This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT/CN2015/071661, filed on Jan. 27, 2015, which claims the priority of the Jan. 28, 2014 Chinese Application No. 201410042992.4. The contents of each of the above-referenced application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a technical field of mobile communication antennas and more particularly, relates to a phase shifter of the cavity type.
In the field of mobile communication network coverage, an electrical tilt antenna for a base station is one of many important devices for realizing network coverage. In addition, a phase shifter is the most important component of the base station electrical tilt antenna. The quality of the phase shifter has direct influence on performance of the electrical tilt antenna, and has further influence on coverage quality of the network. As a result, it is manifest that the phase shifter plays a key role in the field of mobile base station antenna. There are two conventional means to realize phase shifting. One way is achieved by changing the electrical length of a signal path inside the phase shifter, and the other way is achieved by moving dielectric material inside the phase shifter, thus further changing transmission velocity of signal in the phase shifter, thereby continuous linear phase difference for the signal output from the shifter is being generated. As such, the phase shifting is realized.
A prior art phase shifter has the following major disadvantages.
First, design of the phase shifter cavity and transmission-line transformation device is complicated, and therefore, it is hard to manufacture the shifter by simple die-casting or extrusion process.
Secondly, to avoid resonance in the circuit of the phase shifter, more screws are provided for fastening purpose, thus resulting in low production efficiency. In addition, passive inter-modulation will be easily generated in case of a screw failure.
The object of the present invention is to provide a phase shifter of the cavity type for overcoming the disadvantages of prior art shifters, and improving electric performance, physical features and production and assembling process.
To achieve the object, the following solution is provided.
A phase shifter of the cavity type includes a cavity, a feeding network, a dielectric element, and at least one transmission-line transformation device. The cavity has several enclosing walls and a chamber defined jointly by the several enclosing walls; at least one of two ends of the cavity along its longitudinal direction is not provided with any enclosing wall to predefine an opened end. The feeding network is disposed inside the chamber. The dielectric element is disposed between the feeding network and enclosing walls, and is able to be driven to move straight along the longitudinal direction of the cavity. A mounting portion is provided on an end portion of the cavity along the longitudinal direction, or is provided on an enclosing wall on a sidewall of the cavity at a location close to the end portion of the cavity, for mounting the transmission-line transformation device. The at least one transmission-line transformation device is connected with the enclosing walls for connecting an outer conductor of a transmission cable, and for passing an inner conductor of the transmission cable into the cavity and being connected with the feeding network.
Each of the transmission-line transformation device has at least one transmission line connecting end for connecting the outer conductor of the transmission cable and a plurality of fixing posts connected with these connecting end; and the mounting portion has holding grooves for holding the fixing posts of the device in place.
At least one transmission line connecting end of the transmission-line transformation device is integrally formed with the plurality of fixing posts.
The transmission-line transformation device is secured onto the mounting portion by welding fixing posts thereof into the holding grooves. Here, the welding manner is done in an automatic or semi-automatic welding.
The feeding network is a circuit constructed of a metal conductor, and the metal conductor is held in the cavity by an insulation fastener.
The feeding network is a circuit with phase shifting function and printed on a base plate; and a holding groove is defined in each of a pair of opposed enclosing walls of the cavity for holding the base plate therein.
The phase shifter of the cavity type further includes a dielectric driving element disposed at the opened end of the cavity and coupled with the dielectric element for causing straight movement of the dielectric element along the longitudinal direction of the cavity.
The present invention has the following advantageous effect when compared to prior art:
At first, for the phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention, the cavity and transmission-line transformation device are individually made and then are welded together by an automatic or semi-automatic welding process. Moreover, the cavity is formed by extrusion or a die-casting process. Therefore, the phase shifter of the cavity type has a simple design and is easy to be made, thus greatly reducing manufacture cost of the phase shifter and facilitating batch production.
Secondly, the phase shifter of the cavity type of present invention has small size, less weight, and low cost.
Finally, the fastening of the phase shifter of the cavity type is realized without any screws, and the device and cavity are welded with each other, thus avoiding reliability and inter-modulation problems resulted from failure of screws. Furthermore, as the transmission-line transformation device is welded with the cavity by using an automatic or semi-automatic welding process, welding quality and uniformity is maintained.
Various embodiments of the present invention will be described below in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, where identical numbers represent the identical components throughout the description. Detailed description of techniques unnecessary for illustration of features of current invention will be omitted herefrom
The phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention includes an integral cavity, a feeding network, a plurality of transmission-line transformation devices, and a dielectric element. The feeding network is disposed inside the cavity connected with the plurality of transmission-line transformation devices. The dielectric element is placed between the cavity and feeding network. To better explain structure and principles of present invention, the present invention further discloses a transmission cable assembled together with the phase shifter of the cavity type.
The cavity is integrally formed by extrusion or a die-casting process. The cavity includes multiple enclosing walls and a chamber defined by the enclosing walls for receiving the feeding network and other related components therein. Moreover, at least one of two ends along a longitudinal direction of the cavity is not provided with any enclosing wall to predefine an opened end.
Dependent upon requirements of operation known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, the cavity may be designed to include four enclosing walls longitudinally disposed and surrounding the cavity. Alternatively, the cavity may also be designed to contain five enclosing walls with above four walls longitudinally disposed and surrounding the cavity included. In other words, one of the two end surfaces along the longitudinal direction is not provided with an enclosing wall in order to predefine an opened end for mounting the feeding network and dielectric element and manipulating the same element.
The feeding network may be a circuit printed on a base plate such as a PCB and having phase shifting function. A holding groove is defined in each of a pair of opposed enclosing walls of the cavity for holding the base plate of the feeding network therein. The feeding network may also be a circuit constructed of a metal conductor based on phase shifting function. The metal conductor is secured in a chamber of the cavity by an insulation fastener.
The feeding network has an input port and an output port, both of which are referred as to “feeding port”. The several feeding ports are connected with an inner conductor of a transmission cable respectively. In present invention, to facilitate connection between the feeding ports and inner conductor of the transmission cable, a plurality of operation holes may be defined in the enclosing wall at locations corresponding to these input and output ports. The number of the plurality of operation holes may be equal to or less than that of the feeding ports, and this may be determined freely by person of ordinary skill in the art.
The transmission-line transformation devices are all connected to the enclosing walls for welding an outer conductor of the transmission cable, and for passing the inner conductor of the transmission cable into the cavity and being connected with the feeding ports of the feeding network. Each transmission-line transformation device has at least one transmission line connecting end and a plurality of fixing posts connected with the connecting end. The transmission line connecting end is used for realizing connection between the outer conductor of the transmission cable and enclosing walls. The inner conductor of the transmission cable passes through the connecting end and then is connected to the feeding network. The fixing posts of the transmission-line transformation device have the function of securing the device onto the cavity. As each feeding port is coupled with an inner conductor of a transmission cable, the number of the connecting ends should be the same as that of the feeding ports of the phase shifter of the cavity type. As each feeding port is coupled with an inner conductor of a transmission cable, the number of the connecting ends should be the same as that of the feeding ports of the phase shifter of cavity type.
To facilitate in mounting of the transmission-line transformation device onto the cavity, at least one mounting portion is provided on the cavity. The mounting portion has a holding groove for holding the fixing posts of the device in place. The transmission-line transformation device is attached onto the mounting portion by welding its fixing posts into the holding groove. The at least one mounting portion is positioned on an end portion of the cavity, and/or is disposed on the enclosing wall of a sidewall of the cavity at a location close to the end portion of the cavity. The end portion of the cavity means at least one of two end surfaces of the cavity along a longitudinal direction. The end surface is a concept relative to the sidewall of the cavity.
Person of ordinary skill in the art according to requirements of wiring may freely configure the mounting portion. For example, when there is only one mounting portion, it can be disposed on one end portion of the cavity, or disposed on the enclosing wall of the sidewall of the cavity at a location close to the same end portion of the cavity. When more than one mounting portions are employed, they may be distributed in multiple enclosing walls respectively. Alternatively, the mounting portions may be disposed at the same sidewall at locations close to the two end portions of the cavity.
The dielectric element is elongated, and is disposed between the feeding network and enclosing walls. When driven, the dielectric element moves straight along the longitudinal direction of the cavity, thereby changing signal transmission speed inside the phase shifter, further changing phase of the signal, producing phase difference, and finally realizing phase shifting.
Referring to
The cavity 11 is formed by extrusion or a die-casting process. The cavity 11 includes four enclosing walls 110 (
The feeding network 12 is a circuit formed by a metal conductor, and is secured into the cavity 11 by an insulation member (not shown). The feeding network 12 includes an input port and an output port both of which are referred as to feeding ports for being connected with an external element, thus realizing transformation and transmission of the signal. In other embodiments, the feeding network 12 may also be a circuit printed on a base plate such as a PCB (not shown) and having phase shifting function. The network 12 is mounted in the chamber by mounting the base plate into a holding groove (not shown) defined in an opposite enclosing walls of the cavity 11.
As discussed above, to realize connection of the feeding network 12 with the external element, the phase shifter of the cavity type of this embodiment further includes a transmission-line transformation device 13. The transmission-line transformation device 13 includes a pair of transmission line connection ends 130 and 3 fixing posts 131 integrally formed with the ends 130 as shown in
The transmission-line transformation device 13 of the present invention also applies in signal transmission among a coaxial cable 15 running as a transmission cable, cavity 11, and feeding network 12. Specifically, at a transmission line connection end, an outer conductor 151 of the coaxial cable 15 for inputting signals is just pressed against and welded together with the transmission line connection end 130 of the transmission-line transformation device 13 of the phase shifter of the cavity type 1 of the present invention. An inner conductor 152 of the coaxial cable 15 is coupled with the feeding port of the feeding network 12 of the phase shifter 1. The insulation material sandwiched between the outer conductor 151 and inner conductor 152 of the coaxial cable 15 insulates the feeding network 12 from the enclosing walls 110 of the cavity 11.
To assist in mounting of the transmission-line transformation device 13 onto the cavity 11, a mounting portion (not labeled) is provided on the cavity 11 at one end thereof for mounting the transmission-line transformation device 13 thereon. The mounting portion has, at locations corresponding to the fixing posts 131, a plurality of holding grooves 111 (
As mentioned above, the dielectric element 14 is located between the enclosing wall 110 and feeding network 12. In addition, the dielectric element 14 extends from one end, at which the transmission-line transformation device 13 locates, of the cavity 11, to the other end and then out of the cavity 11. To obtain higher equivalent dielectric coefficient as shown in
When driven, the dielectric element 14 moves straight along the longitudinal direction of the cavity 11, thereby changing signal transmission speed inside the phase shifter 1, thus further changing phase of the signal, producing phase difference, and finally realizing phase shifting.
To facilitate straight movement of the dielectric element 14 inside the cavity, the phase shifter of the cavity type 1 further includes a dielectric driving element 17 coupled with the dielectric element 14. The dielectric driving element 17 (
It may be understood by persons of the art that some features of this embodiment might be applied to other embodiments. For example, features regarding material and structure of dielectric element may be employed in a second embodiment. The feeding network may be constructed of metal conductor, or circuit printed on a base plate for realizing specific circuit function. In addition, manner by which the feeding network is secured into the cavity may also be applied to various embodiments of the present invention. Please note that in following embodiments, a certain structure perhaps will not be described and it should not be understood that the phase shifter of the present invention lacks of this certain structure. Moreover, some structures in following embodiments may also be applied to present embodiment. In other words, the phase shifter of the cavity type of present invention may be configured with flexibility by person of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring to
The cavity 21 is made by extrusion or a die-casting process. The cavity 21 has an upper chamber and a lower chamber (not labeled) both of which run along a longitudinal direction of the cavity 21. The chambers (not labeled) are used for mounting the feeding network 22, dielectric element 24, and other components as shown in
Several operation holes 212 are defined in the cavity 21 for convenient connection between an inner conductor of the transmission cable 25 and feeding ports of the feeding network 22 as shown in
A mounting portion (not labeled) is provided on the cavity 21 at one end thereof. The transmission-line transformation device 23 is positioned on the mounting portion. The transmission-line transformation device 23 (
Each chamber of the phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention is provided with a feeding network 22, which is secured into a corresponding cavity 21 by an insulation fastener 26 as shown in
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transmission-line transformation device 23 also applies in connection among a coaxial cable 25, the cavity 21, and feeding network 22 for realizing signal transformation and transmission. Specifically, at a transmission line connection end, an outer conductor of the coaxial cable 25 for inputting signals is just pressed against and connected together with the transmission line connection end 230 (
Within each chamber of the phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention, a dielectric element 24 is disposed between the enclosing wall 210 (
When driven, the dielectric element 24 moves straight along the longitudinal direction of the cavity 21, thereby changing signal transmission speed inside the phase shifter 2, thus further changing phase of the signal, producing phase difference, and finally realizing phase shifting. In addition, this phase change occurs linearly and gradually.
To maintain synchronous movement of the upper dielectric element 242 and lower dielectric element 241, the dielectric element 24 further includes a dielectric element connection member 243 (
Furthermore, for conveniently operating the dielectric element 24, the phase shifter of the cavity type 2 further includes a dielectric driving element 27, which has an accessory 272 for connecting with external devices such as motors as shown in
It may be understood by persons of the art from the present embodiment that multiple chambers may be formed in the cavity 21 of the phase shifter of the present invention. These chambers may be juxtaposed up and down or side by side. In addition, these chambers may be placed the same feeding networks therein so that the phase shifter will be suited for a single frequency antenna. Alternatively, different feeding networks 22 may be placed in these chambers such that the phase shifter 2 is suited for a multiple frequency antenna.
Refer to
A through hole 332 (
The transmission-line transformation device 33 further includes a transmission line connection end 330 (
Corresponding to the feeding port 320 of the feeding network 32, an operation hole 312 is defined in an enclosing wall 310 of the cavity 31 as shown in
The dielectric element 34 is disposed between the enclosing wall 310 of the cavity 31 and feeding network 33, so that when driven, the dielectric element 34 moves straight along the longitudinal direction of the cavity 31, thereby changing signal transmission speed inside the phase shifter 3, thus further changing phase of the signal, producing phase difference, and finally realizing phase shifting.
To facilitate operation of the dielectric element 34, the phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention further includes a dielectric driving element 37 (
In a summary, according to the phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention, the phase shifter is divided into two components: one is a cavity, and, the other is a transmission-line transformation device, and then the two components are welded together. This greatly reduces process complexity of the phase shifter. As a result, the fastening of the phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention may be realized without any screws, thus avoiding reliability and inter-modulation problems resulted from failure of screws. Electrical and physical characteristics of the phase shifter are also significantly improved. The phase shifter of the cavity type of the present invention is a fundamental component and has optimistic prospects of application.
Though various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated above, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, variations and improvements made upon the illustrative embodiments fall within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is only limited by the accompanying claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2014 1 0042992 | Jan 2014 | CN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2015/071661 | 1/27/2015 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2015/113489 | 8/6/2015 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3440573 | Butler | Apr 1969 | A |
5905462 | Hampel et al. | May 1999 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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201616495 | Oct 2010 | CN |
202817199 | Mar 2013 | CN |
103050747 | Apr 2013 | CN |
104037474 | Sep 2014 | CN |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160372809 A1 | Dec 2016 | US |