Abstract: An antenna that enables dense packing of radiators includes a plurality of first radiators configured to radiate in a first frequency band and a plurality of second radiators configured to radiate in a second frequency band, the second frequency band having higher frequencies than the first frequency band. each of the plurality of first radiators includes a plurality of dipole arms. Each of the plurality of dipole arms includes a periodic pattern of inductive choke segments, and each of the dipole arms has a broken peripheral current path.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high frequency radiator for an antenna. The high frequency radiator is formed of two interlocking PCB stems on which a radiator plate is mounted. Disposed on each of the interlocking PCB stems are two combinations of a feeder metallic trace and an opposing metallic trace, disposed on opposite sides of the PCB stem and electrically coupled together by at least one via formed in the PCB stem and a solder point within the via. This configuration of high frequency radiator is considerably cheaper to manufacture compared to conventional designs and is less susceptible to impedance matching problems resulting from inconsistent solder joint dimensions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for mounting radio heads in close proximity to an antenna on a cell tower. In the examples disclosed, the mounting configurations enable easy access to each of the radios so that they can be serviced individually without interfering with the functioning of the other radio in its communications with the antenna.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and methods for creating and maintaining a virtual subnetwork of telecommunication base stations within a wider telecommunication network. In an LTE-based example, the subnetwork includes a connection aggregator that is coupled between the plurality of eNodeBs internal to the subnetwork and one or more MMEs in the outer network. The connection aggregator intercepts all control plane messages between the MMEs and the internal eNodeBs, remaps eNodeB identifiers, and transmits repackaged messages so that the outer network sees the entire subnetwork as a single “giant” eNodeB. The disclosed system and methods enables the operator of the virtual subnetwork to add and shut down eNodeBs as demand for connectivity fluctuates, and to do so such that all changes are unseen by the outer network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Luneberg lens that is formed of a plurality of wedge sections that can be easily assembled into a sphere. The wedge sections can be formed of an injection molded plastic, which can dramatically reduce the cost of manufacturing the lens. Different configurations of wedge sections are disclosed.

Abstract: A connector, and connector insert, configured to inhibit plastic deformation of at least one of the axially projecting fingers of an outer conductor basket associated with a connector. The connector insert comprises: (i) an outwardly facing flange configured to engage a shoulder formed at a base of the axially projecting fingers of the outer conductor basket, (ii) a tubular structure defining an elongate axis and having plurality of engagement sections extending normal to the outwardly facing flange, each engagement section having a surface disposed substantially normally to a radial projecting from the elongate axis; and (iii) a plurality of stiffening sections having a surface disposed substantially parallel to a radial projecting from the elongate axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high performance low cost multiband antenna configuration that has a low band dipole having dipole arms formed of stamped sheet metal with a plurality of inductor structures. The plurality of inductor structures are oriented along a longitudinal axis of the low band dipole arm, and others are oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The plurality of the inductor structures act as cloaking structures that make the low band dipole substantially transparent to high band RF energy without inhibiting the performance of the dipole in the low band.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated radio network that can host a plurality of network operators, each of which may be transmitting and receiving packetized signals over a fronthaul network. Each of the network operators may have one or more prioritized packet streams whereby a given network operator may have a plurality of prioritized packet streams having a different allocated priority, and the plurality of network operators may have a differentiated priority among each other. The integrated radio network has a switch/monitor that (1) identifies one or more network operators exceeding their respective allocations and mitigates the violation; and (2) identifies fronthaul network bottlenecks and takes action to mitigate the bottleneck by reducing or impeding low priority packet streams.

Abstract: A method for pooling resources in a mobile network includes allocating baseband resources between a plurality of virtual baseband engines supporting the mobile network, determining a change in a usage of the mobile network, and re-allocating, in response to the change in the usage of the mobile network, the baseband resources between the plurality of virtual baseband engines.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antenna having a plurality of radiators disposed in a ring or arc around a Luneburg lens. Each of the radiators (e.g., flared-notch radiators) has a center radiating axis that intersects with the center of the Luneburg lens. Each of the radiators radiate into the Luneburg lens such that the Luneburg lens substantially planarizes the beam emitted by each radiator (on transmit) and focuses an incoming wavefront into the radiator (on receiver). This not only enables having numerous well-controlled individual beams, it also allows for combining radiators to create well-defined sector beams with minimal sidelobes and fast rolloff.

Abstract: Disclosed is a decoupling dipole structure that renders a midband dipole effectively transparent to a nearby lowband dipole. This not only improves the beam quality in the lowband without sacrificing beam quality in the midband, it also enables different lowband dipoles to be employed to customize the lowband performance of the multiband antenna without requiring a redesign of the midband dipoles or of the array face.

Abstract: A compression connector comprises a connector body comprising an inner surface and a threaded clamp at least partially positioned within the connector body and configured to slide relative to the connector body. A contact cone is positioned within the connector body and comprises an outer surface configured to engage with the inner surface of the connector body. An insulator is positioned proximate the contact cone and defines an aperture. An inner conductor comprises a contact component comprising an inner conductor basket and a cylindrical portion extending from the conductor basket, and an interface component defining an opening configured to engage with the cylindrical portion of the contact component. The contact component, the interface component, and the insulator are held together such that they form a rigid three-piece assembly when the threaded clamp couples an end of a cable.

Abstract: A telecommunications antenna comprising a plurality of unit cells each including at least one radiator which transmits RF energy within a bandwidth range which is a multiple of another radiator. The radiators are proximal to each other such that a resonant condition may be induced into the at least one radiator upon activation of the other radiator. At least one of the radiators is segmented into capacitively-connected radiator elements to suppress a resonance response therein upon activation of the other of the radiator.

Abstract: An antenna has a plurality of dipoles disposed on a reflector plate. Mounted to the reflector plate is a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) having a plurality of keyed slots, one per radiator of the plurality of dipoles. Disposed within each keyed slot is a transition clip holding an RF (Radio Frequency) cable in place. The transition clip has a shape that holds it in place with a quarter turn, obviating the need to solder the transition clip in place before installing the RF cable. The transition clip is configured to mechanically and electrically couple to the outer conductor of the RF cable and holds in place during soldering. The transition clip and PCB are configured so that the steps of soldering the outer conductor to the transition clip and the inner conductor to an RF signal solder point on the PCB may be performed from the same side of the PCB.

Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual base station capable of hosting multiple network operators and/or private networks in a single compute environment. The virtual base station includes a plurality of virtual baseband processors configured to communicate with the plurality of mobile network operators, a supervisor module, a fronthaul network interface configured to be coupled to one or more remote units, and a KPI (Key Performance Indicator) coordinator module coupled to the supervisor module and the one or more virtual baseband processors. The base station may have on or more CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) Daemons to act as a proxy for obtaining grants to CBRS channels and allocating the CBRS channels to the mobile network operators.

Abstract: An RF plenum cable has an annular outer conductor and a coaxial inner conductor. Disposed between the inner and outer conductors is a dielectric spine which includes a sleeve that wraps around the inner conductor, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs that project outwardly from an outer surface of the sleeve. Each of the ribs is defined by a tapered configuration having a first thickness at a first end portion coupled to the sleeve, and a second thickness at a second end portion coupled to an inner surface of the outer conductor, in which the first thickness is less than the second thickness. The dielectric spine may be formed of a plastic having a dielectric constant and loss tangent that, combined with the design of the dielectric spine and the dimensions of the inner and outer conductor, allows for a reduced insertion loss at high frequencies (e.g., 6 GHz).

Abstract: A sector antenna is provided comprising a base plate, a cable tower mounting to the base plate and at least one reflector mounting to the base plate and substantially parallel to the axis of the cable tower. The reflector includes a plurality of electrical components operative to transmit and receive telecommunications signals in an arcuate sector of the antenna. The reflector has an inwardly facing surface opposing the cable tower and an outwardly facing surface disposed away from the cable tower. Furthermore, a cable guide plate is interposed between the cable tower and the reflector such that apertures formed in the cable guide plate may provide a guide through which a conductor may pass for making an electrical connection to one of the electrical components along the outwardly-facing surface of the reflector. The cable guide plate apertures align with the reflector apertures and provide a guide to operators when assembling, maintaining and repairing the telecommunications antenna.

Abstract: A connector comprises an inner conductor, an outer conductor basket and an annular abutment/alignment guide disposed therebetween. The inner conductor socket transmits RF signals from one connector portion to another connector portion across a mating interface. The outer conductor basket comprises a plurality of axially projecting fingers operative to electrically ground the connector. The annular abutment comprises an outwardly facing abutment surface and an alignment guide disposed integrally with the annular abutment. The alignment guide has a flanged end portion projecting: (i) radially outboard from an upper or forward end of the annular abutment and (ii) over the tip ends of each axially projecting basket finger.

Abstract: Disclosed is a virtual wireless base station that can dynamically scale its capacity to meet changes in demand for connectivity. The virtual wireless base station includes a plurality of virtual baseband modules, a plurality of interface/router modules, an orchestrator module and a fabric mapper module. Each of the plurality of virtual baseband modules is coupled to the interface/router modules by a low latency switch fabric. The orchestrator determines current and near future demand for connectivity within the virtual wireless base station and either instantiates and connects new virtual baseband processors to meet a rise in demand, or shuts down underutilized virtual baseband processors in case of insufficient demand.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low band dipole that has four dipole arms in a cross configuration, and a simplified cloaking structure to substantially prevent interference with radiated RF energy from nearby high band dipoles. Further disclosed is a feed network and dipole stem balun configuration that power divides and combines two distinct RF signals, without the use of a hybrid coupler, so that the four dipole arms collectively radiate the two RF signals respectively at a +45 degree and ?45 degree polarization orientation relative to the orientation of the dipole arms.