The present disclosure relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to an array antenna.
Array antennas have a function of beam convergence, and therefore are widely used in the communications field. For example, a phased-radar array antenna includes hundreds or even thousands of elements. For another example, for a multi-sector communications antenna of a base station, each sector implements beam width control in horizontal and pitching directions by means of antenna arraying to achieve signal coverage in a specific area and provide higher gains to obtain a farther communication distance. In addition, an array antenna can also be used to implement estimation of a direction of arrival and the like.
An array antenna is an apparatus with multiple antenna elements included in an antenna. According to requirements, an arrangement manner for elements in an array antenna may be one-dimensional line arrangement, two-dimensional plane arrangement, conformal arrangement on a specific target surface, or three-dimensional arrangement. The specific arrangement may be equally-spaced regular arrangement, or unequally-spaced arrangement may be used when required. Indicators for an array antenna mainly include a gain, a side lobe level (SLL), a beam width, system costs, and the like. Focuses on the indicators vary according to different application scenarios. In applications of the communications field, the system costs and the SLL are most common concerns. A lower SLL helps a system exert better interference resistance performance.
An SLL of an array antenna is mainly determined by an array arrangement manner, and feeding amplitudes and phases of array elements. For a linear array or a matrix array with equally-spaced regular arrangement, an SLL is approximately fixed at about 13.5 dB, specifically determined by factors such as radiation patterns of the elements, a spacing between the elements, and mutual coupling between the elements. In addition, the spacing between the elements is strictly limited within one wavelength to avoid grating lobes. Excited amplitude weighting for the array elements can decrease the SLL but reduce aperture efficiency as well. This does not decrease the system costs but increases difficulties in implementing a system design, thereby applicable to a relatively narrow scope.
In the field of millimeter band communications, especially the field of high-frequency millimeter band communications, for example, when a working wavelength of a 60 GHz millimeter band is only 5 mm, a size of an element in a corresponding array antenna is usually smaller than half a wavelength, that is 2.5 mm. In this case, a transmit-receive component of a system usually integrates receive and transmit antenna arrays. However, for a system working in a frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode, since a radio frequency device such as a duplexer is difficult to be integrated, a transmit-receive antenna array is usually integrated in a form in which a receive antenna array and a transmit antenna array are separated from each other. In appearance, this is manifested by a separate receive antenna array (RX array for short) and a separate transmit antenna array (TX array for short), and the TX array and the RX array together form a TR antenna array.
To meet requirements for long distance communications, multiple TR antenna arrays may be required for secondary arraying. Refer to
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an array antenna to resolve a problem of grating lobes or high side lobes caused by arraying of multiple TR antenna arrays in the prior art.
A first aspect of the present disclosure provides an array antenna, where the array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved transmit-receive TR antenna arrays in a continuous arraying direction, where the one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that transmit antenna TX arrays and receive antenna RX arrays of two adjacent TR antenna arrays are interleaved.
A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an array antenna, where in a discontinuous arraying direction of the array antenna, a quantity of TR antenna arrays changes in an ascending order from an outermost column of transmit-receive TR antenna arrays to a middle column of TR antenna arrays, so that the array antenna takes on tapered distribution.
A third aspect of the present disclosure provides an array antenna. The array antenna includes antennas arranged in a tapered distribution including a first direction and a second direction. A quantity of transmit-receive (TR) antenna arrays in the first direction changes in an ascending order from an outermost column of transmit-receive (TR) antenna arrays to a middle column of TR antenna arrays.
It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure.
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an array antenna to resolve a problem of grating lobes or high side lobes caused by arraying of multiple TR antenna arrays in the prior art.
The terminology used in the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It shall also be understood that the terms “or” and “and/or” used herein are intended to signify and include any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
It shall be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc. may include used herein to describe various information, the information should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one category of information from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, first information may include termed as second information; and similarly, second information may also be termed as first information. As used herein, the term “if” may include understood to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to” depending on the context.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “exemplary embodiment,” or the like in the singular or plural means that one or more particular features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment,” “in an exemplary embodiment,” or the like in the singular or plural in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments may include combined in any suitable manner.
With reference to the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, if the array antenna includes at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction, arrangement manners for the at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays are identical or different.
With reference to the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the first aspect, TR antenna arrays of the array antenna are arranged in an even arrangement manner.
With reference to the first aspect, the first possible implementation manner of the first aspect, or the second possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a discontinuous arraying direction of the array antenna, a quantity of TR antenna arrays changes in an ascending order from an outermost column of TR antenna arrays to a middle column of TR antenna arrays, so that the array antenna takes on tapered distribution.
With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the array antenna includes at least one row of TR antenna arrays irregularly aligned with an adjacent row of TR antenna arrays.
In a first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the array antenna includes at least one row of TR antenna arrays irregularly aligned with an adjacent row of TR antenna arrays.
In a second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the array antenna includes, in the discontinuous arraying direction, at least one column of TR antenna arrays translated by one TX array or one TR antenna array.
With reference to the second possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a third possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the array antenna includes at least one TR antenna array rotated by 180 degrees or at least one TR antenna array with positions of TX arrays and RX arrays interchanged.
With reference to the second aspect or the first possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays in a continuous arraying direction, where the one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that TX arrays and RX arrays of two adjacent TR antenna arrays are interleaved.
With reference to the fourth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the array antenna includes at least one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction, where the one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that one row of TR antenna arrays includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays.
With reference to the fifth possible implementation manner of the second aspect, in a six possible implementation manner of the second aspect, if the array antenna includes at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction, arrangement manners for the at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays are identical or different.
The foregoing technical solutions that the embodiments of the present disclosure have the following advantages. An array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays in a continuous arraying direction, and the one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that TX arrays and RX arrays of two adjacent TR antenna arrays are interleaved. This can effectively rectify discontinuousness of TX arrays and RX arrays in a discontinuous arraying direction in the prior art, and thereby reduce grating lobes or side lobes caused by discontinuous TX arrays and discontinuous RX arrays in an array antenna, so that performance of the array antenna improves.
It should be noted that the array antenna described in the embodiments of the present disclosure is a result of secondary arraying based on a TR antenna array shown in
In this embodiment of the present disclosure, to resolve a problem of grating lobes or high side lobes caused by discontinuous arrangement of TX arrays and RX arrays in an arraying direction of an array antenna, an array antenna may be arranged in the following manner. Specifically, the array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays in a continuous arraying direction. The one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that TX arrays and RX arrays of two adjacent TR antenna arrays are interleaved. Refer to
In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction, which can rectify discontinuousness of one pair of TR antenna arrays in a discontinuous arraying direction and thereby reduce grating lobes or side lobes introduced by widely-spaced discontinuous arrangement of one TX array and another TX array and one RX array and another RX array, so that performance of the array antenna can be effectively improved.
For example, on the basis that the array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays, the array antenna may be further arranged in the following manner: The array antenna includes at least one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction. The one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays may mean that one row of TR antenna arrays includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays. Refer to
For example, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, if the array antenna includes at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction, arrangement manners for the at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays may be identical or different. Refer to
In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the array antennas in
For example, based on the array antenna that includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays and takes on tapered distribution, to further reduce grating lobes or side lobes, the array antenna in this embodiment of the present disclosure may further include at least one row of TR antenna arrays irregularly aligned with an adjacent row of TR antenna arrays. Refer to
In this embodiment of the present disclosure, an array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays, which can effectively rectify discontinuousness of the array antenna in a discontinuous arraying direction and thereby reduce grating lobes or side lobes. Further, the array antenna including at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays takes on tapered distribution, which can further reduce grating lobes or side lobes and effectively improve performance of the array antenna.
It should be noted that, in an array antenna theory, a radiation pattern of an array antenna is formed by radiation patterns of array elements multiplying array factors, and the array factors are determined by geometric arrangement of the array elements. Corresponding to the present disclosure, an array element is a TX array or an RX array, and an array factor is determined by a geometric arrangement manner of a TR antenna array. In addition, a wider spacing between array elements leads to higher side lobes of a corresponding array factor, and the side lobes become even higher after the array factor multiplies radiation patterns of the array elements. However, using an arrangement manner in which TX arrays and RX arrays are interleaved reduces a spacing between one TX array and another TX array and a spacing between one RX array and another RX array, and therefore reduces side lobes of the array factor. In this way, the array radiation pattern obtained by multiplying the array factor and the radiation patterns of the array elements has lower grating lobes or side lobes, achieving a purpose of reducing grating lobes or side lobes. Therefore, the technical solution in this embodiment of the present disclosure can effectively reduce grating lobes or side lobes and improve performance of the array antenna. In addition, as side lobes of an array factor in tapered distribution are lower, grating lobes or side lobes can also be reduced.
In this embodiment of the present disclosure, to resolve a problem of grating lobes or high side lobes caused by discontinuous arrangement of TX arrays and RX arrays in an arraying direction of an array antenna, an array antenna may be arranged in the following manner: In a discontinuous arraying direction of the array antenna, a quantity of TR antenna arrays changes in an ascending order from an outermost column of TR antenna arrays to a middle column of TR antenna arrays, so that the array antenna takes on tapered distribution. Refer to
In this embodiment of the present disclosure, based on the tapered distribution of antenna arrays, there are the following extended arrangement manners:
1. The array antenna may further include at least one row of TR antenna arrays irregularly aligned with an adjacent row of TR antenna arrays. Refer to
It should be noted that, on the basis that the array antenna taking on tapered distribution includes at least one row of TR antenna arrays irregularly aligned with an adjacent row of TR antenna arrays, the array antenna further includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays. The one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that TX arrays and RX arrays of two adjacent TR antenna arrays are interleaved. Further, the array antenna may include at least one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction. The one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that one row of TR antenna arrays includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays. Refer to
2. The array antenna includes, in the discontinuous arraying direction, at least one column of TR antenna arrays translated by one TX array or one TR antenna array, so that there are continuous TX arrays and continuous RX arrays in the discontinuous arraying direction, thereby reducing grating lobes or side lobes and improving performance of the array antenna. Refer to
For example, to further reduce grating lobes or side lobes, the array antenna includes at least one TR antenna array rotated by 180 degrees or includes at least one TR antenna array with positions of TX arrays and RX arrays interchanged. In addition, the at least one TR antenna array rotated by 180 degrees or the at least one TR antenna array with positions of TX arrays and RX arrays interchanged may be not among the foregoing TR antenna arrays translated by one TX array or one RX array, or may be among the foregoing TR antenna arrays translated by one TX array or one RX array. Refer to
3. The array antenna includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays in a continuous arraying direction. The one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that TX arrays and RX arrays of two adjacent TR antenna arrays are interleaved. Further, the array antenna may include at least one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction. The one row of interleaved TR antenna arrays means that one row of TR antenna arrays includes at least one pair of interleaved TR antenna arrays. Refer to
For example, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, if the array antenna includes at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays in the continuous arraying direction, arrangement manners for the at least two rows of interleaved TR antenna arrays are identical or different. Refer to
In this embodiment of the present disclosure, arranging the array antenna in a tapered distribution manner can effectively reduce grating lobes or side lobes and improve performance of the array antenna. In addition, for the array antenna in tapered distribution, interleaved TR antenna arrays and/or irregularly aligned TR antenna arrays and like manners can also be used to reduce the grating lobes or side lobes.
A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or some of the steps of the methods in the embodiments may be implemented by a program instructing relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium. The storage medium may include: a read-only memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.
The foregoing describes in detail an array antenna provided in the present disclosure. With respect to the implementation manners and the application scope, modifications may be made by a person of ordinary skill in the art according to the idea of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, this specification shall not be construed as a limitation on the present disclosure.
This Application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2014/073831, filed on Mar. 21, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170012363 A1 | Jan 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2014/073831 | Mar 2014 | US |
Child | 15270668 | US |