Compact and wideband beam-switching antenna array architecture
An antenna array architecture is provided for beamforming applications. The antenna array architecture facilitates a compact and wideband dual-polarized beam-switching antenna array architecture, which may be implemented in a cost-effective multi-layer PCB or package. The antenna array architecture is implemented as part of a package substrate having a number of layers. Each of the layers comprises various conductive elements such as conductive segments and/or traces that are disposed thereon in accordance with the respective antenna components.
1 . An antenna element, comprising:
a package substrate comprising a plurality of layers;
a primary conductive sheet disposed on a first layer of the plurality of layers and being coupled to an antenna feed;
a secondary conductive sheet disposed on a second layer of the plurality of layers; and
an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) unit cell comprising a first and a second pattern of conductive elements respectively disposed on two different layers of the package substrate,
wherein the first pattern of conductive elements are coupled to one another within one of the two different layers and form a portion of a first continuous conductive pattern,
wherein the second pattern of conductive elements are coupled to one another within the other one of the two different layers and form a portion of a second continuous conductive pattern,
wherein the primary conductive sheet and the secondary conductive sheet are aligned with a first set of two orthogonal axes, and the first continuous conductive pattern and the second continuous conductive pattern are aligned with a second set of two orthogonal axes that are rotated 45 degrees with respect to the first set of two orthogonal axes, and
wherein the EBG unit cell has dimensions that are larger in size than dimensions of each one of the primary and the secondary conductive sheets.
2 . The antenna element of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of parasitic elements comprising further conductive sheets surrounding the secondary conductive sheet,
wherein the EBG unit cell has dimensions that are larger in size than dimensions of the secondary conductive and the further conductive sheets.
3 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the first pattern of conductive elements of the EBG unit cell are disposed on a further layer of the plurality of layers that is disposed between the first and the second layers.
4 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the second pattern of conductive elements of the EBG unit cell are disposed on the first layer with the primary conductive sheet.
5 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein each one of the first pattern and the second pattern of conductive elements of the EBG unit cell comprises a respective rectangular shape.
6 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the package substrate has a length and width dimension that are respectively aligned with the first set of two orthogonal axes.
7 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the antenna feed comprises a set of antenna feeds configured to enable the primary conductive sheet to operate in accordance with a dual-polarized configuration.
8 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein:
the secondary conductive sheet is disposed on the second layer at a first side of the primary conductive sheet,
the antenna element is from among a plurality of antenna elements forming an antenna array comprising a Butler matrix block disposed on a third layer of the plurality of layers at a second side of the primary conductive sheet that is opposite to the first side, and
the Butler matrix block comprises an output port that is coupled to the antenna feed via a portion of a feed network.
9 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the antenna element is from among a plurality of antenna elements forming an antenna array comprising a first and a second Butler matrix block disposed on a third layer of the plurality of layers.
10 . The antenna element of claim 9 , wherein:
the antenna feed for each one of the plurality of antenna elements comprises a respective horizontal and vertical polarization antenna feed,
the first Butler matrix block is configured to couple each one of the horizontal polarization antenna feeds for each one of the plurality of antenna elements to a respective horizontal polarization output port, and
the second Butler matrix block is configured to couple each one of the vertical polarization antenna feeds for each one of the plurality of antenna elements to a respective vertical polarization output port.
11 . The antenna element of claim 10 , wherein (i) an electrical length between each one of the horizontal polarization antenna feeds to a respective horizontal polarization output port are equal to one another, and (ii) an electrical length between each one of the vertical polarization antenna feeds to a respective vertical polarization output port are equal to one another.
12 . The antenna element of claim 11 , wherein:
each one of the horizontal polarization antenna feeds is coupled to a respective horizontal polarization output port of the first Butler matrix block via a first set of conductive traces,
each one of the vertical polarization antenna feeds is coupled to a respective vertical polarization output port of the second Butler matrix block via a second set of conductive traces, and
the first and the second set of conductive traces are (i) disposed on a fourth layer of the plurality of layers, and (ii) routed around the first and the second conductive sheets.
13 . The antenna element of claim 8 , wherein the Butler matrix block does not include a crossover.
14 . The antenna element of claim 8 , wherein the Butler matrix block comprises (i) a plurality of quadrature hybrid slotted patch couplers, and (ii) a plurality of 45 -degree hybrid patch couplers.
15 . The antenna element of claim 8 , wherein the Butler matrix block forms a diamond shape.
16 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the first continuous conductive pattern and the second continuous conductive pattern each comprise a grid pattern.
17 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the first continuous conductive pattern and the second continuous conductive pattern are identical to one another.
18 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the first continuous conductive pattern and the second continuous conductive pattern are aligned with one another in a thickness direction of the package substrate.
19 . The antenna element of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the first continuous conductive pattern and the portion of the second continuous conductive pattern overlap with one another in a thickness direction of the package substrate.
20 . An electronic device, comprising:
a transceiver; and
an antenna element coupled to the transceiver, the antenna element comprising:
a package substrate comprising a plurality of layers;
a primary conductive sheet disposed on a first layer of the plurality of layers and being coupled to an antenna feed;
a secondary conductive sheet disposed on a second layer of the plurality of layers; and
an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) unit cell comprising a first and a second pattern of conductive elements respectively disposed on two different layers of the package substrate,
wherein the first pattern of conductive elements are coupled to one another within one of the two different layers and form a portion of a first continuous conductive pattern,
wherein the second pattern of conductive elements are coupled to one another within the other one of the two different layers and form a portion of a second continuous conductive pattern,
wherein the primary conductive sheet and the secondary conductive sheet are aligned with a first set of two orthogonal axes, and the first continuous conductive pattern and the second continuous conductive pattern are aligned with a second set of two orthogonal axes that are rotated 45 degrees with respect to the first set of two orthogonal axes, and
wherein the EBG unit cell has dimensions that are larger in size than dimensions of each one of the primary and the secondary conductive sheets and
wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals via the antenna element.
21 . The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the antenna element further comprises:
a plurality of parasitic elements comprising further conductive sheets surrounding the secondary conductive sheet,
wherein the EBG unit cell has dimensions that are larger in size than dimensions of the secondary conductive and the further conductive sheets.
22 . The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the first pattern of conductive elements of the EBG unit cell are disposed on a further layer of the plurality of layers that is disposed between the first and the second layers.
23 . The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the second pattern of conductive elements of the EBG unit cell are disposed on the first layer with the primary conductive sheet.
24 . The electronic device of claim 20 , wherein the portion of the first continuous conductive pattern and the portion of the second continuous conductive pattern overlap with one another in a thickness direction of the package substrate.