Phased-array antenna and method for controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11196172-B2
Application number	US-202016917667-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2020
Priority date	Apr 15, 2020
Publication date	Dec 7, 2021
Grant date	Dec 7, 2021

Abstract

A phased-array antenna and a method for controlling the same are provided. The phased-array antenna includes first and second substrates between which a cavity is formed. Phase-shifting units in the cavity each includes: a power feeder located on a surface of the first substrate facing away from the second substrate and connected to a radio-frequency signal terminal, a radiator located on the surface and insulated from the power feeder, a ground electrode located on a surface of the first substrate facing towards the second substrate. The ground electrode connects to the ground signal terminal and overlaps with the power feeder and the radiator and includes a first and a second openings. A transmission electrode located on a surface of the second substrate facing the first substrate and connects to the control signal line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A phased-array antenna, comprising:
a first substrate;
a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; and
a plurality of phase-shifting units received in a cavity formed between a part of the first substrate and a part of the second substrate that face towards each other, wherein each of the plurality of phase-shifting units comprises:
a power feeder provided on a surface of the first substrate facing away from the second substrate, wherein the power feeder is electrically connected to a radio-frequency signal terminal;
a radiator provided on the surface of the first substrate facing away from the second substrate, wherein the radiator is electrically insulated from the power feeder; and
a ground electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate facing towards the second substrate, wherein the ground electrode is electrically connected to a ground signal terminal, wherein the ground electrode overlaps with both the power feeder and the radiator in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the first substrate, wherein the ground electrode comprises a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is located in an area of the ground electrode where the ground electrode overlaps with the power feeder, and wherein the second opening is located in an area of the ground electrode where the ground electrode overlaps with the radiator;

a transmission electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate facing towards the first substrate, wherein the transmission electrode is electrically connected to one of a plurality of control signal lines; wherein the transmission electrode overlaps with the power feeder, the radiator and the ground electrode in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the first substrate, and the transmission electrode covers the first opening and the second opening in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the second substrate; and
liquid crystal molecules provided between the first substrate and the second substrate.

2. The phased-array antenna according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a feed electrode, wherein the feed electrode comprises a feeder and the plurality of power feeders of the plurality of phase-shifting units, the plurality of power feeders corresponds to the plurality of phase-shifting units in one-to-one correspondence, and the plurality of power feeders is electrically connected to the radio-frequency signal terminal through the feeder.

3. The phased-array antenna according to claim 2 , wherein the first substrate comprises a first phase-shifting region, the second substrate comprises a second phase-shifting region, and the first phase-shifting region and the second phase-shifting region face towards each other to form the cavity; and
wherein the plurality of phase-shifting units is evenly distributed in the cavity, and the plurality of power feeders of the plurality of phase-shifting units is located in a central region of the first phase-shifting region.

4. The phased-array antenna according to claim 2 , wherein the first substrate comprises a first phase-shifting region and a connecting region, the second substrate comprises a second phase-shifting region, the first phase-shifting region and the second phase-shifting region face towards each other to form the cavity, and an edge of the second substrate and the connecting region do not overlap with each other in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the first substrate; and
wherein the feeder is electrically connected to the radio-frequency signal terminal in the connecting region.

5. The phased-array antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transmission electrodes of the plurality of phase-shifting units is electrically connected to the plurality of control signal lines in one-to-one correspondence.

6. The phased-array antenna according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a flexible circuit board on which a plurality of control signal terminals is provided, wherein the plurality of control signal terminals is electrically connected to the plurality of control signal lines in one-to-one correspondence.

7. The phased-array antenna according to claim 6 , wherein the first substrate comprises a first phase-shifting region, the second substrate comprises a second phase-shifting region and a bonding region, the first phase-shifting region and the second phase-shifting region face towards each other to form the cavity, and an edge of the first substrate and the bonding region do not overlap with each other in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the second substrate; and
wherein the plurality of control signal terminals is electrically connected to the plurality of control signal lines in the bonding region.

8. The phased-array antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the transmission electrode comprises a first coupling portion, a signal transmission portion and a second coupling portion, and the signal transmission portion is electrically connected to the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion;
wherein in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the first substrate, the first coupling portion overlaps with the first opening, and the second coupling portion overlaps with the second opening; and
wherein the first coupling portion has a width of L 1 in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the first coupling portion extends, the signal transmission portion has a width of L 2 in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the signal transmission portion extends, and the second coupling portion has a width of L 3 in a direction perpendicular to a direction along which the second coupling portion extends, where L 2 >L 1 and L 2 >L 3 .

9. The phased-array antenna according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a flexible circuit board comprising the ground signal terminal,
wherein each of the plurality of phase-shifting units further comprises a sealant arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, the sealant comprises a first encapsulation portion and a second encapsulation portion that each extend in a first direction, and the first encapsulation portion is arranged at a side of the sealant close to the ground signal terminal; and
wherein the first encapsulation portion is provided with a metal support structure therein, the metal support structure is electrically connected to the ground electrode; and the metal support structure is electrically connected to the ground signal terminal through a connecting line.

10. The phased-array antenna according to claim 9 , wherein the first substrate comprises a first phase-shifting region, the second substrate comprises a second phase-shifting region and a bonding region, the first phase-shifting region and the second phase-shifting region face towards each other to form the cavity, and an edge of the first substrate and the bonding region do not overlap with each other in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the second substrate; and
wherein the connecting line is connected to the ground signal terminal in the bonding region.

11. The phased-array antenna according to claim 9 , further comprising:
a first insulating layer provided at a side of the ground electrode facing away from the first substrate, wherein the first insulating layer is provided with a connecting via; and
an inert conductive layer provided at a side of the first insulating layer facing away from the ground electrode, wherein the inert conductive layer is electrically connected to the ground electrode through the connecting via, and is electrically connected to the metal support structure.

12. The phased-array antenna according to

Assignees

• Shanghai Tianma Micro Elect Co
• Chengdu Tianma Micro Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Xi Kerui
• Cui Tingting
• Jia Zhenyu
• Qin Feng
• Peng Xuhui
• Yang Zuocai

Classifications

• H01Q3/36 Primary

  with variable phase-shifters · CPC title

• H01Q1/50

  Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors · CPC title

• H01Q1/48

  Earthing means; Earth screens; Counterpoises · CPC title

• H01Q1/38

  formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support {(patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface  H01Q15/142)} · CPC title

• G02F1/134309

  characterised by their geometrical arrangement · CPC title