Feeding structure for a dual polarized radiator

A feeding structure for a dual polarized radiator, particularly for a base station antenna, the feeding structure comprising:

• a first conductive plane and a second conductive plane;
• the first conductive plane comprising a first pair of balanced conductor elements and a second pair of balanced conductor elements;
• wherein the first pair of balanced conductor elements provides a balanced output and is adapted to being connected to a first radiator of a dual polarized radiator with a first radiator connection end;
• and
• wherein the second pair of balanced conductor elements provides a balanced output and is adapted to being connected to a second radiator of the dual polarized radiator with a second radiator connection end;
• the second conductive plane, comprising a first unbalanced conductor element and a second unbalanced conductor element;
• each one of the unbalanced conductor elements having a first branch and a second branch, the second branch being conductively connected to the respective first branch at a feeding point of the feeding structure;
• wherein the first branches are input branches, being adapted to being conductively connected to a respective unbalanced signal input line;
• the first branch of the first unbalanced conductor element is assigned to a first balanced conductor element of the first pair of balanced conductor elements and the second branch of the first unbalanced conductor element is assigned to a second balanced conductor element of the first pair of balanced conductor elements, so as to form a first Marchand balun assigned to the first pair of balanced conductor elements;
• and
• wherein the first branch of the second unbalanced conductor element is assigned to a first balanced conductor element of the second pair of balanced conductor elements and the second branch of the second unbalanced conductor element is assigned to a second balanced conductor element of the second pair of balanced conductor elements, so as to form a second Marchand balun assigned to the second pair of balanced conductor elements;
• wherein a slot is formed between the first pair of balanced conductor elements and the second pair of balanced conductor elements, the slot extending from the first and/or second radiator connection end for separating the first and second pairs of balanced conductor elements at least along a portion of the length of the balanced conductor elements.