individual electrically conductive enclosures 208 of different sub-arrays are preferably inter-connected allowing the continuity of the inner ground plane. As regards the respective feed layers, each feed layer 202a, 202b can be coupled to a different, and possibly separate, electronic device track 104a, 104b, in which case all electronic device tracks 104a, 104b can be provided in a single electronic device 100 comprising one electronic device enclosure 101, as shown in
The feed layers 202a, 202b can be coupled with one another outside of the antenna housing 206 before coupling to an electronic device track 104. The feed layers 202a, 202b can for example be coupled with one another by a conventional connector, one piece overlay coupling, or two piece overlay coupling described above. An electrically conductive track 207 resulting from, or connected to, the coupling can then be coupled to an electronic device track 104 in an electronic device 100 as shown in
The embodiments and corresponding figures relate to single-polarized antennas. However, it is to be understood that multi-polarized antennas are equally applicable for the purpose of this invention.
The V-shaped or T-shaped cover 220 also acting as a second ground plane as shown in
In some of the above embodiments, the feed layers 202a, 202b are substantially U-shaped. This is desirable especially when multiple dual polarization sub-arrays are provided, because substantially U-shaped feed layers 202 facilitate a simple dual polarized sub-array construction and simplifies the alignment of a plurality of closely spaced sub-arrays.
The above embodiments show a single feed layer 202 per enclosure 208; however it will be appreciated that more than one feed layer may be provided and more than one feed layer may extend outside of the antenna housing. Furthermore, whilst the feed layer 202 is associated with one feed layer substrate, the skilled person will recognise that more than one feed layer substrate may be used, and that the feed layer substrate may be made of different materials in different regions.
In the above embodiments, a non-electrically conductive cover 250 is located on top of the conductive antenna elements of the feed layer 202 to provide frequency control of the radiating properties of the patch antenna elements 248 by making the patch 248 electrically larger than its physical size in the absence of the dielectric cover 250. Although the non-electrically conductive cover 250 is desirable, it is not necessary. For example, if the dielectric substrate 226 underneath the patch antenna elements 248 is other than foam/air (i.e. of higher permittivity), the substrate 226 will also have the effect of increasing the electrical size of the patches 248, possibly removing the need for an upper cover 250. Alternatively, since stand alone single sub-array antennas are not constrained to 0.5 wavelengths width, the patches 248 can be physically larger, avoiding the need for any additional dielectric substrates of higher permittivity than air above or below them.
As described above, and will be appreciated from a review of the figures exemplifying embodiments of the invention, the angle between the middle surface 217 of the electrically conductive enclosure 208 and either of the two side surfaces 216a, 126b of the electrically conductive enclosure 208 is preferably 90 degrees; however, other angular arrangements are possible. In particular, angles less than or close to 90 degrees are more desirable than angles substantially more than 90 degrees especially for multi-element array antennas.
Another aspect of this invention relates to a method of assembling the antenna arrangement comprising an antenna 200 and an electronic device 100 described above. For illustrative purposes the method is described with reference to
An antenna structure is assembled and an electronic device built before the antenna and the electronic device are connected. Before an antenna structure can be assembled, various components need to be manufactured or otherwise provided. The electrically conductive enclosure 208 comprising a continuous sheet of material is manufactured using e.g. an extrusion or folding process. The enclosure 208 is preferably U-shaped comprising a middle surface 217 and two side surfaces 216a, 126b as shown in
A dielectric substrate such as a film layer 215 is manufactured or otherwise provided. A feed layer 202 is printed on the film layer 215 with the middle portion 232 of the feed layer 202 on a middle portion 234 of the film layer 215 and the two side portions 230a, 230b of the feed layer 202 on two side portions 236a, 236b of the film layer 215.
A TT-shaped cover 220 is manufactured or otherwise provided; the cover 220 comprises two sections 221a, 221b, preferably substantially parallel to one another, functioning as a second ground plane for the two side portions 230a, 230b of the feed layer 202 inside the antenna housing 206 and one perpendicular section 223 which carries the enclosure 208. The perpendicular section 223 comprises two openings 212a, 212b through which the two portions of film layer extend outside of the antenna housing 206 at step 28.
An antenna housing 206 is manufactured using a non-electrically conductive material, which allows a relatively unattenuated electromagnetic signal transmission between the antenna inside the antenna housing 206 and outside equipment. Referring back to
At step 14, and referring to
The film layer 215 is then wrapped around the outer surface of the enclosure 208 at step 18, with the feed layer 202 on the inner surface of the film layer 215 and adjacent to the foam layers 224a, 224b, 226 attached to the enclosure 208. The film layer 215 preferably covers the outer surface of the enclosure 208, with the middle portion 232 of the feed layer 202 on top of the middle surface of the enclosure 208 and the side portions of the feed layer 202 overlying the side surfaces of the enclosure 208. However, a portion 238a, 238b of the film layer 215 carrying a portion 201a, 201b of the feed layer 202 extends beyond each of the two side surfaces of the enclosure 208 respectively in accordance with step 20 and later through the openings 212a, 212b in the surface 210 of the antenna housing 206 into the electronic device enclosure 101 at step 28. The film layer 215 is secured to the foam layers 224a, 224b, 226 attached to the enclosure 208 using e.g. glue. Optionally, temporarily fastening means may be used to achieve better alignment between the film layer and the electrically conductive enclosure 208.
Then at step 22, a second, possibly self adhesive, foam layer 222a, 222b is attached to each of the two outer side portions of the film layer respectively.
As can be seen from
At step 30, the enclosure 208 is electrically coupled to the cover 220 to connect the two ground planes. In one arrangement, this is achieved through one or more protrusions (not shown) provided by, or attached to, the middle surface of the enclosure 208. The protrusions extend through corresponding holes in the film layer and rest on the parallel sections 221a, 221b of the cover 220 thereby electrically connecting the first ground plane, i.e. the cover 220, and the second ground plane, i.e. the enclosure 208, for the feed layer inside the antenna housing. The connection between the protrusions and the cover 220 may be secured using e.g. conductive fabric tapes.
A non-electrically conductive cover 250 such as a polycarbonate sheet is then placed on top of the middle portion 234 of the film layer 215 at step 32 as shown in
The two portions 238a, 238b of the film layer 215 carrying the two portions 201a, 201b of the feed layer 202 extending beyond the side surfaces 216a, 216b of the enclosure 208 may be temporarily taped onto the cover 220, before the cover 220 carrying the enclosure 208 is inserted into the antenna housing 206 at step 34. After insertion, the two openings 212a, 212b in the perpendicular section 223 of the cover 220, through which the portions 238a, 238b of the film layer 215 extend outside of the antenna housing 206, are arranged so that they are within the antenna housing 206. The tape is removed to release the two portions 238a, 238b of film layer 215, enabling them to extend through the hole in the surface 210 of the antenna housing 206. Part of the perpendicular section 223 of the cover 220, once inserted into the antenna housing, forms part of the surface 210 of the antenna housing 206 where the hole in the surface 210 of the antenna housing 206 is provided.
Two end caps are applied to the two opposite ends of the hollow tube to help secure the cover 220 and the enclosure 208 in position at step 38.
Turning now to aspects associated with assembly of the electronic device 100, the device enclosure 101 is typically a cast or moulded structure within which a PCB 106 carrying two parallel electrically conductive tracks 104a, 104b are fixed. Referring to
The assembly of the electronic device 100 with the antenna housing will now be described with reference to
At step 54, the ground plane 105 is electrically coupled with the metal layer 400. Referring also to
At step 56, a spacer 300 preferably comprising a block of non-electrically conductive material is inserted into the U-shaped metal layer 400, as shown in
The surface of the spacer 300 opposite the middle surface of the metal layer 400 (hereinafter “the uncovered surface”) is substantially uncovered by the metal layer 400 to allow for microstrip coupling between the sections 203a, 203b of the feed layer parallel to the electronic device tracks 104a, 104b and the corresponding sections 111a, 111b of the electronic device tracks 104a, 104b as shown in
Then, at step 58, foam layers 452a, 452b are attached for at least part of the film layer outside the antenna housing 206. Referring back to
As shown in
Referring also to
The electronic device 100 and the antenna 200 are brought close together at step 74. In particular, a surface 110 of the electronic device enclosure 101, which is substantially uncovered by the electronic device enclosure 101, is brought close to the perpendicular section 223 of the cover 220 through the hole in the surface 210 of the antenna housing 206 while the spacer 300 together with the U-shaped metal layer 400 surrounding the spacer 300, the portions 238a, 238b of the film layer 215 wrapped around the metal layer 400 and the spacer 300 and the foam layers attached thereto is received by the two blades of metal 404a, 404b attached to the PCB 106.
Bringing the electronic device 200 close to the antenna 100 as described above also brings the PCB 106, as shown in
As shown in
Since the tolerance between antenna housing 206 and the electronic device enclosure 101 is relatively coarse, the spacer 300 is preferably secured relatively loosely to the outer surface 210 of the antenna housing 206 and the portions 201 of the feed layer 202 outside the antenna housing 206 are at least partly flexible so as to facilitate alignment of the tracks.
At step 80, the surface 101 of the electronic device enclosure 101 is mounted onto the outer surface 201 of the antenna housing 206 by e.g. applying connection means such as screws around the periphery of the overlapping surfaces. Conductive caulking compounds may also be applied around the edges of the overlapping surfaces for better shielding.
Finally, at step 82, the spacer 300 is located against the electronic device tracks 104a, 104b so as to control relative lateral movement between the sections 203a, 203b of the feed layer and the corresponding sections 111a, 111b of the electronic device tracks 104a, 104b respectively for overlay coupling 500. Securing the two sections so as to restrict relative lateral movement therebetween ensures that the electrical coupling between the two sections remains stable. Referring again to
In the above embodiment, a section 203a, 203b of each portion 201a, 201b of the feed layer 202 is coupled to a section 111a, 111b of a different electronic device track 104a, 104b. However it is to be understood the two sections 111a, 111b can alternatively be part of a single electronic device track 104, as shown schematically in
In the above embodiment, a second foam layer 222a, 222b is attached to each of the two outer side portions of the film layer respectively at step 22. Alternatively, a second foam layer 222a, 222b can be attached to the inner surface of each of the two blades of metal 450a, 450b respectively as shown in
As an alternative to foam layers for separating the film layer from the ground planes and hold the film layer in position, air and mechanical spacers may be used.
The hole in the surface 210 of the antenna housing 206 is not necessary. Alternatively two openings can be provided in the surface 210, the two openings corresponding to the two openings 212a, 212b in the surface of the perpendicular section of the cover 220. In this case, the ground planes inside the electronic device enclosure 101 can be electrically coupled to the ground planes inside the antenna housing using alternative methods, for example, at least part of the surface 210 of the antenna housing 206 can be made of electrically conductive material and can be electrically coupled to the ground planes inside the antenna housing 206 by physical connection and coupled to the ground planes inside the electronic device enclosure 101 as described above.
The above embodiment relates to dual-polarized antennas. However, it is to be understood that single-polarized and other multi-polarized antennas can also be assembled using the above method. For example, for a single-polarized antenna, one portion of the film layer carrying one portion 201 of the feed layer 202 extends outside of the antenna housing 206 through one opening 212 in the perpendicular section of the cover 220. This portion 201 is then folded around the spacer 300 and coupled to one electronic device track 104 as described above. In this case, a blade of metal resembling one side surface of the U-shaped metal layer 400, as shown in
The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Further embodiments of the invention are envisaged. For example, the metal components referred to above such as the blades of metal 404a, 404b and U-shaped metal layer 400 etc can be made of other electrically conductive material instead.
The two ground planes for the feed layer 202 within the antenna housing 206 may be provided by two blades of metal instead of the cover 220 and the enclosure 208 while the enclosure 208 and the cover 220 may be provided separately and may be made of non-electrically conductive material.
The spacer 300 may not be necessary for the invention if for example the plane of the PCB 106, and thus its corresponding ground plane 105, is oriented perpendicular to the plane of the surface 210. In such an arrangement the feed layer 202, together with its external ground plane 400, can extend outside of the antenna housing 206 and cooperate with the PCB ground plane 105 without being folded.
The part 205 of the feed layer 202 may be microstrip instead of triplate, in which case only one of the U-shaped metal layer 400 and the blade of metal 404 is needed for each polarization.
It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.
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Number | Date | Country |
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Entry |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20090303135 A1 | Dec 2009 | US |