Base Station Antenna Radome Support Using Integrated Radio Reflector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Base station antennas face instability and damage due to environmental factors like rainstorms, snow, and solar radiation, and the mounting of radome supporting members is labor-intensive, especially in low-cost, low-weight antennas without a special reflector.
Innovation Solution
The base station antenna design integrates the radio module as a reflector to reduce weight and cost, with radome supporting members directly fixed to the radio or radome, extending to support the radome and prevent toppling, using screw thread fasteners and manufacturing processes like die casting or injection molding for reliable mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radome is mounted in the base station antenna to protect from environmental factors, then the antenna's protection and reliability are improved, but the radome stability and resistance to toppling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The radome support structure is divided into multiple discrete supporting members distributed across the antenna assembly. Each supporting member independently supports the radome at different locations, creating a segmented support system that prevents toppling while maintaining protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The radome supporting members are pre-installed on the antenna assembly before the radome is mounted. This preliminary positioning ensures that the radome is immediately supported and stabilized upon installation, preventing toppling under environmental loads from the outset.
2Stability of the object's composition
If radome supporting members are added to ensure radome stability, then the radome stability is improved, but the mounting complexity and labor intensity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radome supporting members are integrated with existing antenna components such as the reflector or support structure. By merging the support function with existing structural elements, the design avoids adding separate complex mounting mechanisms while still providing stable radome support.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna's existing structural components serve dual purposes: their primary function and radome support. For example, the reflector structure simultaneously performs its electromagnetic function and provides mounting surfaces for radome supporting members, making the system self-sufficient and reducing external mounting complexity.
3Reliability
If traditional mounting methods are used for radome supporting members, then the mounting reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting method transitions from traditional multi-step mechanical assembly to integrated manufacturing processes. Supporting members are incorporated into the antenna structure through die casting or injection molding, changing the manufacturing parameters from assembly-oriented to formation-oriented, thereby improving efficiency while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual or mechanical assembly process for mounting supporting members is replaced with automated molding processes. Die casting and injection molding substitute for traditional mechanical fastening and assembly operations, significantly reducing labor intensity and manufacturing time while producing reliable, precise mounting structures.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a base station antenna; the base station antenna comprises: a radio; a feed board and a radiating element array mounted on the feed board, where the radiating element array comprises a plurality of radiating elements, and each radiating element extends forward from the feed board; a radome arranged in front of the radiating element array; and a plurality of radome supporting members mounted on the radio and extending forward from the radio to the radome for supporting the radome.