Base station antenna for dual polarization

A dual polarized antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals comprising:

• a backplane having a length and a vertical axis along said length;
• a plurality of dipole radiating elements projecting outwardly from a surface of said backplane, each of said elements including a balanced orthogonal pair of dual polarized dipoles aligned at first and second predetermined angles with respect to said vertical axis, forming crossed dipole pairs;
• and
• a member extending along a longitudinal edge of said backplane and having an elongated diffracting edge disposed between said backplane and a top of said radiating elements for increasing the azimuthal beamwidth.

A method for providing improved isolation for an array of radiating elements comprising the steps of:

• providing a backplane having a length and a vertical axis along said length;
• providing a plurality of dipole radiating elements projecting outwardly from a surface of said backplane, each of said elements including a balanced orthogonal pair of dual polarized dipoles aligned at first and second predetermined angles with respect to said vertical axis, forming crossed dipole pairs;
• providing an unbalanced feed network extending along said backplane;
• connecting said unbalanced feed network to said radiating elements;
• providing a plurality of printed circuit board baluns;
• and
• attaching one of said printed circuit board baluns to each of said dipoles.

A method for providing improved isolation for an array of radiating elements comprising the steps of:

• providing a backplane having a length and a vertical axis along said length;
• providing a plurality of dipole radiating elements projecting outwardly from a surface of said backplane, each of said elements including orthogonal pairs of dual polarized dipoles aligned at first and second predetermined angles with respect to said vertical axis, forming crossed dipole pairs;
• and
• providing a member extending along a longitudinal edge of said backplane and having an elongated diffracting edge disposed between said backplane and a top of said radiating elements for increasing the azimuthal beamwidth.

A dual polarized antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals comprising:

• a backplane having a top side, a length and a vertical axis along said length;
• an unbalanced feed network attached to said backplane;
• a plurality of dipole radiating elements projecting outwardly from a surface of said backplane, each of said elements including orthogonal pairs of dual polarized dipoles aligned at first and second predetermined angles with respect to said vertical axis, forming crossed dipole pairs;
• and
• a plate with apertures, said plate displaced above said top side of said backplane for improving isolation and cross polarization, primary electromagnetic fields induce currents on said plate, said induced currents re-radiate secondary electromagnetic fields which cancel portions of said primary electromagnetic fields.

A dual polarized antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals comprising:

• a backplane having a length and a vertical axis along said length;
• a plurality of dipole radiating elements projecting outwardly from a surface of said backplane, each of said elements including a balanced orthogonal pair of dual polarized dipoles aligned at first and second predetermined angles with respect to said vertical axis, forming crossed dipole pairs, each of said dipole pairs being formed from metal plates attached to said backplane so said plates are generally orthogonal to said surface of said backplane;
• an unbalanced feed network extending along said backplane and connected to said radiating elements;
• and
• a plurality of printed circuit board baluns, one of said baluns being bonded to each of said dipoles.