# US 10,483,650 B1 · Lensed antennas for use in cellular and other communications systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,483,650 B1 - Document ID: US10483650B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/554,664 - Filed: 2019-08-29 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-27 - Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC - Applicants: CommScope Technologies LLC - Inventors: Martin Zimmerman; Igor Timofeev; Kevin Eldon Linehan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483650B1 ## CPC - H01Q 15/02: Refracting or diffracting devices, e.g. lens, prism - H01Q 1/246: {specially adapted for base stations} - H01Q 3/14: for varying the relative position of primary active element and a refracting or diffracting device - H01Q 15/08: formed of solid dielectric material - H01Q 15/10: comprising three-dimensional [3D] array of impedance discontinuities, e.g. holes in conductive surfaces or conductive discs forming artificial dielectric - H01Q 19/062: {for focusing} - H01Q 21/061: {Two dimensional planar arrays} - H01Q 21/08: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path {(waveguide fed H01Q21/0037)} - H01Q 19/108: {Combination of a dipole with a plane reflecting surface (H01Q19/106 takes precedence; strip line H01Q9/065)} - H01Q 21/062: {using dipole aerials; (H01Q21/067, H01Q21/068 take precedence)} - H01Q 21/26: Turnstile or like antennas comprising arrangements of three or more elongated elements disposed radially and symmetrically in a horizontal plane about a common centre - H01Q 21/28: Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems {(multiple beam H01Q25/00)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract Phased array antennas include a plurality of radiating elements and a plurality of RF lenses that are generally aligned along a first vertical axis. Each radiating element is associated with a respective one of the RF lenses, and each radiating element is tilted with respect to the first vertical axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-beam antenna, comprising: a radio frequency (“RF”) lens; a plurality of radiating elements that are orbitally arranged part of the way around a first side of the RF lens, wherein the radiating elements are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, where each row extends in a respective arc in a respective one of a plurality of horizontal planes and each column extends in a respective arc in a respective one of a plurality of vertical planes, wherein the multi-beam antenna is configured for multi-input-multi-output transmission. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein each radiating element comprises an active antenna element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein each radiating element comprises a passive antenna element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The multi-beam antenna of claim 3, wherein the multibeam antenna is provided in conjunction with a radio that is connected to the multibeam antenna via a switch network of RF switches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The multi-beam antenna of claim 4, wherein the switch network is configurable to selectively connect the radio to one or more of the radiating elements on a per time slot basis of a time division multiplexing communication scheme. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein the plurality of horizontal planes comprise a plurality of substantially parallel planes, and wherein the plurality of vertical planes comprise a plurality of substantially parallel planes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein the plurality of horizontal planes comprise a plurality of substantially parallel planes, and wherein the plurality of vertical planes intersect each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein the RF lens comprises a spherical RF lens. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein the RF lens comprises an elliptical RF lens. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein the multibeam antenna includes between four and eight rows of radiating elements that extend in respective arcs in respective ones of the plurality of horizontal planes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multi-beam antenna of claim 10, wherein the multibeam antenna includes between four and eight columns of radiating elements that extend in respective arcs in respective ones of the plurality of vertical planes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The multi-beam antenna of claim 8, wherein the radiating elements in an uppermost of the rows are closer together than are the radiating elements in a middle one of the rows. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The multi-beam antenna of claim 1, wherein each radiating element is mounted on a respective ground plane, and wherein each ground plane is orbitally arranged with respect to the RF lens. ### Claim 14 A multi-beam antenna, comprising: a plurality of radiating elements; a spherical radio frequency (“RF”) lens that is positioned in front of the radiating elements; and a switching network that is configured to connect a radio to a respective subset of the radiating elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The multi-beam antenna of claim 14, wherein each radiating element is positioned so that a center of a radiation pattern that is emitted by the radiating element when excited is substantially directed at a center point of the spherical RF lens. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The multi-beam antenna of claim 15, wherein the subset of radiating elements comprises a single one of the radiating elements. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The multi-beam antenna of claim 16, wherein the subset of the radiating elements comprises a plurality of radiating elements that are connected to the switching network via a corporate feed network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The multi-beam antenna of claim 16, wherein the radiating elements are orbitally arranged part of the way around the side of the spherical RF lens. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The multi-beam antenna of claim 16, wherein each radiating element is mounted on a respective ground plane, and wherein each ground plane is orbitally arranged with respect to the spherical RF lens. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The multi-beam antenna of claim 16, wherein the radiating elements are arranged to define a first plurality of arcs that extend in horizontal planes and at least one additional arc that extends in vertical plane.