Circuitry

Abstract

A circuitry for feeding an antenna structure includes an input for LHCP signals, an input for RHCP signals as well as four antenna outputs. In addition, the circuitry includes first, second and third quadrature hybrids as well as at least two delay lines. The first quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the input side, to the first and second inputs and is coupled, on the output side, to the second and third quadrature hybrids. The second quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to two of the four antenna outputs, the third quadrature hybrid being coupled, on the output side, to two further ones of the four antenna outputs. The at least two delay lines are arranged at two of the four antenna outputs.

Claims

1. Circuitry for feeding an antenna structure, comprising: a first input for LHCP signals, a second input for RHCP signals; four antenna outputs; a first quadrature hybrid; second and third quadrature hybrids, and at least two delay lines; wherein the first quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the input side, to the first and second inputs and is coupled, on the output side, to the second and third quadrature hybrids, wherein the second quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to two of the four antenna outputs, and wherein the third quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to two further ones of the four antenna outputs; wherein the at least two delay lines are arranged at two of the four antenna outputs; the circuitry comprising fourth and fifth quadrature hybrids connected in series, the fourth quadrature hybrid being connected, on the input side, to the second quadrature hybrid and to the third quadrature hybrid.

2. Circuitry as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to the first of the four antenna outputs, and the third quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to the fourth of the four antenna outputs.

3. Circuitry as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first, second and third quadrature hybrids each comprise two inputs.

4. Circuitry as claimed in claim 3, wherein one of the two inputs of the second quadrature hybrid is coupled to a termination resistor, and wherein one of the two inputs of the third quadrature hybrid is coupled to a further termination resistor.

5. Circuitry as claimed in claim 1, wherein each quadrature hybrid comprises two outputs, the second quadrature hybrid being configured to generate a phase offset of 0 degrees at one of the two outputs and to generate a phase offset of 90 degrees at the other of the two outputs.

6. Circuitry as claimed in claim 5, the circuitry comprising two delay lines arranged such that one of the two delay lines connects the output, offset by 90 degrees, of the second quadrature hybrid to one of the four antenna outputs, whereas the other of the two delay lines connects the output, offset by 90 degrees, of the third quadrature hybrid to a further one of the four antenna outputs.

7. Circuitry as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fourth quadrature hybrid is connected to outputs, offset by 0 degrees in each case, of the second and third quadrature hybrids.

8. Circuitry as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fifth quadrature hybrid is connected, on the output side, to the second and third of the four antenna outputs.

9. Circuitry as claimed in claim 8, the circuitry comprising two further delay lines arranged between the fifth quadrature hybrid and the second of the four antenna outputs and between the fifth quadrature hybrid and the third of the four antenna outputs, respectively.

10. Circuitry as claimed in claim 1, the circuitry being configured to be operated in the RHCP mode and in the LHCP mode.

11. Circuitry as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the RHCP mode, the second quadrature hybrid is configured to obtain, from the first quadrature hybrid, a signal offset by 90 degrees by the first quadrature hybrid, and the third quadrature hybrid is configured to obtain, from the first quadrature hybrid, a signal offset by 0 degrees by the first quadrature hybrid; wherein in the LHCP mode, the third quadrature hybrid is configured to obtain, from the first quadrature hybrid, a signal offset by 90 degrees by the first quadrature hybrid, and the second quadrature hybrid is configured to obtain, from the first quadrature hybrid, a signal offset by 0 degrees by the first quadrature hybrid.

12. Circuitry as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the RHCP mode, the first input is terminated by means of a termination resistor, and wherein in the LHCP mode, the second input is terminated by means of a termination resistor.

13. Antenna arrangement comprising: an antenna structure comprising four feeding points; a circuitry for feeding an antenna structure, comprising: a first input for LHCP signals, a second input for RHCP signals; four antenna outputs; a first quadrature hybrid; second and third quadrature hybrids, and at least two delay lines; wherein the first quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the input side, to the first and second inputs and is coupled, on the output side, to the second and third quadrature hybrids, wherein the second quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to two of the four antenna outputs, and wherein the third quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to two further ones of the four antenna outputs; wherein the at least two delay lines are arranged at two of the four antenna outputs; the circuitry comprising fourth and fifth quadrature hybrids connected in series, the fourth quadrature hybrid being connected, on the input side, to the second quadrature hybrid and to the third quadrature hybrid, the four outputs being connected to the four feeding points of the antenna structure.

14. Circuitry for feeding an antenna structure, comprising: a first input for LHCP signals, a second input for RHCP signals; four antenna outputs; a first quadrature hybrid; second and third quadrature hybrids, and at least two delay lines; wherein the first quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the input side, to the first and second inputs and is coupled, on the output side, to the second and third quadrature hybrids, wherein the second quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to two of the four antenna outputs, and wherein the third quadrature hybrid is coupled, on the output side, to two further ones of the four antenna outputs; wherein a first of the at least two delay lines is arranged at an output of the second quadrature hybrid and a second of the at least two delay lines is arranged at an output of the third quadrature hybrid.

15. Circuitry according to claim 14, wherein the first, the second and the third quadrature hybrids are identical.

16. Circuitry according to claim 14, wherein the first, the second and the third quadrature hybrids are 90 degree quadrature hybrids.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments of the present invention will be detailed subsequently referring to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a circuitry for four-point feeding in accordance with a basic embodiment;

(3) FIGS. 2a, 2b show schematic diagrams for illustration by means of transmission parameters of the circuitry of FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 3a-c show schematic block diagrams of circuitries in accordance with extended embodiments;

(5) FIGS. 4a, 4b show schematic block diagrams for illustrating the different modes (RHCP and LHCP) with the circuitry of FIG. 3a;

(6) FIGS. 4c, 4d show schematic diagrams for illustrating the transmission parameters of the circuitry of FIG. 3a;

(7) FIGS. 5a, 5b show schematic representations of antennas for operation with a circuitry of FIG. 1a, of FIG. 3a, 3b or 3c in accordance with embodiments;

(8) FIG. 5c shows four schematic, normalized directional diagrams for illustrating the radiation pattern when using the novel feeding network in accordance with the above embodiments;

(9) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the GNSS signals in the L band; and

(10) FIGS. 7a-7i show schematic block diagrams and diagrams for discussing conventional technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(11) Before embodiments of the present invention will be explained below by means of the accompanying drawings, it shall be noted that elements and structures which are identical in action are provided with identical reference numerals so that their descriptions are interchangeable and/or mutually applicable.

(12) FIG. 1 shows a circuitry 10 comprising two inputs 10e1 and 10e2 as well as four outputs 10a1 to 10a4. The circuitry 10 further comprises three quadrature hybrids 12 to 16 in total. The first quadrature hybrid 12 is arranged on the input side, i.e. at the inputs 10e1 and 10e2, whereas the third and fourth quadrature hybrids 14 and 16 are arranged on the output side.

(13) The quadrature hybrids 14 and 16 are directly coupled, with one of their inputs (14e1 and 16e1, respectively) to the outputs 12a1 and 12a2 of the first quadrature hybrid 14. In detail, the second quadrature hybrid 14 connects the output 12a1 of the first quadrature hybrid to the output 10a1 and to the output 10a3, whereas the third quadrature hybrid 16 couples the output 12a2 of the first quadrature hybrid 12 to the outputs 10a2 and 10a4. The second inputs 14e2 and 16e2, respectively, are terminated via a termination resistor (e.g. 50 ohm and 50 ohm system).

(14) In this embodiment, a delay line 7 having a specific length on which the delay depends is provided between the second quadrature hybrid 14 and the third antenna output 10a1 as well as between the third quadrature hybrid 16 and the second antenna output 10a1, respectively. Coupling of the antenna outputs 2 and 3, or 10a2 and 10a3, is effected via the quadrature hybrid outputs 14a2 and 16a2, respectively, which are phase-offset by 90 degrees, with the interconnected delay line 7. The antenna outputs 1 and 4, or 10a1 and 10a4, are directly connected via the zero-degree quadrature hybrid outputs 14a1 and 16a1, respectively.

(15) Depending on whether an LHCP signal is applied across the input 10e1 (formed across the quadrature hybrid input 12e1) or an RHCP signal is applied across the input 10e2 (formed across the quadrature hybrid input 12e1), the feeding network depicted here may be operated in the RHCP mode or in the LHCP mode, as will be explained below. In accordance with embodiments, the respectively other input 12e1 and 12e2 will then be terminated with a termination resistor accordingly. For example, if an RHCP signal is applied across the inputs 10e2 and 12e2, respectively, said signal will be phase-offset by 90 degrees by the quadrature hybrid 12 at the input 12a1, said signal then being forwarded, on the one hand, by the quadrature hybrid 14, directly to the output 10a1 by means of the output 14a1 and being forwarded, on the other hand, to the delay line 7 (90 degrees delay) via the output 14a2 in a manner in which it is phase-offset by another 90 degrees. Said delay line will perform a further phase offset, so that as a result, a signal phase-offset by 270 degrees will be applied at the output 10a3. The second bundle of signals starting from the first quadrature hybrid 12 extends, across the input 12a2, which is phase-offset by 0 degrees, to the third quadrature hybrid 16, which forwards the signal without any delay at the 0-degrees output 16a1 to the antenna output 10a4, the signal being forwarded to the delay element 7 (90 degrees delay) across the 90-degrees output 16a2 of the quadrature hybrid 16. Said delay element 7 performs repeated delay, so that a signal delayed by 180 degrees will then be applied at the second antenna output 10a2. In the LHCP mode (application of a signal at the input 10e1 and 12e1, respectively), the phase shifts present at the outputs 12a1 and 12a2 are reversed, namely so that the output 12a1 forms the 0-degrees output, and the output 12a2 forms the 90-degrees output. As a result, a signal phase-offset by 90 degrees (phase offset caused by the first quadrature hybrid 12) will then be applied at the output 10a4, a signal phase-offset by 180 degrees (phase offset caused by the second quadrature hybrid 14 and the delay line 7) will be applied at the output 10a3, a signal phase-offset by 270 degrees (phase offset of 90 degrees caused by the delay line 7, phase offset of 90 degrees caused by the third quadrature hybrid 16, and phase offset of 90 degrees caused by the first quadrature hybrid 12) will be applied at the output 10a2, and a signal offset in phase by 0 degrees will be applied at an output 10a1 (forwarding across 0-degrees output at 12 and 14). All in all, the arrangement 10 as well as the wiring of its components 7, 12, 14 and 16 as well as 10a1 to 10a4 may be regarded as being symmetric. It shall be noted here that reverse application of RHCP to 10e1 and of LHCP to 10e2 would also be possible, of course.

(16) Due to its symmetry, the architecture 10 is also suitable for feeding dual circular polarized antennas. If one assumes that broad-band hybrids 12, 14 and 16 are employed, correspondingly large bandwidths, specifically with regard to the shape of the directional characteristic and cross-polarization suppression, may also be achieved. In this context, please refer to the diagrams of FIGS. 2a and 2b, for example.

(17) FIG. 2a shows the magnitude, plotted across the frequency, whereas FIG. 2b shows the phase plotted across the frequency. As can be seen, the magnitudes of the antenna out-puts, which are designated by reference numerals S31 to S61, are constant, which enables broadbandedness as compared to the above-explained diagram 7i. S21 illustrates coupling between the inputs 10e1 and 10e2 (between −25 and −38 dB, i.e. insulation between +25 and +28 dB).

(18) FIG. 3a shows a further circuitry 10′ comprising the inputs 10e1, 10e2 as well as the outputs 10a1 to 10a4. The circuitry 10′ comprises the two quadrature hybrids 12, 14 and 16 as well as two additional quadrature hybrids 18 and 20, which are coupled to the outputs 14a1 and 16a1 (phase outputs of zero in each case) with the inputs 18e1 and 18e2 of the fourth quadrature hybrid 18. The fifth quadrature hybrid 20 is coupled, with its inputs 20e1 and 20e2, to the outputs 18a1 and 18a2. In terms of the connection between the second and first quadrature hybrids 14, 12 and the third and first quadrature hybrids 16 and 12, respectively, please refer to the explanations given within the context of the embodiment of FIG. 1. By analogy with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the inputs 14e2 and 16e2 are terminated by means of termination resistors 5. On the output side, the quadrature couplers 14 are coupled to the outputs 10a1 and 10a4 via a delay line 7′, respectively, which here may be, e.g., a 180-degrees delay line (ideally, if θ.sub.0=0). Conversely, the outputs 10a2 and 10a3 are connected directly to the outputs 20a1, 20a2. As compared to the circuitry 10 of FIG. 1, the circuitry 10′ is supplemented by a cross coupler made of two cascaded hybrids. Just like the four-point feeding network of FIG. 1, said variant offers the possibility of supplying a broad-band GNSS antenna via four feeding points in the RHCP and LHCP modes. This more complex circuit 10′ will advantageously be employed when the circuit variant 10 cannot be readily used, e.g. in the event of an aperture-coupled antenna comprising an annular slot. Consequently, for some applications the slightly more complex feeding network arrangement 10′ is the better choice.

(19) FIG. 3b shows a feeding network 10″ (intermediate step, narrow-band implementation), which is essentially comparable to the feeding network 10′, specifically with regard to the quadrature hybrids 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20. The difference consists in that the delay elements 7′ are arranged at the outputs 10a2 and 10a3 rather than at the outputs 10a1 and 10a4. It shall be noted at this point that, again, 180-degrees delay elements (represents the ideal case, if θ.sub.0=0) are employed here.

(20) FIG. 3c shows a further feeding network topology 10′″, which is comparable to the feeding network topology 10″; however, delay lines 7′″, here 360-degrees delay lines, are provided at the outputs 10a1 and 10a4. Said delay lines serve to achieve additional runtime compensation, which is advantageous, in particular, for broad-band operation of such cross-coupled, cascaded hybrids. The feeding network topology 10′″ is equivalent to 10′, all four delay lines being shortened by (180°-2θ.sub.0), respectively.

(21) In FIGS. 4a and 4b, the RHCP mode as well as the LHCP mode are illustrated on the basis of the circuit topology 10′ of FIG. 3a. In the RHCP mode (cf. FIG. 4a), the signal is received via the input 12e2, whereas the input 12e1 is terminated by means of the termination resistor 5. The RHCP signal will then be phase-shifted by 90 degrees, respectively, at the output 12a1 as well as at the output 14a1, and is phase-shifted by 180 degrees at the delay element 7′ so as to then be output, at the output 10a1, as a 63-degrees signal. At the output 14a2 it will be available as a signal phase-shifted by 90 degrees and will then be output, on the basis of having been offset twice by the hybrids 18 and 20, at the output 10a3 as a 180-degrees signal. The signal provided as 0 degrees at the output 12a2 is supplied to the hybrids 18 and 20 as a 0-degree signal and is output, after a one-off phase shift, as a 90-degrees signal at the output 10a2. Said 0-degree signal of the output 12a2 is provided, in a phase-shifted manner, as a signal phase-shifted by 90 degrees by the hybrid 16 at the output 16a2 and will be made available, following phase-shifting by the element 7′, at the output 10a4 as a 270-degrees signal. This results in a right hand signal as is illustrated by the arrows.

(22) FIG. 4b illustrates the LHCP mode, wherein the LHCP signal is maintained at the input 12e1. Here, the input 12e2 is terminated by the termination resistor 5. On the basis of this signal, a phase shift by 0 degrees occurs at the output 12a1, a phase shift of 90 degrees occurs at the output 14a1, and a further phase shift by 180 degrees is effected by the delay element 7′, so that the signal is then provided at the output 10a1 as a 270-degrees signal. The signal of the output 12a1 is forwarded as a 0-degree signal to the input 14a2 and will then be made available to the output 10a3 as a 90-degrees signal after having been phase-shifted once. The hybrid 12 forwards the signal to the output 12a2 as a 90-degrees signal, which will then also be provided to the hybrids 18 and 20 at the output 16a1 as a 90-degrees signal. By means of said hybrids 18 and 20, a further 90-degrees phase-shift occurs, so that a 180-degrees signal will be applied at the output 10a2. At the output 10a4, a 360-degrees signal will be applied which is composed by the fact that the signal at the output 12a2 undergoes a 90-degrees phase shift and will undergo a further 90-degrees phase shift at the output 16a2. By means of the delay element 7′ at the output 10a4, an additional shift by 180 degrees is effected. As is illustrated by this case, what is at hand as a result of this wiring is a right-hand drive.

(23) In FIGS. 4c and 4d, the resulting transmission characteristics for the RHCP mode (cf. FIG. 4a) of the circuitry of FIG. 3a are illustrated. As can be seen by means of FIG. 4c, the amplitude at the outputs 10a1 to 10a4 is almost constant across the frequency range considered. Also, the phases at the outputs decrease in a linear manner; at the output 10a2, a phase jump by 360 degrees occurs at the frequency of 1.35 GHz.

(24) The above-illustrated switching networks 10, 10′, 10″, 10′″ may all be implemented within or outside an annular slot and may be implemented, for example, on two-sided circuit boards. FIGS. 5a and 5b show two representations in an active dual circular polarized GNSS antenna comprising a feeding network 10′ on the bottom side (cf. FIG. 5b). The antenna includes a ground disc 100, a centrally arranged batwing radiator 102 which is attached opposite the ground plane 100 via four folded-down corners 102e. Additionally, the ground plane 100 also comprises parasitic elements 104 surrounding the batwing radiator 102. The antenna system depicted here firstly exhibits an extended bandwidth with regard to impedance matching, additionally enables better decoupling of the gates, shape of the directional characteristic, cross-polarization suppression and phase-center stability. In addition, more-over, the four-point feeding network is compact, as is clearly seen in FIG. 5b, in particular. Due to the positive HF properties, simple and mechanically stable radiator configurations which may be produced at low cost are possible (e.g. broad-band batwing radiators as are depicted here in FIG. 5a) (without any large-expenditure balun networks).

(25) Every antenna depicted in FIG. 5a is fully polarimetric. As becomes clear, in particular, when comparing FIG. 5c, which represents the normalized directional diagrams of the GNSS antenna comprising a switching network in accordance with an embodiment (RHCP path) for a feeding network in accordance with embodiments, with the diagrams of FIG. 5c, the feeding-network variant in accordance with embodiments exhibits slightly improved polarization properties.

(26) Fields of application for above-illustrated feeding networks are two-gate GNSS antennas for positioning operations, for measurements and navigation, such as the radiator concept of [2], for example. However, generally, all GNSS signals within the L band (cf. FIG. 6) are supported. Possible implementations are dual transceivers (combined RHCP and LHCP operation), but also transceivers for individually operating RHCP only. In this case, the LHCP output is terminated by means of an adapted load. Likewise, LHCP operation only is feasible, in which case the RHCP input will be terminated by means of a load.

(27) It shall be noted here in terms of the above embodiments that the above-illustrated delay elements 7, 7′, 7′″, or the delay lines 7, 7′, 7′″, may exhibit different delays, in each case as a function of the argument θ.sub.0, such as, e.g., 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 360 degrees or any other delay. Here, the delay is determined, in accordance with embodiments, by the length of the delay line.

(28) In above embodiments, it was discussed, with regard to arranging the delay lines, that said delay lines may be arranged either at the outputs 10a1 and 10a4 or 10a2 and 10a3 or at all four outputs 10a1-10a4. Other pairs of combinations would also be feasible.

(29) In accordance with embodiments, the above-explained switching networks are configured to be symmetric; each switching network comprising a first path for RHCP signals and a second path for LHCP signals, and each path driving the outputs either on the left (LHCP) with a 90-degrees phase offset, or on the right (RHCP) with a 90-degrees phase offset. As a result, a method of operation is provided in accordance with a further embodiment. Said method of operation includes the central step of utilizing at least one of the two possible paths of the feeding network.

(30) Even though some aspects have been described within the context of a device, it is understood that said aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or a structural component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. By analogy therewith, aspects that have been described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding device. Some or all of the method steps may be performed by a hardware device (or while using a hardware device) such as a microprocessor, a programmable computer or an electronic circuit, for example. In some embodiments, some or several of the most important method steps may be performed by such a device.

(31) Depending on specific implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware or in software. Implementation may be effected while using a digital storage medium, for example a floppy disc, a DVD, a Blu-ray disc, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, a hard disc or any other magnetic or optical memory which has electronically readable control signals stored thereon which may cooperate, or cooperate, with a programmable computer system such that the respective method is performed. This is why the digital storage medium may be computer-readable.

(32) Some embodiments in accordance with the invention thus comprise a data carrier which comprises electronically readable control signals that are capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system such that any of the methods described herein is performed.

(33) Generally, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product having a program code, the program code being effective to perform any of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer.

(34) The program code may also be stored on a machine-readable carrier, for example.

(35) Other embodiments include the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein, said computer program being stored on a machine-readable carrier.

(36) In other words, an embodiment of the inventive method thus is a computer program which has a program code for performing any of the methods described herein, when the computer program runs on a computer.

(37) A further embodiment of the inventive methods thus is a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein is recorded.

(38) A further embodiment of the inventive method thus is a data stream or a sequence of signals representing the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may be configured, for example, to be transferred via a data communication link, for example via the internet.

(39) A further embodiment includes a processing means, for example a computer or a programmable logic device, configured or adapted to perform any of the methods described herein.

(40) A further embodiment includes a computer on which the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein is installed.

(41) A further embodiment in accordance with the invention includes a device or a system configured to transmit a computer program for performing at least one of the methods described herein to a receiver. The transmission may be electronic or optical, for example. The receiver may be a computer, a mobile device, a memory device or a similar device, for example. The device or the system may include a file server for transmitting the computer program to the receiver, for example.

(42) In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (for example a field-programmable gate array, an FPGA) may be used for performing some or all of the functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field-programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor to perform any of the methods described herein. Generally, the methods are performed, in some embodiments, by any hardware device. Said hardware device may be any universally applicable hardware such as a computer processor (CPU) or a graphics card (GPU), or may be a hardware specific to the method, such as an ASIC.

(43) While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and compositions of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alterations, permutations and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

REFERENCES

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