Abstract:
A phase shifter has a chamber with a holding space, a first feeder unit and a second feeder unit at the sides of the holding space, and at least one reversely configured electric regulation unit. The regulation unit contains a first coupling set with a movable and a fixed coupling, and a second coupling set with a movable and a fixed coupling. A sync linkage mechanism is used to link the respective movable couplings. A push-pull unit is linked to a driven connection of the sync linkage mechanism. A cover plate seals the holding space. The phase shifter configuration makes it possible to reduce markedly the volume and space of the phase shifter, cut down the manufacturing cost and improve the mating accuracy with higher applicability.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a phase shifter, and more particularly to an innovative one which is fitted with a plurality of electric regulation units configured reversely. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. 
     With sharply increasing end users of mobile communication systems, especially in metropolitan areas where the consumer distribution is dense and time-dependently changing, many base stations are in full-load state. For instance, in the industrial and commercial regions, the distribution of mobile phones and PDAs varies markedly with the changing commuter time or holidays, so the load of the base stations covering these regions fluctuate obviously, leading to lower availability, degraded communication quality and waste of resources. 
     For the aforementioned problems and demands, an electric regulation antenna is extensively applied to the communication base stations in lieu of a common antenna. Said electric regulation antenna allows for regulation of the radiation angle of the antenna depending on the coverage, traffic and disturbance, etc, of the mobile network, thereby optimizing the communication network and QoS and improving the availability of resources. 
     Of which, the core component of said electric regulation antenna is a phase shifter involved in the present invention. However, the structure of the common phase shifter has some problems and shortcomings, such as for the phase shifter with a regulator that is formed by sleeving the coaxial tube with the transmission line (e.g.: U.S. Pat. No. 2,502,359), the bigger size leads to increasing cross section of the phase shifter, thus resulting in bigger space, inconvenient assembly and higher manufacturing cost, etc. 
     Moreover, another shortcoming of the common phase shifter lies in the configuration of the electric regulation units, where the shift of a plurality of electric regulation units is generally driven by a single push-pull unit, but the electric regulation efficiency is insufficient. Besides, the electric regulation efficiency is generally increased by connecting the multiple phase shifters in series, leading to substantial volume increase of the phase shifter and making it more difficult to improve the mating and functioning accuracy of components. 
     Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement if the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy. 
     Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate experimentation and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The enhanced efficacy of the present invention is as follows. 
     Based on the unique configuration of the present invention wherein “the phase shifter with reversely configured electric regulation units” is mainly characterized by the arrangement of the reversely configured electric regulation units, the first movable coupling and first fixed coupling are operated reversely in relation to the second movable coupling and second fixed coupling. When the first movable coupling is elongated in relation to the first fixed coupling, the second movable coupling is shortened in relation to the second fixed coupling. With this configuration, the phase shifter may generate synchronously two kinds of shift (elongated and shortened) in the same phase shift process. The electric regulation efficiency of conventional multiple phase shifters can thus be realized by a single phase shifter of the present invention. If the same electric regulation efficiency is desired, the phase shifter of the present invention enables significant reduction of the volume and space of the electric regulation units while minimizing the manufacturing cost. Under the same volume and space, the phase shifter of the present invention can improve remarkably the scope and efficiency of electric regulation. Furthermore, based on the arrangement of reversely configured electric regulation units, the electric regulation units of the single phase shifter of the present invention are configured more intensively and densely, so the mating and operating precision of the components can be improved with higher stability and quality. 
     The improvements brought about by this invention are as follows. 
     Based on the configuration wherein a plurality of reversely configured electric regulation units are arranged, and the adjacent ones are arranged in parallel, the shorter phase shifter can realize bigger scope and ideal efficiency of electric regulation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the phase shifter of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the phase shifter of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an operating status of the electric regulation unit of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of another operating status of the electric regulation unit of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the present invention wherein the coupling parts are configured into a plate pattern. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view of the present invention wherein the coupling parts are configured into a combined pattern of strip and groove. 
         FIG. 7  is an isolated view of the present invention wherein a plurality of phase shifters are arranged in parallel and synchronized. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIGS. 1-3  depict preferred embodiments of a phase shifter of the present invention with reversely configured electric regulation units, which, however, are provided for only explanatory objective for patent claims. Said phase shifter A includes a chamber  10 , which is a flat body with opening that is formed by die casting and surface coating. A holding space  11  is shaped recessedly at one side of the chamber  10 . The holding space  11  has a first side  111  and a second side  112 . 
     A first feeder unit  20  and a second feeder unit  20 B are provided, wherein the first feeder unit  20  is set at the first side  111  of the holding space  11 , and the second feeder unit  20 B is set at the second side  112  of the holding space  11 . In this preferred embodiment, both the first feeder unit  20  and second feeder unit  20 B have a feeder base  21  and cables  22 , of which said feeder base  21  is located close to the first side  111  and second side  112  of the holding space  11 , and the feeder base  21  is provided with a cable threading portion  23  (apertured or depressed pattern) for penetration of cables  22 . 
     At least a reversely configured electric regulation unit B is set into the holding space  11  of the chamber  10 . The reversely configured electric regulation unit B includes a first coupling set  30 , placed close to the first side  111  of the holding space  11 , and composed of a first movable coupling  31  and a first fixed coupling  32 . The first movable coupling  31  is provided with a driven portion  311  and a coupling end  312 . The first fixed coupling  32  is provided with a feeding connection  321  and a coupling portion  322 . The feeding connection  321  is electrically connected with the first feeder unit  20 , and the coupling portion  322  is coupled with the coupling end  312  of the first movable coupling  31 . A second coupling set  40  is reversely configured with the first coupling set  30 . The second coupling set  40  is composed of a second movable coupling  41  and a second fixed coupling  42 . The second movable coupling  41  is provided with a driven portion  411  and a coupling end  412 , and the second fixed coupling  42  is provided with a feeding connection  421  and a coupling portion  422 . The feeding connection  421  is electrically connected with the second feeder unit  20 B, and the coupling portion  422  is coupled with the coupling end  412  of the second movable coupling  41 . A sync linkage mechanism  50 , which is a plastic molding unit used to link the first and second movable couplings  31 ,  41 , such that the first and second movable couplings  31 ,  41  can be synchronously driven by the sync linkage mechanism  50 , so as to change the electric length of the entire phase shifter for the desired phase variation. Moreover, the sync linkage mechanism  50  is provided with a driven connection  51 . 
     A push-pull unit  60  is provided, which is a long rod having a driving end  61  and a driven end  62 . The driving end  61  is linked to the driven connection  51  for the sync linkage mechanism  50  of the reversely configured electric regulation units B. The driven end  62  is extended to an outside preset location of the phase shifter A, permitting the driving via a drive device (e.g.: motor). 
     A cover plate  70  is used to seal the holding space  11  of the chamber  10 , and also to conceal limitedly the push-pull unit  60  of the reversely configured electric regulation units B. 
     Of which, the first and second coupling sets  30 ,  40  of the reversely configured electric regulation units B are mated into a tubular column pattern. Of which, the first and second movable couplings  31 ,  41  are formed into a U-shaped cylinder, while the first and second fixed couplings  32 ,  42  are formed into a copper tube. A seat  12  is separately set within the holding space  11  close to the first side  111  and second side  112 . The seat  12  is provided with a through-hole  120  for penetration and positioning of the first and second fixed couplings  32 ,  42 . A guiding assembly  80  is assembled into the holding space  11  of the chamber  10 . The guiding assembly  80  has a permanent seat  81  and a seat cover  82 , both of which are PE plates. The permanent seat  81  is provided with long guide slots  83  arranged at interval. Both ends of the guide slot  83  are provided with a trough  84  for limiting the U-shaped cylindrical first and second movable couplings  31 ,  41 . The first and second movable couplings  31 ,  41  can be evenly placed onto the permanent seat  81 . The seat cover  82  is covered onto the permanent seat  81 . Besides, the seat cover  82  is provided with a through-hole  85  for penetration of the driven connection  51  of the sync linkage mechanism  50 . 
     Based on above-specified structural configuration, the present invention is operated as follows: 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , said phase shifter A is operated in such a manner that the push-pull unit  60  shifts extensibly and then the sync linkage mechanism  50  drives the first and second movable couplings  31 ,  41  (marked by arrow L 1 , L 2 ). With a U-shaped pattern design, the first and second movable couplings  31 ,  41  shift towards the first and second fixed couplings  32 ,  42 , so as to change the electric length of the entire phase shifter for the desired phase variation. 
     It is worthy to note that an insulating medium is set at the coupling position between the first/second movable couplings  31 ,  41  and the first/second fixed couplings  32 ,  42 , so both of them are coupled inductively, instead of being coupled electrically by the contact of conductive materials. 
     The present invention is characterized by the arrangement of the reversely configured electric regulation units B, so the first movable coupling  31  and first fixed coupling  32  are operated reversely in relation to the second movable coupling  41  and second fixed coupling  42 . When the first movable coupling  31  is elongated in relation to the first fixed coupling  32  (i.e.: electric length is elongated), the second movable coupling  41  is shortened in relation to the second fixed coupling  42  (i.e.: electric length is shortened). With this configuration, the phase shifter may generate synchronously two kinds of shift (elongated and shortened) in the same phase shift process; the electric regulation efficiency of conventional multiple phase shifters can be realized by a single phase shifter of the present invention. If the same electric regulation efficiency is desired, the phase shifter A of the present invention enables to reduce significantly the volume and space of the electric regulation units while minimizing the manufacturing cost. Under the same volume and space, the phase shifter A of the present invention can improve remarkably the scope and efficiency of electric regulation. Furthermore, based on the arrangement of reversely configured electric regulation units B, the electric regulation units of the single phase shifter of the present invention are arranged more intensively and densely, so the mating and operating precision of the components can be improved with higher stability and quality. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , when a plurality of reversely configured electric regulation units B are arranged, the adjacent reversely configured electric regulation units B are arranged in parallel. Moreover, the driving end  61  of the push-pull unit  60  is linked to the sync linkage mechanism  50  of the reversely configured electric regulation units B, so as to drive synchronously a plurality of reversely configured electric regulation units B. With the design of parallel configuration, the shorter phase shifter A can realize bigger scope and ideal efficiency of electric regulation. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 5 , the first and second coupling sets  30 ,  40  of the reversely configured electric regulation unit B can be mated into a plate pattern, so the first and second movable couplings  31 B,  41 B are formed into U-shaped plate, and the first and second fixed coupling  32 B,  42 B are formed into straight plate, with the same technical characteristic and operating principle as the aforementioned preferred embodiment. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the first and second coupling sets  30 ,  40  of the reversely configured electric regulation unit B can be mated into a combined pattern of strip and groove, so that the first and second movable couplings  31 C,  41 C are formed into U-shaped strip pattern, and the first and second fixed couplings  32 C,  42 C are formed into grooved seat, with the same technical characteristic and operating principle as the aforementioned preferred embodiment. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 7 , a plurality of said phase shifters A can be arranged in parallel, whilst the driving end  61  of a push-pull unit  60  is linked to the sync linkage mechanism  50  of the phase shifters A for synchronous driving.