Active Antenna System Signal Combining and Downtilt Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing active antenna systems for mobile communications struggle to efficiently combine and manage signals across multiple frequency bands, particularly when deploying new technologies like LTE, as they often require separate base stations and lack independent downtilt angles for each band, leading to sub-optimal performance.
Innovation Solution
An active antenna system that incorporates a bandpass filter for one frequency band and an active transceiver for another, using a combining element to merge signals in a substantially lossless manner, allowing for independent management and radiation of signals in both bands, with components like circulators and summing junctions to optimize signal processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dual-band or broadband passive antenna is used with two traditional base-stations, then both frequency bands can be transmitted, but both bands must share the same downtilt angle which is sub-optimal for either system
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into multiple independent antenna elements, each capable of being controlled independently. This allows different downtilt angles to be applied to different antenna groups serving different frequency bands, resolving the contradiction between multi-band support and independent downtilt control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic beam steering capabilities where the downtilt angle can be adjusted independently for different frequency bands and even different spatial directions. This dynamic control allows optimal tilt angles to be set for each band (e.g., 900 MHz and 1800 MHz) without compromising the other band's performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate base-stations are deployed for new technologies like LTE, then active antenna functionality can be provided, but existing base-station investments cannot be reused
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines passive antenna elements with active antenna functionality in a single integrated system. The passive antenna structure supports multiple frequency bands while active electronic components provide beam steering and signal processing capabilities, merging the benefits of both approaches into one unified base-station infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system is designed with universal functionality to support multiple frequency bands (GSM 900/1800, LTE 700/800 MHz, etc.) and multiple operational modes (omnidirectional, sector, beam-steering) within a single deployment. This multi-functionality allows operators to reuse existing base-station sites and infrastructure while adding new technology capabilities.
3Productivity
If beam steering techniques are implemented, then transmission efficiency can be improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate signal processing components such as phase shifters, attenuators, and combiners that mediate between the simple antenna elements and the desired beam steering functionality. These intermediary components enable complex beam patterns to be created through relatively simple individual element control, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An active antenna transceiver system is disclosed. The active antenna transceiver system comprises a bandpass filter adapted to filter first telecommunication signals in a first frequency band, the first telecommunication signals being transceived in a first antenna section, an active transceiver arrangement adapted to transceive second telecommunications signal in a second frequency band, an antenna arrangement adapted to radiate and/or collect signal in both the first and second frequency bands. A combining element is provided for combining first telecommunications signal and second telecommunication signal into a combined telecommunications signal to be fed into antenna arrangement and the combining element being adapted for splitting the combined telecommunications signal from the antenna arrangement into first telecommunication signals and second telecommunications signals.