Antenna module with flexible arrangement and manufacturing method thereof
According to an aspect, an antenna module is provided. The antenna module comprises a chassis which comprises an opening or cavity at least partially. The antenna module further comprises one or more cantilever-type supporting elements which are mechanically connected, at one or more first ends of the one or more cantilever-type supporting elements, to a mechanical fixation location. The antenna module also comprises a first antenna array comprising one or more first antenna elements connected to one or more second ends of the one or more cantilever-type supporting elements for arranging the first antenna array over the opening or cavity. The one or more first antenna elements are mechanically connected to one or more radiating part handers that are assembled on an inner surface of a radome over the chassis. The radome is configured to hold the first antenna array.
1 . A first antenna module, comprising:
a chassis comprising an opening or a cavity;
one or more cantilevers mechanically connected, at one or more first ends of the one or more cantilevers, to a mechanical fixation location; and
a first antenna array comprising one or more first antenna elements connected to one or more second ends of the one or more cantilevers for arranging the first antenna array over the opening or cavity, the one or more first antenna elements being mechanically connected to one or more radiating part handlers that are assembled on an inner surface of a radome over the chassis, the radome being configured to hold the first antenna array.
2 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , wherein a lateral or longitudinal distance to the chassis between the first antenna array and the mechanical fixation location is not limited.
3 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fixation location is disconnected or connected to the chassis.
4 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical fixation location is at a position on an opposite side of the chassis with a certain distance.
5 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , wherein no part of the first antenna module is fixed to the chassis.
6 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first antenna array and the chassis perpendicular to the chassis is one quarter of a wavelength of signals transmitted or received by the first antenna array.
7 . The first antenna module of claim 6 , wherein a lateral or longitudinal distance to the chassis between the first antenna array and the mechanical fixation location is a quarter, a half, one time, or two times of a wavelength of signals transmitted or received by the first antenna array.
8 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first power distribution means arranged in a cantilever of the one or more cantilevers for distributing power to and delivering power from the first antenna array.
9 . The first antenna module of claim 8 , wherein the first power distribution means comprises one or more pairs of coaxial cables with one or more respective pairs of baluns mechanically connected to the cantilever.
10 . The first antenna module of claim 9 , wherein the one or more pairs of coaxial cables are directly connected to a Phase Shifter Network block.
11 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more cantilevers has a curved or bent shape and/or is oriented at a non-right angle relative to the chassis.
12 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more first antenna elements comprises a crossed dipole antenna element, the crossed dipole antenna element comprising one or more dipole arms on one side of a printed circuit board and a plurality of metal or alloy patches on the opposite side of the printed circuit board, the plurality of metal or alloy patches being connected to the dipole arms through metal or alloy deposited in corresponding through-holes formed in the printed circuit board so that each of the plurality of patches partially forms a capacitor with a corresponding dipole arm or exhibits a capacitor characteristic.
13 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , further comprising a movable conductive layer on an opposite side of the chassis, being configured as a ground referential layer when the first antenna module operates in a stand-alone mode.
14 . The first antenna module of claim 1 , further comprising one or more Frequency Selective Surfaces.
15 . The first antenna module of claim 14 , wherein one of the Frequency Selective Surfaces comprises at least a first surface fixed to the first antenna module and at least a second surface fixed to a second antenna module.