Phase shifter assembly having rack-driven wiper supports therein

Abstract

A phase shifter assembly includes first and second phase shifters that respectively include a wiper printed circuit board and a rotatable wiper support, where the wiper printed circuit board and the wiper support are coupled in motion. The phase shifter assembly further comprises: a U-shaped bracket having first and second arms, where the first phase shifter is held on the first arm, and the second phase shifter is held on the second arm; and a rack that is linearly movably supported and is drivable to move linearly; wherein the slide holders has a tooth portion respectively, and the tooth portions are engaged with the common rack. By means of linear movement of the rack, the slide holders can be rotated respectively, and thus the slides are movable within a predetermined range respectively so as to implement phase shifts.

Claims

1. A phase shifter assembly, comprising: first and second wiper supports configured to rotate about their respective first and second pivot axes, said first and second wiper supports comprising respective first and second pluralities of teeth extending along respective first and second arcuate-shaped portions thereof, said first and second arcuate-shaped portions located closer to distal ends of the corresponding first and second wiper supports relative to the respective first and second pivot axes, which extend adjacent proximal ends of the corresponding first and second wiper supports; a rack having first and second spaced-apart rows of teeth thereon that are configured to be engaged with the first and second pluralities of teeth, respectively, so that linear motion of said rack causes a rotational movement of the first and second wiper supports relative to their corresponding first and second pivot axes; an arm and a first support leg extending at an angle from a first side of the arm; a main printed circuit board on the arm; and a first set of conductor guiding portions adjacent a first side of the main printed circuit board such that first conductors received by the first set of conductor guiding portions and soldered to the first side of the main printed circuit board pass into an opening in the first support leg.

2. The phase shifter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of teeth protrude radially outwardly relative to the first pivot axis; wherein the second plurality of teeth protrude radially outwardly relative to the second pivot axis; and wherein the first and second rows of teeth extend along respective first and second portions of said rack that are not collinear.

3. The phase shifter assembly of claim 1, further comprising first and second main printed circuit boards extending opposite the first and second wiper supports, respectively.

4. The phase shifter assembly of claim 3, further comprising first and second wiper printed circuit boards coupled to the first and second wiper supports, respectively.

5. The phase shifter assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a second support leg extending at an angle from a second side of the arm; and a second set of conductor guiding portions adjacent a second side of the main printed circuit board such that second conductors received by the second set of conductor guiding portions and soldered to the second side of the main printed circuit board pass into an opening in the second support leg.

6. The phase shifter assembly of claim 5, wherein the first support leg includes a first lip at a distal end thereof; wherein the second support leg includes a second lip at a distal end thereof; and wherein the arm, and the first and second support legs, including the first and second lips, are formed from an integral sheet of metal by punching and/or bending.

7. The phase shifter assembly of claim 1, wherein the first wiper support has a wiper printed circuit board fixedly mounted thereon; and wherein a clip is provided to bias the wiper printed circuit board against the main printed circuit board.

8. A phase shifter assembly, comprising: first and second wiper supports configured to rotate about their respective first and second pivot axes, said first and second wiper supports comprising respective first and second pluralities of teeth extending along respective first and second arcuate-shaped portions thereof, said first and second arcuate-shaped portions located closer to distal ends of the corresponding first and second wiper supports relative to the respective first and second pivot axes, which extend adjacent proximal ends of the corresponding first and second wiper supports; a rack having first and second spaced-apart rows of teeth thereon that are configured to be engaged with the first and second pluralities of teeth, respectively, so that linear motion of said rack causes a rotational movement of the first and second wiper supports relative to their corresponding first and second pivot axes; a multi-part bracket including: (i) an arm, (ii) a first support leg, having a first opening therein, extending at an angle from a first side of the arm, and (iii) a second support leg, having a second opening therein, extending at an angle from a second side of the arm; and first and second sets of conductor guiding portions extending adjacent the first and second openings in the first and second support legs, respectively.

9. A phase shifter sub-assembly, comprising: first and second wiper supports configured to rotate about their respective first and second pivot axes, said first and second wiper supports comprising respective first and second pluralities of teeth extending along respective first and second arcuate-shaped portions thereof, said first and second arcuate-shaped portions located closer to distal ends of the corresponding first and second wiper supports relative to the respective first and second pivot axes, which extend adjacent proximal ends of the corresponding first and second wiper supports; and wherein said first and second wiper supports are responsive to a rack having first and second spaced-apart rows of teeth thereon that are configured to be engaged with the first and second pluralities of teeth, respectively, so that, upon assembly, linear motion of said rack causes a rotational movement of the first and second wiper supports relative to their corresponding first and second pivot axes; a multi-part bracket including: (i) an arm, (ii) a first support leg, having a first opening therein, extending at an angle from a first side of the arm, and (iii) a second support leg, having a second opening therein, extending at an angle from a second side of the arm; and first and second sets of conductor guiding portions extending adjacent the first and second openings in the first and second support legs, respectively.

10. The phase shifter sub-assembly of claim 9, further comprising first and second main printed circuit boards extending opposite the first and second wiper supports, respectively.

11. The phase shifter sub-assembly of claim 9, wherein the first and second rows of teeth extend along respective first and second portions of said rack that are not collinear with each other.

12. The phase shifter sub-assembly of claim 9, wherein the first support leg includes a first lip at a distal end thereof; wherein the second support leg includes a second lip at a distal end thereof; and wherein the arm, and the first and second support legs, including the first and second lips, are formed from an integral sheet of metal by punching and/or bending.

13. The phase shifter sub-assembly of claim 9, further comprising a main printed circuit board on the arm, and a wiper printed circuit board on the first wiper support; and wherein the wiper printed circuit board is biased against the main printed circuit board.

14. A phase shifter assembly, comprising: first and second wiper supports configured to rotate about their respective first and second pivot axes, said first and second wiper supports comprising respective first and second pluralities of teeth extending along respective first and second arcuate-shaped portions thereof; a rack having first and second rows of teeth thereon that are configured to be engaged with the first and second pluralities of teeth, respectively, so that linear motion of said rack causes concurrent rotational movement of the first and second wiper supports relative to their corresponding first and second pivot axes; an arm and a first support leg extending at an angle from a first side of the arm; a main printed circuit board on the arm; and a first set of conductor guiding portions adjacent a first side of the main printed circuit board such that first conductors received by the first set of conductor guiding portions and soldered to the first side of the main printed circuit board pass into an opening in the first support leg; wherein the first row of teeth within said rack engage with the first plurality of teeth at a location closer to a distal end of the first wiper support relative to the first pivot axis, which extends adjacent a proximal end of the first wiper support; and wherein the second row of teeth within said rack engage with the second plurality of teeth at a location closer to a distal end of the second wiper support relative to the second pivot axis, which extends adjacent a proximal end of the second wiper support.

15. The phase shifter assembly of claim 14, further comprising first and second main printed circuit boards extending opposite the first and second wiper supports, respectively.

16. The phase shifter assembly of claim 15, wherein rotational movement of the first wiper support relative to the first main printed circuit board induces a phase shift within a first phase shifter; wherein rotational movement of the second wiper support relative to the second main printed circuit board induces a phase shift within a second phase shifter; wherein the first plurality of teeth protrude radially outwardly relative to the first pivot axis; and wherein the second plurality of teeth protrude radially outwardly relative to the second pivot axis.

17. A phase shifter assembly, comprising: first and second wiper supports configured to rotate about their respective first and second pivot axes, said first and second wiper supports comprising respective first and second pluralities of teeth extending along respective first and second arcuate-shaped portions thereof; a rack having first and second rows of teeth thereon that are configured to be engaged with the first and second pluralities of teeth, respectively, so that linear motion of said rack causes concurrent rotational movement of the first and second wiper supports relative to their corresponding first and second pivot axes; a multi-part bracket including: (i) an arm, (ii) a first support leg, having a first opening therein, extending at an angle from a first side of the arm, and (iii) a second support leg, having a second opening therein, extending at an angle from a second side of the arm; and first and second sets of conductor guiding portions extending adjacent the first and second openings in the first and second support legs, respectively; wherein the first row of teeth within said rack engage with the first plurality of teeth at a location closer to a distal end of the first wiper support relative to the first pivot axis, which extends adjacent a proximal end of the first wiper support; and wherein the second row of teeth within said rack engage with the second plurality of teeth at a location closer to a distal end of the second wiper support relative to the second pivot axis, which extends adjacent a proximal end of the second wiper support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a phase shifter assembly in an assembled state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the phase shifter assembly shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the wiper support of the phase shifter assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a phase shifter assembly with a shielding member in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a phase shifter assembly in an assembled state in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the phase shifter assembly shown in FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the wiper support of the phase shifter assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(6) The phase shifter assembly according to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a U-shaped bracket 1 having a first arm 3, a second arm 4 and a bottom edge 5 connecting the first arm 3 and the second arm 4. The U-shaped bracket 1 may be constructed in one piece, or may also consist of a plurality of parts. The first and second arms 3, 4 may have the same length or may have different lengths. Here, the bracket 1 is, for example an integral sheet of metal formed member by punching and/or bending.

(7) The first phase shifter 11 is disposed on the first arm 3 of the bracket 1, and the second phase shifter 12 is disposed on the second arm 4 of the bracket 1. The first and second phase shifters are arranged to overlap with each other. The first and second phase shifters respectively include a main printed circuit board fastened to the bracket 1 by screws, wiper supports 15, 16 rotatably supported on the respective main printed circuit boards, and wiper printed circuit boards 13, 14 that are fixedly mounted on the respective wiper supports 15, 16. The wiper supports 15, 16 respectively include tooth portions 17, 18. The wiper printed circuit boards 13, 14 abut against predetermined areas of the respective main printed circuit boards.

(8) The rack 2 of the phase shifter assembly may also be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rack 2 has a front surface that faces the bracket 1 and a back surface that is opposite the front surface. The rack 2 has guiding grooves on its back surface for guiding the rack 2 in a linearly movable manner. The rack 2 has one or more tooth portions on its front surface which may correspond to the tooth portions 17, 18 of the wiper supports 15, 16. When the phase shifter assembly is assembled, the tooth portions 17, 18 of the wiper supports may be engaged with the tooth portions of the rack 2. The rack 2 can be driven to move linearly. For example, the rack 2 may be driven linearly by a stepper motor. The rack 2 may be supported, for example, on a separate rack holder (not shown), and the rack holder may be fixed to a housing of the base station antenna. As an alternative, the rack 2 may also be supported directly on the housing, or the housing itself may include the rack holder.

(9) When the rack 2 is driven, for example, by a stepper motor, the rack 2 moves linearly, and the wiper supports 15, 16 are driven to rotate, so that the wiper printed circuit boards 13, 14 rotate with respect to the respective main printed circuit boards, thereby implementing the phase shifts.

(10) In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two wiper supports 15, 16 are respectively supported so as to enable rotational movements that are independent of each other, and a joint rotational movement by engagement with the common rack 2. Alternatively, the two wiper supports 15, 16 may be connected so as to be fixed to each other with respect to rotational movement, and only one of the wiper supports 15, 16 has a tooth portion which is engaged with the rack 2. In such an embodiment, when the rack 2 moves linearly, a first of the wiper supports 15, 16 rotates, and the second of the wiper supports 15, 16 is forced to rotate in tandem with the first of the wiper supports 15, 16. In addition, it is also possible that, the tooth portion is disposed on a common rotary shaft of the two wiper supports 15, 16, for example centrally disposed between the two wiper supports 15, 16. It is self-evident that, more tooth portions may be additionally provided in order to achieve a better force transfer from the rack 2 to each of the wiper supports 15, 16. Such modification also falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

(11) In the embodiments shown, the two wiper supports 15, 16 are each provided with an integral tooth portion, and thus each wiper support 15, 16 and the respective tooth portion are rotation-fixed. It is also possible that each tooth portion is constructed as a separate member that is connected to the respective wiper support 15, 16 so that rotation of a tooth portion results in a corresponding rotation of the respective wiper support 15, 16.

(12) The bracket 1 includes a plurality of sets of conductor guiding portions 19. For example, a set of conductor guiding portions 19 may be provided at each side of each of the main printed circuit boards (for a total of four sets of conductor guiding portions 19). Each conductor guiding portion 19 may be implemented, for example, as a clip or other structure that receives a respective conductor. A plurality of conductors (not shown) such as, for example, coaxial cables, may be soldered to each main printed circuit board, and each conductor guiding portion 19 may receive a respective one of these coaxial cables. A support leg 20 projects substantially in a perpendicular manner, respectively at both ends of the second arm 4 of the bracket 1 in a longitudinal direction. Each support leg 20 includes a lip 22 that is provided with screw holes, for fastening the bracket 1 to the housing (not shown) by screws.

(13) As can best be seen in FIG. 1, the first and second arms 3, 4 of the U-shaped bracket are separated by a gap 25. Many wiper arm phase shifters include a clip that is used to bias the wiper printed circuit board to press against the main printed circuit board. This may facilitate providing consistent coupling of sub-components of an RF signal between the wiper printed circuit board and the main printed circuit board of the wiper arm phase shifter. One side of the clip typically engages the wiper support or the wiper printed circuit board, while the other side of the clip engages main printed circuit board or a support plate (e.g., a piece of sheet metal) on which the main printed circuit board may be mounted.

(14) If two wiper arm printed circuit boards are mounted on opposite sides of a support plate, it may be difficult to use the above-described support clips. For example, if a support clip is added to the phase shifter mounted on an upper surface of the support plate, the bottom portion of the clip will need to extend below the support plate. However, in this position, the support clip may interfere with operation of the phase shifter that is mounted on the lower surface of the support plate.

(15) By providing the U-shaped bracket 1 having first and second arms 3, 4 that are separated by a gap 25, it is possible to mount the phase shifters on two different arms, each of which serves as a respective support plate. Accordingly, a clip may be used with each phase shifter to bias the wiper printed circuit board to press against the main printed circuit board, since the clip for a first phase shifter will not get in the way of operation of the second phase shifter. The gap 25 also spaces the sets of conductor guiding portions 19 for the first phase shifter from the sets of conductor guiding portions 19 for the second phase shifter.

(16) As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the first phase shifter may face in a first direction (e.g., upwardly) while the second phase shifter may face in the opposite direction (e.g., downwardly). This may simplify assembly of the phase shifter assembly, particularly in embodiments in which the U-shaped bracket 1 is a single-piece (monolithic) bracket.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a phase shifter assembly with a shielding member 21 in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. In addition to the shielding member 21, other members of the phase shifter assembly may be constructed identically or similarly to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The shielding member 21 is fastened by screws outside the two phase shifters.

(18) Finally, it is to be noted that, the above-described embodiments are merely for understanding the present invention but do not constitute a limit on the protection scope of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, changes may be made on the basis of the above-described embodiments, and these changes do not depart from the protection scope of the present invention. The technical features recited in the present application can be arbitrarily combined as long as such combinations are not contradictory to each other, and all of these combinations are the technical contents recited in the present application.