US-12627069-B2 - Liquid crystal antenna and method for manufacturing the same, and antenna array

Abstract

A liquid crystal antenna is provided. The liquid crystal antenna includes a liquid crystal layer, a first substrate, a second substrate, a first connection portion and a second connection portion. The first substrate and the second substrate are located on both sides of the liquid crystal layer in a first direction. The first substrate includes a plurality of first control lines, and the second substrate includes a plurality of second control lines. The first connection portion and the second connection portion are located on the same side edge of the liquid crystal antenna and are staggered in the first direction. The first connection portion is electrically connected to the plurality of first control lines, and the second connection portion is electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines.

Inventors

• Wei Zhao
• Xiaoqiang YANG
• Yiming Wang
• Lu Chen
• Mengjiao Li
• Zhifeng Zhang

Assignees

• BEIJING BOE SENSOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
• BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240419

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A liquid crystal antenna, comprising: a liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate located on two sides of the liquid crystal layer in a first direction; the first substrate including a plurality of first control lines, and the second substrate including a plurality of second control lines; and a first connection portion and a second connection portion located on a same side edge of the liquid crystal antenna and staggered in the first direction; the first connection portion being electrically connected to the plurality of first control lines, and the second connection portion being electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines; wherein the first connection portion is located on the first substrate; the second substrate has a second notch exposing the first connection portion; and the second connection portion is located on the second substrate; the first substrate has a first notch exposing the second connection portion.
2. 2 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the first substrate includes a first main body portion and a first extension portion; the first main body portion has a first edge, and the first extension portion is connected to at least part of the first edge; and the second substrate includes a second main body portion and a second extension portion; the second main body portion has a second edge, and the second extension portion is connected to at least part of the second edge; wherein in the first direction, the first edge overlaps with the second edge, and at least part of the first extension portion and at least part of the second extension portion are staggered; the first connection portion is located in a staggered area of the first extension portion, and the second connection portion is located in a staggered area of the second extension portion.
3. 3 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 2 , wherein the first extension portion has a third notch, and the first connection portion is disposed proximate to the third notch; and the second extension portion has a fourth notch, and the second connection portion is disposed proximate to the fourth notch; wherein in the first direction, the third notch and the fourth notch are staggered.
4. 4 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 3 , wherein the first extension portion includes a third edge, a first corner edge and a second corner edge; the third edge is opposite to the first edge, the first corner edge at least connects an end of the third edge to the first edge, and the second corner edge connects another end of the third edge to the first edge; the first connection portion is disposed proximate to the second corner edge; and the second extension portion includes a fourth edge, a third corner edge and a fourth corner edge; the fourth edge is opposite to the second edge, the third corner edge at least connects an end of the fourth edge to the second edge, and the fourth corner edge connects another end of the fourth edge to the second edge; the second connection portion is disposed proximate to the fourth corner edge; wherein in an extending direction of the first edge, the second corner edge, the third corner edge, the first corner edge, and the fourth corner edge are arranged in sequence.
5. 5 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 4 , wherein an included angle between the second corner edge and the first edge is less than or equal to 20°; and an included angle between the fourth corner edge and the second edge is less than or equal to 20°.
6. 6 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 4 , wherein in the first direction, the third edge overlaps with the fourth edge.
7. 7 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are both located on the first substrate; the first substrate further includes a plurality of third control lines; the liquid crystal antenna further comprises a plurality of transfer portions located between the first substrate and the second substrate; the plurality of second control lines are connected to the plurality of third control lines in one-to-one correspondence by the plurality of transfer portions; and the second connection portion is electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines by the plurality of third control lines and the transfer portions.
8. 8 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 1 , further comprising: a first flexible circuit board bonded to the first connection portion; and a second flexible circuit board bonded to the second connection portion.
9. 9 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 1 , wherein the first substrate further includes a first electrode plate, and the plurality of first control lines are electrically connected to the first electrode plate; and the second substrate further includes a second electrode plate, and the plurality of second control lines are electrically connected to the second electrode plate.
10. 10 . An antenna array, comprising a plurality of liquid crystal antennas tiled together and each according to claim 1 .
11. 11 . The antenna array according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of liquid crystal antennas are arranged into at least two rows of liquid crystal antennas in a second direction, and the second direction intersects the first direction.
12. 12 . The antenna array according to claim 11 , wherein in two adjacent rows of liquid crystal antennas, side edges of a row of liquid crystal antennas not provided with the first connection portion and the second connection portion are adjacent to side edges of another row of liquid crystal antennas not provided with the first connection portion and the second connection portion in the second direction.
13. 13 . The antenna array according to claim 10 , wherein the first connection portion is located on the first substrate; the first substrate has a first notch exposing the second connection portion, and includes a first main body portion and a first extension portion; the first extension portion has a third notch, and the first connection portion is disposed proximate to the third notch; the second connection portion is located on the second substrate; the second substrate has a second notch exposing the first connection portion, and includes a second main body portion and a second extension portion; the second extension portion has a fourth notch, and the second connection portion is disposed proximate to the fourth notch; and the plurality of liquid crystal antennas are arranged into at least three rows of liquid crystal antennas in a second direction, and the second direction intersects the first direction.
14. 14 . The antenna array according to claim 10 , wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are both located on the first substrate; the first substrate further includes a plurality of third control lines; the liquid crystal antenna further comprises a plurality of transfer portions located between the first substrate and the second substrate; the plurality of second control lines are connected to the plurality of third control lines in one-to-one correspondence by the plurality of transfer portions; and the second connection portion is electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines by the plurality of third control lines and the transfer portions; the first substrate includes a first connection edge, a second connection edge and a fifth corner edge, and the fifth corner edge connects the first connection edge to the second connection edge; a virtual extension line of the first connection edge, a virtual extension line of the second connection edge and the fifth corner edge surround a fifth notch; the second substrate includes a third connection edge, a fourth connection edge and a sixth corner edge, and the sixth corner edge connects the third connection edge to the fourth connection edge; a virtual extension line of the third connection edge, a virtual extension line of the fourth connection edge and the sixth corner edge surround a sixth notch; the first connection portion and the second connection portion are disposed proximate to the fifth corner edge, and the sixth notch exposes the first connection portion and the second connection portion; and the plurality of liquid crystal antennas are arranged into at least three rows of liquid crystal antennas in a second direction, and the second direction intersects the first direction.
15. 15 . A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal antenna, comprising: forming a first substrate and a second substrate; forming a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; the first substrate including a plurality of first control lines, and the second substrate including a plurality of second control lines; and forming a first connection portion and a second connection portion on a same side edge of the liquid crystal antenna, the first connection portion and the second connection portion being staggered in a first direction; the first connection portion being electrically connected to the plurality of first control lines, and the second connection portion being electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines; wherein the first connection portion is located on the first substrate; the second substrate has a second notch exposing the first connection portion; and the second connection portion is located on the second substrate; the first substrate has a first notch exposing the second connection portion.
16. 16 . A liquid crystal antenna, comprising: a liquid crystal layer; a first substrate and a second substrate located on two sides of the liquid crystal layer in a first direction; the first substrate including a plurality of first control lines, and the second substrate including a plurality of second control lines; and a first connection portion and a second connection portion located on a same side edge of the liquid crystal antenna and staggered in the first direction; the first connection portion being electrically connected to the plurality of first control lines, and the second connection portion being electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines; wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are both located on the first substrate; the first substrate further includes a plurality of third control lines; the liquid crystal antenna further comprises a plurality of transfer portions located between the first substrate and the second substrate; the plurality of second control lines are connected to the plurality of third control lines in one-to-one correspondence by the plurality of transfer portions; and the second connection portion is electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines by the plurality of third control lines and the transfer portions.
17. 17 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 16 , wherein the first substrate includes a first main body portion and a first extension portion; the first main body portion has a first edge, and the first extension portion is connected to at least part of the first edge; the first connection portion and the second connection portion are located on the first extension portion; and in the first direction, the second substrate overlaps with the first main body portion.
18. 18 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 16 , wherein the first substrate includes a first connection edge, a second connection edge and a fifth corner edge, and the fifth corner edge connects the first connection edge to the second connection edge; a virtual extension line of the first connection edge, a virtual extension line of the second connection edge and the fifth corner edge surround a fifth notch; and the second substrate includes a third connection edge, a fourth connection edge and a sixth corner edge, and the sixth corner edge connects the third connection edge to the fourth connection edge; a virtual extension line of the third connection edge, a virtual extension line of the fourth connection edge and the sixth corner edge surround a sixth notch; wherein the first connection portion and the second connection portion are disposed proximate to the fifth corner edge, and the sixth notch exposes the first connection portion and the second connection portion.
19. 19 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 16 , wherein the second connection portion and the first connection portion are disposed integrally.
20. 20 . The liquid crystal antenna according to claim 19 , further comprising: a frame sealant bonding the first substrate to the second substrate, wherein the plurality of transfer portions are disposed in the frame sealant.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a bypass continuation application of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2023/084094, filed on Mar. 27, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to the field of antenna technologies, and in particular, to a liquid crystal antenna and method for manufacturing the same, and antenna array. BACKGROUND The liquid crystal antenna includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a circuit board, and a liquid crystal phase shifter located between the first substrate and the second substrate. Since the first substrate and the second substrate may be staggered from each other to form a step portion, a portion of the circuit board is bonded to the step portion, and another portion of the circuit board is located outside the step portion. After a plurality of liquid crystal antennas are tiled into an antenna array, in the antenna array, since other portions of circuit boards are located outside the step portion, there is a gap between adjacent liquid crystal antennas at the step portion, and the gap has a great impact on the scanning angle of the array antenna. Therefore, an antenna array into which a plurality of liquid crystal antennas are tiled without gaps has good development prospects. SUMMARY In an aspect, a liquid crystal antenna is provided. The liquid crystal antenna includes a liquid crystal layer, a first substrate, a second substrate, a first connection portion and a second connection portion. The first substrate and the second substrate are located on two sides of the liquid crystal layer in a first direction. The first substrate includes a plurality of first control lines, and the second substrate includes a plurality of second control lines. The first connection portion and the second connection portion are located on a same side edge of the liquid crystal antenna and staggered in the first direction. The first connection portion is electrically connected to the plurality of first control lines, and the second connection portion is electrically connected to the plurality of second control lines. In some embodiments, the first connection portion is located on the first substrate, and the second substrate has a second notch exposing the first connection portion. The second connection portion is located on the second substrate, and the first substrate has a first notch exposing the second connection portion. In some embodiments, the first substrate includes a first main body portion and a first extension portion. The first main body portion has a first edge, and the first extension portion is connected to at least part of the first edge. The second substrate includes a second main body portion and a second extension portion. The second main body portion has a second edge, and the second extension portion is connected to at least part of the second edge. In the first direction, the first edge overlaps with the second edge, and at least part of the first extension portion and at least part of the second extension portion are staggered. The first connection portion is located in a staggered area of the first extension portion, and the second connection portion is located in a staggered area of the second extension portion. In some embodiments, the first extension portion has a third notch, and the first connection portion is disposed proximate to the third notch. The second extension portion has a fourth notch, and the second connection portion is disposed proximate to the fourth notch. In the first direction, the third notch and the fourth notch are staggered. In some embodiments, the first extension portion includes a third edge, a first corner edge and a second corner edge. The third edge is opposite to the first edge, the first corner edge at least connects an end of the third edge to the first edge, and the second corner edge connects another end of the third edge to the first edge. The first connection portion is disposed proximate to the second corner edge. The second extension portion includes a fourth edge, a third corner edge and a fourth corner edge. The fourth edge is opposite to the second edge, the third corner edge at least connects an end of the fourth edge to the second edge, and the fourth corner edge connects another end of the fourth edge to the second edge. The second connection portion is disposed proximate to the fourth corner edge. In an extending direction of the first edge, the second corner edge, the third corner edge, the first corner edge, and the fourth corner edge are arranged in sequence. In some embodiments, an included angle between the second corner edge and the first edge is less than or equal to 20°, and an included angle between the fourth corner edge and the second edge is less than or equal to 20°. In some embodiments, in the first direction, the third edge overlaps with the fourth edge. In some embodiments, the first connection portion