Abstract: Base station antennas are provided herein. A base station antenna includes one or more 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 one or more vertical columns of low-band radiating elements in a vertical direction.

Abstract: An antenna includes a cross-polarized feed signal network configured to convert first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals to first and second pairs of cross-polarized feed signals at respective first and second pairs of feed signal output ports. A feed signal pedestal is provided, which is electrically coupled to the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports, and a patch radiating element is provided, which is electrically coupled by the feed signal pedestal to the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports. This patch radiating element may be capacitively coupled to first and second pairs of feed signal lines on the feed signal pedestal, which are electrically connected to the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a first transceiver, a plurality of first radiating elements that are arranged in a first linear array, a first feed network electrically interposed between the first radiating elements and the first transceiver, and a first switch that is coupled along the first feed network, where a state of the first switch is selectable to adjust a number of the first radiating elements that are electrically connected to the first transceiver.

Abstract: Beam forming antennas for base station applications are configured as dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) having arrays of dielectric resonator radiating elements (DRRE) therein with dual-polarized radiating properties. Each DRRE includes a dielectric radiating element (DRE) electromagnetically coupled by a resonant cavity to a respective cross-polarized feed network, which is responsive to first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals. Each resonant cavity may be configured as a polymer-filled resonant cavity, and each DRE may be configured as a cylindrically-shaped or dome-shaped dielectric radiating element.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a mount adapted to being secured to a drop ceiling T-bar. The mount includes a base having a slot, an alignment component coupled to or integral with an adjustable clamp having a clamp end, the alignment component slidably received within the slot such that the adjustable clamp is movable along an axis parallel to the base, at least one stationary clamp coupled to or integral with the base and extending outwardly therefrom, a moveable support coupled to the base via one or more spring-loaded components, and a fastening mechanism configured to secure the adjustable clamp to the base. The clamp end of the adjustable clamp, the at least one stationary clamp, and the moveable support are configured to engage and secure a T-bar therebetween. Mount assemblies and related methods are as described herein.

Abstract: A base station for reducing power consumption in a radio unit. The base station includes at least one processor configured to trigger at least one power reduction step for the radio unit based on at least one data metric for at least the base station dropping below a threshold. The at least one processor is further configured to reduce a number of frequency carriers that the radio unit wirelessly transmits on in response to the at least one power reduction step being triggered.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a mount adapted to being secured to a drop ceiling T-bar. The mount includes a base having a slot, an alignment component coupled to or integral with an adjustable clamp having a clamp end, the alignment component slidably received within the slot such that the adjustable clamp is movable along an axis parallel to the base, at least one stationary clamp coupled to or integral with the base and extending outwardly therefrom, a moveable support coupled to the base via one or more spring-loaded components, and a fastening mechanism configured to secure the adjustable clamp to the base. The clamp end of the adjustable clamp, the at least one stationary clamp, and the moveable support are configured to engage and secure a T-bar therebetween. Mount assemblies and related methods are as described herein.

Abstract: Beam forming antennas for base station applications are configured as dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) having arrays of dielectric resonator radiating elements (DRRE) therein with dual-polarized radiating properties. Each DRRE includes a dielectric radiating element (DRE) electromagnetically coupled by a resonant cavity to a respective cross-polarized feed network, which is responsive to first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals. Each resonant cavity may be configured as a polymer-filled resonant cavity, and each DRE may be configured as a cylindrically-shaped or dome-shaped dielectric radiating element.

Abstract: Active antennas are provided that include a housing having a front surface, first and second side surfaces and a rear surface, where the front surface comprises a radome and the first and second side surfaces comprise respective first and second thermally-conducting frame members. These antennas further include at least one radio that is completely mounted within an interior of the housing. Each of the first and second thermally-conducting frame members includes a plurality of outwardly extending fins.

Abstract: Digital phase shifters are provided herein. A digital phase shifter includes first and second multi-throw RF switches that are coupled to each other by a plurality of delay lines having different respective lengths. In some embodiments, at least four delay lines couple the first and second multi-throw RF switches to each other. Related methods of operation are also provided.

Abstract: An antenna includes an elliptical waveguide having a plurality of length-tapered multi-slot arrays of elongate slots therein at respective spaced-apart locations along a length thereof. The plurality of length-tapered multi-slot arrays of elongate slots can include at least first and second length-tapered multi-slot arrays of elongate slots, which are spaced apart from each other along the length of the elliptical waveguide. The first length-tapered multi-slot array of elongate slots can include: (i) a first elongate slot having a first length and a first width, and (ii) a second elongate slot having a second length less than the first length and a second width that may be greater than the first width.

Abstract: An antenna includes a cross-polarized feed signal network configured to convert first and second radio frequency (RF) input feed signals to first and second pairs of cross-polarized feed signals at respective first and second pairs of feed signal output ports. A feed signal pedestal is provided, which is electrically coupled to the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports, and a patch radiating element is provided, which is electrically coupled by the feed signal pedestal to the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports. This patch radiating element may be capacitively coupled to first and second pairs of feed signal lines on the feed signal pedestal, which are electrically connected to the first and second pairs of feed signal output ports.

Abstract: Directional wireless drop systems are provided. These systems include a tap unit that is connected to a communications line of the broadband network; a cable modem unit connected to the tap unit; a plurality of wireless routers connected to the cable modem unit; and a directional antenna unit that is connected to at least a first of the wireless routers. Each wireless router is associated with a respective one of a plurality of subscriber premises that are served by the directional wireless drop system and is configured to communicate with at least one device that is located at the respective one of plurality of subscriber premises.

Abstract: Base station antennas (BSAs) include at least one feed signal phase shifter having a variable length signal path therein, which provides an adjustable signal delay in response to mechanical actuation thereof. A thermo-electric actuator is provided to support remote electrical tilt operations by mechanically actuating the variable length signal path in response to an actuator drive signal. The thermo-electric actuator may include thermally-deformable components, such as SMA springs and wax motors.

Abstract: Multi-pole filters are provided herein. A multi-pole filter includes a substrate having a first resonator layer on a first side of the substrate and a second resonator layer that is electrically coupled to the first resonator layer and is on a second side of the substrate that is opposite the first side of the substrate.

Abstract: A small cell wireless communication device includes an antenna having an array of radiating elements, a control circuit, and a transceiver/radio. The transceiver is electrically coupled to the antenna by an array of phase shifters, which are responsive to control signals that encode phase weight information and enable the array of phase shifters and the array of radiating elements to collectively perform elevation beamsteering of wireless signals generated by the transceiver, in response to signals generated by the control circuit upon movement of the antenna. In some instances, these signals generated by the control circuit may include an elevation beam index, which may operate as a pointer into a look-up table, which stores phase-weights to be provided to the array of phase shifters.

Abstract: Base station antennas are provided herein. A base station antenna includes one or more 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 one or more vertical columns of low-band radiating elements in a vertical direction.

Abstract: Millimeter wave communications system include an RF printed circuit board structure that includes a phased array antenna that has a plurality of radiating elements and a channel block that includes a plurality of active antenna channels that each feed a respective one of a plurality of sub-groups of the radiating elements. A first sub-set of the active antenna channels are completely positioned on a first side of the phased array antenna and a second sub-set of the active antenna channels each include a first portion that is on a second side of the phased array antenna, the second side being adjacent the first side.

Abstract: Directional wireless drop systems are provided. These systems include a tap unit that is connected to a communications line of the broadband network; a cable modem unit connected to the tap unit; a plurality of wireless routers connected to the cable modem unit; and a directional antenna unit that is connected to at least a first of the wireless routers. Each wireless router is associated with a respective one of a plurality of subscriber premises that are served by the directional wireless drop system and is configured to communicate with at least one device that is located at the respective one of plurality of subscriber premises.

Abstract: A phased array antenna includes a first transceiver, a plurality of first radiating elements that are arranged in a first linear array, a first feed network electrically interposed between the first radiating elements and the first transceiver, and a first switch that is coupled along the first feed network, where a state of the first switch is selectable to adjust a number of the first radiating elements that are electrically connected to the first transceiver.