Self-Contained Multi-Band Antenna Sub-Modules for Tower Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of frequency bands and sectorization in cellular communications systems leads to a significant increase in the number of base station antennas, which is constrained by local zoning ordinances and weight/wind loading, making design, fabrication, and testing of multi-band antennas time-consuming and expensive.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of reconfigurable multi-band base station antennas with self-contained sub-modules, where each sub-module includes a separate reflector and radiating elements, allowing independent fabrication and testing, and can be easily replaced or reconfigured to adapt to different frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of base station antennas is increased to accommodate more frequency bands and sectors, then the coverage and capacity of cellular communications are improved, but the weight and wind loading on antenna towers increase beyond acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple frequency band antennas (low-band, mid-band, and high-band) into a single integrated multi-band antenna structure. This merging approach allows the antenna to serve multiple frequency bands and sectors simultaneously, improving coverage and capacity without requiring separate antennas for each band, thereby reducing the overall weight and wind loading on the tower.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple linear arrays are included in base station antennas to support multiple frequency bands, then the versatility of the antenna is improved, but the design, fabrication and testing complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the multi-band antenna into separate modular sections, each designed to support specific frequency bands (low-band, mid-band, high-band). Each module contains its own linear arrays and can be independently designed, fabricated, and tested. This segmentation reduces the overall complexity by allowing parallel development of individual modules rather than designing the entire multi-band system as a single complex unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal antenna module design that can be configured to support different frequency bands through reconfiguration of the linear arrays. The same basic module structure can be adapted for low-band, mid-band, or high-band service, reducing design complexity by using standardized components across multiple frequency band implementations.
3Productivity
If the number of base station antennas is increased to support increased sectorization, then the network capacity is improved, but the available tower mounting capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sector antennas into a single multi-band antenna unit that can provide coverage for multiple sectors simultaneously. This consolidation reduces the number of separate antenna mounts required on the tower, freeing up mounting space while maintaining or improving network capacity through the enhanced multi-band capabilities of the integrated antenna.
Data Source
AI summary
Base station antennas include a main module that has a first backplane that includes a first reflector. A vertically-extending array of first radiating elements is mounted to extend forwardly from the first reflector, and at least one first RF port is coupled to the vertically-extending array of first radiating elements. These antennas further include a sub-module that is attached to the first backplane. The sub-module includes a second backplane that has a second reflector that is separate from the first reflector. A vertically-extending array of second radiating elements is mounted to extend forwardly from the second reflector and is transversely spaced-apart from the vertically-extending array of first radiating elements. A plurality of second RF ports are coupled to the vertically-extending array of second radiating elements. The vertically-extending array of first radiating elements and the vertically-extending array of second radiating elements are configured to serve a common sector of a base station.