# US 12,003,036 B2 · Feed network and antenna > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,036 B2 - Document ID: US12003036B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/050,614 - Filed: 2022-10-28 - Published: 2023-06-01 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-27 - Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC - Applicants: CommScope Technologies LLC - Inventors: Jianpeng Lu; Hangsheng Wen; Ligang Wu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003036B2 ## CPC - H01Q 3/32: by mechanical means - H01Q 1/246: {specially adapted for base stations} - H01Q 19/108: {Combination of a dipole with a plane reflecting surface (H01Q19/106 takes precedence; strip line H01Q9/065)} - H01Q 25/001: {Crossed polarisation dual antennas (orthomode horns H01Q13/0258; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; orthomode transducers H01P1/161)} - H01P 1/184: {Strip line phase-shifters (H01P1/181, H01P1/185, H01P1/19 take precedence)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H01P: WAVEGUIDES; RESONATORS, LINES, OR OTHER DEVICES OF THE WAVEGUIDE TYPE (operating at optical frequencies G02B) ## Abstract A feed network includes an adjustable electromechanical phase shifter that comprises a main printed circuit board and a phase shifting unit. The adjustable electromechanical phase shifter is configured to shift the phase of an RF signal that is input to the feed network and provide the phase shifted RF signal to at least one radiating element that is positioned on a first side of a reflector of an antenna, where the phase shifting unit is formed on the surface of a first side of the main printed circuit board, and the first side of the main printed circuit board is a side that is closer to the at least one radiating element, and the main printed circuit board is positioned on the first side of the reflector. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A feed network, comprising: a feed board providing at least part of the feed network; and an electromechanical phase shifter that comprises a phase shifting circuit provided on a front surface of the feed board and a wiper arm printed circuit board that resides in front of the feed board and cooperates with the phase shifting circuit, wherein the electromechanical phase shifter is configured to shift a phase of a radio frequency (“RF”) signal that is input to the feed network and provide the phase shifted RF signal to at least one radiating element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The feed network of claim 1, further comprising at least one radiating element in front of the feed board and coupled to the feed board. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The feed network of claim 1, wherein a low pass filter and at least one power divider are all provided on the feed board. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The feed network of claim 1, further comprising a reflector residing behind the feed board. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The feed network of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of radiating elements that project forward of the feed board, coupled to the feed network and the electromechanical phase shifter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The feed network of claim 1, wherein the phase shifting circuit comprises an arcuate phase shifting circuit coupled to first and second outlets, each merging into a respective power divider. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The feed network of claim 1, wherein the feed network is arranged in a base station antenna with a reflector, wherein the feed board resides in front of the reflector and has a length in a longitudinal direction of the base station antenna a width in a lateral direction of the base station antenna, with the length being greater than the width, and wherein the phase shifting circuit resides medially in the longitudinal direction and closer to a left or right side of the feed board. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The feed network of claim 1, wherein the feed board is arranged in a base station antenna, wherein the feed board is provided as a first feed board and the electromechanical phase shifter is provided as a first electromechanical phase shifter in the base station antenna, and wherein the feed network further comprises: a second feed board; a second electromechanical phase shifter that comprises a second phase shifting circuit that is provided on a front surface of the second feed board; and a second wiper arm printed circuit board that resides in front of the second feed board and cooperates with the second phase shifting circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The feed network of claim 8, wherein the first feed board resides adjacent the second feed board in front of a reflector, with the second feed board residing on a right side of the base station antenna and the first feed board residing on a left side of the base station antenna. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The feed network of claim 8, wherein the first feed board resides adjacent the second feed board, with the second feed board orthogonal to the first feed board. ### Claim 11 An antenna, comprising: a reflector; a main circuit board in front of the reflector, wherein the main circuit board has a front surface configured to provide at least part of a feed network and a phase shifting circuit; a wiper arm printed circuit board in front of and overlying part of the main circuit board, electrically coupled to the phase shifting circuit; and at least one radiating element that projects forward of the main circuit board and is coupled to the feed network. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The antenna of claim 11, wherein the phase shifting circuit and the wiper arm printed circuit board form an electromechanical phase shifter that is configured to shift a phase of a radio frequency (“RF”) signal that is input to the feed network and provide the phase shifted RF signal to the at least one radiating element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The antenna of claim 11, wherein the main circuit board is a feed board providing the at least part of the feed network. ### Claim 14 The antenna of 11, wherein the main circuit board further comprises an RF input port, an output port, a low pass filter and at least one power divider. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The antenna of claim 11, wherein the phase shifting circuit comprises an arcuate shape and is coupled to longitudinally spaced apart first and second outlets, each of the first and second outlets merging into a respective power divider. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The antenna of claim 11, wherein the main printed circuit board has a length in a longitudinal direction of the antenna a width in a lateral direction of the antenna, with the length being greater than the width, and wherein the phase shifting circuit resides medially in the longitudinal direction and closer to a left or right side of the main printed circuit board. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The antenna of claim 11, wherein the main printed circuit board is provided as a first main printed circuit board, the first phase shifting circuit is a first phase shifting circuit, and the wiper printed circuit board is a first wiper printed circuit board, wherein the antenna further comprises: a second main circuit board comprising a second phase shifting circuit that is provided on a front surface of the second main printed circuit board; and a second wiper arm printed circuit board that resides in front of the second phase shifting circuit and cooperates with the second phase shifting circuit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The antenna of claim 17, wherein the first main printed circuit board resides adjacent the second main printed circuit board, both in front of a reflector, with the second main printed circuit board residing on a right side of the base station antenna and the first main printed circuit board residing on a left side of the base station antenna. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The antenna of claim 17, wherein the first main printed circuit board resides adjacent the second main printed circuit board, with the second main printed circuit board orthogonal to the first main printed circuit. ### Claim 20 An antenna comprising: a first feed board having a front surface comprising a first phase shifting circuit and at least part of a first feed network; a first wiper arm printed circuit board in front of the first feed board, electrically coupled to the first phase shifting circuit; a second feed board having a front surface comprising a second phase shifting circuit and at least part of a second feed network; a second wiper arm printed circuit board that resides in front of the second feed board, electrically coupled to the second phase shifting circuit; and a plurality of radiating elements projecting forward of the first and/or second feed board.