Apparatus and assembling method of a dual polarized agile cylindrical antenna array with reconfigurable radial waveguides

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9490535-B2
Application number	US-201414319884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 30, 2014
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments are provided for an agile antenna that beamsteers radio frequency (RF) signals by selectively activating/de-activating tunable elements on radial-waveguides using direct current (DC) switches. The agile antenna device comprises a first radial waveguide structure encased in a first frame, a first line feed connected to the first waveguide structure, a second encased radial waveguide structure similar and coupled to the first waveguide structure. The two waveguide structures include the tunable elements controlled by the DC switches. A second line feed is connected to the second waveguide structure. The two line feeds provide the RF signal to the antenna. The antenna device also includes a plurality of radiating elements positioned between the first radial waveguide structure and the second radial waveguide structure, and distributed radially around a circumference of the first radial waveguide structure and a circumference of the second radial waveguide structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An antenna device comprising:
a first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure;
a first line feed connected at substantially a center of a surface of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure;
a second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure coupled to the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, wherein the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure is substantially parallel to and faces the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure;
a second line feed connected at substantially a center of a surface of the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, wherein the first line feed of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure faces the second line feed of the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure;
a plurality of radiating elements positioned between the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, and distributed radially around a circumference of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and a circumference of the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure; and
a plurality of direct current (DC) switches coupled to the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, and configured to switch selected tunable elements in a plurality of tunable elements in the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure.

2. The antenna device of claim 1 , wherein each one of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure comprises:
a first radial plate connected to one of the first line feed and the second line feed;
a second radial plate substantially in parallel with the first radial plate on an opposite side from the one of the first line feed and the second line feed; and
a plurality of conductive elements connected to the plurality of tunable elements and positioned vertically between the first radial plate and the second radial plate, and interspersed horizontally between the first line feed and the radiating elements.

3. The antenna device of claim 2 further comprising:
a first radial frame enclosing the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, the first radial frame comprising a conductive gasket positioned around an inside wall of the first radial frame and in contact with the first radial plate and the second radial plate of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure; and
a second radial frame enclosing the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, the second radial frame comprising a second conductive gasket positioned around an inside wall of the second radial frame and in contact with the first radial plate and the second radial plate of the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure.

4. The antenna device of claim 2 wherein the plurality of DC switches are configured to activate and deactivate the selected tunable elements in the plurality of tunable elements in the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure simultaneously, wherein activation or deactivation of the DC switches directs propagation and beamsteering of a radio frequency (RF) signal.

5. The antenna device of claim 4 , wherein each one of the DC switches is connected to a corresponding grouping of the tunable elements.

6. The antenna device of claim 2 , wherein the tunable elements include at least one of PIN diodes and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS).

7. The antenna device of claim 1 , wherein the first line feed and the second line feed are coupled to a radio frequency (RF) signal source.

8. An antenna device comprising:
a first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure;
a first radial frame enclosing the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure
a second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure substantially parallel to and facing the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure;
a second radial frame enclosing the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, wherein the second radial frame is coupled substantially in parallel to the first radial frame;
a plurality of radiating elements positioned between the first radial frame and the second radial frame, and distributed radially around a circumference of the first radial frame and a circumference of the second radial frame, wherein the radiating elements are connected to the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and to the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure through the second radial frame; and
a plurality of direct current (DC) switches coupled to the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure, and configured to switch selected tunable elements in a plurality of tunable elements in the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure.

9. The antenna device of claim 8 further comprising a conductive gasket positioned around an inside inner wall of each one of the first radial frame and the second radial frame.

10. The antenna device of claim 9 , wherein each one of the first radial frame and the second radial frame comprises:
a plurality of cylindrical holders distributed radially around a circumference of an outer surface of each one of the first radial frame and the second radial frame;
one or more frame alignment markers on the outer surface;
a plurality of slots distributed radially around the circumference and configured to fit edge probes at endings of the radiating elements; and
guide ribs on both sides of each one of the slots, the guide ribs configured to hold the radiating elements vertical to each outer surface.

11. The antenna device of claim 10 , wherein each one of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure and the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure comprises:
a first radial plate connected to the radiating elements through one of the first radial frame and the second radial frame;
a second radial plate substantially in parallel with the first radial plate, wherein the first radial plate and the second radial plate are in contact with the conductive gasket; and
a plurality of metallic posts connected to the plurality of tunable elements and positioned vertically between the first radial plate and the second radial plate, and interspersed horizontally between substantially a center of the second radial plate and the radiating elements.

12. The antenna device of claim 8 further comprising:
a first line feed connected at substantially a center of a surface of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure through the first radial frame;
a first coaxial cable connected to the first line feed and connected to a radio frequency (RF) signal source through an opening between the radiating elements;
a second line feed connected at substantially a center of a surface of the second reconfigurable radial waveguide structure through the first radial frame; and
a second coaxial cable connected to the second line feed and connected to the RF signal source through the opening between the radiating elements.

13. The antenna device of claim 12 further comprising:
a first multi-pin cable connected, via a connector, to the surface of the first reconfigurable radial waveguide structure through the first radial frame, and connected, through an opening between the radiating elements, to the plurality of DC switches and a controller; and
a second multi-pin cable connected, via a second connector, to the sur

Assignees

• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Boutayeb Halim
• Watson Paul Robert
• Kemp Toby

Classifications

• H01Q3/24 Primary

  varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching · CPC title

• H01Q21/20

  the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path {(slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062)} · CPC title

• H01Q15/14

  Reflecting surfaces; Equivalent structures {(electromagnetic shields H01Q1/526)} · CPC title

• H01Q21/0037

  linear waveguide fed arrays · CPC title

• H01Q3/446

  the radiating element being at the centre of one or more rings of auxiliary elements · CPC title