Reconfigurable Antenna and Communications Device
20220158344 · 2022-05-19
Inventors
Cpc classification
H01Q21/20
ELECTRICITY
H01Q1/2291
ELECTRICITY
H01Q3/24
ELECTRICITY
Y02D30/70
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
H01Q21/29
ELECTRICITY
H01Q3/446
ELECTRICITY
International classification
H01Q3/24
ELECTRICITY
H01Q21/26
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
A reconfigurable antenna includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna is an omnidirectional antenna, and the second antenna surrounds the first antenna. The second antenna includes a plurality of antenna element groups. Each antenna element group includes a transmission cable, a switch, a first antenna element, and a second antenna element. The transmission cable is connected to the first antenna element and the second antenna element. The transmission cable is connected to a feedpoint. The switch is connected to a first point and a second point on the transmission cable. A sum of a length of antennas and transmission cables in an antenna element group is slightly greater than ½ wavelength (λ.sub.1), where λ.sub.1 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of the first antenna.
Claims
1. A reconfigurable antenna, comprising: a first antenna, wherein the first antenna is an omnidirectional antenna; and a second antenna that surrounds the first antenna, wherein the second antenna comprises a plurality of antenna element groups, and wherein each antenna element group in the antenna element groups comprises: a transmission cable comprising a first end and a second end; a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to a first point on the transmission cable and to a second point on the transmission cable; and two antenna elements coupled to the transmission cable, wherein the two antenna elements comprise a first antenna element and a second antenna element, wherein the first end is connected to the first antenna element, wherein the second end is connected to the second antenna element, wherein a sum of a length from a third end of the first antenna element to a connection point between the first antenna element and the first end, a length from the first end to the first point, a length from the second end to the second point, and a length from a fourth end of the second antenna element to a connection point between the second antenna element and the second end slightly greater than ½π.sub.1, and wherein λ.sub.1 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of the first antenna.
2. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, wherein a sum of lengths of the two antenna elements is 0.5λ.sub.2-1.2λ.sub.2, and wherein λ.sub.2 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of the second antenna.
3. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, wherein a distance between the first antenna and each of the first antenna element and the second antenna element is 0.2λ.sub.1-0.3λ.sub.1.
4. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, further comprising a feedpoint coupled to the transmission cable, wherein the feedpoint is connected to any position on the transmission cable, and wherein a distance between the feedpoint to the first end is the same as a distance between the feedpoint to the second end.
5. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, wherein a shape of each antenna element group is an arc, and wherein elements in each of the antenna element groups surround the first antenna to form a circle.
6. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, wherein a distance between a center of the reconfigurable antenna to each of the first antenna element and the second antenna element is 0.5λ.sub.2-0.7λ.sub.2, and wherein λ.sub.2 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of the second antenna.
7. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, wherein the antenna element groups comprise four antenna element groups.
8. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed on the substrate.
9. The reconfigurable antenna of claim 1, wherein a shape of the first antenna is a circle.
10. A communications device, comprising: a radio frequency circuit; and a reconfigurable antenna coupled to the radio frequency circuit, wherein the reconfigurable antenna comprises: a first antenna, wherein the first antenna is an omnidirectional antenna; and a second antenna that surrounds the first antenna, wherein the second antenna comprises a plurality of antenna element groups, and wherein each antenna element group in the antenna element groups comprises: a transmission cable comprising a first end and a second end; a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to a point on the transmission cable and to a second point on the transmission cable; and two antenna elements coupled to the transmission cable, wherein the two antenna elements comprise a first antenna element and a second antenna element, wherein the first end is connected to the first antenna element, wherein the second end is connected to the second antenna element, wherein a sum of a length from a third end of the first antenna element to a connection point between the first antenna element and the first end, a length from the first end to the first point, a length from the second end to the second point, and a length from a fourth end of the second antenna element to a connection point between the second antenna element and the second end is slightly greater than 1/2λ.sub.1, and.
11. The communication device of claim 10, wherein a sum of lengths of the two antenna elements is 0.5λ.sub.2-1.2λ.sub.2, and wherein λ.sub.2 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of the second antenna.
12. The communication device of claim 10, wherein a distance between the first antenna and each of the first antenna element and the second antenna element is 0.2λ.sub.1-0.3λ.sub.1.
13. The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a feedpoint coupled to the transmission cable, wherein the feedpoint is connected to any position on the transmission cable, and wherein a distance between the feedpoint to the first end is the same as a distance between the feedpoint to the second end.
14. The communication device of claim 10, wherein a shape of each antenna element group is an arc, and wherein elements in each of the antenna element groups surround the first antenna to form a circle.
15. The communication device of claim 10, wherein a distance between a center of the reconfigurable antenna to each of the first antenna element and the second antenna element is 0.5λ.sub.2-0.7λ.sub.2, and wherein λ.sub.2 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of the second antenna.
16. The communication device of claim 10, comprising four antenna element groups.
17. The communication device of claim 10, further comprising a substrate, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna are disposed on the substrate.
18. The communication device of claim 10, wherein a shape of the first antenna is a circle.
19. An antenna, comprising: a plurality of antenna element groups, wherein each antenna element group in the antenna element groups comprises: a transmission cable comprising a first end and a second end; a switch, wherein the switch is coupled to a first point on the transmission cable and to a second point on the transmission cable; and two antenna elements coupled to the transmission cable, wherein the two antenna elements comprise a first antenna element and a second antenna element, wherein the first end is connected to the first antenna element, wherein the second end is connected to the second antenna element, wherein a sum of a length from a third end of the first antenna element to a connection point between the first antenna element and the first end, a length from the first end to the first point, a length from the second end to the second point, and a length from a fourth end of the second antenna element to a connection point between the second antenna element and the second end of the transmission cable is slightly greater than ½λ.sub.1, and wherein λ.sub.1 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave of an operating frequency received at the antenna.
20. The antenna of claim 19, wherein a sum of lengths of the two antenna elements is 0.5λ.sub.2-1.2λ.sub.2, and wherein λ.sub.2 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of the antenna.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0027] To make objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following further describes this application with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0028] Reference signs: 10: first antenna; 100: first antenna element group; 110: third antenna element; 120: first transmission cable; 130: first feedpoint; 20: second antenna; 200: antenna element group; 210: first antenna element; 220: transmission cable; 230: feedpoint; 240: switch; 250: second antenna element; and 30: substrate.
[0029] To facilitate understanding of a reconfigurable antenna in this application, a principle of the antenna is described. A Yagi antenna is used as an example. The Yagi antenna includes three pairs of antenna elements, the three pairs of antenna elements are disposed in parallel, and the three pairs of antenna elements are all disposed on a metal beam. An antenna element connected to a feeder is referred to as an active antenna element or a main antenna element that is located in the middle of the three pairs of antenna elements. An antenna element slightly longer than the active antenna element is referred to as a reflector. The reflector is on one side of the active antenna element, and is used to weaken an electromagnetic wave transmitted from the direction of the reflector or an electromagnetic wave transmitted from this antenna to the reflector.
[0030] The main antenna element is equal to a half wavelength, the reflector is slightly longer than the half wavelength, and two antenna elements are spaced by a quarter wavelength. In this case, a director is “capacitive” to an induction signal whose current is advanced by 90 degrees (°) relative to a voltage. An electromagnetic wave induced by the director is radiated to the main antenna element. A radiation signal is lagged by 90° after passing through a quarter-wavelength path. This exactly cancels out the “advance” caused above. Phases of electromagnetic fields of the director and the main antenna element are the same. Therefore, signals are superimposed for enhancement. The reflector is slightly longer than the half wavelength and has inductive reactance, where a current is lagged by 90°. In addition, there is another 90° lag in a process of radiation to the main antenna element. They are added to obtain 180°. This has a cancellation function. Enhancement is performed in a direction, and weakening is performed in another direction such that superdirectivity is obtained. A function and a process in a transmit state are similar.
[0031] Generally, the reconfigurable antenna can radiate an omnidirectional beam, a high-density beam, and a directional beam. When the reconfigurable antenna presents 360° uniform radiation on a horizontal plane, and an included angle between a maximum radiation direction on a pitch plane and a downward direction perpendicular to the antenna is 70° to 80°, the reconfigurable antenna radiates the omnidirectional beam. When the included angle between the maximum radiation direction on the pitch plane of the reconfigurable antenna and the downward direction perpendicular to the antenna is decreased to enable beams to be concentrated in a relatively small coverage area, the reconfigurable antenna radiates the high-density beam. The high-density beam may reduce an overlapping area between two adjacent Wi-Fi devices to reduce interference and noise. When the reconfigurable antenna no longer presents 360° uniform radiation on the horizontal plane, but presents directivity, the reconfigurable antenna radiates the directional beam. Referring to
[0032] Therefore, this application provides a reconfigurable antenna that can be switched among the omnidirectional mode, the directional mode, and the high-density mode to respectively radiate the omnidirectional beam, the directional beam, and the high-density beam.
[0033] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, with reference to accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, the following further describes the reconfigurable antenna provided in this application.
[0034] Terms used in the following embodiments are merely intended to describe specific embodiments, but are not intended to limit this application. The terms “one”, “a”, “the”, “the foregoing”, “this”, and “the one” of singular forms used in this specification and the appended claims of this application are also intended to include plural forms such as “one or more”, unless otherwise specified in the context clearly.
[0035] Reference to “an embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or the like described in this specification indicates that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described with reference to the embodiments. Therefore, in this specification, statements, such as “in an embodiment”, “in some embodiments”, “in some other embodiments”, and “in other embodiments”, that appear at different places do not necessarily mean referring to a same embodiment, instead, they mean “one or more but not all of the embodiments”, unless otherwise emphasized in other ways. The terms “include”, “comprise”, “have”, and variants of the terms all mean “include but are not limited to”, unless otherwise emphasized in other ways.
[0036] In the embodiments provided in this application, the reconfigurable antenna has three modes: the omnidirectional mode, the directional mode, and the high-density mode such that the reconfigurable antenna can be switched among the omnidirectional mode, the directional mode, and the high-density mode based on an application scenario of the reconfigurable antenna. This reduces a quantity of antennas and a space usage of the antenna.
[0037] First, λ.sub.1 and λ.sub.2 are described, where λ.sub.1 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of a first antenna, and λ.sub.2 is a wavelength of an electromagnetic wave on an operating frequency of a second antenna.
[0038] Further, in
[0039] It should be noted that both the first antenna 10 and the second antenna 20 may be integrated on a substrate 30.
[0040] Still referring to
[0041] Still referring to
[0042] It should be noted that the transmission cable 220 may have another type of form. Forms of the first conductor and the second conductor that are included in the transmission cable 220 may be different, and the first conductor and the second conductor may be curves that are symmetrically disposed, provided that the transmission cable 220 can implement sufficient impedance matching.
[0043] In an embodiment, there may be two, three, four, five, or six antenna element groups 200. Further, in
[0044] With reference to
[0045] The switch 240 may be a diode.
[0046] It should be noted that, to adjust a size obtained after the first antenna element and the second antenna element in each antenna element group are connected and a size of the reflector as which the first antenna element and the second antenna element are used, both the switch and the feedpoint that are located on the transmission cable may be adjusted relative to a position of the transmission cable during assembly, the feedpoint is disposed between the switch and the second antenna element, and the switch and the feedpoint do not overlap.
[0047] Referring to
[0048] In a solution, there may be three, four, five, or six first antenna element groups 100. When three first antenna element groups 100 are configured, the three first antenna element groups 100 may be disposed in a circular shape, and the three first antenna element groups 100 may further be rotationally symmetric with respect to a center of a circle. In this case, the third antenna element 110 in each first antenna element group 100 may be disposed in an arc shape. When four first antenna element groups 100 are configured, the four first antenna element groups 100 may be disposed in a circular, rectangular, or rhombic shape. In this case, the third antenna element in each first antenna element group may be disposed in a linear shape.
[0049] It should be noted that when three first antenna element groups are disposed, three antenna element groups may be disposed, and the antenna element groups are distributed in a one-to-one correspondence with the first antenna element groups in a radial direction of the substrate. Alternatively, when three first antenna element groups are disposed, four antenna element groups may be disposed. Quantity configuration requirements of the first antenna element group and the antenna element group are not limited, provided that the reconfigurable antenna can be switched among the omnidirectional mode, the directional mode, and the high-density mode.
[0050] Still referring to
[0051] Still referring to
[0052] It should be noted that a position of the first feedpoint on the first transmission cable is adjustable to adjust signal radiation strength of the first antenna.
[0053] Still referring to
[0054] With reference to
[0055] Referring to
[0056] This application further provides a communications device, where the communications device has the reconfigurable antenna in any one of the foregoing technical solutions. The communications device may be further configured as a base station or a Wi-Fi device.
[0057] The foregoing descriptions are merely implementations of this application, but are not intended to limit the protection scope of this application. Any variation or replacement readily figured out by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application shall fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this application shall be subject to the protection scope of the claims.