ANTENNA STRUCTURE, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND WIRELESS NETWORK SYSTEM

An antenna structure, an electronic device, and a wireless network system are provided, and relate to the field of antenna technologies. A patch antenna array includes four patch antennas. The four patch antennas are arranged in two rows and two columns. One of the feeding structures is included between two of the patch antennas in each row. One of the feeding structures is included between two of the patch antennas in each column. The feeding structure located between the two patch antennas in each column is connected to the first feeding port, so that the four patch antennas all generate polarization in a first direction. The feeding structure located between the two patch antennas in each row is connected to the second feeding port, so that the four patch antennas all generate polarization in a second direction.

STATEMENT OF JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The subject matter and the claimed invention were made by or on the behalf of Tsinghua University, of Haidian District, Beijing, P.R. China and Honor Device Co., Ltd., of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, P.R. China, under a joint research agreement. The joint research agreement was in effect on or before the claimed invention was made, and that the claimed invention was made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of the joint research agreement.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of antenna technologies, and in particular, to an antenna structure, an electronic device, and a wireless network system.

BACKGROUND

Currently, antennas may be classified into an omnidirectional antenna and a directional antenna according to different signal radiation directions. The omnidirectional antenna radiates evenly around and has no direction. Compared with the omnidirectional antenna, the directional antenna can radiate within a certain range of angles, and thus has higher gain in a specific direction.

In a typical application scenario, the directional antenna is applicable to a router, and the problem of a poor signal caused by attenuation of the signal due to wall penetration can be addressed by using the characteristic that the directional antenna has higher gain in a specific direction. A common design scheme of the directional antenna is a dipole antenna with a reflector, a patch antenna, or an electromagnetic dipole antenna. The dipole antenna with the reflector is generally used in a base station antenna, and generally has gain that is around 8 dB, which is relatively low. The electromagnetic dipole antenna generally requires a multilayer printed circuit board (PCB) or a three-dimensional metal structure, which is costly and is difficult to machine. Compared with the electromagnetic dipole antenna, the patch antenna is simple in structure, but the current patch antenna has limited gain and low practicability.

SUMMARY

To address the above problems, this application provides an antenna structure, an electronic device, and a wireless network system, which are simple in structure and have higher directional gain.

According to a first aspect, this application provides an antenna structure. The antenna structure includes a dielectric plate, a metal bottom plate, a patch antenna array, a first feeding port, a second feeding port, and four feeding structures. The dielectric plate and the metal bottom plate are spaced apart at a first preset distance. The first feeding port and the patch antenna array are located on a first surface of the dielectric plate. The second feeding port is located on a second surface of the dielectric plate. The second surface is opposite the first surface. The patch antenna array includes four patch antennas. The four patch antennas are arranged in two rows and two columns. One of the feeding structures is included between two of the patch antennas in each row. One of the feeding structures is included between two of the patch antennas in each column. The feeding structure located between the two patch antennas in each column is connected to the first feeding port, so that the four patch antennas all generate polarization in a first direction. The feeding structure located between the two patch antennas in each row is connected to the second feeding port, so that the four patch antennas all generate polarization in a second direction.

In the solution provided in this application, gain is increased by adopting the patch antenna array, and the antenna structure realizes excitation of the four patch antennas by using only two feeding ports. A feeding circuit has a simple structure, and the feeding circuit has low design complexity. In addition, the feeding structure can be directly designed on the dielectric plate where the patch antennas are located, so that all feeding circuits and patch antennas can be realized on a same dielectric plate, which can effectively reduce complexity of the antenna structure and reduce the cost of the antenna structure.

In a possible implementation, the first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

In this case, the four patch antennas achieve orthogonal polarization, so the antenna structure has good directionality.

In a possible implementation, the antenna structure further includes the metal bottom plate; and the dielectric plate and the metal bottom plate are spaced apart at the first preset distance. The first preset distance may be determined according to a bandwidth of the antenna structure during operation, which is not specifically limited in this application.

In a possible implementation, each of the four feeding structures includes a dipole and a set of parallel feed lines that are connected. The parallel feed lines include a first feed line located on the first surface and a second feed line located on the second surface. The second feed line included in the feeding structure between the two patch antennas in each column is connected to the first surface through a corresponding through structure. The first feed line included in the feeding structure between the two patch antennas in each row is connected to the second surface through a corresponding through structure.

In a possible implementation, the through structure includes one or more vias, each of the one or more vias being filled or plated with a conductive medium.

In a possible implementation, the four feeding structures specifically include a first feeding structure, a second feeding structure, a third feeding structure, and a fourth feeding structure.

The first feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the first column, the second feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the first row, the third feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the second column, and the fourth feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the second row. The first feed line of the first feeding structure is connected to the first feed line of the third feeding structure. The second feed line of the first feeding structure is connected to the first surface through a first through structure, and the second feed line of the third feeding structure is connected to the first surface through a third through structure. The first through structure and the third through structure are connected on the first surface. The second feed line of the second feeding structure is connected to the second feed line of the fourth feeding structure. The first feed line of the second feeding structure is connected to the second surface through a second through structure, and the first feed line of the fourth feeding structure is connected to the second surface through a fourth through structure. The second through structure and the fourth through structure are connected on the second surface.

In a possible implementation, the dipole of each of the feeding structures includes: a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is located on the first surface, a first end of the first portion is connected to the first feed line, the first end of the first portion is a first input terminal of the dipole, a second end of the first portion includes a first branch, and the first branch and the patch antenna closest thereto are spaced apart at a second preset distance. The second portion is located on the second surface, a first end of the second portion is connected to the second feed line, the first end of the second portion is a second input terminal of the dipole, a second end of the second portion includes a second branch, and the second branch and the patch antenna closest thereto are spaced apart at the second preset distance.

Magnitude of series capacitance between the patch antenna and the dipole may be adjusted by adjusting a length of the second preset distance. In actual adjustment, the shorter the second preset distance, the higher a capacitance value of an equivalent series capacitor.

The magnitude of the series capacitance between the patch antenna and the dipole may also be adjusted by adjusting widths of the first branch and the second branch. In actual adjustment, the longer the widths of the first branch and the second branch, the higher the capacitance value of the equivalent series capacitor.

In a possible implementation, input impedance of the dipole is a first impedance value, the input impedance of the dipole is impedance between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and an impedance value between the first feed line and the second feed line in each set of the parallel feed lines is the first impedance value, so as to implement impedance matching.

In a possible implementation, each of the four feeding structures includes a dipole and a set of parallel slot lines that are connected. The parallel slot lines included in the feeding structure between the two patch antennas in each column are both located on the first surface. The parallel slot lines included in the feeding structure between the two patch antennas in each row are both located on the second surface.

In a possible implementation, the four feeding structures specifically include a first feeding structure, a second feeding structure, a third feeding structure, and a fourth feeding structure. The first feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the first column, the second feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the first row, the third feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the second column, and the fourth feeding structure is located between the two patch antennas in the second row. A first slot line of the first feeding structure is connected to a first slot line of the third feeding structure. A second slot line of the first feeding structure is connected to a second slot line of the third feeding structure. A first slot line of the second feeding structure is connected to a first slot line of the fourth feeding structure. A second slot line of the second feeding structure is connected to a second slot line of the fourth feeding structure.

In a possible implementation, the dipole of each of the feeding structures includes: a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are located on a same surface. A first end of the first portion is connected to the first slot line, the first end of the first portion is a first input terminal of the dipole, a second end of the first portion includes a first branch, and the first branch and the patch antenna closest thereto are spaced apart at a second preset distance. A first end of the second portion is connected to the second slot line, the first end of the second portion is a second input terminal of the dipole, a second end of the second portion includes a second branch, and the second branch and the patch antenna closest thereto are spaced apart at the second preset distance.

In a possible implementation, input impedance of the dipole is a first impedance value, the input impedance of the dipole is impedance between the first input terminal and the second input terminal, and an impedance value between the first slot line and the second slot line in each set of the parallel feed lines is the first impedance value, so as to implement impedance matching. In a possible implementation, the first branch and the second branch are T-shaped branches; or the first branch and the second branch are triangular branches; or the first branch and the second branch are semicircular branches.

In a possible implementation, the patch antennas included in the patch antenna array are square patch antennas; or the patch antennas included in the patch antenna array are circular patch antennas; or the patch antennas included in the patch antenna array are rhombic patch antennas.

In a possible implementation, the first surface and the second surface of the dielectric plate are squares, and side lengths of the first surface and the second surface are both a first preset length. A distance between geometric centers of the two patch antennas in a same column is a second preset length, and a distance between geometric centers of the two patch antennas in a same row is the second preset length. The second preset length is half of the first preset length.

According to a second aspect, this application further provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes one or more antenna structures provided in the above implementations, and further includes a first radio-frequency circuit. The antenna structure(s) is/are connected to the first radio-frequency circuit.

The antenna structure provided in the above implementations is applied to the electronic device. In the antenna structure, the four patch antennas are excited by dipole coupled feeding. For single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas conventionally requires four ports, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-four structure. However, by use of the technical solution of this application, for single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas requires only two feeding structures, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-two structure. Therefore, design complexity of the feeding circuit is reduced. Moreover, the dipole is connected to two parallel feed lines, and the two parallel feed lines can be directly designed on the dielectric plate where the patch antennas are located, so that all feeding circuits and patch antennas can be realized on a same dielectric plate, which can effectively reduce complexity of the antenna structure and reduce the cost of the antenna structure. That is, the cost of the electronic device is reduced. In addition, the antenna structure is directional, has high directional gain, has a high degree of isolation between the two feeding ports, and can also cover a wide frequency band range, for example, both a 5 GHz frequency band and a 6 GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Therefore, practicability is higher, and a quantity of antennas disposed on the electronic device can be reduced, to further reduce the cost of the electronic device.

In a possible implementation, the electronic device includes a plurality of antenna structures, at least two of the plurality of antenna structures having different operating frequency bands.

In a possible implementation, the electronic device is a router.

According to a third aspect, this application further provides a wireless network system. The wireless network system includes one or more electronic devices provided in the above embodiments.

The antenna structure provided in this application is applied to the electronic device(s) in the wireless network system. On the one hand, the cost of the electronic device(s) is saved. On the other hand, gain of the electronic device(s) in a specific direction is increased. Therefore, signal quality and network stability of the wireless network system are improved.

In a possible implementation, the wireless network system further includes one or more second electronic devices including an omnidirectional antenna.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and so on are intended to distinguish different objects but do not indicate a particular order.

To make a person skilled in the art better understand technical solutions in this application, an application scenario of the technical solutions in this application is first introduced below.

The solutions provided in this application are applied to an electronic device provided with an antenna. A type of the electronic device is not specifically limited in this application. The electronic device may be a mobile phone, a notebook computer, a wearable device (such as a smart watch), a tablet computer, an augmented reality (AR) device, a virtual reality (VR) device, a router device, an in-vehicle device, or the like. A description is provided below based on an example in which the electronic device is a router.

Refer toFIG.1Awhich is a first schematic diagram of a scenario according to an embodiment of this application.

InFIG.1A, a router10uses an omnidirectional antenna and is located on a left side of a wall, and a terminal device20is located on a right side of the wall. Since the omnidirectional antenna radiates evenly around and does not have high gain in a specific direction, after a signal passes through the wall and attenuates, the signal received by the terminal device20on the right side of the wall is relatively weak.

InFIG.1A, a router20uses a directional antenna and is located on a right side of a wall, and a terminal device21is located on a right side of the wall. Since the omnidirectional antenna has higher gain in a specific direction, even if the signal passes through the wall and attenuates, the terminal device20on the right side of the wall can still receive a relatively strong signal.

Refer toFIG.1Bwhich is a second schematic diagram of a scenario according to an embodiment of this application.

When a router11and a router12form a wireless network system, the router11uses a directional antenna to send a signal to the router12, and the router12may use an omnidirectional antenna to communicate with surrounding terminal devices20and21. In this case, since the omnidirectional antenna has higher gain in a specific direction, stability of the signal sent by the router11to the router12is ensured, and a layout position of the router11can be more free. Even partition arrangement can be realized.

It may be understood that the router form inFIG.1AandFIG.1Bis only a possible implementation, and does not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of this application.

To sum up, the use of the directional antenna in the above scenarios can significantly improve user experience. Currently, a design scheme of the directional antenna is a dipole antenna with a reflector, a patch antenna, or an electromagnetic dipole antenna. The dipole antenna with the reflector is generally used in a base station antenna, and generally has gain that is around 8 dB, which is relatively low. The electromagnetic dipole antenna generally requires a multilayer PCB or a three-dimensional metal structure, which is costly and is difficult to machine. Compared with the electromagnetic dipole antenna, the patch antenna is simple in structure. However, the current patch antenna has limited gain, and a patch antenna array needs to be used to increase the gain. The patch antenna array requires a plurality of feeding ports to perform in-phase feeding on the patch antennas at a same position to generate directional radiation. Therefore, an additional feeding circuit needs to be designed, and the practicability is low.

To address the above technical problems, this application provides an antenna structure, an electronic device, and a wireless network system. The antenna structure is simple in structure and has higher directional gain, which is specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms such as “first” and “second” used in the description of this application are for descriptive purposes only, and shall not be understood as indication or implication of relative importance or implicit indication of a quantity of indicated technical features.

It may be understood that orientation names such as “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right” in the following embodiments of this application are only for convenience of description and need to refer to the directions in the accompanying drawings, which do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions of this application.

In this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified or defined, the term “connection” should be understood in a broad sense. For example, the “connection” may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection or an integral connection; or may be a direct electrical connection, or an indirect electrical connection through an intermediary.

For ease of description, a radio-frequency antenna in the following embodiments of this application is referred to as an antenna, and a printed circuit board (PBC) is referred to as a circuit board. Details are not described again below.

Refer toFIG.2which is a schematic diagram of an antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

The antenna structure includes: a dielectric plate100, a metal bottom plate200, a patch antenna array, a first feeding port50, a second feeding port60, and four feeding structures.

The dielectric plate100and the metal bottom plate200are spaced apart at a first preset distance h. A relative position between the dielectric plate and the metal bottom plate200is fixed. The metal bottom plate200serves as a grounding terminal of the antenna structure.

The patch antenna array includes patch antennas01to04. The four patch antennas are arranged in two rows and two columns. One of the feeding structures is included between two of the patch antennas in each row. One of the feeding structures is included between two of the patch antennas in each column.

The first feeding port50and the patch antenna array are located on a first surface of the dielectric plate100. The second feeding port60is located on a second surface of the dielectric plate. The second surface is opposite the first surface.

As shown inFIG.2, the first surface is an upper surface of the dielectric plate100, the second surface is a lower surface of the dielectric plate100, and the second surface faces the metal bottom plate200.

The feeding structure located between the two patch antennas in each column is connected to the first feeding port50, so that the four patch antennas all generate polarization in a first direction. The first direction corresponds to a direction x shown in the figure.

The feeding structure located between the two patch antennas in each row is connected to the second feeding port, so that the four patch antennas all generate polarization in a second direction. The second direction corresponds to a direction y shown in the figure. The first direction is orthogonal to the second direction.

Specifically, a first feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna04in the first column, and the first feeding structure includes a first dipole10, a first feed line11, and a second feed line12. The first feed line11and the second feed line12of the first feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50.

A second feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna02in the first row, and the second feeding structure includes a second dipole20, a first feed line21, and a second feed line22. The first feed line21and the second feed line22of the second feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60.

A third feeding structure is located between the patch antenna02and the patch antenna03in the second column, and the third feeding structure includes a third dipole30, a first feed line31, and a second feed line32. The first feed line31and the second feed line32of the third feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50.

A fourth feeding structure is located between the patch antenna03and the patch antenna04in the second row, and the fourth feeding structure includes a fourth dipole40, a first feed line41, and a second feed line42. The first feed line41and the second feed line42of the fourth feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60.

The first feeding structure and the third feeding structure are configured to cause the patch antennas01to04to generate polarization in the first direction. The first direction corresponds to the direction x shown in the figure. The second feeding structure and the fourth feeding structure are configured to cause the patch antennas01to04to generate polarization in the second direction. The second direction corresponds to the direction y shown in the figure. The direction x and the direction y shown in the figure are orthogonal to each other.

By use of the solution provided in this embodiment of this application, gain is increased by adopting the patch antenna array, and the antenna structure uses only two feeding ports. A feeding circuit has a simple structure, and the feeding circuit has low design complexity. In addition, the feeding structure can be directly designed on the dielectric plate where the patch antennas are located, so that all feeding circuits and patch antennas can be realized on a same dielectric plate, which can effectively reduce complexity of the antenna structure and reduce the cost of the antenna structure.

An implementation of the antenna structure is specifically described below.

Still refer to the antenna structure shown inFIG.2.

The antenna structure shown inFIG.2specifically includes a dielectric plate100, a metal bottom plate200, a patch antenna array, a first feeding structure, a second feeding structure, a third feeding structure, a fourth feeding structure, a first feeding port50, and a second feeding port60.

A specific material of the dielectric plate100is not limited in this embodiment of this application, which may be determined according to an actual situation.

In some embodiments, the dielectric plate100may be an epoxy glass fiber plate (epoxy plate) whose fire-resistant material grade is FR-4, and a dielectric constant of the dielectric plate is εr=4.4.

A thickness d of the dielectric plate100may be determined according to an actual situation, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application.

The first preset distance h between the dielectric plate100and the metal bottom plate200may be determined according to a bandwidth of the antenna structure during operation, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application.

The patch antenna array is located on a first surface of the dielectric plate100.

The patch antenna array includes patch antennas01to04. The above four patch antennas are arranged in a 2×2 manner. That is, the patch antenna array includes two rows, and each row includes two patch antennas. Moreover, the patch antenna array includes two columns, and each column includes two patch antennas. In the patch antenna array shown inFIG.2, the first row includes the patch antenna01and the patch antenna02, the second row includes the patch antenna03and the patch antenna04, the first column includes the patch antenna01and the patch antenna04, and the second column includes the patch antenna02and the patch antenna03.

Implementation of the feeding structures are described first below. The following description is provided by taking the first feeding structure as an example. Implementations of other feeding structures are similar. Details are not described again.

Refer toFIG.3which is a schematic diagram of a feeding structure according to an embodiment of this application.

The first feeding structure includes a first dipole10, a first feed line11, and a second feed line12. The first dipole includes a first portion101and a second portion102. The first portion101and the first feed line11are located on the first surface of the dielectric plate100, and the second portion102and the second feed line12are located on the second surface of the dielectric plate100. An input terminal of the first portion101is connected to the first feed line11, and a tail end of the first portion101is spaced apart from the patch antenna01inFIG.2at a second preset distance. An input terminal of the second portion102is connected to the second feed line12, and a tail end of the second portion102is spaced apart from the patch antenna04inFIG.2at the second preset distance.

The first feed line11and the second feed line12are a set of parallel lines.

Input impedance of an input terminal of the first dipole10is impedance between the first portion101and the second portion102.

An implementation of the antenna structure is specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Refer toFIG.2andFIG.4together.FIG.4is an enlarged view of Region A inFIG.2according to an embodiment of this application.

The first feeding structure includes a first dipole10, a first feed line11, and a second feed line12. The first feed line11is located on the first surface of the dielectric plate100, a first end of the first feed line11is connected to the first feeding port50, and a second end of the first feed line11is connected to a first portion of the first dipole10. The second feed line12is located on the second surface of the dielectric plate100. A first end of the second feed line12is connected to the first surface of the dielectric plate100through a first through structure13and then connected to the first feeding port50on the first surface. The first through structure13includes one or more vias filled or plated with a conductive medium. A quantity of the vias included in the first through structure13is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application. An example inFIG.4is described based on an example in which the first through structure13includes two vias. A second end of the second feed line12is connected to a second portion of the first dipole10.

The second feeding structure includes a second dipole20, a first feed line21, and a second feed line22. The first feed line21is located on the first surface of the dielectric plate100, and a first end of the first feed line21is connected to the second surface of the dielectric plate100through a second through structure23and then connected to the second feeding port60on the second surface. The second through structure23includes one or more vias filled or plated with a conductive medium. A quantity of the vias included in the second through structure23is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application. An example inFIG.4is described based on an example in which the second through structure23includes two vias. A second end of the first feed line21is connected to a first portion of the second dipole20. The second feed line22is located on the second surface of the dielectric plate100, and a first end of the second feed line22is connected to the second feeding port60on the second surface of the dielectric plate100. A second end of the second feed line22is connected to a second portion of the second dipole20.

The third feeding structure includes a third dipole30, a first feed line31, and a second feed line32. The first feed line31is located on the first surface of the dielectric plate100, a first end of the first feed line31is connected to the first feeding port50, and a second end of the first feed line31is connected to a first portion of the third dipole30. The second feed line32is located on the second surface of the dielectric plate100. A first end of the second feed line32is connected to the first surface of the dielectric plate100through a third through structure33and then connected to the first feeding port50on the first surface. The third through structure33includes one or more vias filled or plated with a conductive medium. A quantity of the vias included in the third through structure33is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application. An example inFIG.4is described based on an example in which the third through structure33includes two vias. A second end of the second feed line32is connected to a second portion of the third dipole30.

The fourth feeding structure includes a fourth dipole40, a first feed line41, and a second feed line42. The first feed line41is located on the first surface of the dielectric plate100, and a first end of the first feed line41is connected to the second surface of the dielectric plate100through a fourth through structure43and then connected to the second feeding port60on the second surface. The fourth through structure43includes one or more vias filled or plated with a conductive medium. A quantity of the vias included in the fourth through structure43is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application. An example inFIG.4is described based on an example in which the fourth through structure43includes two vias. A second end of the first feed line41is connected to a first portion of the fourth dipole40. The second feed line42is located on the second surface of the dielectric plate100, a first end of the second feed line42is connected to the second feeding port60on the second surface of the dielectric plate100, and a second end of the second feed line42is connected to a second portion of the fourth dipole40.

That is, each feeding structure includes two parallel feed lines. The two feed lines are connected to a same output port located at a geometric center of the patch antenna array. Bodies of the two feed lines of same polarization are located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, only near the geometric center of the array, and one of the feed lines is connected to the other side of the dielectric plate through a through structure, so that the two feed lines are changed from the different surfaces to a same surface. This design enables two polarized feeding ports to be designed on the different surfaces of the dielectric plate, preventing mutual position conflicts.

In some embodiments, the first end of the first feed line11of the first feeding structure and the first end of the first feed line31of the third feeding structure may be connected on the first surface, and a length of a connecting line between the two is l1. The first feeding port is connected to the connecting line, equivalent to connecting the first feed line11of the first feeding structure and the first feed line31of the third feeding structure at the same time. The first end of the second feed line22of the second feeding structure and the first end of the second feed line42of the fourth feeding structure may be connected on the second surface, and a length of a connecting line may be 11. The first through structure13may be connected to the third through structure33on the first surface, and a length of a connecting line may be 11. The second through structure23may be connected to the fourth through structure43on the second surface, and a length of a connecting line may be 11.

In the above implementation, the first feed line11of the first feeding structure and the first feed line21of the second feeding structure feed the patch antenna01, that is, excite the patch antenna01. The second feed line22of the second feeding structure and the first feed line31of the third feeding structure feed the patch antenna02. The second feed line32of the third feeding structure and the second feed line42of the fourth feeding structure feed the patch antenna03. The first feed line41of the fourth feeding structure and the second feed line12of the first feeding structure feed the fourth patch antenna04.

In the solution provided in this embodiment of this application, the four patch antennas are excited by dipole coupled feeding. Moreover, dipole in-phase feeding is realized. The four patch antennas can ensure consistent polarization according to a relative positional relationship. For single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas conventionally requires four ports, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-four structure. However, by use of the technical solution in this embodiment of this application, for single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas requires only two dipoles, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-two structure. That is, design complexity of the feeding circuit is reduced by dipole feeding. Moreover, the dipole is connected to two parallel feed lines, and the two parallel feed lines can be directly designed on the dielectric plate where the patch antennas are located, so that all feeding circuits and patch antennas can be realized on a same dielectric plate, which can effectively reduce complexity of the antenna structure and reduce the cost of the antenna structure.

A description is provided below with reference to specific implementations.

Refer toFIG.5,FIG.6A, andFIG.6Btogether.FIG.5is an enlarged view of Region B inFIG.2according to an embodiment of this application.FIG.6Ais an enlarged view of Region C inFIG.5according to an embodiment of this application.FIG.6Bis a first equivalent circuit diagram corresponding toFIG.6Aaccording to an embodiment of this application.

The third dipole is selected for a specific description below. Specific implementations of other dipoles are similar, which are not described one by one in the embodiments of this application.

In the solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, the dipoles used are T-shaped dipoles. That is, the four patch antennas are all coupled and fed by the T-type dipoles. The T-type dipoles play a role of adjustment and matching.

Specifically, inFIG.5, there is a certain distance, that is, a second preset distance, marked as g2, between a tail end of the T-shaped dipole and the patch antenna. Capacitance generated by g2may be equivalent to that of a series capacitor C2inFIG.6B. Magnitude of the capacitance of the series capacitor C2may be adjusted by adjusting a length of g2according to an actual requirement. In actual adjustment, the shorter g2, the higher a capacitance value of the equivalent series capacitor C2. In addition, the capacitance of the series capacitor C2may alternatively be adjusted by adjusting a T-shaped branch length14. In actual adjustment, the longer14, the higher the capacitance value of the equivalent series capacitor C2.

InFIG.5, a dipole length of the T-shaped dipole is 13, inductance of the T-shaped dipole may be equivalent to that of a series inductor L2inFIG.6B, and magnitude of the inductance of the series inductor L2may be adjusted by changing the dipole length13. In actual adjustment, the longer13, the greater the inductance of the series inductor L2.

That is, equivalent capacitance and inductance of the dipole may be adjusted by adjusting the distance g2, the T-shaped branch length14, and the dipole length13, thereby realizing impedance matching.

The patch antenna02or03inFIG.5may be equivalent to an equivalent resistor R1, an equivalent inductor L1, and an equivalent capacitor C1that are connected in parallel inFIG.6B.

In addition, the impedance between the two parallel feed lines can be adjusted by adjusting a width w1of the two parallel feed lines.

A principle of implementing impedance matching is specifically described below through examples.

A description is based on an example in which input impedance of an input terminal of the dipole is a first impedance value.

In this case, characteristic impedance between the first feed line and the second feed line included in each feeding structure is the first impedance value.

At the geometric center of the patch antenna array, the two feed lines are changed from different surfaces to a same surface by using a through structure. Two sets of parallel double lines of same polarization are connected in parallel, so that equivalent input impedance is half of the first impedance value. That is, the input impedance of the feeding port is half of the first impedance value.

FIG.6Bshows an equivalent circuit when the first portion of the dipole of the third feeding structure excites the patch antenna02. In this case, input impedance Z in the figure is half of the first impedance value.

For example, referring toFIG.2, the two parallel feed lines of the first feeding structure are connected in parallel to the two parallel feed lines of the third feeding structure. Since a characteristic impedance value between the parallel feed lines is the first impedance value, an equivalent impedance value after parallel connection is half of the first impedance value. Similarly, when the two parallel feed lines of the second feeding structure are connected in parallel to the two parallel feed lines of the fourth feeding structure, an equivalent impedance value is half of the first impedance value. In this case, for the first feeding port50on the first surface and the second feeding port60on the second surface, the input impedance of the ports is half of the first impedance value, thereby realizing impedance matching.

A specific size of the first impedance value is not limited in the embodiments of this application. For example, when the first impedance value is 100Ω, the characteristic impedance between two parallel feed lines is 100Ω, and the input impedance of the ports is 50Ω. That is, the input impedance Z of the feeding port inFIG.6Bis 50Ω.

Refer toFIG.7Awhich is a schematic diagram of distribution of a patch antenna array according to an embodiment of this application.

For ease of description, inFIG.7A, the antenna structure is divided into four identical square regions, namely Region I, Region II, Region III, and Region IV. Each patch antenna is located in a center of the square region. The first surface and the second surface of the dielectric plate are squares with equal areas, and a side length is a first preset length lg. In this case, a length between geometric centers of two patch antennas in a same row or column is a second preset length ldis. ldisis lg/2.

When the patch antennas are arranged according toFIG.7A, antenna gain may also be increased by increasing the side length lgof the antenna structure. However, since a quantity of cells is always 4, the gain that can be achieved is limited, so that aperture efficiency may decrease. In actual application, an operating wavelength of an antenna is represented by λ0, and a specific proportional relationship between lgand λ0needs to be determined by comprehensively considering the antenna gain and the aperture efficiency.

Beneficial effects of the technical solutions of this application are analyzed and described below with reference to specific examples.

The operating wavelength of the antenna is represented by λ0, and it is found through research and experiments that the antenna can obtain higher gain and aperture efficiency when lgranges from 1.0λ0to 1.4λ0.

In actual application, to minimize a size of the antenna structure, the value of lgmay be a smaller value within a reasonable range. For example, lgmay be selected as 1.12λ0. Under a condition that the above antenna size selection range is satisfied, the aperture efficiency is less affected by relative positions of the patch antennas. According to the 2×2 arrangement inFIG.7A, the aperture efficiency is also higher even if ldis≈lg/2.

Refer toFIG.7BandFIG.7Ctogether.FIG.7Bis a schematic diagram of a front surface of an antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.FIG.7Cis a schematic diagram of a rear surface of an antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

For example, an operating wavelength of the antenna structure is λ0=50 mm. Specification parameters of the front surface of the antenna structure (that is, a top surface) and the rear surface of the antenna structure (that is, a bot surface) are simulated and tested using specific parameter values in Table 1 below.

Refer toFIG.8which is a schematic diagram of simulation of an S-parameter of an antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

The S-parameter (Scattering-Parameter) is a network parameter based on a relationship between an incident wave and a reflected wave, which is suitable for microwave circuit analysis. A circuit network is described by a reflected signal of a device port and a signal transmitted from the port to another port.

S11 denotes a reflection coefficient of Port 1 when Port 2 is matched.

S22 denotes a reflection coefficient of Port 2 when Port 1 is matched.

S12 denotes a reverse transfer coefficient from Port 2 to Port 1 when Port 1 is matched.

S21 denotes a forward transfer coefficient from Port 1 to Port 2 when Port 2 is matched.

For a symmetric network, S11=S22.

S11 may be used for indicating magnitude of gain, and S21 may be used for indicating a degree of isolation between two ports.

With the application of a Wi-Fi 6E standard, compared with a previous protocol, a new protocol has advantages of high bandwidth, high concurrency, low latency, and the like, and addition of a 6 GHz frequency band has effectively alleviated shortage of spectrum resources in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. In terms of frequency spectrum, the 5 GHz (such as 5.15 GHz to 5.825 GHz) frequency band and the 6 GHz (such as 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz) frequency band are very close. If the antennas can cover the two frequency bands at the same time, a quantity of the antennas in the electronic device can be effectively reduced.

Referring toFIG.8, it may be found that, when the reflection coefficient less than −10 dB is taken as a matching target, a matching bandwidth range of the antenna structure provided in this embodiment of this application ranges approximately from 4.90 GHz to 7.43 GHz, covering a 5 GHz frequency band and a 6 GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Due to symmetry, a curve of S22 is the same as that of S11. Therefore, the antenna structure provided in this application has high practicality, and the quantity of the antennas in the electronic device can be effectively reduced. The smaller the reflection coefficient, the more energy entering the antenna.

On the other hand, since polarization directions of the antenna structure are orthogonal, within a matching bandwidth, the degree of isolation between the first feeding port and the second feeding port is greater than 40 dB, that is, a degree of mutual interference between the two feeding ports of the antenna structure is lower, and performance of the antenna structure is better.

Refer toFIG.9which is a schematic diagram of electric field amplitude distribution of an antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

As can be seen fromFIG.9, each patch antenna in the patch antenna array operates approximately in a TM10mode, a synthesized beam points to a direction +Z, and polarization directions are orthogonal.

TM10refers to an electromagnetic wave in a standard rectangular waveguide with electric field components but no magnetic field components along a direction of propagation. 1 indicates a half-wave change in an electromagnetic field in a direction of a wide side of the rectangular waveguide, and 0 indicates even distribution on a narrow side.

Refer toFIG.10andFIG.11together.FIG.10is a radiation pattern of an xz plane according to an embodiment of this application.FIG.11is a radiation pattern of a yz plane according to an embodiment of this application.

To facilitate distinction of lines, in a radiation pattern, a curve when the operating frequency is 5.2 GHz is marked with a triangle, a curve when the operating frequency is 6.0 GHz is marked with a square, and a curve when the operating frequency is 7.0 GHz is marked with a circle. As can be seen from the figures, maximum gain within each matching bandwidth exceeds 10 dB, and the synthesized beam points to the direction +Z.

The description in the above embodiment is based on an example in which the patch antennas are squares. In actual application, the patch antennas may alternatively be in other shapes. A specific description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Refer toFIG.12which is a schematic diagram of another antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

The patch antennas01to04in the figure are rhombic patch antennas.

A first feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna04in the first column, and the first feeding structure includes a first dipole10, a first feed line11, and a second feed line12. The first feed line11and the second feed line12of the first feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50. Label11(12) in the figure indicates that the first feed line11and the second feed line12are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

Label50(60) in the figure indicates that the first feeding port50and the second feeding port60are located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate (that is, the first feeding port50is located on an upper surface of the dielectric plate and the second feeding port60is located on a lower surface of the dielectric plate), and overlap on the top view of the dielectric plate.

A second feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna02in the first row, and the second feeding structure includes a second dipole20, a first feed line21, and a second feed line22. The first feed line21and the second feed line22of the second feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60. Label21(22) in the figure indicates that the first feed line21and the second feed line22are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

A third feeding structure is located between the patch antenna02and the patch antenna03in the second column, and the third feeding structure includes a third dipole30, a first feed line31, and a second feed line32. The first feed line31and the second feed line32of the third feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50. Label31(32) in the figure indicates that the first feed line31and the second feed line32are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

A fourth feeding structure is located between the patch antenna03and the patch antenna04in the second row, and the fourth feeding structure includes a fourth dipole40, a first feed line41, and a second feed line42. The first feed line41and the second feed line42of the fourth feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60. Label41(42) in the figure indicates that the first feed line41and the second feed line42are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

Implementations of the above feeding structures are similar to those in the descriptions inFIG.3toFIG.6Babove. Details are not described herein again.

Refer toFIG.13which is a schematic diagram of yet another antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

The patch antennas01to04in the figure are circular patch antennas.

A first feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna04in the first column, and the first feeding structure includes a first dipole10, a first feed line11, and a second feed line12. The first feed line11and the second feed line12of the first feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50. Label11(12) in the figure indicates that the first feed line11and the second feed line12are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

Label50(60) in the figure indicates that the first feeding port50and the second feeding port60are located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate (that is, the first feeding port50is located on an upper surface of the dielectric plate and the second feeding port60is located on a lower surface of the dielectric plate), and overlap on the top view of the dielectric plate.

A second feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna02in the first row, and the second feeding structure includes a second dipole20, a first feed line21, and a second feed line22. The first feed line21and the second feed line22of the second feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60. Label21(22) in the figure indicates that the first feed line21and the second feed line22are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

A third feeding structure is located between the patch antenna02and the patch antenna03in the second column, and the third feeding structure includes a third dipole30, a first feed line31, and a second feed line32. The first feed line31and the second feed line32of the third feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50. Label31(32) in the figure indicates that the first feed line31and the second feed line32are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

A fourth feeding structure is located between the patch antenna03and the patch antenna04in the second row, and the fourth feeding structure includes a fourth dipole40, a first feed line41, and a second feed line42. The first feed line41and the second feed line42of the fourth feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60. Label41(42) in the figure indicates that the first feed line41and the second feed line42are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

Implementations of the feeding structures are similar to those in the descriptions inFIG.3toFIG.6Babove. Details are not described herein again.

In addition, the dipole may alternatively be a dipole in another shape, which is specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Refer toFIG.14which is a schematic diagram of still another antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

FIG.14is based on an example in which the patch antennas01to04are square patch antennas.

A first feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna04in the first column, and the first feeding structure includes a first dipole10, a first feed line11, and a second feed line12. The first feed line11and the second feed line12of the first feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50. Label11(12) in the figure indicates that the first feed line11and the second feed line12are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

Label50(60) in the figure indicates that the first feeding port50and the second feeding port60are located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate (that is, the first feeding port50is located on an upper surface of the dielectric plate and the second feeding port60is located on a lower surface of the dielectric plate), and overlap on the top view of the dielectric plate.

A second feeding structure is located between the patch antenna01and the patch antenna02in the first row, and the second feeding structure includes a second dipole20, a first feed line21, and a second feed line22. The first feed line21and the second feed line22of the second feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60. Label21(22) in the figure indicates that the first feed line21and the second feed line22are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

A third feeding structure is located between the patch antenna02and the patch antenna03in the second column, and the third feeding structure includes a third dipole30, a first feed line31, and a second feed line32. The first feed line31and the second feed line32of the third feeding structure are connected to the first feeding port50. Label31(32) in the figure indicates that the first feed line31and the second feed line32are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

A fourth feeding structure is located between the patch antenna03and the patch antenna04in the second row, and the fourth feeding structure includes a fourth dipole40, a first feed line41, and a second feed line42. The first feed line41and the second feed line42of the fourth feeding structure are connected to the second feeding port60. Label41(42) in the figure indicates that the first feed line41and the second feed line42are parallel and located on different surfaces of the dielectric plate, and overlap on a top view of the dielectric plate.

The first dipole10, the second dipole20, the third dipole30, and the fourth dipole40in the figure are bow-tie dipoles. That is, branches of the first portion and the second portion of each dipole are triangular branches.

It may be understood that, when the bow-tie dipoles are used, the patch antennas may alternatively be the rhombic patch antennas shown inFIG.12or the circular patch antennas shown inFIG.13.

Refer toFIG.15which is a schematic diagram of another antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

FIG.15is different fromFIG.14in that the first dipole10, the second dipole20, the third dipole30, and the fourth dipole40inFIG.15are circular dipoles. That is, the branches of the first portion and the second portion of each dipole are semicircular branches. It may be understood that, when the bow-tie dipoles are used, the patch antennas may alternatively be the rhombic patch antennas shown inFIG.12or the circular patch antennas shown inFIG.13.

In some embodiments, when the above antenna structure is applied to an electronic device, a first feeding interface and a second feeding interface are connected to a radio-frequency circuit of the electronic device through a cable.

To sum up, in the solution provided in this embodiment of this application, T-shaped dipoles are used for in-phase feeding, so that the four patch antennas can ensure consistent polarization and orthogonal polarization of each patch antenna. For single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas conventionally requires four ports, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-four structure. However, by use of the technical solution in this embodiment of this application, for single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas requires only two dipoles, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-two structure. That is, design complexity of the feeding circuit is reduced by dipole feeding. Moreover, the dipole is connected to two parallel feed lines, and the two parallel feed lines can be directly designed on the dielectric plate where the patch antennas are located, so that all feeding circuits and patch antennas can be realized on a same dielectric plate, which reduces complexity of the feeding circuit, that is, reduces complexity of the antenna structure, and reduces the cost of the antenna structure. In addition, the antenna structure is directional, has high directional gain, has a high degree of isolation between the two feeding ports, and can also cover a wide frequency band range, for example, both the 5 GHz frequency band and the 6 GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Therefore, practicability is higher.

It may be understood that, in the above description, it is merely an example that the antenna structure covers the 5 GHz frequency band and the 6 GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. In actual application, the antenna structure may alternatively be designed for use in other frequency bands. In some embodiments, a thickness of the dielectric plate of the antenna structure may be determined according to the operating frequency band, and other design parameters of the antenna structure may be adjusted accordingly.

In actual application, when the thickness d of the dielectric plate100is relatively low, the feed lines may not be implemented as the parallel double lines described in the above embodiments, but adopt slot-line feeding. In the implementation, the dipole and the feed lines included in a same feeding structure are located on a same surface of the dielectric plate and are connected to a same feeding interface, which is specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Refer toFIG.16which is a schematic diagram of still another antenna structure according to an embodiment of this application.

The antenna structure shown inFIG.2includes a dielectric plate100, a patch antenna array, a first feeding structure, a second feeding structure, a third feeding structure, a fourth feeding structure, a first feeding port50, and a second feeding port60.

The patch antenna array is located on a first surface of the dielectric plate100.

The first feeding structure and the third feeding structure are located on the first surface of the dielectric plate100, and the second feeding structure and the fourth feeding structure are located on a second surface of the dielectric plate100.

The first feeding structure includes a first dipole10, a first slot line11, and a second slot line12. A first end of the first slot line11is connected to the first feeding port50, and a second end of the first slot line11is connected to a first portion of the first dipole10. A first end of the second slot line12is connected to the first feeding port50, and a second end of the second slot line12is connected to a second portion of the first dipole10.

The second feeding structure includes a second dipole20, a first slot line21, and a second slot line22. A first end of the first slot line21is connected to the second feeding port60, and a second end of the first slot line21is connected to a first portion of the second dipole20. A first end of the second slot line22is connected to the second feeding port60, and a second end of the second slot line22is connected to a second portion of the second dipole20.

The third feeding structure includes a third dipole30, a first slot line31, and a second slot line32. A first end of the first slot line31is connected to the first feeding port50, and a second end of the first slot line31is connected to a first portion of the third dipole30. A first end of the second slot line32is connected to the first feeding port50, and a second end of the second slot line32is connected to a second portion of the third dipole30.

The fourth feeding structure includes a fourth dipole10, a first slot line41, and a second slot line42. A first end of the first slot line41is connected to the second feeding port60, and a second end of the first slot line41is connected to a first portion of the fourth dipole40. A first end of the second slot line42is connected to the second feeding port60, and a second end of the second slot line42is connected to a second portion of the fourth dipole40.

In some embodiments, the first end of the first slot line11of the first feeding structure and the first end of the first slot line31of the third feeding structure may be connected on the first surface. The first end of the second slot line12of the first feeding structure and the first end of the second slot line32of the third feeding structure may be connected on the first surface. The first end of the first slot line21of the second feeding structure and the first end of the first slot line41of the fourth feeding structure may be connected on the second surface. The first end of the second slot line22of the second feeding structure and the first end of the second slot line42of the fourth feeding structure may be connected on the second surface.

In the above implementation, the first slot line11of the first feeding structure and the first slot line21of the second feeding structure feed the patch antenna01, that is, excite the patch antenna01. The second slot line22of the second feeding structure and the first slot line31of the third feeding structure feed the patch antenna02. The second slot line32of the third feeding structure and the second slot line42of the fourth feeding structure feed the patch antenna03. The first slot line41of the fourth feeding structure and the second slot line12of the first feeding structure feed the fourth patch antenna04.

The above slot lines are slot lines. When the implementation of slot-line feeding is adopted, the patch antennas may alternatively be the rhombic patch antennas or circular patch antennas shown in the above embodiments, and the dipoles may alternatively be the bow-tie dipoles or circular dipoles shown in the above embodiments.

In the solution provided in this embodiment of this application, the manner of slot-line feeding is adopted. Compared with the conventional feeding manner, only two dipoles are needed to excite the four patch antennas for single polarization, which reduces the design complexity of the feeding circuit. The two parallel slot lines can be directly designed on the dielectric plate where the patch antennas are located, so that all feeding circuits and patch antennas can be realized on a same dielectric plate, which can effectively reduce complexity of the antenna structure and reduce the cost of the antenna structure.

Based on the antenna structure provided in the above embodiments, an embodiment of this application further provides an electronic device to which the antenna structure is applied. A specific description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Refer toFIG.17which is a schematic diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application.

An electronic device170includes one or more antenna structures according to the embodiments of this application, and further includes a radio-frequency circuit171. InFIG.17, a description is based on an example in which the electronic device170includes two antenna structures, namely a first antenna structure172and a second antenna structure173.

In the figure, the first antenna structure172and the second antenna structure173are connected to a same radio-frequency circuit171.

The radio-frequency circuit171is configured to perform processing such as filtering or amplification on electromagnetic waves received by the first antenna structure172and the second antenna structure173, transmit the processed electromagnetic waves to a modem processor for demodulation, further amplify a signal modulated by the modem processor, and convert the signal into an electromagnetic wave for radiation through the first antenna structure172and the second antenna structure173. In some embodiments, the modem processor may include a modulator and a demodulator. The modulator is configured to modulate a to-be-sent low-frequency baseband signal into a medium-high frequency signal. The demodulator is configured to demodulate the received electromagnetic wave signal into a low-frequency baseband signal.

The frequency band ranges covered by the antenna structures may be the same or different, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application. For example, the frequency band range that can be covered by the first antenna structure172is a first frequency band range, the frequency band range that can be covered by the second antenna structure173is a second frequency band range, and the first frequency band range and the second frequency band range may be the same or different. When the first frequency band range and the second frequency band range are different, there may be partially overlapping frequency bands between the first frequency band range and the second frequency band range, or the first frequency range and the second frequency range do not overlap at all.

A specific description about the antenna structure may be obtained with reference to the above embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

Refer toFIG.18which is a schematic diagram of another electronic device according to an embodiment of this application.

The electronic device shown inFIG.18is different from the electronic device inFIG.17in that the electronic device includes two radio-frequency circuits, namely a first radio-frequency circuit171aand a second radio-frequency circuit171b.

The first radio-frequency circuit171ais connected to the first antenna structure172, and the second radio-frequency circuit171bis connected to the second antenna structure173.

In this case, the frequency band ranges that can be covered by the first antenna structure172and the second antenna structure173are different.

The first radio-frequency circuit171aand the second radio-frequency circuit171babove may be disposed on different circuit boards or disposed on a same circuit board, which is not specifically limited in this embodiment of this application.

Refer toFIG.19which is a schematic diagram of yet another electronic device according to an embodiment of this application.

The electronic device includes a first antenna structure172, a second antenna structure173, a third antenna structure174, a first radio-frequency circuit171a, and a second radio-frequency circuit171b.

The first radio-frequency circuit171ais connected to the first antenna structure172and the second antenna structure173.

The second radio-frequency circuit171bis connected to the third antenna structure174.

The first antenna structure172and the second antenna structure173adopt the technical solution provided in this embodiment of this application to implement functions of a directional antenna.

The third antenna structure174is configured to implement functions of an omnidirectional antenna. A specific implementation of the third antenna structure174is not limited in this embodiment of this application.

A frequency band range that can be covered by the third antenna structure174may be the same as or different from that can be covered by the first antenna structure172. The frequency band range that can be covered by the third antenna structure174may be the same as or different from that can be covered by the second antenna structure173.

The type of the electronic device is not specifically limited in this application. The electronic device may be a mobile phone, a notebook computer, a wearable device (such as a smart watch), a tablet computer, an AR device, a VR device, a router device, an in-vehicle device, or the like. In a typical application scenario, the electronic device is a router.

When the antenna structure provided in this embodiment of this application is used, a frequency band range that can be covered by the antenna structure can be changed by changing the first preset distance between the dielectric plate and the metal bottom plate of the antenna structure.

To sum up, the antenna structure provided in the above embodiments is applied to the electronic device. In the antenna structure, the four patch antennas are excited by dipole coupled feeding. Moreover, dipole in-phase feeding is realized. The four patch antennas can ensure consistent polarization according to a relative positional relationship. For single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas conventionally requires four ports, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-four structure. However, by use of the technical solution of this application, for single polarization, the excitation of the four patch antennas requires only two feeding structures, and correspondingly, the feeding circuit is a one-to-two structure. Therefore, design complexity of the feeding circuit is reduced. Moreover, the dipole is connected to two parallel feed lines, and the two parallel feed lines can be directly designed on the dielectric plate where the patch antennas are located, so that all feeding circuits and patch antennas can be realized on a same dielectric plate, which can effectively reduce complexity of the antenna structure and reduce the cost of the antenna structure. That is, the cost of the electronic device is reduced.

In addition, the antenna structure is directional, has high directional gain, has a high degree of isolation between the two feeding ports, and can also cover a wide frequency band range, for example, both a 5 GHz frequency band and a 6 GHz frequency band of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Therefore, practicability is higher, and a quantity of antennas disposed on the electronic device can be reduced, to further reduce the cost of hardware of the electronic device.

Based on the antenna structure and the electronic device provided in the above embodiments, an embodiment of this application further provides a wireless network system, which is specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Refer toFIG.20which is a schematic diagram of a wireless network system according to an embodiment of this application.

The wireless network system300includes a plurality of electronic devices. The antenna structure provided in the embodiments of this application is applied to at least one of the plurality of electronic devices.

The wireless network system300illustrated includes a first electronic device170and a second electronic device301.

The first electronic device170includes one or more antenna structures according to the embodiments of this application, and further includes a radio-frequency circuit. The first electronic device170has higher directional gain and is configured to perform data transmission with the second electronic device301along a specific direction. In a typical implementation, the first electronic device170is a directional router.

Specific implementations of the first electronic device170and the antenna structure included in the first electronic device170may be obtained with reference to the related descriptions in the above embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

An omnidirectional antenna is applied to the second electronic device301. In a typical implementation manner, the second electronic device201is an omnidirectional router.

It may be understood that the above wireless network system300is merely an exemplary description, and in actual application, when the wireless network system300is built according to a specific environmental condition, quantities of the first electronic device170and the second electronic device301may be further increased, and the second electronic device301may also perform data transmission with a plurality of first electronic devices170at the same time.

To sum up, the antenna structure provided in this application is applied to the electronic devices in the wireless network system. On the one hand, the cost of the electronic devices is saved. On the other hand, gain of the electronic devices in a specific direction is increased. Therefore, signal quality and network stability of the wireless network system are improved.

It should be understood that, in this application, “at least one” means one or more, and “a plurality of” means two or more. “And/or” describes an association relationship for describing associated objects and represents that three relationships may exist. For example, “A and/or B” may represent the following three cases: only A exists, only B exists, and both A and B exist, where A and B may be singular or plural. The character “I” generally indicates an “or” relationship between the associated objects. “At least one of the following items” or a similar expression means any combination of these items, including a single item or any combination of a plurality of items. For example, at least one of a, b, and c may represent: a, b, c, “a and b”, “a and c”, “b and c”, or “a, b, and c”, where a, b, and c may be singular or plural.

The foregoing embodiments are merely intended for describing the technical solutions of this application, but not for limiting this application. Although this application is described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, it should be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art that, modifications may still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent replacements may be made to the part of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements will not cause the essence of corresponding technical solutions to depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application.