US 11,799,179 B2
Liquid crystal phase shifter, method for operating the same, liquid crystal antenna, and communication apparatus
Liang Li, Beijing (CN); Tienlun Ting, Beijing (CN); Jie Wu, Beijing (CN); Xue Cao, Beijing (CN); Ying Wang, Beijing (CN); Haocheng Jia, Beijing (CN); Cuiwei Tang, Beijing (CN); Peizhi Cai, Beijing (CN); and Chuncheng Che, Beijing (CN)
Assigned to BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Beijing (CN); and BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., Beijing (CN)
Filed by BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., Beijing (CN); and BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., Beijing (CN)
Filed on Aug. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/401,693.
Application 17/401,693 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/642,570, granted, now 11,119,364, previously published as PCT/CN2019/100041, filed on Aug. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 201810911837.X (CN), filed on Aug. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0376434 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. H01P 1/18 (2006.01); G02F 1/1343 (2006.01); G02F 1/13 (2006.01)
CPC H01P 1/184 (2013.01) [G02F 1/1313 (2013.01); G02F 1/134309 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid crystal phase shifter, comprising
a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein
the first substrate comprises a first base plate and a first electrode layer at a side of the first base plate proximal to the liquid crystal layer;
the second substrate comprises a second base plate and a second electrode layer at a side of the second base plate proximal to the liquid crystal layer; and
the first electrode layer comprises a main body structure having a first side and a second side opposite to each other with respect to an extension direction of the main body structure, and a plurality of branch structures connected to at least one of the first side and the second side of the main body structure,
wherein the second electrode layer comprises a plurality of first fingers in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of branch structures, and an orthographic projection of each first finger on the first base plate at least partially overlaps an orthographic projection of a corresponding branch structure on the first base plate but does not overlap the main body structure;
wherein the liquid crystal phase shifter further comprises a ground electrode electrically connected to the second electrode layer, and is configured to shift a phase of a microwave signal; and
the ground electrode is at a side of the first base plate distal to the first electrode layer, orthographic projections of the first electrode layer and the ground electrode on the first base plate at least partially overlap each other, and the ground electrode and the first electrode layer form a microwave transmission structure.
 
14. A liquid crystal phase shifter, comprising
a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to each other, and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein
the first substrate comprises a first base plate and a first electrode layer at a side of the first base plate proximal to the liquid crystal layer;
the second substrate comprises a second base plate and a second electrode layer at a side of the second base plate proximal to the liquid crystal layer; and
the first electrode layer comprises a main body structure having a first side and a second side opposite to each other with respect to an extension direction of the main body structure, and a plurality of branch structures connected to only one of the first side and the second side of the main body structure,
wherein the second electrode layer is at only one side of the second base plate corresponding to the plurality of branch structures;
wherein the liquid crystal phase shifter further comprises a ground electrode electrically connected to the second electrode layer, and is configured to shift a phase of a microwave signal; and
the ground electrode is at a side of the first base plate distal to the first electrode layer, orthographic projections of the first electrode layer and the ground electrode on the first base plate at least partially overlap each other, and the ground electrode and the first electrode layer form a microwave transmission structure.