Reflector for a mobile radio antenna

#The technology herein relates to a reflector, in particular for a mobile radio antenna.

#Mobile radio antennas for mobile radio base stations are normally constructed such that two or more antenna element arrangements, which are located one above the other, are provided in the vertical direction in front of a reflector plane. These antenna element arrangements are formed, for example, from dipoles or patch antenna elements. These may be antenna element arrangements which can transmit and/or transmit and receive at the same time. They can operate only in one polarization or, for example, in two mutually perpendicular polarizations. The entire antenna arrangement may be designed for transmission in one band or in two or more frequency bands by using, for example, two or more antenna elements and antenna element groups which are suitable for the various frequency bands.

#Depending on the requirements, mobile radio antennas are generally used which have different length variants. The length variants often depend, inter alia, on the number of individual antenna elements or antenna element groups to be provided. Identical or similar antenna element arrangements are generally arranged repeatedly one above the other in such arrangements.

#These and other features and advantages will be better and more completely understood by referring to the following detailed description of exemplary non-limiting illustrative implementations in conjunction with the drawings, of which:

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an exemplary illustrative non-limiting reflector comprising two reflector modules which are arranged vertically one above the other;

#FIG. 2 shows a perspective illustration of two exemplary illustrative non-limiting reflector modules, which are arranged in the vertical direction with respect to one another, before being joined together;

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an exemplary illustrative non-limiting reflector 1 which, in the illustrated exemplary arrangement, is formed from two reflector modules 3 whose end faces are joined together and in each of which four antenna element arrangements 2 are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction. The illustrated antenna element modules are, from the electrical point of view, modules in the form of cruciform antenna elements which radiate (e.g., can transmit and receive) two mutually perpendicular polarizations. These are preferably antenna elements arranged in an X-shape, in which the polarization planes are aligned at angles of plus 45° to minus 45° with respect to the horizontal and vertical. This specifically illustrated and indicated type of antenna element is known for example, from the prior application WO 00/39894. To this extent, reference is made to this prior application, which is included in the content of the present application. However, any other desired antenna element arrangements, for example in the form of dipole squares, cruciform antenna elements, single-polarized dipole antenna elements or other antenna elements or antenna element devices, including patch antenna elements, may also be used.

#As can also be seen in particular from the perspective illustration in FIG. 2, each reflector module has in each case two longitudinal face boundaries 5 and two end-face transverse face boundaries 7, which are formed in a manner of a reflector boundary wall or boundary web, boundary flange etc., and project transversely with respect to the plane of the reflector 1, preferably at right angles to the plane of the reflector plate. The height above the plane 1′ of the reflector 1 may in this case be modified, and differ within wide ranges, depending on the desired characteristic polar diagram properties of an antenna constructed in this way.

#The reflector modules 3 are, for example, made using a metal die-casting method, using an injection-molding method for example in the form of a plastic injection-molding method, in which the plastic is then coated on at least one face, preferably all the way round, at least with a conductive metalized surface. However, in principle, it would also be possible to use reflector parts which may have been produced using a deep-drawing or thermoforming method, a stamping method, using a so-called tixo casting method, or else, for example, by means of a milling method. In places, the following text also speaks of a master gauge method, although this term does not cover all the production methods mentioned above.