Patent Publication Number: US-11394123-B2

Title: Microstrip collinear array

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure is related to an antenna, and more particularly to a microstrip collinear array. 
     Description of Related Art 
     With the advancement in wireless communications, such as wireless local area networks or mobile communication products, the demand for wireless signal bandwidth and data transmission rates is increasing. Therefore, there is a need for manufacturers to develop an antenna module with high peak gain and high wireless transmission rates. 
     A conventional antenna module which is a microstrip collinear array includes a carrier board and an antenna assembly disposed on a surface of the carrier board, wherein the antenna assembly has a plurality of planar antennas arranged in a predetermined axial direction. In order to achieve high peak gain, the number of the planar antennas of the conventional antenna module has to increase. However, as the number of planar antennas increases, a length of the carrier board also needs to be increased accordingly. In pursuit of miniaturization of access point, the carrier board of the conventional antenna module is too long, which is not favorable for miniature access point. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, the purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a microstrip collinear array, which could facilitate high peak gain and could reduce length in overall of an antenna module. 
     The present disclosure provides a microstrip collinear array, including a bearing member, two first antenna assemblies, two second antenna assemblies, a first connecting line, and a second connecting line, wherein the bearing member has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in a first axial direction. The two first antenna assemblies are juxtaposed on the bearing member, wherein each of the first antenna assemblies includes a plurality of first planar antennas, a plurality of first transmission lines, and a first extending line; the first planar antennas of each of the first antenna assemblies are arranged at intervals in the first axial direction. Two ends of each of the first transmission lines of each of the first antenna assemblies are respectively connected to the two adjacent first planar antennas. The first extending line of each of the first antenna assemblies is connected to one of the first planar antennas closest to the first end. The two second antenna assemblies are juxtaposed on the bearing member and respectively and correspondingly located on a surface of the bearing member opposite to the first antenna assemblies, wherein each of the second antenna assemblies includes a plurality of second planar antennas, a plurality of second transmission lines, and a second extending line; the second planar antennas of each of the second antenna assemblies are arranged at intervals in the first axial direction. Two ends of each of the second transmission lines of each of the second antenna assemblies are respectively connected to the two adjacent second planar antennas. The second extending line of each of the second antenna assemblies is connected to one of the second planar antennas closest to the second end. The first connecting line is disposed on the bearing member, wherein the first connecting line includes a first connecting section and a first driving section. The first connecting section extends in a second axial direction and is electrically connected to the first antenna assemblies. The second connecting line is disposed on the bearing member and is located on a side of the bearing member opposite to the first connecting line. The second connecting line is electrically connected to the first connecting line and includes a second connecting section and a second driving section. The second connecting section extends in the second axial direction and is electrically connected to the second antenna assemblies. 
     With the aforementioned design, by juxtaposing the two first antenna assemblies and the two second antenna assemblies, the microstrip collinear array of the present disclosure could effectively reduce the overall length, and could achieve high peak gain, and could be adapted for miniaturization access point. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1 a    is a top view of the microstrip collinear array according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 1 b    is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2 a    is a bottom view of the microstrip collinear array according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2 b    is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the microstrip collinear array according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the microstrip collinear array according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the microstrip collinear array according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the microstrip collinear array according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the microstrip collinear array according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a partially enlarged view of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view, showing the microstrip collinear array according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure seen from another direction; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view, showing the first surface of the first bearing plate of the microstrip collinear array according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view, showing the second surface of the first bearing plate of the microstrip collinear array according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the first bearing plate of the microstrip collinear array according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is a bottom view of the microstrip collinear array according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of the microstrip collinear array according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the microstrip collinear array according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A microstrip collinear array  1  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIG. 1 a    to  FIG. 2 b   , and includes a bearing member  10 , two first antenna assemblies  14 , two second antenna assemblies  16 , a first connecting line 18 , and a second connecting line  20 . 
     The bearing member  10  includes a bearing plate  12 , wherein the bearing plate  12  is long and rectangular and has a first surface  122  and a second surface  124  which face opposite directions. A longitudinal axis direction of the bearing plate  12  extends in a first axial direction A 1 , and a latitudinal direction of the bearing plate  12  extends in a second axial direction A 2 , wherein the first axial direction A 1  is perpendicular to the second axial direction A 2 . The bearing plate  12  has a first end  12   a  and a second end  12   b  which is opposite to the first end  12   a  in the first axial direction A 1 . In the current embodiment, a length of the bearing plate  12  in the longitudinal axis direction is 110 mm, and a width of the bearing plate  12  in the latitudinal direction is 47.37 mm. A material of the bearing plate  12  could be selected from, but not limited to, ceramic-filled PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) based laminates or reinforced hydrocarbon/ceramic laminates. 
     Two first antenna assemblies  14  are juxtaposed on the bearing member  10 . In the current embodiment, the two first antenna assemblies  14  are juxtaposed on the first surface  122  of the bearing plate  12 , wherein each of the first antenna assemblies  14  includes a plurality of first planar antennas  142 , a plurality of first transmission lines  144 , and a first extending line  146 . In the current embodiment, each of the first antenna assemblies  14  includes at least four first planar antennas  142  and at least three first transmission lines  144 , wherein the four first planar antennas  142  of each of the first antenna assemblies  14  are arranged at intervals in the first axial direction A 1 . Two ends of each of the first transmission lines  144  of each of the first antenna assemblies  14  are respectively connected to the two adjacent first planar antennas  142 . The first extending line  146  of each of the first antenna assemblies  14  is connected to one of the first planar antennas  142  closest to the first end  12   a . The first transmission lines  144  and the first extending line  146  of each of the first antenna assemblies  14  are located at a same axis. 
     Two second antenna assemblies  16  are juxtaposed on the bearing member  10  and are located on a surface of the bearing member  10  opposite to the first antenna assemblies  14 . In the current embodiment, the two second antenna assemblies  16  are juxtaposed on the second surface  124  of the bearing plate  12 , wherein each of the second antenna assemblies  16  includes a plurality of second planar antennas  162 , a plurality of second transmission lines  164 , and a second extending line  166 . In the current embodiment, each of the second antenna assemblies  16  includes at least four second planar antennas  162  and at least three second transmission lines  164 , wherein the four second planar antennas  162  of each of the second antenna assemblies  16  are arranged at intervals in the first axial direction A 1 . Two ends of each of the second transmission lines  164  of each of the second antenna assemblies  16  are respectively connected to two adjacent second planar antennas  162 . The second extending line  166  of each of the second antenna assemblies  16  is connected to one of the second planar antennas  162  closest to the second end  12   b.    
     In the current embodiment, the first planar antennas  142  of each of the first antenna assemblies  14  on the first surface  122  and the corresponding second planar antennas  162  of one of the second antenna assemblies  16  on the second surface  124  are arranged in a staggered manner in the first axial direction A 1 . Each of the first planar antennas  142  and each of the second planar antennas  162  do not overlap in a third axial direction A 3  perpendicular to the first surface  122  and the second surface  124 , wherein the third axial direction A 3  in  FIG. 1 a    is a direction looking into  FIG. 1 a   , and the third axial direction A 3  in  FIG. 2 a    is a direction looking out from  FIG. 2   a.    
     The first connecting line  18  is disposed on the first surface  122  of the bearing plate  12  and includes a first connecting section  182  and a first driving section  184 , wherein the first connecting section  182  extends in the second axial direction A 2 , and two ends of the first connecting section  182  are respectively and electrically connected to the two first antenna assemblies  14 . More specifically, the two ends of the first connecting section  182  respectively connected to the two first transmission lines  144  of the two first antenna assemblies  14  closest to the first end  12   a . The first driving section  184  is connected to the first connecting section  182  and includes a first segment  184   a  and a second segment  184   b , wherein both of the first segment  184   a  and the second segment  184   b  extend in the first axial direction A 1 . The second segment  184   b  is connected between the first segment  184   a  and the first connecting section  182 . The first segment  184   a  is adapted to be connected to a wireless signal transceiver (not shown). A width of the first segment  184   a  in the second axial direction A 2  is smaller than a width of the second segment  184   b  in the second axial direction A 2 . 
     The second connecting line  20  is disposed on the second surface  124  of the bearing plate  12  which is opposite to the first connecting line  18  and corresponds to the first connecting line  18 . The second connecting line  20  is electrically connected to the first connecting line  18  and includes a second connecting section  202  and a second driving section  204 , wherein the second connecting section  202  extends in the second axial direction A 2  and is electrically connected to the two second antenna assemblies  16 . More specifically, two ends of the second connecting section  202  are respectively and electrically connected to the two corresponding second planar antennas  162  of the two second antenna assemblies  16 . The second driving section  204  is connected to the second connecting section  202 . The first connecting line  18  overlaps with the second connecting line  20  in the third axial direction A 3 . The second driving section  204  is electrically connected to the first driving section  184  via a conductive hole  126  on the bearing plate  12 . In the current embodiment, the second driving section  204  includes a third segment  204   a  and a fourth segment  204   b , wherein both of the third segment  204   a  and the fourth segment  204   b  extends in the first axial direction A 1 . The fourth segment  204   b  is connected between the third segment  204   a  and the second connecting section  202 . A width of the third segment  204   a  in the second axial direction A 2  is smaller than a width of the fourth segment  204   b  in the second axial direction A 2 . The conductive hole  126  is located between the third segment  204   a  of the second driving section  204  and the first segment  184   a  of the first driving section  184 . 
     Each of the first planar antennas  142  and each of the second planar antennas  162  have a first length L 1  in the first axial direction A 1  and have a first width W 1  in the second axial direction A 2 . In the current embodiment, the first length L 1  is 12.5 mm, and the first width W 1  is 14 mm. Each of the first transmission lines  144  and each of the second transmission lines  164  have a second length L 2  in the first axial direction A 1 . In the current embodiment, the second length L 2  is 14.5 mm. Each of the first extending lines  146  and each of the second extending lines  166  have a third length L 3  in the first axial direction A 1 . In the current embodiment, the third length L 3  is 8.55 mm. Each of the first transmission lines  144 , each of the second transmission lines  164 , each of the first extending lines  146 , and each of the second extending lines  166  have a second width W 2  in the second axial direction A 2 , wherein the second width W 2  is 2.9-3.1 mm. In the current embodiment, the second width W 2  is 3.1 mm. 
     The first planar antennas  142  of one of the first antenna assemblies  14  are spaced from the first planar antennas  142  of the other first antenna assembly  14  by a first distance D 1  in the second axial direction A 2 . In the current embodiment, the first distance D 1  is 14.5 mm. The second planar antennas  162  of one of the second antenna assemblies  16  are spaced from the second planar antennas  162  of the other second antenna assembly  16  by a second distance D 2  in the second axial direction A 2 . In the current embodiment, the second distance D 2  is 14.5 mm. 
     The first transmission lines  144  of one of the first antenna assemblies  14  are spaced from the first transmission lines  144  of the other first antenna assembly  14  by a third distance D 3  in the second axial direction A 2 . In the current embodiment, the third distance D 3  is 25.4 mm. The second transmission lines  164  of one of the second antenna assemblies  16  are spaced from the second transmission lines  164  of the other second antenna assembly  16  by a fourth distance D 4  in the second axial direction A 2 . In the current embodiment, the fourth distance is 25.4 mm. 
     In the current embodiment, the first connecting section  182  of the first connecting line  18  and the second connecting section  202  of the second connecting line  20  have a length La of 3.9 mm in the first axial direction A 1 , and the first segment  184   a  of the first driving section  184  has a length Lb of 5.5 mm in the first axial direction A 1 , and the second segment  184   b  of the first driving section  184  has a length Lc of 7 mm in the first axial direction A 1 . The first segment  184   a  of the first driving section  184  has a width Wb of 2 mm in the second axial direction A 2 , and the second segment  184   b  of the first driving section  184  has a width Wc of 3 mm in the second axial direction A 2 . The second driving section  204  and the first driving section  184  have the same size. 
     Generally, in order to achieve similar high peak gain by a merely single antenna assembly, the antenna assembly should include at least six planar antennas and a bearing plate with a length over 164 mm. In the current embodiment, a length of the bearing plate  12  of the bearing member  10  of the microstrip collinear array  1  is 110 mm, which could provide high peak gain without increasing the length of the bearing member. Other embodiments are described in detail as follow, which could provide high peak gain as well. 
     A microstrip collinear array  2  according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , and has almost the same structures as that of the first embodiment, except that the first distance D 1  between the first planar antennas  142  of the two first antenna assemblies  14  is 6.5 mm; the second distance D 2  between the second planar antennas  162  of the two second antenna assemblies  16  is 6.5 mm; the third distance D 3  between the first transmission lines  144  of the two first antenna assemblies  14  is 17.4 mm; the fourth distance D 4  between the second transmission lines  164  of the two second antenna assemblies  16  is 17.4 mm. 
     A microstrip collinear array  3  according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , and has almost the same structures as that of the first embodiment, except that the first distance D 1  between the first planar antennas  142  of the two first antenna assemblies  14  is 22.5 mm; the second distance D 2  between the second planar antennas  162  of the two second antenna assemblies  16  is 22.5 mm; the third distance D 3  between the first transmission lines  144  of the two first antenna assemblies  14  is 33.4 mm; the fourth distance D 4  between the second transmission lines  164  of the two second antenna assemblies  16  is 33.4 mm. 
     A microstrip collinear array  4  according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 8 , and has similar structures as that of the first embodiment, including a bearing member  30 , two first antenna assemblies  38 , two second antenna assemblies  40 , a first connecting line  42 , and a second connecting line  44 , wherein a longitudinal axis direction of the bearing member  30  extends in a first axial direction A 1 , and a first connecting section  422  of the first connecting line  42  and a second connecting section  442  of the second connecting line  44  extends in a second axial direction A 2 . 
     The difference between the microstrip collinear array  4  of the fourth embodiment and that of the first embodiment is that the bearing member  30  includes a first bearing plate  32 , a second bearing plate  34 , and a connecting plate  36 , wherein the first bearing plate  32  has a first surface  322  and a second surface  324  which face opposite directions; the second bearing plate  34  has a third surface  342  and a fourth surface  344  which face opposite directions; the connecting plate  36  is connected between a lateral edge  326  of the first bearing plate  32  and a lateral edge  346  of the second bearing plate  34 , and has a fifth surface  362  and a sixth surface  364  which face opposite directions. 
     One of the first antenna assemblies  38  is located on the first surface  322  of the first bearing plate  32 , and the other first antenna assembly  38  is located on the fourth surface  344  of the second bearing plate  34 . One of the second antenna assemblies  40  is located on the second surface  324  of the first bearing plate  32 , and the other second antenna assembly  40  is located on the third surface  342  of the second bearing plate  34 . In other words, the two first antenna assemblies  38  face opposite directions, and the two second antenna assemblies  40  face each other. In practice, the two first antenna assemblies  38  could face each other, and the two second antenna assemblies  40  could face opposite directions. 
     The first connecting line  42  is located on the fifth surface  362  of the connecting plate  36 , and the second connecting line  44  is located on the sixth surface  364  of the connecting plate  36 , wherein the first connecting line  42  overlaps with the second connecting line  44  in a third axial direction A 3  perpendicular to the first axial direction A 1  and the second axial direction A 2 . The first driving section  424  is electrically connected to the second driving section  444  via a conductive hole  366  on the connecting plate  36 . 
     The first bearing plate  32  and the second bearing plate  34  have the same structure, in order to illustrate easily, the first bearing plate  32  is used for illustration. Referring to  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the first bearing plate  32  has a length of 141.66 mm in a longitudinal axis direction of the first bearing plate  32  (i.e., the first axial direction A 1 ) and has a width of 16 mm in a latitudinal direction of the first bearing plate  32  (i.e., the third axial direction A 3 ). A plurality of first planar antennas  382  on the first surface  322  of the first bearing plate  32  and a plurality of second planar antennas  402  on the second surface  324  of the first bearing plate  32  are arranged in a staggered manner in the first axial direction A 1 . Each of the first planar antennas  382  and each of the second planar antennas  402  do not overlap in the second axial direction A 2 . The first planar antennas  382  on the second bearing plate  34  and the second planar antennas  402  on the second bearing plate  34  are arranged in a staggered manner in the first axial direction A 1  as well. 
     A first extending line  386  of one of the first antenna assemblies  38  on the first surface  322  of the first bearing plate  32  is electrically connected to the first connecting section  422  of the first connecting line  42  on the connecting plate  36  via a conductive line  46 . One of the second planar antennas  402  on the second surface  324  of the first bearing plate  32  closest to a first end  30   a  of the bearing member  30  is electrically connected to the second connecting section  442  of the second connecting line  44  on the connecting plate  36  via a conductive line  48 . A first extending line  386  of the other first antenna assembly  38  on the fourth surface  344  of the second bearing plate  34  is electrically connected to the first connecting section  422  of the first connecting line  42  on the connecting plate  36  via a conductive line  46 . One of the second planar antennas  402  on the third surface  342  of the second bearing plate  34  closest to the first end  30   a  is electrically connected to the second connecting section  442  of the second connecting line  44  on the connecting plate  36  via a conductive line  48 . 
     In the current embodiment, each of the first planar antennas  382  and each of the second planar antennas  402  have a first length L 1  in the first axial direction A 1  and have a first width W 1  in the third axial direction A 3 , wherein the first length L 1  is 13.8 mm, and the first width W 1  is 16 mm. Each of the first transmission lines  384  has a second length L 2  in the first axial direction A 1 . In the current embodiment, the second length L 2  is 15.8 mm. The second surface  324  and the third surface  342  are spaced from each other by a gap D 5 . In the current embodiment, the gap D 5  is 15.8 mm. 
     Each of the first extending lines  386  and each of the second extending lines  406  have a third length L 3  in the first axial direction A 1 . In the current embodiment, the third length L 3  is 8.55 mm. 
     Each of the first transmission lines  384 , each of the second transmission lines  404 , each of the first extending lines  386 , and each of the second extending lines  406  have a second width W 2  in the third axial direction A 3 , wherein the second width W 2  is 2.9-3.1 mm. In the current embodiment, the second width W 2  is 2.9 mm. A maximum width of each of the conductive lines  46 ,  48  is 1.1 mm which is smaller than the second width W 2 . 
     In the current embodiment, the first connecting section  422  of the first connecting line  42  and the second connecting section  442  of the second connecting line  44  have a length Ld of 1.1 mm in the first axial direction A 1 ; the first driving section  424  of the first connecting line  42  and the second driving section  444  of the second connecting line  44  have a length Le of 3.46 mm in the first axial direction A 1  and have a width We of 1.1 mm in the second axial direction A 2 . 
     In the current embodiment, the bearing member  14  of the microstrip collinear array  4  has a length of 141.66 mm, which could also provide high peak gain at a length shorter than the bearing plate of a merely single antenna assembly. 
     A microstrip collinear array  5  according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIG. 14 , and has almost the same structures as that of the fourth embodiment, except that the gap D 5  between the second surface  324  of the first bearing plate  32  and the third surface  342  of the second bearing plate  34  is 6.5 mm. 
     A microstrip collinear array  6  according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated in  FIG. 15 , and has almost the same structures as that of the fourth embodiment, except that the gap D 5  between the second surface  324  of the first bearing plate  32  and the third surface  342  of the second bearing plate  34  is 22.5 mm. 
     With the aforementioned design, by juxtaposing the two first antenna assemblies and the two second antenna assemblies, the microstrip collinear array of the present disclosure could achieve high peak gain. Compared to a single antenna assembly, which has to increase the number and the length of the planar antennas to achieve high peak gain, the microstrip collinear array of the present disclosure could effectively reduce the overall length and be adapted for miniaturization access point. 
     It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some embodiments of the present disclosure. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present disclosure.