My name is Tomasz Walensky and I'm a product manager and a marketing manager at RF elements.

我叫 Tomasz Walensky，是 RF elements 的產品經理和營銷經理。

And today we'll continue with our series of webinars on antennas 101.

今天，我們將繼續舉辦天線 101 系列網絡研討會。

Today about the patch arrays.

今天是關於貼片陣列的。

So in the previous webinar, we looked in detail at the horn sectors.

是以，在上次網絡研討會上，我們詳細介紹了號角部門。

Today we'll speak about the patch array sectors.

今天我們來談談補丁陣列扇區。

So where does the name come from?

那麼，這個名字從何而來呢？

What they're built from?

它們是用什麼製成的？

How do they function?

它們是如何運作的？

And we'll look at their advantages and disadvantages in terms of application and unlicensed five gigahertz risk networks.

我們將從應用和非授權 5 千兆赫風險網絡的角度來分析它們的優缺點。

To begin with, take the word sector.

首先是部門一詞。

So why is an antenna called sector?

那麼，為什麼天線被稱為扇形呢？

Because it's beam width in the azimuth plane is not 360 degrees, meaning that it's not an omni, but only a part of the whole circle is covered.

因為它在方位面上的波束寬度不是 360 度，也就是說，它不是全向的，只能覆蓋整個圓的一部分。

And this part is called sector, that's it.

這部分被稱為 "扇區"，僅此而已。

So sector is not an inherent quality of patch array antennas.

是以，扇形並不是貼片陣列天線的固有特性。

It has to do with the beam width in the azimuth plane.

這與方位面上的光束寬度有關。

Just a small recap from the previous part about horns.

我只想稍微回顧一下上一部分關於犄角的內容。

A great sector antenna has plenty of parameters that WISPs would ideally observe in order to choose the best possible antenna for a particular application.

一個好的扇形天線有很多參數，WISP 最好能觀察到這些參數，以便為特定應用選擇最佳天線。

But of course, we understand compromises are inevitable as you move in your daily life.

當然，我們也明白，在日常生活中，妥協是不可避免的。

But if you happen to have the time to be thorough, definitely look through these parameters and give it a minute to see whether besides gain, beam width or bandwidth, any other parameters might make sense to consider.

但是，如果您恰好有時間仔細研究這些參數，一定要花一分鐘看看除了增益、波束寬度或帶寬之外，是否還有其他參數值得考慮。

And especially the amount of silos when if the noise is what you're battling with in your networks.

尤其是當你在網絡中與噪音作鬥爭時，孤島的數量就更多了。

So patch arrays and horns are very different types of antennas, which results in fundamental differences in their performance and properties of each of these types of antennas.

是以，貼片陣列和喇叭是截然不同的天線類型，這導致了這兩類天線在性能和特性上的根本差異。

So no longer only the price is the major decision factor when choosing between these two.

是以，在這兩者之間做出選擇時，價格不再是主要的決定因素。

Because of the interference conditions and the flight of all kinds of antennas to the market, one should be really careful about what antenna technology to go with.

由於干擾條件和市場上各種天線的飛速發展，人們在選擇天線技術時確實應該慎之又慎。

In comparing horns and patch arrays, there are differences in many, if not most of the parameters you're looking at.

在對喇叭和貼片陣列進行比較時，您所關注的許多（如果不是大多數）參數都存在差異。

So if you haven't seen the first part of this webinar series, make sure you check it out.

如果您還沒有看過本系列網絡研討會的第一部分，請務必查看。

The part one about horns, so that you have the complete picture of both technologies.

第一部分是關於牛角的，這樣您就能全面瞭解這兩種技術。

And you can find a recording of the first part about horns on our YouTube channel already.

您可以在我們的 YouTube 頻道上找到第一部分關於號角的錄音。

So this was a short intro, and now we can move on to the details of the patch array antennas.

以上是一個簡短的介紹，現在我們可以繼續瞭解貼片陣列天線的細節。

Why are these antennas called patch arrays?

為什麼這些天線被稱為貼片陣列？

So the core of this antenna is the printed circuit board with a number of patches stacked in the vertical direction and connected with the feeding lines, which all originate at the coaxial connectors to which you connect the radio.

是以，該天線的核心是一塊印刷電路板，上面有許多沿垂直方向堆疊的貼片，並與饋電線相連，這些貼片都源於連接收音機的同軸連接器。

So while the building unit is a single rectangular patch etched on the surface on the printed circuit board, as soon as you stack two or more patches above each other and feed them with the same signal, they form an antenna array.

是以，雖然構建單元是蝕刻在印刷電路板表面的單個矩形貼片，但只要將兩個或更多貼片堆疊在一起，並向它們饋送相同的信號，它們就會形成一個天線陣列。

And this is valid regardless of the shape or size of the patches.

無論補丁的形狀或大小如何，這一點都是有效的。

Two or more patches makes a patch array or an antenna array.

兩個或多個貼片組成一個貼片陣列或天線陣列。

A single patch etched on the surface of a PCB laminate is a resonant type of an antenna.

蝕刻在 PCB 層壓板表面的單個貼片是一種諧振型天線。

So the resonance is a phenomenon that occurs when the length of the patch is equal to half of the wavelength of the signal that is fed to it, where by wavelength we mean the distance over which the feeding signal repeats its shape.

是以，當貼片的長度等於饋入信號波長的一半時，就會產生共振現象，這裡的波長指的是饋入信號重複其形狀的距離。

So if this condition is fulfilled, the antenna radiates the signal into free space.

是以，如果滿足這一條件，天線就能將信號輻射到自由空間。

How does the resonant frequency change with the size of the patch?

諧振頻率隨貼片大小有何變化？

So as many things in the world of RF engineering, the resonant frequency is inversely proportional to the size of the patch.

是以，在射頻工程領域，諧振頻率與貼片尺寸成反比。

As we increase the size of the patch, the resonant frequency is decreasing and vice versa.

隨著貼片尺寸的增大，諧振頻率也在減小，反之亦然。

When we decrease the size of the patch, the resonant frequency is growing.

當我們減小貼片的尺寸時，諧振頻率就會增加。

So the graph is indicating where the resonant frequency, FR, is located.

是以，該圖顯示了共振頻率 FR 的位置。

And the VSWR, or voltage standing wave ratio, is an antenna parameter that tells us how much of the input signal is reflected from the antenna connectors.

VSWR，即電壓駐波比，是一個天線參數，它告訴我們有多少輸入信號從天線連接器上反射出去。

So the smaller the VSWR is, the less signal is reflected, which is what we want.

是以，駐波比越小，反射的信號就越少，這正是我們想要的。

So in other words, it is radiated by the antenna.

換句話說，它是由天線輻射出來的。

So eventually you recognize the resonant frequency as a dip in the VSWR graph, as you can see from this animation.

是以，你最終會在駐波比圖中看到諧振頻率的下降，就像你在動畫中看到的那樣。

It's not only the size of the patch that influences the properties of patch array antenna, but also the substrate on which it is etched.

影響貼片陣列天線特性的不僅是貼片的尺寸，還有蝕刻貼片的基底。

So it has three main parameters that the patch antenna designers work with.

是以，貼片天線設計人員需要考慮三個主要參數。

So first is the substrate height, or H, and this one influences the resonant frequency and the amount of unwanted radiation.

首先是基板高度，即 H，它會影響諧振頻率和不必要的輻射量。

Second is their permittivity, epsilon R, which is the property of the material of the substrate and tells us how strongly the substrate material influences the electric fields.

其次是它們的介電常數 epsilon R，這是基底材料的特性，告訴我們基底材料對電場的影響有多大。

And the third one is the loss tangent of the substrate.

第三個是襯底的損耗切線。

This one tells us how much power is dissipated in the material of the substrate, which influences the resulting gain of an antenna.

它告訴我們有多少功率耗散在基底材料中，從而影響天線的增益。

So naturally, the higher the loss tangent, the more signal is lost, dissipated in the heat inside the substrate.

是以，損耗正切值越高，信號損耗就越大，基板內部的熱量也就越大。

This is how typical substrates look like.

這就是典型基質的外觀。

It's a thin sheet of a semi-rigid material with copper metallization on one, or maybe even both surfaces.

它是一種半剛性材料的薄片，一個表面甚至兩個表面都鍍有金屬銅。

So there are many types of substrates with varying quality and properties, with prices spanning quite a wide range.

是以，基材的種類很多，品質和性能也各不相同，價格跨度也相當大。

So naturally, the very low loss and precise dielectric constant substrates tend to be on the more expensive side.

是以，損耗極低、介電常數精確的襯底自然會更加昂貴。

Patch antennas come in many different shapes.

貼片天線的形狀多種多樣。

These different shapes with various cutouts, as you can see from these images, are another tool in the hands of the antenna designer.

從這些圖片中可以看出，這些不同形狀、不同切口的天線是天線設計師手中的另一種工具。

They all influence the bandwidth gain, manufacturability, or price of the final product, as well as other parameters like, for example, the stability of the radiation pattern and so on.

它們都會影響最終產品的帶寬增益、可製造性或價格，以及其他參數，例如輻射模式的穩定性等。

So the intricacies of the patch array antenna design reside in knowing the effect of these modifications and be aware of the trade-offs that are always present.

是以，貼片陣列天線設計的複雜性在於瞭解這些修改的效果，並意識到始終存在的權衡問題。

When we change one thing in a desired way, well, something else might go a little bit worse, but it depends on the application what trade-offs are acceptable.

當我們以一種理想的方式改變一件事情時，其他事情可能會變得更糟一些，但這取決於應用中可以接受的權衡。

The radiation pattern tells us how well an antenna radiates in any direction, and single patch array antenna has wide radiation pattern in all directions, as you can see.

輻射模式告訴我們天線在任何方向上的輻射情況，單貼片陣列天線在各個方向上都有很寬的輻射模式，如你所見。

So sometimes you can also see the 2D version of the radiation pattern.

是以，有時您還可以看到二維版本的輻射模式。

It is important to understand that the 2D radiation pattern gives rather limited information about the antenna behavior because it shows only a single slice of the whole 3D image.

重要的是要明白，二維輻射圖提供的天線行為資訊非常有限，因為它只顯示了整個三維影像的一個切片。

Nevertheless, it still depends, of course, on the application, whether you should be interested in the full 3D radiation pattern or the 2D version gives enough information.

當然，您是應該對全三維輻射模式感興趣，還是對能提供足夠資訊的二維輻射模式感興趣，這仍然取決於您的應用。

And for WISPs, the 3D radiation pattern definitely makes more sense because the side lobes of the antennas are the root of the interference issues in unlicensed WISP networks.

對於 WISP 而言，三維輻射模式無疑更有意義，因為天線的側葉是未授權 WISP 網絡干擾問題的根源。

So the 3D radiation pattern will show you the whole information with all the side lobes, so you have the full image and know if you want to avoid or use the antenna you're looking at.

是以，三維輻射模式將向您展示包括所有邊葉在內的全部資訊，這樣您就能獲得完整的影像，並知道是否要避開或使用您正在查看的天線。

The reason why single-patch antenna is not good for sector coverage is that its radiation pattern is wide and fixed, and eventually its gain is also rather low.

單貼片天線不利於扇形覆蓋的原因是，它的輻射模式寬且固定，最終增益也相當低。

So there are the parameters that are fixed, which is why the single-patch is used in applications where low gain and wide radiation angle are desirable, which is definitely not the WISP networks.

是以，有一些參數是固定的，這就是為什麼在需要低增益和寬輻射角的應用中使用單補丁的原因，而 WISP 網絡絕對不是這樣。

Another problem with the single-patch antennas is their narrow band of operation, which is connected to the narrow band nature of the resonance we mentioned earlier, so typically resulting to around half a gigahertz bandwidth, which would not be enough for unlicensed WISP networks operating in the five gigahertz frequency range, but again, in other types of applications, it might be fine.

單貼片天線的另一個問題是工作頻帶窄，這與我們前面提到的諧振的窄帶特性有關，是以通常只有大約半個千兆赫的帶寬，這對於在 5 千兆赫頻率範圍內工作的無許可證 WISP 網絡來說是不夠的，但在其他類型的應用中，這可能也是可以的。

To improve the shortcomings of a single-patch antenna, we can form an antenna array of two or more patches, and this is the general principle you can apply with any radiating element.

為了改善單貼片天線的缺點，我們可以將兩個或多個貼片組成天線陣列，這也是任何輻射元件都可以應用的一般原理。

Stack two or more of them, and you get an antenna array.

將兩個或更多天線疊加在一起，就形成了一個天線陣。

Here we show a one-dimensional patch array antenna, and what happens with the radiation pattern as we keep adding more and more patches?

這裡我們展示的是一維貼片陣列天線，當我們不斷增加貼片時，輻射模式會發生什麼變化？

So clearly, the more patches in the array, the higher the gain of the antenna will be, and at the same time, the radiation pattern is changing as well.

是以，很明顯，陣列中的貼片越多，天線的增益就越高，與此同時，輻射模式也在發生變化。

You can see that the bandwidth is shrinking in the elevation plane, so when the patches are stacked in the vertical direction, the bandwidth is shrinking in the elevation plane, while in the azimuth, the pattern keeps the shape of a single-patch antenna, and also the side lobes start to appear as we stack more and more patches, which is the result of the physics of antenna arrays, regardless what is the single or the building block of the radiating element.

您可以看到，在仰角平面上，帶寬正在縮小，是以，當補片在垂直方向上堆疊時，仰角平面上的帶寬正在縮小，而在方位角上，圖案保持單補片天線的形狀，而且隨著我們堆疊的補片越來越多，側葉也開始出現，這是天線陣列的物理特性所決定的，無論輻射元件的單體或構件是什麼。

The array principles work in a similar way for two-dimensional arrays.

數組原理與二維數組的工作原理類似。

So adding more patches, the main bandwidth is shrinking, but now in both azimuth and elevation planes at the same time, because we're adding more patches in horizontal and vertical directions.

是以，在增加更多補丁的同時，主帶寬也在縮小，但現在是在方位角和仰角平面上同時縮小，因為我們在水準和垂直方向上增加了更多補丁。

Same is valid for the side lobes.

側葉也是如此。

These images show results of simulation in an EM simulation software, so it's nicely visible how the side lobes progress as we increase the size of the array.

這些圖片顯示的是電磁模擬軟件的模擬結果，是以可以很清楚地看到隨著陣列尺寸的增大，邊葉的變化情況。

And by now, I'm sure you're getting the intuitive understanding of how the antenna arrays work.

現在，我相信你已經對天線陣列的工作原理有了直觀的瞭解。

So if we, for example, stacked patches only along the horizontal direction, the radiation pattern would be getting narrow in the azimuth plane, and elevation would, vice versa, remain the same.

是以，舉例來說，如果我們只沿水準方向堆疊補丁，輻射模式在方位角平面上會變得越來越窄，而仰角則反之，保持不變。

To align the line of thought with the first part of this webinar about horns you might have watched before, we will start looking at the patch arrays in terms of their side lobes performance.

為了與您之前可能觀看過的有關喇叭的網絡研討會第一部分的思路保持一致，我們將從貼片陣列的側葉性能入手，對其進行研究。

There are two major causes of the side lobes patch arrays suffer from.

導致貼片陣列產生側葉的主要原因有兩個。

So one of them, as we mentioned earlier, is the physics of the antenna arrays.

是以，正如我們前面提到的，其中之一就是天線陣列的物理原理。

And to be a little bit more precise, it's the interference of the waves that are radiated from each and every single patch, or interference, or in this case, addition.

說得更準確一點，這是從每一個補丁輻射出來的波的干涉，或者說是干擾，或者在這裡是增加。

You can also call it an addition of the waves.

你也可以稱之為波浪的補充。

So here it is nicely visible how the wave from two and more sources add up.

是以，在這裡可以很清楚地看到來自兩個或更多來源的波浪是如何相加的。

In the areas where they add up constructively, there is a maximum, so you get a side lobe.

在它們建設性地相加的區域，有一個最大值，是以你會得到一個側葉。

Where they add up destructively, there is a minimum, and there is a dip in that radiation pattern.

在它們破壞性相加的地方，就會出現一個最小值，輻射模式就會發生變化。

So in the symmetry axis of the array is located the main beam, which is the strongest.

是以，在陣列對稱軸上的主光束最強。

That's what we're interested in.

這正是我們感興趣的。

Any other lobes outside that main beam are side lobes, which in the RF engineering lingo, they're called grating lobes, if you will.

主光束之外的任何其他裂片都是邊葉，用射頻工程術語來說，它們被稱為光柵裂片。

And these are the side lobes a typical patch array has in the elevation plane.

這就是典型的貼片陣列在仰角平面上的側葉。

So when looking at the antenna from the side.

是以，當從側面觀察天線時。

Second major cause of the side lobes of patch arrays is parasitic radiation.

造成貼片陣列側葉的第二個主要原因是寄生輻射。

And here we look at two components.

在這裡，我們看兩個組成部分。

First is the radiation of the feeding lines.

首先是饋電線路的輻射。

So to bring the feeding signal to each patch in the array, a network of feeding lines is used, which is basically symmetrical division of the line until we get as many outputs as possible, I mean, or as needed, as is the number of patches.

是以，為了將饋電信號傳輸到陣列中的每個貼片，我們使用了一個饋電線網絡，基本上是對稱地分割饋電線，直到我們獲得儘可能多的輸出，我的意思是，或根據貼片數量的需要。

In this case, in this example, you can see two.

在這個例子中，你可以看到兩個。

So at the top, there is a vertical line and that's branching to two.

是以，在頂部有一條垂直線，它的分支是兩條。

So we can feed our two patches.

這樣我們就能餵飽我們的兩塊補丁了。

So the feeding line is composed of metal strips of varying width and shapes.

是以，送料線是由不同寬度和形狀的金屬帶組成的。

And these have their own resonances that help on one hand, extend their bandwidth of the whole antenna, which is a good thing, but also makes them radiate part of the energy before it reaches the patches, which is a negative feature for a WISP sector antenna.

這些天線有自己的諧振，一方面可以擴展整個天線的帶寬，這是一件好事，但同時也會使部分能量在到達貼片之前就被輻射掉，這對於 WISP 扇形天線來說是一個負面特徵。

Looking at the patch from the side.

從側面看補丁

So a lot more is happening there than we would actually like to.

是以，那裡發生的事情比我們希望的要多得多。

And main portion of the wave is radiated from the patch itself, which is of course what we want.

波的主要部分是從貼片本身輻射出來的，這當然是我們想要的。

But portion of the energy is traveling inside the substrate as a so-called surface wave, causing lateral radiation and diffraction at the edges of the substrate.

但有一部分能量在基底內部以所謂的表面波形式傳播，在基底邊緣造成橫向輻射和衍射。

And these parasitic sources of radiation cause additional side lobes in the azimuth plane of a typical patch array sector.

而這些寄生輻射源會在典型的貼片陣列扇形的方位面上產生額外的側葉。

In fact, we can actually simulate how the feeding lines themselves radiate in the absence of the patches on the substrate.

事實上，我們可以模擬在基板上沒有貼片的情況下，饋電線本身是如何輻射的。

So here we can see the result of such simulation.

是以，我們可以在這裡看到這種模擬的結果。

While the feeding lines are inevitable when designing a patch array, they introduce additional side lobes in the resulting antenna radiation pattern, which is a very common thing with vast majority of patch arrays on the WISP market.

在設計貼片陣列時，饋線是不可避免的，但饋線會在產生的天線輻射模式中引入額外的側葉，這在 WISP 市場上的絕大多數貼片陣列中非常常見。

One of the ways manufacturers try to deal with the azimuth side lobes are various shields and shrouds that are attached to the back of the original antenna structure.

製造商解決方位側葉問題的方法之一是在原天線結構的背面安裝各種屏蔽和護罩。

Be it the aftermarket kits or the shielding kits provided by the manufacturer.

無論是售後套件還是製造商提供的屏蔽套件。

So what is the effect of these shields on the radiation pattern of patch arrays?

那麼，這些屏蔽對貼片陣列的輻射模式有何影響？

While the shield might help improve the front-to-back ratio a little bit, the azimuth side lobes they aim to suppress are actually still strongly present as we can see from these near-field plots.

雖然屏蔽罩可能有助於稍稍改善前後比，但正如我們從這些近場圖中看到的那樣，它們旨在抑制的方位側葉實際上仍然強烈存在。

On the left side is the generic patch array antenna when we're looking at it from the top.

從頂部看，左側是普通的貼片陣列天線。

And a lot of radiation finds its way in the backward direction, causing the side lobes that are harmful to WISP networks.

大量輻射會向後方傳播，造成對 WISP 網絡有害的側葉。

And on the right side is the same antenna, but with the shield, which you can see as the two slanted lines at the edge of the antenna body.

右側是同一根天線，但有屏蔽罩，可以看到天線體邊緣有兩條斜線。

So the difference in the radiation is noticeable, but altogether the desired effect of suppressing the side lobes is practically non-existent.

是以，輻射的差異是顯而易見的，但抑制側葉的預期效果卻幾乎不存在。

The side lobes are merely rearranged slightly, but are equally strong whether a shield is used or not.

側葉只是稍作重新排列，但無論是否使用盾牌，其強度都是一樣的。

This slide shows the same comparison, but the far-field radiation patterns.

這張幻燈片顯示的是同樣的對比，但卻是遠場輻射模式。

So on the left is the patch array radiation pattern without the shield.

左邊是沒有屏蔽罩的貼片陣列輻射模式。

And you can see the strong side lobes pointing backwards.

你可以看到強側裂片朝後。

On the right is the patch array radiation pattern with the shield.

右邊是帶有屏蔽罩的貼片陣列輻射模式。

The change is noticeable.

變化是顯而易見的。

I won't be denying that, but as you can see, the strength of the side lobes didn't really change and some got actually even worse.

我不會否認這一點，但正如你所看到的，側葉的強度並沒有真正改變，有些甚至更糟。

So the conclusion for the shields is that they will really not help you mitigate the side lobes as intuitive as it sounds.

是以，防護罩的結論是，它們並不能像聽起來那麼直觀地幫助您減輕側葉的影響。

Like one would think if I put that shield around it, well, surely it must be doing something.

就像人們會想，如果我把防護罩圍在它周圍，那麼它肯定在做什麼。

But in this case, this intuitive understanding does not apply.

但在這種情況下，這種直觀的理解並不適用。

Like some things in the art of engineering or in physics in general are just weird.

就像工程藝術或一般物理學中的某些東西就是這麼奇怪。

So some are intuitive, some are not, and this one is definitely not.

是以，有的直觀，有的不直觀，而這個絕對不直觀。

But the conclusion here is that the shield, unfortunately, do not help to mitigate the side lobes.

但結論是，不幸的是，防護罩無助於減輕側葉。

Here is another viewpoint on how the patch arrays perform with the shields.

以下是關於貼片陣列如何與屏蔽罩配合使用的另一種觀點。

So the colorful images show the coverage pattern, in this case, the MCS zones.

是以，彩色圖像顯示了覆蓋模式，在這種情況下，就是監控監區。

So the dark blue, for example, says you can have the MCS rates of one or less.

例如，深藍色表示您的 MCS 比率可以為 1 或更低。

Or for example, the green area says that the links can perform with the MCS rate from four to seven and so on.

例如，綠色區域表示鏈路的 MCS 速率從 4 到 7 不等。

So instead of the typically expected oval shape of the coverage area, you can see on the left one, for the antenna without the shield, you get this wild flower-like looking area, which is way different from what you expect when you use the shield.