Abstract: A cellular beamforming base station antenna is provided having a reflector, a plurality of signal ports located at the bottom of said reflector, a calibration circuit, a plurality of beamformers, coupled to the signal ports, and a plurality of radiating elements, coupled to the beamformers. The plurality of radiating elements are arranged into a plurality of vertically aligned columns disposed across a width of the reflector, the plurality of radiating elements are each also positioned in one of a plurality of horizontally aligned rows along the length of the reflector. Elements in one of the plurality of rows of elements are connected to at least a first of the plurality of beamformers. Elements in another of the plurality of rows of elements are connected to a second of the plurality of beamformers. Outputs of the first and second beamformers are connected to the calibration circuit which is connected to different ports located on a bottom of the reflector.

Abstract: A beamforming cellular antenna includes a plurality of patch elements and a plurality of dipole elements. The plurality of patch elements and dipole elements are arranged on a planar array of said antenna into a plurality of rows and columns of elements. Each column of elements forms a sub-array connected to a plurality of signal input ports. Each column sub-array includes a plurality of both patch elements, and a plurality of dipole elements.

Abstract: An omnidirectional MIMO antenna system includes a multi-panel antenna, each panel including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of beam forming networks employing Butler matrices. Each Butler matrix has one less the number of input ports than output ports. The total number of the input ports of the Butler matrices is equal to the number of ports of the MIMO antenna, each of the input ports receiving the same signal. Each of the output ports of each of the Butler matrices is coupled to an antenna element within the plurality of the antenna elements, such that the multi-panel antenna exhibits a quasi-omnidirectional beam pattern.

Abstract: An antenna array with control circuitry placed at a front of the antenna array and between the antenna elements. By locating the azimuth beamforming network control circuitry on the front of the array and between antenna elements, the antenna elements and the other components can be coupled to the control circuitry without using cables. This leads to a reduction in the number of cable connections and to a reduction in size and weight of the resulting antenna array. The ABFN control circuitry is also used to control the beams formed from each row and not from each column as is usually done.

Abstract: An omnidirectional MIMO antenna system includes a multi-panel antenna, each panel including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of beam forming networks employing Butler matrices. Each Butler matrix has one less the number of input ports than output ports. The total number of the input ports of the Butler matrices is equal to the number of ports of the MIMO antenna, each of the input ports receiving the same signal. Each of the output ports of each of the Butler matrices is coupled to an antenna element within the plurality of the antenna elements, such that the multi-panel antenna exhibits a quasi-omnidirectional beam pattern.

Abstract: An omnidirectional MIMO antenna system includes a multi-panel antenna, each panel including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of beam forming networks employing Butler matrices. Each Butler matrix has the same number of input ports and output ports. The total number of the input ports of the Butler matrices is equal to the number of ports of the MIMO antenna, each of the input ports receiving the same signal. Each of the output ports of each of the Butler matrices is coupled to an antenna element within the plurality of the antenna elements, such that the multi-panel antenna exhibits a quasi-omnidirectional beam pattern.

Abstract: An antenna array with control circuitry placed at a front of the antenna array and between the antenna elements. By locating the azimuth beamforming network control circuitry on the front of the array and between antenna elements, the antenna elements and the other components can be coupled to the control circuitry without using cables. This leads to a reduction in the number of cable connections and to a reduction in size and weight of the resulting antenna array. The ABFN control circuitry is also used to control the beams formed from each row and not from each column as is usually done.

Abstract: A multi-band generalized antenna architecture using two or more types of antenna element is presented. Linear arrays of a first type of antenna element are used for one or more frequencies while a second antenna element type is used for other frequencies. The second type of antenna element is located between the linear arrays of the first antenna element type. The second antenna element type may be arranged in a staggered configuration or they may be arranged as linear arrays as well. The first type of antenna element may be a patch antenna element while the second type of antenna element may be a dipole antenna element. The patch antenna element may be used for high band frequencies while the dipole antenna element may be used in low band frequencies. The spacing in vertical direction is not equal to minimize the effect of arrays on each other.

Abstract: An antenna array with control circuitry placed at a front of the antenna array and between the antenna elements. By locating the azimuth beamforming network control circuitry on the front of the array and between antenna elements, the antenna elements and the other components can be coupled to the control circuitry without using cables. This leads to a reduction in the number of cable connections and to a reduction in size and weight of the resulting antenna array. The ABFN control circuitry is also used to control the beams formed from each row and not from each column as is usually done.

Abstract: An omnidirectional MIMO antenna system includes a multi-panel antenna, each panel including a plurality of antenna elements and a plurality of beam forming networks employing Butler matrices. Each Butler matrix has the same number of input ports and output ports. The total number of the input ports of the Butler matrices is equal to the number of ports of the MIMO antenna, each of the input ports receiving the same signal. Each of the output ports of each of the Butler matrices is coupled to an antenna element within the plurality of the antenna elements, such that the multi-panel antenna exhibits a quasi-omnidirectional beam pattern.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to an antenna element and to an antenna array. A three level antenna element provides wideband coverage as well as dual polarization. Each of the three levels is a substrate with a conductive patch with the bottom level being spaced apart from the ground plane. Each of the three levels is spaced apart from the other levels with the spacings being non-uniform. The antenna element may be slot coupled by way of a cross slot in the ground plane. The antenna element, when used in an antenna array, may be surrounded by a metallic fence to heighten isolation from other antenna elements.

Abstract: An antenna array with control circuitry placed at a front of the antenna array and between the antenna elements. By locating the azimuth beamforming network control circuitry on the front of the array and between antenna elements, the antenna elements and the other components can be coupled to the control circuitry without using cables. This leads to a reduction in the number of cable connections and to a reduction in size and weight of the resulting antenna array. The ABFN control circuitry is also used to control the beams formed from each row and not from each column as is usually done.

Abstract: A multi-band generalized antenna architecture using two or more types of antenna element is presented. Linear arrays of a first type of antenna element are used for one or more frequencies while a second antenna element type is used for other frequencies. The second type of antenna element is located between the linear arrays of the first antenna element type. The second antenna element type may be arranged in a staggered configuration or they may be arranged as linear arrays as well. The first type of antenna element may be a patch antenna element while the second type of antenna element may be a dipole antenna element. The patch antenna element may be used for high band frequencies while the dipole antenna element may be used in low band frequencies. The spacing in vertical direction is not equal to minimize the effect of arrays on each other.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to an antenna element and to an antenna array. A three level antenna element provides wideband coverage as well as dual polarization. Each of the three levels is a substrate with a conductive patch with the bottom level being spaced apart from the ground plane. Each of the three levels is spaced apart from the other levels with the spacings being non-uniform. The antenna element may be slot coupled by way of a cross slot in the ground plane. The antenna element, when used in an antenna array, may be surrounded by a metallic fence to heighten isolation from other antenna elements.

Abstract: There is described herein a low profile dipole antenna element. A pair of these elements can be arranged in a crossed manner to provide two orthogonal polarized radiators. The antenna element may be combined with an electrically conductive surface and a feed cable and connected to a feed source.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a patch antenna, element thereof and method of feeding therefor are described. In general, the patch antenna is configured to generate orthogonal beams and comprises an array of patch elements each contributing to the orthogonal beams and comprising one or more resonators, a base reflector, and a dual feed mechanism. The dual feed mechanism generally comprises two pairs of feeding elements, each one of which comprising substantially balanced feeds configured to drive a respective one of the orthogonal beams via substantially anti-phase capacitive coupling.

Abstract: There is described herein a low profile dipole antenna element. A pair of these elements can be arranged in a crossed manner to provide two orthogonal polarized radiators. The antenna element may be combined with an electrically conductive surface and a feed cable and connected to a feed source.

Abstract: A low profile wideband multi-beam integrated dual polarization antenna array with compensated mutual coupling effect. Instead of suppressing mutual coupling with post-element-design techniques by attempting to block the reflections between elements, an element of the array is designed using its active impedance, i.e. its impedance with mutual coupling once the element is part of the array. The active impedance is determined using various simulation techniques and the element is then designed such that its impedance is shifted in order to modify its active impedance. This technique does not reduce the mutual coupling itself but instead, compensates for the mutual coupling effect and improves the return loss of the element.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a patch antenna, element thereof and method of feeding therefor are described. In general, the patch antenna is configured to generate orthogonal beams and comprises an array of patch elements each contributing to the orthogonal beams and comprising one or more resonators, a base reflector, and a dual feed mechanism. The dual feed mechanism generally comprises two pairs of feeding elements, each one of which comprising substantially balanced feeds configured to drive a respective one of the orthogonal beams via substantially anti-phase capacitive coupling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a reduced or compact sized Butler matrix with improved performance for use in beam forming antennas and beam forming networks (BFN) applications. The reduced or compact size of the Butler matrix is enabled by shorter transmission lines between the hybrid elements as a result of using multi-layer support surfaces with substantially parallel and overlapping hybrid elements disposed thereon. Moreover, the conductive through traces of the hybrid elements have inwardly projecting and mutually approaching portions, thereby decreasing the distance between the inputs and outputs of the hybrid elements and thus reducing the size of the Butler matrix. Comparing to antennas implemented using traditional Butler matrices, antennas incorporating the present matrix can approximately reduce effective antenna area by half in bi-sector array applications, and are more suitable for complex beam forming antennas such as downtilt antennas or arrays.