Antenna

An antenna includes: a substrate; a first reference electrode on a first surface of the substrate; a radiating element on a second surface of the substrate, feeding directions of a first port and a second port of the radiating element are different; and at least one transmission structure on the second surface of the substrate and connected to at least one of the first port and the second port. The transmission structure includes: a signal electrode, a second reference electrode on at least one side of the signal electrode, and at least one membrane bridge; the signal electrode feeds a microwave signal into the radiating element, is positioned in a space surrounded by the membrane bridge and the substrate, and is insulated from the membrane bridge through an interlayer dielectric layer; orthographic projections of the membrane bridge and the second reference electrode on the substrate are overlapped.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, and particularly relates to an antenna.

BACKGROUND

Polarization agile antennas refer to antennas whose polarization state can be constantly changed. In recent years, with the rapid development of wireless communication, the transmission rate of information is increasing, and the demand for spectrum resources is also increasing. For this, polarization diversity technology can be used to transmit two signals through two orthogonal polarization modes, so that frequency band resources can be saved. By designing the polarization agile antenna, the switching of multiple polarization modes can be realized by using as few antennas as possible (for example, only one antenna is used), so that a size and a weight of the antenna are greatly reduced, and the cost of a radio frequency system is reduced.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to solve at least one of problems of the related art and provides an antenna.

A technical solution adopted for solving the technical problem of the present disclosure is an antenna, which includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface oppositely disposed;a first reference electrode arranged on the first surface of the substrate;a radiating element arranged on the second surface of the substrate, and feeding directions of a first port and a second port of the radiating element are different;at least one transmission structure arranged on the second surface of the substrate, and connected to at least one of the first port and the second port of the radiating element; wherethe transmission structure includes a signal electrode, a second reference electrode arranged on at least one side of the signal electrode in an extending direction of the signal electrode, and at least one membrane bridge; the signal electrode is configured to feed a microwave signal into the radiating element, is positioned in a space surrounded by the membrane bridge and the substrate, and is insulated from the membrane bridge through an interlayer dielectric layer; an orthographic projection of the membrane bridge on the substrate overlaps with an orthographic projection of the second reference electrode on the substrate.

In some implementations, the first port and the second port of the radiating element are connected to transmission structures one-to-one.

In some implementations, the second reference electrode includes a first sub-electrode and a second sub-electrode, the first sub-electrode and the second sub-electrode are respectively arranged on two sides of the signal electrode in the extending direction of the signal electrode; the transmission structure includes a bridge deck, a first connection portion and a second connection portion; one end of the first connection portion is connected to the bridge deck, and another end of the first connection portion is positioned on a side, away from the substrate, of the first sub-electrode, and an orthographic projection of the first connection portion on the substrate at least partially overlaps with an orthographic projection of the first sub-electrode on the substrate; one end of the second connection portion is connected to the bridge deck, and another end of the second connection portion is positioned on a side, away from the substrate, of the second sub-electrode, and an orthographic projection of the second connection portion on the substrate at least partially overlaps with an orthographic projection of the second sub-electrode on the substrate.

In some implementations, the first connection portion is in contact with the first sub-electrode, and the second connection portion is in contact with the second sub-electrode.

In some implementations, the second reference electrode is located only on one side of the signal electrode in the extending direction thereof; the membrane bridge includes a bridge deck and a connection portion, one end of the connection portion is connected with the bridge deck, and anther end of the connection portion is positioned on a side, away from the substrate, of the first sub-electrode and an orthographic projection of the connection portion on the substrate at least partially overlaps with an orthographic projection of the first sub-electrode on the substrate; or one end of the connection portion is connected with the bridge deck, another end of the connection portion is positioned on a side, away from the substrate, of the second sub-electrode, and an orthographic projection of the connection portion on the substrate at least partially overlaps with an orthographic projection of the second sub-electrode on the substrate.

In some implementations, the connection portion is in contact with the second reference electrode.

In some implementations, there is one membrane bridge provided in each transmission structure.

In some implementations, there are a plurality of membrane bridges provided in each transmission structure, and the plurality of membrane bridges are spaced apart.

In some implementations, there are a plurality of membrane bridges provided in each transmission structure, and one of the plurality of membrane bridges has a bridge deck with a first width, and each of the remaining membrane bridges has a bridge deck with a second width, and the first width is greater than the second width; the membrane bridges each having the bridge deck with the second width are located on a same side of the membrane bridge having the bridge deck with the first width.

In some implementations, a feeding direction of one of the first port and the second port in the radiating element is a vertical direction, and a feeding direction of the other one of the first port and the second port in the radiating element is a horizontal direction.

In some implementations, the radiating element, the signal electrode, the first reference electrode, the second reference electrode are arranged in a same layer.

In some implementations, a material of the substrate includes any one of glass, polyimide, or polyethylene terephthalate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to make the technical solutions of the present disclosure better understood, the present disclosure is further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description below.

Unless defined otherwise, technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. The use of “first,” “second,” and the like in the present disclosure is not intended to indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but rather is used to distinguish one element from another. Also, the use of the words “a,” “an,” or “the” and similar referents do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one. The word “comprising” or “including”, and the like, means that the element or item preceding the word includes the element or item listed after the word and its equivalent, but does not exclude other elements or items. The terms “connected” or “coupled” and the like are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections, but may include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, and the like are used only to indicate relative positional relationships, and when the absolute position of the object being described is changed, the relative positional relationships may also be changed accordingly.

In a first aspect,FIG.1is a top view of an antenna according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;FIG.2is a cross-sectional view of a transmission structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIGS.1and2, the present disclosure provides an antenna including a substrate10, a first reference electrode1, a radiating element2, and at least one transmission structure.

The substrate10has a first surface (lower surface) and a second surface (upper surface) opposite to each other, and a material of the substrate may be a hard material, such as a glass based material, or a flexible material, such as polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, or the like. The material of the substrate10is not limited in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The first reference electrode1is arranged on the first surface of the substrate10, for example, the first reference electrode1is of a plate-shaped structure and covers the first surface of the substrate10. The first reference electrode1in the present embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a ground electrode, i.e., a potential written into the first reference electrode1is a ground potential.

The radiating element2is arranged on the second surface of the substrate10, and feeding directions of a first port21and a second port22of the radiating element2are different, for example, the feeding direction of one of the first port21and the second port22of the radiating element2is a vertical direction, and the feeding direction of the other one of the first port21and the second port22of the radiating element2is a horizontal direction. It should be noted that the horizontal direction and the vertical direction in the present embodiment refer to a direction along an x axis and a direction along a y axis, respectively. In the present embodiment, a case where a polarization direction of the first port21of the radiating element2shown inFIG.1being the horizontal direction, i.e., a direction of 0°, and a polarization direction of the second port22of the radiating element2shown inFIG.1is the vertical direction, i.e., a direction of 90°, is taken as an example for explanation.

The transmission structure is arranged on the second surface of the substrate10and at least one of the first port21and the second port22of the radiating element2is connected to the transmission structure. The transmission structure in the present embodiment includes a signal electrode31, a second reference electrode32and at least one membrane bridge33; the signal electrode31and the second reference electrode32form a coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line, and the membrane bridge33is equivalent to a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch. The second reference electrode32includes, but is not limited to, a ground electrode; the signal electrode31is configured to feed a microwave signal to the radiating element2, for example, when the first port21of the radiating element2is connected to the transmission structure, the signal electrode31of the transmission structure is connected to the first port21of the radiating element2, and when the second port22of the radiating element2is connected to the transmission structure, the signal electrode31of the transmission structure is connected to the second port22of the radiating element2. The second reference electrode32is positioned on at least one side of the signal electrode31in an extending direction (lengthwise direction) of the signal electrode, i.e., in a direction in which the signal electrode extends, and the membrane bridge33is located on a side, away from the substrate10, of a layer where the signal electrode31and the second reference electrode32are located; the signal electrode31is located in a space surrounded by the membrane bridge33and the substrate10, and the signal electrode31and the membrane bridge33are insulated from each other by an interlayer dielectric layer34; an orthographic projection of the membrane bridge33on the substrate10overlaps with an orthographic projection of the second reference electrode32on the substrate10. In such case, by designing a width of the membrane bridge33and a number of membrane bridges33and controlling a direct current (DC) bias voltage applied to the signal electrode31and the membrane bridges33to control the membrane bridge33to move toward the substrate10, variation of transmission characteristics of the microwave signal is realized, thereby realizing the antenna having different polarization directions. The description is specifically made with reference to the following implementations.

With continued reference toFIG.1, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, for example, each of the first port21and the second port22of the radiating element2is connected with the transmission structure. For convenience of description, the transmission structure connected to the first port21of the radiating element2is referred to as a first transmission structure301, and the transmission structure connected to the second port22of the radiating element2is referred to as a second transmission structure302.

In an example, with continued reference toFIGS.1and2, the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302in the antenna each include a signal electrode31, a second reference electrode32, a membrane bridge33, and an interlayer dielectric layer34located on a side of the signal electrode31away from the substrate10. For the first transmission structure301, the signal electrode31and the first port21of the radiating element2are disposed in a same layer and are formed into one piece. The second reference electrode32includes a first sub-electrode321and a second sub-electrode322respectively disposed at two sides of the signal electrode31in a length direction of the signal electrode31, for example, the length direction of the signal electrode31is parallel to length directions of the first sub-electrode321and the second sub-electrode322. The membrane bridge33includes a bridge deck331and a first connection portion332and a second connection portion333respectively connected to two ends of the bridge deck331, an orthographic projection of the first connection portion332on the substrate10at least partially overlaps with an orthographic projection of the first sub-electrode321on the substrate10, for example, the orthogonal projection of the first connection portion332on the substrate10is located within the orthogonal projection of the first sub-electrode321on the substrate10; an orthogonal projection of the second connection portion333on the substrate10at least partially overlaps an orthogonal projection of the second sub-electrode322on the substrate10. In some examples, the interlayer dielectric layer34is also disposed between the first connection portion332and the first sub-electrode321, and between the second connection portion333and the second sub-electrode322. In some examples, the first connection portion332may be in direct contact with the first sub-electrode321, and the second connection portion333may be in direct contact with the second sub-electrode322, in such case, the membrane bridge33and the second reference electrode32are maintained at a same potential, so that there is no need to apply a DC voltage to the membrane bridge33separately, and the membrane bridge33can be controlled to move to a plane where the substrate10is located by only applying a DC voltage to the signal electrode31. In the embodiment of the present disclosure, description is made by taking the first connection portion332being in direct contact with the first sub-electrode321, and the second connection portion333being in direct contact with the second sub-electrode322as an example.

The second transmission structure302is similar to the first transmission structure301, except that the signal electrode31in the second transmission structure302is connected to the second port22of the radiating element2, for example, the signal electrode31and the second port22of the radiating element2are disposed in a same layer and are formed into one piece. Furthermore, the signal electrode31of the first transmission structure301, the signal electrode31of the second transmission structure302and the radiating element2all may be disposed in a same layer and are formed into one piece.

With continued reference toFIG.1, the membrane bridge33in each of the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302includes one bridge deck331which is relative wide, and the width of the bridge deck331is not less than 0.1 mm, for example, the bride deck331of the membrane bridge33has a width of 0.1 mm. In such case, a DC bias voltage is applied between the first sub-electrode321, the second sub-electrode322and the signal electrode31, when the DC bias voltage is greater than a driving voltage of the membrane bridge, the membrane bridge33starts to be pulled down in a direction approaching to the substrate10under an action of electrostatic force, when a magnitude of the DC bias voltage is increased, the membrane bridge33is gradually pulled down until the membrane bridge is attached to the interlayer dielectric layer34on the signal electrode31, a state in which the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33is attached to the interlayer dielectric layer34is called a down state, an initial state of the bridge deck of the membrane bridge33is called an up state, and electromagnetic wave transmission characteristics corresponding to the down state and the up state are different. It should be noted that the magnitude of the voltage applied to the membrane bridge33mentioned below is a magnitude of a voltage that can change the membrane bridge33from the up state to the down state. When the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33is relatively wide or a span of the membrane bridge is relatively large, insertion losses of the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302are very small when the membrane bridge33is in the up state, and the insertion losses of the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302is very large when the membrane bridge33is in the down state, so that the up state and the down state of the membrane bridge can be respectively used as a turned-on state and a turned-off state of a switch, realizing turned-on or turned-off of a circuit. The 0°/90° linear polarization agile antenna utilizes such switching characteristics of the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302.FIG.3is a S-parameter plot of the first port21and the second port22of the antenna shown inFIG.1obtained from a simulation by applying a voltage only to the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22.FIG.4is a plot of S-parameters of the first port21and the second port22of the antenna shown inFIG.1obtained from a simulation by applying a voltage only to the first transmission structure301connected to the first port21.FIG.5is a plane directional diagram of the antenna shown inFIG.1, which is obtained from a simulation by applying a voltage only to the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22.FIG.6is a plane directional diagram of the antenna shown inFIG.1, which is obtained from a simulation by applying a voltage only to the first transmission structure301connected to the first port21. The first port21and the second port22are as shown inFIGS.3to6, when a DC bias voltage is applied only between the first sub-electrode321, the second sub-electrode322and the signal electrode31in the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22of the radiating element2, frequency bands corresponding to S11<−6 dB and S11<−10 dB are 17.34 GHz to 18.08 GHz and 17.51 GHz to 17.91 GHz, respectively, the first transmission structure301is in a turned-on state, the first port21of the radiating element2is electrically connected, i.e., in a turned-on state, but a relatively poor S22 parameter is caused, and is only −0.27 dB at 17.7 GHz, since the DC bias voltage is applied between the first sub-electrode321, the second sub-electrode322and the signal electrode31in the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22of the radiating element2, in such case, the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33in the second transmission structure302is in the down state, that is, the second transmission structure302is in a turned-off state, the second port22of the radiating element2is electrically disconnected, i.e., in a turned-off state. In this case, maximum gains of planes, with ϕ=0° and ϕ=90°, of the antenna are 1.88 dB and −11.13 dB, respectively, corresponding to 3 dB beam widths of 85° and 93° respectively, and the polarization state of the antenna is 0° linear polarization. When a DC bias voltage is applied to only the first sub-electrode321, the second sub-electrode322and the signal electrode31in the first transmission structure301connected to the first port21of the radiating element2, a relatively poor S11 parameter is caused, and is only −0.29 dB at 17.7 GHz, the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33in the first transmission structure301is in the down state, that is, the first transmission structure301is in a turned-off state, so that the first port21of the radiating element2is electrically disconnected, i.e., in a turned-off state, frequency bands corresponding to S22<−6 dB and S22<−10 dB are respectively 17.35 GHz to 18.09 GHz and 17.52 GHz to 17.93 GHz, and the second transmission structure302is in a turned-on state, so that the second port22of the radiating element2is electrically connected, i.e., in a turned-on state. In such case, maximum gains of the planes, with ϕ=0° and ϕ=90°, respectively, of the antenna are −10.45 dB and 1.89 dB, respectively, corresponding to 3 dB beam widths of 85° and 93° respectively, and the polarization state of the antenna is 90° linear polarization. The agility of the 0°/90° linear polarization can be achieved only by controlling voltage application states of the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302.

In a specific example, in the antenna ofFIG.1, the substrate10has a dimension of 9.85 mm*9.85 mm*0.5 mm; the radiating element2(without the first port21and the second port22) has a dimension of 3.45 mm*3.45 mm*0.001 m; the first transmission structure301is the same as the second transmission structure302, and a line width of the signal electrode31is 0.03 mm; the first sub-electrode321and the second sub-electrode322each have a line width of 2 m and a line length of 1 mm; the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33has a line width of 0.1 mm and a line length (span) of 0.2 mm. A distance between the first sub-electrode321and the signal electrode31and a distance between the second sub-electrode322and the signal electrode31each are 0.055 mm. Certainly, for antennas of different sizes, sizes of respective film structures thereof need to be specifically defined.

In another example,FIG.7is a top view of an antenna of an embodiment of the present disclosure; as shown inFIG.7, the structure of the antenna is substantially the same as that of the antenna shown inFIG.1, except for the number of the membrane bridges33and the width of each membrane bridge in the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302. In the present embodiment, the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302each include a plurality of membrane bridges33, and the width of each of the membrane bridges33is relatively narrow, which is approximately 0.02 mm, and the number of the membrane bridges33may be 10. The remaining structure of the antenna inFIG.7is the same as that inFIG.1, and thus, the description thereof is not repeated.

With reference toFIG.7, in the antenna, a width of the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33is relatively narrow, in such case, insertion loss of the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33in the down state and insertion loss of the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33in the up state are both relatively small, and the pulling down of the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33mainly causes a change in capacitance between the bridge deck331of the membrane bridge33and the signal electrode31, so as to change transmission speed of the microwave signal, further change transmission phase and implement a phase shift. By connecting a suitable number of membrane bridges33in series, a phase shift of 90° and 180° may be achieved. A −45°/+45° linear polarization agile antenna based on the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302utilizes a 180° phase shift of the membrane bridge33.

FIG.8is a plane directional diagram of the antenna shown inFIG.7, which is obtained from a simulation without applying a voltage to the membrane bridges33in the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302. As shown inFIG.8, when no voltage is applied to the membrane bridges33in the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302, the maximum gains of planes, with ϕ=−45° and ϕ=+45°, of the antenna are 3.62 dB and −49.73 dB, respectively, corresponding to 3 dB beam widths of 108° and 76°, and the polarization state of the antenna is −45° linear polarization.FIG.9is a plane directional diagram of the antenna shown inFIG.7obtained from a simulation by applying a voltage only to the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22; as shown inFIG.9, when a voltage is applied to only the first sub-electrode321, the second sub-electrode322, and the signal electrode31of the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22, the maximum gains of the planes, with ϕ=−45° and ϕ=+45°, respectively, of the antenna are −12.40 dB and 3.16 dB, respectively, corresponding to 3 dB beam widths of 93° and 81°, and the polarization state of the antenna is +45° linear polarization. The agility of the −45°/+45° linear polarization can be achieved by only controlling voltage application states of the first sub-electrode321, the second sub-electrode322and the signal electrode31of the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22.

Similarly, a left-hand circular polarization/right-hand circular polarization agile antenna may also be implemented by using a structure similar to that ofFIG.5, it is only desirable to reduce the number of the membrane bridges33connected in series by half (for example, 5). By controlling only the voltage input by the first transmission structure301connected to the first port21to be switched off or the voltage input by the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22to be switched off, a phase difference of ±90° between the first port21and the second port22of the radiating element2can be achieved, so that the agilities of the left-hand circular polarization and the right-hand circular polarization can be achieved.

In another example,FIG.10is a top view of an antenna of an embodiment of the present disclosure; as shown inFIG.10, the antenna has a structure substantially similar to those of the antennas shown inFIGS.1and7, except that the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302each include membrane bridges33aand33bhaving bridge decks with two widths respectively, and the interlayer dielectric layer34is provided between the first connection portion332of the membrane bridge33and the first sub-electrode321, and between the second connection portion333of the membrane bridge33and the second sub-electrode322. The remaining structures of the antenna inFIG.10are substantially the same as those inFIGS.1and7, and therefore, the description thereof is not repeated.

Specifically, referring toFIG.10, the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302each include one membrane bridge33ahaving a bridge deck331with a first width and a plurality of membrane bridges33beach having a bridge deck331with a second width, the first width being greater than the second width, and the plurality of membrane bridges33aeach having the bridge deck331with the second width being located on a same side of the membrane bridge33bhaving the bridge deck331with the first width, andFIG.10exemplifies that the plurality of membrane bridges33beach having the bridge deck331with the second width being located on a side of the membrane bridge33ahaving the bridge deck331with the first width close to the radiating element2. That is, the membrane bridges33in the first transmission structure301and the second transmission structure302each include two portions, one of which is the membrane bridge33ahaving the bridge deck331being wider, and the other of which is formed by the plurality of membrane bridges33b, each having the bridge deck331being narrower, connected in series; in such case, by controlling the DC bias voltage applied to the membrane bridge33ahaving the bridge deck331being wider, the switching between two states of “turned-on” and “turned-off” of the first and second transmission structures can be controlled; the DC bias voltage applied to the plurality of the membrane bridges33beach having the bridge deck331being narrower can also be controlled to perform a phase shifting on the microwave signal, and a 90°/180° phase shifting can be realized. In addition, since the interlayer dielectric layer34is disposed between each of the membrane bridges33aand33band the first and second sub-electrodes321and322, each membrane bridge33can be independently controlled, and in this case, the left-hand/right-hand circular polarization agile antenna can be implemented by controlling the number of the membrane bridges33each having the bridge deck331being narrower to which the DC bias voltage is applied.

For example, a DC bias voltage is applied only between the membrane bridge33aand the signal electrode31in the second transmission structure connected to the second port22of the radiating element2, and in such case, the bridge deck331with the first width in the second transmission structure302is in a down state, that is, the second transmission structure302is in a turned-off state, so that the second port22of the radiating element2is electrically disconnected, i.e., in a turned-off state, and the first transmission structure301is in a turned-on state, so that the first port21of the radiating element2is electrically connected, i.e., in a turned-on state, and the polarization state of the antenna is 0° linear polarization.

For example, a DC bias voltage is applied only between the membrane bridge33aand the signal electrode31of the first transmission structure connected to the first port21of the radiating element2, and in such case, the bridge surface331with the first width in the first transmission structure301is in a down state, that is, the first transmission structure301is in a turned-off state, so the first port21of the radiating element2is electrically disconnected, i.e., in a turned-off state, the second transmission structure302is in a turned-on state, the second port22of the radiating element2is electrically connected, i.e., in a turned-on state, and the polarization state of the antenna is 90° linear polarization.

For example, when a DC bias is applied only to the respective membrane bridges33beach having the bridge deck331with the second width in the second transmission structure connected to the second port22of the radiating element2, it is possible to realize that the phase difference between the first port21and the second port22of the radiating element2is 180°, and the polarization state of the antenna realized in such case is +45° linear polarization. When no DC bias voltage is applied to the membrane bridges33in the first and second transmission structures301and302, the phase difference between the first port21and the second port and22of the radiating element2is 0°, and the polarization state of the antenna is −45° linear polarization.

For example, when only the voltage input to each of a portion of the membrane bridges33each having the bridge deck331with the second width in the first transmission structure301connected to the first port21is controlled to be turned off, or when only the voltage input to each of a portion of the membrane bridges33beach having the bridge deck331with the second width in the second transmission structure302connected to the second port22is controlled to be turned off, the phase difference between the first port21and the second port22of the radiating element2is ±90°, so that the agilities of the left-hand circular polarization and the right-hand circular polarization can be realized. In summary, it can be seen that the antenna shown inFIG.10can realize a six-polarization agile antenna with 0°/90°/45°/+45° linear polarization, left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization.

It should be noted that, the above description is made by taking the structure in which the membrane bridge33includes the bridge deck331and the first connection portion332and the second connection portion333respectively connected to the two ends of the bridge deck331, and correspondingly, the second reference electrode32includes the first sub-electrode321and the second sub-electrode322, as an example.

In some examples, the transmission structure is not limited to the above structure, andFIG.11is a schematic diagram of a transmission structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; as shown inFIG.11, the transmission structure includes a signal electrode31, a second reference electrode32, a membrane bridge33, and an interlayer dielectric layer34disposed between the membrane bridge33and the signal electrode31. An extending direction of the second reference electrode32, i.e., a direction in which the second reference electrode32extends, is the same as an extending direction of the signal electrode31, i.e., a direction in which the signal electrode31extends, and the second reference electrode32and the signal electrode31are arranged side by side. The membrane bridge33includes a bridge deck331and a connection portion34, one end of the connection portion34is connected to the bridge deck331, the other end of the connection portion34is disposed on a side of the second reference electrode32away from the substrate10, an orthographic projection of the connection portion34on the substrate10overlaps with an orthographic projection of the second reference electrode32on the substrate10, and the signal electrode31is located in a space defined by the bridge deck331and the substrate10. In such case, the bridge surface331can be controlled to move toward the substrate10by controlling the DC bias applied between the membrane bridge33and the signal electrode31, thereby realizing states of “turned-on” or “turned-off” of the transmission structure and a phase shift.

It should be noted that one or more membrane bridges33may be provided in the transmission structure, and in a case where one membrane bridge33is provided, the size of the membrane bridge33may be set to that shown inFIG.1; in a case where a plurality of the membrane bridges33are provided, the sizes of the membrane bridges33may be set to those shown inFIG.7orFIG.10, which will not be described again.

The interlayer dielectric layer34may be disposed between the second reference electrode32and the connection portion, or the interlayer dielectric layer34may not be disposed between the second reference electrode32and the connection portion, that is, the second reference electrode32and the connection portion may be in direct contact. For example, when the transmission structure is applied to the antenna shown inFIGS.1and7, the interlayer dielectric layer34may not be disposed between the second reference electrode32and the connection portion, and when the transmission structure is applied to the antenna shown inFIG.10, the interlayer dielectric layer34may be disposed between the second reference electrode32and the connection portion.

In some examples, the first reference electrode1, the second reference electrode32, the radiating element (radiation patch), and the membrane bridge33may be made of a metal such as copper or aluminum.

In some examples, the interlayer dielectric layer34may be selected from a dielectric material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

The antenna provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can realize 0°/90° linear polarization agile antenna, −45°/+45° linear polarization agile antenna, left-hand and right-hand circular polarization agile antennas, and six-polarization agile antenna with 0°/90°/45°/+45° linear polarization and left-hand circular polarization and right-hand circular polarization by using the transmission structure. By designing the polarization agile antennas, the number of required antennas can be greatly reduced, the size and weight of the antenna system can be reduced, and channel capacity can be increased without increasing occupied spectrum resources.

It will be understood that the above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments adopted to illustrate the principles of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and such modifications and improvements are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.