Multi-Band Antenna Enclosure for Tower Space Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless network operators face challenges in leasing space on towers due to regulatory wind-loading limits and the need to support multiple frequency bands, which existing antenna solutions cannot efficiently address, especially when frequency bands are far apart.
Innovation Solution
An antenna arrangement with a single enclosure housing multiple antennas, each supporting different frequency bands, such as 800/900 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2.5 GHz, and 24 GHz, allowing for reduced leasing costs and efficient communication across various frequency domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple individual antennas are deployed to support different frequency bands, then communication coverage across multiple frequency bands is achieved, but leasing costs and tower space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple antennas supporting different frequency bands (e.g., 800/900 MHz, 1900 MHz, 2.5 GHz, 24 GHz) into a single integrated antenna enclosure. This merging approach reduces the number of separate enclosures needed on tower structures, directly addressing the contradiction by maintaining multi-band versatility while reducing device complexity and leasing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna enclosure is designed as a universal structure capable of supporting multiple frequency bands through integrated antennas. This multi-functional design allows a single enclosure to perform what previously required multiple specialized enclosures, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional antennas are added to support more frequency bands, then communication capability across frequency bands is improved, but wind-loading limits are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple frequency band antennas into a single enclosure, the total wind-loading impact is reduced compared to deploying multiple separate antennas. The consolidated structure presents a smaller cumulative profile to wind forces while maintaining the ability to support multiple frequency bands, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and wind-loading constraints
3Ease of manufacture
If a single antenna is used to support closely located frequency bands, then deployment cost is reduced, but support for widely separated frequency bands is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna enclosure implements a universal design that can accommodate antennas for widely separated frequency bands (from 800/900 MHz to 24 GHz) within a single structure. This maintains the cost benefits of single-enclosure deployment while extending adaptability to cover broad frequency ranges, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
Antenna arrangements that include two or more antennas in an enclosure are provided. Each of these antennas can be tuned to a separate frequency band and/or can support a different wireless communication technology. The downtilt of the antennas can be electrically and/or mechanically controlled, and various feeder arrangements can be employed.