Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to solve the problems of complex driving device, difficult coverage of wave-absorbing materials and the like in the array design of an active array antenna amplitude-phase test system in the prior art, provides a design scheme of a probe array covered by a motor-driven linkage probe and a multilayer staggered wave-absorbing material, and solves the following problems of the traditional multi-probe amplitude-phase test system: (1) the fixed multi-probe array cannot adjust the spacing, the operation of replacing the probe array is difficult, and the compatibility is poor; (2) the adjustable multi-probe array has complex motion drive, a large number of required motors and high control system cost; (3) the multiple probes of the adjustable probe array can generate collision when moving freely; (4) the metal part wave-absorbing material of the probe array is difficult to shield, and influences are caused on the measurement precision.
In order to solve the technical problems, the invention firstly adopts a technical scheme that an adjustable probe array device for active antenna multi-probe amplitude-phase testing is provided, and the adjustable probe array device comprises a plurality of probes and a supporting plate, wherein a hollow probe adjustable area is arranged on the supporting plate, the probe adjustable areas are arranged in an array manner, and one probe is arranged in each probe adjustable area to form a probe array.
As a preferred mode of the present invention, the supporting plate is provided with a cursor for aligning with the antenna unit to be tested.
As a preferred mode of the present invention, the size of the probe adjustable region hollowed out on the support plate is respectively: (px + δ x i) mm and (py + δ y j) mm, wherein i and j are X, Y direction probe counting coordinates respectively, and px and py are X, Y direction probe size sizes respectively; δ x and δ y are the adjustment ranges of the spacing of the probes in the direction X, Y respectively.
As a preferable mode of the invention, the probe is externally wrapped with a wave-absorbing material sleeve.
Further preferably, more than two layers of wave-absorbing materials which are staggered and stacked are sleeved outside the wave-absorbing material sleeve, a hollow area is arranged on the wave-absorbing material, and the wave-absorbing material sleeve is sleeved outside the wave-absorbing material sleeve through the hollow area.
Further preferably, the lower surface of the supporting plate is fixed with a wave-absorbing material for shielding the probe array supporting plate.
In order to further solve the technical problem of the present invention, the present invention further provides a method for active antenna multi-probe amplitude-phase testing, which comprises:
determining the adjustment mode of the probe array in the direction X, Y, and carrying out coordinate counting on the probe;
determining the adjustable area range of each probe in the direction X, Y according to the size of the probe and the distance between the probes:
in the X direction: (px + δ x i); y direction: (py + δ yj);
wherein i and j are respectively X, Y direction probe coordinate counts, px and py are respectively X, Y direction probe size; δ x and δ y are the adjustment ranges of the spacing of the probe in the direction X, Y respectively;
the probes with the same adjusting distance and the same or opposite adjusting directions are subjected to multi-probe linkage and driven by the same motor; and the probes with different adjusting distances are driven by independent motors.
Further preferably, if the one-sided adjustment method is adopted for the X direction or the Y direction, the number of the probe heads is 1, 2, 3 … …, n-1 in order from the fixed probe head coordinate of 0 in the direction;
if a double-side adjustment mode is adopted, then:
when n is an even number, starting from the central coordinate of the direction as 0, the coordinates of the probes on the two sides in the direction are counted as 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 … …, (n-1)/2 in sequence;
when n is an odd number, taking the probe in the middle of the direction as 0, and sequentially counting the coordinates of the probes on the two sides in the direction as 1, 2, … …, (n-1)/2;
n is the number of probes in the direction;
the unilateral adjustment refers to unidirectional adjustment from one fixed side to the other side in a certain direction; the double-sided adjustment refers to adjustment from the middle to two sides in a certain direction.
Compared with the prior art, the invention has the beneficial effects that:
(1) compared with a single-probe mechanical scanning system, the array formed by the N probes can improve the testing efficiency by N times;
(2) according to the characteristic of distance adjustment of each probe in the direction of X, Y, a multi-probe linkage scheme is adopted, compared with the traditional adjustable multi-probe array, the distance adjustment driving is simpler, the number of motors required by a typical 2 x 4 array is reduced from 10 to 3, the compatibility is ensured, the system complexity is reduced, and the system reliability is improved;
(3) the hollow-out integral probe supporting plate structure is adopted, so that the stability is better, and the mutual collision among the probes is avoided;
(4) by adopting a design mode of multilayer staggered wave-absorbing materials, the wave-absorbing materials in the process of adjusting the distance between the probes are fully covered, and the influence on the measurement precision is avoided.
Detailed Description
In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific examples. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete.
The main adjustment requirement of the adjustable probe array is to adapt to active array antennas with different array element distances, taking an existing 5G base station antenna below 6GHz as an example, the array antenna works in a frequency band of 2.6GHz or 3.5GHz, the array element distance is about 0.5 lambda to 0.8 lambda, so the array element distance is usually between 43mm and 90mm, the array elements have different distribution patterns of 8 × 8, 8 × 12, 16 × 16 and the like, and the number of channels and the number of array elements also have a certain corresponding relationship of 1: 1. 1: 3 or 1: 6. the design principle of many probe arrays is with the amplitude and phase data that different array element passageways were obtained through the electronic switch switching to the probe of a certain quantity N to promote N times's efficiency of software testing, but the too much one side of probe quantity can increase the complexity of system, for example the quantity of switch matrix etc. and on the other hand the probe has certain size, and mutual noninterference's placing is also comparatively difficult.
Setting array elements of the antenna array to be tested as M multiplied by N, wherein the array element spacing in the X, Y direction is respectively delta x and delta y; the spacing of the probe array in the direction X, Y is 4 Δ x and 2 Δ y or 3 Δ y respectively (compatible with different channel array element ratios).
According to the type of the antenna to be tested which needs to be compatible, the distance between the probe array and the probe array in the X direction is 172-360 mm, the adjustment range delta X is 360-172 mm-188 mm, the distance between the probe array and the probe array in the Y direction is 86-270 mm, and the adjustment range delta Y is 270-86 mm-184 mm; the adjustment range of each direction can be properly adjusted according to the type of the antenna to be measured which is compatible with the actual requirement.
According to the probe array provided by the invention, the adjustment of the probe in the direction X, Y can be realized by adopting single-side adjustment or double-side adjustment. The one-sided adjustment means adjustment to only one side in a certain direction, for example, adjustment to only left or right is possible in the X direction with reference to a fixed side; in the Y direction, only upward adjustment or only downward adjustment is possible. Bilateral adjustment refers to adjustment from the middle to both sides in a certain direction, for example: the adjustment can be carried out towards the left side and the right side from the middle of the X direction; starting from the middle of the Y direction, the adjustment can be carried out up and down at two sides.
And (3) defining an adjustable area of each probe according to the size of the probe and the distance between the probes: if the probe size X, Y is px and py, and the number of probes is I, J, the size of the adjustable region in the X and Y directions of each probe is (px + δ X i) and (py + δ Y j), respectively, where i and j are the coordinate counts of the probe in the X, Y direction, respectively.
For the X direction or the Y direction, if a unilateral adjustment mode is adopted, the coordinates of the fixed probe in the direction are 0, and the times are sequentially counted as 1, 2, 3 … … and n-1;
if a double-side adjustment mode is adopted, then:
when n is an even number, starting from the central coordinate of the direction as 0, the coordinates of the probes on the two sides in the direction are counted as 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 … …, (n-1)/2 in sequence;
when n is an odd number, taking the probe in the middle of the direction as 0, and sequentially counting the coordinates of the probes on the two sides in the direction as 1, 2, … …, (n-1)/2;
wherein n is I or J, and is the number of probes in the direction.
The range of the range can be expanded by several mm in each direction to ensure the convenience of installation and the flexibility of movement.
Embodiment 1 a first embodiment of the present invention is a 2 × 4 probe array, as shown in fig. 2, including a supporting plate 1, 2 × 4 hollow probe adjustable regions 2 are distributed on the supporting plate 1, and one probe 3 is installed in each adjustable region, so that 8 probes form a 2 × 4 probe array. The cross cursor 4 is installed in the probe array, and the installation position of the cross cursor 4 is different according to different adjustment modes. For example: in the unilateral adjustment mode, the cross cursor is positioned at the center of the fixed probe at one side; in the double-side adjustment mode, the cross cursor is positioned at the center of the directional array, so that the cross cursor can be conveniently aligned with the antenna unit to be tested.
Wherein, the supporting plate 1 provides a supporting function for the probe array, and is generally an aluminum or steel metal plate. In order to strengthen the integral strength of the supporting plate and avoid deformation, a reinforcing rib structure can be added on the supporting plate. For example, reinforcing ribs can be added around the supporting plate 1 to avoid deformation. The hollow parts on the supporting plate are probe movable areas, the motion range of each probe is limited by the hollow parts, and mutual collision between the probes is avoided.
Because the probe can move, the scheme of covering and fixing the wave-absorbing material by adopting the traditional fixed probe array is not feasible. Firstly, wave-absorbing materials are required to block probes, so that mutual coupling signals among the probes are avoided; secondly the metal roof at probe rear portion need shelter from completely, avoids producing the reflection influence to the radiation signal of antenna that awaits measuring, can not appear the gap in addition after the probe adjustment interval.
In order to meet the requirements, in the embodiment of the invention, the probe array is provided with the plurality of layers of staggered regional wave-absorbing materials, so that the wave-absorbing materials are effectively shielded in the process of increasing or decreasing the distance between the probes. The cross-sectional view is shown in fig. 3 (taking Y direction as an example):
the bipolar probe is wrapped by a wave-absorbing material sleeve 5 customized according to the shape of the probe, and the top view of the wave-absorbing material sleeve 5 is shown in figure 4.
The first layer of wave-absorbing material 6 is used for shielding a metal frame of the probe array supporting plate 1, and a movable region of a probe on the first layer of wave-absorbing material 6 is hollowed out as in the supporting plate shown in fig. 2 and is adhered and fixed on the lower surface of the supporting plate 1. The probe is convenient to move in the hollow area, and the metal supporting plate is shielded.
As shown in fig. 5, the second layer of wave-absorbing material 7 and the third layer of wave-absorbing material 8 are also hollowed out at corresponding portions, and the hollowed-out size is slightly larger than that of the probe so as to be capable of being sleeved outside the wave-absorbing material sleeve 5. The second layer of wave-absorbing material 7 and the third layer of wave-absorbing material 8 are sleeved outside the probe wave-absorbing material sleeve 5 in a laminating mode through hollow parts and are staggered in the Y direction, and at least one layer of wave-absorbing material is shielded in the rear area under the condition that the probe moves.
Embodiment 2 this embodiment provides a method for using a 2 × 4 probe array for active antenna amplitude-phase testing, which specifically includes:
(1) determining the adjustment mode and range of the probe
The probe adopts a single-side adjustment mode in the X direction and a double-side adjustment mode in the Y direction, so that the size and the adjustable range of the adjustable region of the probe in the X, Y direction can be calculated according to the following steps.
The X direction is adjusted in a single side mode, and the X coordinate of a fixed row of probes is i equal to 0, so that the adjustable area (the size of the hollow area) is px + deltax 0 equal to px in the X direction. Seventhly, the x coordinate of the probe is i equal to 1, so that the adjustable area is px + δ x 1 equal to px + δ x, and the adjustable range of the single-side probe is δ x, as shown in fig. 6.
The Y direction is adjusted bilaterally, the Y coordinate of the center of the direction is 0, the Y coordinate of the probe c is 0.5, so the size of the adjustable area is py + delta Y0.5 py + delta Y/2, the Y coordinate of the probe c is 1.5, and the size of the adjustable area is py +3 delta Y/2. As shown in fig. 6, the probe is closer to the center, the adjustable range in the Y direction is δ Y/2, the two sides are away from the center at the same time to meet the requirement of the adjustable range δ Y, the adjustable range in the Y direction of the probe is 3 δ Y/2, and the distance is adjusted by 3dx while the distance dx is adjusted because the requirement of equal distance is met.
(2) Drive design for adjustable probe array
For a 2X 4 probe array, 8 probes are needed to realize the adjustment of the distance between the probes in the X direction and the Y direction, the traditional mode needs 10 motors, namely, the probes are mounted on a support plate, 1 motor is needed to drive the probes to move in the X direction, and the probes are mounted on a support plate, 1 motor is needed to drive the probes to move in the Y direction, and 1 motor is needed to drive the probes to move in the Y direction.
This embodiment provides many probes linkage scheme according to array adjustment demand, uses 6 motors at most, uses 3 motors at least and can realize 8 probes at X, Y interval adjustment of two directions:
(a) for the X direction, because the probes are fixed and only the probes need to move in the X direction, the 4 probes are connected firmly and driven by 1 motor.
(b) For the motion in the Y direction, the adjustment distances of the probes are the same, and the adjustment distances of the probes are similar, so that 8 probes can be divided into 4 groups, two probes with the same movement requirements are in hard connection, the adjustment in the Y direction can be driven by adopting 4 motors at most, namely the adjustment of the X/Y distance of the 8 probes is realized, and only 5 motors are needed.
Considering the adjustment of the distance in the Y direction, because the probe array is scattered from the center to two sides in the Y direction, the moving distances of the probe and the probe are always the same, the moving directions are opposite, and the probe are also the same, so the movement of the probe and the probe in the Y direction can be driven by one motor, the movement of the probes on two sides can be realized by adopting a single motor to drive a positive screw rod and a negative screw rod, the adjustment of the distance in the Y direction only needs 2 motors at least, and the adjustment of the distance in the X direction can be realized by adding 3 motors of 1 motor in the X direction.
Embodiment 3 this embodiment provides another method for using a 2 × 4 probe array for active antenna amplitude-phase testing, which specifically includes:
(1) determining the adjustment mode and range of the probe
X, Y the probe adjustment range in the Y direction is the same as that in the embodiment 2, as shown in FIG. 7.
The X direction is adjusted bilaterally, the X coordinate of the center is 0, the X coordinate of the probe is 0, the probe is phi, 0, phi, 0, phi, 0, phi, 0, phi, and phi, 0, phi, 0, phi. δ X/2 can be adjusted on both sides in the X direction as shown in FIG. 7.
(2) Drive design for adjustable probe array
The drive design for Y-direction adjustment is the same as that of embodiment 2, and therefore, 2 or 4 motors are required for driving.
In the X direction, 2 independent motors can be adopted, and the probes are hard connected; hard connection is carried out on the probe, and the probe is driven by 2 independent motors respectively or 1 motor is adopted to match with a positive screw rod and a negative screw rod to carry out spacing adjustment.
Therefore, 6 motors are used at most, and the distance between 8 probes X, Y can be adjusted by 3 motors at least.
Embodiment 4 this embodiment provides a third method for using a 2 × 4 probe array for active antenna amplitude-phase testing, which specifically includes:
(1) determining the adjustment mode and range of the probe
X, Y the probe adjustment range in the X direction is the same as that in the embodiment 2, and the single-side probe adjustment range is deltax.
As shown in fig. 8, in the Y direction, a row of probes is fixed, and the Y coordinate of the probe is 0, so that the adjustable region (the size of the hollow region) is py + δ Y × 0 in the Y direction.
The y coordinate of the probe is j equal to 1, so that the adjustable region is py + deltay 1 equal to py + deltay, and the adjustable range of the single-side probe is deltay.
The y coordinate of the probe (c) is j equal to 2, so that the adjustable region is py + δ y 2 equal to py +2 δ y, and the adjustable range of the single-side probe is 2 δ y.
The y coordinate of the probe is j equal to 3, so that the adjustable region is py + delta y x 3 equal to py +3 delta y, and the adjustable range of the single-side probe is 3 delta y.
(2) Drive design for adjustable probe array
In the direction X, the same as the embodiment 2, because the probe is fixed and only the probe needs to move in the direction X, the 4 probes are connected firmly and driven by 1 motor.
In the Y direction, the adjusting ranges of the probes are different, so that the probes are respectively connected with 3 independent motors.
Therefore, the distance between the 8 probes X, Y can be adjusted by 4 motors at most.
In the above embodiments 2, 3 and 4, the installation manner of the probe is the same as the installation manner of the conventional movable probe, and an L-shaped probe bracket can be adopted to be hung on the movable guide rail slide block.
The motor is connected with the screw rod through the coupler and drives the screw rod to rotate. The slider is connected with the lead screw, can pass through the rotation translation of lead screw to drive the probe and carry out displacement adjustment.
It should be further noted that, in the probe array of the present invention, in the active antenna amplitude-phase test, the adjustment manner of the probe is not limited to the specific manner listed in the above embodiments 2, 3, and 4, and the adjustment manners in the X and Y directions can be both single-sided or double-sided adjustment, and a combination of different adjustment manners in the X, Y direction can be performed as needed.
However, it should be noted that if the adjustment in the Y direction is performed in a single-sided manner, the adjustment range of the farthest probe is 3 δ Y, the hollow space to be reserved is too large, which affects the strength of the probe array support plate, and the too large reserved space is not conducive to shielding the wave-absorbing material, and if the blank area cannot be effectively shielded, the metal top plate (back wall) at the back of the probe will affect the measurement signal.