Antenna and network device

• US 10,573,958 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2019
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wang, Naibiao, Xiao, Weihong
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US16/455,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20190319343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 243 Days
• Field of Search: 4555621
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/127 Strip line switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 25/002 providing at least two patterns of different beamwidth; Variable beamwidth antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/247 by switching different parts of a primary active element
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/38 the phase-shifters being digital
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

An array antenna and a network device are provided. The array antenna includes n radiating elements, a power splitter or a phase shifter, and a switching switch. The power splitter or the phase shifter includes n output ends and m input ends. The switching switch includes m first ports, K second ports, and a switch element, where the m first ports are respectively connected to the m input ends; and the K second ports are configured to couple an input signal. The switch element is configured to switch a connection relationship between the m first ports and the K second ports, so as to selectively output the input signal to at least one first port.

Claims

1. An antenna, comprising:

n radiating elements;

a power splitter or a phase shifter, comprising n output ends and m input ends, wherein the n output ends are respectively connected to the n radiating elements, and any one of the m input ends is connected to at least one of then output ends; and

a switching switch, comprising m first ports, K second ports, and a switch element, wherein the m first ports are respectively connected to the m input ends;

the K second ports are configured to couple an input signal; and

the switch element is configured to switch a connection relationship between the m first ports and the K second ports, so as to selectively output the input signal to at least one first port, wherein

n and m are integers greater than 1, and K is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

2. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the switch element comprises p fixed strips and q movable strips;

and

ends of m fixed strips in the p fixed strips act as the m first ports, the q movable strips are selectively connected to the p fixed strips, and m≤

p.

3. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein the switch element further comprises a pull rod, and the pull rod is connected to at least one of the q movable strips.

4. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein the q movable strips are selectively connected to the p fixed strips in an electrical manner or capacitive coupling manner.

5. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein both the p fixed strips and the q movable strips are metal strips or copper foil strips of a printed circuit board (PCB).

6. The antenna according to claim 2, wherein ends of K fixed strips in the p fixed strips act as the K second ports, and K≤

p.

7. The antenna according to claim 6, wherein the p fixed strips comprise a first fixed strip to a fourth fixed strip, wherein the first fixed strip, the second fixed strip, and the fourth fixed strip are respectively connected to first input end, second input end, and third input end, and an end of the third fixed strip acts as the second port;

and the q movable strips comprise a first movable strip to a third movable strip; and

that the q movable strips are selectively connected to the p fixed strips is specifically;

the first movable strip is connected to the first fixed strip and the third fixed strip;

or

the second movable strip is connected to the first fixed strip and the second fixed strip, and the third movable strip is connected to the third fixed strip and the fourth fixed strip.

8. The antenna according to claim 7, wherein the n output ends comprise a first output end to a sixth output end, and the m input ends comprise the first input end to the third input end, wherein

the first input end is connected to the first output end;

the second input end is connected to the second output end, the third output end, the fourth output end, the fifth output end, and the sixth output end; and

the third input end is connected to the second output end, the third output end, the fourth output end, the fifth output end, and the sixth output end.

9. The antenna according to claim 6, wherein the p fixed strips comprise a first fixed strip to a fifth fixed strip, wherein the first fixed strip to the fourth fixed strip are respectively connected to first input end to fourth input end, and an end of the fifth fixed strip acts as the second port;

and the q movable strips comprise a first movable strip to a fifth movable strip; and

that the q movable strips are selectively connected to the p fixed strips is specifically;

the third movable strip is connected to the first fixed strip and the fifth fixed strip;

or

the second movable strip is connected to the first fixed strip and the second fixed strip, and the fifth movable strip is connected to the third fixed strip and the fifth fixed strip;

or

the first movable strip is connected to the first fixed strip and the second fixed strip, and the fourth movable strip is connected to the third fixed strip, the fourth fixed strip, and the fifth fixed strip.

10. The antenna according to claim 9, wherein the n output ends comprise a first output end to a sixth output end, and the m input ends comprise the first input end to the fourth input end, wherein

the first input end is connected to the first output end;

the second input end is connected to the second output end and the third output end;

the third input end is connected to the second output end and the third output end; and

the fourth input end is connected to the fourth output end, the fifth output end, and the sixth output end.

11. The antenna according to claim 1, wherein the n radiating elements are sequentially arranged in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction.