Hybrid Antenna Array for Independent Beam Tilt Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile communications network antennas lack flexibility in adjusting tilt angles for different air interface standards like GSM and UMTS, leading to inefficient coverage and increased spectrum waste due to fixed band allocations and inflexible mechanical or passive solutions.

Innovation Solution

An active/passive antenna array system that combines mechanical and electronic tilting to allow independent tilt angle adjustments for multiple air interface standards, using coaxial and fiber-optic feeds for passive and active signals, enabling separate beam shaping and processing for each standard.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate base stations with filter-combiner are used for GSM and UMTS, then coverage for both standards is provided, but the system becomes inflexible and wastes spectrum

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage provisionVSAvoidsystem flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple air interface standards (GSM and UMTS) into a single antenna system with independent beam forming capabilities for each standard. This combining approach eliminates the need for separate base stations and filter-combiners, providing both coverage and flexibility while reducing spectrum waste through shared infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna system is designed with universal multi-functionality to support multiple air interface standards simultaneously, each with independently adjustable beam patterns and tilt angles. This multi-functional design allows a single system to perform what previously required separate dedicated systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If passive antenna system is used with fixed band allocation, then simple infrastructure is maintained, but spectrum efficiency decreases due to wasted roll-off band

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrastructure simplicityVSAvoidspectrum waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the passive mechanical antenna system with an active electronic beam forming system that can dynamically adjust beam patterns for different standards. This substitution eliminates the need for fixed band allocation and roll-off bands, allowing efficient utilization of the entire spectrum while maintaining infrastructure simplicity through electronic control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9030363B2Method and apparatus for tilting beams in a mobile communications network

Publication Date: 2015.05.12 OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

An antenna array for a mobile communications network is disclosed which comprise mechanical devices for altering a direction of a first beam and electronic beam forming apparatus for shaping a second beam. A method for tilting radio beams in a mobile communications network using the antenna array is also disclosed. The method comprises mechanical tilting a first protocol radio beam and electronic tilting a second protocol radio beam.