Spherical Lens Base Station Antenna for Wideband Multi-Beam Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing base station antennas struggle to provide ultra-wide, multiple band coverage with high port count while maintaining traditional apertures, and fail to support new 5G frequency bands, with lens-based antennas offering superior performance but limited to narrow bands and single beams.
Innovation Solution
A high port count base station antenna system utilizing an array of spherical lenses with multiple ports per frequency band, combined with lower and higher frequency radiators, and a variable phase shift feed network, enabling multiple beam operations across various frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lens-based multiple beam antennas are used, then port-to-port isolation is improved, but bandwidth is limited to narrow bands
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna system divides the frequency spectrum into multiple bands (low band, high band, mid band) and uses separate radiating elements and lenses for each band. Each band has its own set of 4 radiating elements and corresponding spherical lens, allowing independent optimization of bandwidth and isolation for each frequency range while achieving overall wideband operation across all bands combined.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional base station antenna apertures are maintained, then device compatibility is preserved, but capacity improvement through cell splitting is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves cell splitting capability and multiple beam operation by utilizing the vertical dimension through stacked spherical lenses and phased array techniques. Multiple beams are formed in the azimuth plane by controlling the phase and amplitude of signals fed to radiating elements arranged in a circular pattern, enabling capacity improvement without increasing the horizontal aperture area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple frequency bands are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each spherical lens is designed to serve multiple frequency bands simultaneously. The lens structure and surrounding radiating elements are configured to operate across low band, high band, and mid band frequencies, allowing a single antenna module to provide multi-band coverage. This universal design reduces the need for separate antenna systems for each frequency band.
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
The system achieves improved port-to-port isolation, wideband multiband operation, and compact configurations suitable for 5G networks, supporting multiple beams and enhanced capacity.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of spherical, dielectric lenses, stacked vertically, where each lens is surrounded by four or more lower frequency radiating elements
Implementation Method 2
each radiator consists of dipole arms shaped in a circular arc with a radius of curvature similar to the radius of the lens
Implementation Method 3
The lower frequency elements are combined into one or more vertical arrays using a variable phase shift, remote electrical tilt capable, feed network
Implementation Method 4
The higher frequency bands use radiators that illuminate a primary dielectric lens to create a plane wave phase front
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a high port count base station antenna uses an array of spherical lenses with multiple ports per frequency band, containing multiple frequency bands, and capable of multiple beam operation. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna system comprises a plurality of spherical, dielectric lenses, stacked vertically, where each lens is surrounded by four or more lower frequency radiating elements, or one circular element. The circular element can have multiple sub-elements, along with feed gaps.