Multiband Antenna Radiating Elements With Cavity Phase Shifters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current multiband base station antennas face challenges in manufacturing due to size constraints, interaction between radiating elements operating in different frequency bands, and common mode resonances, leading to increased production costs and difficulty in identifying and fixing issues during assembly.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates radiating elements with a feed stalk printed circuit board, a small coupling printed circuit board, and a metal radiator with slots, capacitively coupled to the coupling board, along with wireless cavity phase shifter assemblies, allowing for pre-assembly and testing before installation, and a main reflector with openings for easy assembly and reduced common mode resonance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If radiating elements are designed to support multiple frequency bands, then the antenna's adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to interactions between different frequency band elements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemultiband supportVSAvoidelement interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The radiating element is divided into distinct functional segments: a feed stalk for signal input, a coupling printed circuit board for impedance matching and signal distribution, and a metal radiator with frequency-selective slots for radiation. Each segment is optimized independently to reduce interactions between different frequency band elements while maintaining multiband operation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the antenna structure is compact to reduce size, then the volume is reduced, but the manufacturing precision becomes more difficult to achieve due to tighter tolerances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveantenna sizeVSAvoidassembly tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The feed stalk, coupling printed circuit board, and metal radiator are pre-assembled and pre-tested as a complete radiating element subassembly before installation into the final antenna structure. This preliminary assembly allows for quality control and adjustment to be performed when components are more accessible, reducing the stringency of tolerances required during final antenna assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If common mode resonances are suppressed through design modifications, then the RF performance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional structural features

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRF performanceVSAvoidstructural features

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The metal radiator incorporates slot openings that serve dual purposes: they enable frequency-selective radiation for multiband operation while simultaneously acting as common mode current barriers. By converting the potential harm of common mode resonances into a beneficial feature through strategic slot placement and geometry, the design suppresses unwanted resonances without adding separate suppression structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Ease of manufacture

If radiating elements are designed for easy assembly and testing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the manufacturing precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidassembly quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The radiating element is pre-assembled as a complete functional unit with the feed stalk, coupling printed circuit board, and metal radiator connected and tested before installation into the antenna array. This preliminary action enables manufacturing precision to be ensured during the pre-assembly phase when components can be carefully aligned and tested, while the final assembly process benefits from the simplified task of installing pre-tested modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design simplifies manufacturing, reduces element interaction, minimizes common mode resonances, and enables efficient pre-assembly testing, thereby lowering production costs and improving RF performance.

Implementation Method 1

a metal radiator that is capacitively coupled to the coupling printed circuit board

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitive coupling: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The sub-components of the RF signal are transmitted through the radiating elements to generate an antenna beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20260039010A1Radiating elements for multiband base station antennas having cavity phase shifters and related linear array assemblies and base station antennas

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

A radiating element for a base station antenna comprises a feed stalk printed circuit board, a coupling printed circuit board mounted on a distal end of the feed stalk printed circuit board, the coupling printed circuit board including a plurality of metal pads, and a metal radiator that is capacitively coupled to the coupling printed circuit board and that forms at least part of a first radiator and a second radiator, the metal radiator comprising a monolithic metal plate that includes at least one opening.