Antenna systems with low passive intermodulation (PIM)

An antenna system configured to be operable with low passive intermodulation, the antenna system comprising:

• a base;
• a ground plane mounted to the base and including integrally formed tabs to which are solderable cable braids;
• first and second antennas;
• a first isolator disposed between the first and second antennas;
• a second isolator extending outwardly from the ground plane and separate from the first isolator;
• first and second connectors each having at least one center contact soldered to and thereby electrically connected to the corresponding first or second antenna and a plurality of outer contacts soldered to and thereby electrically connected to the ground plane;
• and
• first and second electrical insulators positioned between upper surfaces of the respective first and second connectors and the ground plane to electrically insulate and reduce galvanic contact area between the upper surfaces of the first and second connectors and the ground plane, to thereby reduce passive intermodulation;
• wherein the ground plane and/or the base includes one or more integrally formed features for holding the first isolator generally perpendicular to the ground plane;
• wherein the ground plane and each of the first and second electrical insulators comprise a plurality of openings therethrough to allow the center contact and the plurality of outer contacts of a corresponding one of the first and second connectors to pass therethrough and be soldered to and thereby electrically connected to the respective first and second antennas and the ground plane on an opposite side of the ground plane without direct galvanic contact between the upper surfaces of the first and second connectors and the ground plane,
• wherein the integrally formed tabs are configured to reduce direct galvanic metal-to-metal contact surface and reduce soldering area between the cable braids and the ground plane, and
• wherein:
• the first and second connectors comprise first and second bulkhead connectors each having at least one center contact made of non-ferromagnetic material and that is soldered to and thereby electrically connected to the corresponding first or second antenna and four outer contacts made of non-ferromagnetic material and that are soldered to and thereby electrically connected to the ground plane;
• and
• the first and second electrical insulators are positioned between upper surfaces of the respective first and second bulkhead connectors and the ground plane to electrically insulate and reduce galvanic contact area between the upper surfaces of the first and second bulkhead connectors and the ground plane, to thereby reduce passive intermodulation;
• and
• the openings of the ground plane and the first and second electrical insulators allow the center contact and the four outer contacts of a corresponding one of the first and second bulkhead connectors to pass therethrough and be soldered to and thereby electrically connected to the respective first and second antennas and the ground plane on an opposite side of the ground plane without direct galvanic contact between the upper surfaces of the first and second bulkhead connectors and the ground plane.

An antenna system operable with low passive intermodulation, the antenna system comprising:

• a base;
• a ground plane mounted to the base and including integrally formed tabs to which are solderable cable braids;
• first and second antennas;
• a first isolator disposed between the first and second antennas, the first isolator comprising a vertical wall PCB isolator;
• a second isolator extending outwardly from the ground plane and separate from the first isolator;
• wherein the ground plane and/or the base includes one or more integrally formed features for holding the first isolator generally perpendicular to the ground plane;
• wherein the ground plane, the first and second isolators, and the first and second antennas are made of non-ferromagnetic material;
• wherein the integrally formed tabs of the ground plane comprise tabs directly formed from ground plane material that is repositioned at an acute angle relative to the ground plane, whereby there is no galvanic contact along a bottom of the cable braids to the ground plane, and/or whereby an area underneath the bottom of the cable braids is open or hollow due to the repositioning of the ground plane material to make the tabs.

An antenna system comprising:

• a base;
• a ground plane mounted to the base and including integrally formed tabs to which are soldered cable braids;
• first and second antennas;
• a first vertical wall PCB isolator disposed between the first and second antennas;
• a second isolator extending outwardly from the ground plane and co-planar with the ground plane, the second isolator separate from the first vertical wall PCB isolator;
• wherein the ground plane and/or the base includes one or more integrally formed features for holding the first vertical wall PCB isolator generally perpendicular to the ground plane such that at least a portion of the first vertical wall PCB isolator is vertically disposed over and overlaps at least a portion of the second isolator;
• and
• wherein the integrally formed tabs of the ground plane comprise tabs directly formed from material of the ground plane that is repositioned at an acute angle relative to the ground plane, whereby there is no galvanic contact along a bottom of the cable braids to the ground plane and whereby an area underneath the bottom of the cable braids is open or hollow due to the repositioning of the ground plane material to make the tabs and the cable braids being soldered to the tabs without using solder along the bottom of the cable braids within the open or hollow area between the ground plane and the bottom of the cable braids.