Antenna module and communication apparatus including the same
An antenna module includes radiating elements including a first element and a second element and a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) and exchanges signals with a baseband integrated circuit (BBIC). The RFIC includes a transmission circuit that supplies radio frequency signals to the radiating elements and a reception circuit that receives radio frequency signals from the radiating elements. The RFIC exchanges intermediate frequency signals with the BBIC. A first intermediate frequency signal is used for communication between the transmission circuit and the BBIC. A second intermediate frequency signal is used for communication between the reception circuit and the BBIC. When a variation in the reception level of a radio frequency signal received by the reception circuit during transmission of a radio frequency signal from the transmission circuit exceeds a predetermined value, the RFIC stops emission of radio waves from the first element.
1 . An antenna module that exchanges signals with a baseband integrated circuit, the antenna module comprising:
first radiating elements including a first element and a second element; and
a radio frequency integrated circuit that exchanges intermediate frequency signals with the baseband integrated circuit, the radio frequency integrated circuit including a transmission circuit that supplies radio frequency signals to the first radiating elements and a reception circuit that receives radio frequency signals from the first radiating elements, wherein
a first intermediate signal is used for communication between the transmission circuit and the baseband integrated circuit;
a second intermediate signal different from the first intermediate signal is used for communication between the reception circuit and the baseband integrated circuit; and
when a first condition is satisfied, the radio frequency integrated circuit stops emission of radio waves from the first element, the first condition being satisfied when a variation in a reception level of a radio frequency signal received by the reception circuit via the first element or the second element during transmission of a radio frequency signal from the transmission circuit exceeds a predetermined value, and
wherein the radio-frequency signal received by the reception circuit is a received signal based on the radio-frequency signal being transmitted from the transmission circuit.
2 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein
when the first condition is satisfied, the radio frequency integrated circuit distributes, to the second element, at least a part of power corresponding to a radio frequency signal supposed to be transmitted to the first element.
3 . The antenna module according to claim 2 , wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the first element includes a first feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a first polarization direction and a second feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a second polarization direction; and
when the first condition is satisfied in a state in which the transmission circuit is connected to the first feeding point of the first element and the reception circuit is connected to the second feeding point of the first element, emission of the radio waves from the first element is stopped.
4 . The antenna module according to claim 3 , wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the antenna module further comprises second radiating elements that are paired with the first radiating elements and include multiple elements with a planar shape;
the second radiating elements include a third element paired with the first element and are configured to emit radio waves in a frequency band lower than a frequency band of radio waves emitted from the first radiating elements; and
the first element is disposed apart from the third element in a radio wave emission direction.
5 . The antenna module according to claim 3 , wherein
whether the first condition is satisfied is sequentially determined for the respective elements included in the first radiating elements.
6 . The antenna module according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a first hybrid coupler and a second hybrid coupler, each of which includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
each of the first element and the second element includes a first feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a first polarization direction and a second feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a second polarization direction;
the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the first hybrid coupler are connected to the transmission circuit;
the first output terminal of the first hybrid coupler is connected to the first feeding point of the first element;
the second output terminal of the first hybrid coupler is connected to the first feeding point of the second element;
the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the second hybrid coupler are connected to the reception circuit;
the first output terminal of the second hybrid coupler is connected to the second feeding point of the first element; and
the second output terminal of the second hybrid coupler is connected to the second feeding point of the second element.
7 . The antenna module according to claim 6 , wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the antenna module further comprises second radiating elements that are paired with the first radiating elements and include multiple elements with a planar shape;
the second radiating elements include a third element paired with the first element and are configured to emit radio waves in a frequency band lower than a frequency band of radio waves emitted from the first radiating elements; and
the first element is disposed apart from the third element in a radio wave emission direction.
8 . The antenna module according to claim 7 , wherein
whether the first condition is satisfied is sequentially determined for the respective elements included in the first radiating elements.
9 . The antenna module according to claim 2 , wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the antenna module further comprises second radiating elements that are paired with the first radiating elements and include multiple elements with a planar shape;
the second radiating elements include a third element paired with the first element and are configured to emit radio waves in a frequency band lower than a frequency band of radio waves emitted from the first radiating elements; and
the first element is disposed apart from the third element in a radio wave emission direction.
10 . The antenna module according to claim 2 , wherein
whether the first condition is satisfied is sequentially determined for the respective elements included in the first radiating elements.
11 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein
when the variation in the reception level of the radio frequency signal received by the reception circuit is greater than the predetermined value in a state in which the transmission circuit is connected to the second element and the reception circuit is connected to the first element, an obstacle over the first element and the second element is detected.
12 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the first radiating elements further include a third element and a fourth element that have a planar shape;
the antenna module further comprises a Butler matrix circuit including a third hybrid coupler, a fourth hybrid coupler, a fifth hybrid coupler, a sixth hybrid coupler, a first delay circuit, and a second delay circuit;
each of the third hybrid coupler, the fourth hybrid coupler, the fifth hybrid coupler, and the sixth hybrid coupler includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal;
the first input terminal and the second input terminal of each of the third hybrid coupler and the fourth hybrid coupler are connected to corresponding ports of the transmission circuit;
the first output terminal of the third hybrid coupler is connected to the first input terminal of the fifth hybrid coupler via the first delay circuit;
the second output terminal of the third hybrid coupler is connected to the first input terminal of the sixth hybrid coupler;
the first output terminal of the fourth hybrid coupler is connected to the second input terminal of the fifth hybrid coupler;
the second output terminal of the fourth hybrid coupler is connected to the second input terminal of the sixth hybrid coupler via the second delay circuit;
the first output terminal and the second output terminal of the fifth hybrid coupler are connected, respectively, to the first element and the second element; and
the first output terminal and the second output terminal of the sixth hybrid coupler are connected, respectively, to the third element and the fourth element.
13 . The antenna module according to claim 12 , wherein
power supplied to the first element, the second element, the third element, and the fourth element is adjusted by adjusting power and phases of radio frequency signals supplied to the input terminals of the third hybrid coupler and the fourth hybrid coupler.
14 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate that have different normal directions; and
third radiating elements corresponding to the first radiating elements and including multiple elements with a planar shape, wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the first radiating elements are disposed on or in the first substrate;
the third radiating elements are disposed on or in the second substrate; and
when the first condition is satisfied, the radio frequency integrated circuit emits radio waves from the third radiating elements.
15 . A communication apparatus comprising:
the antenna module according to claim 14 ; and
the baseband integrated circuit.
16 . A communication apparatus comprising:
the antenna module according to claim 1 ; and
the baseband integrated circuit.
17 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the first element includes a first feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a first polarization direction and a second feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a second polarization direction; and
when the first condition is satisfied in a state in which the transmission circuit is connected to the first feeding point of the first element and the reception circuit is connected to the second feeding point of the first element, emission of the radio waves from the first element is stopped.
18 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a first hybrid coupler and a second hybrid coupler, each of which includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal, wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
each of the first element and the second element includes a first feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a first polarization direction and a second feeding point used to emit a radio wave with a second polarization direction;
the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the first hybrid coupler are connected to the transmission circuit;
the first output terminal of the first hybrid coupler is connected to the first feeding point of the first element;
the second output terminal of the first hybrid coupler is connected to the first feeding point of the second element;
the first input terminal and the second input terminal of the second hybrid coupler are connected to the reception circuit;
the first output terminal of the second hybrid coupler is connected to the second feeding point of the first element; and
the second output terminal of the second hybrid coupler is connected to the second feeding point of the second element.
19 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein
the first element and the second element of the first radiating elements have a planar shape;
the antenna module further comprises second radiating elements that are paired with the first radiating elements and include multiple elements with a planar shape;
the second radiating elements include a third element paired with the first element and are configured to emit radio waves in a frequency band lower than a frequency band of radio waves emitted from the first radiating elements; and
the first element is disposed apart from the third element in a radio wave emission direction.
20 . The antenna module according to claim 1 , wherein
whether the first condition is satisfied is sequentially determined for the respective elements included in the first radiating elements.