Interleaved Multi-Band Antenna Array Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antenna technologies face challenges in integrating multiple frequency bands without compromising radiation pattern performance, leading to increased antenna size and higher wind loads and site rental costs, which are concerns for mobile communication base stations.
Innovation Solution
An antenna array design with interleaved sets of antenna unit elements, where each set supports a specific frequency band, utilizing larger antenna unit element separations to reduce the number of elements and maintain performance, thereby minimizing the physical size and wind load while supporting multiple frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple frequency bands are integrated into a single antenna aperture, then frequency coverage is improved, but radiation pattern performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna aperture is segmented into multiple sub-arrays, each dedicated to a specific frequency band. This allows each sub-array to be optimized for its frequency range while collectively providing multi-band coverage, thus maintaining radiation pattern performance for each band while achieving broad frequency coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-plane antenna array to a multi-dimensional stacked configuration where different frequency bands are arranged in vertical layers. This spatial separation in the vertical dimension allows each frequency band to maintain its radiation characteristics while achieving multi-band functionality within a compact footprint.
2Reliability
If multiple single frequency band antenna solutions are used, then radiation pattern performance is improved, but antenna size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple frequency band sub-arrays are nested within a single antenna structure, with each sub-array for a different frequency band being integrated into the same physical aperture. This nesting approach allows multiple single-frequency solutions to coexist in a compact unified structure, maintaining performance while minimizing size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension to stack different frequency band sub-arrays, allowing them to occupy different spatial layers rather than requiring lateral expansion. This vertical stacking enables multiple single-frequency solutions to be integrated without increasing the horizontal footprint, thus maintaining compact antenna size while preserving radiation pattern performance.
3Volume of moving object
If antenna size is reduced, then wind load and site rental costs are reduced, but the number of elements needed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs antenna elements that can serve multiple frequency bands simultaneously through multi-functional element structures. These universal elements are capable of operating across different frequency ranges, reducing the total number of elements required while maintaining compact antenna size and minimizing wind load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple frequency band functionalities into a unified antenna structure with shared elements and common support infrastructure. By combining the functions of multiple single-frequency antennas into one integrated multi-band antenna, the total element count is reduced while achieving compact size, lower wind load, and decreased site rental costs.
Data Source
Figure 1~2a
Figure 2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An antenna array (10, 20, 30) comprising at least two sets (11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34) of antenna unit elements is disclosed. Each set (11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34) of antenna unit elements supports a respective frequency band, wherein a vertical center-to-center distance between the antenna unit elements of a lowest frequency among the respective frequency bands is more than twice the vertical extension, D, of convex hull containing one antenna unit element of the lowest frequency, and antenna unit elements of at least a second set are arranged interleaved with the antenna unit elements of the lowest frequency. An arrangement (40) comprising the antenna array (10, 20, 30) and a network node (41) is also disclosed.