Electrically variable beam tilt antenna
AssigneeAndrew Corporation
InventorsPeter Mailandt, Tan Huynh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An antenna assembly having an operating frequency and a vertical radiation pattern with a main lobe axis defining a downtilt angle with respect to the earth's surface. The antenna assembly comprises a plurality of antennas in first, second, and third antenna groups physically disposed along a backplane, the backplane having a longitudinal axis along which the antennas are disposed, and a phase adjustment mechanism disposed electrically connected between the second first and third antenna groups, such that adjustment of the phase adjustment mechanism results in variation of the vertical radiation pattern downtilt angle.
Claims56
An A base station array antenna assembly having an operating frequency and a vertical radiation pattern with a main lobe axis defining a downtilt angle with respect to the earth's surface, the antenna assembly comprising:
- a plurality of antenna means in first, second, and third antenna groups physically disposed along a backplane, the backplane having a longitudinal axis along which the antenna means are disposed;
- differential phase adjustment means disposed electrically connected on a path of transmission line means between the second first and third antenna groups configured to simultaneously advance a phase angle of a signal to one of said second first and third antenna groups and delay the phase angle of said signal to the other of said second first and third antenna groups;
- such that adjustment of the phase adjustment means results in variation of the vertical radiation pattern downtilt angle between a first fixed position and a second fixed position;
- said differential phase adjustment means including coupling means arcuately moveable along an arcuate section of said transmission line means to cause said simultaneous advance of a phase angle of a signal to one of said first and third antenna groups and a delay of the phase angle of said signal to the other of said first and third antenna groups.
An A base station array antenna assembly having an operating frequency and a vertical radiation pattern with a main lobe axis defining a downtilt angle with respect to the earth's surface, the antenna assembly comprising:
- a plurality of antennas in first, second, and third antenna groups physically disposed along a backplane, the backplane having a longitudinal axis along which the antennas are disposed;
- a phase adjustment mechanism disposed electrically connected between the second first and third antenna groups, the phase adjustment mechanism including:
- an input coupling element;
- a movable coupling section having a pivotally mounted first end electromagnetically coupled to the input coupling element;
- and
- a semicircular, air-substrated transmission line section electromagnetically coupled to a second end of the movable coupling section;
- such that pivotal position adjustment of the phase adjustment mechanism results in variation of the vertical radiation pattern downtilt angle between a first fixed position and a second fixed position.
An A base station array antenna assembly having an operating frequency and a vertical radiation pattern with a main lobe axis defining a downtilt angle with respect to the earth's surface, the antenna assembly comprising:
- a plurality of antennas in first, second, and third antenna groups physically disposed along a backplane, the backplane having a longitudinal axis along which the antennas are disposed;
- a phase adjustment mechanism disposed electrically connected between the second first and third antenna groups, the phase adjustment mechanism including:
- an input coupling element;
- a movable coupling section having a pivotally mounted first end electromagnetically coupled to the input coupling element;
- and
- a semicircular, air-substrated transmission line section electromagnetically coupled to a second end of the movable coupling section;
- the phase adjustment mechanism having a range of adjustment including a minimum downtilt position, a mid-point, and a maximum downtilt position;
- a drive mechanism coupled to the movable coupling section;
- electrical path lengths at the operating frequency, from the input coupling element to each of the antennas, are selected to define a progressive phase shift between each of the antennas such that, with the phase adjustment mechanism set at its mid-point, the vertical radiation pattern downtilt angle is approximately 7 degrees;
- such that adjustment of the phase adjustment mechanism results in variation of the vertical radiation pattern downtilt angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.