Interleaved Base Station Antenna Sub-Arrays for Narrower Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional base station antennas for cellular communications systems are bulky, costly, and heavy due to their four-column configuration, which limits their width and increases the number of low-band radiating elements, leading to reduced capacity and performance issues such as increased width, higher costs, and heavier weight.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates two interleaved arrays with shared inner columns of low-band radiating elements, applying different fixed phase delays to reduce the number of elements and improve isolation, using L-shaped or triangular sub-arrays and power dividers to achieve a narrower beamwidth and lighter weight, while maintaining performance with fewer radiating elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional four-column configuration of radiating elements is used, then the antenna provides adequate coverage and performance, but the antenna width increases, weight increases, and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fourth column of radiating elements with the third column by applying different fixed phase delays to radiating elements in the same physical column. This allows the antenna to achieve four-column performance with only three physical columns, reducing antenna width while maintaining coverage and performance requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the phase delay parameter applied to radiating elements based on their position and function. By applying different fixed phase delays to elements in the shared column versus elements in outer columns, the system achieves spatial separation and performance differentiation without requiring additional physical columns
2Reliability
If the number of low-band radiating elements is increased to improve coverage, then the antenna width and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional columns into a shared physical column by applying different phase delays to different radiating elements within the same column. This reduces the total number of radiating elements required while maintaining the coverage capability of a four-column configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The radiating elements in the shared column serve multiple functions simultaneously by applying different fixed phase delays. The same physical elements can provide coverage for different spatial sectors or beam directions, reducing the total number of elements needed and thereby reducing weight
3Reliability
If more radiating elements are used to maintain performance with fewer columns, then the complexity of the antenna structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of four columns into three physical columns, reducing structural complexity. By sharing the inner column between two arrays and applying different phase delays, the system achieves equivalent performance with fewer physical components and simpler support structures
4Reliability
If conventional four-column antennas are used, then adequate isolation is achieved, but the antenna width and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes in the form of different fixed phase delays applied to radiating elements in the shared column to achieve spatial and functional separation. This maintains isolation between arrays while reducing the physical width required, as isolation is achieved through phase manipulation rather than increased physical spacing
Data Source
AI summary
Base station antennas are provided. A base station antenna includes a first array of radiating elements and a second array of radiating elements that is interleaved with the first array. Each of the first and second arrays has a plurality of non-rectangular sub-arrays that include radiating elements in one or more outer columns and radiating elements in an inner column that is between the first and second outer columns.