Patent Description:
With development of a base station antenna, a length of a phase shifter used in the base station antenna keeps increasing. In this way, a distance between solder joints distributed at two ends of the phase shifter also becomes longer.

When a coefficient of thermal expansion (Coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE) of a cavity of the phase shifter is inconsistent with that of an internal conductive apparatus of the phase shifter, in a long-term temperature cycle test, the solder joints distributed at the two ends of the phase shifter often creep, resulting in tearing of the solder joints. In addition, the longer the length of the phase shifter, the more easily the solder joints are torn, which further affects electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

<CIT> relates to microwave transmission line apparatus having flexibly connected displaceable conductor.

JPH04119108U relates to a technique for mounting a delay line on a substrate by applying a microstrip line used for timing adjustment of a signal in a high frequency region in a device such as a communication device or a measuring device.

<CIT> relates to SHF circuit connection arrangement, has contact element with conducting housing attached to strip conductor with conducting adhesive joint containing ball pressed against hollow waveguide.

<CIT> relates to circuit device with a contact element for electrically connecting a wave guide and a conductor strip in a nearly stress-free manner.

<CIT> relates to connection structure of microstrip line.

<CIT> relates to dielectric phase shifter with novel conducting cavities.

<CIT> relates to base station antenna, move looks ware pull rod, move low temperature shrink compensation arrangement of looks ware pull rod.

Implementations of this application provide a phase shifter, an antenna, and a base station, to avoid tearing a solder joint on the phase shifter, and ensure electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

Because the stress relief portion can be configured to reduce the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, adding the stress relief portion in the phase shifter can avoid tearing a solder joint on the phase shifter, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

Examples of the implementations are shown in the accompanying drawings. Same or similar reference signs are always used to represent same or similar elements or elements having same or similar functions.

In the descriptions of the implementations of this application, it should be understood that direction or location relationships indicated by terms "upper", "on", "below", "front", "rear", "vertical", "horizontal, "bottom", "inner", "outer", or the like are direction or location relationships shown based on the accompanying drawings, and are merely intended to conveniently describe this application and simplify the description, but are not intended to indicate or imply that an apparatus or an element needs to have a particular direction and needs to be constructed and operated in the particular direction. Therefore, such terms cannot be understood as a limitation on the implementations of this application. In the descriptions of the implementations of this application, unless otherwise specifically specified, "a plurality of" means two or more.

In the descriptions of the implementations of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, terms "link", "connect", and "connection" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, the terms may be used for a fixed connection, a connection through intermediate media, an internal connection between two elements, or an interaction relationship between two elements. Persons of ordinary skill in the art may understand specific meanings of the terms in the implementations of this application based on specific cases.

In the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of the implementations of this application, terms such as "first", "second", and "third" are intended to distinguish between similar objects but do not necessarily indicate a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data termed in such a way are interchangeable in proper circumstances, so that the implementations of this application described herein can be implemented in orders except the order illustrated or described herein. Moreover, the terms "include", "have" and any other variants mean to cover the non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a list of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units, but may include other steps or units not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, product, or device.

A coefficient of thermal expansion is used to indicate the extent to which an object expands and contracts due to temperature changes. "<IMG>"A coefficient of thermal expansion is a physical quantity that measures the degree of thermal expansion of a solid material. "Ability of an object to change is expressed by a change of a length value caused by a change of a unit temperature under constant pressure, that is, the coefficient of thermal expansion. Coefficients of thermal expansion of objects are different, and generally a unit of a coefficient of thermal expansion of a metal is <NUM>/degree Celsius. In most cases, this coefficient is positive. That is, a temperature change is proportional to a length change, and a volume increases as a temperature rises. However, there are exceptions, such as negative expansion of water between <NUM> and <NUM> degrees Celsius. However, geometrical characteristics of some ceramic materials are almost not changed when a temperature rises. Coefficients of thermal expansion of the ceramic materials are close to <NUM>.

In a long-term temperature cycle test, a high-temperature environment and a low-temperature environment alternately occur. Generally, a common material is subject to a phenomenon of thermal expansion and cold contraction, and there is large or small deformation. A magnitude of the deformation is closely correlated to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material.

In a practical application, two materials whose coefficients of thermal expansion differ greatly are usually electrically connected to each other to implement a specific function. During the long-term temperature cycle test, because the coefficients of thermal expansion of the two materials differ greatly, deformation of the two materials is inconsistent. In this case, a portion used for implementation of an electrical connection between the two materials is subject to a stress generated by the different deformation. A magnitude of the stress is related to a difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the two materials, and also to relative positions of the electrical connection portion to the two materials. For example, as described above, when a coefficient of thermal expansion of a cavity of a phase shifter is inconsistent with a coefficient of thermal expansion of an internal conductive apparatus of the phase shifter, solder joints distributed at two ends of the phase shifter are more likely to tear as a distance between the two ends increases, affecting electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

For the foregoing problem, the implementations of this application provide a phase shifter. A stress relief portion is added in the phase shifter, and the stress relief portion is configured to reduce a stress generated due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of a cavity of the phase shifter and an internal conductive apparatus of the phase shifter, to avoid tearing of a solder joint on the phase shifter, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

Specifically, an implementation of this application provides a phase shifter, including a cavity, a built-in printed circuit board (Printed Circuit Board, PCB) thereof, and a stress relief portion. The stress relief portion is connected to the PCB, and the stress relief portion is configured to reduce a stress generated due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB.

The PCB herein is the foregoing internal conductive apparatus.

Optionally, a first strip may be a suspended strip.

In the phase shifter, the coefficients of thermal expansion of the PCB and the cavity are different. When a long-term temperature cycle test is performed or the phase shifter is located in an area with a large temperature difference between day and night and is used for a long time, because a high-temperature environment and a low-temperature environment alternately occur, an electrical connection at a side edge is subject to the stress. Consequently, invalidation of the electrical connection is caused. However, after the stress relief portion is added, the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB can be cut, buffered, or blocked by the stress relief portion, to reduce or eliminate the stress and avoid tearing of the solder joint on the phase shifter, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

It should be noted that the solder joint in the implementations of this application are not limited to the solder joints located at any end of the phase shifter. When a distance between two solder joints is relatively long, for example, is greater than a preset value, the stress relief portion described herein may be added near the two solder joints.

The following further describes the phase shifter provided in the implementations of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings and implementations.

In a first implementation not claimed as such, at least one slot is added on one material near an electrical connection portion that is greatly affected by a stress. In this implementation, the stress relief portion is the slot. That is, the slot is a specific implementation of the stress relief portion. The slot is used to protect a solder joint and cut the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB.

<FIG> is a top view of a phase shifter according to an implementation of this application. <FIG> is an assembly diagram of a phase shifter according to an implementation of this application. <FIG> is a side view of a phase shifter according to an implementation of this application. This implementation has not been claimed as such. The remaining description should be construed accordingly.

Refer to <FIG>, and <FIG>. The phase shifter includes a cavity <NUM>, a built-in PCB <NUM> thereof, and a slot <NUM>. The slot <NUM> is located on a side of a solder joint <NUM> and close to a central position of the PCB <NUM>.

Specifically, the slot <NUM> is disposed on a PCB substrate <NUM> near the solder joint <NUM>, to reduce or cut impact of the stress on the solder joint <NUM>, so that the solder joint <NUM> is protected, and tearing of the solder joint <NUM> is avoided, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

As shown in <FIG>, reference numerals "<NUM>", "<NUM>", "<NUM>", "<NUM>", and "<NUM>" are all used to indicate portions that implement an electrical connection between a PCB strip and a cavity. For example, the foregoing reference numerals all indicate a solder joint, that is, a solder joint <NUM>, a solder joint <NUM>, a solder joint <NUM>, a solder joint <NUM>, and a solder joint <NUM>. The solder joint <NUM> is grounded and has a lightning protection function, and other solder joints have a signal transmission function. Therefore, the solder joint <NUM> is structurally different from the other solder joints. It is additionally noted that in the foregoing solder joints, the solder joint <NUM>, the solder joint <NUM>, and the solder joint <NUM> are closer to two ends of the phase shifter than other solder joints. Therefore, the two solder joints are more affected by the stress. In this implementation of this application, only the solder joint <NUM> is used as an example for description.

In some implementations, a depth of the slot <NUM> is greater than or equal to H, the depth of the slot <NUM> is less than or equal to a width of the PCB, and H may be a half of the width of the PCB <NUM>.

Optionally, the slot <NUM> and a first strip <NUM> on the PCB <NUM> are independent of each other.

In a second implementation, at least one structural connection portion is added near an electrical connection portion that is greatly affected by a stress. The structural connection portion implements only a structural connection, that is, the structural connection portion does not affect electrical performance of the phase shifter. In this implementation, the stress relief portion is the structural connection portion. That is, the structural connection portion is a specific implementation of the stress relief portion. The structural connection portion is used to protect a solder joint and block the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB.

<FIG> is a top view of a phase shifter according to another implementation of this application. <FIG> is an assembly diagram of a phase shifter according to another implementation of this application.

Refer to <FIG>, <FIG>. The phase shifter includes a cavity <NUM>, a built-in PCB <NUM> thereof, and a structural connection portion <NUM>. The structural connection portion <NUM> is structurally connected to a second strip <NUM>-<NUM> on the PCB <NUM>, a first strip <NUM> and the second strip <NUM>-<NUM> are independent of each other, and the first strip <NUM> is used for internal conduction of the phase shifter.

The first strip <NUM> is a strip disposed on a PCB substrate <NUM> with a plating through hole (Plating Through Hole, PTH). The PTH is a through hole with copper on its inner wall, and therefore can conduct electricity. The second strip <NUM>-<NUM> is an isolated metal strip disposed on the PCB substrate <NUM>, and the second strip <NUM>-<NUM> is only used for a structural connection and is not used for conducting electricity.

Optionally, the structural connection portion <NUM> is close to the solder joint <NUM>.

Optionally, the solder joint <NUM> is a solder joint located at any end of the phase shifter.

In this implementation, the structural connection portion <NUM> that implements only a structural connection is added next to the solder joint <NUM>, and the structural connection portion <NUM> bears a stress generated due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, to play a function similar to a protective sleeve, so that the solder joint <NUM> is protected, and tearing of the solder joint <NUM> is avoided, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

In a third implementation, at least one elastic mechanical part is added, as a buffer, to an electrical connection position that is greatly affected by a stress, thereby reducing or eliminating influence of the stress. In this implementation, the stress relief portion is the elastic mechanical part. That is, the elastic mechanical part is a specific implementation of the stress relief portion. The elastic mechanical part absorbs the stress generated due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, to protect a solder j oint, thereby ensuring that the solder joint herein works normally.

<FIG> is a top view of a phase shifter according to still another implementation of this application. <FIG> is an assembly diagram of a phase shifter according to still another implementation of this application. <FIG> is a partial enlarged view of an assembly diagram of a phase shifter according to still another implementation of this application. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a connection relationship of an elastic mechanical part in a phase shifter according to still another implementation of this application.

Refer to <FIG>, and <FIG> to <FIG>. The phase shifter includes a cavity <NUM>, a built-in PCB <NUM> thereof, and an elastic mechanical part <NUM>. The elastic mechanical part <NUM> is electrically connected to a first strip <NUM> on the PCB <NUM>, and the first strip <NUM> is used for internal conduction of the phase shifter.

In some implementations not covered by the claims, one end of the elastic mechanical part <NUM> is electrically connected to an inner core <NUM> of an external cable <NUM>, an outer conductor <NUM> of the external cable <NUM> is electrically connected to the cavity <NUM>, and the other end of the elastic mechanical part <NUM> is electrically connected to the first strip <NUM>.

According to one of the alternatives of the invention, an adapter <NUM> shown in <FIG> (a block at an end of the adapter <NUM> indicates a solder joint, which does not belong to the external cable <NUM> or to the adapter <NUM>), is used between the elastic mechanical part <NUM> and the external cable <NUM>. The inner core <NUM> of the external cable <NUM> is connected to the inner core <NUM> of the adapter <NUM>. The inner core <NUM> is electrically connected to the elastic mechanical part <NUM> by a soldering manner (the solder joint indicated by the block). In another implementation not covered by the claims, an adapter <NUM> is not required, and the inner core <NUM> of the external cable <NUM> is directly electrically connected to the elastic mechanical part <NUM> by the soldering manner.

In this implementation, at least one elastic mechanical part <NUM> is added to the solder joint <NUM>, and the elastic mechanical part <NUM> bears a stress generated due to different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, to protect the solder joint <NUM>, and avoid tearing of the solder joint <NUM>, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

A shape of the elastic mechanical part <NUM> includes at least one of the following shapes: an M-shape, a W-shape, a V-shape, a zigzag, an inverted V-shape, a fold line shape, or the like. For example, <FIG> shows a side view of an elastic mechanical part, and <FIG> shows an oblique <NUM>° view of the elastic mechanical part, where the elastic mechanical part has an inverted V-shape.

The foregoing phase shifter may implement antennas of different forms by using different combinations. Based on the foregoing implementations, in the following implementation, the phase shifter is implemented by using different forms of combinations and is used in an antenna.

An implementation of this application provides an antenna, including a phase shifter as defined in the aforementioned embodiments.

Optionally, the stress relief portion may include a structural connection portion, where the structural connection portion is structurally connected to a second strip on the PCB, a first strip and the second strip are independent of each other, and the first strip is used for internal conduction of the phase shifter. That is, the structural connection portion is a specific implementation of the stress relief portion. The structural connection portion is used to protect a solder joint and block the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB.

Further, the structural connection portion is close to the solder joint.

Optionally, the solder joint is a solder joint located at any end of the phase shifter.

Optionally, the stress relief portion may include an elastic mechanical part. The elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to the first strip on the PCB, and the first strip is used for the internal conduction of the phase shifter. In this implementation, the elastic mechanical part is a specific implementation of the stress relief portion. The elastic mechanical part is used to absorb the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB.

In some not covered by the claims, one end of the elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to an inner core of an external cable, an outer conductor of the external cable is electrically connected to the cavity, and the other end of the elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to the first strip.

In one of the claimed embodiments, one end of the elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to an inner core of an adapter, the inner core of the adapter is connected to an inner core of an external cable, an outer conductor of the external cable is electrically connected to the cavity, and the other end of the elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to the first strip.

Further, a shape of the elastic mechanical part includes at least one of the following shapes: an M-shape, a W-shape, a V-shape, a zigzag, an inverted V-shape, a fold line shape, or the like.

Optionally, the stress relief portion may include a slot, where the slot is located on a side of a solder joint on the PCB and close to a central position of the PCB. In this implementation, the slot is a specific implementation of the stress relief portion. The slot is used to cut the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB.

Optionally, the solder joint is a solder joint located at an end of the phase shifter.

Further, a depth of the slot is greater than or equal to H, the depth of the slot is less than or equal to a width of the PCB, and H is a half of the width of the PCB.

The slot and the first strip on the PCB are independent of each other.

It should be further noted that the first strip is a suspended strip.

An implementation of this application further provides a base station, where the base station includes an antenna. The antenna includes a phase shifter implemented as defined in the aforementioned embodiments.

In an implementation, the phase shifter includes:.

Because the slot can be configured to reduce the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, the slot is added in the phase shifter, and the slot is located on the side of the solder joint and close to the central position of the PCB. The slot is used to cut the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, to avoid tearing of the solder joint on the phase shifter, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

Further, a depth of the slot is greater than or equal to H, the depth of the slot is less than or equal to a width of the PCB, and H is a half of the width of the PCB or another width.

In another implementation that does not have all the features claimed, the phase shifter includes:.

Because the structural connection portion can be configured to reduce the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, the structural connection portion is added in the phase shifter, and the structural connection portion is structurally connected to the second strip on the PCB. The first strip and the second strip are independent of each other. The structural connection portion is used to protect a solder joint and block the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, to avoid tearing of the solder joint on the phase shifter, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

In still another implementation that does not have all the features claimed, the phase shifter includes:.

Because the elastic mechanical part can be configured to reduce the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, the elastic mechanical part is added in the phase shifter, and the elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to the first strip on the PCB. The first strip is used for the internal conduction of the phase shifter. The elastic mechanical part is used to absorb the stress generated due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the cavity and the PCB, to avoid tearing a solder joint on the phase shifter, thereby ensuring electrical performance stability of the phase shifter.

In some implementations not covered by the claims, one end of the elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to an inner core of an external cable, an outer conductor of the external cable is electrically connected to the cavity, and the other end of the elastic mechanical part is electrically connected to the first strip.

Claim 1:
A phase shifter, comprising:
a cavity (<NUM>); and
a built-in printed circuit board, PCB (<NUM>), wherein the PCB includes a solder joint (<NUM>) and
a plated through hole, and a first strip (<NUM>) and a second strip (<NUM>-<NUM>) disposed thereon,
wherein the first strip is disposed on the PCB with the plated through-hole and the first strip is configured to be used for internal conduction of the phase shifter, and the second strip is an isolated metal strip configured to be used for a structural connection and not for conducting electricity, wherein the first strip and the second strip are independent of each other;
a stress relief portion, wherein the stress relief portion is connected to the PCB (<NUM>), and the stress relief portion is configured to reduce a stress in the solder joint generated due to different coefficients of thermal expansion, CTE, of the cavity (<NUM>) and the PCB (<NUM>);
wherein the stress relief portion comprises:
a structural connection portion (<NUM>), wherein the structural connection portion (<NUM>) is structurally connected to the second strip (<NUM>-<NUM>) on the PCB (<NUM>), wherein the structural connection portion is adjacent to the solder joint.