Base station antennas having radiating elements with active and/or cloaked directors for increased directivity

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a reflector;
• a first linear array of lower-band radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector, the lower-band radiating elements configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (“RF”) signals in a first frequency band;
• and
• a second linear array of higher-band radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector, the higher-band radiating elements configured to transmit and receive RF signals in a second frequency band that is at higher frequencies than the first frequency band,
• wherein a first of the lower-band radiating elements includes first and second dipole radiators and a director mounted forwardly of the first and second dipole radiators, wherein both the first and second dipole radiators and the director are cloaked using resonant circuits to reduce or eliminate scattering of RF energy emitted by the higher-band radiating elements,
• wherein the first of the lower-band radiating elements comprises a feed stalk, and the first and second dipole radiators comprise a −45° polarization dipole radiator and a +45° polarization dipole radiator that form a cross-dipole radiator that is mounted on the feed stalk,
• wherein the feed stalk extends through a central portion of the cross-dipole radiator, and the director is mounted on the feed stalk.

A base station antenna, comprising:

• a reflector;
• a first column of lower-band radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector, the lower-band radiating elements configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (“RF”) signals in a first frequency band;
• a second column of lower-band radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector;
• a third column of higher-band radiating elements mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector, the higher-band radiating elements configured to transmit and receive RF signals in a second frequency band that is at higher frequencies than the first frequency band;
• a first RF port;
• and
• a second RF port,
• wherein the lower-band radiating elements in the first column and at least a first additional lower-band radiating element form a first array of lower-band radiating elements, each of the lower-band radiating elements in the first array of lower-band radiating elements coupled to the first RF port, and
• wherein the lower-band radiating elements in the second column and at least a second additional lower-band radiating element form a second array of lower-band radiating elements, each of the lower-band radiating elements in the second array of lower-band radiating elements coupled to the second RF port,
• wherein a first of the lower-band radiating elements includes first and second dipole radiators and a director mounted forwardly of the first and second dipole radiators, wherein both the first and second dipole radiators and the director are cloaked using resonant circuits to reduce or eliminate scattering of RF energy emitted by the higher-band radiating elements.