This invention relates to a compact wideband antenna mainly used for communication modules or broadband communications.
In an antenna known as a base station antenna, a plurality of antenna elements is arranged in multiple stages in a linear pattern to achieve high-gain and omnidirectional characteristics in a horizontal plane and radiation directional characteristics of a sharp beam. Such an antenna is divided into a series feed type antenna of feeding a plurality of antenna elements connected in series and a parallel feed type antenna of feeding a plurality of antenna elements by distributing power between the antenna elements. The directional characteristics of the antenna are determined in response to the amount of exciting power (amplitude value) to be fed to each antenna element and an excitation phase.
The conventional two-stage collinear antenna 200 shown in
The conventional collinear antenna 200 operates at two frequencies to become functional as a wideband antenna. However, the conventional collinear antenna 200 has a problem in that it requires a large parts count and complicated assembly steps.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a wideband antenna of a simple structure having a low parts count, capable of enhancing assembly performance, capable of reducing cost, and capable of increasing a yield if being produced in large quantity.
To achieve the aforementioned object, a wideband antenna of this invention is principally characterized in that the wideband antenna comprises: a long and thin substrate including unit elements and dipole antennas arranged in multiple stages in a longitudinal direction, the unit elements each being formed of a hot element, an earth element forming the dipole antenna together with the hot element, and a parasitic element disposed adjacent to the dipole antenna, the dipole antennas each being formed of the hot element formed on one surface and the earth element formed on an opposite surface; and the parasitic element having an arc-like shape disposed adjacent to the dipole antenna. A branch line is formed on the one surface of the substrate. The branch line is connected to a hot side of a feeding point and used for feeding each hot element of the unit element in each of the multiple stages. An earth connection line is formed on the opposite surface of the substrate. The earth connection line is connected to an earth side of the feeding point and used for feeding each earth element of the unit element in each of the multiple stages.
The wideband antenna of this invention has a simple structure including the unit element formed of the hot element and the earth element, the branch line, and the earth connection line formed on the substrate. Thus, the wideband antenna of this invention has a low parts count, capable of enhancing assembly performance, capable of reducing cost, and capable of increasing a yield if being produced in large quantity.
The wideband antenna 1 of the first embodiment of this invention shown in these drawings has a stack in two stages including a first-stage element 11 and a second-stage element 12 each formed of a dipole antenna. The first-stage and second-stage elements 11 and 12 are formed on a substrate 10 such as a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics. Specifically, two hot elements forming the first-stage element 11 including a hot element 11a and a hot element 11b are formed in a pair on a lower part of the front surface of the substrate 10 having a vertically long and thin rectangular shape in such a manner as to extend in a vertically long and thin rectangular shape along the opposite edges of the front surface in the longitudinal direction. Two hot elements forming the second-stage element 12 including a hot element 12a and a hot element 12b are formed in a pair on a part of the front surface of the substrate 10 above the center of the front surface in such a manner as to extend in a vertically long and thin rectangular shape along the opposite edges of the front surface in the longitudinal direction. Two earth elements forming the first-stage element 11 including an earth element 11c and an earth element 11d are formed in a pair on a part of the rear surface of the substrate 10 below the center of the rear surface in such a manner as to extend in a vertically long and thin rectangular shape along the opposite edges of the rear surface in the longitudinal direction. Two earth elements forming the second-stage element 12 including an earth element 12c and an earth element 12d are formed in a pair on an upper part of the rear surface of the substrate 10 in such a manner as to extend in a vertically long and thin rectangular shape along the opposite edges of the rear surface in the longitudinal direction. In the first-stage element 11, the hot element 11a and the earth element 11c are formed to face each other. Further, the hot element 11b and the earth element 11d are formed to face each other. In this way, two dipole antennas are formed. In the second-stage element 12, the hot element 12a and the earth element 12c are formed to face each other. Further, the hot element 12b and the earth element 12d are formed to face each other. In this way, two dipole antennas are formed.
In the first-stage element 11, an arc-like parasitic element 11e having a radius r1 and an arc angle θ1 is provided adjacent to the dipole antenna formed of the hot element 11a and the earth element 11c in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. Further, an arc-like parasitic element 11f having the radius r1 and the arc angle θ1 is provided adjacent to the dipole antenna formed of the hot element 11b and the earth element 11d in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. In the second-stage element 12, an arc-like parasitic element 12e having the radius r1 and the arc angle θ1 is provided adjacent to the dipole antenna formed of the hot element 12a and the earth element 12c in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. Further, an arc-like parasitic element 12f having the radius r1 and the arc angle θ1 is provided adjacent to the dipole antenna formed of the hot element 12b and the earth element 12d in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. In the description given below, the elements in each of the first-stage and second-stage elements 11 and 12 are called unit elements.
A feeding point 13 is arranged in a substantially central part of the substrate 10. A first branch line 14a and a second branch line 14b are connected to a hot side of the feeding point 13 and formed on the front surface of the substrate 10 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the front surface in the longitudinal direction. The first branch line 14a extending downward from the feeding point 13 is connected to the respective tips of the hot elements 11a and 11b of the first-stage element 11 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective upper portions of the hot elements 11a and 11b face each other. The second branch line 14b extending upward from the feeding point 13 is connected to the respective tips of the hot elements 12a and 12b of the second-stage element 12 bent into an L-shape in a such manner that the respective upper portions of the hot elements 12a and 12b face each other. An earth line 14c connected to an earth side of the feeding point 13 is formed into a large width on the rear surface of the substrate 10 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the rear surface in the longitudinal direction. The earth line 14c extending downward from the feeding point 13 is connected to the respective tips of the earth elements 11c and 11d of the first-stage element 11 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the earth elements 11c and 11d face each other. The earth line 14c extending upward from the feeding point 13 is connected to the respective tips of the earth elements 12c and 12d of the second-stage element 12 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the earth elements 12c and 12d face each other. In this way, the first-stage and second-stage elements 11 and 12 are fed in parallel from the feeding point 13 through a transmission line including the first and second branch lines 14a and 14b and the earth line 14c.
The first and second branch lines 14a and 14b formed on the front surface of the substrate 10 extend over the wide earth line 14c formed on the rear surface of the substrate 10 and the aforementioned transmission line functions as a stripline. The first-stage and second-stage elements 11 and 12 are fed in parallel from the feeding point 13 through the stripline.
As shown in
By placing the wideband antenna 1 of the first embodiment of this invention having the aforementioned structure in a standing posture in a vertical plane, the two dipole antennas formed of the hot elements 11a and 11b and the earth elements 11c and 11d of the first-stage element 11 function as a vertically polarized antenna. Further, the two dipole antennas formed of the hot elements 12a and 12b and the earth elements 12c and 12d of the second-stage element 12 function as a vertically polarized antenna. By disposing the two parasitic elements 11e and 11f adjacent to the vertically polarized antenna of the first-stage element 11 and disposing the two parasitic elements 12e and 12f adjacent to the vertically polarized antenna of the second-stage element 12, the first-stage and second-stage elements 11 and 12 generate multiple resonance to broaden a frequency band. With the length L1 set at about 30 mm, the length L2 about 60 mm, the length L5 about 23 mm, the length L6 about 55.5 mm, the length L7 about 3 mm, the length L8 about 12.5 mm, the length L9 about 1 mm, the length L10 about 8 mm, the arc angle θ1 about 120 degrees, and the radius r1 about 10.5 mm, a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of about 1.5 or less can be obtained in a frequency band from about 2500 to about 2650 MHz. The center frequency of this frequency band is 2575 MHz.
The structure of a wideband antenna 2 according to a second embodiment of this invention is shown in
As shown in these drawings, the wideband antenna 2 of the second embodiment of this invention includes two hot elements including a hot element 21a and a hot element 21b in a pair and two earth elements including an earth element 21c and an earth element 21d in a pair that form a first-stage element 21 and extend along the opposite edges of the rear surface of a substrate 20 in the longitudinal direction. The substrate 20 has a long and thin rectangular shape and for example is a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics. The wideband antenna 2 further includes two hot elements including a hot element 22a and a hot element 22b in a pair and two earth elements including an earth element 22c and an earth element 22d in a pair that form a second-stage element 22 and extend along the opposite edges of the rear surface of the substrate 20 in the longitudinal direction. The hot elements 21a, 21b, 22a, and 22b have the same shape as the hot elements 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b of the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment and are formed on the rear surface of the substrate 20 in the same positions as the hot elements 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b respectively. The earth elements 21c, 21d, 22c, and 22d have the same shape as the earth elements 11c, 11d, 12c, and 12d of the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment and are formed on the rear surface of the substrate 20 in the same positions as the earth elements 11c, 11d, 12c, and 12d respectively. In the first-stage element 21 as a unit element, the arc-like parasitic element 11e is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 21a and the earth element 21c in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. The arc-like parasitic element 11f is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 21b and the earth element 21d in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. In the second-stage element 22 as a unit element, the arc-like parasitic element 12e is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 22a and the earth element 22c in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. The arc-like parasitic element 12f is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 22b and the earth element 22d in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. As described above in relation to the wideband antenna 1 of the first embodiment, the parasitic elements 11e, 11f, 12e, and 12f have the radius r1 and the arc angle θ1.
A feeding point 23 is arranged in a position slightly above a substantially central part of the substrate 20. A first branch line 24a and a second branch line 24b are connected to a hot side of the feeding point 23 and formed on the front surface of the substrate 20 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the front surface in the longitudinal direction. The first branch line 24a extending downward from the feeding point 23 has a tip formed into a T-shape. A portion of the first branch line 24a extending further from the T-shape portion is bent downward and the respective tips of the bent portions are connected to the hot elements 21a and 21b of the first-stage element 21 through a through hole 25a and a through hole 25b respectively. The second branch line 24b extending upward from the feeding point 23 has a tip formed into a T-shape. A portion of the second branch line 24b extending further from the T-shape portion is bent downward and the respective tips of the bent portions are connected to the hot elements 22a and 22b of the second-stage element 22 through a through hole 26a and a through hole 26b respectively. A wide earth line 24c connected to an earth side of the feeding point 23 is formed on the rear surface of the substrate 20 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the rear surface in the longitudinal direction. The earth line 24c extending downward from the feeding point 23 is connected to respective end portions of the earth elements 21c and 21d of the first-stage element 21 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the earth elements 21c and 21d face each other. The earth line 24c extending upward from the feeding point 23 is connected to respective end portions of the earth elements 22c and 22d of the second-stage element 22 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the earth elements 22c and 22d face each other. In this way, the first-stage and second-stage elements 21 and 22 are fed in parallel from the feeding point 23 through a transmission line including the first and second branch lines 24a and 24b and the earth line 24c.
The first and second branch lines 24a and 24b formed on the front surface of the substrate 20 extend over the wide earth line 24c formed on the rear surface of the substrate 20 and the aforementioned transmission line functions as a stripline. The first-stage and second-stage elements 21 and 22 are fed in parallel from the feeding point 23 through the stripline. The hot elements 21a and 21b of the first-stage element 21 are bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective upper portions of the hot elements 21a and 21b face each other and the respective tips of these upper end portions are connected to the earth line 24c. The hot elements 22a and 22b of the second-stage element 22 are bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective upper portions of the hot elements 22a and 22b face each other and the respective tips of these upper end portions are connected to the earth line 24c.
As shown in
By placing the wideband antenna 2 of the second embodiment of this invention having the aforementioned structure in a standing posture in a vertical plane, the two dipole antennas formed of the hot elements 21a and 21b and the earth elements 21c and 21d of the first-stage element 21 function as a vertically polarized antenna. Further, the two dipole antennas formed of the hot elements 22a and 22b and the earth elements 22c and 22d of the second-stage element 22 function as a vertically polarized antenna. By disposing the two parasitic elements 11e and 11f adjacent to the vertically polarized antenna of the first-stage element 21 and disposing the two parasitic elements 12e and 12f adjacent to the vertically polarized antenna of the second-stage element 22, the first-stage and second-stage elements 21 and 22 generate multiple resonance to broaden a frequency band. With the length L1 set at about 30 mm, the length L11 about 58 mm, the length L5 about 23 mm, the length L13 about 33 mm, the length L7 about 3 mm, the length L8 about 12.5 mm, the length L12 about 3.5 mm, the length L14 about 39.5 mm, the length L15 about 6.5 mm, the length L16 about 1 mm, the length L17 about 12.5 mm, the arc angle θ1 about 120 degrees, and the radius r1 about 10.5 mm, a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of about 1.5 or less can be obtained in a frequency band from about 2500 to about 2650 MHz. The center frequency of this frequency band is 2575 MHz. A gap between the through holes 25a and 25b and a gap between the through holes 26a and 26b are each set at about 15.3 mm.
The structure of a wideband antenna 3 according to a third embodiment of this invention is shown in
As shown in
In the wideband antenna 3 of the third embodiment, power from a feeding point 39 for the first to eighth stages is divided into two branches to be fed to a feeding point 39a for the first to fourth stages and a feeding point 39b for the fifth to eighth stages. Power from the feeding point 39a for the first to fourth stages is divided into two branches to be fed to a feeding point 39c for the first and second stages and a feeding point 39d for the third and fourth stages. Power from the feeding point 39b for the fifth to eighth stages is divided into two branches to be fed to a feeding point 39e for the fifth and sixth stages and a feeding point 39f for the seventh and eighth stages. In this way, the first-stage to eighth-stage elements 31 to 38 are fed in parallel with power distributed from the feeding point 39 for the first to eighth stages. If the wideband antenna 3 of the third embodiment of this invention having the stack in eight stages is placed in a standing posture in a vertical plane, a sharp radiation pattern can be formed in the vertical plane. Further, the unit element forming each stage broadens a frequency band, causing the wideband antenna 3 of the third embodiment to operate in a wide band.
The structure of a wideband antenna 4 according to a fourth embodiment of this invention is shown in
As shown in these drawings, the wideband antenna 4 of the fourth embodiment of this invention includes a vertically polarized antenna 4a and a horizontally polarized antenna 4b. The vertically polarized antenna 4a has a stack of unit elements including a first vertically polarized element 41 and a second vertically polarized element 42. The first and second vertically polarized elements 41 and 42 can be formed using the unit elements of the wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment or using the unit elements of the wideband antenna 2 according to the second embodiment. The first and second vertically polarized elements 41 and 42 are formed on a substrate 40. The substrate 40 has a long and thin rectangular shape and for example is a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics.
The horizontally polarized antenna 4b is installed on a second substrate 45 disposed substantially perpendicular to the substrate 40. The second substrate 45 has a long and thin rectangular shape and for example is a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics. The second substrate 45 is wound outward at places separated by a given gap. A first horizontally polarized element 46a and a second horizontally polarized element 46b are provided at two places where the second substrate 45 is wound outward. A feeding line 47a for horizontal polarization and a feeding line 47b for horizontal polarization are formed on the front surface and the rear surface respectively of the second substrate 45. The first and second horizontally polarized elements 46a and 46b are placed between the first and second vertically polarized elements 41 and 42, located in a plane vertical to the long axis of the second substrate 45, and have the same C-shape. The first and second horizontally polarized elements 46a and 46b of the C-shape are each formed by bending a long and thin metal plate into an arc-like shape. As shown in
The structure of a wideband antenna 5 according to a fifth embodiment of this invention is shown in
As shown in these drawings, the wideband antenna 5 of the fifth embodiment of this invention is to tilt the radiation pattern formed by the wideband antenna 2 of the second embodiment of this invention. This is achieved by inserting a phase line 57 in a first branch line 54a.
The wideband antenna 5 of the fifth embodiment is described next in outline. The wideband antenna 5 includes the two hot elements 21a and 21b in a pair and the two earth elements 21c and 21d in a pair that form a first-stage element 51 as a unit element and extend along the opposite edges of the rear surface of a substrate 50 in the longitudinal direction. The substrate 50 has a long and thin rectangular shape and for example is a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics. The wideband antenna 5 further includes the two hot elements 22a and 22b in a pair and the two earth elements 22c and 22d in a pair that form a second-stage element 52 as a unit element and extend along the opposite edges of the rear surface of the substrate 50 in the longitudinal direction. The hot elements 21a, 21b, 22a, and 22b have their shapes described in relation to the wideband antenna 2 of the second embodiment. The earth elements 21c, 21d, 22c, and 22d have their shapes described in relation to the wideband antenna 2 of the second embodiment. In the first-stage element 51, the arc-like parasitic element 11e is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 21a and the earth element 21c in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. The arc-like parasitic element 11f is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 21b and the earth element 21d in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. In the second-stage element 52, the arc-like parasitic element 12e is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 22a and the earth element 22c in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. The arc-like parasitic element 12f is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of the hot element 22b and the earth element 22d in such a manner as to surround this dipole antenna. As described above in relation to the wideband antenna 1 of the first embodiment, the parasitic elements 11e, 11f, 12e, and 12f have the radius r1 and the arc angle θ1.
A feeding point 53 is arranged in a position slightly above a substantially central part of the substrate 50. The first branch line 54a including the interposed phase line 57 and a second branch line 54b are connected to a hot side of the feeding point 53 and formed on the front surface of the substrate 50 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the front surface in the longitudinal direction. The phase line 57 is wound in a meander shape. Alternatively, the phase line 57 may be formed of a distributed constant line or a concentrated constant line. The first branch line 54a extending downward from the feeding point 53 through the phase line 57 has a tip formed into a T-shape. A portion of the first branch line 54a extending further from the T-shape portion is bent downward and the respective tips of the bent portions are connected to the hot elements 21a and 21b of the first-stage element 51 through a through hole 55a and a through hole 55b respectively. The second branch line 54b extending upward from the feeding point 53 has a tip formed into a T-shape. A portion of the second branch line 54b extending further from the T-shape portion is bent downward and the respective tips of the bent portions are connected to the hot elements 22a and 22b of the second-stage element 52 through a through hole 56a and a through hole 56b respectively. A wide earth line 54c connected to an earth side of the feeding point 53 is formed on the rear surface of the substrate 50 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the rear surface in the longitudinal direction. The earth line 54c extending downward from the feeding point 53 is connected to respective end portions of the earth elements 21c and 21d of the first-stage element 51 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the earth elements 21c and 21d face each other. The earth line 54c extending upward from the feeding point 53 is connected to the earth elements 22c and 22d of the second-stage element 52 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the earth elements 22c and 22d face each other. In this way, the first-stage and second-stage elements 51 and 52 are fed from the feeding point 53 through a transmission line including the first branch line 54a with the interposed phase line 57, the second branch line 54b, and the earth line 54c.
The phase line 57 and the first and second branch lines 54a and 54b formed on the front surface of the substrate 50 extend over the wide earth line 54c formed on the rear surface of the substrate 50 and the aforementioned transmission line functions as a stripline. The first-stage and second-stage elements 51 and 52 are fed in parallel from the feeding point 53 through the stripline. The feed of the first-stage element 51 is delayed only by the phase amount of the phase line 57, compared to the second-stage element 52. As a result, if the wideband antenna 5 of the fifth embodiment is placed in a standing posture in a vertical plane, a radiation pattern is tilted downward in response to the phase amount of the phase line 57.
In the wideband antenna 5 of the fifth embodiment of this invention, the two dipole antennas formed of the hot elements 21a and 21b and the earth elements 21c and 21d of the first-stage element 51 function as a vertically polarized antenna. Further, the two dipole antennas formed of the hot elements 22a and 22b and the earth elements 22c and 22d of the second-stage element 52 function as a vertically polarized antenna. The dimensions of the wideband antenna 5 according to the fifth embodiment are the same as corresponding dimensions of the wideband antenna 2 according to the second embodiment. The position of the first-stage element 51 and that of the second-stage element 52 relative to each other are the same as the position of the first-stage element 21 and that of the second-stage element 22 relative to each other. As a result, a voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of about 1.5 or less can be obtained in a frequency band from about 2500 to about 2650 MHz.
The antenna characteristics of the wideband antenna according to this invention are shown in
By referring to
By referring to
The wideband antenna 6 of the sixth embodiment is a vertically polarized antenna and a wideband antenna to operate in a 2.5 GHz band and a 3.5 GHz band as described above. This wideband antenna broadens a frequency band as a result of the presence of parasitic elements provided adjacent to corresponding ones of two dipole antennas of a unit element in each stage in such a manner as to surround these dipole antennas. Even if the arc angle θ1 of the parasitic element in the wideband antenna 6 according to the sixth embodiment is reduced to about 90 degrees or increased to about 180 degrees, antenna characteristics comparable to those with the arc angle θ1 of about 120 degrees are still obtained. This shows that in the wideband antenna of this invention, the arc angle of the parasitic element can be set in a range from about 90 to about 180 degrees. If the are angle θ1 is set at about 180 degrees, parasitic elements are disposed in such a manner as to avoid contact between respective end portions of the parasitic elements.
By referring to
As understood from above, electromagnetic coupling occurs between the parasitic element of the vertically polarized antenna and the C-shape horizontally polarized element in some cases in a manner that depends on the arc angle θ1 of the parasitic element of the vertically polarized antenna of the wideband antenna 7 to affect antenna characteristics. If the arc angle θ1 of the parasitic element is less than about 180 degrees, the electromagnetic coupling between the parasitic element of the vertically polarized antenna and the C-shape horizontally polarized element does not cause serious effect. Thus, by setting the arc angle θ1 of the parasitic element at about 90 degrees or more and less than about 180 degrees, a high-performance radiation pattern of the horizontally polarized antenna can be maintained.
The wideband antenna 8 of the eighth embodiment of this invention includes a cylindrical case 80 like a cylinder of a small diameter shown in
As shown in
Steps of assembling the wideband antenna 8 of the eighth embodiment are described next. First, as shown in
The wideband antenna 4 of the fourth embodiment having a stacked structure is housed in the cylindrical case 80. Alternatively, any one of the wideband antennas according to the first to third embodiments and fifth to seventh embodiments can be housed in the cylindrical case 80. In either case, a substrate of the housed wideband antenna can be held in a substantially central position inside the cylindrical case 80 using the parasitic element part 81.
As described above, by housing a parasitic element to each of the first and second spacers 90 and 91 cut into halves the substrate 40 and the second substrate 45 are caught from lateral sides with the first and second spacers 90 and 91. This can reduce the number of assembly steps and prevent deformation or damage of a component to occur during the assembly. In particular, while the substrate 40 with vertically polarized elements in multiple stages and the second substrate 45 with horizontally polarized elements in multiple stages are coupled to each other, these substrates 40 and 45 cannot be inserted into the cylindrical case 80 easily by being moved slidingly a long distance and cannot be fixed in a constant position easily. This causes reduction in a yield during production in large quantity. In contrast, the wideband antenna 8 of the eighth embodiment of this invention can solve this problem for the reason given above.
The structure of a wideband antenna 9 according to a ninth embodiment of this invention is shown in
As shown in these drawings, the wideband antenna 9 of the ninth embodiment of this invention includes a vertically polarized antenna and a horizontally polarized antenna. The vertically polarized antenna is formed by stacking a first-stage vertically polarized element 111, a second-stage vertically polarized element 112, a third-stage vertically polarized element 113, and a fourth-stage vertically polarized element 114 in four stages. The first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114 are unit elements. The first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114 are each formed of hot elements in a pair formed on the front surface of a substrate 110, earth elements in a pair formed on the rear surface of the substrate 110 and forming two dipole antennas together with these hot elements, and parasitic elements provided adjacent to corresponding ones of these two dipole antennas.
The horizontally polarized antenna is formed by stacking a first-stage horizontally polarized element 101, a second-stage horizontally polarized element 102, a third-stage horizontally polarized element 103, and a fourth-stage horizontally polarized element 104 in four stages. The first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 are provided on a second substrate 100 to be located in a plane vertical to the long axis of the second substrate 100. The second substrate 100 has a long and thin rectangular shape and for example is a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics. The first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114 are provided on the substrate 110. The substrate 110 has a long and thin rectangular shape and for example is a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics. An upper part of the second substrate 100 from a position between the third-stage and fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 103 and 104 to the upper end of the second substrate 100 overlaps a lower part of the substrate 110 from some point of the first-stage vertically polarized element 111 to the lower end of the substrate 110. The substrates 100 and 110 are fixedly attached with the holder 120 and a parasitic element part of the fourth-stage vertically polarized element 104 to be perpendicular to each other in these overlapping parts. The holder 120 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in
In the vertically polarized antenna of the wideband antenna 9 according to the ninth embodiment, power from a feeding point 115 for vertical polarization is divided into two branches to be fed to a feeding point 115a for the first and second stages and a feeding point 115b for the third and fourth stages. Power from the feeding point 115a for the first and second stages is divided into two branches to be fed to the first-stage and second-stage vertically polarized elements 111 and 112. Power from the feeding point 115b for the third and fourth stages is divided into two branches to be fed to the third-stage and fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 113 and 114. In this way, the first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114 are fed in parallel with power distributed from the feeding point 115 for vertical polarization.
The unit element forming each stage of this vertically polarized antenna has dimensions the same as the corresponding dimensions in the wideband antenna 2 according to the second embodiment. This vertically polarized antenna operates at two frequencies in a 2.5 GHz frequency band from 2500 to 2650 MHz and a 3.5 GHz frequency band from 3200 to 3750 MHz.
The second substrate 100 is wound outward at places separated by a given gap. The first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 are provided at corresponding ones of four places of the second substrate 100 where the second substrate 100 is wound outward. A feeding line 106 is formed on the front surface of the second substrate 100. Although not shown in the drawings, the feeding line 106 is also formed on the rear surface of the second substrate 100. The first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 are provided below the first-stage vertically polarized element 111. The first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 each have a C-shape formed by bending a long and thin metal plate into an arc-like shape. The C-shaped first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 each have the same structure as the horizontally polarized element of the horizontally polarized antenna 4b according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in
This horizontally polarized antenna is fed from the feeding point 105 for horizontal polarization. The first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 have lengths that are determined in response to an operating frequency band. For example, the arc angle θ2 is set at about 169 degrees and the radius r2 is set at about 13.5 mm for the first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104. The operating frequency band is set at a 1.9 GHz frequency band from 1840 to 1960 MHz lower than an operating frequency band for the vertically polarized antenna. The length of the feeding line 106 between the first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 is adjusted so as to tilt the radiation pattern of a horizontally polarized wave downward in the wideband antenna 9. The first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 are fed in such a manner that an element in a higher stage gets a larger lead in phase.
In the wideband antenna 9 of the ninth embodiment, each distance between the first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 1 to 114 can be set freely independently of a gap between the first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104. Thus, a vertically polarized antenna conforming to intended characteristics can be formed. Respective parasitic elements of the first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114 can be spaced by a distance about 86% of a corresponding distance in the vertically polarized antenna of the wideband antenna 4 according to the fourth embodiment, for example. Likewise, each distance between the first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 can be set freely independently of a gap between the first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114. The first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 can be spaced by a distance about 157% of a corresponding distance in the horizontally polarized antenna of the wideband antenna 4 according to the fourth embodiment, for example.
As described above, in the wideband antenna 9 of the ninth embodiment, the vertically polarized antenna and the horizontally polarized antenna are independent of each other and are separated vertically from each other. This reduces an effect of one antenna on the other antenna. Thus, the vertically polarized antenna and the horizontally polarized antenna each exhibit a radiation pattern having favorable omnidirectional characteristics. This radiation pattern is tilted downward about eight degrees in a frequency band of each polarized wave. The wideband antenna 9 of the ninth embodiment of this invention can obtain a favorable VSWR in the aforementioned frequency bands.
The wideband antenna 9 according to the ninth embodiment can be housed in the cylindrical case 80 of the wideband antenna 8 according to the eighth embodiment. In this case, the substrate 110 and the second substrate 100 of the housed wideband antenna 9 can be caught by the parasitic element part formed of the first and second spacers 90 and 91 and can be held in a substantially central position inside the cylindrical case 80.
The structure of a wideband antenna 10 according to a tenth embodiment of this invention is shown in
The wideband antenna 10 of the tenth embodiment shown in these drawings has a structure where the length of the overlap between the second substrate 100 and the substrate 110 is increased, compared to the wideband antenna 9 of the ninth embodiment. More specifically, in this structure, the upper half of the second substrate 100 and the lower half of the substrate 110 overlap one another. The other structures of the wideband antenna 10 are common to the wideband antenna 9 of the ninth embodiment. Thus, except the aforementioned structure, the common structures will not be described below.
In the wideband antenna 10 of the tenth embodiment, the upper half of the second substrate 100 from a position between the third-stage and second-stage horizontally polarized elements 103 and 102 to the upper end of the second substrate 100 is disposed to overlap the lower half of the substrate 110 from some point of the second-stage vertically polarized element 112 to the lower end of the substrate 110 to be perpendicular to this lower half. An upper part of the second substrate 100 and a part of the substrate 110 where the second-stage vertically polarized element 112 is provided are fixedly attached with a parasitic element part of the second-stage vertically polarized element 112 to be perpendicular to each other. A part of the second substrate 100 between the third-stage and fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 103 and 104 and a part of the substrate 110 where the first-stage vertically polarized element 111 is provided are fixedly attached with a parasitic element part of the first-stage vertically polarized element 111 to be perpendicular to each other. A substantially central part of the second substrate 100 between the second-stage and third-stage horizontally polarized elements 102 and 103 and a lower end portion of the substrate 110 are fixedly attached with the holder 120 to be perpendicular to each other.
In the wideband antenna 10 of the tenth embodiment, each distance between the first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114 can also be set freely independently of a gap between the first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104. Thus, a vertically polarized antenna conforming to intended characteristics can be formed. Likewise, each distance between the first-stage to fourth-stage horizontally polarized elements 101 to 104 can be set freely independently of a gap between the first-stage to fourth-stage vertically polarized elements 111 to 114. The wideband antenna 10 of the tenth embodiment forms a radiation pattern and produces antenna characteristics substantially the same as those of the wideband antenna 9 of the ninth embodiment.
The wideband antenna 10 according to the tenth embodiment can be housed in the cylindrical case 80 of the wideband antenna 8 according to the eighth embodiment. In this case, the substrate 110 and the second substrate 100 of the housed wideband antenna 10 can be caught by the parasitic element part formed of the first and second spacers 90 and 91 and can be held in a substantially central position inside the cylindrical case 80. Regarding a degree of the overlap between the second substrate 100 and the substrate 110, the length of this overlap can be determined arbitrarily.
The structure of a wideband antenna 11 according to an eleventh embodiment of this invention is shown in
The wideband antenna 11 of the eleventh embodiment of this invention is shown in these drawings corresponds to the wideband antenna 5 of the aforementioned fifth embodiment of this invention and differs from the wideband antenna 5 in that the wideband antenna 11 operates at three frequencies. The wideband antenna 11 of the eleventh embodiment of this invention includes a substrate 140 provided with a first-stage element 141 and a second-stage element 142. The first-stage and second-stage elements 141 and 142 are formed of unit elements of the same structure. The substrate 140 has a long and thin rectangular shape and for example is a fluorine resin substrate having favorable high-frequency characteristics. Two first hot elements including a hot element 141a and a hot element 141c, two second hot elements including a hot element 141b and a hot element 141d, two first earth elements including an earth element 141e and an earth element 141g, and two second earth elements including an earth element 141f and an earth element 141h in the first-stage element 141 extend along the opposite edges of the rear surface of the substrate 140 in the longitudinal direction. Further, two first hot elements including a hot element 142a and a hot element 142c, two second hot elements including a hot element 142b and a hot element 142d, two first earth elements including an earth element 142e and an earth element 142g, and two second earth elements including an earth element 142f and an earth element 142h in the second-stage element 142 extend along the opposite edges of the rear surface of the substrate 140 in the longitudinal direction. The first hot elements 141a and 141c (142a and 142c) and the first earth elements 141e and 141g (142e and 142g) form two dipole antennas in a pair. These dipole antennas in a pair have an element length longer than the element length of dipole antennas in a pair formed of the second hot elements 141b and 141d (142b and 142d) and the second earth elements 141f and 141h (142f and 142h). The former dipole antennas in a pair operate in a frequency band shorter than an operating frequency band for the latter dipole antennas in a pair. The dipole antennas in two pairs of different element lengths in each of the first-stage and second-stage elements 141 and 142 allows operation at two frequencies.
An arc-like parasitic element 141i and an arc-like parasitic element 141j are provided adjacent to the aforementioned dipole antennas in two pairs of the first-stage element 141 in such a manner as to surround the opposite edges of the substrate 140 where these dipole antennas are formed. Likewise, an arc-like parasitic element 142i and an arc-like parasitic element 142j are provided adjacent to the aforementioned dipole antennas in two pairs of the second-stage element 142 in such a manner as to surround the opposite edges of the substrate 140 where these dipole antennas are formed. Like the aforementioned wideband antenna 1 according to the first embodiment, the parasitic elements 141i, 141j, 142i, and 142j have the radius r1 and the arc angle θ1. By the action of the parasitic elements 141i, 141j, 142i, and 142j, the first-stage and second-stage elements 141 and 142 become a vertically polarized antenna to operate at three frequencies.
A feeding point 145a for the first and second stages is arranged in a position slightly above a substantially central part of the substrate 140. A first branch line 146a including an interposed phase line 147 and a second branch line 146b are connected to a hot side of the feeding point 145a and formed on the front surface of the substrate 140 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the front surface in the longitudinal direction. The phase line 147 is wound in a meander shape. Alternatively, the phase line 147 may be formed of a distributed constant line or a concentrated constant line. The first branch line 146a extending downward from the feeding point 145a through the phase line 147 has a tip formed into a T-shape. A portion of the first branch line 146a extending further from the T-shape portion is bent downward. A through hole 148a and a through hole 148b are formed at the respective corners of the bent portions. The first hot elements 141a and 141c and the second hot elements 141b and 141d of the first-stage element 141 are fed through the through holes 148a and 148b. The second branch line 146b extending upward from the feeding point 145a has a tip formed into a T-shape. A portion of the second branch line 146b extending further from the T-shape portion is bent downward. A through hole 149a and a through hole 149b are formed at the respective tips of the bent portions. The first hot elements 142a and 142c and the second hot elements 142b and 142d of the second-stage element 142 are fed through the through holes 149a and 149b. A wide earth line 146c connected to an earth side of the feeding point 145a is formed on the rear surface of the substrate 140 in such a manner as to extend upward and downward substantially along the center line of the rear surface in the longitudinal direction. The earth line 146c extending downward from the feeding point 145a is connected to respective end portions of the first earth elements 141e and 141g of the first-stage element 141 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the first earth elements 141e and 141g face each other. The earth line 146c extending downward from the feeding point 145a is further connected to respective end portions of the second earth elements 141f and 141h of the first-stage element 141 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the second earth elements 141f and 141h face each other. The earth line 146c extending upward from the feeding point 145a is connected to the first earth elements 142e and 142g of the second-stage element 142 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the first earth elements 142e and 142g face each other. The earth line 146c extending upward from the feeding point 145a is further connected to the second earth elements 142f and 142h of the second-stage element 142 bent into an L-shape in such a manner that the respective lower portions of the second earth elements 142f and 142h face each other. In this way, the first-stage and second-stage elements 141 and 142 are fed from the feeding point 145a through a transmission line including the first branch line 146a with the interposed phase line 147, the second branch line 146b, and the earth line 146c.
The phase line 147 and the first and second branch lines 146a and 146b formed on the front surface of the substrate 140 extend over the wide earth line 146c formed on the rear surface of the substrate 140 and the aforementioned transmission line functions as a stripline. The first-stage and second-stage elements 141 and 142 are fed in parallel from the feeding point 145a through the stripline. The feed of the first-stage element 141 is delayed only by the phase amount of the phase line 147, compared to the second-stage element 142. As a result, if the wideband antenna 11 of the eleventh embodiment is placed in a standing posture in a vertical plane, a radiation pattern is tilted downward in response to the phase amount of the phase line 147.
The wideband antenna 11 of the eleventh embodiment of this invention functions as a three-frequency vertically polarized antenna to operate in a 1.9 GHz frequency band from 1840 to 1960 MHz, a 2.5 GHz frequency band from 2500 to 2650 MHz, and a 3.5 GHz frequency band from 3200 to 3750 MHz. Dimensions relating to this vertically polarized antenna except the dimensions of the first hot elements 141a and 141c (142a and 142c) and those of the first earth elements 141e and 141g (142e and 142g) are the same as the corresponding dimensions relating to the wideband antenna 2 of the second embodiment. The wideband antenna 11 of the eleventh embodiment can obtain a favorable VSWR in the aforementioned frequency bands. The dimensions of the first hot elements 141a and 141c (142a and 142c) and those of the first earth elements 141e and 141g (142e and 142g) are determined to be a length that allows operation in a 1.9 GHz frequency band from 1840 to 1960 MHz
The unit elements of the wideband antenna 11 according to the eleventh embodiment to operate at three frequencies may be applied as unit elements of a wideband antenna according to a different embodiment of this invention to make the wideband antenna of this different embodiment operate at three frequencies. Additionally, the wideband antenna 11 of the eleventh embodiment may be stacked in multiple stages and housed in the cylindrical case 80. In this case, the substrates 140 of the housed wideband antennas 11 can be caught by the first and second spacers 90 and 91 and can be held in a substantially central position inside the cylindrical case 80.
In the aforementioned wideband antenna of this invention, an arc-like parasitic element is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna to form a unit element and such unit elements can be stacked in multiple stages. The number of the stages is preferably from eight to 18. The wideband antenna of this invention functions as a wideband antenna to operate in a plurality of frequency bands. In the wideband antenna of this invention including a vertically polarized antenna and a horizontally polarized antenna, unit elements corresponding to the vertically polarized antennas can be stacked in multiple stages and horizontally polarized elements forming the horizontally polarized antenna can be stacked in multiple stages. The number of the stages of the horizontally polarized elements to be stacked is preferably from 15 to 25.
In the wideband antenna of this invention including a vertically polarized antenna and a horizontally polarized antenna, electromagnetic coupling may occur between a unit element corresponding to the vertically polarized antenna and a C-shape horizontally polarized element forming the horizontally polarized antenna. In this case, antenna characteristics might be affected. By setting the arc angle of an arc-like parasitic element at about 90 degrees or more and less than 180 degrees, effects on the horizontally polarized antenna can be alleviated while the antenna characteristics of the vertically polarized antenna are maintained.
Each of a hot element and an earth element forming a unit element of the wideband antenna according to this invention has an electrical length responsive to a usable frequency band. This electrical length is generally set at a quarter of the wavelength of the center frequency of the usable frequency band, for example. In this case, a physical length is determined in consideration of a wavelength shortening rate determined by using the dielectric constant of a substrate. A parasitic element has a length that broadens a frequency band if the parasitic element is provided adjacent to a dipole antenna formed of a hot element and an earth element.
In the wideband antenna of the eleventh embodiment, hot elements in two pairs differing in length between the pairs and earth elements in two pairs differing in length between the pairs are provided in each stage in such a manner that the hot elements and the earth elements extend along the opposite edges of a substrate in the longitudinal direction and that the hot elements and the earth elements face each other. In this way, a unit element is caused to operate at three frequencies. This unit element may be applied as a unit element of a different embodiment to make the unit element of this different embodiment operate at three frequencies.
In the wideband antenna of this invention according to each of the aforementioned embodiments, a tilt angle is eight degrees. Alternatively, the tilt angle may be any angle (such as three or five degrees, for example).
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-147645 | Jul 2015 | JP | national |
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5594455 | Hori | Jan 1997 | A |
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Number | Date | Country |
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5048012 | Oct 2012 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170033472 A1 | Feb 2017 | US |