# US 2023/0053624 A1 · Remote electronic tilt base station antennas having adjustable ret linkages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0053624 A1 - Document ID: US20230053624A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/045,559 - Filed: 2022-10-11 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-12 - Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC - Applicants: CommScope Technologies LLC - Inventors: Sean Gregory Thomas; Chongli Yang; Guomin Ding; Junfeng Yu; Zhaohui Liu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053624A1 ## CPC - H01Q 3/32: by mechanical means - H01Q 1/246: {specially adapted for base stations} - H01Q 5/48: Combinations of two or more dipole type antennas - H01Q 9/285: {Planar dipole (H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407)} - H01Q 25/001: {Crossed polarisation dual antennas (orthomode horns H01Q13/0258; cross-polarised rear feeds H01Q19/136; orthomode transducers H01P1/161)} - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) ## Abstract A base station antenna includes a remote electronic tilt (“RET”) actuator, a phase shifter having a moveable element and a mechanical linkage extending between the RET actuator and the phase shifter. The mechanical linkage includes an adjustable RET linkage that has a first link that has a first connection element, a second link that has a second connection element and a connecting member that includes at least a third link. The adjustable RET linkage includes at least a first hinge and a second hinge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A base station antenna, comprising: a remote electronic tilt (“RET”) actuator; a phase shifter having a moveable element; and a mechanical linkage extending between the RET actuator and the phase shifter, the mechanical linkage including a first RET rod, a second RET rod and an adjustable RET linkage that connects the first RET rod to the second RET rod, the adjustable RET linkage including a first connection element that connects to the first RET rod and a second connection element that connects to the second RET rod, wherein the adjustable RET linkage is configured so that a distance between the first connection element and the second connection element is adjustable, wherein the adjustable RET linkage comprises a multi-part RET linkage that includes a first piece that includes the first connection element, a second piece that includes the second connection element, and a third piece that connects the first piece to the second piece, wherein dimensions of the third piece are selected based at least in part on a distance between the first RET rod and the second RET rod in at least one of a width direction and a depth direction of the base station antenna. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second pieces are plastic pieces and the third piece is a metal piece or a plastic piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the third piece is formed of stamped sheet metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the third piece has mating features on opposed ends thereof that are configured to mate with corresponding mating features on the respective first and second pieces. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the third piece is connected to the first piece by a snap-fit or snap-in connection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second pieces have the same configuration and size. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The base station antenna of claim 1, wherein the first and second pieces have a different configuration and/or size. ### Claim 8 A base station antenna, comprising: a remote electronic tilt (“RET”) actuator; a phase shifter having a moveable element; and a mechanical linkage extending between the RET actuator and the phase shifter, the mechanical linkage including a first RET rod, a second RET rod and a multi-piece RET linkage that includes a first piece that is mounted on the first RET rod, a second piece that is mounted on the second RET rod, and a third piece that is directly connected to the first piece, wherein the dimensions of the third piece are selected based at least in part on a distance between the first RET rod and the second RET rod in at least one of a width direction and a depth direction of the base station antenna. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The base station antenna of claim 8, wherein the third piece is also directly connected to the second piece at a location that is spaced apart from the first piece. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The base station antenna of claim 8, wherein the third piece is indirectly connected to the second piece. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The base station antenna of claim 8, wherein the first and second pieces are plastic pieces and the third piece is a metal piece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The base station antenna of claim 8, wherein the third piece is formed of stamped sheet metal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The base station antenna of claim 12, wherein the third piece has mating features on opposed ends thereof that are configured to mate with corresponding mating features on the respective first and second pieces. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The base station antenna of claim 13, wherein the third piece is connected to the first piece by a snap-fit or snap-in connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The base station antenna of claim 8, wherein the first and second pieces are plastic pieces. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The base station antenna of claim 15, wherein the third piece is also a plastic piece. ### Claim 17 A base station antenna, comprising: a remote electronic tilt (“RET”) actuator; a phase shifter having a moveable element; and a mechanical linkage extending between the RET actuator and the phase shifter, the mechanical linkage including a first RET rod, a second RET rod and a multi-piece RET linkage that includes a first piece that is mounted on the first RET rod, and a second piece that is mounted on the second RET rod, wherein the mechanical linkage further comprises a connecting member that couples to the first and second pieces and is provided in a plurality of different width and/or depth dimensions to accommodate different distances between the first RET rod and the second RET rod for different base station antenna configurations, wherein the connecting member is configured to directly connect to the first piece. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The base station antenna of claim 17, wherein the connecting member has mating features on opposed ends thereof that are configured to mate with corresponding mating features on the respective first and second pieces. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The base station antenna of claim 17, wherein the connecting member is connected to the first piece by a snap-fit or snap-in connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The base station antenna of claim 17, wherein the first and second pieces are plastic pieces.