Dual-beam antenna array

Abstract

This disclosure relates to dual-beam antenna arrays. A multi-beam cellular antenna is provided, comprising: an antenna array having a plurality of modules, each module including at least three columns of radiating elements, each column of radiating elements having a first polarized radiator, wherein the columns of radiating elements of at least one module are staggered relative to each other; and an antenna feed network configured to couple at least a first input signal and a second input signal to each first polarized radiator of each radiating element included in a first module of the plurality of modules.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates generally to radio communications, and more specifically, to base station antennas for cellular communication systems. Background Technology

[0002] Cellular communication systems are well known in the art. In a typical cellular communication system, a geographical area is divided into a series of areas called “cells,” and each cell is served by a base station. A base station may include baseband equipment, radio equipment, and base station antennas configured to provide bidirectional radio frequency (“RF”) communication to subscribers throughout the cell. In many cases, a cell may be divided into multiple “sectors,” and a separate base station antenna provides coverage for each of the sectors. Antennas are often mounted on towers, with the radiating beam (“antenna beam”) generated by each antenna pointing outward to serve the corresponding sector. Typically, a base station antenna comprises a phased array of one or more radiating elements, which are arranged in one or more vertical columns when the antenna is installed for use. In this document, “vertical” means a direction perpendicular to a horizontal plane defined by the horizon. A reference plane will also be made to the azimuth plane, which is a horizontal plane that bisects the base station antenna, and the elevation plane is a plane extending along the direction of the antenna’s aiming line, which is perpendicular to the azimuth plane.

[0003] A common base station configuration is a "three-sector" configuration where the cell is divided into three 120° sectors in the azimuth plane. A base station antenna is provided for each sector. In a three-sector configuration, the antenna beam generated by each base station antenna typically has a half-power beamwidth ("HPBW") of approximately 65° in the azimuth plane, allowing each antenna beam to provide good coverage across the entire 120° sector. Three such base station antennas provide full 360° coverage in the azimuth plane. Typically, each base station antenna will include a "linear array" of one or more so-called radiating elements, comprising multiple radiating elements arranged in columns extending generally vertically. Each radiating element can have an azimuth HPBW of approximately 65°, such that the antenna beam generated by the linear array will have an HPBW of approximately 65° in the azimuth plane. By providing a phased array of radiating elements extending along the elevation plane, the HPBW of the antenna beam in the elevation plane can be narrowed to significantly less than 65°, with the amount of narrowing increasing with the length of the column in the vertical direction.

[0004] With the growth of cellular traffic, cellular operators have added new cellular services to various new frequency bands. When these new services are introduced, existing "legacy" services must often be maintained to support legacy mobile devices. In some cases, it may be possible to support services in the new frequency band using a linear array of so-called "wideband" or "ultra-wideband" radiating elements. However, in other cases, it may be necessary to deploy additional linear arrays (or multi-array arrays) of radiating elements to support services in the new frequency band. Due to local zoning regulations and / or weight and wind load constraints, there are often limitations on the number of base station antennas that can be deployed at a given base station. Therefore, to reduce the number of antennas, many operators deploy so-called "multi-band" base station antennas, which consist of linear arrays of multiple radiating elements that communicate in different frequency bands to support a variety of different cellular services.

[0005] Additionally or alternatively, dual-beam antennas (or multi-beam antennas) can be used to reduce the number of antennas on a tower. A key aspect of such multi-beam antennas is the use of beamforming networks (BFNs). For example, antenna 11 of Figures 1A and 1B employs a 2×2 BFN 10 with a 3dB 90° hybrid coupler, shown as 12, and forms beams A and B in the azimuth plane at signal port 14. (2×2 BFN means a BFN that creates two beams using two columns). Two radiator coupling ports 16 are connected to antenna elements, also referred to as radiators, and two ports 14 are coupled to a phase-shifting network that is providing elevation beam tilt (see Figure 1B). The antenna can be both multi-beam and multi-band; that is, the antenna can be configured as a linear array of multiple radiating elements that communicate in different frequency bands, wherein at least some of those radiating elements are coupled to one or more BFNs to provide directional beams in the azimuth plane.

[0006] However, as discussed by reference in U.S. Patent No. 9,831,548, the main drawback of the prior art antennas of Figures 1A and 1B is that more than 50% of the radiated power is wasted and diverted outside the 60° sector desired for a 6-sector application, and the azimuth beam is too wide (150° @ -10dB level), causing interference to other sectors. Furthermore, the high interference, low gain, and large back lobe (approximately -11dB) generated by one antenna to other cells are unacceptable for modern systems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a multi-beam cellular antenna is provided, comprising: an antenna array having a plurality of modules, each module including at least three columns of radiating elements, each column of radiating elements having a first polarized radiator, wherein the columns of radiating elements of at least one module are staggered relative to each other; and an antenna feed network configured to couple at least a first input signal and a second input signal to each first polarized radiator of each radiating element included in a first module of the plurality of modules.

[0008] In some embodiments, the radiating elements in the radiating element columns of most modules in the module are staggered relative to each other.

[0009] In some embodiments, the radiating elements in the radiating element column of at least one module are aligned relative to each other.

[0010] In some embodiments, a first module of a plurality of modules includes three columns of radiating elements, and a second module of a plurality of modules includes four columns of radiating elements.

[0011] In some embodiments, the three columns of radiating elements in the first module each include an equal number of radiating elements.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first column of radiating elements in the first module includes fewer radiating elements than the number of radiating elements included in the second column of the first module.

[0013] In some embodiments, the antenna feed network includes a 2×3 beamforming network that couples the first input signal and the second input signal to the radiating element of the first module and a 2×4 beamforming network that couples the first input signal and the second input signal to the second module.

[0014] In some embodiments, the 2×4 beamforming network includes at least one variable power divider.

[0015] In some embodiments, the antenna array is configured to generate a first beam pointing in a first direction in response to a first input signal, and to generate a second beam pointing in a second direction in response to a second input signal.

[0016] In some embodiments, the radiating element is cross-polarized.

[0017] According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, a multi-beam cellular antenna is provided, comprising: a plurality of first modules, each first module including a first number of rows of radiating elements, wherein the radiating elements in the rows of at least one of the first modules are staggered relative to each other; a plurality of second modules, each second module including a second number of rows of radiating elements, wherein the radiating elements in the rows of at least one of the second modules are staggered relative to each other; and an antenna feed network including at least one 2×4 beamforming network coupling a first input signal and a second input signal to the radiating elements in one of the plurality of first modules and at least one 2×3 beamforming network coupling the first input signal and the second input signal to the radiating elements in one of the plurality of second modules.

[0018] In some embodiments, the radiating elements in the radiating element columns of most of the first modules are staggered relative to each other.

[0019] In some embodiments, the radiating elements in at least one of the second modules are aligned with each other.

[0020] In some embodiments, each first module includes four columns of radiating elements, and each second module includes three columns of radiating elements.

[0021] In some embodiments, the 2×4 beamforming network includes at least one variable power divider.

[0022] In some embodiments, a plurality of first modules and a plurality of second modules are configured to generate a first beam pointing in a first direction in response to a first input signal, and to generate a second beam pointing in a second direction in response to a second input signal.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a multi-beam cellular antenna is provided, comprising: a plurality of first modules, each first module including a first number of rows of radiating elements, wherein the radiating elements in the rows of at least one of the first modules are staggered relative to each other; a second module including a second number of rows of radiating elements, wherein the radiating elements in the rows of the second module are staggered relative to each other; and an antenna feed network including at least one 2×4 beamforming network coupling a first input signal and a second input signal to the radiating elements in one of the plurality of first modules and at least one 2×3 beamforming network coupling the first input signal and the second input signal to the radiating elements in the second module.

[0024] In some embodiments, the first column of radiating elements in the second module includes fewer radiating elements than the number of radiating elements included in the second column of the second module.

[0025] In some embodiments, the multibeam cellular antenna further includes a third module comprising a second number of columns of radiating elements, wherein the columns in the third module are staggered relative to each other.

[0026] In some embodiments, each column of the third module includes an equal number of radiating elements as the first radiating element column of the second module. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figures 1A and 1B schematically illustrate a conventional dual-beam antenna with a standard 2×2BFN.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a 3D diagram of a base station antenna.

[0029] Figure 3 This is under the condition that the radome has been removed. Figure 2 A schematic front view of a base station antenna, illustrating an array of radiating elements included in the antenna.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic front view of a base station antenna having modules arranged in an alternating pattern according to aspects of this disclosure, illustrating an array of radiating elements included in the antenna.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic front view of a base station antenna having modules arranged in an alternating pattern according to aspects of this disclosure, illustrating an array of radiating elements included in the antenna.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a schematic front view of a base station antenna having modules arranged in an alternating pattern according to aspects of this disclosure, illustrating an array of radiating elements included in the antenna.

[0033] Figure 7 It is configured to be used with, for example, Figures 4 to 6 The diagram shows a block diagram of a 2×3 beamforming network used together with base station antenna modules arranged in a staggered column.

[0034] Figure 8 It is configured to be used with, for example, Figures 4 to 6 The diagram shows a block diagram of a 2×4 beamforming network used together with base station antenna modules arranged in a staggered column.

[0035] Figure 9 This is a schematic front view of a multi-band base station antenna with modules arranged in an interleaved array, illustrating an array of radiating elements included in the antenna.

[0036] Figure 10A yes Figure 2The elevation angle pattern of the base station antenna.

[0037] Figure 10B yes Figure 4 The elevation angle pattern of the base station antenna. Detailed Implementation

[0038] As discussed in U.S. Patent No. 9,831,548 cited above, the base station antenna of current interest comprises a module of multiple radiating elements.

[0039] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The illustration shows a 3D view of the base station antenna 300. Figure 2 It is a 3D diagram of base station antenna 300, and Figure 3 This is a front view of the base station antenna 300 with the radome removed, schematically illustrating the module of radiating elements included in the antenna 300.

[0040] like Figure 2 As shown, the base station antenna 300 is an elongated structure extending along the longitudinal axis L. The base station antenna 300 may have a tubular shape with a generally rectangular cross-section. The antenna 300 includes an radome 310 and a bottom end cap 312. Multiple RF connectors 314 may be mounted in the bottom end cap 312. The antenna 300 is typically mounted in a vertical configuration (i.e., when the antenna 300 is mounted for normal operation, the longitudinal axis L may be generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the horizon).

[0041] As in Figure 3 As seen in the diagram, the base station antenna 300 may include one or more modules 80, 90, each of which includes one or more columns 74 of radiating elements 76. The radiating elements 76 may be radiating elements configured to provide service in one or more frequency bands, such as the 1.7-2.7 GHz band, the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, and / or the 5.1-5.8 GHz band. Each of the radiating elements 76 may be a cross-polarized radiating element. Figures 2 to 3 The base station antenna 300 includes two three-column modules 80 and three four-column modules 90, but in different embodiments, the number of modules and the number of columns per module can vary. Furthermore, although... Figure 3 The diagram shows that each column 74 of the three-column module 80 and the four-column module 90 has two radiators 76, but in some applications, there may be a different number of radiators 76 in each of the columns 74 of the modules 80 and 90.

[0042] Figure 2 and Figure 3Each three-column antenna module 80 of the base station antenna 300 is fed by a first 2×3BFN and a second 2×3BFN. The first 2×3BFN can form an antenna beam for a first polarization (e.g., tilted -45° polarization), and the second 2×3BFN can be configured to form an antenna beam for a second polarization (e.g., +45° polarization). Similarly, each four-column module 90 can be fed by a first 2×4BFN and a second 2×4BFN, wherein the first 2×4BFN is configured to form an antenna beam for a first polarization (e.g., tilted -45° polarization), and the second 2×4BFN is configured to form an antenna beam for a second polarization (e.g., +45° polarization). The 2×3BFN and 2×4BFN are not in... Figure 3 The examples are shown in the figure, but each example is shown in the incorporated U.S. Patent No. 9,831,548.

[0043] While incorporated U.S. Patent No. 9,831,548 discusses a base station antenna 300 achieving a radiation pattern with low sidelobes in both the azimuth and elevation planes, this disclosure arises from the understanding that large sidelobes can exist when a large electronic downtilt (e.g., from phase shift) applies to the antenna beam. Increasing electronic downtilt is often desirable because it can be used to reduce cell size when network operators add new neighboring cells. One way to increase capacity is to use a larger number of smaller cells. Figure 10A This shows a polarization with a large downslope. Figures 2 to 3 The elevation pattern 1000 of the base station antenna, along with the discovered sidelobe 1020. It can also be seen that there is an unequal balance of sidelobes between the smaller sidelobe 1030 and the large sidelobe 1020 on the other side of the main lobe.

[0044] To reduce the large sidelobes that may result from using base station antennas with increased electronic downtilt, this disclosure provides a base station antenna in which columns of at least one of modules 80, 90 are staggered or offset relative to each other. In some embodiments, most of the modules 80, 90 present within the base station antenna may include such a staggered column arrangement.

[0045] The presence of an interleaved array arrangement can help to equalize the RF energy on both sides of the main lobe. While this may result in an increase in lower sidelobes (e.g., low sidelobes 1030), there is an improvement in the performance and overall positive effect of the antenna with this arrangement due to a reduction in higher sidelobes (e.g., high sidelobes 1020).

[0046] Figure 4 This is a front view of the base station antenna 400 with the radome removed, schematically illustrating the module of radiating elements included in the antenna 400. (As...) Figure 2 Like base station antenna 300, base station antenna 400 has the same characteristics as regarding... Figure 2 The discussion focuses on similar radomes, bottom end caps, and RF connectors—elongated structures extending along the longitudinal axis. For simplicity, the discussion of these components will not be repeated here.

[0047] As in Figure 4 As seen in the diagram, one or more modules 180, 190, including the interleaved array 74 of radiating elements 76, can be provided in the base station antenna 400. The radiating elements 76 can be radiating elements configured to provide service in one or more frequency bands, such as the 1.7-2.7 GHz band, the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, and / or the 5.1-5.8 GHz band. Each of the radiating elements 76 can be a cross-polarized radiating element.

[0048] Figure 4 The base station antenna 400 includes one interleaved three-column module 180, three interleaved four-column modules 190, and one non-interleaved three-column module 80. However, in different embodiments, the number of interleaved modules and the number of columns in each interleaved module can vary. Furthermore, although... Figure 4 The diagram shows that each column 74 of the three-column interleaved module 180 and the four-column interleaved module 190 has two radiators 76, but in some applications, there may be a different number of radiators 76 in each of the columns 74 of the interleaved modules 180 and 190.

[0049] In some embodiments, the base station antenna 400 may include one or more non-interlaced three-column modules 80. In some embodiments, the base station antenna 400 may include one or more non-interlaced four-column modules 90. As can be seen by comparing the length L1 of the interlaced three-column module 180 along its longitudinal axis L with the length L2 of the same axis parallel to the non-interlaced or aligned three-column modules 80, the length of the interlaced module can be larger than that of the non-interlaced module. To determine the size of the base station antenna 400 to meet, for example, local zoning regulations and / or weight and wind load constraints, non-interlaced modules may be used at either end or both ends of the base station antenna 400 to reduce its overall length.

[0050] Figure 4Each staggered three-column antenna module 180 of the base station antenna 400 is fed by a first 2×3BFN and a second 2×3BFN. The first 2×3BFN can form an antenna beam for a first polarization (e.g., tilted -45° polarization), and the second 2×3BFN can be configured to form an antenna beam for a second polarization (e.g., +45° polarization). Similarly, each staggered four-column module 190 can be fed by a first 2×4BFN and a second 2×4BFN, wherein the first 2×4BFN is configured to form an antenna beam for a first polarization (e.g., tilted -45° polarization), and the second 2×4BFN is configured to form an antenna beam for a second polarization (e.g., +45° polarization). The 2×3BFN and 2×4BFN are not in... Figure 4 As shown in, but respectively in Figure 7 and Figure 8 It is illustrated in the diagram and described in more detail below.

[0051] Figure 5 This is a front view of the base station antenna 500 with the radome removed, schematically illustrating the module of radiating elements included in the antenna 500. Figure 5 Base station antenna 500 and Figure 4 The base station antenna is similar to the 400, the difference being that... Figure 5 The base station antenna 500 is omitted. Figure 4 The staggered three-column module 180 is used to attach the staggered four-column module 190. Figure 5 Each module 80, 190 of the base station antenna 500 is fed by a corresponding pair of 2×3BFN or 2×4BFN, with the 2×3BFN or 2×4BFN respectively located at... Figure 7 and Figure 8 The diagram is shown below and described in more detail.

[0052] Figure 6 This is a front view of the base station antenna 600 with the radome removed, schematically illustrating the module of radiating elements included in the antenna 600. Figure 6 Base station antenna 600 and Figure 4 Base station antenna 400 and Figure 5 The base station antenna is similar to the 500, the difference being that... Figure 6 The base station antenna 600 includes an interleaved three-column module 280 at one end, with one radiating element 76 per column 74. Additionally, an interleaved three-column module 380 is provided at the opposite end of the base station antenna 600, which includes at least one column 74-2 where the number of radiating elements 76 differs from that of different columns (e.g., column 74-1) within the same module 380. As a result, in Figure 6 The staggered three-row module 380 contains five radiating elements 76, which are in Figure 4The six radiating elements 76 in the staggered three-row module 180 form a contrast. Figure 6 Each module 280, 380, and 190 of the base station antenna 600 is fed by a corresponding pair of 2×3BFN or 2×4BFN, wherein the 2×3BFN or 2×4BFN is respectively located in Figure 7 and Figure 8 The diagram is shown below and described in more detail.

[0053] Figure 7 It is configured to be used with, for example, Figures 4 to 6 The block diagram shown in the figure illustrates a 2×3 beamforming network 700 used together with base station antenna modules arranged in an interleaved column. Figure 7 The 2×3 beamforming network 700 is configured to form two antenna beams using three staggered radiator columns for signals received at signal ports 710-1 and 710-2. A 90° hybrid coupler 720 is provided, which can be a 3dB coupler. In some embodiments, the splitting coefficient of the 90° hybrid coupler 720 can be varied, and different beam amplitude distributions can be obtained for column coupling ports 750-1, 750-2, and 750-3: from uniform (1-1-1) to heavily tapered (0.4-1-0.4). Using an equal split (3dB coupler), an amplitude of 0.7-1-0.7 is provided. Additionally, an equal splitter 730 is provided between one of the ports of the 90° hybrid coupler 720 and two of the column coupling ports (in this case, column coupling ports 750-1 and 750-3). In some embodiments, the splitter 730 may be a Wilkinson divider with a 180° Shiffman phase shifter. However, an equal phase divider may be used. Additionally, the 180° phase shift of the signal transmitted to one of the column coupling ports (in this case, column coupling ports 750-3) is performed by a 180° rotated dipole element 740. In some embodiments, the beamforming network 700 may include or implement a Butler matrix.

[0054] Figure 8 It is configured to be used with, for example, Figures 4 to 6 The diagram shows a block diagram of a 2×4 beamforming network 800 used together with base station antenna modules arranged in a staggered column. Figure 8The 2×4 beamforming network 800 is configured to form two antenna beams using four staggered radiator columns for signals received at signal ports 810-1 and 810-2. A 90° hybrid coupler 820 is provided, which may be a 3dB coupler. Two variable power dividers 830-1 and 830-2 are provided between two of the ports of the 90° hybrid coupler 820 and column coupling ports 850-1 to 850-4. Additionally, a 180° phase shift of the signals transmitted to the two column coupling ports (in this case, column coupling ports 850-1 and 850-4) is performed by corresponding 180° rotated dipole elements 840-1 and 840-2 arranged between the column coupling ports and the variable power dividers 830-1 and 830-2. In some embodiments, the beamforming network 800 may include or implement a Butler matrix.

[0055] Figure 9 This is a front view of a multi-band base station antenna 900 with the radome removed, schematically illustrating the module of radiating elements included in the antenna 900. Figure 9 Base station antenna 900 and Figure 6 Similar to the base station antenna 600, except that a first column 970-1 and a second column 970-2 of radiating elements 974 are also shown. Radiating elements 974 can be used to provide service in a different frequency band than the radiating elements 74 of modules 180, 190, 280, and 380 shown herein. For example, radiating elements 974 can be used to provide service in some or all of the 617-960 MHz frequency band. The arrangement of the multi-band base station antenna 900 is provided as an example, and radiating elements 974 can be used in the multi-band base station antenna 900 without limitation. Figure 5 Among the 500 base station antennas.

[0056] Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, at least some of the radiating elements 76 described herein, and modules or base station antennas including such radiating elements 76, can be configured to provide a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) array of “high-frequency band” radiating elements operating in some or all of, for example, the 1.7-2.7 GHz band, the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, or the 5.1-5.8 GHz band. Massive MIMO arrays typically have at least four columns of radiating elements, and up to 32 columns of radiating elements. In some embodiments, two or more Figure 4 400 base station antennas Figure 5 500 base station antennas and / or Figure 6 The base station antennas 600 can be stacked vertically to provide a MIMO array of the desired size.

[0057] Figure 10B It shows that in relation to Figure 10A The elevation pattern of 1000 has the same electron downslope as a polarized one. Figure 4 The elevation pattern of the base station antenna 400 is shown at 1050. It can also be seen that there is a more even balance of RF energy between the right sidelobe 1060 and the left sidelobe 1070, and the highest sidelobe level is lower than... Figure 10A The highest sidelobe level in the middle.

[0058] Although the above discussion focuses on radiating elements, it will be recognized that the techniques discussed above can be used with radiating elements operating in any suitable frequency band.

[0059] The aspects of this disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are illustrated. However, the invention may be embodied in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Similar reference numerals always refer to similar elements.

[0060] It will be understood that while the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element, without departing from the scope of the invention. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0061] What will be understood is that when an element is said to be "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or there may be intermediate elements. In contrast, when an element is said to be "directly on" another element, there are no intermediate elements. It will also be understood that when an element is said to be "connected" or "coupled" to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or there may be intermediate elements. Conversely, when an element is said to be "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, there are no intermediate elements. Other terms used to describe relationships between elements should be interpreted in a similar way (i.e., "between" versus "directly between," "adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.).

[0062] Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “up” or “down” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element, layer, or region and another element, layer, or region as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that these terms are intended to cover different orientations of the apparatus in addition to those depicted in the figures.

[0063] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and / or “including” as used herein indicate the presence of the described features, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0064] All aspects and elements of the embodiments disclosed above may be combined in any way and / or in combination with aspects or elements of other embodiments to provide multiple additional embodiments.

Claims

1. A multi-beam cellular antenna, comprising: An antenna array having multiple modules, each module including at least three columns of radiating elements, each column of radiating elements having a first polarized radiator, wherein the columns of radiating elements of at least one module are staggered relative to each other; and An antenna feed network configured to couple at least a first input signal and a second input signal to each first polarized radiator of each radiating element included in a first module of the plurality of modules. The first module of the plurality of modules includes three columns of radiating elements. The first radiating element column of the first module includes fewer radiating elements than the number of radiating elements included in the second or third radiating element column of the first module. The first radiating element column of the first module is located between the second and third radiating element columns of the first module. In contrast to modules that do not have rows of radiating elements that are staggered relative to each other, the multi-beam cellular antenna provides a more even balance of RF energy between the side lobes on both sides of the main lobe.

2. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 1, wherein, In most modules within the module, the radiating elements of the radiating element column are staggered relative to each other.

3. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The radiating elements of at least one module in the module are aligned with each other.

4. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The second module of the plurality of modules includes four columns of radiating elements.

5. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 4, wherein, The antenna feed network includes a 2×3 beamforming network that couples the first input signal and the second input signal to the radiating element of the first module, and a 2×4 beamforming network that couples the first input signal and the second input signal to the second module.

6. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 5, wherein, The 2×4 beamforming network includes at least one variable power divider.

7. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The antenna array is configured to generate a first beam pointing in a first direction in response to the first input signal, and to generate a second beam pointing in a second direction in response to the second input signal.

8. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 1, wherein, The radiating element is cross-polarized.

9. A multi-beam cellular antenna, comprising: A plurality of first modules, each first module including a first number of radiating element columns, wherein the radiating element columns of at least one first module are staggered relative to each other; Multiple second modules, each second module including a second number of radiating element columns, wherein the radiating element columns of at least one second module are staggered relative to each other; and An antenna feed network, the antenna feed network comprising at least one 2×4 beamforming network coupling a first input signal and a second input signal to a radiating element of one of the plurality of first modules, and at least one 2×3 beamforming network coupling the first input signal and the second input signal to a radiating element of one of the plurality of second modules. One of the plurality of second modules includes three columns of radiating elements. Wherein, the first radiating element column of one of the plurality of second modules includes fewer radiating elements than the number of radiating elements included in the second or third radiating element column of the same second module; the first radiating element column of the same second module is located between the second and third radiating element columns of the same second module. In contrast to the case where neither the first module nor the second module has an array of radiating elements that are staggered relative to each other, the multi-beam cellular antenna provides a more even balance of RF energy between the side lobes on both sides of the main lobe.

10. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 9, wherein, In the first module, the radiating elements of most of the first module's radiating element columns are staggered relative to each other.

11. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 9, wherein, The radiating elements of at least one of the second modules are aligned with each other.

12. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 9, wherein, Each first module includes four columns of radiating elements, and each second module includes three columns of radiating elements.

13. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 9, wherein, The 2×4 beamforming network includes at least one variable power divider.

14. The multibeam cellular antenna according to any one of claims 9-13, wherein, The plurality of first modules and the plurality of second modules are configured to generate a first beam pointing in a first direction in response to the first input signal, and to generate a second beam pointing in a second direction in response to the second input signal.

15. A multi-beam cellular antenna, comprising: A plurality of first modules, each first module including a first number of radiating element columns, wherein the radiating element columns of at least one first module are staggered relative to each other; The second module includes a second number of radiating element columns, wherein the radiating element columns of the second module are not staggered relative to each other; and An antenna feed network, comprising at least one 2×4 beamforming network coupling a first input signal and a second input signal to a radiating element of one of the plurality of first modules, and at least one 2×3 beamforming network coupling the first input signal and the second input signal to a radiating element of a second module. The plurality of first modules and second modules are arranged along the longitudinal axis of the multi-beam cellular antenna, wherein the first module includes four columns of radiating elements and the second module includes three columns of radiating elements. In contrast to the first module, which does not have rows of radiating elements that are staggered relative to each other, the multi-beam cellular antenna provides a more even balance of RF energy between the side lobes on both sides of the main lobe.

16. The multi-beam cellular antenna of claim 15, further comprising a third module, the third module comprising the second number of radiating element columns, wherein, The columns of the third module are staggered relative to each other.

17. The multi-beam cellular antenna according to claim 16, wherein, Each column of the third module includes the same number of radiating elements as each column of radiating elements in the second module.

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