Self-Contained Base Station Antenna Sub-Modules for Multi-Band Reuse
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of frequency bands and sectorization in cellular communications systems leads to a complex and costly process of designing, fabricating, and testing base station antennas, as the number of antennas deployed at a base station increases, making it difficult to efficiently manage and reconfigure these systems without adding more antennas, which is constrained by zoning ordinances and weight limitations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of reconfigurable multi-band base station antennas with self-contained sub-modules that include a main module and one or more self-contained sub-modules, where each sub-module has its own backplane and reflector, allowing for independent fabrication and testing, and can be easily swapped or reconfigured to change the antenna's frequency band capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of base station antennas is increased to accommodate more frequency bands and sectors, then the system capacity and coverage are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is divided into a main module and multiple self-contained sub-modules, where each sub-module can be independently designed, fabricated, and tested. This segmentation allows the system to support multiple frequency bands without proportionally increasing overall complexity, as each module can be optimized independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-modules are designed to be universal and interchangeable, with standardized interfaces that allow them to be attached to or removed from the main module. This multi-functionality enables a single antenna system to serve multiple frequency bands and sectors by simply changing or reconfiguring which sub-modules are attached.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more linear arrays are included in base station antennas to support additional frequency bands, then the multi-band capability is improved, but the design, fabrication and testing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Sub-modules are pre-designed, pre-fabricated, and pre-tested independently before being integrated into the complete antenna system. This preliminary action on individual modules significantly reduces the overall design and fabrication time, as the modules can be developed in parallel rather than requiring sequential integration of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the antenna system into independent sub-modules, each module can be fabricated using standardized processes and then assembled through simple attachment mechanisms, dramatically reducing the overall fabrication time compared to building a monolithic multi-band antenna.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of base station antennas is increased to provide service in multiple frequency bands, then the service coverage is improved, but the weight and wind loading on towers increase beyond acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
A single antenna system with interchangeable sub-modules can provide service across multiple frequency bands and sectors, replacing what would traditionally require multiple separate antennas. This universal design maintains service coverage while significantly reducing the total number of physical antenna units deployed on towers.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional capabilities (different frequency bands and sectors) that would traditionally require separate physical antennas are merged into a single antenna system through the use of attachable sub-modules, reducing the overall weight and wind loading on tower structures.
4Ease of operation
If base station antennas are made reconfigurable with attachable sub-modules, then the ease of reconfiguration is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system is segmented into standardized modules with uniform attachment interfaces, making reconfiguration a simple matter of detaching and attaching sub-modules rather than complex internal reconfiguration. This segmentation simplifies the operation despite the modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables easy reconfiguration by changing which sub-modules are attached to the main module, rather than requiring complex internal adjustments. This parameter change approach (changing the configuration of attached modules) simplifies operation while maintaining the ability to support multiple frequency bands and sectors.
Data Source
AI summary
Base station antennas include a main module that has a first backplane that includes a first reflector. A vertically-extending array of first radiating elements is mounted to extend forwardly from the first reflector, and at least one first RF port is coupled to the vertically-extending array of first radiating elements. These antennas further include a sub-module that is attached to the first backplane. The sub-module includes a second backplane that has a second reflector that is separate from the first reflector. A vertically-extending array of second radiating elements is mounted to extend forwardly from the second reflector and is transversely spaced-apart from the vertically-extending array of first radiating elements. A plurality of second RF ports are coupled to the vertically-extending array of second radiating elements. The vertically-extending array of first radiating elements and the vertically-extending array of second radiating elements are configured to serve a common sector of a base station.