EP1695417A1

EP1695417A1 - Antenna comprising at least one dipole or a dipole-like radiator arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP1695417A1
Application number: EP04803976A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Maximilian GÖTTL
Original assignee: Kathrein Werke KG
Current assignee: Kathrein SE
Priority date: 2003-12-18
Filing date: 2004-12-16
Publication date: 2006-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2024-12-16
Also published as: CN2731741Y; DE10359622A1; ES2308285T3; EP1695417B1; ATE401677T1; WO2005060049A1; DE502004007635D1

Abstract

Disclosed is an antenna or antenna array comprising at least one dipole or a dipole-like radiator arrangement or radiator structure (11) and a reflector (3). Said antenna or antenna array has the following characteristics: the radiator arrangement (11) encompasses an electrically conductive support device (15) that is connected in a capacitively and/or galvanically contactless manner to the electrically conductive reflector (3); an electrically conductive rod-shaped coupling element (21) which extends perpendicular to the reflector plane is provided on the front face of the reflector (3); the support device (15) can be placed on said rod-shaped coupling element (21) with the aid of an internal axial bore in such a way that the support device (15) and the rod-shaped coupling element (21) are capacitively coupled without being in galvanic contact; the antenna is fed by means of a coaxial cable (31) whose outer conductor is connected to the reflector and/or the rod-shaped coupling element (21) and whose inner conductor is galvanically or capacitively connected to an opposite half-dipole.

Description

Antenna with at least one dipole or a dipole-like radiator arrangement

The invention relates to an antenna with at least one dipole or a dipole-like radiator arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1.

Dipole radiators have become known, for example, from the prior publications DE 197 22 742 A and DE 196 27 015 A. The dipole emitters can have a conventional dipole structure or can consist, for example, of a cross-dipole arrangement or a dipole square, etc. A so-called vector cross dipole is known, for example, from the prior publication WO 00/39894. The structure appears to be comparable to a dipole square. Due to the specific design of the dipole radiator according to this prior publication, however, an electrical cross-dipole structure is ultimately created, so that the antenna element formed in this way is perpendicular to one another aligned polarizations can radiate and receive. To this extent, all these prior publications and the other dipole structures which are well known to the person skilled in the art are also made the content of the present application.

While so far all generations of dipole radiators or dipole-like radiators have been positioned on the reflector in such a way that they are electrical, i.e. are galvanically connected to the reflector, it was already proposed in a not previously published patent application to capacitively couple such a radiator element to the reflector plate. With the interposition e.g. of a non-conductive element, in particular dielectric or with the formation of a non-conductive contact section on the radiator or its carrier device, on which the radiator is placed on the reflector plate, this enables the radiator to be positioned on the reflector in a clearly reproducible electrical manner, since the intermodulation problems which may occur under the prior art can be avoided. This is because mechanical fixing of dipole or dipole-like radiator elements to the reflector plate according to the prior art was usually carried out by means of screws or other connection mechanisms on the reflector plate, which resulted in different contact conditions depending on the mounting accuracy, with the result that intermodulation problems could occur that expressed themselves differently.

It must also be taken into account that in the majority of all cases the dipoles or dipole-like emitters are placed on the reflector plate and removed by the reflector. back by screwing in one or more screws. However, if the contact pressure also decreases due to the effects of heat, for example, the contact conditions change, as a result of which the performance of such an antenna element decreases significantly.

According to the above-mentioned, unpublished application, while avoiding an electrical-galvanic contact while realizing a capacitive coupling, the further advantage is realized that no voltage potential can occur between the dipole and the reflector. This is because, due to the different materials chosen for a dipole radiator or the carrier device for a dipole radiator and the material of the reflector, an electrochemical voltage otherwise occurs, which can lead to contact corrosion. Since this is avoided according to the invention, there is also a greater choice of the materials to be used for the dipole and / or the reflector.

The invention has been described below with the aid of a so-called vector dipole, the basic structure of which is known from WO 00/39894, the disclosure content of which is referred to in full. However, the invention can be implemented with all dipoles, for example also with cross-shaped dipoles or simple dipoles, as described, for example, in DE 197 22 742 AI, DE 198 23 749 AI, DE 101 50 150 AI or, for example, US Pat. No. 5,710,569 are known.

The object of the present invention is to provide a further improved antenna with a capacitive coupling between see the radiator or its support device and an associated conductive reflector or a conductive reflector surface to create.

The object is achieved according to the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The present invention provides a significant improvement over all conventional antennas known in the prior art. The present invention represents a further, further improvement also compared to the above-mentioned not previously published solution, according to which a capacitive coupling of the antenna to the reflector was already provided.

According to the invention, an electrically conductive coupling element, which rises in the form of a rod from the reflector, is now provided and is preferably electrically-galvanically connected to the reflector plate. The actual radiator device can be placed thereon, as a rule the carrier device carrying the dipole-shaped radiator or the dipole-shaped radiator structure, which has an axial recess with which the carrier device can be placed on the rod-shaped coupling element. Although the rod-shaped coupling element is immersed in the axial recess of the carrier device and generally comes to lie coaxially in the axial recess of the carrier device, the rod-shaped coupling element is electrically-galvanically separated from the conductive carrier device. This makes, among other things, a capacitive and / or, if appropriate, an inductive outer conductor coupling between the reflector and the coupling element, which is preferably electrically galvanically connected to the reflector, on the one hand and the electrically conductive part of the carrier device.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive rod-shaped coupling element is designed as a tubular body which can be soldered, welded or otherwise fastened to the reflector plate. Then only a hollow cylindrical sleeve acting as an insulator or any other spacer shown is pushed onto the rod-shaped coupling element, a flange preferably being formed at the lower end of this sleeve acting as a dielectric, up to which the conductive carrier device of the radiator structure can be pushed open.

In a further development of the invention, air can also be used as a dielectric. All that needs to be ensured is that certain spacers do not cause the attached electrically conductive carrier device to come into electrical-galvanic contact with the reflector and / or the rod-shaped coupling element electrically connected to the reflector.

In principle, it is also possible to design the electrical carrier device itself from non-conductive material, for example plastic, and to cover it only on the outside with an electrically conductive overlayer. The carrier device can then be fitted onto the electrically conductive rod-shaped coupling element in a snug fit or with little play, whereby the length of the rod-shaped coupling elements can also ensure that the end lower end of the carrier device adjacent to the reflector cannot come into contact with the reflector and / or here too an insulating layer is formed or provided or the end wall of the carrier device is not provided with one electrical outer layer is provided at this point.

As mentioned, the rod-shaped coupling element is preferably hollow or hollow cylindrical. A corresponding recess is provided for this purpose in axial alignment. This opens up the possibility of connecting the outer conductor of a coaxial cable for feeding the radiator arrangement to the reflector plate and / or to the pipe extension of the electrically conductive rod-shaped coupling element, which may also protrude onto the underside (usually to be connected electrically-galvanically, for example by soldering), and electrically separate therefrom to lead the inner conductor coaxially upward through the rod-shaped coupling element in order to connect the inner conductor there in a suitable manner, ie usually to be electrically connected to the opposite dipole half.

In a development of the invention, an electrical rod-shaped element which is firmly integrated there can be provided for the inner conductor in the rod-shaped coupling element, so that the inner conductor is connected at the bottom. However, the inner conductor can also be laid directly as an extended cable-shaped inner conductor through the rod-shaped element, preferably with the interposition of an insulator. However, it is also possible to lay an inner conductor as a whole through the rod-shaped element and to connect the outer conductor at the top to the rod-shaped element and, separately therefrom, to extend the inner conductor to the generally opposite dipole half or in close proximity to the electrical contacting of the outer conductor to make electrical contact with an electrical connection bracket that creates a connection to the opposite dipole half.

In principle, however, a reversal of the coupling principle is also possible. The coupling element can namely be formed as an outer pot part, which is galvanically connected to the reflector. The carrier section of the dipole is positioned in the interior by an insulator, by air or by any other suitable means in order to implement the coupling, which is primarily referred to as capacitive outer conductor coupling.

Further diverse modifications, some of which are discussed in detail in the description, are possible.

Finally, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is also possible to make the inner conductor contact capacitive as well.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. The following show in detail:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a single-column antenna array with three vertically one above the other dual polarized emitters;

Figure la: a side view of the radiator arrangement, the base of which is contacted directly to produce an electrical-galvanic contact with the reflector;

Figure lb: a schematic plan view of the dual-polarized dipole emitter arrangement according to Figure la;

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an individual radiator used in Figure 1 in front of a reflector;

FIG. 3: a schematic rear view of the reflector, specifically at the point at which a radiator according to FIG. 1 is mounted on the opposite side;

Figure 4 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view through a radiator according to Figure 2 according to a first embodiment;

Figure 4a: a modified embodiment with an electrical-galvanic inner conductor connection to a dipole half;

5 shows a schematic axial cross-sectional view through a radiator according to FIG. 2 according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 6: a schematic axial cross-sectional view Position by an emitter according to Figure 2 according to a third embodiment;

7 shows a schematic axial cross-sectional view through a radiator according to FIG. 2 according to a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 7a: a schematic perspective illustration of the coupling elements, which are electrically conductively connected to the reflector and a base to be attached, as well as tubular insulator elements provided;

Figure 7b: a corresponding perspective view after the assembly of the base and the insulators;

FIG. 7c: a corresponding perspective illustration of a radiator arrangement with a carrier device;

Figure 7d: a corresponding perspective view with the radiator element finally attached;

7e: an exploded perspective view of the radiator arrangement mounted on the reflector in FIGS. 7a to 7d,

Figure 8 is a schematic side view of a modified embodiment of a dipole radiator; FIG. 9: a schematic plan view of a dipole according to FIG. 8 radiating in only one polarization plane, which is connected according to the present invention with a mainly capacitive and / or inductive external conductor coupling; and

FIG. 10: an exemplary embodiment modified from FIGS. 4 and 5 in the sense of a reversal of the coupling principle according to the invention, in which the coupling element is pot-shaped and in the interior of the carriers introduced therein a radiator device with the generation of a capacitive device, above all and / or inductive outer conductor coupling is positioned.

FIG. 1 shows an antenna arrangement 1 in a schematic representation with a reflector or reflector plate 3. The reflector 3 e.g. in the manner of a reflector plate, preferably on its two opposite longitudinal sides 5 or offset further inward, can be provided with a reflector boundary 3 ', which is oriented, for example, perpendicular to the plane of the reflector plate 3 or else at an oblique angle deviating from a right angle can.

Usually, a plurality of dipoles or dipole-like emitters are arranged on such a reflector plate 3 offset in the vertical direction. The radiator or the radiator arrangements 11 can consist of single-band radiators, dual-band radiators, triple-band radiators or generally of multiband radiators or the like. hen. In today's antenna generation, dual-band radiators or even triple-band radiators are preferably used, which can also transmit and / or receive in two orthogonally aligned polarizations, and which are preferably at an angle of + 45 ° to the horizontal or Are aligned vertically. Reference is made in particular to the prior publications DE 197 22 742 A and DE 196 27 015 A, which show and describe different antennas with a wide variety of radiator arrangements. All of these radiators and radiator elements and modifications thereof can be used and used in the context of the present invention. It is therefore also possible to use emitters with a real dipole structure, in the manner of a cross dipole, a dipole square or in the manner of its so-called vector dipole, as are known, for example, from WO 00/39894. All these types of emitters and modifications are made the content of this application with reference to the above-mentioned prior publications.

A vector dipole, as is known from WO 00/39894, is shown in principle in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b in a schematic side view and in a schematic top view. There is the symmetry 15, i.e. the carrier 15 is directly electrically-galvanically attached to the reflector 3. Figures la and lb serve only to illustrate the basic structure of a corresponding vector dipole, as it can be used in the context of the invention with reference to the following figures.

A first radiator arrangement 11 according to the invention on a reflector 3 is shown in greater detail in different representations in FIGS. The In principle, the radiator arrangement 11 has a structure as known from WO 00/39894 and described there in detail. Reference is therefore made in full to the disclosure content of the above publication and made the content of this application. It is known from this that the radiator arrangement 11 according to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is designed like a dipole square in a schematic plan view, but, due to the specific design, transmits and receives like a cross dipole in electrical terms. In FIG. 1, the two polarization directions 12a and 12b are drawn in with respect to a radiator arrangement 11, which are perpendicular to one another and are formed by the diagonal radiator arrangement 11, which is rather square in plan view. The structures opposite each other by 180 ° according to the radiator arrangement 11 act as dipole halves of two cross-shaped dipoles.

A dipole-shaped radiator arrangement 11 formed in this way is held and mounted on the reflector 3 via an associated carrier device or carrier 15. The four dipole halves 13 in this exemplary embodiment (which are arranged in a cross-shaped manner with respect to one another) and the associated carrier device 15 consist of electrically conductive material, generally metal or a corresponding metal alloy. The dipole halves or the associated carrier device or parts thereof can also consist of a non-conductive material, for example plastic, in which case the corresponding parts can be coated and / or coated with a conductive layer. In the perspective view according to FIG. 2 it can also be seen that the radiator, which is cruciform in electrical terms, has a support which is approximately square in horizontal cross section or a square support device 15 which has slots 15d ending from top to bottom in the exemplary embodiment shown, just before the reflector is. These slots 15d are aligned with the slots 11a, which each separate two adjacent dipole halves of two mutually perpendicular polarizations. The associated symmetrization 15e of the dipole structure in question is thus formed in each case by the slots 15d in the common carrier device 15 for the entire radiator arrangement (that is to say for both polarizations). The length of the slots and thus the length of the symmetrization thus formed can vary, a value around λ / 4 being frequently suitable for a frequency in question. The slots 15d mentioned in the carrier device 15 (the symmetrization) do not go to the bottom, but usually end at a short distance above the bottom, i.e. above the reflector plane, so that the support structure here has a mechanical short circuit with respect to the four otherwise separate from one another Has support sections.

In order to now ensure capacitive and / or inductive coupling on the reflector plate 3, that is to create an electrically contactless connection, a rod-shaped coupling element 21 is fastened to the reflector 3 (FIGS. 4 to 7), ie in the exemplary embodiment shown producing an electrically galvanic connection with the reflector 3. Both the reflector and the rod-shaped coupling element can consist of non-conductive material. In this case, the corresponding ones Parts covered with a conductive layer. It must be ensured that the electrically conductive layer of the coupling element and the corresponding conductive layer on the reflector are electrically conductively connected. If the reflector is conductive overall, the corresponding conductive layer of the coupling element must be electrically conductively connected to the reflector as a whole.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the rod-shaped coupling element 21 is tubular or cylindrical and is inserted through a bore 23 aligned with this rod-shaped coupling element 21 from the rear 3a of the reflector until a corresponding step shoulder 21a of the hollow-cylindrical coupling element 21 strikes the rear side of the reflector 3 , In other words, the outer circumference of the section 21b of the coupling element 21 below the step shoulder 21a is wider than the bore 23, so that the cylindrical coupling element 21 can only be inserted into the hole 23 until the mentioned step shoulder 21a strikes the reflector on the rear. In this position, the coupling element 21 is preferably electrically-galvanically connected to the reflector 3, which preferably consists of a reflector plate. A hollow cylindrical insulator 25 is then fitted onto this rod-shaped coupling element 21, the inside diameter and the inside cross section of the insulator 25 being preferably adapted to the outside cross section and the outside shape of the rod-shaped coupling element 21. In other words, in the case of a hollow-cylindrical coupling element 21, the insulator is also designed in a hollow-cylindrical shape and sits more or less on the coupling element 21 at least almost without play or with little play. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the hollow-cylindrical insulator 25 is located at the bottom, that is to say adjacent to the reflector 3, with a peripheral edge or flange 25a, over which the insulator 25 rests on the front or front side 3b of the reflector.

Now only the radiator structure with its carrier device 15, in the interior of which an axial bore 15a is made, has to be plugged onto the insulator 25 provided with an axial inner recess. The inner diameter and the inner cross-sectional shape of the axial bore 15a are in turn adapted to the outer dimension and the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the insulator 25, so that the carrier device can also be plugged onto the insulator 25 at least approximately without play or with little play.

The carrier device with its axial bore 15a is preferably pushed onto the insulator 25 until the carrier device 15 with its lower end face 15b on which the reflector 3 is based now rests on the non-conductive edge or flange 25a belonging to the insulator 25. It can thus be seen from this that a soldering process for fastening the carrier device on the reflector 3 is not necessary for fastening and assembling the radiator arrangement 11.

Likewise, the axial length ratios could be such that when the radiator is placed on it, its support device 15 is pushed onto the insulator 25 until the upper end face 25b facing away from the reflector 3 on a corresponding upper stop 15c of the radiator arrangement or facing the reflector 3 the of the associated carrier device, in such a way that the lower end face 15b of the carrier device 15 ends at least a short distance in front of the reflector 3 and cannot contact the reflector 3 there.

Finally, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a centering or fixing base 22, which surrounds the carrier device 15 of the emitter device 11 and is also provided on the reflector and also holds the carrier device in the desired fixing position. For this purpose, the base 22 is provided with a corresponding inner receptacle and a support section 22a, so that the mounted, generally conductive support device 15 of the radiator arrangement 11 cannot come into electrical-galvanic contact with the reflector 3. The base 22 or the base support device 22 can then be provided, for example, with latching or centering zones which pass through the reflector through corresponding bores or punched-out areas and can therefore be easily placed on the reflector in the manner of a snap connection and fastened thereon. Such a base centering 22 is also particularly suitable when no insulator is used, so that. the carrier device 15 can be anchored in non-electrical-galvanic contact with the rod-shaped coupling element 21 in front of the reflector 3.

Basically, however, the carrier device 15 can also be designed such that its lower end face facing the reflector 3 and perhaps still adjacent to it is non-conductive at a certain height axially rising from this end face, or is provided with a non-conductive coating to make an electrical-galvanic contact with the Avoid reflector plate or reflector 3. In this case, the fixing base 3 mentioned could also be dispensed with.

For a better understanding, the perspective representations according to FIGS. 7a to 7e are discussed below.

FIG. 7a shows a perspective view of a section of the reflector 3, on which four coupling elements 21 are arranged in a tubular configuration. As explained, these conductive coupling elements 21 are electrically-galvanically connected to the reflector 3. The rod-shaped or tubular coupling elements 21 sit in plan view at the corner points of a square.

An electrically non-conductive base 22 is plugged onto it, in which four circular openings 22a are introduced so that this base 22 can be pushed onto the tubular coupling elements 21 until the base of the base rests on the top of the reflector.

The four separate tubular or hollow-cylindrical insulators 25 shown in FIG. 7a are plugged into the recesses 22a, and their lower front edge either comes to rest in the region of the recesses 22a in the base 22 or penetrate the openings 22a provided in the base 22 and with their lower ones End faces then rest on the reflector surface.

FIG. 7b shows the state when the base 22 and the tubular insulators 25 are applied to the coupling elements 21. are stuck.

We then plug the radiator arrangement 11 with its carrier device 15 (ie its symmetrization) onto the tubular insulators 25, which then come to rest in the corresponding tubular recesses in the carrier device 15 of the radiator arrangement 11. The underside of the carrier device 15 comes to lie within the base 22 or the base edge, as can be seen in FIG. 7d.

FIG. 7e shows the entire arrangement and the structure again in an exploded perspective view.

The described measures result in a capacitive outer conductor coupling 29, the two coupling parts effecting the capacitive outer conductor couplings 29, on the one hand, from the coupling element 21, which is electrically-galvanically connected to the reflector, and on the other hand, from the carrier device 15 or the axial bore 15 'and the section of the support device 15 surrounding the support device, which, as can be seen from the exemplary embodiment, comes to lie parallel to the coupling element 21. According to the exemplary embodiment explained, it is a coaxial capacitive coupling in which the hollow cylindrical coupling element 21 is arranged on the inside, to which the corresponding section of the carrier device 15 comes to lie on the outside and encircling this coupling element 21 in the circumferential direction.

The coupling mentioned is above all capacitive if the longitudinal extension of the hollow cylindrical coupling elements elements 21 starting from the reflector 3 is small in relation to the wavelength. In this case, the coupling is essentially capacitive and an inductive component is negligible. From a length of 0.1 wavelength (λ), however, high-frequency effects become noticeable. The current which flows from one end (connection end of the coupling element 21 on the reflector) to the open end undergoes a phase shift via this path. At 0.25 wavelengths (λ) the phase shift is 90 °. The current minimum at the open end of the coupling elements 21 leads to a current maximum at the opposite end (connection end), and the voltage maximum at the open end at the coupling elements 21 results in a voltage minimum at the opposite end. With axial longitudinal extensions that are greater than 0.25 of the wavelength (λ) or with an increase in frequency, the ideal short circuit is removed again, the input impedance now having an inductive reactance. At half a wavelength, the input impedance is idle again, which has hardly any practical significance for the present application.

For the sake of completeness only, it is noted that the electrically conductive or rod-shaped coupling element 21, which is provided with an electrically conductive surface, could also be capacitively connected to the reflector 3 on the underside, which, however, is less advantageous in the present case.

In order to possibly fix the antenna arrangement 1 to be attached only by pushing it on, a protruding nose can be attached, for example, to the underside of the carrier device 15, which protrudes into a corresponding recess in the reflector. pulls firmly into place. This allows a simple snap connection to be created. To remove the nose behind the reflector then only has to be bent in order to lift the antenna arrangement upwards again from the rod-shaped coupling element 21.

In order to functionally connect the radiator arrangement, it is only necessary to prepare, for example, a coaxial cable 31 at the coaxial cable end 31a on the back of the reflector 3, that is to say, for example, to electrically connect a correspondingly stripped section of the outer conductor 31b to the conductive coupling element 21, for example by soldering. The coaxial cable 31 can be laid in parallel on the back of the reflector and can be laid in a radial opening or radial bore in the section of the rod-shaped coupling element which projects downward beyond the back of the reflector into this area of the step shoulder 21a and can be electrically connected there. A corresponding axially projecting section of the inner conductor 31c can then be soldered to a prepared inner conductor section 37 at the bottom, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed in the manner of an inverted L and thus from above into a corresponding recess 21a in the rod-shaped coupling element 21 thereof upper open end face is inserted coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the coupling element 21. The upper end section 37a of this inner conductor structure, which creates a connection with the opposite dipole half 13, then comes to lie in a corresponding transverse recess 39 in the dipole radiator structure and can be connected electrically-galvanically at its free end to a soldering point. The solder joint 38 is located at the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 on an upper projection 41a of an electrically conductive hollow cylinder 41 which is closed at the end and which is seated in a further axial bore 41b of the carrier device 15 and is thus connected in an electrically conductive manner.

The length of the carrier device and / or the length of the rod-shaped coupling element 21 is approximately λ / 4 ± <30% thereof, that is approximately λ / 4 * (1 ± <0.3)

where λ is a wavelength of the frequency band to be transmitted, preferably the center of the frequency band to be transmitted.

As can be seen from the sectional view according to FIG. 4, the cylinder 41, which is closed at the top on the front and which is electrically conductive overall or at least comprises electrically conductive sections, is dimensioned and arranged in such a way that its circumferential surface and upper end face as well as the projecting pin 41a is not electrically-galvanically connected to the dipole structure or the associated carrier device 15. However, the hollow cylinder 41 is preferably electrically galvanically connected to the reflector plate on its underside via a circumferential collar 41c. Since the length of this hollow cylinder 41 is preferably λ / 4 ±, preferably less than 30% thereof, this ultimately leads to the fact that the inner conductor 31c of the coaxial feed cable with the associated dipole half, that is to say in the area on the hollow cylinder 41, lies above in the manner of a short circuit connected at the base of the hollow cylinder, at which it connects to the flector 3 is electrically connected, is transformed into an idle. Conversely, the structure also leads to an idling at the upper end of the hollow cylinder being transformed into a short circuit at the base of the hollow cylinder.

4, however, a direct electrical-galvanic connection to the associated dipole half could also be established at the soldering point 38, so that, in contrast to the dipole 4, the associated dipole half via the inner conductor section 37 with the inner conductor 31c of the coaxial feed cable is not capacitive and / or inductive, but is directly electrically-galvanically connected. This is shown in FIG. 4a. There, namely, the inner conductor section 37 is connected with its end section 37a directly to the inner connection end of an associated dipole half 11a, i.e. electrically-galvanically connected by means of a solder connection, for example. To achieve a high degree of symmetry, the carrier 15 is also provided below the end section 37a with an axial longitudinal bore, in which the electrically conductive cylinder or hollow cylinder 41 is also used in this exemplary embodiment and is electrically-galvanically contacted at its base with the reflector 3. This cylinder 41 is otherwise not in electrical contact with the carrier 15 by means of a metallic connecting bridge.

In the case of a dual-polarized dipole structure in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 3, the structure, as was explained on the basis of the cross-sectional representation in accordance with FIG. The planar sectional view is the same, since in the case of a dual-polarized dipole structure, four axial bores are provided in the carrier device, with two capacitive outer conductor couplings.

5 shows a modification in that a capacitive inner conductor coupling is provided, in which an inner conductor section 37b plunges into the hollow cylinder 41b open at the top and ends there freely. In other words, the inner conductor section 37 is therefore provided with a roughly rod-shaped line section which passes through the hollow coupling element 21 and the adjoining upper line section 37a, which runs essentially parallel to the reflector plane, with a second inner conductor section 37b, which has a suitable length in the Immersed axial bore 34a of the carrier device 15. The hollow cylinder 41 is also not electrically-galvanically connected to the electrically conductive carrier device 15, but is only connected electrically-galvanically on the reflector 3, so that an idling at the upper end of the hollow cylinder 41 transforms into a virtual short circuit at the base of the hollow cylinder 41 is, and vice versa, a virtual short circuit at the upper end of the hollow cylinder is transformed into an idle at its foot in the region of the reflector 3. ,

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6, in contrast to FIG. 1, it is shown that there the coaxial feed cable 31 is laid in the axial bore of the hollow coupling element 21 from the rear side of the reflector 3 through the bore 21a formed there. In this case there is a correspondingly stripped section at the end 31a of the coaxial cable is exposed, so that the outer conductor section 31b there, for example at the contact point 32 (contact ring 32), for example by soldering, is now electrically-galvanically connected to and connected to the upper end of the rod-shaped hollow cylindrical coupling element 21.

An upward protruding inner conductor section 31c is then electrically connected to the respective opposite dipole half 13 via a conductor bracket 42, for example at a soldering point 38 comparable to FIG. 4 on a hollow cylinder arrangement 41 which is provided there and is closed at the end.

On the basis of FIG. 7, it is only shown that the electrical connection possibility of the outer conductor at the upper end of the coupling element 21 described with reference to FIG. 6 is also possible if the inner conductor is in turn capacitively coupled to the opposite dipole half. For this purpose, the bracket 42 mentioned is electrically connected to a corresponding inner conductor 37b, as was basically explained with reference to FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show, in addition to the coaxial feed cable 31, a further coaxial feed cable 31 ', which in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 serves to feed in the two further dipole halves which are perpendicular to the first dipole halves. In other words, if the feed cable 31 is used to feed the associated dipole halves, which, for example, radiate according to FIG. 1 in the polarization plane 12a, the coaxial feed cable 31 'is used to feed the dipole halves which are offset by 90 °, according to the polarization plane 12b send or receive.

Finally, it is also shown with the aid of FIGS. 6 and 7 that the stop 21a mentioned in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the rod-shaped coupling element 21 does not have to come to rest on the rear side 3a of the reflector 3 in the mounted position, but rather that one which is oriented in the opposite direction Stop 21a on the coupling element 21 can also be designed such that the coupling element 21b can be inserted into the bore 23 of the reflector 3 from above until the stop 21b radially protruding in the circumferential direction or in parts in the circumferential direction strikes the top 3b of the reflector 3 ,

In the following, reference is made to the schematic side view according to FIG. 8 and the top view according to FIG. 9, in which a radiator arrangement 11 which only radiates in one polarization plane is shown, which consists of a dipole 11 with two diametrically opposed dipole halves 11a and 11b.

On the basis of FIGS. 8 and 9, it should only be clarified that the described, in particular capacitive and / or optionally also inductive coupling according to the invention is also possible with a simple dipole radiator.

Components with the same reference numerals for the previous exemplary embodiments in this respect designate at least functionally identical parts. In this regard, reference is made to the previous exemplary embodiments.

Finally, another Reference example according to Figure 10, which represents a modified embodiment in particular to the embodiments 1 to 5.

In a departure from the exemplary embodiments explained at the outset, a capacitive (and / or possibly inductive) coupling is implemented, in particular a so-called capacitive and / or inductive outer conductor coupling in the sense of a reversal of the coupling principle, in such a way that the coupling element which is electrically galvanically connected to the reflector 3 is now used 21 is cup-shaped, and now the electrically conductive carrier device 15 of a radiator arrangement 11 is inserted into this cup-shaped coupling element 21. The carrier device 15 is separated both from the coupling element 21 and from the electrically conductive reflector 3 using an electrical-galvanic connection, for which purpose an insulator 25 is again preferably used. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this insulator 25 is also cup-shaped and is first inserted into the cup-shaped coupling element 21, the insulator 15 having a tubular projection 25b in the bottom region which projects downward in the exemplary embodiment shown, as a result of which a downwardly open, in the exemplary embodiment shown, a cylindrical tube section is formed. The carrier device 15 is also provided with a tubular extension 15 f which projects downward from the lower end face and is now additionally centered by the tubular extension 25b of the insulator 25 and is in electrically non-conductive (ground) contact with the reflector 3 is positioned. The lower end opening of this extension 15f of the carrier device 15 can then be used Inner conductors of a coaxial feed line 31 are connected accordingly, the corresponding dipole half of a dipole radiator being able to be fed via an inner conductor intermediate connection 37, as described above. An inner conductor intermediate connection 37 is again held by means of an insulating spacer inside the tubular carrier device 15, via which the inner conductor of a coaxial cable can be electrically connected to the associated dipole half. The outer conductor 31b of a coaxial feed line must then again be connected in a suitable manner, preferably electrically-galvanically, to the cup-shaped coupling element 31, in which case a solder connection can be made from the outer conductor 31b of the coaxial feed line 31 to the underside of the reflector 3, preferably in FIG the vicinity of the base point at which the cup-shaped coupling element 21 is electrically-galvanically connected to the reflector 3.

Claims

Claims:

1. Antenna, in particular antenna array with at least one dipole or a dipole-like radiator arrangement or radiator structure (11), with the following features: the radiator arrangement (11) comprises a carrier device (15), the carrier device (15) is at least indirectly mechanically connected connected to the reflector (3) and / or attached to the reflector (3), the carrier device (15) is electrically conductive, and the carrier device (15) with the electrically conductive reflector (3) is capacitive and / or electrically galvanic Contactlessly connected to the reflector (3), characterized by the following further features: on the front (3b) of the reflector (3) there is an electrically conductive rod-shaped coupling element (21) extending transversely to the reflector plane, inside the carrier device (15) comprises an axial bore (15a), the support device (15) with its axial bore (15a) can be placed on the rod-shaped coupling element (21) such that the carrier device (15) and the rod-shaped coupling element (21) are capacitively coupled while avoiding electrical-galvanic contact.

2. Antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that the rod-shaped coupling element (21) is cylindrical.

3. Antenna according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rod-shaped coupling element (21) comprises an axially extending recess, preferably an axial bore.

4. Antenna according to claim 3, characterized in that the rod-shaped coupling element (21) is designed as a hollow cylinder.

5. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that axially aligned with the rod-shaped coupling element (21), a bore (23) is made in the reflector (3) through which the rod-shaped coupling element (21) with a partial length of the reflector (3) protrudes.

6. Antenna according to claim 5, characterized in that a radially projecting projection or a circumferential step shoulder (21a) is formed on the coupling element (21), so that the rod-shaped coupling element (21) in a partial length through the bore (23) in the reflector (3) by Reaching a stop or the step (21a) on the reflector (3) can be inserted.

7. Antenna according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling element (21) from the rear side (3a) of the

Reflector (3) or from the front side (3b) of the reflector (3) can be inserted into the bore (23), so that the radially projecting stop or step shoulder (21a) on the back (3a) or on the front (3b ) of the reflector (3) comes to rest.

8. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the capacitive outer conductor coupling (19) comprises air as a dielectric.

9. Antenna according to claim 8, characterized in that the radiator arrangement (11) and the associated carrier device (15) are fixed by means of an insulator (25) which can be placed on the reflector (3), via which the insulator (25) can be placed, The area or section facing the reflector (3), in particular the end face (15b) of the carrier device (15), can be positioned in front of the reflector (3) overlapping the rod-shaped coupling element (21) in a contactless relative position.

10. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an insulator (25) provided with an axial recess can be placed on the rod-shaped coupling element (21), on which the carrier device (15) with the associated axial bore (15a) can be pushed ,

11. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the insulator (25) on the side facing the reflector (3) has a radially at least partially projecting edge or flange (25a) on which the carrier device ( 15) rests.

12. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the length of the hollow insulator (25) is greater than the insertion depth with which the carrier device (15) of a radiator arrangement (11) can be placed on the coupling element (21), such that the coupling element (21) with its stop facing away from the reflector (3) strikes a stop facing the reflector (3) on the radiator arrangement (11) or the associated carrier device (15) such that the carrier device (15 ) comes to rest at least a short distance in front of the plane of the reflector (3) in the assembled state.

13. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a base or a base centering (22) is provided, which is fixed on the reflector (3) and the carrier device (15) of a radiator arrangement (11) without electrical Centered connection to the reflector (3) and preferably holds.

14. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that an outer conductor connection takes place in such a way that the outer conductor (31b) of a coaxial cable (31) is electrically-galvanically connected to the lower end of the coupling element (21) provided with an axial recess is, preferably by means of soldering.

15. Antenna according to claim 14, characterized in that the outer conductor (31b) of a coaxial cable (31) on the back (3a) of the reflector (3) on the up to the back of the reflector (3) projecting section (21b) of the coupling element (21) is electrically-galvanically connected.

16. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that at the lower end of the coupling element (21) an inner conductor (31c) of a coaxial cable (31) is electrically-galvanically connected, to a coupling element provided with an axial recess ( 21) penetrating inner conductor section (37).

17. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that an outer conductor (31b) of a coaxial cable (31) is electrically-galvanically connected at the upper end of the coupling element (21) provided with an axial recess, preferably by means of soldering.

18. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 14 or 17, characterized in that an inner conductor (31c) of a coaxial cable (31) at the upper end of the coupling element (21) is electrically-galvanically connected to an electrical line connection, preferably then soldered on , by means of which an electrical connection can be made to the opposite dipole half (13).

19. Antenna according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the inner conductor (31c) is electrically galvanically connected to the opposite dipole half.

20. Antenna according to one of claims 14 to 18, characterized in that the inner conductor (31c) of a coaxial cable (31) is at least indirectly capacitively connected to the opposite dipole half.

21. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the coupling element (21) is pot-shaped and the carrier device (15) receives a radiator arrangement (11) inside.

22. Antenna according to claim 21, characterized in that the insulator (25) is pot-shaped and is arranged in the interior of the pot-shaped coupling element (21), the carrier device (15) of the radiator arrangement (11) in the interior of the pot-shaped insulator (25) is used.

23. Antenna according to claim 22, characterized in that an opening is made in the reflector (3), in which the insulator (25) projects with an insert (25b) which at least partially penetrates the opening.

24. Antenna according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the carrier device (15) is provided with a tubular extension (15f) which has a corresponding opening in the reflector (3) and one in the opening in the reflector (3) Insulation projection (25b) of the insulator (25) protrudes.

25. Antenna according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that in the cup-shaped coupling element (21) an insulating fixing insert (25) lying above all in the base area on the reflector (3) is provided. hen, via which the carrier device (15) of a radiator arrangement (11) is held in contactless fashion with the cup-shaped coupling element (21).

26. Antenna according to one of claims 21 to 25, characterized in that the pot-shaped coupling element (21) on its inside and / or the carrier device (15) of the radiator arrangement (11) on its outer circumference with a non-conductive and / or insulating surface layer is what prevents electrical-galvanic contact between the coupling element (21) and the carrier device (15).

27. Antenna device according to one of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that the radiator arrangement (11) consists of a dipole radiator and that only one coupling element (21) is provided.

28. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 26, characterized in that the radiator arrangement (11) consists of a radiator arrangement (11) which is cruciform at least in electrical terms, so that at least two coupling elements (11) are provided which are in corresponding recesses in the Carrier device (15) are positioned.

29. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 20 or 27, 28, characterized in that the structure of the radiator arrangement and in particular the carrier device (15) is symmetrical and a symmetrical structure is provided for two dipole halves (11a, 11b) as far as each of the two dipole halves (11a, 11b) is assigned an axial bore in the carrier device (15), the coupling element (21) in the one axial bore is arranged, and a further coupling element provided for an inner conductor coupling is positioned in the respective other parallel axial bore.

30. Antenna according to one of claims 1 to 29, characterized in that the electrical-galvanic contactless coupling comprises not only a capacitive component but also an inductive component.