Patent Description:
Therefore, the <NUM> or pre-<NUM> communication system is also called a "Beyond <NUM> Network" or a "Post LTE System". In the <NUM> system, hybrid FSK and QAM modulation (FQAM) and sliding window superposition coding (SWSC) as an advanced coding modulation (ACM), and filter bank multi carrier (FBMC), non-orthogonal multiple access(NOMA), and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) as an advanced access technology have also been developed.

The Internet of everything (loE), which is a combination of the loT technology and the big data processing technology through connection with a cloud server, has emerged. As technology elements, such as "sensing technology", "wired/wireless communication and network infrastructure", "service interface technology", and "security technology" have been demanded for loT implementation, a sensor network, a machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, machine type communication (MTC), and so forth have been recently researched. Such an loT environment may provide intelligent Internet technology services that create a new value to human life by collecting and analyzing data generated among connected things.

In line with this, various attempts have been made to apply <NUM> communication systems to loT networks. Application of a cloud radio access network (RAN) as the above-described big data processing technology may also be considered an example of convergence of the <NUM> technology with the loT technology.

The following prior art concerns antenna modules in the technical field of the present invention:.

A next generation communication system may include a superhigh frequency band (mmWave). Accordingly, in order use a next generation communication system, there is a need for an antenna module structure that can smoothly perform communication even in the superhigh frequency band. Therefore, the disclosure provides an antenna module that has high efficiency and gain in a next generation communication system and can be manufactured through a simple process.

The disclosure provides an antenna module as defined in the appended claims.

According to an embodiment, it is possible to configure an antenna module by disposing only a radiator or a feeder in a 3D dielectric structure, so the manufacturing process of the antenna module is simplified. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain the effect that reduce the manufacturing cost, improve the manufacturing process efficiency, and decrease the defective proportion of the antenna module.

Further, the performance of an antenna module is improved by using a gap-coupled structure that secures a gap between a feeder and a radiator, thereby being able to decrease the size of the antenna module.

The examples shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> do not comprise all the technical features of the invention but are nonetheless useful for the understanding of the invention.

As used herein, the "unit" refers to a software element or a hardware element, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), which performs a predetermined function. However, the "unit" does not always have a meaning limited to software or hardware. The "unit" may be constructed either to be stored in an addressable storage medium or to execute one or more processors. Therefore, the "unit" includes, for example, software elements, object-oriented software elements, class elements or task elements, processes, functions, properties, procedures, sub-routines, segments of a program code, drivers, firmware, micro-codes, circuits, data, database, data structures, tables, arrays, and parameters. The elements and functions provided by the "unit" may be either combined into a smaller number of elements, or a "unit", or divided into a larger number of elements, or a "unit". Moreover, the elements and "units" or may be implemented to reproduce one or more CPUs within a device or a security multimedia card. Further, the "unit" in the embodiments may include one or more processors.

<FIG> is a side view of an antenna array according to an embodiment not comprising all the technical features of the disclosure.

The antenna module structure disclosed in the specification including <FIG> can be applied to a next generation communication system too. In particular, the antenna module structure disclosed in the specification can be applied to a communication system of which the operation frequency is 6GH or less.

According to an embodiment, an antenna module may include at least one antenna array <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, one antenna module may have a <NUM>×<NUM> antenna array structure. That is, one antenna module may have <NUM> (<NUM>×<NUM> = <NUM>) antenna arrays <NUM> and <NUM>. This will be described below in more detail with reference to <FIG>.

The antenna array <NUM> shown in <FIG> may include a first dielectric <NUM> having a plate shape, a second dielectric <NUM> disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM> with the top thereof spaced a predetermined first distance apart from the top of the first dielectric <NUM>, a first radiator <NUM> disposed on the top of the second dielectric <NUM>, and a feeder <NUM> disposed on the first dielectric <NUM> and the second dielectric <NUM> and supplying an RF signal to the first radiator <NUM>.

Although it is assumed that the first dielectric <NUM> and the second dielectric <NUM> are separate components in <FIG>, the first dielectric <NUM> and the second dielectric <NUM> may be integrated in a single component. According to an embodiment, the first dielectric <NUM> and the second dielectric <NUM> may be formed as one dielectric and a protrusion may be formed on the top of the first dielectric, on which the second dielectric is disposed, to correspond to the height of the second dielectric <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, a metal plate <NUM> may be disposed on the bottom of the first dielectric <NUM> and the metal plate <NUM> may be a ground layer. According to an embodiment, a wireless communication chip <NUM> or a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) may be disposed on the bottom of the metal plate <NUM> or the bottom of the first dielectric <NUM>. The wireless communication chip <NUM> or the PCB can transmit an RF signal for operating the first radiator <NUM> as an antenna.

According to an embodiment, the wireless communication chip <NUM> may be electrically connected with the feeder <NUM> through the first dielectric <NUM> by a via <NUM>. The wireless communication chip <NUM> can supply an RF signal to the first radiator <NUM> through the feeder <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the first distance that is the distance between the first radiator <NUM> and the first dielectric <NUM> may be determined based on the wavelength of an electronic wave that is radiated from the first radiator <NUM>. For example, the first length may be proportioned to the wavelength of the electronic wave that is radiated from the first radiator <NUM>.

Although only the method of configuring an antenna module using dielectric is disclosed in the specification, the dielectrics may be replaced by a nonmetallic material excluding a dielectric. According to an embodiment, the dielectric structure including the first dielectric <NUM> and the second dielectric <NUM> may be manufactured by injection molding. According to an embodiment, the first radiator <NUM> and the feeder <NUM> may be formed by printing on the injected dielectric or may be separately pressed and then coupled to the injected dielectric.

Accordingly, the antenna module structure disclosed in the specification is obtained through a more simple process than an antenna module structure using a PCB. Further, the number of components of the antenna module is smaller than that of an antenna module structure using a PCB (e.g., a PCB may be removed). Therefore, it is possible to expect the effect of reducing the manufacturing cost when using the antenna module structure disclosed in the specification.

<FIG> is a view showing a first embodiment not comprising all the technical features of the invention, of an antenna array structure including two emitters.

The antenna array <NUM> shown in <FIG> may include: a first dielectric <NUM> having a plate shape; a second dielectric <NUM> disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM> with the top thereof spaced a predetermined first distance from the top of the first dielectric <NUM>; a third dielectric <NUM> disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM> and spaced a predetermined second distance from the second dielectric <NUM> with the top thereof spaced the first distance from the top of the first dielectric <NUM>; a first radiator <NUM> disposed on the top of the second dielectric <NUM>; a second radiator <NUM> disposed on the top of the third dielectric <NUM>; feeders <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> supplying an RF signal to the first radiator <NUM> and the second radiator <NUM>; and distributors <NUM> and <NUM> distributing the RF signal to the first radiator <NUM> and the second radiator <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the feeder <NUM> may be classified into feeders <NUM> and <NUM> facing the first radiator <NUM> and feeders <NUM> and <NUM> facing the second radiator <NUM> through the distributors <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the feeders <NUM> and <NUM> facing the first dielectric <NUM> may include a first feeder <NUM> that supplies an RF signal related to a horizontal polarized wave to the first radiator <NUM> and a second feeder <NUM> that supplies an RF signal related to a vertical polarized wave to the first radiator <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the first feeder <NUM> and the second feeder <NUM> may extend from the top of the first dielectric <NUM> to the top of the second dielectric <NUM> via a side of the second dielectric <NUM>. The extension line of the first feeder <NUM> and the extension line of the second feeder <NUM> may be perpendicular to each other on the top of the second dielectric <NUM>.

Since the extension line of the first feeder <NUM> and the extension line of the second feeder <NUM> are perpendicular to each other, the gain values of the horizontal polarized wave and the vertical polarized wave radiated from the first radiator <NUM> can be improved.

Although the first supplier <NUM> can supply an RF signal related to a horizontal polarized wave and the second feeder <NUM> can supply an RF signal related to a vertical polarized wave in the disclosure, they may be switched. That is, the first supplier <NUM> may supply an RF signal related to a vertical polarized wave and the second feeder <NUM> may supply an RF signal related to a horizontal polarized wave.

According to an embodiment, the third dielectric <NUM> spaced the second distance apart from the second dielectric <NUM>, and the second radiator <NUM> and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM> disposed on the third dielectric <NUM> may also be similar to or the same as the antenna array structure using the second dielectric <NUM> described above.

However, the positions of the feeders disposed on the second dielectric <NUM> and the third dielectric <NUM> may be different. In the antenna module structure shown in <FIG>, for example, it the first feeder <NUM> may be disposed at the right corner of a square bottom of the second dielectric <NUM> of which the top has a square shape and the second feeder <NUM> is disposed at the right corner of the square top, similarly, the third feeder <NUM> may be disposed at the right corner of a square bottom of the third dielectric <NUM> of which the top has a square shape, as in the second dielectric <NUM>, but the fourth feeder <NUM> may be disposed at the left corner of the square bottom.

That is, the first feeder <NUM> and the third feeder <NUM> may be disposed at the same positions, respectively, but the second feeder <NUM> and the fourth feeder <NUM> may be disposed at different positions, on the second dielectric <NUM> and the third dielectric <NUM>. However, even in this case, the extension lines of the first feeder <NUM> and the second feeder <NUM> may be perpendicular to each other on the top of the second dielectric <NUM> and the extension lines of the third feeder <NUM> and the fourth feeder <NUM> may be perpendicular to each other on the third dielectric <NUM>.

Since the second feeder <NUM> and the fourth feeder <NUM> may be disposed at different positions on dielectrics having the same shape, according to an embodiment, the distance from the distributor <NUM> to the second feeder <NUM> and the distance from the distributor <NUM> to the fourth feeder <NUM> may be different from each other. That is, it is possible to compensate for the phase difference between RF signals that are supplied through the second feeder <NUM> and the fourth feeder <NUM> using the distance difference.

Although only the came in which the tops of the second dielectric and the third dielectric have square shapes is shown in <FIG>, the second dielectric and the third dielectric are not limited to the shape and may have various shapes.

<FIG> is a view enlarging the portion A of the antenna array structure shown in <FIG>.

According to an embodiment, the first feeder <NUM> and the second feeder <NUM> may be disposed at a predetermined second distance (distance 'a') from the first radiator <NUM>, and the third feeder <NUM> and the fourth feeder <NUM> may be disposed at the second distance (a) from the second radiator <NUM>.

That is, the feeders and the radiators each may have a gap-coupled structure. All the feeders and radiators are made of a metal material, the feeders and the radiators are spaced the second distance apart from each other, and dielectrics are disposed in the spaces between the feeders and the radiators. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve the effect that a capacitor or an inverter is disposed between the feeders and the radiators by the structure described above, and accordingly, it is possible to improve the bandwidth of the electronic waves that are radiated from the radiators. According to an embodiment, the second distance (a) may be determined based on the frequency of the electronic waves that are radiated from the radiators.

<FIG> is a view showing an embodiment of an antenna array structure including two radiators.

According to an embodiment, a plurality of second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> having a column shape having a height of a first distance may be disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, a first radiator <NUM> may be disposed on five second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and a second radiator <NUM> may be disposed on other five second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, third dielectrics <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM> and the tops of the third dielectrics <NUM> and <NUM> may be spaced a third distance apart from the top of the first dielectric <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, feeders <NUM> and <NUM> may extend to the tops of the third dielectrics <NUM> and <NUM>. That is, the first feeder <NUM> may extend to the top of the third dielectric <NUM> and the second feeder <NUM> may extend to the top of the third dielectric <NUM>. In this case, as described above, the extension line of the first feeder <NUM> and the extension line of the second feeder <NUM> may be perpendicular to each other.

According to an embodiment, the third distance may be shorter than the first distance. That is, the heights of the third dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be smaller than the heights of the second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. This will be described below in detail with reference to <FIG>.

An antenna array structure (an antenna array including the second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the third dielectrics <NUM> and <NUM>, and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM>) corresponding to the second radiator <NUM> may be the same as or similar to an antenna array corresponding to the first radiator <NUM>. In the antenna array <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the first dielectric <NUM> and the distributors <NUM> and <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the antenna array structure described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a side view of the antenna array shown in <FIG>.

According to an embodiment, the third distance that is the height of the third dielectrics <NUM> and <NUM> may be shorter than the first distance that is the height of the second dielectric <NUM>. The radiator <NUM> may be disposed on the top of the second dielectric <NUM>, and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM> may be disposed on the tops of the third dielectrics <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

According to an embodiment, the feeders, as described above, may include a first feeder <NUM> for forming a horizontal polarized wave and a second feeder <NUM> for forming a vertical polarized wave, and the third dielectric <NUM> on which the first feeder <NUM> is disposed and the third dielectric <NUM> on which the second feeder <NUM> is disposed may be perpendicular to each other (that is, the longitudinal center lines of the third dielectric <NUM> and the third dielectric <NUM> may be perpendicular to each other).

Since the third distance that is the height of the third dielectrics <NUM> and <NUM> on which the feeders <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed is shorter than the first distance that is the height of the second dielectric <NUM> on which the radiator <NUM> is disposed, there may be a distance difference between the radiator <NUM> and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, if the height of the second dielectric <NUM> is <NUM> and the heights of the third dielectric <NUM> and <NUM> is <NUM>, there may be a distance difference of <NUM> between the radiator <NUM> and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM>.

In this case, the portion between the radiator <NUM> and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM> is filled with a dielectric or air, so the structure between the radiator <NUM> and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM> may be the gap-coupled structure described above.

Accordingly, a gap-coupled structure can be formed in the antenna array due to the difference between the first distance and the third distance, and accordingly, it is possible to improve the bandwidth of the frequency that is radiated from the radiator <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the difference between the first distance and the third distance may be determined based on the frequency of the electronic wave to be radiated from the radiator <NUM> or the overlap area of the radiator <NUM> and the feeders <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of an antenna array when a space is defined in a second dielectric in accordance with an embodiment not comprising all the technical features of the disclosure.

According to an embodiment, in a second dielectric <NUM> of an antenna array <NUM>, a space <NUM> may be defined along the outer sides of the second dielectric <NUM>. The space <NUM> may be a closed space surrounded by the tops of the second dielectric <NUM> and a first dielectric <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, a radiator <NUM> may be included on the top of the second dielectric <NUM> and a feeder <NUM> may be disposed along a side of the second dielectric <NUM> to be able to supply an RF signal to the radiator <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, when the space <NUM> is defined in the second dielectric <NUM> and an RF signal is supplied to the radiator <NUM> through the feeder <NUM>, electric field distribution generated by the RF signal may concentrate on the side of the second dielectric <NUM>. That is, the electric field density of the side of the second dielectric <NUM> may be higher than the electric field density of the space <NUM> in the second dielectric <NUM>.

Accordingly, isolation of a vertical polarized wave and a horizontal polarized wave that are radiated from the radiator <NUM> can be improved, so the performance of the antenna array <NUM> can be improved.

Although only the case in which the space <NUM> defined in the second dielectric becomes a closed space by being surrounded by the tops of the second dielectric <NUM> and the first dielectric <NUM> is shown in <FIG>, the right range of the disclosure should not be construed as being limited thereto. The space <NUM> may be an open space, which will be described below in detail with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a side view of an antenna array when two emitters are disposed in one second dielectric in accordance with an embodiment not comprising all the technical features of the disclosure.

In an antenna array <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the structures of a first dielectric <NUM>, a second dielectric <NUM>, and a feeder <NUM> may be the same as or similar to the antenna array shown in <FIG>. That is, in the second dielectric <NUM>, a space <NUM> may be defined along the outer side of the second dielectric <NUM>.

However, according to the antenna array <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a first radiator <NUM> may be disposed on the top of the second dielectric, a second radiator <NUM> may be disposed on the bottom of the second dielectric, and the first radiator <NUM> and the second radiator <NUM> may be electrically connected to each other through a via. According to an embodiment, the antenna array <NUM> radiate electronic waves through two radiator <NUM> and <NUM>, whereby the gain value of the antenna array <NUM> can be improved.

Although the feeder <NUM> directly supplies an RF signal to the first radiator <NUM> disposed on the top of the second dielectric <NUM> in <FIG>, the right range of the disclosure should not be construed as being limited thereto.

For example, the feeder <NUM> may directly supply an RF signal to the second radiator <NUM> disposed on the bottom of the second dielectric <NUM> and the first radiator <NUM> may indirectly receive an RF signal through a via formed in the second dielectric <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing a first embodiment not comprising all the technical features of the invention, of an antenna array structure when a space is defined in a second dielectric.

In more detail, <FIG> is a view showing the case in which a closed space <NUM> is defined in a second dielectric <NUM>. According to an embodiment, a second dielectric <NUM> surrounding the space <NUM> may be disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM>. Although the second dielectric <NUM> has a square column shape with the space <NUM> therein in <FIG>, the right range of the disclosure should not be construed as being limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, a first feeder <NUM> and a second feeder <NUM> may be disposed on a side of the second dielectric <NUM>. In this case, as described above, the extension lines of the first feeder <NUM> and the second feeder <NUM> may be perpendicular to each other on the top of the second dielectric <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing a second embodiment of an antenna array structure when a space is defined in a second dielectric.

In more detail, <FIG> is a view showing the case in which an open space <NUM> is defined inside second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. That is, <FIG> shows an antenna array <NUM> in which four second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> each which have cuboid shape surround the space <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be spaced a specific distance from each other, and accordingly, the space <NUM> surrounded by the second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be an open space.

According to an embodiment, a first feeder <NUM> may be disposed on the second dielectric <NUM> and a second feeder <NUM> may be disposed on the second dielectric <NUM>. In this case, the extension line of the second dielectric <NUM> on which the first feeder <NUM> is disposed and the extension line of the second dielectric <NUM> on which the second feeder <NUM> is disposed may be perpendicular to each other.

<FIG> is a view showing a third embodiment of an antenna array structure when a space is defined in a second dielectric.

In more detail, <FIG> is a view showing the case in which an open space <NUM> is defined inside second dielectric <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. That is, <FIG> shows an antenna array <NUM> in which four second dielectrics <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> each which have a triangular column shape surround the space <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing an antenna module including sixteen antenna arrays in accordance with an embodiment not comprising all the technical features of the disclosure.

As described above, according to an embodiment, one antenna module <NUM> may include a plurality of antenna arrays and <FIG> is a view showing the case in which <NUM> antenna arrays (<NUM>×<NUM> antenna array arrangement) is disposed in one antenna module <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, each antenna array may include a first radiator <NUM> spaced a first distance apart from a first dielectric <NUM> and a second radiator <NUM> spaced a second distance apart from the first radiator <NUM> and spaced the first distance apart from the first dielectric <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the first radiator <NUM> can be supplied with an RF signal through the first feeder <NUM> and the second feeder <NUM> and the second feeder <NUM> can be supplied with an RF signal through a third feeder <NUM> and a fourth feeder <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the first feeder <NUM> and the third feeder <NUM> can be supplied with an RF signal that is supplied from a wireless communication chip (not shown) through a first distributor <NUM> disposed on the top of the first dielectric <NUM>, and the second feeder <NUM> and the fourth feeder <NUM> can be supplied with an RF signal that is supplied from the wireless communication chip through a second distributor <NUM>. In this case, the RF signal that is supplied to a radiator through the first feeder and the third feeder may be an RF signal related to a horizontal polarized wave and the RF signal that is supplied to a radiator through the second feeder and the fourth feeder may be an RF signal related to a vertical polarized wave (or vice versa). That is, the RF signal that is supplied to a radiator through the first feeder and the third feeder may be an RF signal related to a vertical polarized wave and the RF signal that is supplied to a radiator through the second feeder and the fourth feeder may be an RF signal related to a horizontal polarized wave.

According to an embodiment, a separation wall <NUM> for maintaining isolation between the antenna arrays may be disposed between the antenna arrays. The separation wall <NUM> may include a metal substance and can improve the isolation of the same polarized wave (horizontal polarized wave or vertical polarized wave) between the antenna array structures.

According to an embodiment, the antenna module <NUM> according to the disclosure may be disposed in a base station that is used in a next generation mobile communication system and the base station can operate various communication methods such as Multiple User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) and massive-MIMO through the antenna module <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An antenna module comprising at least one antenna array, wherein the antenna module comprises:
a printed circuit board, PCB;
a first dielectric (<NUM>) having a plate shape for each radiator of the at least one antenna array, wherein a first side of the first dielectric is coupled to a first side of the PCB;
a plurality of second dielectrics (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the first dielectric (<NUM>), wherein a first side of the plurality of second dielectrics is separated from the second side of the first dielectric by a first distance, and wherein the first distance is the height of the plurality of second dielectrics;
a first radiator (<NUM>) disposed on the first side of the plurality of second dielectrics; and
a feeder (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to supply a radio frequency, RF, signal to the first radiator (<NUM>),
a plurality of third dielectrics (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed on the second side of the first dielectric wherein the feeder is disposed on the first dielectric and the plurality of third dielectrics, wherein the feeder comprises a first feeding line for a first polarization and a second feeding line for a second polarization, and wherein each of the first feeding line and the second feeding line extends to a first side of one of the plurality of third dielectrics opposite to the second side of the first dielectric, wherein the first feeding line (<NUM>) and the second feeding line (<NUM>) are separated from the second side of the first dielectric by a third distance being shorter than the first distance,
wherein the plurality of second dielectrics are disposed to support the first radiator (<NUM>).