Advanced antenna architecture with low pim

Abstract

Embodiments of an Antenna and Filter Unit (AFU) for an Advanced Antenna System (AAS) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an AFU for an AAS comprises a first unit and a second unit. The first unit comprises a 1:N power splitter comprising an input coupled, directly or indirectly, to an antenna port of the AFU and N outputs, where N≥2. The first unit also comprises N first board-to-board type connectors electrically connected to the N outputs of the 1:N power splitter, respectively. The second unit comprises N second board-to-board type connectors configured to be electrically coupled to the N first board-to-board type connectors, respectively, and N antenna elements coupled, directly or indirectly, to the N second board-to-board connectors, respectively. By positioning the 1:N power splitter prior to the N first and N second board-to-board type connectors, input power at each of the board-to-board type connectors is reduced, which thereby reduces Passive Intermodulation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.