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US 8,558,739 B2Granted
Antenna control system
AssigneeAndrew Corporation
InventorsWilliam Emil Heinz, Mathias Martin Ernest Ehlen
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAndrew Corporation
InventorsWilliam Emil Heinz, Mathias Martin Ernest Ehlen
Estimating the term…
An antenna control system enabling the remote variation of antenna beam tilt. A drive means continuously adjusts phase shifters of a feed distribution network to radiating elements to continuously vary antenna beam tilt. A controller enables the beam tilt of a number of antenna at a site to be remotely varied.
An antenna control system for a land-based mobile radio system comprising:
An antenna control system for controlling a plurality of antennas comprising:
An antenna control system for controlling a plurality of antennas located on a tower, each antenna having a position, said antenna control system comprising:
A method of positioning a down-tilt antenna in an antenna control system used in land-based mobile communications, said antenna control system including a main controller, an antenna controller, an antenna motor driver assembly, and a sensor, said method comprising:
A method of performing a system check on a tilt antenna control system having a main controller, a plurality of antenna controllers, and a user interface, said method comprising:
An antenna control system comprising:
An antenna control system comprising:
An antenna control system comprising:
An antenna control system comprising:
An antenna control system comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
The present invention relates to an antenna control system for varying the beam tilt of one or more antenna. More particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to a drive system for use in an antenna which incorporates one or more phase shifter.
In order to produce downtilt in the beam produced by an antenna array (for example a panel antenna) it is possible to either mechanically tilt the panel antenna or electrically steer the beam radiated from the panel antenna according to techniques known in the art.
Panel antennas, such as those to which the present application is concerned, are often located on the sides of buildings or similar structures. Mechanical tilting of the antenna away from the side of the building increases the susceptibility of the installation to wind induced vibration and can impact on the visual environment in situations where significant amounts of downtilt are required.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1: shows a panel antenna incorporating a phase shifter drive mechanism according to a first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2: illustrates a primary phase shifter incorporating a gear rack.
Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown the back side of a panel antenna 4 having a first phase shifter 1, a second phase shifter 2, a third phase shifter 3 and a phase shifter drive mechanism 5. Feed line 6 is connected to input 7 of phase shifter 1. A first portion 8 of phase shifter 1 is moveable relative to a second portion 9 of phase shifter 1.
Output signals from phase shifter 1 are supplied via lines 10 and 11 to inputs 12 and 13 of phase shifters 2 and 3 respectively. Feed lines 10 and 11 comprise coaxial push rods which serve the functions both of feeding signals from the outputs of phase shifter 1 to phase shifters 2 and 3 and moving first portions 14 and 15 of phase shifters 2 and 3 relative to second portion 16 and 17 of phase shifters 2 and 3 respectively.
Signals output from phase shifters 2 and 3 are supplied via coaxial lines 18, 19, 20 and 21 to be fed to respective radiating elements (not shown).
Arrays of individually energised antenna units similarly polarised and spaced apart: the units being spaced along or adjacent to a rectilinear path
Supports; Mounting means: means for positioning
Used in mobile communications, e.g. GSM: specially adapted for base stations
Arrangements for changing or varying the orientation or the shape of the directional pattern of the waves radiated from an antenna or antenna…
Term ended 26 Apr 2025 (estimated)