Base station antennas having parasitic coupling units

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a panel that includes a ground plane;
• a first linear array that includes a first plurality radiating elements that extend forwardly from the panel, the first linear array extending along a first axis;
• a second linear array that includes a second plurality of radiating elements that extend forwardly from the panel, the second linear array extending along a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis;
• and
• a plurality of parasitic coupling units extending along a third axis between the first linear array and the second linear array,
• wherein each parasitic coupling unit comprises spaced-apart first and second metal parasitic coupling structures that face each other to define an internal cavity therebetween, each parasitic coupling structure including a base and a wall that extends forwardly from the base,
• wherein at least some of the parasitic coupling units are tuned to increase the phase alignment between RF energy radiated by the first linear array that is not absorbed by elements of the base station antenna and RF energy radiated by the first linear array that is absorbed by ones of the second plurality of radiating elements and re-radiated therefrom.

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a panel that includes a ground plane;
• a first low-band linear array that includes a first plurality of low-band radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the panel;
• a second low-band linear array that includes a second plurality of low-band radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the panel;
• a first high-band linear array that includes a first plurality of high-band radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the panel;
• a second high-band linear array that includes a second plurality of high-band radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from the panel;
• a plurality of parasitic coupling units extending along an axis between the first low-band linear array and the second low-band linear array,
• wherein each low-band radiating element is configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in at least a portion of a first frequency band and each high-band radiating element is configured to transmit and receive radio frequency signals in at least a portion of a second frequency band that has a lowest frequency that is higher in frequency than the highest frequency in the first frequency band, and
• wherein each parasitic coupling unit comprises a base and a wall that extends forwardly from the base and is configured to collect and re-radiate RF energy in the first frequency band.