Abstract: A low sidelobe beam forming method and dual-beam antenna schematic are disclosed, which may preferably be used for 3-sector and 6-sector cellular communication system. Complete antenna combines 2-, 3- or -4 columns dual-beam sub-arrays (modules) with improved beam-forming network (BFN). The modules may be used as part of an array, or as an independent 2-beam antenna. By integrating different types of modules to form a complete array, the present invention provides an improved dual-beam antenna with improved azimuth sidelobe suppression in a wide frequency band of operation, with improved coverage of a desired cellular sector and with less interference being created with other cells. Advantageously, a better cell efficiency is realized with up to 95% of the radiated power being directed in a desired cellular sector.

Abstract: Base station antennas are provided that include a first array of radiating elements that is configured to form a first antenna beam that has a first downtilt angle in response to a first RF signal that is input at the first RF port and a second array of radiating elements that is configured to form a second antenna beam that has a second downtilt angle in response to a second RF signal that is input at the second RF port. The second downtilt angle is less than the first downtilt angle. The first antenna beam is configured to only provide coverage to users within a first portion of a coverage area of the base station antenna that is close to the base station antenna and the second antenna beam is configured to provide coverage to users within a second portion of the coverage area that extends farther from the base station antenna than does the first portion.

Abstract: A method of configuring an antenna that includes a plurality of RET units that are associated with respective ones of a plurality of arrays of radiating elements is provided in which, for each array in a subset that includes at least one of the arrays, setting an output of the RET unit associated with the array to a position that corresponds to a pre-selected electronic downtilt for the array. A first RET unit configuration file is loaded into a memory of the antenna, where the first RET unit configuration file does not include configuration data for the RET units associated with the arrays that are included in the subset. A second RET unit configuration file is provided that includes configuration data for all of the RET units.

Abstract: A tilt adapter configured to facilitate a desired tilt of a first radio frequency (RF) band and a second RF band of an antenna is disclosed. The antenna supports two or more frequency bands, in which the vertical tilt of each of the supported frequency bands is separately controlled by a coarse level of phase shifting, but commonly controlled by a fine level of phase shifting.

Abstract: Base station antennas a reflector, an RF port, an array of radiating elements, where each radiating element is mounted to extend forwardly from the reflector and mechanically uptilted with respect to the reflector, and a feed network coupled between the RF port and the array of radiating elements. The feed network includes a plurality of delay elements that are configured to impart a fixed electronic downtilt to a radiation pattern generated by the array of radiating elements in response to an RF signal input at the RF port.

Abstract: Antenna arrays include a first plurality of radiating elements in a first column thereof, which are responsive to a first plurality of RF feed signals derived from a first radio, and a second plurality of radiating elements in a second column thereof, which are responsive to a second plurality of RF feed signals derived from a second radio. A power divider circuit is provided, which is configured to drive a first one of the radiating elements at a first end of the second column of radiating elements with a majority of the energy associated with a first one of the first plurality of RF feed signals, and drive a first one of the radiating elements at a first end of the first column of radiating elements with a non-zero minority of the energy associated with the first one of the first plurality of RF feed signals.

Abstract: Base station antennas include a first array that has a plurality of columns of radiating elements. All of the columns in the first array except for a first column and a second column are spaced apart from adjacent of the columns of the first array by a first distance. The first and second columns of the first array are spaced apart from each other a second, larger distance (e.g., twice the first distance) to define a first column-shaped open space within the first array. A column of a second array may be positioned in the first column-shaped open space within the first array.

Abstract: Base station antennas include a plurality of multiplexer filters and a multi-column array of radiating elements that includes a plurality of sub-arrays. Each filter may have a first and second ports that are configured to pass RF signals in respective first and second frequency bands and a third common port that is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of sub-arrays. These antennas also include first frequency band ports that are coupled to the first ports of respective subsets of the multiplexer filters and second frequency band ports that are coupled to the second ports of at least some of the multiplexer filters. The antenna may operate as a MIMO sector antenna in the first frequency band and as a sector-splitting antenna in the second frequency band.

Abstract: Base station antennas are provided that include a first array of radiating elements that is configured to form a first antenna beam that has a first downtilt angle in response to a first RF signal that is input at the first RF port and a second array of radiating elements that is configured to form a second antenna beam that has a second downtilt angle in response to a second RF signal that is input at the second RF port. The second downtilt angle is less than the first downtilt angle. The first antenna beam is configured to only provide coverage to users within a first portion of a coverage area of the base station antenna that is close to the base station antenna and the second antenna beam is configured to provide coverage to users within a second portion of the coverage area that extends farther from the base station antenna than does the first portion.

Abstract: A method of configuring an antenna that includes a plurality of RET units that are associated with respective ones of a plurality of arrays of radiating elements is provided in which, for each array in a subset that includes at least one of the arrays, setting an output of the RET unit associated with the array to a position that corresponds to a pre-selected electronic downtilt for the array. A first RET unit configuration file is loaded into a memory of the antenna, where the first RET unit configuration file does not include configuration data for the RET units associated with the arrays that are included in the subset. A second RET unit configuration file is provided that includes configuration data for all of the RET units.

Abstract: Base station antennas are provided herein. A base station antenna includes a plurality of vertical columns of low-band radiating elements configured to transmit RF signals in a first frequency band. The base station antenna also includes a plurality of vertical columns of high-band radiating elements configured to transmit RF signals in a second frequency band that is higher than the first frequency band. The vertical columns of high-band radiating elements extend in parallel with the vertical columns of low-band radiating elements in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A dipole antenna includes a planar reflector and a radiating element. The radiating element includes first and second pairs of dipoles on a surface of the planar reflector. The first and second pairs of dipoles respectively include arm segments arranged around a central region in a box dipole arrangement. The arm segments may be printed circuit board portions having respective metal segments and respective inductor-capacitor circuits thereon. The inductor-capacitor circuits define a filter aligned to a frequency range higher than an operating frequency range of the first and second pairs of dipoles.

Abstract: Antenna systems are provided. An antenna system includes a beamforming array having a plurality of vertical columns of radiating elements that are each configured to transmit at least three antenna beams per polarization. Moreover, the antenna system includes a beamforming radio having a plurality of radio frequency ports per polarization that are coupled to and fewer than the vertical columns.

Abstract: A lensed base station antenna includes a first array that includes a plurality of first radiating elements that are configured to transmit respective sub-components of a first RF signal, a second array that includes a plurality of second radiating elements that are configured to transmit respective sub-components of a second RF signal and an RF lens structure positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from a first of the first radiating elements and from a first of the second radiating elements. A first subset of the first radiating elements are aligned along a first vertical axis and a second subset of the first radiating elements are aligned along a second vertical axis that is spaced apart from the first vertical axis. The first and second arrays each include a single radiating element per horizontal row.

Abstract: A metrocell antenna includes a plurality of linear arrays of first frequency band radiating elements, a first enclosure that includes a first of the linear arrays of first frequency band radiating elements mounted therein, a second enclosure that includes a second of the linear arrays of first frequency band radiating elements mounted therein, a third of the linear arrays of first frequency band radiating elements mounted within one of the first and second enclosures, a first RF port that is mounted through the first enclosure and a first blind-mate connector that provides an electrical connection between the first enclosure and the second of the linear arrays of first frequency band radiating elements that is mounted in the second enclosure.

Abstract: A lensed base station antenna includes a first array of radiating elements that are configured to transmit respective sub-components of a first RF signal and an RF lens positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from a first of the radiating elements. The RF lens includes a lens casing, an RF energy focusing material within the lens casing and a first heat dissipation element that extends through the RF energy focusing material. The RF lens is configured to be at least a three step approximation of a Luneberg lens along a bore sight pointing direction of the first of the radiating elements.

Abstract: Base station antennas are provided herein. A base station antenna includes a plurality of vertical columns of low-band radiating elements configured to transmit RF signals in a first frequency band. The base station antenna also includes a plurality of vertical columns of high-band radiating elements configured to transmit RF signals in a second frequency band that is higher than the first frequency band. The vertical columns of high-band radiating elements extend in parallel with the vertical columns of low-band radiating elements in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A base station antenna (BSA) system includes a radio-frequency (RF) generator having a plurality of power-amplifying circuits therein, and an antenna, which includes a plurality of columns of radiating elements. These radiating elements are electrically coupled by RF signal routing to a corresponding plurality of ports of the antenna that receive a corresponding plurality of RF input signals. These RF input signals have respective amplitudes and phases that support the concurrent generation of three spaced-apart RF beams by the antenna and are derived from respective RF signals generated by the plurality of power-amplifying circuits. The RF input signals including: (i) a first RF input signal defined by at least two linearly superposed RF signals of equivalent frequency having unequal combinations of amplitude and phase weighting, and (ii) a second RF input signal defined by at least two linearly superposed RF signals of equivalent frequency having unequal combinations of amplitude and phase weighting.

Abstract: A lensed base station antenna includes a first array that includes a plurality of first radiating elements that are configured to transmit respective sub-components of a first RF signal, a second array that includes a plurality of second radiating elements that are configured to transmit respective sub-components of a second RF signal and an RF lens structure positioned to receive electromagnetic radiation from a first of the first radiating elements and from a first of the second radiating elements. A first subset of the first radiating elements are aligned along a first vertical axis and a second subset of the first radiating elements are aligned along a second vertical axis that is spaced apart from the first vertical axis. The first and second arrays each include a single radiating element per horizontal row.

Abstract: A base station antenna includes a first reflector structure that extends along a first longitudinal axis, the first reflector structure having a first transverse cross-section, a second reflector structure that extends along a second longitudinal axis, the second reflector structure having a second transverse cross-section that is different from the first transverse cross-section, and the second reflector structure extending above the first reflector structure, a first array of first frequency band radiating elements that are mounted to extend outwardly from the first reflector structure, a second array of second frequency band radiating elements that are mounted to extend outwardly from the second reflector structure, the first frequency band being non-overlapping with the second frequency band, and a radome that extends around the first reflector structure and the second reflector structure.