Antenna assembly and base station antenna having the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising: a first interface for receiving a first RF signal; a second interface for receiving a second RF signal; an antenna array including a first array and a second array extending vertically, a plurality of radiating elements in the first array being electrically connected to the first interface respectively, and a plurality of radiating elements in the second array being electrically connected to the second interface respectively, wherein the first array includes a first radiating element and a second radiating element, the second array includes a third radiating element and a fourth radiating element, wherein the second radiating element is electrically connected to the second interface, and / or the fourth radiating element is electrically connected to the first interface; and a power coupling circuit for feeding a first sub-component of the first RF signal and a first sub-component of the second RF signal to the first radiating element and / or the third radiating element in a power-reduced coupling manner. In addition, the present invention also relates to a related base station antenna.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of radio communication, and more particularly, to an antenna assembly and a base station antenna having the antenna assembly. Background Art

[0002] Cellular communication systems are well known in the art. In a cellular communication system, a geographical area is divided into a series of areas, which are referred to as "cells" served by respective base stations. A base station may include one or more base station antennas configured to provide two-way radio frequency ("RF") communication with mobile subscribers within the cell served by the base station.

[0003] In many cases, each base station is divided into respective "sectors". In the most common configuration, a hexagonal cell is divided into three 120° sectors, each sector being served by one or more base station antennas having an azimuthal half-power beamwidth (HPBW) of approximately 65°. Typically, the base station antennas are mounted on a tower structure, where the radiation pattern (also referred to herein as the "antenna beam") generated by the base station antennas points outward. Base station antennas are typically implemented as linear or planar phased arrays of radiating elements.

[0004] To accommodate the increasing cellular traffic, cellular operators have added cellular services in various new frequency bands. While in some cases it is possible to use a linear array of so-called "broadband" or "ultra-wideband" radiating elements to provide service in multiple frequency bands, in other cases, linear arrays or planar arrays of different radiating elements are required to support services in different frequency bands.

[0005] As the number of frequency bands increases, sectorization has become more and more common (e.g., dividing a cell into six, nine, or even twelve sectors), and the number of base station antennas deployed at a typical base station has increased significantly. However, due to local zoning regulations and / or the weight and wind load limitations of the antenna tower, there are often limitations on the number of base station antennas that can be deployed at a given base station. To increase capacity without further increasing the number of base station antennas, so-called multi-band base station antennas have been introduced, in which multiple linear arrays of radiating elements are included in a single antenna. A very common multi-band base station antenna includes one linear array of "low-band" radiating elements for providing service in some or all of the 617 - 960 MHz frequency band, and two linear arrays of "high-band" radiating elements for providing service in some or all of the 1427 - 2690 MHz frequency band. These linear arrays of low-band and high-band radiating elements are typically mounted side by side.

[0006] There is also a great deal of interest in base station antennas that can include two linear arrays of low-band radiation elements and two (or four) linear arrays of high-band radiation elements. These antennas can be used in various applications, including 4x4 multiple-input multiple-output ("MIMO") applications, or as multi-band antennas with two different low bands (e.g., a 700 MHz low-band linear array and an 800 MHz low-band linear array) and two different high bands (e.g., an 1800 MHz high-band linear array and a 2100 MHz high-band linear array). However, it is challenging to implement such an antenna in a commercially acceptable manner because achieving a roughly 65° azimuth HPBW antenna beam in the low band typically requires a low-band radiation element that is at least 200 mm wide. However, when two arrays of low-band radiation elements are placed side by side with a high-band linear array therebetween, a base station antenna with a width D of approximately 500 mm (in Figure 1 in the H direction) may be required. Such a large antenna may have a very high wind load, may be very heavy, and / or may be expensive to manufacture. Operators prefer base station antennas with a width D of approximately 430 mm or less (e.g., 400 mm, 380 mm). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide an antenna assembly and a base station antenna having such an antenna assembly, wherein the antenna assembly can achieve a narrow half-power beam width and a high antenna gain.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising:

[0009] a first interface for receiving a first RF signal;

[0010] a second interface for receiving a second RF signal;

[0011] an antenna array comprising a first array and a second array extending vertically, a plurality of radiation elements in the first array being electrically connected to the first interface respectively, and a plurality of radiation elements in the second array being electrically connected to the second interface respectively, wherein the first array comprises a first radiation element and a second radiation element, the second array comprises a third radiation element and a fourth radiation element, wherein the second radiation element is electrically connected to the second interface, and / or the fourth radiation element is electrically connected to the first interface; and

[0012] a power coupling circuit for feeding a first sub-component of the first RF signal and a first sub-component of the second RF signal to the first radiation element and / or the third radiation element in a power-reducing coupling manner.

[0013] In some embodiments, the second radiation element and the fourth radiation element are electrically connected to one of the first interface and the second interface respectively.

[0014] In some embodiments, the second radiation element and the fourth radiation element are electrically connected to both the first interface and the second interface.

[0015] In some embodiments, the power coupling circuit includes: a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. Wherein, the first input terminal is electrically connected to the first interface for receiving the first sub-component (S1) of the first RF signal, the second input terminal is electrically connected to the second interface for receiving the first sub-component (S2) of the second RF signal, the first output terminal is electrically connected to the first radiation element for feeding the first output signal (S1*) to the first radiation element, and the second output terminal is electrically connected to the third radiation element for feeding the second output signal (S2*) to the third radiation element.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first output signal (S1*) is generated by the first sub-component (S1) of the first RF signal and the first sub-component (S2) of the second RF signal in a power-reducing coupling manner as follows:

[0017] S1* = (k1)S1 + (k2)S2,

[0018] Wherein, k1 is the first power conversion coefficient; k2 is the second power conversion coefficient, and 0.7 ≤ k1 ≤ 0.90; 0.005 ≤ k2 ≤ 0.025; and

[0019] The second output signal (S2*) is generated by the first sub-component (S2) of the second RF signal and the first sub-component (S1) of the first RF signal in a power-reducing coupling manner as follows:

[0020] S2* = (k3)S2 + (k4)S1,

[0021] Wherein, k3 is the third power conversion coefficient; k4 is the fourth power conversion coefficient, and 0.7 ≤ k3 ≤ 0.90; 0.0026 ≤ k4 ≤ 0.027.

[0022] In some embodiments, the antenna assembly includes a reflector, on which the antenna array is mounted, and the width of the reflector ≤ 430 mm.

[0023] In some embodiments, the first array includes one or more fifth radiation elements, the fifth radiation element is electrically connected to the first interface, and / or the second array includes one or more sixth radiation elements, the sixth radiation element is electrically connected to the second interface.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first radiation element and the third radiation element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

[0025] In some embodiments, the first radiation element is arranged in the middle region of the first array, and the third radiation element is arranged in the middle region of the second array.

[0026] In some embodiments, the second radiation element and the fourth radiation element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

[0027] In some embodiments, the second radiation element is arranged in the end region of the first array, and the fourth radiation element is arranged in the end region of the second array.

[0028] In some embodiments, only one power coupling circuit is provided for the first array and the second array.

[0029] In some embodiments, the first sub-component of the first RF signal occupies the largest share of the first RF signal, and / or the first sub-component of the second RF signal occupies the largest share of the second RF signal.

[0030] In some embodiments, a plurality of radiation elements in the first array and the fourth radiation element in the second array form an L-shaped topology, and / or a plurality of radiation elements in the second array and the second radiation element in the first array form an L-shaped topology.

[0031] In some embodiments, the antenna assembly includes a power distribution network and / or a phase shifter network, and the first interface and the second interface are electrically connected to the corresponding radiation elements via the power distribution network and / or the phase shifter network respectively.

[0032] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising:

[0033] A first interface for receiving a first RF signal;

[0034] A second interface for receiving a second RF signal;

[0035] A reflector and an antenna array mounted on the reflector 1, the antenna array comprising a vertically extending first array and a second array, wherein a plurality of radiation elements in the first array are electrically connected to the first interface respectively, and a plurality of radiation elements in the second array are electrically connected to the second interface respectively, wherein the first array includes a first radiation element and a second radiation element, the second array includes a third radiation element and a fourth radiation element, wherein the second radiation element is electrically connected to the second interface, and / or the fourth radiation element is electrically connected to the first interface; and

[0036] Only one power coupling circuit provided for the first array and the second array, the power distribution circuit being configured to feed a first sub-component of a first RF signal and a first sub-component of a second RF signal to the first radiating element and / or the third radiating element in a power-reducing coupling manner.

[0037] In some embodiments, only one second radiating element in the first array is electrically connected to the second interface, and / or only one fourth radiating element in the second array is electrically connected to the first interface.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first radiating element and the third radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

[0039] In some embodiments, the first radiating element is arranged in the middle region of the first array, and the third radiating element is arranged in the middle region of the second array.

[0040] In some embodiments, the second radiating element and the fourth radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

[0041] In some embodiments, the second radiating element is arranged in the end region of the first array, and the fourth radiating element is arranged in the end region of the second array.

[0042] In some embodiments, the first sub-component of the first RF signal occupies the largest share of the first RF signal, and / or the first sub-component of the second RF signal occupies the largest share of the second RF signal.

[0043] In some embodiments, a plurality of radiating elements in the first array respectively form an L-shaped topology with the fourth radiating element in the second array, and / or a plurality of radiating elements in the second array respectively form an L-shaped topology with the second radiating element in the first array.

[0044] In some embodiments, the width of the reflector 1 ≤ 430, 400, 380, 360, 300 mm.

[0045] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an antenna assembly, the antenna assembly comprising:

[0046] A first interface for receiving a first RF signal;

[0047] A second interface for receiving a second RF signal;

[0048] An antenna array comprising a first array and a second array extending vertically, a plurality of radiating elements in the first array being electrically connected to the first interface respectively, and a plurality of radiating elements in the second array being electrically connected to the second interface respectively, wherein the first array includes a first radiating element and the second array includes a third radiating element;

[0049] A power coupling circuit for feeding a first sub-component of a first RF signal and a first sub-component of a second RF signal to a first radiating element and / or a third radiating element in the first array in a power-reducing coupling manner;

[0050] The antenna array further includes a seventh radiating element, which is arranged at a staggered position with respect to the first array and the second array in the horizontal direction, and the seventh radiating element is electrically connected not only to the first interface but also to the second interface.

[0051] In some embodiments, the first radiating element and the third radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

[0052] In some embodiments, the first radiating element is arranged in the middle area of the first array, and the third radiating element is arranged in the middle area of the second array.

[0053] In some embodiments, the seventh radiating element is arranged between the first array and the second array in the horizontal direction.

[0054] In some embodiments, the first sub-component of the first RF signal occupies the largest share of the first RF signal, and / or the first sub-component of the second RF signal occupies the largest share of the second RF signal.

[0055] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base station antenna, characterized in that the base station antenna includes the antenna assembly according to any one of the above embodiments of the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0056] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by means of specific embodiments. The schematic drawings are briefly described as follows:

[0057] Figure 1 A schematic front view showing an antenna assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 2 Is a schematic circuit block diagram of a base station antenna including an antenna assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 3 Is Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the power coupling circuit of the antenna assembly in

[0060] Figure 4 Is Figure 2 A simplified schematic diagram of the antenna assembly of

[0061] Figure 5 Is Figure 2 A graph of the azimuth beamwidth distribution of the base station antenna of

[0062] Figure 6 is a simplified schematic diagram of an antenna assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 7 is a schematic circuit block diagram of a base station antenna including an antenna assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 8 is Figure 7 a simplified schematic diagram of the antenna assembly of;

[0065] Figure 9 is a simplified schematic diagram of an antenna assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 10 is a simplified schematic diagram of an antenna assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 11 is a simplified schematic diagram of an antenna assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Embodiments

[0068] The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments of the present invention are shown. However, it should be understood that the present invention can be presented in many different ways and is not limited to the embodiments described below; in fact, the embodiments described below are intended to make the disclosure of the present invention more complete and fully explain the scope of protection of the present invention to those skilled in the art. It should also be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide more additional embodiments.

[0069] It should be understood that in all the drawings, the same reference numerals represent the same elements. In the drawings, for clarity, the dimensions of some features may be distorted.

[0070] It should be understood that the terminology in the specification is only used to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. All terms used in the specification (including technical terms and scientific terms) have the meaning commonly understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. For the sake of brevity and / or clarity, well-known functions or structures may not be described in detail.

[0071] As used in the specification, the singular forms "a", "the", and "said" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "comprising", "including", and "having" as used in the specification mean the inclusion of the stated features but do not preclude the presence of one or more other features. The term "and / or" as used in the specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The phrases "between X and Y" and "between approximately X and Y" as used in the specification shall be construed to include X and Y. The phrase "between approximately X and Y" as used in the specification means "between approximately X and approximately Y", and the phrase "from approximately X to Y" as used in the specification means "from approximately X to approximately Y".

[0072] In the specification, when an element is referred to as being "on", "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" to, or "in contact" with another element, etc., the element can be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or in contact with the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly" on, "directly attached" to, "directly connected" to, "directly coupled" to, or "directly in contact" with another element, no intervening elements will be present. In the specification, a feature being arranged "adjacent" to another feature can mean that the feature has an overlapping portion with the adjacent feature or a portion that is above or below the adjacent feature.

[0073] In the specification, spatial relationship terms such as "above", "below", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "high", "low", etc. can describe the relationship of one feature to another feature in the drawings. It should be understood that the spatial relationship terms include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the drawings. For example, when the device in the drawing is inverted, a feature that was originally described as "below" other features can then be described as "above" the other features. The device can also be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the relative spatial relationships will be interpreted accordingly at that time.

[0074] The antenna assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention can be applicable to various types of base station antennas, for example, it can be applicable to multi-band base station antennas or multiple-input multiple-output antennas.

[0075] Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0076] As Figure 1As shown, the antenna assembly 10 includes a reflector 1 and a plurality of radiating elements mounted on the reflector 1. The reflector 1 can be used as a ground plane structure for the radiating elements. The radiating elements are mounted to extend forward from the reflector 1 (along the forward direction F). The radiating elements can include a low-band radiating element and a high-band radiating element, and the low-band radiating element extends further forward than the high-band radiating element. The low-band radiating element can be configured to transmit and receive RF signals in a first frequency band, such as in the 617 - 960 MHz frequency range or a part thereof. The high-band radiating element can be configured to transmit and receive RF signals in a second frequency band, such as in the 1427 - 2690 MHz frequency range or a part thereof.

[0077] In Figure 1 the embodiment, the low-band radiating elements represented by large cross marks can be arranged in two vertical columns A1, A2 to form two vertically extending linear arrays of the low-band radiating elements. The high-band radiating elements represented by small cross marks can also be arranged in two vertical columns A3, A4 to form two vertically extending linear arrays of the high-band radiating elements. In other embodiments, more than two linear arrays of low-band radiating elements and / or high-band radiating elements can also be provided.

[0078] For clarity, the high-band radiating elements in Figure 1 i.e., arrays A3 and A4, are not shown in the following drawings. And to avoid repetition, the technical content described below can also be applicable to the high-band radiating elements and / or linear arrays of radiating elements of other frequency band types within the scope understood by those skilled in the art.

[0079] Figure 2 Fig. shows a schematic circuit block diagram of a base station antenna including an antenna assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Correspondingly, Figure 4 Fig. shows Figure 2 a simplified schematic diagram of the antenna assembly 10 in

[0080] As in Figure 2As shown, the transmitter TX is configured to generate an RF signal and feed it to the radiating elements in the antenna assembly 10. The transmitter TX may refer to an RF signal transmitting device inside the base station antenna, or may also refer to an RF signal transmitting device outside the base station antenna (such as an RRU). The transmitter TX may include a first transmitter TX1 and a second transmitter TX2. The first transmitter TX1 is used to generate a first RF signal. The second transmitter TX2 is used to generate a second RF signal. Correspondingly, the antenna assembly 10 may have a first interface 2 and a second interface 3. The first interface 2 may be electrically connected to the first transmitter TX1, for example, via a coaxial cable, to receive the first RF signal from the first transmitter TX1. The first RF signal is transmitted from the first interface 2 to the downstream power distribution network and / or phase shifter network φ1-φ5, and the phase shifter network can be controlled by the control circuits CX1-CX2. The received first RF signal is then divided into multiple sub-components in the power distribution network and / or phase shifter network, where some or all of the sub-components may undergo phase shifting in the phase shifter network. The multiple sub-components are respectively transmitted to the corresponding radiating elements downstream of the power distribution network and / or phase shifter network. Similarly, the second interface 3 may be electrically connected to the second transmitter TX2, for example, via a coaxial cable, to receive the second RF signal from the second transmitter TX2. The second RF signal is transmitted from the second interface 3 to the downstream power distribution network and / or phase shifter network. The received second RF signal may be divided into multiple sub-components in the power distribution network and / or phase shifter network, where some or all of the sub-components may undergo phase shifting in the phase shifter network. The multiple sub-components are respectively transmitted to the corresponding radiating elements downstream of the power distribution network and / or phase shifter network.

[0081] It should be understood that the antenna assembly 10 may have any number of interfaces. In some embodiments, the antenna assembly 10 may have only one interface electrically connected to the corresponding transmitter; in some embodiments, the antenna assembly 10 may have more than two interfaces, such as in the case of a multiple-input multiple-output antenna.

[0082] It should be understood that, as used herein, the term "electrically connected" may be a direct electrical connection or an indirect electrical connection. In the case of an indirect electrical connection, an intermediate circuit is connected between the two, such as a power distribution network, a phase shifter network, a filtering circuit, and / or other RF signal processing circuits, etc.

[0083] As Figure 2 shown, the antenna assembly 10 may include antenna arrays A1, A2, a power coupling circuit PD assigned to the antenna arrays A1, A2, and a power distribution network and / or phase shifter network. The antenna arrays include vertically extending, i.e., along Figure 1The first array A1 and the second array A2 extending in the V direction therein. The first array A1 and the second array A2 can operate in the same or different frequency bands to provide independent antenna beams. The first array A1 and the second array A2 can each include any number of radiating elements. In Figure 2 and 4 exemplarily include five radiating elements respectively.

[0084] See Figure 2 and 4 , the first array A1 includes the first radiating element 13, and the second array A2 includes the third radiating element 23. The power coupling circuit PD can be assigned to the first radiating element 13 and the third radiating element 23. The power coupling circuit PD can be arranged to feed a first sub-component of the first RF signal and a first sub-component of the second RF signal to the first radiating element 13 and / or the third radiating element 23 in a power-reduced coupling manner. Through the power coupling circuit PD, the first radiating element 13 is not only electrically connected to the first interface 2 and thereby receives a part of the first sub-component of the first RF signal, but also electrically connected to the second interface 3 and thereby receives a part of the first sub-component of the second RF signal; similarly, the third radiating element 23 is not only electrically connected to the second interface 3 and thereby receives a part of the first sub-component of the second RF signal, but also electrically connected to the first interface 2 and thereby receives a part of the first sub-component of the first RF signal.

[0085] As Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the power coupling circuit PD may include a first input terminal 4, a second input terminal 5, a first output terminal 6, and a second output terminal 7. The first input terminal 4 may be electrically connected to the first interface 2 via a corresponding power distribution network and / or phase shifter network and thereby receive a first sub-component of the first RF signal as the first input signal S1. The second input terminal 5 may be electrically connected to the second interface 3 via a corresponding power distribution network and / or phase shifter network and thereby receive a first sub-component of the second RF signal as the second input signal S2. The first output terminal 6 may be electrically connected to the first radiating element 13 and thereby deliver the first output signal S1* to the first radiating element 13. The second output terminal 7 may be electrically connected to the third radiating element 23 and thereby deliver the second output signal S2* to the third radiating element 23. Accordingly, the first output signal S1* may be generated from the first input signal S1 and the second input signal S2 in a power-reducing coupling manner as follows: S1* = (k1)S1+(k2)S2, where k1 is the first power conversion coefficient; k2 is the second power conversion coefficient, and where 0.7 ≤ k1 ≤ 0.90; 0.005 ≤ k2 ≤ 0.025. Similarly, the second output signal S2* is generated from the second input signal S2 and the first input signal S1 in a power-reducing coupling manner as follows: S2* = (k3)S2+(k4)S1, where k3 is the third power conversion coefficient; k4 is the fourth power conversion coefficient, and where 0.7 ≤ k3 ≤ 0.90; 0.0026 ≤ k4 ≤ 0.027.

[0086] Figure 3 shown Figure 2 schematic diagram of an embodiment of the power coupling circuit PD of the antenna assembly 10. As Figure 3 shown, the power coupling circuit PD includes two pairs of four-port cascaded directional couplers ((C11-C12), (C21-C22)), and the two pairs of four-port cascaded directional couplers may be cross-coupled to the single-port resistor terminals via R11, R12, R21, R22, so as to convert the first input signal S1 and the second input signal S2 into the first output signal S1* and the second output signal S2* in a power-reducing coupling manner.

[0087] In some embodiments, the directional couplers C11, C12, C21, and C22 may be configured as four-port directional couplers with equivalent characteristics (e.g., -10 dB couplers), where R11, R12, R21, and R22 may be 50 ohms. In such a power coupling circuit PD, if the directional couplers C11, C12, C21, and C22 are equivalent -10 dB couplers, then coupler C11 will transfer 90% of the energy associated with the first input signal S1 to the input of coupler C12 and will couple 10% of the energy associated with the first input signal S1 to coupler C22, where 90% of the coupled 10% signal will be transferred to ground (and lost) through the termination resistor R22 and 10% of the coupled 10% signal (i.e., 1% = 0.01 or -20 dB) will be provided to the output of C22 (as a signal component of S2*). Similarly, coupler C21 will transfer 90% of the energy associated with the second input signal S2 to the input of coupler C22 and will couple 10% of the energy associated with the second input signal S2 to coupler C12, where 90% of the coupled 10% signal will be transferred to ground (and lost) through the termination resistor R12 and 10% of the coupled 10% signal (i.e., 1%) will be provided to the output of C12 (as a component of S1*). In a similar manner, 90% of the 90% S1 signal received at the input of coupler C12 will be transferred as the main energy component of S1*, "(0.81)S1", and 90% of the 90% S2 signal received at the input of coupler C22 will be transferred as the main energy component of S2*, "(0.81)S2". In this case, S1* = (0.81)S1 + (0.01)S2; S2* = (0.81)S2 + (0.01)S1.

[0088] Through the above-described coupling method with power reduction, the power coupling circuit PD can effectively narrow the beam width of the antenna. In addition, the power coupling circuit PD can also narrow the beam width of the antenna to a finer degree. It goes without saying that k1 to k4 can be adjusted according to actual needs.

[0089] In some embodiments, the first sub-component of the first RF signal assigned to the first radiating element 13 may occupy the largest share of the first RF signal. Similarly, the first sub-component of the second RF signal assigned to the second radiating element 23 may occupy the largest share of the second RF signal. That is to say, the radiating element equipped with the power coupling circuit PD can be assigned the sub-component with the largest share of the RF signal. This is advantageous when a limited number of power coupling circuits PD, such as only one power coupling circuit PD, are arranged in the antenna assembly, because the limited number of power coupling circuits PD can narrow the beam width to meet the working requirements; in addition, reducing the number of power coupling circuits PD can also reduce the manufacturing cost of the antenna.

[0090] Figure 4 shows Figure 2 a simplified schematic diagram of the antenna assembly 10. As Figure 4 shown, the first radiating element 13 and the third radiating element 23 may be arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction H. The first radiating element 13 may be arranged in the middle area of the first array A1. The third radiating element 23 may be arranged in the middle area of the second array A2. In Figure 4 this embodiment, only one power coupling circuit PD is exemplarily shown, and this power coupling circuit PD is assigned to the first radiating element 13 and the third radiating element 23, and is shown with a dashed border here. In other embodiments, a plurality of power coupling circuits PD, such as two, three, or four power coupling circuits PD, may be assigned to the first array A1 and the second array A2 as needed. Correspondingly, there may also be a plurality of first radiating elements 13 and third radiating elements 23 in the first array A1 and the second array A2 respectively.

[0091] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 4 , the first array A1 may further include a second radiating element 15 and fifth radiating elements 11, 12, 14, and the second array A2 may further include a fourth radiating element 25 and sixth radiating elements 21, 22, 24. The second radiating element 15 and the fourth radiating element 25 may be arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction H. The second radiating element 15 may be arranged in the end area of the first array A1, such as the end. The fourth radiating element 25 may be arranged in the end area of the second array A2, such as the end.

[0092] In the first array A1, most of the radiating elements, namely the first radiating element and the fifth radiating elements 11, 12, 14, can be electrically connected to the first interface 2 via corresponding power distribution networks and / or phase shifter networks. However, the second radiating element 15 can be electrically connected to the second interface 3 via corresponding power distribution networks and / or phase shifter networks, so that the second radiating element 15 can receive the second sub-component of the second RF signal from the second interface 3. In the second array A2, most of the radiating elements, namely the second radiating element and the sixth radiating elements 21, 22, 24, can be electrically connected to the second interface 3 via corresponding power distribution networks and / or phase shifter networks. However, the fourth radiating element 25 can be electrically connected to the first interface 2 via corresponding power distribution networks and / or phase shifter networks, so that the fourth radiating element 25 can receive the second sub-component of the first RF signal from the first interface 2. This feeding method of the second radiating element 15 and the fourth radiating element 25 can be called staggered feeding.

[0093] Compared with the power coupling circuit PD, staggered feeding is more cost-effective, but it coarsely narrows the beam width of the antenna. Thus, in some cases, using only staggered feeding cannot narrow the beam width to meet the working requirements because the beam width may be overly narrowed or insufficiently narrowed. Therefore, in the present invention, the beam width of the base station antenna is narrowed by appropriately combining the power coupling circuit PD and staggered feeding. In this way, the beam width of the base station antenna 20, such as the -3dB bandwidth and / or the -10dB bandwidth, can be effectively narrowed in a cost-effective manner.

[0094] Figure 5 Show Figure 2 A graph showing the azimuth beam width distribution of the base station antenna 20, where the dashed curve represents the azimuth beam width distribution with only the staggered feeding method, and the solid curve represents the azimuth beam width distribution with the power coupling circuit and the staggered feeding method. It can be clearly seen from Figure 5 that by adopting the power coupling circuit PD and the staggered feeding method, the azimuth half-power beam width of the base station antenna 20, that is, the -3dB bandwidth, can be within the required numerical range (for example, about 65 degrees) within the operating frequency band. In addition, the -10dB bandwidth of the base station antenna 20 can be effectively narrowed, which can improve the sector power ratio of the antenna and thus improve the antenna gain.

[0095] Figure 6 Is a schematic diagram of the antenna assembly 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Different from the first embodiment in Figure 2 And Figure 4 The difference is that in Figure 6The antenna assembly 10 therein is provided with two second radiation elements 11, 15 and two fourth radiation elements 21, 25. Both of the two second radiation elements 11, 15 are electrically connected to the second interface 3. Among them, the first second radiation element 15 is arranged in the first end region of the first array A1, and the second second radiation element 11 is arranged in the second end region of the first array A1. Both of the two fourth radiation elements 21, 25 are electrically connected to the first interface 2. Among them, the first fourth radiation element 25 is arranged in the first end region of the second array A2, and the second fourth radiation element 21 is arranged in the second end region of the second array A2. In this way, the beam width of the antenna can be further narrowed.

[0096] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a base station antenna 20 including the antenna assembly 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Different from Figure 2 and Figure 4 in the first embodiment, in the Figure 7 antenna assembly 10 of the base station antenna 20 shown, both the second radiation element 15 and the fourth radiation element 25 are electrically connected to the first interface 2. Herein, both the second radiation element 15 and the fourth radiation element 25 can be electrically connected to the first interface 2 via corresponding power distribution networks and / or phase shift networks, so that the second radiation element 15 can receive a second sub-component of the first RF signal from the first interface 2, and the fourth radiation element 25 can receive a third sub-component of the first RF signal from the first interface 2. Figure 8 shows Figure 7 the block diagram of the antenna assembly 10. It can be clearly seen from Figure 8 that a plurality of radiation elements 11-15 in the first array A1 and the fourth radiation element 25 in the second array A2 form an L-shaped topology. Similarly, it is also possible that both the second radiation element 15 and the fourth radiation element 25 are electrically connected to the second interface 3. Correspondingly, a plurality of radiation elements 21-25 in the second array A2 can form an L-shaped topology with the second radiation element 15 in the first array A1. In this way, it is also possible to effectively narrow the beam width of the base station antenna 20, such as the -3dB bandwidth, and at the same time maintain a high antenna gain.

[0097] Figure 9 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the antenna assembly 10 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Different from Figure 8 shown in the third embodiment, in Figure 9The antenna assembly 10 therein is provided with two second radiation elements 11, 15 and two fourth radiation elements 21, 25. Among them, the first second radiation element 15 and the first fourth radiation element 25 are respectively located in the first end regions of the first array A1 and the second array A2 and are both electrically connected to the first interface 2, while the second second radiation element 11 and the second fourth radiation element 21 are respectively located in the second end regions of the first array A1 and the second array A2 and are both electrically connected to the second interface 3. It can be clearly seen from Figure 9 that among them, a plurality of radiation elements 12-15 in the first array A1 and the fourth radiation element 25 in the second array A2 form an L-shaped topology, and a plurality of radiation elements 21-24 in the second array A2 and the second radiation element 11 in the first array A1 form an L-shaped topology.

[0098] Figure 10 is a simplified schematic diagram of the antenna assembly 10 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Different from Figure 8 the third embodiment shown, in the Figure 10 antenna assembly 10 therein, the second radiation element 15 and the fourth radiation element 25 are not only electrically connected to the first interface 2 but also electrically connected to the second interface 3. Herein, the second radiation element 15 and the fourth radiation element 25 can be electrically connected to both the first interface 2 and the second interface 3 via corresponding power distribution networks and / or phase shift networks, so that the second radiation element 15 can receive a second sub-component of the first RF signal from the first interface 2 and a second sub-component of the second RF signal from the second interface 3, and the fourth radiation element 25 can receive a third sub-component of the first RF signal from the first interface 2 and a third sub-component of the second RF signal from the second interface 3.

[0099] Figure 11 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the antenna assembly 10 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Different from Figure 8 the third embodiment shown, instead of the second radiation element 15 and the fourth radiation element 25, in the Figure 11 antenna array therein, a seventh radiation element 16 is further included, and the seventh radiation element 16 is arranged at a displaced position from both the first array A1 and the second array A2 in the horizontal direction H. The seventh radiation element 16 is not only electrically connected to the first interface 2 but also electrically connected to the second interface 3. Herein, the seventh radiation element 16 can be electrically connected to both the first interface 2 and the second interface 3 via corresponding power distribution networks and / or phase shift networks, so that the seventh radiation element 16 can receive a second sub-component of the first RF signal from the first interface 2 and a second sub-component of the second RF signal from the second interface 3. As Figure 11As shown, the seventh radiation element 16 is disposed near the first end region of the first array A1 and the second array A2. However, it is also possible that the seventh radiation element 16 is disposed near the second end region of the first array A1 and the second array A2, or another seventh radiation element is additionally disposed near the second end of the first array A1 and the second array A2.

[0100] The antenna assembly according to the present invention can bring one or more of the following advantages by combining the use of the offset feeding method and the power coupling circuit PD: First, the azimuth half-power beam width of the antenna, that is, the -3dB bandwidth, can be kept stable throughout the operating frequency band, for example, kept near 65 degrees, for example, between 50 and 75 degrees; Second, the -10dB bandwidth of the antenna can be effectively narrowed, thereby improving the sector power ratio of the antenna and thus improving the antenna gain; Third, in the case of only using one or a small number of power coupling circuits, not only the energy loss of the antenna is kept at a low level, but also the manufacturing cost of the antenna is well controlled; Fourth, by reasonably using the offset feeding method and the power coupling circuit PD in the antenna assembly, different operating requirements of the base station antenna can be flexibly met.

[0101] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such changes and modifications are included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An antenna assembly, characterized in that, The antenna assembly includes: A first interface for receiving a first RF signal; A second interface for receiving a second RF signal; An antenna array including a first array and a second array extending vertically. A plurality of radiating elements in the first array are electrically connected to the first interface respectively, and a plurality of radiating elements in the second array are electrically connected to the second interface respectively. Wherein, the first array includes a first radiating element and a second radiating element, the second array includes a third radiating element and a fourth radiating element, wherein the second radiating element is electrically connected to the second interface, and / or the fourth radiating element is electrically connected to the first interface; and A power coupling circuit for feeding a first sub-component of the first RF signal and a first sub-component of the second RF signal to the first radiating element and / or the third radiating element in a power-reducing coupling manner.

2. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein The second radiating element and the fourth radiating element are electrically connected to one of the first interface and the second interface respectively.

3. The antenna assembly according to claim 1, wherein The second radiating element and the fourth radiating element are electrically connected not only to the first interface but also to the second interface.

4. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The power coupling circuit includes: a first input terminal, a second input terminal, a first output terminal and a second output terminal. Wherein, the first input terminal is electrically connected to the first interface for receiving a first sub-component S1 of the first RF signal, the second input terminal is electrically connected to the second interface for receiving a first sub-component S2 of the second RF signal, the first output terminal is electrically connected to the first radiating element for feeding a first output signal S1* to the first radiating element, and the second output terminal is electrically connected to the third radiating element for feeding a second output signal S2* to the third radiating element.

5. The antenna assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that The first output signal S1* is generated by the first sub-component S1 of the first RF signal and the first sub-component S2 of the second RF signal in the following power-reducing coupling manner: S1* = (k1)S1 + (k2)S2, Wherein, k1 is a first power conversion coefficient; k2 is a second power conversion coefficient, and wherein, 0.7 ≤ k1 ≤ 0.90; 0.005 ≤ k2 ≤ 0.025; and The second output signal S2* is generated by the first sub-component S2 of the second RF signal and the first sub-component S1 of the first RF signal in the following power-reducing coupling manner: S2* = (k3)S2 + (k4)S1, Wherein, k3 is a third power conversion coefficient; k4 is a fourth power conversion coefficient, and wherein, 0.7 ≤ k3 ≤ 0.90; 0.0026 ≤ k4 ≤ 0.

027.

6. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The antenna assembly includes a reflector, on which the antenna array is mounted, and the width of the reflector ≤ 430 mm.

7. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first array includes one or more fifth radiating elements, the fifth radiating element is electrically connected to the first interface, and / or the second array includes one or more sixth radiating elements, the sixth radiating element is electrically connected to the second interface.

8. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first radiating element and the third radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

9. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The first radiating element is arranged in the middle area of the first array, and the third radiating element is arranged in the middle area of the second array.

10. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second radiating element and the fourth radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

11. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The second radiating element is arranged in an end region of the first array, and the fourth radiating element is arranged in an end region of the second array.

12. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, Only one power coupling circuit is provided for the first array and the second array.

13. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The first sub-component of the first RF signal occupies the largest share of the first RF signal, and / or the first sub-component of the second RF signal occupies the largest share of the second RF signal.

14. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A plurality of radiating elements in the first array and the fourth radiating element in the second array form an L-shaped topology, and / or a plurality of radiating elements in the second array and the second radiating element in the first array form an L-shaped topology.

15. The antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The antenna assembly includes a power distribution network and / or a phase shift network, and the first interface and the second interface are electrically connected to the corresponding radiating elements via the power distribution network and / or the phase shift network respectively.

16. An antenna assembly, characterized in that, The antenna assembly includes: A first interface for receiving a first RF signal; A second interface for receiving a second RF signal; A reflector and an antenna array mounted on the reflector, the antenna array including a first array and a second array extending vertically, wherein a plurality of radiating elements in the first array are electrically connected to the first interface respectively, and a plurality of radiating elements in the second array are electrically connected to the second interface respectively, wherein the first array includes a first radiating element and a second radiating element, the second array includes a third radiating element and a fourth radiating element, wherein the second radiating element is electrically connected to the second interface, and / or the fourth radiating element is electrically connected to the first interface; and Only one power coupling circuit provided for the first array and the second array, the power coupling circuit being configured to feed the first sub-component of the first RF signal and the first sub-component of the second RF signal to the first radiating element and / or the third radiating element in a coupled manner with reduced power.

17. The antenna assembly according to claim 16, wherein, Only one second radiating element in the first array is electrically connected to the second interface, and / or only one fourth radiating element in the second array is electrically connected to the first interface.

18. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The first radiating element and the third radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

19. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The first radiating element is arranged in a middle region of the first array, and the third radiating element is arranged in a middle region of the second array.

20. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The second radiating element and the fourth radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

21. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The second radiating element is arranged in an end region of the first array, and the fourth radiating element is arranged in an end region of the second array.

22. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The first sub-component of the first RF signal occupies the largest share of the first RF signal, and / or the first sub-component of the second RF signal occupies the largest share of the second RF signal.

23. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, A plurality of radiating elements in the first array and the fourth radiating element in the second array form an L-shaped topology respectively, and / or a plurality of radiating elements in the second array and the second radiating element in the first array form an L-shaped topology respectively.

24. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The width of the reflector ≤ 430 mm.

25. The antenna assembly according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that, The width of the reflector ≤ 400 mm.

26. An antenna assembly, characterized in that, The antenna assembly includes: A first interface for receiving a first RF signal; A second interface for receiving a second RF signal; An antenna array, comprising a first array and a second array extending vertically, a plurality of radiating elements in the first array being electrically connected to a first interface respectively, and a plurality of radiating elements in the second array being electrically connected to a second interface respectively, wherein the first array includes a first radiating element, and the second array includes a third radiating element; A power coupling circuit for feeding a first sub-component of a first RF signal and a first sub-component of a second RF signal to the first radiating element and / or the third radiating element in the first array in a power-reducing coupling manner; The antenna array further includes a seventh radiating element, which is arranged at a position horizontally staggered from both the first array and the second array, and the seventh radiating element is electrically connected not only to the first interface but also to the second interface.

27. The antenna assembly according to claim 26, wherein The first radiating element and the third radiating element are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

28. The antenna assembly according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that, The first radiating element is arranged in the middle area of the first array, and the third radiating element is arranged in the middle area of the second array.

29. The antenna assembly according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that, The seventh radiating element is arranged horizontally between the first array and the second array.

30. The antenna assembly according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that, The first sub-component of the first RF signal occupies the largest share of the first RF signal, and / or the first sub-component of the second RF signal occupies the largest share of the second RF signal.

31. A base station antenna, characterized in that, The base station antenna includes the antenna assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 30.

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