阅读说明：本技术 天线设备 (Antenna device ) 是由 铃木雄一郎 王珅 伊藤敬义 小曾根彻 佐藤仁 于 2018-07-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：[问题]使即使薄型通信设备也能够发送或接收具有与通信设备的厚度方向基本匹配的极化方向的极化波。[解决方案]一种天线设备设置有：第一基板,在第一方向上延伸；第二基板,被支撑在第一基板上,并在第一方向和与第一方向正交的第二方向二者上延伸；以及天线元件,被支撑在第二基板的表面上,该表面的法线方向与第三方向基本匹配,第三方向与第一方向和第二方向二者均正交,并且天线元件旨在发送或接收具有与第二方向基本匹配的极化方向的无线信号。([ problem ] to enable even a thin communication device to transmit or receive a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially matching the thickness direction of the communication device. [ solution ] an antenna device is provided with: a first substrate extending in a first direction; a second substrate supported on the first substrate and extending in both a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and an antenna element supported on a surface of the second substrate, a normal direction of the surface substantially matching a third direction, the third direction being orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, and the antenna element being intended to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially matching the second direction.)

1. An antenna apparatus, comprising:

a first substrate extending in a first direction;

a second substrate supported on the first substrate and extending in both a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and

an antenna element supported on a surface of the second substrate, the surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with a third direction, the third direction being orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, and the antenna element being configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the second direction.

2. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein

An end side of the second substrate in the third direction is supported on a surface of the first substrate, the surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with the second direction, and

the antenna device further includes:

a second antenna element that is supported on an end side in the third direction of the first substrate, different from the first antenna element as the antenna element, and is configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the first direction.

3. The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein the first antenna element comprises a first element extending in the second direction.

4. The antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the first element is formed by stacking a plurality of members extending in the first direction in the second direction.

5. The antenna device according to claim 2, wherein the second antenna element comprises a second element extending in the first direction.

6. The antenna device of claim 2, wherein at least either of the first antenna element or the second antenna element is configured as a dipole antenna.

7. The antenna apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of at least first antenna elements or second antenna elements, wherein

The plurality of antenna elements are supported to be separated from each other along a first direction.

8. The antenna apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of first antenna elements and a plurality of second antenna elements, wherein

The second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that at least a part in the first direction of one area, which is either the first area in which the plurality of first antenna elements are arranged in the first direction or the second area in which the plurality of second antenna elements are arranged in the first direction, is adjacent to another area in the second direction.

9. The antenna apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a first dielectric arranged to include at least the first area supporting the plurality of first antenna elements on a surface of a second substrate; and

a second dielectric arranged to include at least the second region supporting the plurality of second antenna elements on an end portion of the first substrate, wherein

The second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that the dielectric of the first dielectric or the second dielectric disposed to include the other region is adjacent to only a portion in the first direction of the one region in the second direction.

10. The antenna device according to claim 9, wherein the second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that an end portion in the first direction of one substrate which is either the first substrate or the second substrate with respect to the other substrate protrudes in the first direction.

11. The antenna device according to claim 8, wherein the second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that at least a part of the other region in the first direction is adjacent to the entire one region in the first direction in the second direction.

12. The antenna apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of first antenna elements and a plurality of second antenna elements, wherein

The second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that a first area in which the plurality of first antenna elements are arranged in the first direction is adjacent to a third area, which is different from a second area in which the plurality of second antenna elements are arranged in the first direction, of areas of the first substrate along the first direction.

13. The antenna apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of first antenna elements and a plurality of second antenna elements; and

a third antenna element supported with respect to a fourth area of the area along the first direction of the second substrate, the fourth area being different from the first area where the plurality of first antenna elements are arranged, and configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the first direction, wherein

The plurality of first antenna elements are supported in an area adjacent to a fourth area in the second direction, the area belonging to an area of the first substrate along the first direction.

14. The antenna device according to claim 13, wherein the first region is formed to protrude in the third direction with respect to the fourth region.

15. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the antenna element is configured as a planar antenna that transmits or receives each of a first radio signal as the radio signal and a second radio signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with a first direction.

16. The antenna apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements, wherein

The plurality of antenna elements are supported to be separated from each other along a first direction.

17. The antenna device according to claim 1, wherein

The first substrate comprises

A surface located on a side opposite to a direction in which the second substrate extends in the second direction and having a normal direction substantially coincident with a direction opposite to the second direction, an

A fourth antenna element different from the first antenna element being the antenna element on the surface.

18. The antenna apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a drive circuit held in a region on the opposite side of the surface of the first antenna element provided with the second substrate, the region belonging to the opposite surface of the surface supporting the fourth antenna element of the first substrate, wherein

The driving circuit is electrically connected to at least the first antenna element or the fourth antenna element.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an antenna apparatus.

Background

In a mobile communication system based on a communication standard called LTE/LTA-advanced (a), radio signals having frequencies called ultra high frequencies of about 700MHz to 3.5GHz are mainly used for communication.

In addition, in communication using an ultra-high frequency such as the communication standard described above, a so-called Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technique is employed to further improve communication performance by using a reflected wave in addition to a direct wave in signal transmission/reception even under a fading environment. Since a plurality of antennas are used in MIMO, various techniques for arranging a plurality of antennas in a more favorable mode for a mobile communication terminal device such as a smartphone have been studied.

Reference list

Non-patent document

Non-patent document 1: samsung, SK Telecommunications, KT Inc., LG Uplus, NTT DOCOMO Inc. 'On banddefinition for 26.5-29.5 GHz', R4-1704770, conference No. 3GPP TSG RAN WG4, Hangzhou, China, 5 months, 15 days to 19 days in 2017

Non-patent document 2: wonbin Hong and four, for "Millimeter-wave 5G Antennas for smartphones"; [ Online ], 8/17/2015, IEEE, [ search for 10/3/2015 ], Internet < URL: http:// ieeexplore. ieee.org/document/8012469/>

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

Incidentally, in recent years, various studies have been made on a fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication system after LTE/LTE-a. For example, in a mobile communication system, use of communication using a wireless signal (hereinafter also simply referred to as "millimeter wave") having a frequency called a millimeter wave such as 28GHz or 39GHz is being studied. For example, in non-patent document 1, the use of millimeter waves for a mobile communication system has been studied.

Millimeter waves can increase the amount of information to be transmitted compared to ultra-high frequency waves, but millimeter waves have a higher degree of straightness and tend to increase propagation loss and reflection loss. Therefore, in wireless communication using millimeter waves, it has been found that direct waves mainly contribute to communication characteristics and are hardly affected by reflected waves. From such characteristics, in a 5G mobile communication system, introduction of a technique called polarization MIMO, which implements MIMO using a plurality of polarized waves (for example, a horizontally polarized wave and a vertically polarized wave) whose polarization directions are different from each other, is being discussed. In light of such background, for a communication device configured to be movable such as a mobile communication terminal device, it is also required to employ polarization MIMO.

Meanwhile, in recent years, communication devices such as smart phones have become thinner, and the installation space of antennas for wireless communication tends to be limited. For example, in non-patent document 2, mounting of an antenna accompanying reduction in thickness of a communication device has been studied.

From such a background, in realizing polarization MIMO, it tends to be difficult to install an antenna apparatus for transmitting or receiving a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the thickness direction of the communication apparatus.

Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes a technique of enabling even a thin communication apparatus to transmit or receive a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with a thickness direction of the communication apparatus.

Solution to the problem

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an antenna apparatus including: a first substrate extending in a first direction; a second substrate supported on the first substrate and extending in both a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and an antenna element supported on a surface of the second substrate, the surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with a third direction, the third direction being orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, and configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the second direction.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

As described above, according to the present disclosure, there is provided a technique of enabling even a thin communication apparatus to transmit or receive a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with a thickness direction of the communication apparatus.

Note that the above-described effects are not necessarily limited, and any effect described in the present specification or other effects that can be grasped from the present specification may be exerted in addition to or instead of the above-described effects.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematic configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a terminal device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing a configuration example of a communication device according to a comparative example.

Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a comparative example.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing a schematic configuration of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram for describing a first configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of antenna characteristics of the antenna device according to the first configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 12 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram for describing a third configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of antenna characteristics of the antenna device according to the third configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram for describing a fourth configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a relationship between element intervals of antenna elements adjacent to each other and a beam scanning angle at which grating lobes occur in a visible region.

Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram for describing a fifth configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of a radiation pattern (radiation pattern) in the horizontal direction of the antenna device according to the fifth configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of radiation patterns in the horizontal direction of the antenna device according to the fifth configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 22 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of radiation patterns in the horizontal direction of the antenna device according to the fifth configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram for describing a sixth configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of radiation patterns in the vertical direction of the antenna device according to the sixth configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of radiation patterns in the vertical direction of the antenna device according to the sixth configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of radiation patterns in the vertical direction of the antenna device according to the sixth configuration example of the embodiment.

Fig. 27 is an explanatory diagram for describing a seventh configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 28 is an explanatory diagram for describing a seventh configuration example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 29 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 30 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of the antenna device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 31 is an explanatory diagram for describing an application of the communication apparatus according to the embodiment.

Fig. 32 is an explanatory diagram for describing an application of the communication apparatus according to the embodiment.

Detailed Description

Advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that in the present specification and the drawings, redundant description of configuration elements having substantially the same functional configuration is omitted by providing the same symbols.

Note that the description will be given in the following order.

1. Schematic configuration

1.1. Examples of System configurations

1.2. Configuration example of terminal device

2. Research on communication using millimeter waves

3. Characteristic of the technology

3.1. Comparative example

3.2. Schematic configuration

3.3. Configuration example of antenna device

3.3.1. First configuration example

3.3.2. Second configuration example

3.3.3. Third configuration example

3.3.4. Fourth configuration example

3.3.5. Fifth configuration example

3.3.6. Sixth configuration example

3.3.7. Seventh configuration example

3.4. Examples of the invention

3.5. Applications of

4. Conclusion

<1. schematic configuration >)

<1.1. example of System configuration >

First, an example of a schematic configuration of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematic configuration of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 1, the system 1 includes a wireless communication apparatus 100 and a terminal apparatus 200. Here, the terminal device 200 is also referred to as a user. The user may also be referred to as a UE. The wireless communication apparatus 100C is also referred to as UE relay. The UE herein may be a UE defined in LTE or LTE-a, and the UE relay may be a Prose UE to network relay discussed in 3GPP, and may more generally represent a communication device.

(1) Wireless communication device 100

The wireless communication device 100 is a device that provides wireless communication services to accessory devices. The wireless communication apparatus 100A is, for example, a base station of a cellular system (or a mobile communication system). The base station 100A performs wireless communication with a device (for example, the terminal device 200A) located inside the cell 10A of the base station 100A. For example, the base station 100A transmits a downlink signal to the terminal apparatus 200A and receives an uplink signal from the terminal apparatus 200A.

The base station 100A is logically connected to another base station through, for example, an X2 interface, and can transmit and receive control information and the like. In addition, the base station 100A is logically connected to a so-called core network (not shown) through, for example, an S1 interface, and can transmit and receive control information and the like. Note that communications between these devices may be physically relayed through various devices.

Here, the wireless communication apparatus 100A shown in fig. 1 is a macrocell base station, and the cell 10A is a macrocell. Meanwhile, the wireless communication apparatuses 100B and 100C are master apparatuses that operate the small cells 10B and 10C, respectively. As an example, the master device 100B is a fixedly installed small cell base station. Small cell base station 100B establishes a wireless backhaul link with macro cell base station 100A and an access link with one or more terminal devices (e.g., terminal device 200B) in small cell 10B. Note that the wireless communication device 100B may be a relay node defined by 3 GPP. The master device 100C is a dynamic Access Point (AP). The dynamic AP 100C is a mobile device that dynamically operates the small cell 10C. The dynamic AP 100C establishes a wireless backhaul link with the macrocell base station 100A and an access link with one or more terminal devices (e.g., terminal device 200C) in the small cell 10C. For example, the dynamic AP 100C may be a terminal device equipped with hardware or software capable of operating as a base station or a wireless access point. The small cell 10C in this case is a dynamically formed local network (local network/virtual cell).

For example, the cell 10A may operate according to any wireless communication system such as LTE, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Advanced PRO, GSM (registered trademark), UMTS, W-CDMA, CDMA200, WiMAX2, or IEEE 802.16.

Note that a small cell is a concept that may include various types of cells (e.g., femto (femto) cells, femto (nano) cells, pico (pico) cells, micro cells, etc.) that are smaller than a macro cell and arranged to overlap or not overlap with the macro cell. In one example, the small cell is operated by a dedicated base station. In another example, the small cell is operated by a terminal acting as a master device temporarily operating as a small cell base station. So-called relay nodes can also be considered as a form of small cell base station. The wireless communication device acting as a master station of the relay node is also referred to as a donor base station. The donor base station may represent a DeNB in LTE, or more generally a parent of a relay node.

(2) Terminal device 200

The terminal device 200 can communicate in a cellular system (or mobile communication system). The terminal device 200 performs wireless communication with a wireless communication device (e.g., the base station 100A or the master device 100B or 100C) in the cellular system. For example, the terminal apparatus 200A receives a downlink signal from the base station 100A and transmits an uplink signal to the base station 100A.

In addition, the terminal apparatus 200 is not limited to only a so-called UE, and, for example, a so-called low-cost terminal (low-cost UE) such as an MTC terminal, an enhanced MTC (emtc) terminal, and an NB-IoT terminal may be applied.

(3) Supplement

The schematic configuration of the system 1 has been described, but the present technology is not limited to the example shown in fig. 1. For example, as the configuration of the system 1, a configuration that does not include a master device, such as Small Cell Enhancement (SCE), heterogeneous network (HetNet), or MTC network, may be employed. In addition, as another example of the configuration of the system 1, the primary device may be connected to a small cell and construct a cell under the small cell.

An example of a schematic configuration of a system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to fig. 1.

<1.2. configuration example of terminal device >

Next, a configuration example of a terminal device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a terminal device 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 2, the terminal apparatus 200 includes an antenna unit 2001, a wireless communication unit 2003, a storage unit 2007, and a communication control unit 2005.

(1) Antenna unit 2001

The antenna unit 2001 radiates a signal output from the wireless communication unit 2003 into space as radio waves. In addition, the antenna unit 2001 converts radio waves in the space into a signal, and outputs the signal to the wireless communication unit 220.

(2) Wireless communication unit 2003

The wireless communication unit 2003 transmits and receives signals. For example, the wireless communication unit 2003 receives a downlink signal from a base station and transmits an uplink signal to the base station.

(3) Memory cell 2007

The storage unit 2007 temporarily or permanently stores programs and various data for the operation of the terminal device 200.

(4) Communication control unit 2005

The communication control unit 2005 controls communication with another apparatus (e.g., the base station 100) by controlling the operation of the wireless communication unit 2003. As a specific example, the communication control unit 2005 may modulate data to be transmitted based on a predetermined modulation method to generate a transmission signal, and may cause the wireless communication unit 2003 to transmit the transmission signal to the base station 100. In addition, as another example, the communication control unit 2005 may acquire a reception result of a signal from the base station 100 (i.e., a reception signal) from the wireless communication unit 2003, and may apply a predetermined demodulation process to the reception signal to demodulate data transmitted from the base station 100.

An example of the functional configuration of the terminal device 200 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described with reference to fig. 2.

<2. research on communication Using millimeter waves >

In a communication system based on a standard such as LTE/LTE-a, a radio signal having a frequency called an ultra high frequency of about 700MHz to 3.5GHz is used for communication. In contrast, in a fifth generation (5G) mobile communication system after LTE/LTE-a, use of communication using a wireless signal (hereinafter also simply referred to as "millimeter wave") having a frequency called a millimeter wave such as 28GHz or 39GHz is being studied. Therefore, after describing an outline of communication using millimeter waves, a technical problem of the communication device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be organized.

In communication using an ultra-high frequency such as LTE/LTE-a, so-called Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology is adopted, and in signal transmission/reception even in a fading environment, a reflected wave is used in addition to a direct wave to further improve communication performance.

In contrast, millimeter waves can increase the amount of information to be transmitted compared to ultrahigh frequency waves, but millimeter waves have higher straightness and tend to increase propagation loss and reflection loss. Therefore, in an environment (so-called direct Line (LOS)) in which there is no obstacle on a path directly connecting antennas that transmit and receive radio signals, direct waves mainly contribute to communication characteristics and are hardly affected by reflected waves. According to such characteristics, for example, in communication using millimeter waves, a communication terminal such as a smartphone receives a wireless signal (i.e., millimeter waves) directly transmitted from a base station (i.e., receives direct waves), thereby further improving communication performance.

In addition, as described above, in communication using millimeter waves, direct waves mainly contribute to communication characteristics, and the influence of reflected waves is small. According to such characteristics, in communication using millimeter waves between a communication terminal and a base station, a technique called polarization MIMO, which implements MIMO using a plurality of polarized waves (for example, a horizontally polarized wave and a vertically polarized wave) whose polarization directions are different from each other, is being discussed, which is introduced as a wireless signal of direct wave transmission. Note that in the present disclosure, the "polarization direction" corresponds to a direction in which a wireless signal (i.e., a polarized wave) vibrates. That is, the so-called "polarization plane" is defined by the propagation direction of the radio signal and the polarization direction of the radio signal. In addition, a polarized wave having a polarization plane perpendicular to the ground surface corresponds to a "vertically polarized wave", and a polarized wave having a polarization plane horizontal to the ground surface corresponds to a "horizontally polarized wave".

However, the position and posture of a terminal device configured to be portable, such as a mobile communication terminal (such as a smartphone), change every moment as the user carrying the terminal device moves or the mode of holding the terminal device changes. In this case, the relative positional relationship between the terminal device and the base station also changes at times, so the direction in which the direct wave from the base station reaches the terminal device also changes. This similarly applies to the case where the communication device itself is configured to be mobile.

In addition, as described above, the millimeter wave has a larger reflection loss than the ultrahigh frequency wave, and particularly tends to be easily reflected by a human body. Therefore, for example, if a communication path directly connecting an antenna element provided in a terminal device and a base station is blocked by a portion such as a hand holding a housing of the terminal device, a millimeter wave propagating through the communication path is blocked by the hand or the like. That is, the position in the terminal device at which the millimeter wave can be transmitted or received in communication with the base station (i.e., the position not blocked by the hand or the like) also changes depending on the position of the terminal device held by a portion such as the hand.

According to such a case, even in a case where the position and the attitude change at a moment, a communication apparatus capable of realizing polarization MIMO using a direct wave in a more favorable mode is required in communication with another apparatus via a wireless communication path.

Meanwhile, in recent years, communication devices such as smart phones have become thinner, and the installation space of antennas for wireless communication tends to be limited. With such a background, a space in which an antenna can be mounted in the thickness direction of a thin communication apparatus is particularly limited on the end side of the communication apparatus. Therefore, it is difficult to provide an antenna for transmitting or receiving a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the thickness direction of the communication apparatus at the end portion of the communication apparatus.

In view of the foregoing, in the present disclosure, an example of a technique of enabling even a thin communication apparatus to transmit or receive a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with a thickness direction of the communication apparatus will be described.

<3. technical characteristics >

Hereinafter, technical characteristics of a communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

<3.1. comparative example >

First, in order to more easily understand the characteristics of the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment, an example of the configuration of the following case is described as a comparative example: a so-called patch array antenna having patch (patch) antennas (planar antennas) arranged is applied to a communication apparatus such as the above-described terminal apparatus 200. For example, fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram for describing a configuration example of a communication device according to a comparative example. Note that, in the following description, the communication device according to the comparative example in fig. 3 may be referred to as "communication device 211".

The communication device 211 according to the comparative example includes a plate-like housing 209, and the housing 209 has a front face and a rear face of a substantially rectangular shape. Note that in this specification, a surface of a side where a display unit such as a display is provided is referred to as a front surface of the housing 209. That is, in fig. 3, reference numeral 201 denotes a back surface of the outer surface of the housing 209. In addition, reference numerals 203 and 205 each correspond to one end surface located at the periphery of the back surface 201 of the outer surface of the housing 209, and more specifically denote surfaces extending in the longitudinal direction of the back surface 201. In addition, reference numerals 202 and 204 each correspond to one end face located at the periphery of the back face 201 of the outer face of the housing 209, and more specifically denote end faces extending in the short direction of the back face 201. Note that although illustration is omitted in fig. 3, the front surface on the opposite side of the back surface 201 is also referred to as "front surface 206" for convenience.

In addition, in fig. 3, reference numerals 2110a to 2110f denote antenna devices for transmitting and receiving wireless signals (for example, millimeter waves) to and from a base station. Note that, in the following description, the antenna apparatuses 2110a to 2110f may be simply referred to as "(antenna apparatus(s) 2110" unless otherwise distinguished.

As shown in fig. 3, the communication device 211 according to the comparative example includes an antenna device 2110 inside the housing 209 to be located near at least a portion of each of the back surface 201 and the end surfaces 202 to 205.

In addition, the antenna apparatus 2110 includes a plurality of antenna elements 2111. More specifically, the antenna apparatus 2110 is configured as an array antenna by arranging a plurality of antenna elements 2111. For example, the antenna element 2111a is held so as to be located in the vicinity of the end of the back surface 201 on the end surface 204 side, and has a plurality of antenna elements 2111 arranged to be aligned along the direction in which the end extends (i.e., the longitudinal direction of the end surface 204). In addition, the antenna element 2111d is held so as to be located near a part of the end surface 205, and has a plurality of antenna elements 2111 arranged to be aligned in the longitudinal direction of the end surface 205.

In addition, in the antenna apparatus 2110 which is held so as to be located near a certain surface, each antenna element 2111 is held so that the normal direction of the planar element substantially coincides with the normal direction of the plane. Focusing on the antenna apparatus 2110a as a more specific example, the antenna element 2111 provided in the antenna apparatus 2110a is held such that the normal direction of the planar element substantially coincides with the normal direction of the back surface 201. This similarly applies to the other antenna apparatuses 2110b to 2110 f.

With the above-described configuration, each antenna apparatus 2110 controls the phase and power of a wireless signal transmitted or received by the plurality of antenna elements 2111, thereby controlling the directivity of the wireless signal (i.e., performing beamforming).

Next, an example of a schematic configuration of an antenna device to be applied to the communication device 211 according to a comparative example will be described with reference to fig. 4. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to a comparative example.

The antenna apparatus 2140 shown in fig. 4 is configured by coupling two mutually different antenna apparatuses 2130 via a coupling unit 2141. Note that the antenna devices 2130a and 2130f in the example in fig. 4 correspond to the antenna devices 2110a and 2110f in the example shown in fig. 3, for example, respectively. That is, the antenna element denoted by reference numeral 2131 in fig. 4 corresponds to the antenna element 2111 shown in fig. 3. Note that, in the example shown in fig. 4, the arrangement direction of the plurality of antenna elements 2131 may be referred to as the x direction and the thickness direction of the antenna device 2140 may be referred to as the z direction for convenience. In addition, a direction orthogonal to both the x-direction and the z-direction may be referred to as a y-direction.

As shown in fig. 4, the antenna device 2130a and the antenna device 2130f are arranged such that ends of the respective ends that extend in the array direction of the plurality of antenna elements 2131 are close to each other. At this time, the antenna element 2131 of the antenna device 2130a and the antenna element 2131 of the antenna device 2130f are arranged such that the normal directions of the planar elements intersect with each other (e.g., are orthogonal), or the normal directions are twisted with respect to each other. In addition, a coupling unit 2141 is provided between the antenna device 2130a and the antenna device 2130f to bridge the ends close to each other, so that the antenna device 2130a and the antenna device 2130f are coupled by the coupling unit 2141.

For example, the antenna device 2140 having the above-described configuration is preferably held along a plurality of surfaces (outer surfaces) connected to each other among the outer surfaces of the housing 209 (such as the back surface 201 and the end surface 204 shown in fig. 3). With such a configuration, for each of the plurality of surfaces connected to each other, each of the plurality of polarized waves from a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface and having polarization directions different from each other can be transmitted or received in a more favorable mode.

An example of a schematic configuration of an antenna device to be applied to the communication device 211 according to a comparative example has been described with reference to fig. 4.

Meanwhile, with recent reduction in communication terminals such as smart phones, further reduction in the thickness of antenna devices to be mounted on the communication terminals has been demanded. Therefore, the present embodiment proposes a configuration example of an antenna apparatus which can be formed thinner than the antenna apparatus 2140 according to the comparative example described with reference to fig. 4 and can transmit or receive a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the thickness direction (i.e., the z direction in fig. 4).

<3.2. schematic configuration >

First, an example of a schematic configuration of an antenna device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of a schematic configuration of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic side view of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment. That is, fig. 5 shows a configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna device is viewed from the x direction in the example shown in fig. 4. Note that the x, y, and z directions in the example shown in fig. 5 correspond to the x, y, and z directions in the example shown in fig. 4. In addition, in this specification, for convenience, the upper direction in fig. 5 is the + z direction, and the lower direction is the-z direction. In addition, the right direction in fig. 5 is the + y direction, and the left direction is the-y direction. In addition, the direction from the front side to the depth side in fig. 5 is the + x direction, and the direction from the depth side to the front side is the-x direction. In addition, in the following description, the antenna apparatus shown in fig. 5 is also referred to as "antenna apparatus 3000" for convenience. Note that the x direction, the z direction, and the y direction correspond to examples of "first direction", "second direction", and "third direction", respectively.

As shown in fig. 5, the antenna device 3000 includes a first substrate 3010, a second substrate 3030, an antenna element 3050, and an antenna element 3070. The first substrate 3010 has a surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with the z direction and extending in the x direction and the y direction. The first substrate 3010 is formed as a substrate having a thickness of about 1mm in the z direction, for example.

The antenna element 3070 is supported on the front face (+ z direction side surface) of the first substrate 3010. The antenna element 3070 is configured to be able to transmit or receive wireless signals having a propagation direction substantially coincident with the z-direction. For example, the antenna element 3070 corresponds to the antenna element 2131 provided in the antenna device 2130a in the example in fig. 4, and may be configured as a patch antenna similarly to the antenna element 2131.

In addition, the second substrate 3030 is supported on the back surface of the first substrate 3010 (the surface on the (-z direction side) so that the end side in the + y direction extends in the-z direction. In addition, the second substrate 3030 is formed to extend in the x-direction, similarly to the first substrate 3010. That is, the second substrate 3030 has a surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with the y direction and extending in the z direction and the x direction. At this time, the thickness of the portion of the antenna device 3000 supporting the second substrate 3030 in the z direction (i.e., the thickness from the end of the second substrate 3030 in the-z direction to the top surface of the first substrate 3010) is formed to be about 3 to 4 mm.

The antenna element 3050 is supported on the front surface (+ y-direction side surface) of the second substrate 3030. In the antenna apparatus 3000 according to the present embodiment, the antenna element 3050 is configured to be capable of transmitting or receiving a polarized wave having a propagation direction substantially coincident with the y-direction and having at least a polarization direction substantially coincident with the thickness direction (i.e., the z-direction) of the antenna apparatus 3000. As a specific example, antenna element 3050 can be configured as a patch antenna. Additionally, as another example, the antenna element 3050 can be configured as a dipole antenna having elements extending in the z-direction. Note that details of configuration examples of the antenna element 3050 will be described below, respectively.

An example of a schematic configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment has been described with reference to fig. 5.

<3.3. configuration example of antenna apparatus >

Next, an example of a more detailed configuration of the antenna device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below.

<3.3.1. first configuration example >

First, as a first configuration example, a configuration example of an antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where a patch antenna is applied as the antenna element 3050 shown in fig. 5 will be described. For example, fig. 6 to 9 are explanatory diagrams for describing a first configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. Note that, in the following description, an antenna device which will be described as a first configuration example may be referred to as "antenna device 3100" to distinguish from antenna devices according to other configuration examples.

First, an example of a schematic configuration of the antenna device 3100 will be described with reference to fig. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the antenna device 3100. Note that fig. 6 focuses on a configuration to which a patch antenna is applied as part of the antenna element 3050 shown in fig. 5, and illustration of a configuration corresponding to the antenna element 3070 shown in fig. 5 is omitted. In addition, the x, y, and z directions in fig. 6 correspond to the x, y, and z directions in fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 6, the antenna device 3100 includes a first substrate 3110, a second substrate 3130, an antenna element 3150, and dielectrics 3120 and 3140. In addition, fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the antenna device 3100, and corresponds to a view obtained by omitting illustrations of the dielectrics 3120 and 3140 in the example shown in fig. 6 in order to easily understand the configuration of the antenna element 3150.

The first substrate 3110 corresponds to the first substrate 3010 in the example shown in fig. 5. That is, the first substrate 3110 has a surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with the z direction and extending in the x direction and the y direction. The first substrate 3110 may be formed, for example, by stacking a plurality of wiring layers in the z direction.

The second substrate 3130 corresponds to the second substrate 3030 in the example shown in fig. 5. That is, on the first substrate 3110, it is indicated that an end side of the second substrate 3130 in the + y direction of the back surface (surface on the (-z direction side) of the first substrate 3110 extends in the-z direction. For example, in the example shown in fig. 6 and 7, the second substrate 3130 may be formed by stacking a plurality of substrates 3130a to 3130c on the back side of the first substrate 3110 in the-z direction. At this time, the method is not particularly limited as long as a plurality of substrates 3130a to 3130c may be stacked. As a specific example, the plurality of substrates 3130a to 3130c may be stacked in the z-direction by bonding substrates adjacent to each other in the z-direction among the plurality of substrates 3130a to 3130c by soldering. In addition, the second substrate 3130 (i.e., the substrates 3130a to 3130c) may be formed by stacking a plurality of wiring layers in the z direction. With the above configuration, the second substrate 3130 is formed to have a surface 3131, the surface 3131 having a normal direction substantially coincident with the y direction and extending in the z direction and the x direction.

As shown in fig. 7, the antenna element 3150 is held on the surface 3131 of the second substrate 3130. The antenna element 3150 is configured as a patch antenna having a substantially flat element formed to extend in both the x-direction and the z-direction.

As shown in fig. 6, dielectrics 3120 and 3140 are formed in a region where the antenna element 3150 is held to include the antenna element 3150. At this time, a part of the antenna element 3150 may be exposed on the end surface of the + y direction side of the dielectrics 3120 and 3140. Note that the dielectric 3120 corresponds to a dielectric which has a thickness in the y direction and is formed on the end portion 3111 on the + y direction side of the first substrate 3110. In addition, the dielectric 3140 corresponds to a dielectric having a thickness in the y direction and formed on the surface 3131 of the + y direction side of the second substrate 3130. Note that, in the example shown in fig. 6, the second substrate 3130 is formed by stacking the substrates 3130a and 3130b in the z direction. Accordingly, the dielectric 3140 may be formed by stacking the dielectrics 3140a to 3140c formed on the end sides in the + y direction of the substrates 3130a to 3130b in the z direction.

Here, an example of a more detailed configuration of the antenna element 3150 will be described with reference to fig. 8 and 9. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the antenna device 3100 shown in fig. 7 in a case where the antenna device 3100 is viewed from the y direction. In addition, fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the antenna device 3100 illustrated in fig. 7 when the antenna device 3100 is viewed from the x direction.

As shown in fig. 8, the antenna element 3150 includes: a plurality of elements 3151 formed in an elongated shape extending in the x direction; and a plurality of elements 3153 formed in an elongated shape extending in the z direction. Each of the elements 3151 and 3153 is formed using a conductive material such as metal. In addition, the plurality of elements 3153 are formed to electrically connect the plurality of elements 3151, respectively.

In addition, the antenna element 3150 includes feeding points 3157 and 3159. As shown in fig. 8, the feeding point 3157 is provided on the end side in the x direction of the antenna element 3150. In addition, the feeding point 3159 is provided on an end side in the z direction of the antenna element 3150. As shown in fig. 9, the antenna element 3150 is electrically connected to the surface 3131 of the second substrate 3130 at feed points 3157 and 3159. That is, the current supplied through the wiring provided in the second substrate 3130 is supplied to the antenna element 3150 through each of the feeding points 3157 and 3159. When a current is supplied to the antenna element 3150 via the feeding point 3157 based on such a configuration, for example, the current flows through the element of the antenna element 3150 in the x direction (i.e., the current flows through the element 3151), and a polarized wave having a propagation direction substantially coinciding with the y direction and a polarization direction substantially coinciding with the x direction becomes able to be transmitted or received. Similarly, when a current is supplied to the antenna element 3150 via the feeding point 3159, a current flows through the element of the antenna element 3150 in the z direction (i.e., a current flows through the element 3153), and a polarized wave having a propagation direction substantially coinciding with the y direction and a polarization direction substantially coinciding with the z direction becomes able to be transmitted or received. Note that, in the following description, a polarized wave having a propagation direction substantially coincident with the y direction and a polarization direction substantially coincident with the x direction is also referred to as "polarized wave R_H", and has a propagation direction substantially coincident with the y-direction and a polarization substantially coincident with the z-directionDirectional polarized wave is also called "polarized wave R_V”。

Note that the antenna element 3150 may be formed by cutting out from the second substrate 3130, for example, by etching or the like. Specifically, the plurality of wiring layers forming the second substrate 3130 are electrically connected to each other by forming a through hole in the z direction. Note that at this time, the through hole corresponds to the element 3153 shown in fig. 8, and a part of the wiring layer corresponds to the element 3151 shown in fig. 8. Thereafter, the antenna element 3150 is simply formed by etching or the like so that a portion where a through hole (element 3153) is formed is exposed in the y direction. With such a configuration, the antenna element 3150 has a configuration in which the elements 3151 are stacked in the thickness direction. Of course, the method for forming the above-described antenna element 3150 is merely an example. That is, the method is not particularly limited as long as the antenna element 3150 may be formed as a patch antenna having substantially flat elements extending in the x-direction and the z-direction.

Note that the size of the antenna element 3150 is determined according to the frequency of a wireless signal to be transmitted or received. For example, the examples shown in fig. 8 and 9 assume the following case: transmitting or receiving a radio signal of 28GHz band (e.g., 26.5GHz to 29.5GHz) as a polarized wave R_HAnd polarized wave R_V. That is, in the example shown in fig. 8 and 9, the substantially flat element of the antenna element 3150 is formed to have a width of 2.35mm in the x-direction and a width of 2.23mm in the z-direction. In addition, the elements of the antenna element 3150 are formed to have a thickness of 0.15mm in the y-direction and to be separated from the surface 3131 of the second substrate 3130 by 0.16mm in the y-direction. In addition, an end portion on the + z direction side of the element of the antenna element 3150 and a position corresponding to the surface of the first substrate 3110 (i.e., the surface on the + z direction side) have a width of 0.55mm in the z direction. In addition, the-z direction side end portion of the element of the antenna element 3150 and the position corresponding to the-z direction side end portion of the second substrate 3130 have a width of 0.26mm in the z direction.

Here, an example of the antenna characteristics of the antenna device 3100 according to the present configuration example will be described with reference to fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing antenna characteristics of the antenna device according to the first configuration example of the present embodimentA diagram of an example of a simulation result. In fig. 10, the horizontal axis represents frequency, and the vertical axis represents gain. In addition, in fig. 10, the simulation result shown with "S1, 1" indicates that the polarization wave R is concerned_HAnd the simulation result shown with "S2, 2" indicates the antenna characteristic with respect to the polarized wave R_VThe antenna characteristics of transmission or reception. As shown in fig. 10, the antenna device 3100 can secure a band for polarized waves R in a band of 26.5GHz to 29.5GHz_HReturn loss (return loss) of about 6dB and for polarized waves R_VAbout 4dB return loss.

With reference to fig. 6 to 10, as a first configuration example, a configuration example of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where a patch antenna is applied as the antenna element 3050 shown in fig. 5 has been described.

<3.3.2. second configuration example >

Next, as a second configuration example, a configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna element 3150 according to the first configuration example is arranged will be described. Note that, in the following description, the antenna apparatus which will be described as the second configuration example may be referred to as "antenna apparatus 3200" to distinguish from antenna apparatuses according to other configuration examples.

For example, fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram for describing a second configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and shows a schematic perspective view of the antenna device according to the present configuration example. Note that x, y, and z directions in fig. 11 correspond to x, y, and z directions in fig. 6 to 9. In addition, in the example shown in fig. 11, in order to easily understand the arrangement of the antenna elements, illustration of dielectrics (for example, dielectrics 3120 and 3140 shown in fig. 6) is omitted.

As shown in fig. 11, the antenna device 3200 includes a first substrate 3210, a second substrate 3230, and antenna elements 3150a to 3150 d. The first substrate 3210 and the second substrate 3230 correspond to the first substrate 3110 and the second substrate 3130 of the antenna apparatus 3100 shown in fig. 6, respectively. In addition, each of the antenna elements 3150a to 3150d corresponds to the antenna element 3150 in the antenna device 3100.

That is, in the antenna device 3200, the second substrate 3230 is formed to extend in the x direction, and the plurality of antenna elements 3150 are supported on the second substrate 3230 to be arranged along the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3150 are supported on the second substrate 3230 to be separated from each other in the x-direction.

With such a configuration, for example, beamforming can be achieved. Here, beamforming is a technique that enables an antenna gain to be improved when transmitting or receiving a wireless signal propagating in a direction in which the directivity of an antenna apparatus is directed, by controlling the directivity and narrowing the beam width. Specifically, in beamforming, for example, control is performed by controlling the phase and power of a wireless signal transmitted or received by each of a plurality of antennas (e.g., antenna elements) to optimize the sensitivity of radio waves at a specific point. Such control can further improve the antenna gain in the case where a wireless signal is transmitted or received in a direction in which the directivity of the antenna apparatus is directed. That is, in the case of the antenna apparatus 3200 shown in fig. 11, control (i.e., control of directivity) is performed by controlling the phase and power of a wireless signal transmitted or received by each of the plurality of antenna elements 3150 (e.g., the antenna elements 3150a to 3150d) to optimize the sensitivity of radio waves at a specific point.

Referring to fig. 11, as a second configuration example, a configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna element 3150 according to the first configuration example is arranged has been described.

<3.3.3. third configuration example >

Next, as a third configuration example, a configuration example of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where a dipole antenna is applied as the antenna element 3050 shown in fig. 5 will be described. For example, fig. 12 to 15 are explanatory diagrams for describing a third configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment. Note that, in the following description, the antenna device which will be described as the third configuration example may be referred to as "antenna device 3300" to be distinguished from antenna devices according to other configuration examples.

First, an example of a schematic configuration of the antenna device 3300 will be described with reference to fig. 12 and 13. Fig. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the antenna apparatus 3300. Note that fig. 12 focuses on a configuration to which a dipole antenna is applied as part of the antenna element 3050 shown in fig. 5, and illustration of a configuration corresponding to the antenna element 3070 shown in fig. 5 is omitted. In addition, the x, y, and z directions in fig. 12 correspond to the x, y, and z directions in fig. 5.

As shown in fig. 12, the antenna device 3300 includes a first substrate 3310, a second substrate 3330, antenna elements 3350 and 3360, and dielectrics 3320 and 3340. Note that the first substrate 3310, the second substrate 3330, the dielectric 3320, and the dielectric 3340 have substantially similar configurations to the first substrate 3110, the second substrate 3130, the dielectric 3120, and the dielectric 3140 shown in fig. 6. Therefore, detailed description is omitted. That is, the substrates 3330a to 3330c and the dielectrics 3340a to 3340c are substantially similar to the substrates 3130a to 3130c and the dielectrics 3140a to 3140c shown in fig. 6. In addition, fig. 13 is a schematic perspective view of the antenna device 3300, and corresponds to a view obtained by omitting illustrations of the dielectrics 3320 and 3340 in the example shown in fig. 12 in order to easily understand the configurations of the antenna elements 3350 and 3360.

As shown in fig. 13, the second substrate 3330 is formed to have a surface 3331, the surface 3331 having a normal direction substantially coincident with the y direction and extending in the z direction and the x direction. In addition, the antenna element 3350 is held on the surface 3331. The antenna element 3350 is configured as a dipole antenna having elements formed to extend in the z-direction. Specifically, in the example shown in fig. 13, the antenna element 3350 is configured as a so-called bow-tie dipole antenna. Note that in this case, the element of the antenna element 3350 may be formed into a planar shape extending in the x direction and the z direction.

In addition, the antenna element 3360 is held on the end portion 3311, the end portion 3311 being located in the + y direction of the first substrate 3310 and extending in the x direction. The antenna element 3360 is configured as a dipole antenna having elements formed to extend in the x-direction. Specifically, in the example shown in fig. 13, the antenna element 3360 is configured as a so-called bow-tie dipole antenna. Note that in this case, the elements of the antenna element 3360 may be formed in a planar shape extending in the x direction and the y direction.

In addition, as shown in fig. 12, dielectrics 3320 and 3340 are formed to include antenna elements 3350 and 3360 in an area holding the antenna elements 3350 and 3360.

Here, examples of more detailed configurations of the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 will be described with reference to fig. 14 and 15. Fig. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the antenna device 3300 in the case where the antenna device 3300 illustrated in fig. 13 is viewed from the y direction. In addition, fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the antenna apparatus 3300 in a case where the antenna apparatus 3300 illustrated in fig. 13 is viewed from the x direction.

As shown in fig. 14, antenna element 3350 includes a feed point 3353 and elements 3351 and 3352. The element 3351 is formed to extend in the + z direction with reference to a position in the z direction where the feeding point 3353 is provided. In addition, the element 3352 is formed to extend in the-z direction with reference to the position in the z direction where the feeding point 3353 is provided. In addition, each of the elements 3351 and 3352 includes a plurality of elements 3354 formed in a long shape extending in the x direction, and a plurality of elements 3355 formed in a long shape extending in the z direction. Each of elements 3354 and 3355 is formed using a conductive material such as a metal. Further, a plurality of elements 3355 are formed to electrically connect a plurality of elements 3354, respectively. Note that the antenna element 3350 corresponds to an example of a "first antenna element".

In addition, antenna element 3360 includes a feed point 3363 and elements 3361 and 3362. Referring to the position in the x direction where the feeding point 3363 is provided, the element 3361 is formed to extend in the + x direction. In addition, the element 3362 is formed to extend in the-x direction with reference to the position in the x direction where the feeding point 3363 is provided. Note that the antenna element 3360 corresponds to an example of "a second antenna element".

In addition, as shown in fig. 15, the antenna element 3350 is electrically connected to the surface 3331 of the second substrate 3330 at a feeding point 3353. That is, a current supplied through a wiring provided in the second substrate 3330 is supplied to the antenna element 3350 through the feeding point 3353. When e.g. based on such a configurationWhen a current is supplied to the antenna element 3350 via the feeding point 3353, the current flows through the elements 3351 and 3352 of the antenna element 3350 in the z direction, and a polarized wave R having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the z direction_VIt becomes able to be transmitted or received.

The antenna element 3360 is electrically connected to the end 3311 of the first substrate 3310 at the feeding point 3363. That is, a current supplied through a wiring provided in the first substrate 3310 is supplied to the antenna element 3360 through the feeding point 3363. When a current is supplied to the antenna element 3360 via the feeding point 3363 based on such a configuration, for example, the current flows through the elements 3361 and 3362 of the antenna element 3360 in the x direction, and a polarized wave R having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the x direction_HIt becomes able to be transmitted or received.

Note that the antenna element 3350 may be formed by cutting out from the second substrate 3330 by, for example, etching or the like. Specifically, the plurality of wiring layers forming the second substrate 3330 are electrically connected to each other by forming a through hole in the z direction. Note that at this time, the through hole corresponds to the element 3355 shown in fig. 14, and a part of the wiring layer corresponds to the element 3354. Thereafter, cutting is performed by etching or the like to simply form the antenna element 3350 so that a portion where the through-hole (element 3355) is formed is exposed in the y-direction. With such a configuration, the antenna element 3350 has a configuration in which the elements 3354 are stacked in the thickness direction. Similarly, the antenna element 3360 may be formed by cutting out from the first substrate 3310 by etching or the like. Of course, the method for forming the above-described antenna elements 3350 and 3360 is merely an example. That is, a method for forming the antenna element 3350 is not particularly limited as long as the antenna element 3350 may be formed as a dipole antenna having elements formed to extend in the z-direction. Similarly, the method for forming the antenna element 3360 is not particularly limited as long as the antenna element 3360 can be formed as a dipole antenna having elements formed to extend in the x-direction.

Note that the sizes of the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 are determined according to the frequency of a wireless signal to be transmitted or received. For example, the examples shown in fig. 14 and 15 assume the following case: transmitting or receiving 28Wireless signals of GHz band (e.g., 26.5GHz to 29.5GHz) as polarized waves R_HAnd polarized wave R_V。

For example, in the examples shown in fig. 14 and 15, the elements 3351 and 3352 of the antenna element 3350 have a width of 1.59mm in a portion having the maximum width in the x direction, and the elements 3351 and 3352 of the antenna element 3350 have a width of 2.65mm as the width in the z direction. In addition, element 3351 and element 3352 are formed to be separated from each other by 0.11mm in the z-direction. In addition, the portions of the elements 3351 and 3352 extending in the z direction are formed to be separated from the surface 3331 of the second substrate 3330 by 2.00mm in the y direction.

In addition, the elements 3361 and 3362 of the antenna element 3360 have a width of 1.62mm in a portion having the maximum width in the y direction, and the elements 3361 and 3362 of the antenna element 3360 have a width of 2.66mm as a width in the x direction. In addition, element 3361 and element 3362 are formed to be separated from each other by 0.11mm in the z-direction.

Here, an example of the antenna characteristics of the antenna device 3300 according to the present configuration example will be described with reference to fig. 16. Fig. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a simulation result of antenna characteristics of the antenna device according to the third configuration example of the present embodiment. In fig. 16, the horizontal axis represents frequency, and the vertical axis represents gain. In addition, in fig. 16, the simulation result shown by "S1, 1" indicates that the polarization wave R is concerned_HAnd the simulation result shown with "S2, 2" indicates the antenna characteristic with respect to the polarized wave R_VThe antenna characteristics of transmission or reception. As shown in fig. 16, in the frequency band of 26.5GHz to 29.5GHz, the antenna device 3300 is directed to the polarized wave R_HAnd polarized wave R_VBoth of which can ensure a return loss of about 10dB or more. In addition, in the case of 24.5GHz, the antenna apparatus 3300 is directed to the polarized wave R_HAnd polarized wave R_VBoth can ensure a return loss of about 10 dB.

With reference to fig. 12 to 16, as a third configuration example, a configuration example of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where a dipole antenna is applied as the antenna element 3050 shown in fig. 5 has been described.

<3.3.4. fourth configuration example >

Next, as a fourth configuration example, a configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged will be described. Note that, in the following description, an antenna device which will be described as a fourth configuration example may be referred to as "antenna device 3400" to distinguish from antenna devices according to other configuration examples.

For example, fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram for describing a fourth configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and shows a schematic perspective view of the antenna device according to the present configuration example. Note that x, y, and z directions in fig. 17 correspond to x, y, and z directions in fig. 12 to 16.

As shown in fig. 17, the antenna device 3400 includes a first substrate 3410, a second substrate 3430, antenna elements 3450a to 3450d, antenna elements 3460a to 3460d, and dielectrics 3420 and 3440. The first substrate 3410, the second substrate 3430, the dielectric 3420, and the dielectric 3440 correspond to the first substrate 3310, the second substrate 3330, the dielectric 3320, and the dielectric 3340, respectively, in the antenna device 3300 shown in fig. 12.

As shown in fig. 17, a plurality of antenna elements 3460 (i.e., antenna elements 3460a to 3460d) are supported on the end 3411 in the + y direction of the first substrate 3410 to be aligned in the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3460 are supported on the first substrate 3410 to be separated from each other in the x-direction.

In addition, in the antenna device 3400, the first substrate 3410 is formed to extend further in the + x direction from a region 3413 along the x direction in which the plurality of antenna elements 3460 are held. Note that, in the following description, of the region defined in the x direction in the first substrate 3410, a region which further extends in the + x direction from the region 3413 and is different from the region 3413 is also referred to as a "region 3415". In the antenna device 3400, the second substrate 3430 is supported on the first substrate 3410 in a region 3415 in a region in the first substrate 3410 along the x direction. Note that, of the regions in the x direction in the first substrate 3410, a region in which the plurality of antenna elements 3460 are held (for example, the region 3413) corresponds to an example of "second region". In addition, a region (for example, the region 3415) different from the second region among the regions in the x direction in the first substrate 3410 corresponds to an example of the "third region".

In addition, a plurality of antenna elements 3450 (i.e., antenna elements 3450a to 3450d) are supported on the surface 3431 in the + y direction of the second substrate 3430 to be aligned along the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3450 are supported on the second substrate 3430 to be separated from each other in the x-direction. That is, in the antenna device 3400, a region holding the plurality of antenna elements 3450 is adjacent to another region 3415 of the first substrate 3410 in the z direction, and the another region 3415 is different from the region 3413 holding the plurality of antenna elements 3460. Note that, of the regions in the x direction in the second substrate 3430, a region in which the plurality of antenna elements 3450 are held (for example, a region adjacent to the region 3415 in the z direction) corresponds to an example of "the first region".

Note that in the case where an array antenna is configured by arranging a plurality of antenna elements 3450 and 3460, it is desirable to set the interval between adjacent two antenna elements in consideration of the beam scanning angle at which grating lobes occur in the visible region.

For example, fig. 18 shows an example of a relationship between the element spacing of antenna elements adjacent to each other and the beam scanning angle at which grating lobes occur in the visible region. In fig. 18, the horizontal axis represents the element interval d/λ, and the vertical axis represents the beam scanning angle [ degree ]. Note that the information shown in FIG. 18 is disclosed in "Volume 2, Group 4 Antennas/propagation" (Toru Takahashi, "Chapter 7 ArrayAntena, [ ONLINE ], 2013, the institute of Electrical, information and communications Engineers (IEICE), [ search for 10 months and 5 days 2015 ], Internet < URL: http:// www.ieice-hbkb.org/files/04/04gun _02hen _ 35 07.pdf >) in the knowledge base" Chishiki-no-Mori "provided by the institute of Electrical and electronics Engineers.

In the case of configuring an array antenna, in the case where the wavelength of a wireless signal to be transmitted or received is λ, the interval between the respective feeding points of the adjacent two antenna elements is generally adjusted to 0.5 λ to 0.9 λ. Note that, in order to suppress grating lobes and obtain more favorable antenna characteristics from the relationship shown in fig. 18, it is desirable to hold the antenna elements such that the interval between the respective feeding points of the adjacent two antenna elements becomes, for example, about 0.5 λ.

Therefore, in the example shown in fig. 17, the plurality of antenna elements 3460 are held by the first substrate 3410 so that the interval between adjacent two antenna elements 3460 in the x direction becomes about 0.5 λ. Similarly, the plurality of antenna elements 3450 are held by the second substrate 3430 such that the interval between adjacent two antenna elements 3450 in the x direction becomes about 0.5 λ.

As a fourth configuration example, a configuration example of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged has been described.

<3.3.5. fifth configuration example >

Next, as a fifth configuration example, another example of the configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged will be described. Note that, in the following description, an antenna device which will be described as a fifth configuration example may be referred to as "antenna device 3500" to distinguish from antenna devices according to other configuration examples.

For example, fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram for describing a fifth configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and shows a schematic perspective view of the antenna device according to the present configuration example. Note that x, y, and z directions in fig. 19 correspond to x, y, and z directions in fig. 12 to 16.

As shown in fig. 19, the antenna device 3500 includes a first substrate 3510, a second substrate 3530, antenna elements 3550a to 3550d, antenna elements 3560a to 3560d, and dielectrics 3520 and 3540. The first substrate 3510, the second substrate 3530, the dielectric 3520, and the dielectric 3540 correspond to the first substrate 3310, the second substrate 3330, the dielectric 3320, and the dielectric 3340, respectively, in the antenna device 3300 shown in fig. 12.

As shown in fig. 19, a plurality of antenna elements 3560 (i.e., antenna elements 3560a through 3560d) are supported on an end 3511 of the first substrate 3510 in the + y direction to be aligned along the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3560 are supported on the first substrate 3510 to be separated from each other in the x-direction.

In addition, a plurality of antenna elements 3550 (i.e., antenna elements 3550a through 3550d) are supported on the surface 3531 in the + y direction of the second substrate 3530 to be aligned along the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3550 are supported on the second substrate 3530 to be separated from each other in the x-direction.

Meanwhile, the antenna device 3500 is different from the antenna device 3400 according to the fourth configuration example in the positional relationship between the first substrate 3510 and the second substrate 3530. Specifically, in the antenna apparatus 3500, the second substrate 3530 is supported on the first substrate 3510 in a region 3513 along the x direction in the first substrate 3510 where the plurality of antenna elements 3560 are held. That is, in the antenna apparatus 3500, a region holding the plurality of antenna elements 3550 is located in the z direction (e.g., adjacent) to another region 3413 holding the plurality of antenna elements 3560 in the first substrate 3510. With such a configuration, the antenna device 3500 may have a smaller size in the x-direction than the device 3400 shown in fig. 17.

Here, based on comparison with the antenna device 3400 according to the fourth configuration example described with reference to fig. 17, characteristics of a radiation pattern of the antenna device 3500 according to the present configuration example will be described with reference to fig. 20 to fig. 22. Fig. 20 to 22 are diagrams showing examples of simulation results of a radiation pattern in the horizontal direction (i.e., a radiation pattern on the xy plane) of the antenna device 3500 according to the fifth configuration example of the present embodiment. Note that fig. 20, 21, and 22 show simulation results in the case where the frequencies of transmitted or received wireless signals are 26.5GHz, 28GHz, and 29.5GHz, respectively.

In addition, in fig. 20 to 22, "sample 1" indicates an example of a simulation result of a radiation pattern of the antenna element 3560b in the case where the array antenna is configured only by the plurality of antenna elements 3560a to 3560d held on the first substrate 3510. That is, it is assumed that "sample 1" does not include the plurality of antenna elements 3550 held on the second substrate 3530. Note that in sample 1, the width of the first substrate 3510 in the x direction was set to 20 mm. In addition, "sample 2" indicates an example of a simulation result of the radiation pattern of the antenna element 3460b in the antenna device 3400 shown in fig. 17. Note that in sample 2, the width of the first substrate 3410 in the x direction is set to 35 mm. Further, "sample 3" indicates an example of a simulation result of the radiation pattern of the antenna element 3560b in the antenna apparatus 3500 shown in fig. 19. Note that in sample 3, the width of the first substrate 3510 in the x direction was set to 20 mm.

As shown in fig. 20 to 22, in the sample 2, turbulence is caused in the radiation pattern. This is because the first substrate 3410 is sufficiently local and it is presumed that a current flowing through a portion of the ground formed to extend further in the + x direction from the region 3413 where the antenna elements 3460a to 3460d are held (i.e., a portion corresponding to the region 3415) causes turbulence. That is, it is presumed that the wireless signal is affected by the current flowing through the ground in the direction in which the ground (i.e., the first substrate 3410) extends, and as a result, turbulence is caused in the radiation pattern.

In contrast, it was found that in sample 3 the turbulence of the radiation pattern induced in sample 2 was suppressed and a radiation pattern close to that of sample 1 was exhibited (i.e., more desirable). That is, according to the antenna device 3500 of the present configuration example, a more desirable radiation pattern can be obtained in the horizontal direction (i.e., in the xy plane) as compared with the antenna device 3400 described as the fourth configuration example.

Referring to fig. 19 to 22, as a fifth configuration example, another example of the configuration of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged has been described.

<3.3.6. sixth configuration example >

Next, as a sixth configuration example, another example of the configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged will be described. Note that, in the following description, an antenna device which will be described as a sixth configuration example may be referred to as "antenna device 3600" to distinguish from antenna devices according to other configuration examples.

For example, fig. 23 is an explanatory diagram for describing a sixth configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and shows a schematic perspective view of the antenna device according to the present configuration example. Note that x, y, and z directions in fig. 23 correspond to x, y, and z directions in fig. 12 to 16.

As shown in fig. 23, an antenna apparatus 3600 includes a first substrate 3610, a second substrate 3630, antenna elements 3650a to 3650d, antenna elements 3660a to 3660d, and dielectrics 3620 and 3640. The first substrate 3610, the second substrate 3630, the dielectric 3620, and the dielectric 3640 correspond to the first substrate 3310, the second substrate 3330, the dielectric 3320, and the dielectric 3340, respectively, in the antenna device 3300 shown in fig. 12.

As shown in fig. 23, a plurality of antenna elements 3660 (i.e., antenna elements 3660a to 3660d) are supported on an end 3611 in the + y direction of the first substrate 3610 so as to be aligned along the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3660 are supported on the first substrate 3610 to be separated from each other in the x-direction.

In addition, a plurality of antenna elements 3650 (i.e., antenna elements 3650a to 3650d) are supported on an end 3631 in the + y direction of the second substrate 3630 so as to be aligned along the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3650 are supported on the second substrate 3630 to be separated from each other in the x-direction.

Meanwhile, the antenna device 3600 is different from the antenna device 3400 according to the fourth configuration example and the antenna device 3500 according to the fifth configuration example in the positional relationship between the first substrate 3610 and the second substrate 3630. Specifically, in the antenna device 3600, the second substrate 3630 is supported on the first substrate 3510 in a partial region 3617 of the first substrate 3610 where a region 3613 along the x direction of the plurality of antenna elements 3660 is held. In addition, at this time, the second substrate 3530 is supported on the first substrate 3610 such that a partial region of the region 3633 along the x direction, in which the plurality of antenna elements 3650 are held, is adjacent to the region 3617 of the first substrate 3610 in the z direction.

With such a configuration, a portion corresponding to the region 3615 of the first substrate 3610 protrudes further in the-x direction from an end of the second substrate 3630 in the-x direction. That is, since the second substrate 3630 is not located in the z direction (is not adjacent) with respect to the region 3615 of the first substrate 3610, the dielectric 3640 is not formed in the region located in the-z direction with respect to the region 3615. In addition, another region 3635 other than a region (adjacent region) located in the z direction with respect to the region 3617 of the first substrate 3610 in the region 3633 in the x direction in the second substrate 3630 protrudes further in the + x direction from an end portion in the + x direction of the first substrate 3610. That is, since the region 3635 of the first substrate 3610 with respect to the second substrate 3630 is not located in the z direction (is not adjacent), the dielectric 3620 is not formed in a region located in the + z direction with respect to the region 3635.

Note that, in the following description, the antenna elements 3660a and 3660b among the antenna elements 3660a to 3660d are held in the region 3615. That is, in the antenna device 3600 shown in fig. 23, the dielectric 3640 is not formed in a region located in the-z direction with respect to the antenna elements 3660a and 3660 b. In addition, the antenna elements 3650c and 3650d among the antenna elements 3650a to 3650d are held in the region 3635. That is, in the antenna device 3600 shown in fig. 23, the dielectric 3620 is not formed in a region located in the + z direction with respect to the antenna elements 3650c and 3650 d.

Here, based on comparison with the antenna device 3500 according to the fifth configuration example described with reference to fig. 19, characteristics of the radiation pattern of the antenna device 3600 according to the present configuration example will be described with reference to fig. 24 to 26. Fig. 24 to 26 are diagrams showing an example of a simulation result of a radiation pattern in the vertical direction (i.e., a radiation pattern on the yz plane) of the antenna device 3600 according to the sixth configuration example of the present embodiment. Note that fig. 24, 25, and 26 show simulation results in the case where the frequencies of transmitted or received wireless signals are 26.5GHz, 28GHz, and 29.5GHz, respectively.

In addition, in fig. 24 to 26, "sample 4" indicates an example of a simulation result of a radiation pattern of the antenna element 3660b in the case where the array antenna is configured only by the plurality of antenna elements 3660a to 3660d held on the first substrate 3610. That is, it is assumed that the "sample 4" does not include the plurality of antenna elements 3650 held on the second substrate 3630. Note that, in sample 4, the width of the first substrate 3610 in the x direction is set to 20 mm. In addition, "sample 5" indicates an example of a simulation result of the radiation pattern of the antenna element 3560b in the antenna apparatus 3500 shown in fig. 19. Note that in sample 5, the width of the antenna device 3500 in the x direction (i.e., the width of the first substrate 3510 in the x direction) was set to 20 mm. In addition, "sample 6" indicates an example of a simulation result of the radiation pattern of the antenna element 3660b in the antenna device 3600 shown in fig. 23. Note that in sample 6, the width of the antenna device 3600 in the x direction was set to 26 mm.

As shown in fig. 24 to 26, in sample 5, the radiation pattern was distorted in the-z direction. This is because the dielectric 3540 is formed in the-z direction with respect to the antenna element 3560b, and it is presumed that distortion in the-z direction (i.e., distortion toward the dielectric 3540) is caused in the radiation pattern due to the influence of the dielectric 3540.

In contrast, it was found that the distortion of the radiation pattern caused in the sample 5 was suppressed in the sample 6 and a radiation pattern close to that of the sample 4 was exhibited (i.e., a more ideal radiation pattern). That is, according to the antenna device 3600 of the present configuration example, a more ideal radiation pattern can be obtained in the vertical direction (i.e., on the yz plane) as compared with the antenna device 3500 described as the fifth configuration example.

Note that, in the above description, the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged has been described. However, the present configuration example can be applied to a case where one of the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 is employed. In this case, the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 are simply held to have a positional relationship between the antenna element 3650c or 3650d and the antenna element 3660a or 3660b shown in fig. 23, for example. Specifically, the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 are simply held such that the dielectric 3320 is not formed in the + z direction with respect to the antenna element 3350 and the dielectric 3340 is not formed in the-z direction with respect to the antenna element 3360.

Referring to fig. 23 to 26, as a sixth configuration example, another example of the configuration of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged has been described.

<3.3.7. seventh configuration example >

Next, as a seventh configuration example, another example of the configuration of the antenna device according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged will be described. Note that, in the following description, the antenna device which will be described as the seventh configuration example may be referred to as "antenna device 3700" to distinguish from antenna devices according to other configuration examples.

For example, fig. 27 is an explanatory diagram for describing a seventh configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and shows a schematic perspective view of the antenna device according to the present configuration example. Note that x, y, and z directions in fig. 27 correspond to x, y, and z directions in fig. 12 to 16.

As shown in fig. 27, the antenna device 3700 includes a first substrate 3710, a second substrate 3730, antenna elements 3750a to 3750d, antenna elements 3760a to 3760d, and dielectrics 3720 and 3740. The first substrate 3710, the second substrate 3730, the dielectric 3720, and the dielectric 3740 correspond to the first substrate 3310, the second substrate 3330, the dielectric 3320, and the dielectric 3340, respectively, in the antenna device 3300 shown in fig. 12.

As shown in fig. 27, a plurality of antenna elements 3750 (i.e., antenna elements 3750a to 3750d) are supported on an end 3731 of the second substrate 3730 in the + y direction to be aligned along the x direction. In addition, at this time, the plurality of antenna elements 3750 are supported on the second substrate 3750 to be separated from each other in the x-direction.

Meanwhile, the antenna device 3700 is different from antenna devices according to other configuration elements in that: a portion of the plurality of antenna elements 3760 is supported on the first substrate 3710, and the other portion of the antenna elements 3760 is supported by the second substrate 3730.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 27, the second substrate 3730 is supported on the first substrate 3710. At this time, the first substrate 3710 and the second substrate 3730 may have substantially the same width in the x-direction.

The antenna elements 3750a to 3750d and the antenna elements 3760c and 3760d are held on the surface of the second substrate 3730 extending in the x direction and the z direction. At this time, a region 3730 of the surface of the second substrate along the x direction is divided into a region 3733 and a region 3735 along the x direction. Under such a configuration, the antenna elements 3750a to 3750d are held to be aligned along the x direction on a portion (hereinafter also referred to as "surface 3731") corresponding to the region 3733 in the surface of the second substrate 3730 extending in the x direction and the z direction. In addition, the antenna elements 3760c and 3760d are held so as to be aligned in the x direction on a portion (hereinafter also referred to as "surface 3737") of the surface of the second substrate 3730 extending in the x direction and the z direction, which corresponds to the region 3735. Note that, in the present configuration example, the antenna elements 3760a and 3760b among the antenna elements 3760a to 3760d correspond to an example of "second antenna element", and the antenna elements 3760c and 3760d correspond to an example of "third antenna element". In addition, a region (for example, the region 37433) in which the plurality of antenna elements 3750 are held in the region of the second substrate 3730 in the x direction corresponds to an example of "first region", and a region (for example, the region 3735) in which the third antenna element is held corresponds to an example of "fourth region".

The antenna elements 3760a and 3760b are held to be aligned in the x direction on the end 3711 of the first substrate 3710. At this time, the antenna elements 3760a and 3760b are held in a region in the z direction (e.g., a region adjacent thereto in the z direction) with respect to a region 3735 (in other words, the surface 3737) of the second substrate 3730 in the region of the end 3711 in the x direction. With such a configuration, the antenna elements 3760a and 3760b held on the first substrate 3710 and the antenna elements 3760c and 3760d held on the second substrate 3730 are held adjacent to each other in the z direction.

In addition, the antenna element 3760 is not held in a region located in the z direction (e.g., a region adjacent thereto in the z direction) with respect to the region 3733 (in other words, the surface 3731) of the second substrate 3730 in the region of the first substrate 3710 in the x direction. That is, in the antenna device 3700, the antenna element 3760 is not held in the z direction of the plurality of antenna elements 3750 (e.g., the antenna elements 3750a to 3750 d).

Note that the surface 3731 may be formed to protrude in the + x direction with respect to the surface 3737. With such a configuration, the antenna elements 3750a to 3750d and the antenna elements 3760c and 3760d held on the second substrate 3730 are separated from each other, and antenna characteristics can be improved.

Here, referring to fig. 28, a more detailed positional relationship between the antenna element 3760 held on the first substrate side and the antenna element 3760 held on the second substrate side will be described with particular attention paid to the positional relationship in the z direction. Fig. 28 is an explanatory diagram for describing a seventh configuration example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and is a view showing a configuration example of the antenna device 3700 in a case where the antenna device 3700 in fig. 27 is viewed from the x direction. Note that in this specification, the positional relationship between the antenna elements 3760a and 3760c held adjacent to each other in the z direction will be described as an example.

In fig. 28, reference numeral d1 denotes a position in the z direction of the surface on the + z direction side of the first substrate 3710 and the interval in the z direction between the antenna elements 3760 a. Further, reference numeral d2 denotes a z-direction distance between the z-direction position of the end portion on the-z-direction side of the second substrate 3730 and the antenna element 3760 c. In addition, reference numeral d3 denotes a space in the z direction between the antenna element 3760a and the antenna element 3760 c.

In a case where the antenna elements 3760a and 3760c are assumed to be configured as an array antenna, it is desirable to ensure a spacing of λ/2 or more (λ is a wavelength of a wireless signal to be transmitted or received) to d3 in order to exhibit favorable antenna characteristics of the antenna elements 3760a and 3760 c. In addition, as d1 becomes narrower, the antenna element 3760a is located on the further end side of the dielectric (i.e., the end side in the + z direction), and the directivity of the antenna element 3760a is more easily inclined. In addition, as d1 becomes wider, the antenna element 3760a is located on the more central side of the dielectric (i.e., the central side in the z direction), and the directivity of the antenna element 3760a is less likely to be inclined. Similarly, as d2 becomes narrower, the antenna element 3760c is located at a further end side of the dielectric (i.e., an end side in the-z direction), and the directivity of the antenna element 3760c is more easily inclined. In addition, as d2 becomes wider, the antenna element 3760c is located on the more central side of the dielectric (i.e., the central side in the z direction), and the directivity of the antenna element 3760c is less likely to be inclined.

According to the above characteristics, after λ/2 or more is ensured as d3, the antenna elements 3760a and 3760c are kept to ensure wider intervals as d1 and d2, whereby more favorable antenna characteristics can be obtained.

With reference to fig. 27 and 28, as a seventh configuration example, another example of the configuration of the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment in the case where the antenna elements 3350 and 3360 according to the third configuration example are arranged has been described.

<3.4. example >

Next, an example of an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In this example, a configuration example of an antenna apparatus that enables polarization MIMO to be achieved for each wireless signal from different directions using the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

For example, fig. 29 is an explanatory diagram for describing an example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and shows a schematic perspective view of the antenna device according to the present example. Note that the example shown in fig. 29 shows an example of the following case: a dipole antenna is employed as the antenna elements, and the antenna elements are arranged as the fourth to seventh configuration examples as described above. In addition, the x, y, and z directions in fig. 29 correspond to the x, y, and z directions in fig. 23, for example. In addition, in the following description, the antenna device shown in fig. 29 may be referred to as "antenna device 3800" to distinguish from antenna devices according to other configuration examples.

As shown in fig. 29, the antenna device 3800 includes a first substrate 3810, a second substrate 3830, dielectrics 3820 and 3840, antenna elements 3850a to 3850d, antenna elements 3860a to 3860d, and an antenna element 3870. The first substrate 3810, the second substrate 3830, the dielectric 3820, and the dielectric 3840 correspond to the first substrate 3610, the second substrate 3630, the dielectric 3620, and the dielectric 3640 in the antenna device 3600 shown in fig. 23, respectively, for example. In addition, the antenna elements 3850a to 3850d and the antenna elements 3860a to 3860d correspond to the antenna elements 3650a to 3650d and the antenna elements 3660a to 3660d shown in fig. 23, for example, respectively. Note that as the configuration of the antenna device 3800, any of the fourth to seventh configuration examples may be applied. In other words, the positional relationship among the first substrate 3810, the second substrate 3830, the antenna elements 3850a to 3850d, and the antenna elements 3860a to 3860d can be appropriately changed according to which of the fourth to seventh configuration examples is applied.

In addition, as shown in fig. 29, the antenna element 3870 is held on the surface of the + z direction side of the first substrate 3810. As the antenna element 3870, an antenna element capable of transmitting or receiving a polarized wave having a propagation direction substantially coincident with the z direction and a polarization direction substantially coincident with the x direction, and a polarized wave having a propagation direction substantially coincident with the z direction and a polarization direction substantially coincident with the y direction is preferably applied. As a specific example, the antenna element 3870 may be configured as a patch antenna. In addition, as another example, the antenna element 3870 may be configured by a dipole antenna having elements disposed to extend in the x-direction and a dipole antenna having elements disposed to extend in the y-direction. Of course, the above is merely an example, and another type of antenna element may be applied. Note that the antenna element 3870 corresponds to an example of "fourth antenna element".

Based on this configuration, the antenna device 3800 transmits or receives a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coinciding with the x direction among radio signals having a propagation direction substantially coinciding with the y direction using the antenna elements 3860a to 3860 d. In addition, the antenna device 3800 transmits or receives a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coinciding with the z direction among radio signals having a propagation direction substantially coinciding with the y direction using the antenna elements 3850a to 3850 d. In addition, antenna device 3800 uses antenna element 3870 to transmit or receive a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the x direction and a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the y direction, from among radio signals having a propagation direction substantially coincident with the z direction. That is, the antenna device 3800 according to the present example can realize polarization MIMO for both a wireless signal arriving from the y direction and a wireless signal arriving from the z direction.

Next, a configuration example of the antenna device according to the present example will be described in more detail assuming that the antenna device is mounted on a communication device (particularly, a thin communication device) such as a smartphone. For example, fig. 30 is an explanatory view for describing an example of the antenna device according to the present embodiment, and shows a configuration example of the antenna device according to the present example. The x, y, and z directions in fig. 30 correspond to the x, y, and z directions in fig. 29. In addition, in the following description, the antenna apparatus shown in fig. 30 may be referred to as "antenna apparatus 3900" to distinguish from antenna apparatuses according to other configuration examples.

As shown in fig. 30, the antenna apparatus 3900 includes a first substrate 3910, a second substrate 3930, dielectrics 3920, 3940, and 3980, an antenna element 3950, an antenna element 3960, an antenna element 3970, and a control circuit 3990.

The first substrate 3910, the second substrate 3930, the dielectric 3920, and the dielectric 3940 correspond to the first substrate 3810, the second substrate 3830, the dielectric 3820, and the dielectric 3840, respectively, in the antenna device 3800 shown in fig. 29, for example. In addition, the antenna element 3950, the antenna element 3960, and the antenna element 3970 correspond to the antenna elements 3850a to 3850d, the antenna elements 3860a to 3860d, and the antenna element 3870 in the antenna apparatus 3800 shown in fig. 29, respectively. In addition, in the example shown in fig. 30, each of the antenna elements 3950 and 3960 is configured as a dipole antenna. That is, the antenna element 3950 includes elements 3961 and 3963. In addition, the antenna element 3960 includes elements 3951 and 3953. In addition, in the example shown in fig. 30, the antenna element 3970 is configured as a patch antenna.

The antenna element 3970 is held on a surface (+ z-direction-side surface) of the surfaces of the first substrate 3910 extending in the x direction and the y direction via the dielectric 3980.

In addition, on the-y direction side of the second substrate 3930 (i.e., the opposite surface side of the surface 3931 on which the antenna element 3950 is held), the control circuit 3990 may be held on the back surface (the surface on the z direction side) of the surface of the first substrate 3910 extending in the x direction and the y direction. The control circuit 3990 is electrically connected to at least a part of the antenna elements 3950, 3960, and 3970, for example, and controls driving of the antenna elements. At this time, the control circuit 3990 and the antenna element to be driven (e.g., the antenna elements 3950, 3960, and 3970) are connected via the wiring layer of at least either one of the first substrate 3910 or the second substrate 3930. Therefore, assuming that wiring and a through hole connecting the wiring layer of the second substrate 3930 in the z direction are realized, in the case where driving of the antenna element 3950 is controlled by the control circuit 3990, for example, it is desirable to ensure a width of about 3mm or more as the thickness L111 of the second substrate 3930 in the y direction.

Further, in a case where a wireless signal of a 28GHz band (for example, 26.5GHz to 29.5GHz) is assumed to be transmitted or received, it is desirable to secure a width of about 3mm as a thickness L113 in the y direction of a region where the antenna elements 3950 and 3960 and the dielectrics 3920 and 3940 are formed.

Note that according to the antenna device 3900 illustrated in fig. 30, the thickness of the first substrate 3910 in the z direction can be suppressed to about 1 mm.

As described above, with reference to fig. 29 and fig. 30, as an example, a configuration example of an antenna apparatus that will enable polarized MIMO to be achieved for each wireless signal arriving from different directions using the antenna apparatus according to the present embodiment has been described.

<3.5. applications >

Next, as an application of the communication apparatus to which the antenna apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is applied, an example of a case where the technique according to the present disclosure is applied to an apparatus other than a communication terminal such as a smartphone will be described.

In recent years, a technique called internet of things (IoT) that connects various things to a network has attracted attention, and devices other than smartphones and tablet terminals are considered to be able to be used for communication. Therefore, for example, by applying the technique according to the present disclosure to various devices configured to be movable, these devices become capable of communicating using millimeter waves and of using polarization MIMO in communication.

For example, fig. 31 is an explanatory diagram for describing an application of the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment, thereby showing an example of a case where the technique according to the present embodiment is applied to a camera apparatus. Specifically, in the example shown in fig. 31, the antenna device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is held so as to be located in the vicinity of each of the surfaces 301 and 302 facing directions different from each other in the outer surface of the housing of the camera device 300. For example, reference numeral 311 schematically represents an antenna apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. With such a configuration, for example, the camera device 300 shown in fig. 31 can transmit or receive each of a plurality of polarized waves that propagate in a direction substantially coincident with the normal direction of the surfaces 301 and 302 and have polarization directions different from each other. Note that, needless to say, the antenna device 311 may be provided not only on the surfaces 301 and 302 shown in fig. 31 but also on other surfaces.

In addition, for example, the technology according to the present disclosure may also be applied to unmanned aerial vehicles called drones. For example, fig. 32 is an explanatory diagram for describing an application of the communication apparatus according to the present embodiment, thereby showing an example of a case where the technique according to the present embodiment is applied to a camera apparatus mounted on a lower part of a drone. Specifically, in the case where the unmanned aerial vehicle flies at a high altitude, it is desirable that the unmanned aerial vehicle transmits or receives wireless signals (millimeter waves) that arrive mainly from each direction on the lower side. Thus, for example, in the example shown in fig. 32, the antenna device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is held near each portion facing different directions from each other in the outer surface 401 of the housing of the camera device 400 mounted on the lower portion of the drone. For example, reference numeral 411 schematically represents an antenna apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition, although not shown in fig. 32, the antenna device 411 may be provided not only in the camera device 400 but also in each part of the housing of the drone itself, for example. Even in this case, the antenna device 411 is advantageously provided, in particular, on the lower side of the housing.

Note that, as shown in fig. 32, in the case where at least a part of the outer surface of the housing of the target device is curved (i.e., curved), the antenna device 411 is favorably held near a plurality of partial regions having normal directions intersecting with each other or twisted with respect to each other, among the partial regions in the curved surface. With such a configuration, the camera device 400 shown in fig. 32 can transmit or receive each of a plurality of polarized waves that propagate in a direction substantially coincident with the normal direction of the partial area and have polarization directions different from each other.

Note that the examples described with reference to fig. 31 and 32 are merely examples, and the application destination according to the technique of the present disclosure is not particularly limited as long as the destination is a device capable of performing communication using millimeter waves.

As an application of a communication device to which an antenna device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied, an example of a case where the technique according to the present disclosure is applied to a device other than a communication terminal such as a smartphone has been described with reference to fig. 31 and 32.

<4. conclusion >

As described above, the antenna device according to the present embodiment includes the first substrate extending in the first direction and the second substrate supported on the first substrate and extending in both the first direction and the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. In addition, the antenna element is supported by a surface of the second substrate, the surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with a third direction, the third direction being orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, and the antenna element is configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the second direction. With such a configuration, according to the antenna of the present embodiment, a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the thickness direction (second direction) of the antenna device can be transmitted or received, and the thickness can be formed thinner.

In addition, the antenna element provided on the second substrate may be configured as a dipole antenna including elements extending in the second direction, and the dipole antenna having the elements extending in the first direction may be separately provided at an end side in the third direction of the first substrate. With such a configuration, the antenna device according to the present embodiment can transmit or receive a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coinciding with the first direction and a polarized wave having a polarization direction substantially coinciding with the second direction among the radio signals propagating in the third direction. That is, with such a configuration, according to the antenna device of the present embodiment, polarization MIMO can be realized for a radio signal having a propagation direction substantially coincident with the third direction.

Although advantageous embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is apparent that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field of the present disclosure can conceive various changes and modifications within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, and naturally understand that these changes and modifications belong to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

In addition, the effects described in the present specification are merely illustrative or exemplary, and are not restrictive. That is, the technology according to the present disclosure may exhibit other effects that are apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the present specification, together with or instead of the above-described effects.

Note that the following configuration also belongs to the technical scope of the present disclosure.

(1) An antenna apparatus, comprising:

a first substrate extending in a first direction;

a second substrate supported on the first substrate and extending in both a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and

an antenna element supported on a surface of the second substrate, the surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with a third direction, the third direction being orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction, and the antenna element being configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the second direction.

(2) The antenna device according to (1), wherein

An end side of the second substrate in the third direction is supported on a surface of the first substrate, the surface having a normal direction substantially coincident with the second direction, and

the antenna device further includes:

a second antenna element that is supported on an end side in the third direction of the first substrate, different from the first antenna element as the antenna element, and is configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the first direction.

(3) The antenna device according to (2), wherein the first antenna element includes a first element extending in the second direction.

(4) The antenna device according to (3), wherein the first element is formed by stacking a plurality of members extending in the first direction in the second direction.

(5) The antenna device according to any one of (2) to (4), wherein the second antenna element includes a second element extending in the first direction.

(6) The antenna device according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein at least either one of the first antenna element or the second antenna element is configured as a dipole antenna.

(7) The antenna device according to any one of (2) to (6), further comprising:

a plurality of at least first antenna elements or second antenna elements, wherein

The plurality of antenna elements are supported to be separated from each other along the first direction.

(8) The antenna device according to (7), further comprising:

a plurality of first antenna elements and a plurality of second antenna elements, wherein

The second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that at least a part in the first direction of one area, which is either the first area in which the plurality of first antenna elements are arranged in the first direction or the second area in which the plurality of second antenna elements are arranged in the first direction, is adjacent to another area in the second direction.

(9) The antenna apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

a first dielectric arranged to include at least the first area supporting a plurality of first antenna elements on a surface of a second substrate; and

a second dielectric arranged to include at least the second region supporting a plurality of second antenna elements on an end portion of the first substrate, wherein

The second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that the dielectric of the first dielectric or the second dielectric disposed to include the other region is adjacent to only a portion in the first direction of the one region in the second direction.

(10) The antenna device according to (9), wherein the second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that an end portion in the first direction of one substrate, which is either the first substrate or the second substrate, with respect to the other substrate protrudes in the first direction.

(11) The antenna device according to (8), wherein the second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that at least a part of the other region in the first direction is adjacent to the entire one region in the first direction in the second direction.

(12) The antenna device according to (7), further comprising:

a plurality of first antenna elements and a plurality of second antenna elements, wherein

The second substrate is supported with respect to the first substrate such that a first area in which the plurality of first antenna elements are arranged in the first direction is adjacent to a third area in an area along the first direction of the first substrate in the second direction, the third area being different from a second area in which the plurality of second antenna elements are arranged in the first direction.

(13) The antenna device according to (7), further comprising:

a plurality of first antenna elements and a plurality of second antenna elements; and

a third antenna element supported with respect to a fourth area of the area along the first direction of the second substrate, the fourth area being different from the first area in which the plurality of first antenna elements are arranged, and configured to transmit or receive a wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with the first direction, wherein

The plurality of first antenna elements are supported in an area adjacent to a fourth area in the second direction, the area belonging to an area of the first substrate along the first direction.

(14) The antenna device according to (13), wherein the first region is formed to protrude in the third direction with respect to the fourth region.

(15) The antenna apparatus according to (1), wherein the antenna element is configured as a planar antenna that transmits or receives each of a first wireless signal as the wireless signal and a second wireless signal having a polarization direction substantially coincident with a first direction.

(16) The antenna device according to (15), further comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements, wherein

The plurality of antenna elements are supported to be separated from each other along a first direction.

(17) The antenna device according to any one of (1) to (16), wherein

The first substrate comprises

A surface located on a side opposite to a direction in which the second substrate extends in the second direction and having a normal direction substantially coincident with a direction opposite to the second direction, an

A fourth antenna element different from the first antenna element being the antenna element on the surface.

(18) The antenna device according to (17), further comprising:

a drive circuit held in a region on the opposite side of the surface of the first antenna element provided with the second substrate, the region belonging to the opposite surface of the surface supporting the fourth antenna element of the first substrate, wherein

The driving circuit is electrically connected to at least the first antenna element or the fourth antenna element.

List of labels

1 System

100 base station

200 terminal device

2003 radio communication unit

2005 communication control unit

2007 memory cell

3300 antenna apparatus

3310 first substrate

3311 end part

3320 dielectric

3330 second substrate

3340 dielectric

3350 antenna element

3351 the element

3352 the elements

3353 feed point

3360 antenna element

3361 element

3362 element

3363 feeding point