Grid Reflector Base Station Antenna for Multi-Band Heat Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing base station antennas face challenges in efficiently managing multiple frequency bands and heat dissipation, particularly with the integration of passive and active antenna modules, which can lead to overheating and reduced performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a base station antenna with a grid reflector and frequency selective surfaces (FSS) that separates and manages different frequency bands, allowing high-band radiating elements to propagate through while reflecting lower-band signals, and includes a dielectric cover for improved heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If passive and active antenna modules are integrated in a base station antenna, then multi-band frequency management capability is improved, but heat dissipation performance deteriorates due to overheating issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-band frequency management capabilityVSAvoidheat dissipation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna system is divided into separate passive and active antenna modules, each handling different frequency bands. The passive module processes lower frequency bands while the active module handles higher frequency bands, allowing independent thermal management for each module and preventing heat accumulation from affecting the entire system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A thermal management intermediary system is introduced between the antenna modules and the housing structure. This includes heat dissipation pathways and thermal interfaces that facilitate heat transfer from the active module to the housing, preventing direct heat transfer to sensitive components and enabling controlled thermal management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple linear arrays of radiating elements are added to accommodate increasing cellular communications volume, then communication capacity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station antenna is designed with universal multi-functionality by integrating both passive and active antenna modules within a single housing structure. The passive module provides broad coverage for lower frequency bands while the active module provides targeted beamforming capability for higher frequency bands, allowing one antenna system to serve multiple communication capacity requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If beamforming arrays with integrated radios are deployed to perform active beamforming, then antenna beam control capability is improved, but heat generation increases leading to overheating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna beam control capabilityVSAvoidheat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The active beamforming radio module is extracted as a separate, self-contained unit within the antenna housing. This allows the heat-generating radio components to be isolated from other sensitive components, with dedicated thermal management pathways that extract heat directly from the radio module to the housing structure, preventing heat accumulation that would affect beamforming performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enhances performance by optimizing frequency band management and heat dissipation, enabling efficient operation across multiple frequency bands and reducing overheating issues.

Implementation Method 1

the grid reflector...reflecting lower band signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

frequency selective surfaces (FSS) that separates and manages different frequency bands

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrequency selective surface: Filter (optical)

Implementation Method 3

includes a dielectric cover for improved heat dissipation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

dielectric cover for improved heat dissipation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal convection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20250316890A1Base station antennas having at least one grid reflector and related devices

Publication Date: 2025.10.09 OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

Base station antennas include at least one passive internal grid reflector with an array of low band radiating elements projecting forward of a front one of the at least one grid reflector. A mMIMO antenna array resides behind a back one of the at least one grid reflector and is configured to transmit signal through the grid reflector and out a front radome of the base station antenna.