Base station antennas having phase-error compensation and related methods of operation
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorBjörn Lindmark
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Base station antennas are provided herein. A base station antenna includes consecutive vertical columns of radiating elements. The base station antenna includes a phase shifter that is electrically connected to one of the vertical columns of radiating elements. Moreover, the base station antenna includes a phase-error compensation component that is configured to provide phase-error compensation at an input to the phase shifter based on movement of the phase-error compensation component. Related methods of operation are also provided.
Claims20
A base station antenna comprising:
- vertically staggered consecutive first, second, third, and fourth vertical columns of radiating elements that are configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals in a frequency band;
- a phase shifter that is electrically connected to the first vertical column of radiating elements or the second vertical column of radiating elements;
- and
- a phase-error compensation component that is configured to provide phase-error compensation at an input to the phase shifter based on movement of the phase-error compensation component,
- wherein the phase shifter comprises a wiper phase shifter,
- wherein a rotatable portion of the wiper phase shifter comprises a wiper Printed Circuit Board (PCB), and
- wherein the phase-error compensation component comprises a dielectric structure that is between the wiper PCB and a main PCB of the wiper phase shifter.
A base station antenna comprising:
- consecutive first, second, and third vertical columns of radiating elements that are configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) signals in a beam-forming mode;
- a phase shifter that is electrically connected to the first vertical column of radiating elements or the second vertical column of radiating elements;
- and
- a phase-error compensation component that is configured to provide phase-error compensation at an input to the phase shifter based on movement of the phase-error compensation component,
- wherein the phase shifter comprises a movable dielectric body, and
- wherein the phase-error compensation component extends from the movable dielectric body of the phase shifter.
A method of operating a base station antenna, the method comprising controlling an amount of phase shift and an amount of phase-error compensation for a vertical column of radiating elements by concurrently moving a phase shifter and a phase-error compensation component,
- wherein the phase shifter comprises:
- a non-rotational phase shifter comprising a movable dielectric body from which the phase-error compensation component extends;
- or
- a wiper phase shifter comprising a wiper Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and a main PCB having the phase-error compensation component therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.