ANTENNA ARRAY MADE FROM A DIELECTRIC MATERIAL

Abstract

An antenna array has a signal distribution region and a signal emission region. The signal distribution region has a distribution body made from a dielectric material which converts an information signal, fed into an infeed side thereof, into a spatially distributed signal distribution on an opposite distribution side. The signal emission region has a plurality of signal emission elements distributed over the distribution side. The signal emission elements protrude from the distribution body. At least one signal emission element has a phase shift region, in which a phase shift material with an electrically influenceable permittivity is arranged in the signal emission element. By applying a phase shift voltage between at least one pair of electrodes, the permittivity of the phase shift material is influenced and thereby the propagation speed of an electromagnetic signal in the phase shift region is changed.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. An antenna array (1), comprising: a signal distribution region (2) and a signal emission region (4), the signal distribution region (2) having a distribution body (3) made from a dielectric material that converts an information signal, fed into the distribution body (3) on an infeed side (7), into a spatially distributed signal distribution on a distribution side (9) opposite the infeed side (7), wherein the signal emission region (4) has a plurality of signal emission elements (5) adjoining the distribution side (9) of the distribution body (3) and distributed over the distribution side (9) relative to one another, wherein the signal emission elements (5) protrude from the distribution body (3) starting from the distribution side (9) of the distribution body (3) and include emission ends (11) formed on protruding ends thereof, wherein at least one signal emission element (5) has a phase shift region (10) in which a phase shift material (13) with an electrically influenceable permittivity is arranged in the signal emission element (5), wherein two pairs of electrodes (15), each arranged opposite one another, are arranged so as to surround the phase shift material (13), wherein the electrically influenceable permittivity of the phase shift material (13) is influenced by applying a phase shift voltage between at least one pair of the electrodes (15) and thereby a propagation speed of an electromagnetic signal in the phase shift region (10) is changed before the information signal fed into the distribution body (3) at the infeed side (7) is emitted by the signal emission elements (5).

11. The antenna array (1) according to claim 10, wherein a cavity (12) extending away from the distribution side (9) of the distribution body (3) is formed in the phase shift region (10) of the at least one signal emission element (5), in which cavity the phase shift material (13) is arranged.

12. The antenna array according to claim 10, wherein the at least one signal emission element (5) has a rectangular cross-sectional area in the phase shift region (10), such that the electrodes (15) arranged in pairs opposite one another are arranged on flat side wall surfaces (14) of the at least one signal emission element (5) in the phase shift region (10).

13. The antenna array (1) according to claim 10, wherein each signal emission element (5) has a tapered emission end (11).

14. The antenna array (1) according to claim 10, wherein each signal emission element (5) is a separately manufactured component and is connected to the distribution body (3) via a connection interface.

15. The antenna array (1) according to claim 10, wherein the distribution body (3) has a cuboid distribution region (6).

16. The antenna array (1) according to claim 10, wherein a signal infeed element (18) is arranged on the infeed side (7) of the distribution body selectively at different infeed positions arranged in a distributed manner over the infeed side (7) and connected to the infeed side (7) of the distribution body (3) in such a manner that the information signal is fed from the signal infeed element (18) into the distribution body (3).

17. The antenna array (1) according to claim 16, wherein the distribution body (3) has a plurality of infeed contact interfaces on the infeed side (7), in which a signal infeed element (18) can be brought into contact with the distribution body (3) transmitting the information signal.

18. The antenna array (1) according to claim 10, wherein the phase shift material (13) is an electrically influenceable liquid crystal material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an antenna array made from a dielectric material with a signal distribution region and with a signal emission region in which four signal emission elements are arranged, each with a phase shift region.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a sectional view along line II-II in FIG. 1 through a signal emission element of the antenna array shown in FIG. 1,

[0026] FIG. 3 is a sectional view in accordance with FIG. 2 through a differently designed signal emission element.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the antenna array shown in FIG. 1 with indicated signal transmission paths for an information signal fed centrally at an infeed side to the individual signal emission elements.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view in accordance with FIG. 4 with indicated signal transmission paths for an information signal fed in at an upper edge of an infeed side to the individual signal emission elements.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a view of an end face of the antenna array shown in FIG. 1 with a matrix of 4×4 signal emission elements arranged at a distance from one another.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view through an individual signal emission element.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view through a signal emission element with a different design.

[0032] FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view through a signal emission element in turn with a different design.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] An exemplary antenna array 1 as shown schematically in a sectional view in FIG. 1 has a signal distribution region 2 with a distribution body 3 made from a dielectric material and a signal emission region 4 with a plurality of signal emission elements 5.

[0034] The distribution body 3 has a cuboid distribution region 6 and an infeed region 8 tapering towards an infeed side 7. At the infeed side 7, an information signal can be fed into the distribution body 3 via an infeed element 18. The distribution body 3 is manufactured in one piece from a suitable dielectric material, for example Rexolite® 1422 made by C-Lec Plastics Inc. However, the distribution body 3 could also be assembled from several separately fabricated components, for example for the cuboid distribution region 6 and for the tapering infeed region 8, or assembled or connected in a suitable manner.

[0035] The signal emission elements 5 arranged in the signal emission region 4 are arranged on a distribution side 9 of the distribution body 3, in such a manner that the respective adjacent signal emission elements 5 are regularly spaced apart relative to one another. The signal emission elements 5 are also formed of a dielectric material. This can be the same dielectric material as the signal distribution region 2. In such a case, the signal distribution region 2 and the signal emission region 4 or the distribution body 3 and the individual signal emission elements 5 can be formed in one piece. However, the signal distribution elements 5 can also be manufactured separately and can be made from another suitable dielectric material.

[0036] In each signal emission element 5, a phase shift region 10 and an emission end 11 are formed. In the phase shift region 10, the signal emission element 5 has a cavity 12 that is filled with a suitable phase shift material 13, which can have a variable permittivity as a function of an electric field in the cavity 12. For example, a phase shift material 13 suitable for many applications is an electrically influenceable liquid crystal material whose permittivity can assume significantly different values as a function of an electric field.

[0037] Electrodes 15 made from an electrically conductive material are respectively arranged on opposite outer surfaces 14 of the signal emission element 5. The electrodes 15 can be deposited metal layers or metal elements, which are electrically conductively connected in pairs to a phase shift voltage device (not shown), such that a phase shift voltage can be applied between opposing electrodes 15. The electrodes 15 could also be arranged at a possibly small distance from the outer surfaces 14 of the signal emission element 5, in order to avoid undesired interference with the electromagnetic waves propagating in the signal emission element.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows an example of the arrangement of two pairs of electrodes 15 formed to be flat in the circumferential direction around a signal emission element 5 with a square cross-sectional area. Thereby, the individual electrodes 15 are connected over their entire surface to an associated outer surface 14. FIG. 3 shows a comparable arrangement of electrodes 15 around a signal emission element 5, wherein the signal emission element 5 has a circular cross-sectional area and the individual electrodes 15 are each formed as a circular segment in the circumferential direction and are arranged at a distance from one another in pairs opposite one another.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the antenna array 1 already shown in FIG. 1. An information signal fed to the infeed side 7 and the respective signal paths 16 of the electromagnetic waves of the information signal propagating in the distribution body 3 are illustrated. As a result of superimpositions of the individual wave fronts, discrete intensity maxima, which are coupled into the signal emission elements 5 adjacent to the distribution body 3 at the distribution side 9, or whose electromagnetic waves propagate into the signal emission elements 5, are created at the distribution side 9 of the distribution body 3. The individual signal paths 16 have a slightly different signal path length from the infeed side 7 to the distribution side 9 of the distribution region 2. This results in a comparatively small phase shift of the wave fronts of the electromagnetic waves propagating in the adjacent signal emission elements 5. Such signal path lengths or the resulting phase shifts are predetermined by the shape of the distribution body 3 and the infeed of the information signal. By arranging the signal emission elements 5 as symmetrically as possible and a center arrangement of the infeed position of the information signal on the infeed side 7, the effects of phase shifts on the path to the individual signal emission elements 5 can be minimized. In order to support the most focused and directed superimposition possible of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the signal emission elements 5, the slight phase shifts caused by the different signal path lengths can be compensated for by different dimensions of the signal emission elements 5 adapted thereto.

[0040] By applying a phase shift voltage to the electrodes 15 on a signal emission element 5, the permittivity of the relevant phase shift material 13 in the cavity 12 of the signal emission element 5, and thus the dielectric properties of the phase shift region 10, can be influenced and altered such that a desired phase shift in the electromagnetic waves propagating along the phase shift region 10 of the signal emission element 5 up to the emission end 11 is generated. For each signal emission element 5, an individually predetermined phase shift can be generated when the respective electrodes 15 are suitably controlled. The electromagnetic signals emitted by the individual signal emission elements 5 are superimposed and form an emission maximum of the greatest signal intensity in a signal propagation direction. The signal propagation direction can be precisely predetermined through a suitable specification of the individual phase shifts. With phase shifts of up to a in the individual signal emission elements 5, the signal propagation direction can be changed and predetermined within an angular range of ±45° or even of up to ±60° and more.

[0041] In this manner, by applying suitable phase shift voltages to the individual signal emission elements 5, the signal propagation direction can be predetermined, wherein a controlled or regulated alignment or tracking of the signal propagation direction is possible. No mechanical components or actuators are required to change the signal propagation direction.

[0042] In FIG. 5 shows the antenna array 1 as in FIG. 4 with an infeed of the information signal on the infeed side 7 that differs from FIG. 4. The information signal is fed by the infeed element 18 not centrally, but at an edge region of the distribution body 3. FIG. 5 also shows schematic signal paths 16 for the electromagnetic waves of the information signal propagating in the distribution body 3. The signal path lengths of the individual signal paths 16 differ significantly from the signal path lengths of the central infeed of the information signal shown in FIG. 4. This results in a significantly different phase shift of the individual electromagnetic waves that couple into and propagate through the signal emission elements 5.

[0043] The phase shifts in the individual signal emission elements 5 caused by the spatially different infeed of the information signal via the infeed side 7 can also be used to change the signal emission direction. With a suitable embodiment of the antenna array 1, different signal propagation directions of the electromagnetic signals emitted from the signal emission elements 5 can be set solely by different infeed positions of the information signal at the infeed side 7 of the distribution body 3. It is considered particularly advantageous if different infeed positions for the information signal are combined with different phase shifts in the phase shift regions 10 of the individual signal emission elements 5.

[0044] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of one end face of the antenna array 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The signal emission elements 5 projecting from the distribution side 9 of the distribution body 3 are arranged in matrix form in a regular arrangement of 4×4 signal emission elements 5 in a manner distributed over the distribution side 9. Other base areas of the distribution side 9 of the distribution body 3, for example circular, oval or polygonal base areas, are also conceivable. The individual signal emission elements 5 can also be arranged irregularly in a manner distributed over the distribution side 9.

[0045] FIGS. 7 to 9 show exemplary different embodiments or shapes of different signal emission elements 5, each in a sectional view. The signal emission element 5 shown in FIG. 7 has a comparatively long phase shift region 10 and, in contrast, a significantly shorter emission end 11. The cavity 12 in the phase shift region 10 is surrounded by comparatively thick sidewalls 17.

[0046] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the phase shift region 10 is significantly shorter than in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. On the other hand, the emission end 11 is significantly longer and even longer than the phase shift region 10.

[0047] With the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the cavity 12 is surrounded by side walls 17 that are designed to be essentially thinner than in the embodiments shown above. The emission end 11 has a tapered region with curved contours.