Modular active base station antenna

Abstract

The utility model relates to a modularized active base station antenna which comprises a feed network PCB, an integrated LNA cavity, a first positioning mechanism, a first quick plug, a first quick socket, a second quick plug, a second quick socket, a second positioning mechanism, a first metal reflecting plate, a second metal reflecting plate and an antenna unit PCB. The feed network PCB is installed on one side face of the first metal reflecting plate, the first quick-plug plug is installed on the other side face of the first metal reflecting plate, the outer surfaces of the two opposite side walls of the integrated LNA cavity are provided with a second quick-plug plug and a first quick-plug socket respectively, the antenna unit PCB is installed on one side face of the second metal reflecting plate, and the antenna unit PCB is installed on the other side face of the second metal reflecting plate. The second quick-plug socket is mounted on the other side surface of the second metal reflecting plate; the first metal reflecting plate and the integrated LNA cavity are positioned and installed through a first positioning mechanism, and the second metal reflecting plate and the integrated LNA cavity are positioned and installed through a second positioning mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field related to communication antennas, and in particular to a modular active base station antenna. Background Art

[0002] With the widespread deployment of the fifth-generation mobile communication network, 8-port passive smart antennas are used in wide coverage and long-distance application scenarios. Since the base station transmission power is much greater than the mobile phone radiation power, and the base station antenna gain is more than 15dB greater than the mobile phone antenna gain, the imbalance of uplink and downlink communications is becoming increasingly prominent for the 5G high-frequency application band. To solve this problem, the main method is to improve the uplink signal-to-noise ratio. For passive smart antennas, to improve the uplink signal-to-noise ratio, an effective technical means is to place a low-noise amplifier in front of each antenna receiving unit, and improve the traditional passive smart antenna into an uplink active amplification smart antenna.

[0003] There are two key technical issues in the design of uplink active amplification smart antennas. First, to ensure that the antenna's directivity meets the network coverage requirements, the phase of each receiving channel of the antenna uplink must be consistent; second, to ensure that the antenna meets the wind load requirements when used outdoors, the antenna must meet the requirements of miniaturization design.

[0004] For traditional passive antennas, the power splitter feed network of the antenna is connected to the antenna unit in the uplink using RF coaxial cables. For antennas with uplink active amplification, after adding an uplink LNA amplifier in the uplink, the LNA amplifier is an independent sealed component, and the power splitter feed network and the LNA amplifier, and the LNA amplifier and the antenna unit must be connected using RF coaxial cables.

[0005] In the design of the internal structure layout of the antenna, a three-layer layout structure is adopted, namely, an antenna array layer 11, an amplifier module layer 15, and a power division feed network layer 14. The layers are connected by coaxial RF cables 12, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0006] For the 8-port uplink amplified active smart antenna, 40 RF coaxial cables need to be connected between the integrated LAN amplifier and the antenna unit; 40 RF coaxial cables need to be connected between the feed network and the LNA amplifier. To ensure that each antenna unit has a specific phase difference, the length of each cable is different. Therefore, the RF cable connection solution is adopted, and the main disadvantages are: 1. There are too many internal wirings and they are complicated, which are prone to missed connections and wrong connections. 2. The cable has different phase changes due to different bending degrees. In order to ensure that the antenna miniaturization size meets the requirements, the cable wiring needs to be bent at a small angle, resulting in a large phase change, which cannot meet the phase consistency requirements. 3. This structure cannot meet the requirements of low-profile miniaturization of the antenna. 4. During the product manufacturing process, the assembly manufacturing hours are mainly the shaping and connection of the RF cable. The assembly cost is too high, and the product manufacturability and maintainability are extremely poor. Utility Model Content

[0007] In order to solve one or more technical problems existing in the prior art, the utility model provides a modular active base station antenna.

[0008] The utility model provides a technical solution to the above technical problems as follows: a modular active base station antenna, comprising a feed network PCB, an integrated LNA cavity, a first positioning mechanism, a first quick-insert plug, a first quick-insert socket, a second quick-insert plug, a second quick-insert socket, a second positioning mechanism, a first metal reflector, a second metal reflector and an antenna unit PCB, wherein the feed network PCB is mounted on one side of the first metal reflector, the first quick-insert plug is mounted on the other side of the first metal reflector, the outer surfaces of opposite side walls of the integrated LNA cavity are respectively provided with a second quick-insert plug and a first quick-insert socket, the antenna unit PCB is mounted on one side of the second metal reflector, and the second quick-insert socket is mounted on the other side of the second metal reflector; the first metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity are positioned and installed by the first positioning mechanism, and the second metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity are positioned and installed by the second positioning mechanism; the first quick-insert plug and the first quick-insert socket can be adapted to be plugged in and out, and the second quick-insert plug and the second quick-insert socket can be adapted to be plugged in and out.

[0009] The beneficial effects of the utility model are as follows: the modular active base station antenna of the utility model adopts a modular design in the antenna uplink components, adopts modules with a quick-plug structure for electrical connection, and uses a positioning mechanism for positioning, so that the radio frequency connector with a quick-plug structure can be quickly plugged and connected between modules, achieving the design goals of cable-free and low-profile, and ensuring phase consistency and stability.

[0010] On the basis of the above technical solution, the present invention can also be improved as follows.

[0011] Furthermore, the amplifier input end in the integrated LNA cavity is connected to the second quick-insert plug via a wire, and the amplifier output end in the integrated LNA cavity is connected to the first quick-insert socket via a wire.

[0012] The beneficial effect of adopting the above further solution is that the electrical connection between the amplifier and the antenna unit PCB and the feed network PCB can be achieved by using a quick plug method.

[0013] Furthermore, the first quick-connect plug is installed on the other side surface of the first metal reflector through a first flange, and the first quick-connect socket is installed on the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity through a second flange.

[0014] Furthermore, the second quick-connect plug is installed on the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity through a third flange, and the second quick-connect socket is installed on the other side surface of the second metal reflector through a fourth flange.

[0015] Furthermore, the first positioning mechanism includes a plurality of support columns, which are respectively vertically fixed on the first metal reflector plate, and a plurality of positioning holes or positioning grooves are provided on the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity, and the plurality of support columns are adapted and inserted into the plurality of positioning holes or positioning grooves one by one.

[0016] The beneficial effect of adopting the above further solution is that by providing a plurality of support columns, accurate positioning between the first metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity can be achieved, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the insertion.

[0017] Furthermore, the second positioning mechanism includes a plurality of positioning supports, the plurality of positioning supports are respectively fixed on the second metal reflector plate, and the integrated LNA cavity is limited on the plurality of positioning supports.

[0018] The beneficial effect of adopting the above further solution is that by providing a plurality of positioning supports, accurate positioning between the second metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity can be achieved, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the insertion.

[0019] Furthermore, there are four positioning supports, which are respectively arranged at the four corners of the integrated LNA cavity. The upper surfaces of the four positioning supports are respectively provided with limiting grooves, and the four corners of the integrated LNA cavity are respectively adapted to be installed in the limiting grooves of the four positioning supports.

[0020] Furthermore, the first quick-connect plug is connected to the feed network PCB via a wire, and the second quick-connect socket is connected to the antenna unit PCB via a wire.

[0021] Furthermore, five groups of second quick-plug sockets are installed on the second metal reflector, and each group of second quick-plug sockets includes two second quick-plug sockets; five groups of second quick-plug plugs and five groups of first quick-plug sockets are respectively provided on the outer surfaces of the opposite side walls of the integrated LNA cavity, and each group of second quick-plug plugs includes two second quick-plug plugs, and each group of first quick-plug sockets includes two first quick-plug sockets; and five groups of first quick-plug plugs are provided on the first metal reflector, and each group of first quick-plug plugs includes two first quick-plug plugs.

[0022] Furthermore, the outer peripheral edge of the feed network PCB does not exceed the outer peripheral edge of the first metal reflector plate, and the outer peripheral edge of the antenna unit PCB does not exceed the outer peripheral edge of the second metal reflector plate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the internal structure layout of the existing antenna;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the modular active base station antenna of the utility model;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a top view of an embodiment of the integrated LNA cavity of the utility model;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of an embodiment of the integrated LNA cavity of the utility model;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of an implementation scheme of the antenna unit PCB of the utility model;

[0028] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of an implementation mode of the feed network PCB of the utility model.

[0029] In the accompanying drawings, the components represented by the reference numerals are listed as follows:

[0030] 1. Feed network PCB; 2. Integrated LNA cavity; 3. First quick-insert plug; 4. First quick-insert socket; 5. Second quick-insert plug; 6. Second quick-insert socket; 7. First metal reflector; 8. Second metal reflector; 9. Support column; 10. Positioning support; 11. Antenna array layer; 12. Coaxial RF cable; 13. Antenna unit PCB; 14. Power divider feed network layer; 15. Amplifier module layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The principles and features of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The examples given are only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0032] like Figure 2 to Figure 6As shown, a modular active base station antenna of this embodiment includes a feed network PCB1, an integrated LNA cavity 2, a first positioning mechanism, a first quick-insert plug 3, a first quick-insert socket 4, a second quick-insert plug 5, a second quick-insert socket 6, a second positioning mechanism, a first metal reflector 7, a second metal reflector 8 and an antenna unit PCB13, wherein the feed network PCB1 is mounted on one side of the first metal reflector 7, the first quick-insert plug 3 is mounted on the other side of the first metal reflector 7, the outer surfaces of opposite side walls of the integrated LNA cavity 2 are respectively provided with a second quick-insert plug 5 and a first quick-insert socket 4, the antenna unit PCB13 is mounted on one side of the second metal reflector 8, and the second quick-insert socket 6 is mounted on the other side of the second metal reflector 8; the first metal reflector 7 and the integrated LNA cavity 2 are positioned and installed by the first positioning mechanism, and the second metal reflector 8 and the integrated LNA cavity 2 are positioned and installed by the second positioning mechanism; the first quick-insert plug 3 and the first quick-insert socket 4 can be adapted to be plugged in and out, and the second quick-insert plug 5 and the second quick-insert socket 6 can be adapted to be plugged in and out.

[0033] Specifically, the amplifier input end in the integrated LNA cavity 2 is connected to the second quick-plug plug 5 through a wire, and the amplifier output end in the integrated LNA cavity 2 is connected to the first quick-plug socket 4 through a wire. The quick-plug method can be used to achieve electrical connection between the amplifier and the antenna unit PCB and the feed network PCB.

[0034] An optional solution of this embodiment is that the first quick-connect plug 3 is installed on the other side of the first metal reflector 7 through a first flange, and the first quick-connect socket 4 is installed on the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity 2 through a second flange.

[0035] An optional solution of this embodiment is that the second quick-connect plug 5 is installed on the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity 2 through a third flange, and the second quick-connect socket 6 is installed on the other side of the second metal reflector 8 through a fourth flange.

[0036] Specifically, Figure 2 As shown, the first positioning mechanism includes a plurality of support columns 9, which are respectively vertically fixed on the first metal reflector 7, and the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity 2 is provided with a plurality of positioning holes or positioning grooves, and the plurality of support columns 9 are adapted and plugged into the plurality of positioning holes or positioning grooves one by one. By providing a plurality of support columns, accurate positioning between the first metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity can be achieved, ensuring the accuracy and stability of the plugging.

[0037] Specifically, Figure 2 As shown, the second positioning mechanism includes a plurality of positioning supports 10, and the plurality of positioning supports 10 are respectively fixed on the second metal reflector 8, and the integrated LNA cavity 2 is limited on the plurality of positioning supports 10. By providing a plurality of positioning supports, precise positioning between the second metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity can be achieved, thereby ensuring the accuracy and stability of the insertion.

[0038] A preferred solution of this embodiment is that there are four positioning supports 10, and the four positioning supports 10 are respectively arranged at the four corners of the integrated LNA cavity 2, and the upper surfaces of the four positioning supports 10 are respectively provided with limiting grooves, and the four corners of the integrated LNA cavity 2 are respectively adapted to be installed in the limiting grooves of the four positioning supports 10.

[0039] Specifically, the first quick-connect plug 3 is connected to the feed network PCB1 through a wire, and the second quick-connect socket 6 is connected to the antenna unit PCB13 through a wire.

[0040] A specific solution of this embodiment is as follows: Figure 3 to Figure 5 As shown, five groups of second quick-plug sockets 6 are installed on the second metal reflector 8, and each group of second quick-plug sockets 6 includes two second quick-plug sockets 6; five groups of second quick-plug plugs 5 and five groups of first quick-plug sockets 4 are respectively provided on the outer surfaces of the opposite side walls of the integrated LNA cavity 2, and each group of second quick-plug plugs 5 includes two second quick-plug plugs 5, and each group of first quick-plug sockets 4 includes two first quick-plug sockets 4; five groups of first quick-plug plugs 3 are provided on the first metal reflector 7, and each group of first quick-plug plugs 3 includes two first quick-plug plugs 3.

[0041] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 As shown, the outer peripheral edge of the feed network PCB1 does not exceed the outer peripheral edge of the first metal reflector 7, and the outer peripheral edge of the antenna unit PCB13 does not exceed the outer peripheral edge of the second metal reflector 8. Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a structure using five first quick-insert plugs 3 is given. If five groups of first quick-insert plugs 3 are used, Figure 6 The structure in is mirrored to obtain a structural schematic diagram of using 5 groups of first quick-connect plugs 3. Figure 3 The entire integrated LNA cavity is composed of 5 completely identical sub-cavities, each of which has two LNA amplifier circuits, the input end of the amplifier is connected to the core wire of the first quick-plug socket, and the output end of the amplifier is connected to the core wire of the second quick-plug plug.

[0042] An optional solution of this embodiment is that both the first metal reflective plate 7 and the second metal reflective plate 8 can be mounted using aluminum alloy plates.

[0043] In this embodiment, the feed network PCB and the first metal reflector serve as the power division feed network layer, the antenna unit PCB and the second metal reflector serve as the antenna array layer, and the integrated LNA cavity serves as the amplifier module layer. The layers are stably plugged in by quick plugging and accurately positioned by a positioning mechanism, which is easy to use and has better structural stability.

[0044] In this embodiment, the feed network PCB is a feed network printed circuit board; the antenna unit PCB is an antenna unit printed circuit board; and the integrated LNA cavity is a cavity of an integrated low noise amplifier.

[0045] The modular active base station antenna of this embodiment adopts a modular design in the antenna uplink components, uses modules with quick-plug structures for electrical connection, and uses a positioning mechanism for positioning, so that the RF connectors with quick-plug structures can be quickly plugged in and connected to each other between modules, achieving the design goals of cable-free and low-profile, and ensuring phase consistency and stability.

[0046] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0047] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present utility model, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0048] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0049] In the present utility model, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" or "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0050] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the utility model. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0051] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limitations of the present invention. Ordinary technicians in the field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A modular active base station antenna, characterized in that: The invention comprises a feed network PCB, an integrated LNA cavity, a first positioning mechanism, a first quick-insert plug, a first quick-insert socket, a second quick-insert plug, a second quick-insert socket, a second positioning mechanism, a first metal reflector, a second metal reflector and an antenna unit PCB. The feed network PCB is mounted on one side of the first metal reflector, the first quick-insert plug is mounted on the other side of the first metal reflector, the outer surfaces of opposite side walls of the integrated LNA cavity are respectively provided with a second quick-insert plug and a first quick-insert socket, the antenna unit PCB is mounted on one side of the second metal reflector, and the second quick-insert socket is mounted on the other side of the second metal reflector; the first metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity are positioned and installed by the first positioning mechanism, and the second metal reflector and the integrated LNA cavity are positioned and installed by the second positioning mechanism; the first quick-insert plug and the first quick-insert socket can be adapted to be plugged in and out, and the second quick-insert plug and the second quick-insert socket can be adapted to be plugged in and out.

2. A modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The amplifier input end in the integrated LNA cavity is connected to the second quick-insert plug via a wire, and the amplifier output end in the integrated LNA cavity is connected to the first quick-insert socket via a wire.

3. A modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first quick-connect plug is mounted on the other side surface of the first metal reflector through a first flange, and the first quick-connect socket is mounted on the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity through a second flange.

4. A modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second quick-connect plug is mounted on the outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity through a third flange, and the second quick-connect socket is mounted on the other side surface of the second metal reflector through a fourth flange.

5. The modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first positioning mechanism includes a plurality of support columns, which are respectively vertically fixed on the first metal reflector plate. The outer surface of the side wall of the integrated LNA cavity is provided with a plurality of positioning holes or positioning grooves, and the plurality of support columns are adapted and inserted into the plurality of positioning holes or positioning grooves in a one-to-one correspondence.

6. The modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second positioning mechanism includes a plurality of positioning supports, the plurality of positioning supports are respectively fixed on the second metal reflector plate, and the integrated LNA cavity is limited on the plurality of positioning supports.

7. A modular active base station antenna according to claim 6, characterized in that: There are four positioning supports, which are respectively arranged at the four corners of the integrated LNA cavity. The upper surfaces of the four positioning supports are respectively provided with limiting grooves, and the four corners of the integrated LNA cavity are respectively adapted to be installed in the limiting grooves of the four positioning supports.

8. The modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first quick-connect plug is connected to the feed network PCB via a wire, and the second quick-connect socket is connected to the antenna unit PCB via a wire.

9. The modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: Five groups of second quick-plug sockets are installed on the second metal reflector, and each group of second quick-plug sockets includes two second quick-plug sockets; the outer surfaces of the opposite side walls of the integrated LNA cavity are respectively provided with five groups of second quick-plug plugs and five groups of first quick-plug sockets, each group of second quick-plug plugs includes two second quick-plug plugs, and each group of first quick-plug sockets includes two first quick-plug sockets; the first metal reflector is provided with five groups of first quick-plug plugs, and each group of first quick-plug plugs includes two first quick-plug plugs.

10. The modular active base station antenna according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer peripheral edge of the feed network PCB does not exceed the outer peripheral edge of the first metal reflector plate, and the outer peripheral edge of the antenna unit PCB does not exceed the outer peripheral edge of the second metal reflector plate.

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