Antenna System Segmentation for Pole Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional antennas with integrated electronic and cooling components increase weight and cabling complexity, making them difficult to mount on antenna poles, especially for massive MIMO systems, requiring significant labor and resources.
Innovation Solution
Separating the active electronic arrangement from the cooling arrangement allows for two-step mounting, with each component weighing around 20 kg, reducing cabling effort and enabling easier attachment to an antenna pole, and allowing for flexible design and separate servicing of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the electronic part (transceiver) is provided ground-based, then cabling complexity increases, but the antenna weight remains manageable
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into two separate mountable units: an active electronic arrangement (containing transceivers and antenna elements) and a passive arrangement (containing cooling components). This segmentation allows the heavy cooling components to be mounted separately from the electronics, reducing the weight of each individual unit while maintaining overall system functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If the electronic part is integrated in the antenna on the pole, then the antenna weight increases, but cabling effort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The integration of electronics and cooling components is segmented into two separately mountable arrangements. The active electronic arrangement can be mounted first with simplified cabling, and the passive cooling arrangement is mounted separately to provide thermal management without adding weight to the electronic components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the antenna weight is increased to include electronic and cooling components, then functionality is improved, but mounting difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into two lighter, separately mountable arrangements that can be installed in two steps. This reduces the weight and complexity of each mounting operation while maintaining the full functionality of the integrated system when both arrangements are combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The active electronic arrangement is designed to be mountable and functional before the passive cooling arrangement is attached. This preliminary mounting allows the electronics to be installed and configured first, then the cooling components are added to complete the thermal management system.
4Temperature
If the antenna weight is around 50 kg, then more cooling capacity is available, but additional crane and organizational effort is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling capacity is segmented into a separate passive arrangement that can be mounted independently. This allows the full cooling capacity to be provided while avoiding the need to lift and mount a single 50 kg integrated unit, as the cooling components are installed separately in a second mounting step.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the mounting process, reduces labor and organizational efforts, and allows for easier maintenance and upgrades of massive MIMO antennas by separating the active electronic and cooling components, thereby reducing the overall weight and cabling complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling arrangement configured to dissipate heat
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an antenna system (100, 200, 211, 300, 400, 500, 600) for attachment to an antenna pole (250, 350), the antenna system (100, 200, 211, 300, 400, 500, 600) comprising a cooling arrangement (101, 201, 212, 301, 401, 501, 601), an active electronic arrangement (102, 202, 213, 302, 402, 502, 602) that comprises a number of antenna elements (103, 104) and a number of receivers and/or transmitters for the antenna elements (103, 104), wherein the active electronic arrangement (102, 202, 213, 302, 402, 502, 602) is releasably attachable to the cooling arrangement (101, 201, 212, 301, 401, 501, 601). Further, the present invention provides a communication system (210) and a method for manufacturing an antenna system (100, 200, 211, 300, 400, 500, 600).