Planar Array Antenna Beamwidth Reduction via Lateral Offset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional planar array antennas have half-power beamwidths that are wider than desired, leading to suboptimal sector border signal-to-interference performance in cellular systems, requiring larger antenna sizes to achieve the desired beamwidth of around 65 degrees, and prior solutions are either bulky, vertically asymmetric, or do not effectively reduce beamwidth without increasing antenna size.
Innovation Solution
The antenna arrangement features at least two antenna parts with a longitudinal extension, each divided by a column axis, where antenna elements are distributed both along and perpendicular to the column axis, with some elements positioned at specific distances from the axis, allowing for dual polarization and varying numbers of elements per part to control beamwidth without increasing size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If column spacing is increased to achieve 65-degree half-power beamwidth, then beamwidth is improved, but antenna size increases by 50%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional planar column arrangements to a three-dimensional configuration where antenna elements are positioned at different heights and lateral offsets. This spatial dimensionality change enables beamwidth control without proportionally increasing the antenna's horizontal footprint, resolving the contradiction between achieving 65-degree beamwidth and maintaining compact size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of antenna element positioning, specifically implementing lateral offsets from the column axis and varying height positions. By changing these spatial parameters, the radiation pattern achieves the desired 65-degree half-power beamwidth while avoiding the need to increase column spacing, thus preventing the 50% size increase that would otherwise be required.
2Device complexity
If conventional planar array configuration is used, then antenna structure is simple, but sector border signal-to-interference performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning specific antenna elements at lateral offsets from the column axis rather than uniformly along the axis. This creates non-uniform radiation characteristics in different spatial directions, providing better spatial filtering and signal-to-interference performance at sector borders while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
By introducing lateral offset positioning in addition to the conventional vertical column arrangement, the patent adds a lateral dimension to the antenna element distribution. This enhanced spatial configuration improves sector border performance through better beam shaping without significantly complicating the overall antenna structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a node (1) in a wireless communication system comprising at least one antenna arrangement (2). The antenna arrangement (2) comprises at least a first antenna part (3) and a second antenna part (4), each antenna part (3, 4, 5) having a longitudinal extension along which extension a corresponding column axis (6, 7, 8) runs. The column axis divides each antenna part in two longitudinal sub-parts. Each antenna part (3, 4, 5) further comprises at least three antenna elements (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14) distributed along said column axis (6, 7, 8) and being connected to a corresponding antenna port arrangement (15, 16, 17). For each antenna part (3, 4, 5), at least one (10, 12, 14) of said antenna elements is positioned on said column axis (6, 7, 8), and at least one (9, 11, 13) of said antenna elements is positioned separate from said column axis (6, 7, 8).