Multi-Band Base Station Antenna Layout With Broadband Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in designing multi-band base station antennas is to reduce the scattering of RF signals across different frequency bands, which affects the antenna beam shape, beamwidth, pointing angle, gain, and front-to-back ratio, making it difficult to compensate for these effects and increasing the number of antennas required, thereby increasing costs and structural demands.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates radiating elements with dipole arms that are transparent to specific frequency bands, allowing for closer positioning of linear arrays without degrading RF performance, using widened and narrowed sections to create high impedance for certain frequency bands and reducing coupling between arrays, thereby minimizing the impact on antenna patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple linear arrays of radiating elements are deployed to support service in different frequency bands, then the number of frequency bands served increases, but the number of base station antennas increases, increasing costs and structural demands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of frequency bands servedVSAvoidnumber of base station antennas
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by designing a single base station antenna that can serve multiple frequency bands (low-band, mid-band, and high-band) through integrated radiating elements. The antenna structure incorporates multiple linear arrays operating across different frequency ranges, allowing one antenna to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate antennas, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability across frequency bands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If the number of base station antennas is increased to accommodate increased sectorization, then capacity increases, but weight and wind loading constraints are exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase station capacityVSAvoidantenna tower weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple linear arrays of radiating elements into a single integrated base station antenna structure. By combining the functionality of multiple antennas into one unified structure, the total weight and wind loading on the tower are reduced while maintaining the capacity to support increased sectorization through the multiple linear arrays operating within the single antenna

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Length of stationary object

If linear arrays are positioned closer together to reduce antenna width, then RF signal scattering increases, degrading antenna beam performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantenna widthVSAvoidantenna beam performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by designing radiating elements with specific impedance characteristics that are optimized for their local position within the antenna structure. The radiating elements are configured with impedance values that reduce coupling and scattering effects when arrays are positioned closely together, allowing the antenna to maintain compact width while preserving beam performance through localized impedance optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This approach allows for a reduction in the number of antennas deployed, lowers tower leasing costs, and increases market capability by maintaining RF performance while reducing the width of the base station antenna, thus addressing the structural and cost challenges associated with increased sectorization.

Implementation Method 1

The narrowed sections of the first dipole arm may be configured to create a high impedance for RF signals that are in the second frequency band, and the narrowed sections of the second dipole arm may be configured to create a high impedance for RF signals that are in the third frequency band

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHigh impedance: Electrical Impedance Tomography

Data Source

PatentEP3955383B1Multi-band base station antennas having broadband decoupling radiating elements and related radiating elements
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • EP3955383B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3955383B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3955383B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station antenna, comprising a first linear array of dual-polarized low-band radiating elements that are configured to transmit radio frequency ("RF") signals in a first frequency band; a second linear array of mid-band radiating elements that are configured to transmit RF signals in a second frequency band; a third linear array of high-band radiating elements that are configured to transmit RF signals in a third frequency band; wherein the first linear array of dual-polarized low-band radiating elements is positioned between the second linear array of mid-band radiating elements and the third linear array of high-band radiating elements, wherein each low-band radiating element includes a first dipole having first and second dipole arms that extend along a first axis and a second dipole having third and fourth dipole arms that extend along a second axis, wherein the first dipole arm is shaped differently from the second dipole arm, and wherein the first dipole arm vertically overlaps one of the radiating elements in the second linear array of mid-band radiating elements.