Adjustable RET Rod Support for Base Station Antennas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern base station antennas require a large number of adjustable RET rod supports to accommodate varying antenna designs, leading to high inventory costs and manufacturing complexity due to the need for multiple parts to support RET rods at different heights.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of adjustable RET rod supports with a base member and an adjustable member that can be mounted on the antenna backplane, allowing for variable height adjustment and a locking mechanism to secure the position, reducing the number of parts needed and enabling a single support to accommodate various configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fixed-height RET rod supports are used to accommodate different antenna designs, then all configurations can be supported, but inventory costs and manufacturing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single RET rod support that can accommodate multiple different antenna designs and rod heights. The support includes an adjustable member with multiple positioning locations that can be configured to match various antenna configurations, eliminating the need for multiple specialized support parts for different antenna types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the RET rod support adjustable rather than fixed. The support includes an adjustable member that can be positioned at multiple locations along the mechanical linkage, allowing the support height to be dynamically changed to match different antenna designs and RET rod requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large inventory of adjustable RET rod supports is maintained to cover all antenna configurations, then all designs can be supported, but inventory costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces inventory requirements by creating a universal RET rod support that can serve multiple antenna configurations. Instead of maintaining separate inventory for each antenna type, a single support design with adjustable positioning can be used across all configurations, significantly reducing the quantity of different parts needed in inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the RET rod support from fixed to adjustable, allowing the same physical part to adapt to different heights and configurations. This parameter change enables a single part to replace multiple specialized parts, reducing inventory quantity while maintaining coverage of all configurations.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-height RET rod supports are used for each antenna design, then manufacturing is simplified per design, but new parts must be created for each new antenna configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal RET rod support design that can be used across multiple antenna configurations without requiring new parts for each design. The adjustable member with multiple positioning locations allows the same support to accommodate new antenna configurations, eliminating the need to manufacture new specialized parts for each antenna type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the RET rod support dynamically adjustable rather than statically fixed for each design. This allows the support to adapt to new antenna configurations through repositioning the adjustable member, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving adaptability to new designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station antenna includes a remote electronic tilt (“RET”) actuator, a phase shifter having a moveable element and a mechanical linkage extending between the RET actuator and the phase shifter. The mechanical linkage includes a RET rod. An adjustable RET rod support includes a base member and an adjustable member, the adjustable member has a RET rod holder and is movably mounted to the base member.