MIMO antenna module and MIMO antenna unit for distributed antenna system

A radio access network (RAN) system, comprising:

• at least one baseband unit (BBU);
• and
• at least one radio point communicatively coupled to the at least one baseband unit and configured to communicate radio frequency (RF) signals with the at least one baseband unit, comprising:
• a controller module, comprising:
• a first substrate having a first ground plane formed thereon,
• control circuitry mounted on the first substrate,
• interface circuitry mounted on the first substrate,
• a first connection region formed in the first substrate;
• and
• at least one antenna module coupled to the controller module, the at least one antenna module comprising:
• a second substrate having a second ground plane formed thereon,
• a plurality of antennas mounted on the second substrate,
• a second connection region mounted on the second substrate and coupled to the interface circuitry via the first connection region, wherein the second connection region is configured to communicate data between the interface circuitry and the plurality of antennas,
• a set of ground-plane contacts mounted on the second substrate,
• wherein the set of ground-plane contacts are configured to electrically couple the first ground plane of the first substrate to the second ground plane of the second substrate when the second connection region is engaged with the first connection region.

A distributed antenna system (DAS), comprising:

• at least one master unit, wherein the at least one master unit is configured to communicate radio frequency (RF) signals with at least one base station;
• and
• at least one remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the at least one master unit and configured to communicate RF signals with the at least one master unit, comprising:
• a controller module, comprising:
• a first substrate having a first ground plane formed thereon,
• control circuitry mounted on the first substrate,
• interface circuitry mounted on the first substrate,
• a first connection region formed in the first substrate;
• and
• at least one antenna module coupled to the controller module, the at least one antenna module comprising:
• a second substrate having a second ground plane formed thereon,
• a plurality of antennas mounted on the second substrate,
• a second connection region mounted on the second substrate and coupled to the interface circuitry via the first connection region, wherein the second connection region is configured to communicate data between the interface circuitry and the plurality of antennas,
• a set of ground-plane contacts mounted on the second substrate,
• wherein the set of ground-plane contacts are configured to electrically couple the first ground plane of the first substrate to the second ground plane of the second substrate when the second connection region is engaged with the first connection region.