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EP-4742439-A1 - INTEGRATED ANTENNA DEVICE AND PHASE CALIBRATION METHOD THEREOF

EP4742439A1EP 4742439 A1EP4742439 A1EP 4742439A1EP-4742439-A1

Abstract

An integrated antenna device (100) and a phase calibration method thereof are provided. The integrated antenna device (100) includes an antenna array formed by patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and a beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC) (BFIC1). The antenna array is disposed on a first surface of a substrate (140). The patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) are symmetrically arranged around an array center (C10) of the antenna array, and each of the patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) includes a first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41) and a second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42). The BFIC (BFIC1) is disposed on a second surface of the substrate (140) and connected to the first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41) and the second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42) of each patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4). The first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41) and the second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42) of each patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) are disposed outside each patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) relative to the array center (C10) of the antenna array. The BFIC (BFIC1) overlaps a central area of the antenna array.

Inventors

  • CHANG, SU-WEI
  • WU, CHIH-HSIEN
  • CHAN, CHUN-CHENG
  • KUO, HSUAN-HUNG
  • LIN, XIAN WU

Assignees

  • TMY Technology Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250117

Claims (15)

  1. An integrated antenna device (100), comprising: an antenna array formed by a plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and disposed on a first surface of a substrate (140), wherein the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) are symmetrically arranged around an array center (C10) of the antenna array, and each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) comprises a first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41) and a second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42); and a beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC1), disposed on a second surface of the substrate (140) opposite to the first surface, and connected to the first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41) and the second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42) of the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4), wherein the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) comprises a first linear radiation portion (311a, 311b, 311c) having a first polarization direction and a second linear radiation portion (312a, 312b, 312c) having a second polarization direction, the first linear radiation portion (311a, 311b, 311c) comprises the first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41), and the second linear radiation portion (312a, 312b, 312c) comprises the second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42), an extending direction of the first linear radiation portion (311a, 311b, 311c) being perpendicular to an extending direction of the second linear radiation portion (312a, 312b, 312c), wherein the first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41) and the second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42) of the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) are disposed outside the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) relative to the array center (C10) of the antenna array, and the beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC1) overlaps a central area of the antenna array.
  2. The integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) are arranged in a 2×2 matrix, and a distance between two adjacent ones of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) is a half of a wavelength, corresponding to a center frequency of an operational frequency band of the antenna array, in an operational environment.
  3. The integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) has the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction orthogonal to the first polarization direction, the first feed point (F11, F21, F31, F41) being configured to enable the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) to transmit and receive according to the first polarization direction, and the second feed point (F12, F22, F32, F42) being configured to enable the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) to transmit and receive according to the second polarization direction.
  4. The integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) further comprises a plurality of pattern adjustment portions (313), and the plurality of pattern adjustment portions (313) are of a four-leaf clover-shaped structure.
  5. The integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of radio frequency signal transmission paths between the plurality of first feed points (F11, F21, F31, F41) of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC1) are substantially equal in length, and a plurality of radio frequency signal transmission paths between the plurality of second feed points (F12, F22, F32, F42) of the plurality of patch antenna units (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC1) are substantially equal in length.
  6. The integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 5, wherein a center of the beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC1) projects onto the array center (C10) of the antenna array along a direction perpendicular to a surface of the substrate (140).
  7. The integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a connection portion (110), configured to receive an external power (VDD1, VDD2), be connected to the beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC1) via a bus interface (120), and transmit a radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) with the beamforming integrated circuit (BFIC1).
  8. The integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 7, wherein the connection portion (110) comprises a plurality of copper pillars (CP1) disposed on the substrate (140).
  9. A phase calibration method for an integrated antenna device (100), wherein an antenna array of the integrated antenna device (100) comprises a first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4), a second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4), a third patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4), and a fourth patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) arranged in a 2×2 matrix, the phase calibration method comprising: receiving a first radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) from a far field through the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4); mixing a plurality of radio frequency signals respectively generated in response to the first radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) by the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) to produce a first mixed signal; transmitting a second radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) to the far field through the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4); mixing a plurality of radio frequency signals generated in response to the second radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) by the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) to produce a second mixed signal; and determining a first phase error between the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) according to an amplitude ratio of the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal.
  10. The phase calibration method for the integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 9, wherein when receiving the first radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) from the far field, a signal feed phase (RF1_B, RF2_B, RF3_B, RF4_B) of the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and a signal feed phase (RF1_B, RF2_B, RF3_B, RF4_B) of the second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) are configured to differ by 180 degrees, so as to produce the first mixed signal corresponding to a destructive interference.
  11. The phase calibration method for the integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 9, wherein when transmitting the second radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) to the far field, a signal feed phase (RF1_B, RF2_B, RF3_B, RF4_B) of the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and a signal feed phase (RF1_B, RF2_B, RF3_B, RF4_B) of the second patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) are configured to differ by 0 degrees, so as to produce the second mixed signal corresponding to a constructive interference.
  12. The phase calibration method for the integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 9, further comprising: determining a second phase error between the third patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the fourth patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4); and determining a third phase error between the first patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4) and the third patch antenna unit (Ant_1, Ant_2, Ant_3, Ant_4).
  13. The phase calibration method for the integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 12, further comprising: performing a phase compensation for the antenna array according to the first phase error, the second phase error, and the third phase error.
  14. The phase calibration method for the integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the first radio frequency signal (RF_A, RF_B) comprises a first polarized signal having a first polarization direction or a second polarized signal having a second polarization direction.
  15. The phase calibration method for the integrated antenna device (100) according to claim 9, wherein the first phase error is twice the amplitude ratio of the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal.

Description

BACKGROUND Technical Field The disclosure relates to an integrated antenna device and a phase calibration method thereof. Description of Related Art Millimeter waves generally refer to electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters, corresponding to a frequency range of approximately 30 GHz to 300 GHz. Since millimeter waves have higher frequencies, they may provide wider bandwidths, thereby supporting higher data transmission rates. Millimeter wave technology has been gradually and widely applied, significantly improving network capacity and speed. However, due to the shorter wavelengths of millimeter waves, they are easily blocked and attenuated by obstacles during propagation, resulting in smaller coverage areas. To address this issue, beamforming technology has been introduced. Beamforming is a technology that controls the signal transmission direction by adjusting the phase and amplitude of each patch antenna unit in an antenna array. Beamforming may concentrate signal energy in a specific direction, thereby enhancing signal strength, reducing interference, and improving the reliability and efficiency of wireless communication. Antenna arrays that implement beamforming generally include a large number of patch antenna units. The failure of any patch antenna unit or other passive component may affect the beamforming performance of the entire antenna array. If the entire antenna array must be dismantled for repair due to the failure of a single patch antenna unit, the maintenance time and cost are highly uneconomical. Additionally, the estimation and correction of phase errors among a large number of patch antenna units are complex and challenging. SUMMARY The disclosure provides an integrated antenna device and a phase calibration method thereof, which may be used to address the aforementioned technical problems. In an embodiment of the disclosure, the integrated antenna device includes an antenna array formed by multiple patch antenna units and a beamforming integrated circuit. The antenna array is disposed on a first surface of a substrate. The patch antenna units are symmetrically arranged around an array center of the antenna array, and each of the patch antenna units includes a first feed point and a second feed point. The beamforming integrated circuit is disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface and connected to the first feed point and the second feed point of each of the patch antenna units. Each of the patch antenna units includes a first linear radiation portion having a first polarization direction and a second linear radiation portion having a second polarization direction. The first linear radiation portion includes the first feed point, and the second linear radiation portion includes the second feed point. An extending direction of the first linear radiation portion is perpendicular to an extending direction of the second linear radiation portion. The first feed point and the second feed point of each of the patch antenna units are disposed outside each of the patch antenna units relative to the array center of the antenna array, and the beamforming integrated circuit overlaps a central area of the antenna array. In another embodiment of the disclosure, the antenna array of the integrated antenna device includes a first patch antenna unit, a second patch antenna unit, a third patch antenna unit, and a fourth patch antenna unit arranged in a 2×2 matrix. The phase calibration method of the integrated antenna device includes the following steps. A first radio frequency signal from a far field is received through the first patch antenna unit and the second patch antenna unit. Multiple radio frequency signals respectively generated in response to the first radio frequency signal by the first patch antenna unit and the second patch antenna unit are mixed to produce a first mixed signal. A second radio frequency signal is transmitted to the far field through the first patch antenna unit and the second patch antenna unit. Multiple radio frequency signals generated in response to the second radio frequency signal by the first patch antenna unit and the second patch antenna unit are mixed to produce a second mixed signal. A first phase error between the first patch antenna unit and the second patch antenna unit is determined according to an amplitude ratio of the first mixed signal and the second mixed signal. To make the features and advantages of the disclosure more comprehensible, several embodiments accompanied with drawings are described in detail as follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of an integrated antenna device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIGs. 2A and 2B are perspective schematic diagrams of an integrated antenna device from different views according to an embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of multiple patch antenna units and feed points