Twin-beam Base Station Antennas with Thinned Triangular Sub-arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional twin-beam base station antennas face challenges in achieving consistent azimuth Half Power Beam Width (HPBW) and reduced sidelobe levels across a wide frequency range, often requiring large numbers of radiating elements, which increase cost and weight, and can result in undesirable variations in beam pointing and power distribution.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates thinned three-column arrays of radiating elements, where most or all elements are fed as triangular sub-arrays, reducing the number of radiating elements by approximately two-thirds while maintaining comparable performance, and utilizing a V-shaped reflector with vertically offset center columns to optimize beam steering and sidelobe levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional twin-beam base station antennas use large numbers of radiating elements to achieve consistent azimuth HPBW and reduced sidelobe levels, then beam stability and sidelobe control are improved, but antenna weight, cost, and physical size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The radiating element array is segmented into multiple sub-arrays, each with fewer elements. The patent divides the conventional large array into smaller sub-arrays that are selectively activated based on sector requirements, reducing the total number of elements needed while maintaining beam stability through coordinated operation of sub-arrays
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna system dynamically selects and activates specific sub-arrays based on the required sector and beam direction. This dynamic configuration allows the system to achieve consistent performance across different operating conditions without requiring a full array of radiating elements to be permanently installed, reducing overall weight
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional twin-beam base station antennas use large numbers of radiating elements to achieve reduced sidelobe levels, then sidelobe control is improved, but antenna cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The array is divided into sub-arrays that can be independently controlled. By activating only the necessary sub-arrays for each sector, the system achieves effective sidelobe control without requiring all elements to be active, simplifying the overall system complexity while maintaining performance
Solution Approach 2:
Different sub-arrays are optimized for specific local regions or sectors. Each sub-array is designed with specific element patterns and spacing tailored to its local requirements, allowing effective sidelobe control in each sector without requiring uniform complex design across the entire array
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional twin-beam base station antennas use standard element configurations, then manufacturing is simplified, but azimuth HPBW consistency across wide frequency range deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs element spacing and sub-array configuration parameters that are optimized for wideband operation. By carefully selecting spacing values and sub-array geometries, the system maintains consistent azimuth HPBW across a wide frequency range while using standard manufacturing techniques for each individual element
4Weight of stationary object
If conventional twin-beam base station antennas use thinned arrays with fewer radiating elements, then weight and cost are reduced, but beam pointing stability and power distribution uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts which sub-arrays are active and how they are phased to maintain stable beam pointing. By coordinating the phase and amplitude of signals across multiple sub-arrays, the system achieves beam pointing stability comparable to full arrays while using fewer physical elements
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-arrays are positioned and configured asymmetrically to optimize beam formation. The non-uniform distribution of sub-arrays allows for better control of beam pointing and power distribution with fewer elements compared to symmetric conventional configurations
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Twin-beam base station antennas include first and second arrays that each have a plurality of radiating elements that are mounted to extend forwardly from respective first and second panels of an angled reflector. The radiating elements in each array extend in three columns, with the radiating elements in the middle column vertically offset from the radiating elements in the outer columns. The antennas further include first and second phase shifters. More than half of the outputs of the first phase shifter are connected to respective first sub-arrays, where each first sub-array includes one radiating element from each of the three columns in the first array, and more than half of the outputs of the second phase shifter are connected to respective second sub-arrays, where each second sub-array includes one radiating element from each of the three columns in the second array.