Abstract: A base station antenna includes a radiating element that extends forwardly from a backplane and that is configured to transmit and receive signals in the 5.15-5.25 GHz frequency band and a radio frequency lens that is mounted forwardly of the radiating element. The RF lens is configured to re-direct a portion of an RF signal emitted by the radiating element downwardly so that a first peak emission of RF energy through a combination of the radiating element and the RF lens at elevation angles that are greater than 30° from a boresight pointing direction of the radiating element is less than a second peak emission of RF energy through the combination of the radiating element and the RF lens at elevation angles that are less than ?30° from the boresight pointing direction of the radiating element.

Abstract: A base station antenna includes a first set of radiating elements that are configured to generate a first antenna beam that has a first peanut-shaped antenna pattern in an azimuth plane and a second set of radiating elements that are configured to generate a second antenna beam that has a second peanut-shaped antenna pattern in the azimuth plane. A longitudinal axis of the first peanut-shaped antenna pattern in the azimuth plane is rotated approximately ninety degrees from a longitudinal axis of the second peanut-shaped antenna pattern in the azimuth plane.

Abstract: A base station antenna includes a reflector assembly and a linear array of radiating elements extending forwardly from the reflector assembly. The reflector assembly includes an RF choke that has a choke body and a choke cover. The choke cover at least partially covers a choke body opening so that a choke opening of the RF choke is smaller than the choke body opening.

Abstract: A base station antenna includes a first set of radiating elements that are configured to generate a first antenna beam that has a first peanut-shaped antenna pattern in an azimuth plane and a second set of radiating elements that are configured to generate a second antenna beam that has a second peanut-shaped antenna pattern in the azimuth plane. A longitudinal axis of the first peanut-shaped antenna pattern in the azimuth plane is rotated approximately ninety degrees from a longitudinal axis of the second peanut-shaped antenna pattern in the azimuth plane.

Abstract: A test fixture for testing performance of a trimmed cable and/or antenna components. The test fixture may be connected without the use of solder allowing for accurate testing or tuning of one or more the antenna components.

Abstract: A low band radiator for a dual band antenna having a low band and a high band. The radiator includes a dipole arm having a center conductor and at least one RF choke including at least one partial box section closed at one end and open at the other end and having two opposing sides, a bottom and an open top. The closed end is shorted to the center conductor and the partial box section is quasi-coaxial with center conductor. The choke is resonant near the frequency of the high band of the antenna. The dipole arm may include a plurality of the partial box sections with a gap between each section to form a plurality of RF chokes. The dipole arm may be fabricated as a single die cast metal piece or as a plastic injection molded piece plated with conductive material.

Abstract: A multiband radiating array according to the present invention includes a vertical column of lower band dipole elements and a vertical column of higher band dipole elements. The lower band dipole elements operate at a lower operational frequency band, and the lower band dipole elements have dipole arms that combine to be about one half of a wavelength of the lower operational frequency band midpoint frequency. The higher band dipole elements operate at a higher frequency band, and the higher band dipole elements have dipole arms that combine to be about three quarters of a wavelength of the higher operational frequency band midpoint frequency. The higher band radiating elements are supported above a reflector by higher band feed boards. A combination of the higher band feed boards and higher band dipole arms do not resonate in the lower operational frequency band.

Abstract: A clip for securing a radiating arm to a printed circuit boards of a radio frequency antenna element of a base station antenna. The radiating arm may be configured to receive signals or radiate signals from a feed network associated with the at least one RF antenna member. The radiating arm can be secured to the printed circuit board without the use of solder or adhesives.

Abstract: A multiband radiating array according to the present invention includes a vertical column of lower band dipole elements and a vertical column of higher band dipole elements. The lower band dipole elements operate at a lower operational frequency band, and the lower band dipole elements have dipole arms that combine to be about one half of a wavelength of the lower operational frequency band midpoint frequency. The higher band dipole elements operate at a higher frequency band, and the higher band dipole elements have dipole arms that combine to be about three quarters of a wavelength of the higher operational frequency band midpoint frequency. The higher band radiating elements are supported above a reflector by higher band feed boards. A combination of the higher band feed boards and higher band dipole arms do not resonate in the lower operational frequency band.

Abstract: A cellular base station antenna having improves squint performance is provided. The antenna includes a ground plane, a first plurality of radiating elements supported over the ground plane by microstrip support PCBs, and a second plurality of radiating elements supported over the ground plane by stripline support PCBs. The first and second pluralities of radiating elements are arranged in at least one array of low band radiating elements, and the quantities of first and second pluralities of radiating elements are selected to reduce squint of a beam produced by the at least one array. The first plurality of radiating elements may be located below the second plurality of radiating elements in the array. The array may be arranged in a linear column or a staggered column. In one example, the first plurality of radiating elements comprises four radiating elements and the second plurality radiating elements comprises two radiating elements.

Abstract: A higher band radiating element for use in a multiband antenna includes first and second dipole arms supported by a feedboard. The feedboard includes first and second matching circuits, each comprising a capacitor-inductor-capacitor (CLC) matching circuit. The matching circuit further includes a CM tuning circuit connecting a portion of the matching circuit to ground via a microstrip trace selected to pass lower band currents while blocking higher band currents. The CM tuning circuit moves the common mode resonance of the higher band support PCB down below the operating frequency of additional, lower band radiating elements present in the multiband antenna, which is preferable to moving the common mode resonance above the lower band frequencies.

Abstract: A test fixture for testing performance of a trimmed cable and/or antenna components. The test fixture may be connected without the use of solder allowing for accurate testing or tuning of one or more the antenna components.

Abstract: A low band radiator for a dual band antenna having a low band and a high band. The radiator includes a dipole arm having a center conductor and at least one RF choke including at least one partial box section closed at one end and open at the other end and having two opposing sides, a bottom and an open top. The closed end is shorted to the center conductor and the partial box section is quasi-coaxial with center conductor. The choke is resonant near the frequency of the high band of the antenna. The dipole arm may include a plurality of the partial box sections with a gap between each section to form a plurality of RF chokes. The dipole arm may be fabricated as a single die cast metal piece or as a plastic injection molded piece plated with conductive material.

Abstract: A higher band radiating element for use in a multiband antenna includes first and second dipole arms supported by a feedboard. The feedboard includes first and second matching circuits, each comprising a capacitor-inductor-capacitor (CLC) matching circuit. The matching circuit further includes a CM tuning circuit connecting a portion of the matching circuit to ground via a microstrip trace selected to pass lower band currents while blocking higher band currents. The CM tuning circuit moves the common mode resonance of the higher band support PCB down below the operating frequency of additional, lower band radiating elements present in the multiband antenna, which is preferable to moving the common mode resonance above the lower band frequencies.

Abstract: A cellular base station antenna having improves squint performance is provided. The antenna includes a ground plane, a first plurality of radiating elements supported over the ground plane by microstrip support PCBs, and a second plurality of radiating elements supported over the ground plane by stripline support PCBs. The first and second pluralities of radiating elements are arranged in at least one array of low band radiating elements, and the quantities of first and second pluralities of radiating elements are selected to reduce squint of a beam produced by the at least one array. The first plurality of radiating elements may be located below the second plurality of radiating elements in the array. The array may be arranged in a linear column or a staggered column. In one example, the first plurality of radiating elements comprises four radiating elements and the second plurality radiating elements comprises two radiating elements.

Abstract: A multiband radiating array according to the present invention includes a vertical column of lower band dipole elements and a vertical column of higher band dipole elements. The lower band dipole elements operate at a lower operational frequency band, and the lower band dipole elements have dipole arms that combine to be about one half of a wavelength of the lower operational frequency band midpoint frequency. The higher band dipole elements operate at a higher frequency band, and the higher band dipole elements have dipole arms that combine to be about three quarters of a wavelength of the higher operational frequency band midpoint frequency. The higher band radiating elements are supported above a reflector by higher band feed boards. A combination of the higher band feed boards and higher band dipole arms do not resonate in the lower operational frequency band.

Abstract: An improved antenna system for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals comprising a mounting plate having a length and a longitudinal axis along the length. A plurality of staggered dipole radiating elements project outwardly from a surface of the mounting plate. Each of the radiating elements includes a balanced orthogonal pair of dipoles aligned at first and second predetermined angles with respect to the longitudinal axis, forming crossed dipole pairs. The mounting plate is attached to a longitudinally extending chassis. An unbalanced feed network is connected to the radiating elements. The feed network extends along the mounting plate and is spaced from the mounting plate by a plurality of clips. The feed network is disposed between the chassis and the mounting plate. A plurality of microstrip hooks are provided, each of the microstrip hooks being positioned adjacent to, and spaced from, each of the dipoles by one of the clips.