Feed network and antenna
AssigneeOutdoor Wireless Networks LLC
InventorsJianpeng Lu, Hangsheng Wen, Ligang Wu
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims22
A feed network, comprising:
- a printed circuit board providing at least part of the feed network;
- an electromechanical phase shifter that comprises a phase shifting circuit having an arcuate portion residing between longitudinally spaced apart first and second outlets that merge into respective first and second conductive traces provided on a front surface of the printed circuit board and a wiper arm that resides in front of the printed circuit board and cooperates with the arcuate portion;
- and
- a plurality of radiating elements projecting forward of the printed circuit board,
- wherein the first and second conductive traces merge into first and second power dividers provided on the front surface of the printed circuit board, and
- 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 respective radiating elements.
An antenna, comprising:
- a printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board has a front configured to provide at least part of a feed network comprising a phase shifting circuit, wherein the phase shifting circuit comprises an arcuate portion with a first end portion providing a first outlet, a second end portion spaced apart from the first end portion and providing a second outlet, and a wiper arm printed circuit board pivotably coupled to and residing in front of the arcuate portion of the phase shifting circuit;
- and
- at least one radiating element that projects forward of the printed circuit board and is coupled to the feed network,
- 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.
An antenna comprising:
- at least one feed board having a front surface comprising at least one phase shifting circuit and at least part of a feed network, wherein the at least one phase shifting circuit comprises:
- first and second arcuate portions on the front surface that extend in a longitudinal direction and project laterally outward;
- a first wiper arm printed circuit board in front of the at least one feed board, pivotably coupled to the first arcuate portion;
- a second wiper arm printed circuit board that resides in front of the at least one feed board, pivotably coupled to the second arcuate portion;
- and
- a plurality of radiating elements projecting forward of the at least one feed board,
- wherein an inner end portion of the first wiper arm printed circuit board is adjacent an inner end portion of the second wiper arm printed circuit board.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.