JP2013187731A - Antenna device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problem: in a phased-array antenna in which a plurality of element antennas are arranged non-periodically or at random, since a module connected to the element antenna is larger in general than the element antenna, it is difficult to arrange the modules non-periodically and at random at the same intervals as those of the element antennas, the modules are therefore required to be connected to the element antennas by an RF cable, and increase of the assembling cost and the size of the antenna device is thereby caused.SOLUTION: A triplate line and a ball grid array are used for the connection structure of the module and the element antenna. Thereby, a simple connection structure of modules and element antennas arranged at different intervals can be obtained, and a manufacturing process can be simplified and automated.

Description

  The present invention relates to an antenna device constituting a phased array antenna that operates in, for example, a microwave band and a millimeter wave band.

  A phased array antenna includes a plurality of element antennas and a module having an amplifier and a phase shifter connected to each element antenna, and by changing the set phase of the phase shifter as appropriate, a desired directivity is obtained. Can be obtained. In recent years, a highly functional phased array antenna has been known in which a sub-array antenna array having no periodicity is configured by aperiodic or randomizing an array of a plurality of element antennas, and a grating lobe can be suppressed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-66936 A

  However, when a phased array antenna is configured using the element antennas arranged at non-periodic or random intervals shown in Patent Document 1, modules connected to the element antenna are used in the microwave band and the millimeter wave band. Generally, the outer shape becomes larger than the element antenna. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult to arrange the modules in a non-periodic arrangement at the same arrangement interval as the element antenna.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an antenna device having a simple structure that can be connected to modules arranged at intervals different from the element antenna. To do.

  The antenna device according to the present invention includes an element antenna having a power supply conductor on the back surface, a connection conductor disposed on the front surface, and the connection conductor disposed on the back surface and in a different position in the in-plane direction. A transmission line having a connection terminal, a conductor line connecting the connection conductor and the connection terminal, and a conductive connection connecting the power supply conductor of the element antenna and the connection conductor of the transmission line And a ball grid array formed of a plurality of other conductive connection members for connecting between the element antenna and the transmission line, and a module side connection terminal connected to the connection terminal of the transmission line. Module. Further, a phased array antenna may be configured.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of element antennas and modules arranged at different positions are connected via a transmission line and a ball grid array (hereinafter referred to as BGA) to be arranged at aperiodic or random intervals. These element antennas can be connected to modules arranged at different intervals with a simple structure. In addition, an antenna device capable of simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the thickness can be obtained.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the antenna unit by this Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of the antenna unit by FIG. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the antenna apparatus comprised by arranging the antenna unit shown in FIG. 1 in order.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an antenna unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a mounting structure of an element antenna 1 using a triplate line 3 and a BGA. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line AA of the antenna unit according to FIG. 1 and 2, the antenna unit 50 includes a triplate line 3 having an element antenna 1, a module 2, and a strip conductor 3b. The element antenna 1 is connected to the surface of the triplate line 3 by a BGA 4. The module 2 is connected to the back surface of the triplate line 3 via an upper connector 2a as a module side connection terminal. A plurality of antenna units 50 are arranged to constitute a phased array antenna that operates in, for example, a microwave band and a millimeter wave band.

  The element antenna 1 includes an antenna conductor 1a, a dielectric substrate 1b, a ground conductor 1c, a through hole 1d, and a feeding conductor 1e. The antenna conductor 1a is formed on the surface of the dielectric substrate 1b (the upper surface in FIG. 2). The ground conductor 1c is formed on the back surface (the lower surface in FIG. 2) of the dielectric substrate 1b. The power feeding conductor 1e is formed on the back surface of the dielectric substrate 1b so as to be separated from the ground conductor 1c, and is disposed so as not to be connected to the ground conductor 1c. On the back surface of the dielectric substrate 1b, the power supply conductor 1e is surrounded by the ground conductor 1c. The ground conductor 1c and the power feeding conductor 1e are arranged at a predetermined distance from the antenna conductor 1a depending on the thickness of the dielectric substrate 1b. The feeding point (or excitation point) of the antenna conductor 1a is connected to the feeding conductor 1e through the through hole 1d.

  The module 2 is provided with a high-frequency connector 2a at one end (the upper end in FIG. 2). The module 2 contains an amplifier and a phase shifter (not shown), and electronic components such as a control IC, and is covered with a casing provided with a resin coated with a metal or a conductive material on the outer shell. .

  The triplate line 3 includes a dielectric substrate 3a, a strip conductor 3b, a ground conductor 3c, a high frequency connector 3d, a power supply conductor 3e as a connection conductor, a high frequency connector 3d, a through hole 3f, It consists of a through hole 3g. The dielectric substrate 3a has a ground conductor 3c formed on the front surface (upper surface side in FIG. 2) and a back surface (lower surface side in FIG. 2), and a strip conductor 3b formed on the inner layer. That is, the strip conductor 3b is sandwiched between two ground conductors 3c, and forms a triplate line as a conductor line. The power feeding conductor 3e is formed on the back surface of the dielectric substrate 3e so as to be separated from the ground conductor 3c, and is disposed so as not to be connected to the ground conductor 3c. The power supply conductor 3e is surrounded by the ground conductor 3c on the back surface of the dielectric substrate 3e.

  The high-frequency connector 3d as a module connection terminal is provided on the back surface of the dielectric substrate 3a. For example, the high-frequency connector 3d has an inner conductor on the inner side and an outer conductor on the outer periphery of the insulator containing the inner conductor. One end of the power supply conductor 3e and the strip conductor 3b are connected by a through hole 3g provided in the inner layer of the dielectric substrate 3a. The other end of the strip conductor 3b and the high frequency connector 3d are connected by a through hole 3g provided in the inner layer of the dielectric substrate 3a.

  Thus, the power supply conductor 3e is connected to the high frequency connector 3d via the strip conductor 3b. The high frequency connector 2a of the module 2 is fitted and electrically connected to the high frequency connector 3d to transmit an RF signal. Note that either the high frequency connector 2a or the high frequency connector 3d has a male connector structure in which, for example, a male pin is formed of a pin, and the other is formed of a receptacle.

  The BGA 4 includes an array of one or a plurality of conductor spheres 4a and an array of a plurality of conductor spheres 4b. The conductor sphere 4a and the conductor sphere 4b are composed of conductive connection members made of solder balls or gold bumps. The conductor sphere 4a and the conductor sphere 4b may be formed of a conductive connection member having a cylindrical shape or a barrel shape in addition to the spherical shape or the elliptical spherical shape. At least one conductor sphere 4 a that is a conductive connecting member connects between the power feeding conductor 1 e of the element antenna 1 and the power feeding conductor 3 e of the triplate line 3. In addition, a plurality of conductor spheres 4 b which are other conductive connection members connect between the ground conductor 1 c of the element antenna 1 and the ground conductor 3 c of the triplate line 3. Thus, the element antenna 1 and the module 2 located at a distant position are connected by the triplate line 3 and the BGA 4 to constitute the antenna unit 50.

Next, the operation of the antenna unit 50 according to the first embodiment will be described.
A microwave or millimeter wave band RF (Radio Frequency) signal output from the module 2 is input to the triplate line 3 via the high frequency connector 2a and the high frequency connector 3d. The input RF signal propagates through the feeding conductor 3f, the strip conductor 3b, the through hole 3g, and the feeding conductor 3e of the triplate line 3, and is output from the feeding conductor 3e to the conductor sphere 4a. The RF signal output from the replate line 3 is sent to the power supply conductor 1e of the element antenna 1 via the conductor sphere 4a that connects the power supply conductor 3e of the triplate line 3 and the power supply conductor 1e of the element antenna 1. Entered. The RF signal input to the power supply conductor 1e is propagated to the antenna conductor 1a through the through hole 1d and excites the antenna conductor 1a.

  At this time, the plurality of conductor spheres 4b connecting between the ground conductor 1c of the element antenna 1 and the ground conductor 3c of the triplate line 3 have a free space wavelength of 0.25 in order to suppress radiation from the conductor sphere 4a. It is necessary to arrange them at intervals of (1/4) times or less.

  Next, a configuration example of a phased array antenna in which a plurality of antenna units 50 connected to a pair of modules 2 and element antennas 1 described in FIGS. 1 and 2 are arranged will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an antenna apparatus configured by arranging a plurality of antenna units 50 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an antenna device that forms a phased array antenna is configured by arranging a plurality of antenna units 50 in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional plane. In this antenna apparatus, an amplifier and a phase shifter corresponding to each element antenna 1 may be provided inside the module 2 to constitute an active phased array antenna. The triplate line 3 constituting each antenna unit 50 constitutes an integrated substrate that is integrally molded and integrated into one sheet. Alternatively, a plurality of triplate lines 3 constituting each of the antenna units 50 form a group to form an integrally formed unit board, and a plurality of unit boards divided into each group unit are further arranged. An antenna device may be configured.

  In FIG. 3, the element antennas 1 are arranged at non-periodic or random unequal intervals. For example, the plurality of element antennas 1 may constitute a subarray antenna as shown in Patent Document 1, and the plurality of subarray antennas may be arranged so that the planar shape is a Penrose tile. In FIG. 3, the modules 2 are arranged at a constant interval or a periodic interval different from the arrangement interval of the element antennas 1 without depending on the arrangement interval of the element antennas 1.

  The antenna device according to the first embodiment is configured as described above. When the module 2 and the element antenna 1 are stacked and connected in the normal direction of the surface of the antenna conductor 1a (the direction perpendicular to the antenna surface or the antenna axial direction), the module Even if the position of 2 and the position of the element antenna 1 are arranged differently in the direction parallel to the surface of the antenna conductor 1a, the module 2 and the element antenna 1 can be connected via the triplate line 3. . For this reason, there is no restriction on the arrangement positions of the module 2 and the element antenna 1 in a direction parallel to the surface of the antenna conductor 1a. Thus, a structure in which the element antenna 1 and the module 2 can be easily connected can be provided in the phased array antenna in which the element arrangement of the element antennas is arranged at non-periodic or random unequal intervals. In addition, it is possible to easily realize an active phased array antenna in which such element antennas are arranged aperiodically or randomly.

  Further, by using the BGA 4 to connect the triplate line 3 and the element antenna 1, the element antenna 1 can be automatically mounted using an automatic mounting machine, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified and automated. Furthermore, since the high-frequency connector is not used for mounting the element antenna 1 itself, the antenna portion can be thinned.

  Further, the structure of the antenna device having an aperiodic or random element arrangement is simplified, and the manufacturing process can be simplified, automated, and the antenna apparatus can be thinned. Therefore, the antenna apparatus has an aperiodic or random element arrangement. This can contribute to lowering the price of the antenna device.

  As described above, the antenna device according to the first embodiment includes the element antenna (1) having the feeding conductor (1e) on the back surface, the connecting conductor (3e) disposed on the front surface, and the back surface. A connection terminal (3d) arranged at a position different from the connection conductor in the in-plane direction, and a conductor line (3b, 3c, 3c) connecting the connection conductor (3e) and the connection terminal (3d). And a conductive connection member (4a) for connecting between the power supply conductor (1e) of the element antenna (1) and the connection conductor (3e) of the transmission line (3). ), And a ball grid array (4) formed from a plurality of other conductive connection members (4b) connecting the element antenna (1) and the transmission line (3), and the transmission line ( Module side connection connected to the connection terminal (3d) of 3) Child (2a) module having a (2), those having a. The conductor lines (3b, 3c, 3c) form a triplate line in which a strip conductor (3b) is sandwiched between two ground conductors (3c, 3c) arranged on different surfaces. The element antenna (1) has a ground conductor (3c) surrounding the power supply conductor (1e), and the transmission line (3) is a ground surrounding the connection conductor (3e). The plurality of other conductive connection members (4b) having a conductor (3c) include a ground conductor (1c) included in the element antenna (1) and a ground conductor (3c) included in the transmission line (3). Are arranged at intervals of 1/4 or less of the free space wavelength of the element antenna (1). The element antenna (1) constitutes a plurality of antenna devices arranged at non-periodic or random arrangement intervals, and the module (2) is arranged at an interval different from the element antenna (1). Configure a ray antenna.

  As a result, the element antennas and modules arranged at different positions are connected to each other through a transmission line composed of a triplate line and a ball grid array (hereinafter referred to as BGA), thereby arranging them at non-periodic or random intervals. Antenna device capable of obtaining a simple structure for connecting a plurality of element antennas to modules arranged at constant intervals different from the element antennas, and capable of simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the thickness Can be obtained.

  In the above example, the triplate line 3 is described as an example of the transmission line that forms the planar circuit connecting the element antenna 1 and the module 2, but the transmission line other than the triplate line is used. May be.

  Further, instead of the connection structure of the high frequency connector 2a of the module 2 and the high frequency connector 3d of the triplate line 3, waveguide terminals are provided on the module 2 and the triplate line 3, respectively. They may be connected by waveguide terminals.

  1 element antenna, 1a antenna conductor, 1b dielectric substrate, 1c ground conductor, 1d through hole, 1e power supply conductor, 2 module, 2a high frequency connector (module side connection terminal), 3 triplate line (transmission line), 3a dielectric Body board, 3b strip conductor, 3c ground conductor, 3d high frequency connector (module connection terminal), 3e power supply conductor (connection conductor), 3f through hole, 3g through hole, 4 BGA, 4a conductive ball (conductive connection) Member), 4b conductive ball (other conductive connecting member).

Claims (4)

An element antenna having a feeding conductor on the back surface;
A connection conductor disposed on the front surface, a connection terminal disposed on the back surface and disposed at a position different from the connection conductor in the in-plane direction, and a conductor line connecting between the connection conductor and the connection terminal; A transmission line having
A conductive connection member that connects between the power supply conductor of the element antenna and the connection conductor of the transmission line, and a plurality of other conductive connection members that connect the element antenna and the transmission line. A ball grid array,
A module having a module-side connection terminal connected to the connection terminal of the transmission line;
An antenna device comprising:   2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the conductor line forms a triplate line in which a strip conductor is sandwiched between ground conductors. The element antenna has a ground conductor surrounding the power feeding conductor,
The transmission line has a ground conductor surrounding the connection conductor,
The other plurality of conductive connecting members connect between the ground conductor of the element antenna and the ground conductor of the transmission line, and are arranged at intervals of one quarter or less of the free space wavelength of the element antenna. The antenna device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein   The antenna device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plurality of the element antennas are arranged in a non-periodic or random arrangement interval to constitute a phased array antenna.

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