Communication apparatus

• US 10,862,217 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2017
• Issued: 12/08/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Kasahara, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Jimmy T
• Application Number:
  US16/346,583
• Publication Number:
  US 20190260135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 7/082 Microstripline resonators H01P7/088 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/02 Waveguide horns
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/065 provided with a flange or a choke
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/0086 said selective devices having materials with a synthesized negative refractive index, e.g. metamaterials or left-handed materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/02 Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 15/08 formed of solid dielectric material
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/06 using refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens radome H01Q1/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/062 for focusing

Abstract

According to the present invention, provided is a communication apparatus including a radiation source (10) that radiates an electromagnetic wave, and a first phase control plate (11) that is disposed at a position of a distance L₁ in a radio wave radiation direction from the radiation source (10). In the first phase control plate (11), a phase of a transmitted electromagnetic wave differs according to a distance from a representative point on the first phase control plate (11). The radiation source (10) is able to supply power up to a position separated from the representative point on the first phase control plate (11) by L₁/2.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a radiation source that radiates an electromagnetic wave; and

a first phase control plate that is disposed at a position of a distance L₁ in a radio wave radiation direction from the radiation source,

wherein, in the first phase control plate, a phase of a transmitted electromagnetic wave differs according to a distance from a representative point on the first phase control plate, and

wherein the radiation source is able to supply power up to a position separated from the representative point on the first phase control plate by L₁/2.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first phase control plate reduces a phase delay amount between an incidence surface and an emission surface from the representative point toward an edge of the first phase control plate.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the radiation source comprises

a slot opening that has a rectangular shape which is open in a disposition direction of the first phase control plate, and

a conductive plate that connects a long side of the slot opening to a surface of the first phase control plate.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a conductive plate that connects a short side of the slot opening having a rectangular shape to the surface of the first phase control plate.

5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the radiation source includes a slot opening that has a rectangular shape which is open in a disposition direction of the first phase control plate, and

wherein a length of a diameter of a conductive plate in which the slot opening is formed, orthogonal to a long side of the slot opening, is ten times or less the length of the long side of the slot opening.

6. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second phase control plate that is located between the radiation source and the first phase control plate,

wherein, in the second phase control plate, a phase of a transmitted electromagnetic wave differs according to a distance from a representative point on the second phase control plate.

7. The communication apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the first phase control plate reduces a phase delay amount between an incidence surface and an emission surface from the representative point on the first phase control plate toward an edge of the first phase control plate, and

wherein the second phase control plate increases a phase delay amount between an incidence surface and an emission surface from the representative point on the second phase control plate toward an edge of the second phase control plate.

8. The communication apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the first phase control plate or the second phase control plate is configured by two-dimensionally arranging a plurality of types of unit structures configured to include metals, and

wherein a unit structure group deviating phases of transmitted electromagnetic waves by an identical amount surrounds the periphery of the representative point.

9. The communication apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein each of a plurality of types unit structure groups deviating phases of transmitted electromagnetic waves by different amounts surrounds the representative point.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 8,

wherein a difference in a phase amount deviated between unit structures of the unit structure group deviating phases of transmitted electromagnetic waves by an identical amount is 45 degrees or less.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein each of the first phase control plate and the second phase control plate is configured with a plurality of metal pattern layers.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein the metal pattern layers are meta-surfaces.

13. The communication apparatus according to claim 6,

wherein the first phase control plate or the second phase control plate is a dielectric lens.

14. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first phase control plate is located in a direction in which the radiation source radiates an electromagnetic wave, and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction.

15. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the first phase control plate has a split ring structure.

16. The communication apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein a distance between the radiation source and the first phase control plate is shorter than a diameter of the first phase control plate.